Craig Evans was posthumously honoured with the provincial Medal of Good Citizenship. Evans passed away on March 6, 2023, from a terminal illness. (B.C.government)

By Jordan Davidson

provincial honour

Nanaimo’s Craig Evans awarded provincial Medal of Good Citizenship

Jan 3, 2024 | 4:23 PM

NANAIMO — A late Nanaimo man known for his community work with recycling, community food gardens and inclusion was honoured for his extraordinary local contributions.

Craig Evans’ advocacy for the environment and organic food sustainability has impacted Nanaimo for over 30 years.

He founded the Nanaimo Community Gardens and Nanaimo Foodshare Society in 1987, spawning countless community-based programs and vastly increased access to locally grown food.

The province announced on Wednesday, Jan. 3, Evans had been posthumously awarded the Medal of Good Citizenship (MGC), along with 20 other British Columbians.

The medals recognize a citizen’s generosity, service, and acts of selflessness within their local community, noted premier David Eby in a news release.

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Evans passed away from a terminal illness on March 6, 2023, shortly after being awarded the Nanaimo Patron of the City award in Jan. 2023.

“Each one of these medal recipients has made their community a better place. They have shown kindness and generosity while making sacrifices for the benefit of others. Their contributions serve as a reminder to all of what we can do in ways large and small to improve life for everyone,” said Eby.

Minister of tourism, arts, culture, and sport, and chair of the selection committee Lana Popham said these awards honour community heroes whose efforts can often go unrecognized.

“It’s an honour to recognize these unsung heroes in our communities. These people have gone out of their way to show kindness and help those in need, solely motivated by their desire to make life better for others. I extend my sincere appreciation to all of them for taking care of people and their communities.”

A Vancouver Island University professor, Dr. Imogene Lim, also received the MGC honour for her work to help preserve Asian-Canadian history in 2021.

Other MGC recipients on the Island include Tim Cormode from Victoria, Rhoda Taylor of Duncan, and Parminder Virk of Saanich.

More information on each recipient can be found here on the province’s website.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow