A core member of the Lake Country community received their King Charles III Coronation Medal on Friday, Aug. 8.
In front of a crowd more than 60 people at the Lake Country Fire Hall, Executive Director of the Lake Country Food Assistance Society Joy Haxton was honoured and celebrated with the award.
Food Banks Canada nominated Haxton for the medal, which is a national honour that celebrates her remarkable leadership, deep compassion, and decades of dedicated service to Lake Country and beyond.
"Many people who know Joy Haxton, and I agree, say she's a force to be reckoned with," said Manager of Member Services at Food Banks BC Nick Johnson. "What makes Joy stand out is she doesn't come in loud or demanding attention, her influence grows in quieter ways."
After getting started in 2016, within a year she helped create the Helping Through Sharing Network, which has more than 50 organizations attached to it including food banks, First Nations groups, schools and more.
"You sit in my office and you're hoping sometimes that somebody is going to do something great, and there's someone been doing something great for so long, it's incredible," said Lake Country mayor Blair Ireland about Joy at Friday's event. "I can't think of a better person in our community to receive this medal, I think her heart is bigger than her body."
The group to celebrate Haxton consisted of her family and members of the community, but mostly her staff from the food bank. Included in the crowd was Rosalie Saddleman from the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB). In Haxton's time, she has helped grow the connection with OKIB.
"Joy has been instrumental in providing food to our people," said Saddleman, who presented Haxton with a painting made by OKIB artist David Wilson. "Our people are so thankful for you."
Over the years, Haxton has also worked closely with Peter's Independent Grocer in 91大黄鸭.
"The incredible work that Joy has done and organized for this valley is never before been shared," said Peter Boyd, owner of Peter's Independent Grocer. "It's been extremely gratifying to get to work with you. There's an amazing group of people in this room right now doing incredible work because of you."
After being praised, Haxton addressed the audience, adding she didn't expect over 60 people to be there.
"Today is overwhelming," said Haxton. "We're so fortunate here and were in such an amazing community. It's amazing to see the energy and the passion of all the people that are involved."
Haxton told Black Press Media she was "stunned" when she got the news she was nominated for the medal. She said Johnson called in either late February or early March to tell her.
Two other like-minded people in the food bank community around the Okanagan also received the honour this year - Judy Bedford in Peachland and Sharon Harvey in Cherryville.
"It's not just food being shared with Joy, it's trust, it's the sense of possibility, that even small communities can do big things when they work together," said Johnson. "Lake Country isn't a massive city with endless capacity, but what it has, what Joy has, is heart."
Because of rules that come with the honour, Haxton received the medal on June 17, which is the last official day to receive it. Friday's event finally gave people the chance to celebrate Haxton and her achievement.
"In the food bank world, we're champions, and we're the champions because of Joy," said Ireland.
As for Haxton, she said she doesn't see retirement in her future anytime soon.
