In the Community

Having spent much of her working life collecting donations for the Richmond Food Bank, it seemed an obvious choice for Lola Merenda when it came to where her volunteering time should be devoted to.

Jacqueline Roy was so busy enthusing about her voluntary work at the Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD) that she almost failed to mention she was a multiple gold medal winner at a Canadian Paralympics.

You would think there wouldn’t be much time left in the day after running two successful, but ultimately busy, businesses.

For those so inclined, giving back to the community can take the form of many guises. Some volunteer at their kid’s school, some coach the soccer team, while others fundraise for the food bank or clean out kennels at the animal shelter.

Ayako Turnbull has devoted almost half her life to volunteering to help those less fortunate

Ken Hung is used to providing his upmarket hair styling services to well-to-do clients. And his long list of accomplishments in Vancouver, Los Angeles and London, England speak to his rise in the hair fashion industry.

With the ability to cry on cue and sing a show tune, Francoise Varnes had the makings of a fine community theatre performer. “I was so good at playing Little Red Riding Hood. I could cry with real tears, nobody else could do that.

By all accounts, sisters Sandi and Flo Knapp are pretty savvy shoppers when it comes to collecting customer rewards and capitalizing on bargains. And they are even better at putting all of that to good use to benefit Richmond’s disadvantaged.

Welcome to this edition of the News’ Readers’ Choice Awards, where we celebrate the businesses, community groups andndividuals who make Richmond the dynamic and prosperous city it is.

The Poppy. A familiar emblem that appears each year throughout the Commonwealth to commemorate Remembrance Day and honour members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.