Longtime B.C. SPCA volunteer honoured

By Mark Corbett
Daily News

Monday, June 20, 2005

Norma LePage, a longtime animal welfare advocate from Nanaimo, was honoured for her contributions to protecting the rights of animals.

LePage was recognized at the B.C. SPCA’s Pathway to Success Conference and Annual General Meeting at Malaspina University College on Saturday.

LePage, who recently stepped down as a director, has been active on the provincial board for the last three years, but has been heavily involved in animal welfare issues since her and her husband started volunteering for the SPCA in Toronto nearly 40 years ago.

“The board will miss her very much,” said Mary Lou Troman, President of the B.C. SPCA. “Norma’s commitment to the animal welfare movement is beyond comparison. She’s been a phenomenal resource to us.”

Although LePage won’t be involved on a provincial level any longer, she will continue to serve as Chair of Nanaimo’s SPCA community council. Troman not only spoke highly of LePage, but had many positive things to say about Nanaimo as a venue for the conference.

“The reason we decided to have it here was because of the amazing opportunity provided by Malaspina and Human Resources Canada,” said Troman.

The Centre for Continuing Studies at Malaspina, along with Volunteer Nanaimo, helped deliver the workshops, which started on Thursday, and the Government of Canada contributed funds through the B.C. SPCA New Horizons Project in Nanaimo. Delegates were housed at the new student dormitory at the Malaspina campus.

The conference in Nanaimo also made history because “for the first time in 110 years, the B.C. SPCA has adopted consolidated, audited financial statements,” says Troman.

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