By Corey Fischer

Wise & Sidhu Honoured For Service

Apr 26, 2018 | 6:00 PM

Min Sidhu of Vernon (left) and Pete Wise of Coldstream (right) are joined by MLA Eric Foster at BC Community Achievement Awards in Victoria (Facebook)

A long time member of Vernon Search and Rescue has been honoured by the province — but he says it’s also an award for the organization.

“It’s for the work that the team has done over the years. We have become quite a force in the search and rescue business,” says Pete Wise.

The Coldstream resident and wildlife control expert, has spent over 50 years with the volunteer group, and he gets emotional when he talks about its impact.

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“It has done a tremendous job. And the number of lives that we have saved, and the number of events we’ve been on in support of the community, the fires and floods, it’s pretty dog-gone amazing,” says Wise.

Wise was one of 25 people presented with BC Community Achievement Awards by the Lieutenant Governor in Victoria this week.

Wise says a recent rescue near Westshore Estates was among his most memorable.

“Finding those two little boys on New Year’s Eve, it was pretty dog gone amazing, getting them out alive, because they would not have lived if they had been there much longer.”

Vernon’s Min Sidhu also received the honour for her community and government service.

“With 22 years of provincial government inner workings Min Sidhu has selflessly dedicated herself to the Vernon community,” says a release from the awards committee. “Serving on numerous community boards in the capacity of Director or President, such as the Okanagan Anti Racism Board, Multicultural Society of Vernon, Vernon Women’s Transition Board, ILearn BC and the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan. Min also founded the Vernon Punjabi Heritage Society, and now serves as its Honorary Chairperson. Her passion for her community and willingness to give and serve were recognized in 2011 when she was awarded the Vernon Woman of the Year Award.”

Click here for more on the awards.

by Corey Fischer