Two Castlegar residents awarded the Order of Red Cross for more than 50 years of service

Long-time Castlegar resident and Canadian Red Cross volunteer Deborah Lynn Chmara has been awarded the Order of Red Cross, the organization’s highest honour, in recognition of her decades of exceptional humanitarian service.

Her volunteer journey now spans more than 55 years and has taken her from British Columbia and the Yukon to crisis zones in Albania, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Liberia, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Now 70-years-old and living in Castlegar, Deborah continues to support her local Castlegar community through the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program.

Deborah is receiving this honour alongside fellow Castlegar resident Dr. Peter Morgenthaler, also a long-serving Red Cross volunteer. Peter has been involved with health-related Red Cross programs for more than 50 years.

“Deborah’s dedication over so many years is truly inspiring,” said Cheryl Kelly, Vice-President, People Services, Canadian Red Cross .” Volunteers like her are at the heart of the Canadian Red Cross, making a real difference in communities here at home and around the world. We’re grateful for her remarkable service and proud to recognize her with the Order of Red Cross.”

The Source reported, in 2019, on Chmara’s tireless contribution  (to read click here), and she says volunteerism is more important now than ever, and that she reaped great rewards for her work.

“Over five decades, the Red Cross stopped being something I volunteered for and became part of who I am,” she said. “Whether I was helping someone overseas or at home, the same principles carried me through. They never changed, and they always pointed me toward the people who needed help most.”