March 17, 2010
Prince George Physician Honoured as 2010 B.C. Community Achiever

PRINCE GEORGE – Local Prince George physician Bert Kelly was among forty-five outstanding British Columbians named yesterday as the recipients of the seventh annual BC Community Achievement Awards by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

“Whether it is UNBC’s medical school or the Prince George Cancer Care Centre, Dr. Kelly has played a key leadership role in so many major projects that have forever changed the face of northern health care,” says Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell. “He is a very positive contributor to our community.”

“Dr. Kelly has worked tirelessly towards building better health care services for our region and his actions have directly benefited northern residents,” says Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond. “We are fortunate to have devoted, talented people working everyday to improve our community and Dr. Kelly is certainly among that group.”

“Bert has never hesitated to provide advice or direction related to improving our health care system and I am very proud that he has been chosen for this special provincial recognition,” adds Bond.

Since 2000, Dr. Bert Kelly has advocated for change in the delivery of health care in northern BC. Dr. Kelly was instrumental in the establishment of the Northern Medical program at the University of Northern BC and laboratory technology and radiology programs at the College of New Caledonia. In addition, Dr. Kelly has successfully campaigned for a comprehensive cancer care centre in Prince George.

The recipients of the 2010 British Columbia Community Achievement Awards will be recognized in a formal presentation at Government House in Victoria on April 28, 2010. Each individual will receive a certificate and a medallion designed by B.C. artist Robert Davidson.

The British Columbia Community Achievement Awards are generously sponsored by Canwest, Canada’s leading international media company, whose presence in B.C. includes daily and community newspapers, online media and television stations. The British Columbia Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of BC to recognize and celebrate excellence in the arts, humanities, enterprise and community service.

The Community Achievement Awards, launched in 2003, were the first initiative of the foundation, followed by BC Creative Achievement Award for Applied Art and Design, B.C.’s National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction, BC Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art, and the B.C. Aboriginal Business Awards.

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