By Greg Fry

Kamloops woman receives Peace Medal for her efforts to end youth homelessness

Jan 23, 2018 | 11:47 AM

KAMLOOPS — A woman deemed an ‘inspiration’ for her work to help end youth homelessness in Kamloops will be honoured Tuesday.

Katherine McParland, Youth Homelessness Manager with Interior Community Services, will receive the YMCA-YWCA of Kamloops Peace Medal at the organization’s Annual General Meeting at the Henry Grube Centre.

CEO Colin Reid says the Peace Medal is a way of recognizing those citizens that make a contribution to their community to make the world a more peaceful place.

“Katherine is well known in our community as the person leading the charge to deal with youth homelessness,” he told CFJC Today. “And she has gone about it in a very purposeful and meaningful and collaborative way engaging the community to deal with the big concern of young people having a safe home.”

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Reid added she’s done so by overcoming the odds noting she’s managed to come through a very difficult period in her youth to get educated into a career and to in turn, help others going through similar tough times.

“She’s been nominated by at least three different individuals and they all talk about the passion that she has for her work. How she has gone above and beyond her call of duty,” Reid said.

“About how she collaborates with everybody in the community. How she’s been asked to provide input into provincial and national initiatives on this topic and through her actions and dedication and her passion inspiried landlords, business owners, eduational institutions and governments to take some action and to contribute resources to deal with the social costs of ignoring homeless youth.”