By Adam Donnelly

Kamloops residents recognized for going “Above and Beyond” during 2017 Wildfires

Oct 16, 2017 | 4:36 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Saturday, Premier John Horgan came to Kamloops to announce a new provincial award which recognizes those people and organizations who went above and beyond during this spring’s floods and the summer’s wildfire crisis.

“I want you to nominate someone from your community who went above and beyond the call of duty,” Premier John Horgan told those assembled at the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre in Kamloops on Saturday.

With that, the Premier announced the creation of the “Above and Beyond Awards” program, meant to recognize volunteers and organizations who answered the call this spring and summer during the flooding and fire emergencies throughout the province.

“It’s during times of adversity when you really see the true character and the true spirit of community,” Horgan said. “Nowhere was that more evident than here in Kamloops, the Cariboo, and right up into Prince George.”

The Premier also took the opportunity to hand out several “Above and Beyond Awards”. First to Jamie McLean and Dusti Naud, the two women who started taking in donations for the thousands of evacuees who came streaming into Kamloops when the fire took off in early July.

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“It’s pretty amazing,” McLean said of the honour. “We just closed the [donation] centre [Saturday]. At one point we had a 52’ trailer come from High River [Alberta] full of stuff. We really have no idea how much [sic] donations we received.”

Tk’emlups the Secwepemc councillor Nacoma George accepted one of the awards on behalf of the entire band, for the work his community did in accepting so many of those who were displaced during the wildfire crisis this summer.

“Our community just opened our doors, and we welcomed everyone in because we knew a lot of people would need a place to stay,” George explained.

Nominations are open for the “Above and Beyond” awards, and Premier Horgan wants to make sure those who went the extra mile get recognized for their work this summer.

To nominate someone in the community who’s deserving of an “Above and Beyond” award, click here.