Three Surrey residents have been honoured this month with B.C. Community Achievement Awards.
Per Gjerde, Karen Pruim and Greg Timm were among more than 30 award-winners from across the province.
The Community Achievement Award recognizes individuals “who have made a significant contribution (to the province) as volunteers or in the course of their work,” according to Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.
An independent advisory council selects the recipients each year.
Gjerde is being honoured for his contributions to the Scandinavian Community Centre in Burnaby, where, a news release states, his work has “been essential to the centre’s continuing success.”
“From his leadership in helping to establish the centre, to its ongoing upkeep and improvement and its programs, Per’s vision and generosity have made a substantial difference in his Scandinavian community,” the awards committee notes.
Pruim is being recognized for The Princess Project Society, which she founded in 2009.
The Princess Project is an initiative that provides Grade 12 students with graduation outfits.
“Karen works all year promoting and collecting donations from her community for the benefit of young people from Mission to Delta who may not otherwise be able to participate in their special evening,” the release states.
Rounding out the trio of Surrey award winners is Timm, who is well-known in South Surrey softball circles as the president of the White Rock Renegades Girls Fastpitch Club and chair of the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship, held annually at Softball City.
Timm is being recognized for his work with the Renegades, as well as his leadership in bring the Women’s World Softball Championship to Surrey. The international tournament is set to be played here in the summer of 2016.
Timm “has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the participation of girls and women in the sport of softball,” according to the award-selection committee.
“These 2015 award recipients have all gone above and beyond to make their communities stronger,” said Premier Christy Clark. “The whole province can be proud of their contributions.”