News Release, Victoria
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 11:15 AM
John Phare first recipient of the Medal of Good Citizenship
Premier Clark and Kimi Hawkes
Good citizens are the unsung heroes of our communities and deserve our recognition. Today Premier Christy Clark made special recognition of a hero from the 2015 fire season when she announced that John Phare, a Roberts Creek tree faller, will be the first recipient of the Medal of Good Citizenship.
Phare, who is being honoured posthumously, spent his entire working life in the logging industry and worked as a faller, felling danger trees on the Old Sechelt Mine fire during the unusually busy 2015 fire season. The 60-year-old father of three died while fighting the Old Sechelt Mine fire on July 5, 2015. His family was in the B.C. legislature Tuesday to receive the medal.
“John Phare died protecting the lives of his friends, neighbours and family,” said Premier Clark. “We can’t ease the pain of everyone who loves and misses him, but we can recognize his courage and sacrifice. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of the first Medal of Good Citizenship.”
The Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities and in his contribution to community life, Phare exemplified the purpose of the medal.