The Honourable Steven Point & Dr. Gwen Point
The Order of Chilliwack was presented to the Honourable Steven Point and Dr. Gwen Point at a ceremony at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on October 6, 2016. Medals were awarded to the recipients by Mayor and Council, and the pair were recognized by Chief David Jimmie, President of the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council. Comments were also shared by Chuck Strahl and Dr. Mark Evered.
“This award is being presented to the Honourable Steven Point and Dr. Gwen Point in recognition of their contribution to the community,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “Their extraordinary list of accomplishments makes them extremely deserving of the Order of Chilliwack award, which is the City’s highest honour.”
The Honourable Steven Point
The Honourable Steven Point has served Chilliwack and surrounding First Nations communities for close to 30 years in a variety of roles after graduating from UBC’s law school. He has served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation, Tribal Chair of the Stó:lō Nation and Grand Chief of Stó:lō Tribal Council, the Chiefs' representative for the Stó:lō Nation Government House, and managed the Lands Department of the Stó:lō Nation. In 1999, he was appointed a Provincial Court Judge. From 2007 – 2012 he served as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. In 2007 he received the Order of BC, which recognizes persons who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in a field or endeavour benefiting people of the Province. It is the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens. In 2012, the Honourable Steven Point served as Chair of the advisory committee on the safety and security of vulnerable women. In 2014, he was reappointed to the bench by the Ministry of Justice. His awards include the Order of BC and the Joseph H. Cohen Award from the Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation.
Dr. Gwen Point
Dr. Gwen Point is a respected Stó:lō leader and mentor and has held a number of provincial government and regional posts supporting education, children and family services and First Nations communities. From 2007 – 2012, as spouse of the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Point served as BC’s Chatelaine, a role that demanded her participation in numerous and diverse public engagements. Dr. Point has received many prestigious awards. In 2012, the University of Victoria awarded her an honourary Doctorate in Education. UFV presented her the Betty Urquhart Community Service Award in 2003. She has also received the Ambassador Award from Aboriginal Tourism BC and was recognized as Honourary Witness by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. She has received a number of community awards for her contributions to Stó:lō language and Cultural education, including recognition by the Stó:lō Nation, the Seattle Art Museum and others. In 2006, the Chilliwack School District set up two bursaries in her honour. In 2016, Dr. Point became the second Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley.