Longtime community advocate and former City Councillor, Diana Johnstone, has been awarded Nanaimo's highest civic honour the Freedom of the City. During a ceremony held on February 16, Nanaimo Mayor, Bill McKay, presented Mrs. Johnstone with a medal recognizing her three decades of community support, volunteering and committee work.
The Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community and the recipients are known as Freeman of the City. Mrs. Johnstone becomes the 32nd recipient of Nanaimo's Freedom of the City Honour.
Johnstone has held many high level committee positions in Nanaimo but, she is well known to the BC Games Society through her work in the BC Summer Games, BC Seniors Games and BC Disability Games.
“Although citizens do not serve their community for name recognition but rather for the love of their community it is quite obvious to me that had I not been so tremendously privileged to be part of the BC Games hosted in 1985, 2002, and 2014, BC Disability Games in 1987 and 2005 and the BC Seniors Games in 2007 I would not have been recognized with provincial and city awards and now with the tremendous honour of deemed a Freeman of the City,” said Johnstone.
“When I ran for council these past two terms I know that most of my supporters were friends and fellow volunteers that worked alongside me at these wonderful sport and cultural events. Together we became our city's ambassadors and welcomed the rest of the province to our wonderful Harbour City and as a default I have been honoured for having some of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life.”
“Diana Johnstone and Nanaimo Games go hand in hand”, said Kelly Mann, BC Games Society President and CEO. “It seemed at every turn in any of the BC Games held in Nanaimo, Di was there. Here leadership, community spirit and friendship were readily shared when it came to staging the BC Games. For her to be honoured in this way is testament to the value she brings to her city.”