BCAAFC Executive Director Receives Order of British Columbia

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT  

For immediate release 

BCAAFC Executive Director Receives Order of British Columbia 

Victoria, BC, July 22, 2014 – The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) is pleased to announce that Mr. Paul Lacerte, BCAAFC Executive Director, received the Order of British Columbia today, July 22, 2014.  The Order of British Columbia was established by statute on April 21, 1989, to recognize those persons who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of the Province or elsewhere. The Order represents the highest form of recognition the Province of BC can extend to its citizens.   The following Citation was read during the Investiture Ceremony today at Government House in Victoria BC: 

“Paul Lacerte, Executive Director of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, has been advocating for the betterment of Aboriginal people for more than 20 years. Under his leadership, the association has grown to over 30 staff and the Aboriginal Friendship Centres in BC have grown to over 1,000 staff delivering programs and initiatives to thousands of urban Aboriginal people each year. 

Mr. Lacerte is a practitioner of traditional Aboriginal culture and spirituality. He has a gift for inspiring and supporting Indigenous youth. Through his leadership in the development of the Gathering Our Voices Aboriginal Youth Conference over the last 12 years, over 1,000 Aboriginal youth from BC and across Canada have come together each year to network, learn new skills, share knowledge, explore career and educational possibilities and participate in sports and recreational activities. 

Paul Lacerte is the personal creator of the Moose Hide Campaign which started in 2011. It is a grassroots movement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men who are standing up against violence toward Aboriginal women and children. As part of the annual campaign, men wear a small patch of moose hide to symbolize their commitment to honour, respect and protect the women and children in their lives. 

Mr. Lacerte is a member of the Board of the Vancouver Foundation and sits as one of the Canadian representatives at the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples”. 

The BCAAFC Executive Committee, staff, and Board of Directors would like to extend our congratulations to Mr. Lacerte and our appreciation for his many years of hard work and dedication to the Friendship Centre Movement.