• Awarded on: November 14, 2002

R. Berenice Haggarty, Burns Lake, British Columbia
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

Since 1953, Berenice Haggarty has served the Canadian Cancer Society as a volunteer driver, financial aid coordinator and patient services chair. She also started a support group for cancer patients and a hospice-palliative care room at the Burns Lake Hospital. For many years, she strove to improve access to higher education for the communities of northern B.C. Her efforts led to the establishment of new college campuses, including one in Burns Lake. She has also been active on her church pastoral committee and a summer youth camp. Mrs. Haggarty's profound commitment to cancer patients and to the creation of educational opportunities for youth have made a marked difference to Burns Lake and its residents.