Peter Legge awarded Order of British Columbia

Canada Wide Media Limited Chairman and CEO, Peter Legge, is one of fifteen British Columbians who will be awarded British Columbia's highest honour - the Order of B.C. It was announced on May 28, 2008 by Lieutenant- Governor Steven Point, Chancellor of the Order.

"The Order of British Columbia is this province's highest recognition of their excellence, their achievement, and their citizenship," Lt.-Gov. Point said.

Mr. Peter Legge has created impressive results everywhere he has devoted his energies - in business, in leading community initiatives, and in charity fundraising.

He built Canada Wide Media Limited into Western Canada's largest independent magazine publisher, with more than 50 magazines, employing more than 130 British Columbians. He has devoted a great deal of time and energy to community initiatives, chairing or serving on the boards of a large number of community agencies.

Mr. Legge's fundraising skills are legendary. In 2001, Simon Fraser University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for raising $20 million for 40 different charities over 20 years. For 32 consecutive years, he has served as co-host of the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon, which raised more than $130 million over that period.

His other fundraising efforts have been equally impressive. He chaired the Canadian Red Cross Rwanda Relief Campaign, helped the Salvation Army raise over a million dollars in five years, and has hosted the Peter Legge Charity Golf Classic for 12 years.

Considered Canada's top public speaker, Mr. Legge is sought after to host charity events. He is one of 18 ambassadors to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Recipients of the Order of British Columbia have been selected from public nominations by an independent advisory committee. The Advisory Council, chaired by British Columbia Chief Justice Lance Finch, also includes Bill Barisoff, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; Dr. Allan Cahoon, president of Royal Roads University; Susan Gimse, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities; Robert Lapper, QC, associate deputy minister of the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat; and two previous recipients of the Order, Sudarshan Bakshi of Richmond and the late Josephine Mills of Mill Bay.

The Order of British Columbia is the province's highest honour for outstanding achievement. Since the Order was first introduced in 1989, 274 people have received the award.

Recipients of the Order of British Columbia have been selected from public nominations by an independent advisory committee. The Advisory Council, chaired by British Columbia Chief Justice Lance Finch, also includes Bill Barisoff, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; Dr. Allan Cahoon, president of Royal Roads University; Susan Gimse, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities; Robert Lapper, QC, associate deputy minister of the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat; and two previous recipients of the Order, Sudarshan Bakshi of Richmond and the late Josephine Mills of Mill Bay.

The Order of British Columbia is the province's highest honour for outstanding achievement. Since the Order was first introduced in 1989, 274 people have received the award.

The Order of B.C. investiture ceremony will be held for recipients and invited guests at Government House in Victoria on June 26, 2008, at 1 p.m.