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West Van residents receive Order of British Columbia

Two longtime West Vancouver residents were recognized with the highest honour in the province on Thursday for their selfless contributions to the community. Paul Myers and Lance S.G.

Two longtime West Vancouver residents were recognized with the highest honour in the province on Thursday for their selfless contributions to the community.

Paul Myers and Lance S.G. Finch were among 16 British Columbians appointed to the Order of British Columbia at Government House in Victoria.

Myers, whose family has lived on the North Shore for 78 years, said he was always the quiet person in the background and was very surprised when he learned he would be receiving the award.

“I got a phone call from the government on my office phone and I thought: ‘What kind of a scam is this?’” Myers said. “According to the government, this is the highest award they can give to their people, so I don’t know how on earth I earned that.”

Myers said he was overwhelmed by the ceremony and refers to his family being one of his biggest successes. “I have four kids, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I guess that’s something,”

Myers donated $25 million to the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation in September 2015.

“I’m just a plumber who worked hard and had some good luck in my life,” Myers told the North Shore News at the time of the donation. “I can’t take it with me.”

Finch, who is a retired chief justice of the B.C. Court of Appeal, was known for his thoughtful decisions, according to the release. He had previously expressed his concerns over access to justice for those who earn too much to qualify for legal aid, but too little to afford a lawyer.

Order of B.C. recipients are selected by an independent advisory committee, who this year made their selection from among 175 B.C. residents who were nominated.

– with files from Maria Spitale-Leisk