Leona Green may not be able to walk on water – but she’s got a knack for improving the lives of folks from all walks of life.
The New Westminster resident is set to receive a B.C. Community Achievement Award, which celebrate British Columbians who go above and beyond in their dedication and service to others and who devote time and energy to making their communities more caring, dynamic, beautiful, healthy and unique. The province established the B.C. Achievement Foundation in 2003 to celebrate excellence in community service, enterprise, arts and humanities.
“What doesn’t she do?” said former city councillor Lorrie Williams, who nominated Green for the award. “I wrote in one of the letters that she helps hospitals, animals, the homeless, sports teams, church groups – the only thing she doesn’t do is walk on water.”
Homeless shelters, animal shelters, pensioners, lacrosse teams, anti-domestic violence campaigns and hospital foundations are just some of the causes Green has supported.
“Do you know anybody else in the city that has such a variety of things that they support?” Williams said of Green and her team at Greens and Beans Deli. “There’s lots of good people in the city – we are kind of lucky here in New Westminster. We have got great people, but Leona stands above in the sense that she does everything. I don’t know anybody she has turned down.”
Green, who was New Westminster’s Citizen of the Year in 2004, owns Greens and Bean Deli in Sapperton with her son Matthew.
“I don’t feel like I really deserve it,” Green said of the award. “The things I do, I do because I can. For instance, I donate soup to the shelters – but I make six kinds of soup a day. What’s it to make a seventh? And I deliver it there, but it’s on my way home. I am not going out of my way. I go to Guatemala every year to help the dogs, but I am lucky that I have a friend there who has a house there. I am lucky I can help the dogs down there the way I do because I have such wonderful customers.”
Aside from December when tips left at Greens and Beans go to staff, money left in tip jars at the deli go to various charities.
“We do a lot of stuff, but I couldn’t do it without having the deli and without having such wonderful customers,” Green said.
As part of her nomination package, Williams also gathered letters of support from various groups Green has supported and community leaders, including the mayor, the police chief and the fire chief.
“She epitomizes commitment and dedication to the community,” wrote WINGS executive director Lorrie Wasyliw in her letter of support for Green’s nomination. “She is well respected by people from every walk of life. People know they can count on her. Her positive influence in people’s lives cannot be estimated.”
Recipients of this year’s awards will be recognized in a formal presentation ceremony at Government House in Victoria on May 1, when they will receive a certificate and a medallion designed by BC artist Robert Davidson.
“Our communities are made stronger by British Columbians who go above and beyond,” said Premier John Horgan in a press release. “Thanks to the 2019 recipients for helping build a better province for everyone.”
