Buckendahl to receive Order of BC

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | 1 Comment

Two former Oliver residents will receive Order of BC soon.

 

 

 

pictured is Ross on left next to Chief Clarence Louie

 

Senator Ross Fitzpatrick of Peachland and former Oliver Mayor Hart Buckendahl of Penticton will receive the Order from the Lieutenant Governor.

 

Two longtime Okanagan residents will receive the Order of British Columbia.

Kelowna businessman and former senator Ross Fitzpatrick and former Oliver mayor Hart Buckendahl are among 13 B.C. residents who will receive the 2009 honour.

Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point will present the Order of B.C. at Government House in Victoria on September 16.

The announcements were made Monday.

Ross Fitzpatrick’s commitment to British Columbians is demonstrated in
many ways – business leader, volunteer, and ten years as a member of the
Canadian Senate. His special concern for First Nations has benefited the
Okanagan Nation economically, environmentally and spiritually.

During his career, Mr. Fitzpatrick founded businesses in the aerospace,
oil and gas, and mining industries. Business always meant caring for the
environment. One of the mines he developed was recognized as a “model
mine” by the U.S. Bureau of Lands and Management and it won various
environmental awards.

In 1986, Mr. Fitzpatrick turned his attention to agriculture as he
launched CedarCreek Estate Winery and pioneered planting vinifera grapes
to produce premium wines. He remains the proprietor of the winery and is
chairman of Greata Ranch.

As a senator from 1998 to 2008, Mr. Fitzpatrick’s work helped provide
federal funding for projects including women’s shelters and detox
centres. He supported the Westbank First Nations Self Government
Agreement and the First Nations Fiscal Agreement.

He has served on numerous boards and societies and has received awards
such as the Confederation Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee
Medal, the Freedom of the Town of Oliver, the Freedom of the City of
Kelowna and Westbank First Nation Recognition.

Hart Buckendahl is a former mayor of Oliver, B.C. But the one-time
politician has made it his passion to educate people about energy
efficiency, long before most people knew about greenhouse gas.

For 21 years Mr. Buckendahl championed the need to reduce electricity
consumption, and educated consumers by performing home energy audits,
installing water saver kits and recycling inefficient fridges. The
owner of a construction company, he was an early adopter of technology
that brings higher levels of energy efficiency into new and existing
homes.

In 1988, Buckendahl began working with West Kootenay Power (now
FortisBC) and enthusiastically publicized energy-saving tips on radio,
TV, home improvement shows and door-to-door.

His tireless efforts to bring compact fluorescent lights to greater use
by consumers resulted in sales jumping from 5,000 to 50,000 units
annually, and effected a significant transformation from incandescent
lights in 2003.

Mr. Buckendahl did not conserve his personal energy as he has also served
on numerous local boards, and was an instructor and supporter of the
Royal Canadian Air Cadets and Scout Movement.

He was elected to Oliver town council as a councillor and subsequently
served two terms as mayor.

Comments