JD student George Anderson – one of the youngest politicians ever elected to Nanaimo City Council who served for three years prior to joining Osgoode in 2015 – has been named one of this year’s recipients of the B.C. Community Achievement Awards.
George Anderson
Christy Clark , B.C. premier, and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, announced the award recipients in a media release issued April 26. The recipients, who are being honoured for their significant contribution to their community either as volunteers or in the course of their work, will be recognized in a formal presentation ceremony at Government House in Victoria on May 25.
Each recipient will receive a certificate and a medallion designed by B.C. artist Robert Davidson.
Anderson, now 25, was only 20 years old when he won the fourth highest number of votes in the 2011 Nanaimo election. According to an article in 2013 by Tamara Cunningham of the Nanaimo News Bulletin, as a councillor, Anderson introduced the idea of e-town hall meetings and a youth advisory council, as well as headed the transportation committee behind the city’s first transportation master plan.
He was also involved in controversial motions including opposition to the waste-to-energy incinerator, and he spoke out about age discrimination in politics.
An active volunteer in the community who has been involved with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign, Anderson believes the study and practice of law will enhance his ability to do public interest work.
“I’ve always wanted to do something that helps the public interest and I believe that law is one of those ways,” he said.