Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Clara Reinhardt is winding down her second, and last, term in office with another accolade – this time from Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC).

As National Forest Week was celebrated across the country last week, FPAC seized the opportunity to announce the recipients of its annual Awards of Excellence program – which recognizes the outstanding people across Canada who have made exceptional contributions to the forest sector and to forestry communities.

“The FPAC Awards of Excellence program is an opportunity to pay tribute to the remarkable people who help make our sector a world leader in sustainable forest management and who advance the many environmental, social, and economic benefits of Canadian forestry,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor.

“As we continue our transition to a low-carbon economy, Canada’s forest products sector is proud to honour the dedicated professionals who strengthen the benefits that sustainable forest management, forest products, and family-supporting forestry jobs provide to Canadians from coast-to-coast.”

Mayor Reinhardt is one of four people/groups receiving FPAC Community Champion Award, along with Todd Doherty – MP for Cariboo-Prince George, British Columbia, Dale Bumstead –City of Dawson Creek Mayor and Alberta Northwest Species at Risk Committee (NWSAR).

Reinhardt’s honour was noticed and lauded by Kootenay-Columbia MP Rob Morrison in Parliament.

“The Forest Products Association of Canada’s annual Awards of Excellence is an incredible program designed to recognize the dedicated professionals who work in Canada’s forestry sector and the academics, community leaders, and professionals who work hard to advance the environmental and economic benefits of Canadian forestry. I was honoured to rise in the House of Commons today (Sept. 23) to celebrate Clara Reinhardt, Mayor of Radium Hot Springs, for being recognized as a recipient of the Community Champion Award,” Morrison said.

“The forest sector is critical for Kootenay-Columbia, and Canada. It is important to recognize the dedication, sacrifice and hard work of community-minded individuals like Clara, who joined me on Parliament Hill today. On behalf of the Government of Canada and the Constituents of Kootenay-Columbia I thank you Clara for your service to community and offer a congratulations on your recognition as a community champion.”

Another East Kootenay resident also received a FPAC Partnership Award.

Jeff Bromley, with United Steelworkers (USW), based out of Cranbrook, was so honoured along with Indigenous Resource Network’s Robert Merasty of Calgary, Alberta.

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