Four North Vancouver citizens are being honoured for their great service to the community.
At a ceremony Thursday afternoon at The Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma presented them with the Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour made to mark the crowning of His Majesty King Charles III.
The recipients include Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Elder Xele’milh-Doris Paul, Iranian philanthropist and calligraphist Massoud Karimaei, former City of North Vancouver mayor Darrell Mussatto and Mike Danks, fire chief for the District of North Vancouver and former North Shore Rescue team leader.
The medal was launched my Governor General Mary Simon, and will be awarded to 30,000 people who have made significant contributions across Canada.
Ma said she was honoured to nominate the worthy community members to recognize their contributions to North Vancouver and beyond.
“Our province is a better place for people in our communities because of these recipients, and I’m so grateful for their leadership, dedication, and their shared goal of making the world a kinder, safer place,” she said.
First, Ma gave the medal to Paul, a residential school survivor and Indigenous educator whose advocacy work began nearly two decades ago when she saw the harms substance use was inflicting on youth in her community.
Since then, her continued efforts have led to the creation of bodies like North Vancouver RCMP’s Integrated First Nations Unit, the First Nations Court and the North Vancouver Integrated Domestic Violence Unit.
Paul said she uses her past as an experience to touch the future, “to reach every heart, one hug at a time, to teach the past of the historical trauma and the systematic effects caused by [it].”
“We’re all here to lift them up again,” she said.
Next to receive the medal was Karimaei, founder of the Society of Iranian Canadian Professionals of British Columbia, which Ma said has helped foster meaningful connections and empower Iranian professionals across the province.
As a master of Persian calligraphy Karimaei also founded of the Iranian Calligraphers Association of North America, which offers calligraphy and art classes to anyone interested. He’s also head of the Persian Culture and Art Institute.
“Those two organizations celebrate and preserve the rich artistic heritage of Persian calligraphy and other artistic fields,” Ma said.
Mike Danks's leadership led to North Shore Rescue being one of the world's most advanced SAR teams, minister says
Ma then introduced Mussatto, who was mayor of North Vancouver City for 13 years (from 2005 to 2018) and councillor for 12 years prior. During that time, he spearheaded many projects including The Shipyards and the Green Necklace scenic loop.
“These are just a few examples of how Darrell’s vision brought to life some of the most beloved places in our community during his tenure,” Ma said.
Mussatto emphasized the collaboration required to make meaningful work happen.
“To receive this recognition is great, but I do that knowing that there’s so many others out there that are doing that much more,” he said.
Last to receive the medal was Danks, who Ma nominated specifically in her role as B.C.'s Minister of Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
Before stepping down from the post of North Shore Rescue team leader earlier this year to assume his new role as DNV fire chief, Danks dedicated 28 years of his life to the search and rescue outfit. He began volunteering there at just 19 years old.
“As the head of North Shore rescue for over 10 years, Mike demonstrated extraordinary leadership, which has made North Shore Rescue one of the most advanced volunteer rescue organizations in the world,” Ma said.
She said that Danks's ability to build bridges led to advancements such as night hoists being approved by the B.C. government in 2022.
The people who brought him up and his teammates have allowed him to accomplish some pretty amazing things, Danks said.
“It wouldn’t be possible without a community, and I mean that as a whole,” he said. “It’s not just the team members, it’s not just your staff, it’s the community. And I think we’re so lucky here on the North Shore to have that support.”
