Longtime resident, respected community volunteer, Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) director, and businessman, Bill Kershaw, was honoured on March 4, 2025 in Barriere for his 20 years of service with the Barriere Chamber of Commerce.
Kershaw served as Barriere Chamber of Commerce (BCOC) president for 12 years, vice-president for three years, and sat as director for five years and during the March 4 gathering was presented with a lifetime BCOC membership by newly-elected president, Grace Baker.
Approximately 25 people attended the celebration with formal messages coming from Frank Caputo, MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, and MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, Ward Stamer, acknowledging Kershaw's long service and contributions to the whole North Thompson Valley.
MLA Stamer made mention of Kershaw in the legislature that same day and a video of his speech was shown to Kershaw during the evenings festivities.
His speech reads in part, "Mr. Speaker, I wanted to share my experiences with a man who has done much for the community of Barriere and the surrounding North Thompson Valley for over 50 years. Bill Kershaw, with his new bride, Bernie, moved to Barriere in 1968 and purchased the Esso service station and tow truck service.
Bill was always community-minded and helped everyone he could, whether he was working on projects around our town, coaching his three boys in sports, working on vehicles to all hours of the night so that people could get their work vehicles back by morning. Bill was dedicated.
Bill was on the improvement district for many years. During the spring of 1996, when he stepped down, I stepped in. Bill was elected many terms to the TNRD, including as vice-chair, as well as serving on our district council for two terms.
Bill has sat on many community organizations throughout the years and joined the Barriere Chamber of Commerce in 2005, first serving as a director, as vice-president, and 12 years as president.
All of us in this House understand and respect the importance of having strong local businesses in our communities, large and small. Many of our businesses have been hit in recent times — high taxes, crime, bureaucracy and red tape and now U.S. tariffs.
Through it all, people like Bill Kershaw demonstrated that hard work, volunteering and doing what is right for our community…. Our communities are stronger. That is why Bill Kershaw is receiving the Barriere Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Award tonight. I could not think of a better person to be recognized for over 50 years of community service. Well done, Bill."
Source: BC Hansard (Hansard Services publishes the official reports of the Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Committees and broadcasts Assembly and Committees proceedings. The transcripts and broadcasts are full, accurate and impartial records of the work of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.)
