A realtor who manages the Macdonald Realty offices in Coquitlam and Maple Ridge was praised last month by his peers.
Harvey Exner was named the third recipient of the professional excellence award by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) during the group's annual president's recognition dinner on March 25. Exner started his career in 1979 and, over the years, has been a real estate course instructor, has served on the board's agency task force and managed its member services, and has participated on the BC Real Estate Association's standards forms committee.
Meanwhile, Patricia Simpson, also with Macdonald Realty in Coquitlam, was recognized by the REBGV for her fundraising and volunteering efforts in the community. Simpson chairs the Evening of Caring Gala for the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, which collected $235,000 last year. She also works with the Soroptimists of the Tri-Cities, organizing monthly dinners and clothing giveaways for women and sponsoring needy families during the holiday season. As well, Simpson volunteers with the realtors' annual Care Blanket Drive.
A parent company recently honoured a Port Coquitlam franchisee with a national award named after his late parent. LifeMark Health Management presented Hal Mykolaishyn of MEDIchair with the 2010 Harry Mykolaishyn Best Dressed Store Award, which recognizes overall store layout, design and presentation. "Since MEDIchair honored my father's passing in 2005 with the Harry Mykolaishyn Best Dressed Store Award, it has been a dream of mine to win that award," Hal Mykolaishyn said in a news release. "That dream came true this year and I couldn't be more proud of that accomplishment." Mykolaishyn opened MEDIchair on Kingsway Avenue in PoCo last November.
Share Family and Community Services recently renewed its annual agreement with a Coquitlam land developer to use its building. The 12,000-square foot former industrial building on Clarke Street in Port Moody is owned by Wesbild and was renovated for Share services - including the food bank - about six years ago. "As an organization with a number of staff that live and work in the Tri-Cities, we are delighted to be able to give back through Share," Wesbild president and CEO Kevin Layden said in a news release. "Share supports the quality of life of all families in the Tri-Cities."
A Coquitlam Scout will be in Victoria tomorrow (Saturday) to receive the organization's highest honour. Along with 39 other B.C. Scouts, Yu Chieh Tseng will be presented with the Queen's Venturer Scout Award by Lt.-Gen. Steven Point. The award is given to Venturer Scouts who have shown the character and ability to be of significant help to other people. It consists of a cloth emblem and a parchment certificate signed by the Governor-General of Canada.
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