Loren Slye, a long-time Steveston resident, has been named a recipient of the 2023 National Award for Volunteerism.
Slye will receive the award in Ottawa on April 15 from the federal government's Canada's Volunteer Awards (CAV) program. It comes with $5,000 that will be given to a non-profit organization of Slye’s choice.
“I’m very grateful for this award,” said Slye, who has asked for the $5,000 to be given to the London Farm Society in Richmond.
“They’ve done a marvellous job with updating the London Farm, improving the community farm plots, and making the London Farm House and Garden a significant community attraction.”
Slye has devoted more than 50 years of volunteering in community services in various sectors, including youth anti-drug initiatives, boating safety and fire and life safety education.
He helped develop and distribute a training Fire and Life Safety program across provinces to help and engage youth, and develop the Risk Watch program to decrease risky behaviours and improve academic performance among high school students, which was integrated into the education system in Ontario, Quebec and some states in the U.S.
Slye has also worked with local groups and fire departments to promote the "Plan to Get Out Alive" program, which reached millions of people in Canada and the U.S.
Locally, he has a long record of volunteer activities with organizations including the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, the Steveston Historical Society, Steveston RMC Search and Rescue Society and the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site Society.
He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
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