The awards, which are accompanied by a $5,000 bursary, are given annually to individuals who have shown remarkable determination towards pursuing their rehabilitation goals at G.F. Strong Centre and have, in turn, regained their personal independence. BC Rehab hosts the event in the GF Strong gymnasium and presented up to eight awards to recipients from across British Columbia.
The award program is designed to recognize individuals who have been faced with life-changing injuries and have demonstrated courage and perseverance in regaining their personal independence. Gert Vorsteher lived in Kamloops, BC, where he worked as a carpenter. A 1962 workplace accident left Mr. Vorsteher a paraplegic and he was sent to GF Strong for rehabilitation. Upon his death, Mr. Vorsteher left a financial gift to BC Rehab and requested that the donation be used to fund an annual awards program. To date, $540,000 has been awarded to 112 individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated incredible perseverance and determination in their journey to personal independence. Please contact the BC Rehab office for more information at info@bcrehab.org
2009 – 2024 GVA Winners
Jason Overend, Heriot Bay
Spencer Arnold, Chilliwack
Brian Jang, Vancouver
Joel Fafard, Roberts Creek
Thomas DuBoyce, Vancouver
Turner Churchill, Vancouver
Marta Pawlik, North Vancouver
Marlene Bothe, Richmond
Christina Blaine, Maple Ridge
Chantelle Grafton, Prince George
Ryan Hietanen, Vancouver
Ainsley Wood, Kelowna
Brooke Erickson, Vancouver
Steve Graffi, Delta
Doug Henderson, Chilliwack
Gloria Letona, Burnaby
Diana Mohammad Munir, Burnaby
Sean Tamaki, Burnaby
Allan Wilson, Parksville
Stephen “John” Willis, Hagensborg
Dylan Cross, Sechelt
Carl Fogale, Delta
Jonalen Gamis, Richmond
Tiana Hesmert, Richmond
Leo Sammarelli, Vancouver
Kirsten Sharp, Vancouver
Brad Skeats, Vancouver
Chern Siong Lau, Vancouver
George Astrakianakis, Vancouver
Daniel Duffy , Vancouver
Walid Huseini, Vancouver
Danielle Linfoot, Pitt Meadows
Kathryn Simpson, Richmond
Louisa Brideman , North Vancouver
Kelly Brooks, Cranbrook
Aaron Goodis, Vancouver
Mezene Kebede , Vancouver
Richard Peter, Vancouver
Kristen Ursel, Victoria
Thomas Venos, Anmore
Hunki (Peter) Yeo, Victoria
Walt Lawrence, Delta
Bonnie Zhu, Richmond , Richmond
James Mcleod , Cherryville
James Ryan , Chilliwack
Kris Harrison , Vancouver
Lindsay O’Connell, Deroche
Shannon Elmer, Vancouver
William Mc Creight, Kamloops
Peggy Assinck , Vancouver
Wanda Huynh , Vancouver
Christine Jorgensen , Vancouver
Pierce Paxton Pineau , Abbotsford
Cole Rutter , Maple Ridge
Patricia Peters , D’arcy
Alanna Jones , Surrey
Daniel Hunt, Vancouver
Riley Inge , Vancouver
Kulwinder Jagpal , Surrey
Mike Shaw , Coldstream
Heman Ly , Vancouver
Trent Seymour, Prince George
Michele Grant, Whitehorse
Amit Sharma, Surrey
Kyle Jacques, Vancouver
Thomas Martin, Penticton
Lisa Chan, Vancouver
Norine Chubb, Vancouver
Adel Othman, Vancouver
Moses Chan, Vancouver
Angela Choi, Vancouver
Sandrine Ekoko, Vancouver
San Hau, Vancouver
Mustafa Hasan, Burnaby
Sean Lynn, Vancouver
Richard Morrison, Surrey
Mujtaba Saloojee, Gibsons
Janie Rae Gaudet, Aldergrove
Kyle Andrew Gieni, Vancouver
Byron Green, Vancouver
Joel Libin, Vancouver
Matthew Loring, Salmon Arm
Chelsea Stamp-Vincent, New Westminster
Norma Vincent, Abbotsford
John Daziel, Powell River
Dee Fisher, Vancouver
Daniel LeBlanc (posthumous acknowledgment), Vancouver
David Parke, North Vancouver
Tessa Schmidt, Vancouver
Jeff Scott, Whistler
Amanda Yan, Burnaby
Peter Chisholm, North Vancouver
Kent Goulet, Vancouver
Brian Hickey, North Vancouver
Olga Kalamkarova, Vancouver
John Kamp, Port Moody
Klaus Nielsen, Burnaby
Alvin Schulz, Port Alberni
Kaspar Shouldice, Victoria
D.J. Lam, Vancouver
Dustin Paul, Vancouver
Jason Costa, Vancouver
Simon Paradis, Halfmoon Bay
Jennifer Watterston, Errington
Carla Boyarchuk, Kelowna, Vancouver