Local Hero Awards

President of the Royal Canadian Legion Prince Edward Branch 91 (Langford legion), Norm Scott. Oct. 2021. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Legion president works tirelessly to ensure fun experience for all

Norm Scott is the 2022 Community Builder

  • Mar 20, 2022

 

Friends of Dorothy founder Rudy Tomazic. (Black Press Media file photo)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Forging a space for all to be accepted in Greater Victoria

Rudy Tomazic is the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Hero

  • Mar 20, 2022

 

Brad Simpson is the 2022 Coach of the Year. (Courtesy Brad Simpson)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Helping everyone take their best shot

Brad Simpson is the 2022 Coach of the Year

  • Mar 20, 2022

 

Former fire chief Bob Beckett (left) briefs a team from Langford Fire Rescue during a call after a snow fall. (Photo courtesy City of Langford)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Preparation key to emergency response

Bob Beckett is the 2022 Emergency Services Hero

Former fire chief Bob Beckett (left) briefs a team from Langford Fire Rescue during a call after a snow fall. (Photo courtesy City of Langford)
Metchosin Farm owner Fiona Hamersley Chambers is working to bring seed security to the region and beyond, which plays a critical role in food security, she says. (Courtesy of Fiona Hamersley Chambers)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Food security the foundation of Metchosin farm

Fiona Hamersley Chambers is the 2022 Environmental Hero

Metchosin Farm owner Fiona Hamersley Chambers is working to bring seed security to the region and beyond, which plays a critical role in food security, she says. (Courtesy of Fiona Hamersley Chambers)
Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar. (File courtesy of Lawrence Herzog, office of MLA Mitzi Dean)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Langford grad continues to shape school district policies

Ravi Parmar is the 2022 Educator of the Year

  • Mar 18, 2022
Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar. (File courtesy of Lawrence Herzog, office of MLA Mitzi Dean)
March 11, 2022 - Portrait of Trudine Wilson, a long time volunteer with Girl Guides and a Local Hero for Goldstream . Don Denton photograph

Local Hero Awards 2022: A commitment to kindness and caring

Trudine Wilson

March 11, 2022 - Portrait of Trudine Wilson, a long time volunteer with Girl Guides and a Local Hero for Goldstream . Don Denton photograph
Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop. (Courtesy Stephanie Dunlop)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Metchosin fire chief shines a light on others

Stephanie Dunlop is the 2022 Unsung Hero

Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop. (Courtesy Stephanie Dunlop)
Kurt Hollstein pictured at his station at the Canadian Superstore in Langford, where he spent every day between 4 and 6 p.m. for two weeks selling poppies during the 2021 drive. (Black Press Media file photo)

Local Hero Awards 2022: 95-year-old Langford resident hopes to inspire others to volunteer

Kurt Hollstein is the 2022 Seniors’ Champion

  • Mar 17, 2022
Kurt Hollstein pictured at his station at the Canadian Superstore in Langford, where he spent every day between 4 and 6 p.m. for two weeks selling poppies during the 2021 drive. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sisters Maylin (from left), Everly and Brylee Apted show off some of their Remembrance Day paintings in 2019. The Metchosin girls sell their paintings locally and around the country to raise money for Canada’s veterans. (Courtesy of Dani Dwinnell)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Painting a brighter, better community

Brylee, Maylin and Everly Apted are the 2022 Youth Volunteers

Sisters Maylin (from left), Everly and Brylee Apted show off some of their Remembrance Day paintings in 2019. The Metchosin girls sell their paintings locally and around the country to raise money for Canada’s veterans. (Courtesy of Dani Dwinnell)
John Cassidy was held in high regard by colleagues, family, friends, and the community he served as Colwood Fire Chief. (Black Press Media file photo)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Late Colwood fire chief leaves behind a legacy

John Cassidy is the 2022 Hero of the Year

John Cassidy was held in high regard by colleagues, family, friends, and the community he served as Colwood Fire Chief. (Black Press Media file photo)
Al LeQuesne is being remembered as a loving father, husband and grandfather who was dedicated to serving and protecting the City of Langford as fire chief. He died recently at 86. (Photo courtesy of Dave LeQuesne)

Local Hero Awards 2022: Al LeQuesne remembered as loving father, husband

The former Langford fire chief is this year’s Courage and Bravery recipient

Al LeQuesne is being remembered as a loving father, husband and grandfather who was dedicated to serving and protecting the City of Langford as fire chief. He died recently at 86. (Photo courtesy of Dave LeQuesne)
2022 Local Hero Awards

VIDEO: Local heroes leave a lasting impact on the West Shore

Here are your 2022 Local Hero Award honourees

2022 Local Hero Awards
<strong>Howard La Fortune’s life has changed, as his hand-carved wooden face masks have increased in demand across North America and the globe. (Black Press Media file photo)</strong>

Local Hero Awards 2022: Meet the award artist Howard La Fortune

Honourees in the 2022 Local Hero Awards will receive a hand-carved mask

<strong>Howard La Fortune’s life has changed, as his hand-carved wooden face masks have increased in demand across North America and the globe. (Black Press Media file photo)</strong>
Paul Lewis is the Goldstream Gazette’s 2021 Local Hero as Arts Advocate of the Year. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

West Shore driftwood sculptor inspired by Esquimalt Lagoon

Paul Lewis is the 2021 Arts Advocate of the Year

  • Mar 1, 2021
Paul Lewis is the Goldstream Gazette’s 2021 Local Hero as Arts Advocate of the Year. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
Maureen Garry is the Goldstream Gazette 2021 Local Hero as Educator of the Year. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

Former teacher at David Cameron Elementary a tireless advocate for musical education

Maureen Garry is West Shore’s 2021 Educator of the Year

  • Mar 1, 2021
Maureen Garry is the Goldstream Gazette 2021 Local Hero as Educator of the Year. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
Students from SD62 stepped up to help members in the community with the annual 10,000 Tonight food drive. This year’s organizers had to adapt during the campaign as COIVD-19 public health orders changed. (Black Press Media file photo)

West Shore students step up to make sure community members don’t go without

Students of SD62 are this year’s recipient of the Youth Volunteer Award

  • Feb 28, 2021
Students from SD62 stepped up to help members in the community with the annual 10,000 Tonight food drive. This year’s organizers had to adapt during the campaign as COIVD-19 public health orders changed. (Black Press Media file photo)
Each recipient of a 2021 Local Hero Award will receive a hand-carved paddle created by Haida artist John Bellis.

Meet the man behind the awards

Haida artist John Bellis hand-carved this year’s Local Hero awards

  • Feb 28, 2021
Each recipient of a 2021 Local Hero Award will receive a hand-carved paddle created by Haida artist John Bellis.
February 17, 2021 - Kaelyn (L) and Costin Campbell are Goldstream News Gazette 2021 Local Heroes.

Pint-sized duo inspires others to be green

Costin and Kaelyn Campbell are this year’s Environmental Heroes

  • Feb 28, 2021
February 17, 2021 - Kaelyn (L) and Costin Campbell are Goldstream News Gazette 2021 Local Heroes.
Sandy Carmichael is a Goldstream Gazette 2021 Local Hero as Seniors’ Champion. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

Worker bee returns to volunteer: Sandy Carmichael a fixture at Langford Royal Canadian Legion

Sandy Carmichael is the 2021 recipient of the Seniors’ Champion Award

Sandy Carmichael is a Goldstream Gazette 2021 Local Hero as Seniors’ Champion. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)