Carole Taylor broke ground as a journalist and has never stopped since. She has always seen service and giving back as part of life, which has driven her to a career path that includes being a chancellor of Simon Fraser University and a political career as an MLA and Minister of Finance. Most notably, she introduced North America’s first carbon tax, which served as a model for other provinces and states, as well as ending the corporate capital tax on banks.

Michael Bublé is perhaps one of the most well-known musical performers from British Columbia. Since he was a young child in Burnaby, he knew he wanted to sing – but he had to balance that with his dreams of being a hockey player. This love of singing and hockey has influenced his style and passions to this day.

John Montalbano did not come from money but he ended up being responsible for billions of dollars. Growing up, he experienced the pressures of living up to his parents’ expectations, with no role models to follow. It was not a path that he expected to follow, leading him to become one of BC’s most influential angel investors.

When Danny Sitnam saw an opportunity to connect Vancouver and Victoria via the skies, the answer was obvious. As a licensed pilot, it felt only natural that he would start a helicopter company that provided reliable and regular service between those two key British Columbia cities, making Helijet a widely recognized name in the province.

Making a difference has always been a top skill of Tamara Vrooman. As the former CEO of Vancity and current CEO of Vancouver International Airport, she has sought out to make positive change everywhere she works – it is what drives her passion and mission.

Look on the eastern shore of False Creek and you’ll see one of the most well-known icons and buildings of Vancouver. Stanley Kwok was the man behind this project, transforming the former Expo lands into the neighbourhood it is today – and facing the challenge of convincing longtime Vancouver residents that densification was the right thing to do.

Stephanie Cadieux knows what she wants to do and has found a way to do it. That in itself can be an elusive goal and it is not without difficulty. She knew that she wanted to make a difference, entering politics and putting herself in a position to help shape her community. But through a series of encounters and a lot of hard work, she has now found herself in one of the most meaningful roles in her life, as Canada’s first chief accessibility officer.

Cancer research is in Allen Eaves’s blood – and that is nearly a pun, considering he is one of the biggest names in leukemia and stem cell research. Through his contributions with the Terry Fox Foundation, as hematology professor at the University of British Columbia, and founder of STEMCELL Technologies, he has continued to answer his life’s calling to improve the lives of British Columbians with cancer and promote scientific breakthroughs in the world of biotech.

Xwalacktun is one of Canada’s most well known Squamish and Kwakwaka'wakw sculptors and carvers. His wood carvings can be found throughout the province, telling stories of healing and growth. Fittingly, this led to him being the first indigenous artist to be granted a license to create art related to an Olympic Games, when the event came to Vancouver in 2010. Today, he continues to give back to the community through teaching and furthering reconciliation in Canada.

Larry Goldenberg and Paula Gordon are not only husband and wife, but they are also two of BC’s experts in cancer care: Larry for prostate cancer and Paula for breast cancer. Paula has been key to establishing a Breast Health Fellowship at BC Women’s Hospital and Cancer Centre, while Larry has been instrumental in developing the Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. Together, they have vastly improved and prolonged the lives of British Columbians with cancer.

Bill Good has been a familiar name, voice, and face to British Columbians for decades. Coming from a prominent broadcasting family, he went from radio and worked his way to television, becoming one of the most recognizable news anchors in the province. His presence was a constant and trusted source of information – a constant in an industry that is ever changing.

Ned Bell is more than just a chef – he also advocates for healthy oceans and waterways, through his work with Chefs for Oceans, which aims to promote sustainable seafood. He believes that food can do so much more than just feed people – it can promote health while maintaining a balance with the nature where it comes from. His mission to promote food goes above and beyond in every way imaginable.

Bonnie Henry is one of today’s most well known public servants. After having a long career in medicine, including time spent with Canada’s naval service and overseas in Pakistan and Uganda, she became BC’s provincial health officer in 2018. Through her role, she monitors the health of all British Columbians and undertakes measures for disease prevention and control and health protection. Most notably, she entered the public spotlight as the voice of BC’s COVID-19 pandemic response, offering a steady hand in a very unsteady situation.

Jack Austin is a man with seemingly three separate lives – as a politician, teacher in law, and corporate executive. His work has shaped Canada’s relationship with the Asia-Pacific region, formed business deals with the United States, and readied Vancouver for Expo 86, with many of those pieces later playing key roles in the 2010 Winter Olympics. His work has helped secure the long-term future of British Columbia.

Peter Dhillon is known for his family cranberry growing business, The Richberry Group of Companies, which has become an economic driver in British Columbia. But his true impact on BC lies with his philanthropic and charitable service. It is not an exaggeration to say that his work has shaped the province, through serving on the boards of nearly every major organization possible. And his work has honour as well, through establishing the Rashpal Dhillon Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Endowment and the Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Centre in the memory of his father. He wants to secure the future of BC in every way possible.

Crystal Smith’s journey to becoming Chief of the Haisla First Nation is not too surprising to many. Before she rose to that role, she already made a name for herself by advocating for opportunities for the Haisla community, including in employment and business. She wants to make her community prosper and strive towards true economic reconciliation.

Joe Average’s story is literally a dream come true. While he had always been interested in drawing and photography, he felt motivated to add fuel to that passion after being diagnosed with HIV in 1984. Since then, he has become an award-winning artist in Canada, particularly in helping to de-stigmatize and empower the LGBTQ community.

When mentioning Vancouver, sports, and leadership, Trevor Linden is most likely the first name to come to mind. After a long career as the captain of the Vancouver Canucks, he has not stopped or slowed down, shifting quickly to owning one of the most recognizable fitness brands in British Columbia. Vancouver loves Trevor Linden, and the feeling is mutual.

Over four decades as a journalist, Daphne Bramham has seen the news industry move from typewriters to computers to remote work. Just like the news industry, the world changed around her as well – including Vancouver’s transformation from a sleepy forestry town on the coast to a bustling metropolis with big-city news. And she was there to document much of it, winning several awards in the process.

Dedicating a lifetime of commitment to Indigenous rights, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip has always stood up for what he believes in and looked out for the rights of BC’s First Nations, regardless of the risks and price.