Ladysmith’s health care workers and the Vancouver Island Health Authority were named the 2021 Citizens of the Year at Ladysmith Days Kinsmen Parade on August 1.

“It’s an honour to have our health care workers of Ladysmith be recognized,” Faye Hjort, team lead at the Ladysmith Health Centre said.

Health care workers were chosen as citizens of the year for their dedicated service to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Without health care workers and the success of Canada’s vaccine rollout, it’s unlikely events like Ladysmith Days would have occurred.

“This is really what we’ve been working for. Seeing things return to normal and seeing people out and able to celebrate,” Hjort said.

When asked what message they’d like to share with the public after being named citizens of the year, Mary Bradshaw who works as an immunizer in Parksville Qualicum had one clear message:

“Get vaccinated if you haven’t already.”