The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and the BC Achievement Foundation have announced the recipients of the 2025 British Columbia Reconciliation Award.
The announcement was made January 27 in Vancouver. The annual award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work strengthens reconciliation by building respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across the province.
This year’s individual recipients are Charlene Belleau of Williams Lake, Kevin Borserio of Daajing Giids, Deanna Duncan of Klemtu, and Dwight Ballantyne of Maple Ridge, who received the Phyllis Webstad Emerging Leader recognition.
Organizations receiving the award are the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, based on Squamish territory in West Vancouver; the Honouring Our Elders Portrait Legacy Project Coordinating Team from Smithers; and the syíyaya Reconciliation Movement in Sechelt.
BC Achievement Foundation board member Judith Sayers says the recipients represent reconciliation in action by listening deeply, acting with integrity, and shaping solutions that strengthen communities. Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia says the recipients’ work reflects a commitment to sharing knowledge, supporting communities, and uplifting Indigenous culture, language, and tradition.
The award draws inspiration from former Lieutenant Governor Steven Point’s teaching that reconciliation requires moving forward together. This year’s recipients will receive a commemorative canoe paddle print designed by Wet’suwet’en artist Stephanie Anderson.
Recipients will be honoured during a ceremony at Government House in Victoria on January 29.
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