Susan Byrom has been recognized by the King for her decades of community work, and specifically for her tireless efforts feeding the hungry.
Byrom, who is executive director of First West Foundation 鈥� the charitable arm of 黑马磁力-based First West Credit Union and its regional divisions 鈥� was recently awarded the King Charles III's Coronation Medal in recognition of her significant contributions to B.C. communities, and outstanding leadership in community development and philanthropy.
"I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition," Byrom said.
The medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada and recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada or to a particular community.
Only 30,000 medals are being awarded nationwide, making this recognition particularly distinguished.
Byrom has dedicated more than two decades to strengthening communities by building an impressive career spanning both private and non-profit sectors. Known for her humble leadership style and exceptional ability to build lasting relationships, she consistently attributes successes to collective efforts of community partners, said Dan Huang-Taylor, CEO of Food Banks BC, who nominated and presented her with the medal.
"This medal truly belongs to the incredible community leaders, volunteers, and organizations I've had the privilege to work alongside," said Byrom.
"Every day, I witness ordinary people doing extraordinary things to lift up their neighbours and strengthen their communities. My role has simply been to help connect resources with the remarkable people who are doing the real work of building stronger, more resilient communities," she shared. "This honour reflects their dedication, and I鈥檓 fortunate to be part of something much bigger than myself."
Her expertise spans financial literacy, youth development, and community wellness, with a particular passion for addressing food insecurity and its root causes.
Under her guidance, First West Foundation and First West Credit Union has supported hundreds of community organizations.
Byrom's commitment to addressing food insecurity is exemplified through her past leadership with the Surrey Food Bank, where she served on the board for five years, ending with her tenure as board chair. During this time, she grew her knowledge of innovative approaches to food access that address both immediate needs and systemic issues.
She has provided her expertise on numerous community boards and panel discussions, consistently focusing on building bridges between sectors and creating collaborative solutions to complex challenges, Huang-Taylor said.
"This is a rare honour to acknowledge one of Food Banks BC's dearest friends. What makes Susan truly special is that she would be the last person to seek recognition like this 鈥� she's always focused on lifting others up. Her warmth, compassion, and selfless passion are unique, and B.C.'s food banks are better for it. I consider it the greatest privilege to be presenting the King Charles III Coronation Medal to Susan. This award truly represents the lasting impact she has made on communities across our province," Huang-Taylor said.
"The most rewarding part of this work is knowing that the relationships we've built and the initiatives we've supported will long outlive my tenure at First West Foundation," Byrom interjected, reflecting on her career and the future of community development.
"It's exciting to see how these partnerships continue to grow and evolve, creating new opportunities for community impact that we never could have imagined when we first started."
The foundation, with assets of more than $21 million, uses income generated from its endowments to help communities thrive. Established in 1996, the First West Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in grants to local community groups and projects.
Late this spring First West donated $100,000 to Food Banks BC. This significant contribution will aid Food Banks BC in its ongoing efforts to provide essential services to those in need, said Launi Skinner, CEO at First West Credit Union.
鈥淥ur partnership with Food Banks BC goes well beyond monetary support for us 鈥� it's a heartfelt commitment to uplift and empower those in need during their most vulnerable moments,鈥� Skinner said. 鈥淥ur food bank partners are all telling us the same thing 鈥� donations are down and the demand for their services is up. As a leader in this space, it鈥檚 our duty to not only step up as a donor, but also as an advocate, by encouraging other organizations to find ways to help alleviate hunger in our communities.鈥�
Food Banks BC has seen a significant increase in demand for their services, with visits to food banks rising by more than 80 per cent since 2019. The organization continues to advocate for immediate food access and long-term solutions to prevent hunger, emphasizing the need for affordable housing and living wages.
鈥淔ood banks have had to adapt to numerous challenges, from supply chain issues to increased operational costs. Yet, the determination to serve our communities remains strong. We are constantly evolving to meet the growing needs, and this resilience is what gives us hope for the future,鈥� said Huang-Taylor. 鈥淎s the number of visits to food banks continues to increase, we are incredibly grateful for the dedication of donors like First West to ensure that we can continue to provide for those in need.鈥�
First West Credit Union's signature cause programs 鈥� Feed the Valley and The Full Cupboard 鈥� are designed to raise food, funds and awareness for food banks across B.C. Since 2010, through team member-led fundraising and community partnerships, First West and its community brands, Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District Financial, have raised approximately $5.6 million and collected 215,561 pounds of food for local food banks.
For more information about First West Credit Union's community initiatives, people can visit .
