Following an online and phone-in vote — which itself followed a month-long nomination process — Sirdar's Shannon Nickish is one of four Nelson-Creston residents who will receive a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from MLA Michelle Mungall.
“I am very excited and pleased with the whole selection process,” said Mungall. “There were so many people involved in deciding the recipients of this prestigious award, and the choices are clearly well respected pillars of their communities.”
Nickish, who owns Sirdar General Store, earned her nomination through involvement in a variety of community groups, as well as her dedication to being the small community’s unofficial historian.
Tasked with distributing four medals, the selection process started with an open call for nominations in August, from which a four community members — representing the Creston Valley, Nelson and area, Ymir-Salmo and Kaslo-North Kootenay Lake — created a shortlist of 13. Everyone in the Nelson-Creston riding was then asked to vote online or by phone, selecting one person from each of the areas.
After the nearly 700 votes were tallied, Kaslo's Bruce Walker, Nelson's Joan Reichardt and Salmo's Dorothy Hearn joined Nickish — who was nominated alongside Creston's Phil Thomas and Anne Hepher — as recipients. They will be honoured at a ceremony hosted by Mungall in 2013.
“I want to congratulate and thank everyone that was nominated, submitted a nomination, and voted,” said Mungall. “We are very lucky to live in such engaged communities, and it is wonderful to recognize those working to make our country great.”