Change starts here.
Change starts here.
United Way of the Lower Mainland's annual Excellence in Action Awards recognize leaders who are shaping our community's future on behalf of children and seniors.
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Congratulations to Lynell Anderson.
Almost 30% of BC children arrive at kindergarten either struggling to follow instructions or perhaps most importantly to get along with their peers. These children are falling behind before they have begun. What does this mean for the future of BC’s economy?
As co-author of 15 by 15: A Comprehensive Policy Framework for Early Human Capital Investment in BC, Lynell Anderson’s leadership and strategic thinking helped produce this groundbreaking report. Because of her work, we now have a roadmap for governments and for all of us to act and reduce childhood vulnerability.
Congratulations to Sahra-Lea Tosdevine-Tataryn.
Getting active is good for us. It may not always feel like it, but it is and it’s particularly good for children. It improves long-term health, creates a fit lifestyle, and builds strong friendships. But, we live in a society where fewer children walk to school, iPods, video games and computer screens dominate kids’ days, and urban planning is built around four wheels, not two.
The result: 25 percent of kids in BC are considered obese. That’s approximately five times higher than it was just a generation ago.
Sahra-Lea Tosdevine-Tataryn believes passionately that recreation is key to children’s mental and physical health. For children in Surrey’s Whalley and Fleetwood neighbourhoods, her work means kids get to take part in activities they might not otherwise have been able to.
Congratulations to Annwen Loverin.
In the Lower Mainland, more than half of those over the age of 75 live with a disability. Moving means freedom and independence and when being mobile becomes harder, your confidence falters and your world shrinks. When seniors are isolated and lonely, their health is affected and our community loses the benefits of a lifetime of wisdom and experience.
Annwen Loverin understands how vital getting around is for seniors and she has dedicated much of her time to bringing seniors’ transportation issues to the fore and to ensuring they remain vital members of our society.
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