Ward-Burkitt Overwhelmed by Ceremony
By 250 News
Thursday, October 21, 2010 06:28 PM
Prince George, B.C.- For Barb Ward-Burkitt, receiving the Order of B.C. today was “overwhelming”.
Speaking to Opinion250 moments after the investiture ceremony, she said the ceremony was very humbling “My name is near the bottom of the alphabet so there were 13 others who received their Order of B.C. before me, and my gosh, when you hear their accomplishments, it is very humbling to be among them.”
There were 224 names put forward for an Order of B.C. , just 15 were selected.
“It was an amazing ceremony, you know, with all the pomp and circumstance that goes with a government event, but the Lieutenant Governor was very personable and made us all feel so very welcome.”
Ward-Burkitt was recognized for her near 40 years of dedication to the Aboriginal Friendship Centre movement in B.C., advancing many issues that impact Aboriginal people.
She has also been instrumental in finding long term solutions to homelessness. Her efforts resulted in the establishment of T'se Koo Huba Yoh, an Aboriginal women's housing program and Friendship Lodge, resulting in a 30 unit housing project for people with barriers to attaining safe and affordable housing. Her engagement style with the community often led to mutual learning experiences and brought peaceful consultation to mitigate issues.
She currently serves on the Northern HIV Task Force and is president of the Prince George Metis Housing Society, as well her involvement with literary endeavours, Elder functions and cultural events. She is devoted to seeking out individual learning opportunities for others and herself which included obtaining her Master of Education degree in 2001. She leads a womens' traditional hand drum group, Grandmothers of the Four Winds, and shares her traditional knowledge with respect and humility as taught to her by many elders and cultural teachers.
She has also been instrumental in finding long term solutions to homelessness. Her efforts resulted in the establishment of T'se Koo Huba Yoh, an Aboriginal women's housing program and Friendship Lodge, resulting in a 30 unit housing project for people with barriers to attaining safe and affordable housing. Her engagement style with the community often led to mutual learning experiences and brought peaceful consultation to mitigate issues.
She currently serves on the Northern HIV Task Force and is president of the Prince George Metis Housing Society, as well her involvement with literary endeavours, Elder functions and cultural events. She is devoted to seeking out individual learning opportunities for others and herself which included obtaining her Master of Education degree in 2001. She leads a womens' traditional hand drum group, Grandmothers of the Four Winds, and shares her traditional knowledge with respect and humility as taught to her by many elders and cultural teachers.
She says as she received her Order of B.C., she shed some tears and thought of her late parents “They are so much of who I am and what I have become.”
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Posted by: IAM on October 21 2010 7:40 PM