A Richmond couple has been awarded the Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) for their commitment to the environment.
Ratana and Arran Stephens, founders of Nature’s Path, a Richmond-based organic cereal producer, are the sole award recipients in this category this year.
“Arran and Ratana Stephens… are a dynamic duo whose life’s mission is to always leave the Earth better than they found it,” reads on the GVBOT website.
“Today, Nature’s Path is the world’s largest independent certified organic cereal and snack food brand, found in over 50 countries.”
Before founding the company in 1985, Arran Stephens opened a restaurant in 1967 which was understood to be Canada’s first vegetarian restaurant. They later formed a partnership with LifeStream, Canada’s first natural foods supermarket.
Since 2008, the couple has contributed more than $40 million to philanthropic and community work , according to GVBOT.
The award, named after past GVBOT chair and philanthropist Don Rix, will be presented at the 36th annual Governors’ Gala and Rix Awards ceremony next April.
In addition to Nature’s Path, Vancouver-based investment firm Odlum Brown is being awarded the Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship.
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