Elder Gwen Harry, a respected member of the Squamish Nation, is among 15 people set to receive the prestigious Order of British Columbia this year. This honour is the highest recognition the province offers to its citizens.
At 94 years old, Harry will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 16, at a ceremony held at Government House in Victoria. The 2025 recipients are recognized for their outstanding contributions to British Columbia and beyond.
Harry’s award highlights her lifelong dedication to education, healing, and economic development. Her work has inspired collaborative reconciliation efforts across the province. A survivor of residential school, she has spent more than seven decades advocating for Indigenous culture and community wellbeing.
As a Squamish Nation member living in the District of Squamish, Harry has had a profound impact locally and provincially. In the 1960s, she founded Totem Preschool, one of Canada’s first Indigenous early learning centres. She also served as a Nation councillor and played a key role in important agreements, including those related to the Sea to Sky Highway and Aboriginal Enhancement.
Harry’s influence extended to higher education when she helped found Quest University. She was honored with the university’s first honorary doctorate. In her name, the Gwen Harry Award for Indigenous Students now supports future leaders.
A spokesperson for the Squamish Nation, councillor Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, praised Harry’s lifelong work. He said her leadership in storytelling, ceremonies, and land-based teachings has strengthened connections between generations. The award recognizes her steadfast commitment to healing, education, and preserving Squamish culture.
This award adds to a long list of honors Harry has received. Among them are the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, nominated by a former Squamish mayor, and the Freedom of the Municipality, awarded by another past mayor. She also earned the Remarkable Woman Award from the City of Vancouver, which was displayed in post offices across the Lower Mainland.
Other recognitions include the Squamish Nation Leadership Award and the Youth Encounter Blanket Exercise Award from the Multicultural Society.
Despite not having a formal degree, Harry credits her passion and volunteer spirit for her success in empowering her community’s children. She shared that her family has pursued diverse paths, including business, culture, policing, art, coaching, council leadership, and spirituality.
Harry emphasized that she learned from elders and mentors who passed down their knowledge. Now, her nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continue to learn the Squamish language and traditions.
Wendy Cocchia, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and Chancellor of the Order of British Columbia, called it a “profound privilege” to honor this year’s recipients. She said their dedication and vision have left a lasting impact on communities across the province. Their work helps build a stronger and more inclusive British Columbia for future generations.
Premier David Eby also congratulated the recipients. He noted their efforts have improved life for many British Columbians and serve as inspiration to others to give back to their communities.
