LANGLEY, B.C.- Susan Byrom, Executive Director of First West Foundation— charitable partner of First West Credit Union and its regional divisions— has been awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal in recognition of her significant contributions to B.C. communities and outstanding leadership in community development and philanthropy.
The medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada and recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada or to a particular community. Only 30,000 medals are being awarded nationwide, making this recognition particularly distinguished. Byrom has dedicated over two decades to strengthening communities, building an impressive career spanning both private and non-profit sectors. Known for her humble leadership style and exceptional ability to build lasting relationships, she consistently attributes successes to collective efforts of community partners.
“I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition,” says Byrom. “This medal truly belongs to the incredible community leaders, volunteers, and organizations I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. Every day, I witness ordinary people doing extraordinary things to lift up their neighbors and strengthen their communities. My role has simply been to help connect resources with the remarkable people who are doing the real work of building stronger, more resilient communities. This honor reflects their dedication, and I’m fortunate to be part of something much bigger than myself.”
Her expertise spans financial literacy, youth development, and community wellness, with a particular passion for addressing food insecurity and its root causes. Under her guidance, First West Foundation and First West Credit Union has supported hundreds of community organizations, emphasizing relationship-building and collaborative partnerships that create networks of support where organizations can learn from and strengthen each other.
Beyond her professional role, Susan’s deep commitment to addressing food insecurity is exemplified through her past leadership with the Surrey Food Bank, where she served on the Board for five years, ending her tenure as Board Chair. During this time, she grew her knowledge of innovative approaches to food access that address both immediate needs and systemic issues. She has provided her expertise on numerous community boards and panel discussions, consistently focusing on building bridges between sectors and creating collaborative solutions to complex challenges.
Dan Huang-Taylor, CEO of Food Banks BC, who nominated and presented the medal to Susan, emphasized the significance of this recognition: “This is a rare honour to acknowledge one of Food Banks BC’s dearest friends. What makes Susan truly special is that she would be the last person to seek recognition like this – she’s always focused on lifting others up. Her warmth, compassion, and selfless passion are unique, and BC’s food banks are better for it. I consider it the greatest privilege to be presenting the King Charles III Coronation Medal to Susan – this award truly represents the lasting impact she has made on communities across our province.”
Reflecting on her career and the future of community development, Susan added: “The most rewarding part of this work is knowing that the relationships we’ve built and the initiatives we’ve supported will long outlive my tenure at First West Foundation. It’s exciting to see how these partnerships continue to grow and evolve, creating new opportunities for community impact that we never could have imagined when we first started.”
To learn more about the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal, visit: www.canada.ca/kingcharlesmedal