City of White Rock officials recognized dozens of employees for long service and excellence recently, during a staff appreciation event at the White Rock Community Centre.
The Jan. 11 ceremony also included the presentation of federal Fire Services Exemplary Service medals and B.C. Long Service medals to eight career and auxiliary firefighters.
Deputy fire Chief Bob Schlase was cited for 30 years of service; Capts. Steve Block and Dale Orser, along with firefighter Mike Stark were congratulated for 25 years of service; and Capt. Ed Wolfe, firefighters James Davison and Scott Hamilton and auxiliary firefighter Darren Phillips were noted for 20 years of service.
Fire Chief Phil Lemire noted the medals are not necessarily specific to the firefighters' years in White Rock, and may, in the case of career firefighters, include time served on auxiliary crews.
City long-service awards went to Ian Pither (30 years); Dale Orser (25 years); Janna Nicholson (20 years); Paula Almeida, Bonne Hardeo, David Jacobs, Genik Lankowski and Chris Smith (15 years); and Jenine Kalil, Ying Lin, Dianne Sawicki-Pederson, Jacqueline Spoor and Inderjit Virk.
Another seven staffers received Employee Excellence Awards, for "demonstrated excellence in the workplace": Owen Dadivas, Matthew Green, Shannon Johnson, Wolf Zelazo, J.T. Hibberd, Marla Boos and Kristina O'Clery.
A Team Award was presented to Barbara Andrews, Jayne Green, Bonnie Hardeo, Lori Ishikawa, Carmel Joy, Celina Stachan, Sandi Levy, Denise Reh and Heidi Quadri.