A Port Alberni woman who dedicated three years of her life to the city's most vulnerable people has been honoured for her efforts.
Daphne Hollins was awarded a King Charles III Coronation medal by Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns on Feb. 18, 2025. The ceremony took place at the Bread of Life soup kitchen with Hollins' family, friends, colleagues and former clients on hand to help her celebrate.
Johns pinned the special medal on Hollins' lapel "in recognition of her kind and compassionate service to the most vulnerable citizens in our society, more than 30 years as a volunteer and public servant. Her grounding in cultural humility and commitment to trauma-informed care has made a difference in the lives of many," he said.
There were 30,000 King Charles III coronation medals created to recognize individuals that have made a difference through their achievements and their service to community. Each Member of Parliament were given 20 medals to hand out (MLAs were given three) and Gord Johns had already chosen his 20 recipients when Hollins' name was brought to his attention.
"I made a special request to Governor General Mary Simon for one more medal and she came through," Johns said.
Hollins is a community integration specialist with the Ministry of Social Development and poverty reduction. For three years she acted as an outreach worker for people needing financial assistance or disability insurance in the Alberni Valley before moving to Nanaimo last November. She was one of the people who mobilized when the Port Pub was shut down abruptly, helping find new housing for most of the residents who lived above the pub.
"It was an incredible honour to receive that medal. It came as a great shock to me," said Hollins, who is now working in Nanaimo doing a similar job but in a supervisory role.
"I was deeply grateful. The community means so much to me."
Hollins moved to Port Alberni from Alberta for her job. "I just felt so welcomed," she said.
When she learned she was to receive the Coronation medal she asked if Johns would please present it to her at the Bread of Life, where many past clients congregated. "Our mandate is to be providing services to people that are unhoused or precariously housed, or people with addictions" and mental health struggles. It was my request that we do the ceremony at the Bread of Life because it felt very much like home to me and to many of my clients that I worked with while I was there," she said.
"Being able to go back and connect with some of my clients and service providers...was just lovely."
Port Alberni Fire Dept. Chief Mike Owens put forward Hollins' name with Johns because of the sensitive manner in which she treats people.
"Daphne is a human whose clients are some of the most marginalized humans in our community," Owens said. "To Daphne, they are someone's son, daughter, mom, dad, brother, sister, and many of them quickly become Daphne's friend. The world Daphne works in is often chaotic, with many clients living with addiction, poverty and mental health issues—much of which is rooted in a history of trauma," he said.
"Her 'office' is often in shelters and precarious accommodations or where people are living rough, in alcoves and in the bush; she meets her clients where they're at, both physically and in their life journey."
Owens recalled that Mr. Rogers' mother once told the children's television personality to "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
"When our most vulnerable are looking for a helper, it is often Daphne Hollins they find and it is Daphne who is persistent in finding supports for them; whether it be to fill an immediate or long-term need," Owens said. "Daphne is a hero of mine and I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be recognized for her work in our community."
