A Summnerland woman has received a King Charles III's Coronation Medal for her philanthropic work.
Susan Byrom, executive director of First West Foundation, received the medal recognition of her contributions to B.C. communities and leadership in community development and philanthropy. She is one of 30,000 people in Canada to receive this recognition.
First West Foundation is the charitable partner of First West Credit Union and its regional divisions.
Byrom has spent more than two decades in her career, working with private and non-profit sectors.
“I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition," she said. "This medal truly belongs to the incredible community leaders, volunteers, and organizations I've had the privilege to work alongside.”
She has worked in financial literacy, youth development and community wellness, with a passion for addressing food insecurity and its root causes.
Through her efforts, First West Foundation and First West Credit Union have supported hundreds of community organizations.
In addition to her work with First West Foundation, Byrom has also been involved with the Surrey Food Bank, where she served on the board for five years, including a role as board chair.
Dan Huang-Taylor, chief executive officer of Food Banks BC, who nominated and presented the medal to Byrom, said, “This is a rare honour to acknowledge one of Food Banks BC’s dearest friends. What makes Susan truly special is that she would be the last person to seek recognition like this – she's always focused on lifting others up.”
