March 31, 2003
Lee Recognizes Life Saving Award Recipients in the Legislature
MLA Statement
R. Lee: Last Saturday I had the honour to participate in the 91st annual Commonwealth honour and rescue awards ceremony at the Hotel Vancouver. I brought greetings from the Premier to welcome the recipients and guests.
This year many members of the Lifesaving Society of Canada, B.C. and Yukon Branch, have received the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for their contributions and achievements benefiting their fellow citizens and community. Recipients of the medal included Jon MacKinnon, branch governor, and Jean Lathwell, who began her volunteer involvement with the Lifesaving Society in 1944.
Again, we heard many meritorious actions of British Columbians in saving lives. For example, Vernon Botkin saved the lives of two young motorists from a water-filled Richmond ditch. Jeff Chapman and Keith Sterling-Pither saved Keith Fuller from his partially submerged boat off Port Renfrew. David Davis pulled a man without a life jacket off the water near Gonzales Bay, and Jack Macdonald brought a little girl, Char Cook's life back when vacationing in Christopher Lake, Saskatchewan.
Other rescues involving significant acts of bravery over the past year included a group of students and their teacher Alyson King and parent Bill Balakshin from the Chilliwack Middle School at Stave Lake; Doug Bray at Hemlock Valley; Kelli Deering in Smithers; Beckie Harcourt on Pender Island, Reginald Lehman and John Mayr at Three Valley Gap Lake, and Alishia Muehlfarth at Waterfront Park, Burrard Inlet.
Many of these people put their lives in danger. Their heroic and selfless action is an inspiration to us. Would the House join me to honour the lifesaving actions and services of these outstanding British Columbians.
