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Two local women honoured for their commitment to Surrey’s urban Indigenous community

Combined, June Laitar and Beverley Dagg have supported affordable housing initiatives for 60 years
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June Laitar and Beverley Dagg were honoured by the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee at an event on April 21. (Photo submitted)

Grace Kennedy, Cloverdale Reporter

Local residents June Laitar and Beverly Dagg were recognized for their dedication to Surrey’s urban Indigenous community on April 21.

The Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee, made up of representatives from Aboriginal organizations throughout Surrey, honoured the two women for their more than 35 years of involvement in helping to create affordable housing for Indigenous people.

“June Laitar and Beverly Dagg have spent countless hours and many years volunteering for Indigenous organizations in our city,” Shelly Hill, CEO of the Kekinow Native Housing Society, said in a press release.

“Their efforts have contributed to the growing capacity of Indigenous organizations to advocate for culturally appropriate programs and services in Surrey.”

Laitar is a founding member of the Kekinow Native Housing Society, and has served as either the board president or the vice-president for more than 30 years. She has also a founding member of the Kla-How-Eya Aboriginal Centre, which provides social services to Surrey and Delta.

Dagg has also served on the Kekinow board more more than 30 years, nine of those years as president.

Because of their involvement, Kekinow expects to increase the number of affordable housing units for Indigenous people in the next three years.