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Island fallers honoured for safety

William (Bill) Boardman of Sooke has been honoured with the Cary White Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Vancouver Island Forestry Safety Conference.

William (Bill) Boardman of Sooke has been honoured with the Cary White Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Vancouver Island Forestry Safety Conference. The award acknowledges Boardman's 40-year career as a faller in the forest industry and commitment to improving safety awareness and knowledge, developing safety skills at ground level and building a lasting culture of safety among forest workers. "Bill Boardman is the tree faller who is sent out when there is a problem with a tough case," said council CEO Reynold Hert. "Most fallers do not readily accept criticism of their skills by an outsider. However, when Bill shows up the faller tends to listen.

He will spend time with the faller, understand the reasons behind their actions, and set them on the correct course." The award was created in honour of one of the Council's first forest safety advocates who died in 2008. Cary White had 30 years in the industry.

Another Island faller, Port McNeill's Gerry Lambert, won the Safety Most Valuable Player Award in recognition of contributions to safety within his employer's operations.

"Gerry is a coastal tree faller held in high regard by everyone around him, not only for his safe work practices, but his high quality of workmanship, attention to detail and strong work ethic," said Jonathan Lok of Strategic Forest Management, who nominated Lambert.

"Beyond all this, he is an excellent co-worker, coach, manager and friend." Lambert has been employed with Strategic since 2009.