Kwantlen Polytechnic University nursing instructor Dr. Balbir Gurm has been named a recipient of the 2021 BC Achievement Foundation Community Award.
The BC Achievement Foundation says the award honours excellence and recognizes the contributions of extraordinary British Columbians who build better, stronger and more resilient communities while being shining examples of dedication and service.
“I am honoured to be recognized by my colleagues for the volunteer work that I engage in to improve communities,” says Gurm. “I hope that it will inspire others in privileged positions to help those less fortunate and work on decreasing health care disparities by focusing on the determinants of health.”
Gurm is the founder of Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR), a team working across multiple disciplines and sectors to address relationship violence. The network has grown to include 200 participating organizations, groups and individual members.
To help combat the relationship violence, especially during the COVID -19 pandemic, Gurm and her team launched an e-book last year called Making Sense of a Global Pandemic: Relationship Violence & Working Together Towards a Violence Free Society
As a nursing instructor at KPU, Gurm was recognized by the foundation as “a role model for students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, inspiring them to become fellow agents for change.”
The Community Award winners were announced by B.C. Premier John Horgan and foundation chairperson Anne Giardini.
“This year’s Community Awardees are, without exception, remarkable British Columbians who have strengthened their communities during challenging times,” says Horgan. “As a result of their commitments to causes beyond themselves, they have ensured that B.C. is a better province for all of us.”
“Balbir continues to be a shining example of community service and is a valuable and active contributor to our KPU community. Balbir is so deserving of this award, and I am so pleased to see her recognized for her efforts,” adds Sharmen Lee, Dean, Faculty of Health at KPU.