A Richmond auxiliary organization is celebrating the province's first-ever Healthcare Auxiliaries Day on May 10.
On Wednesday, two proclamations from the city and the province were presented by Mayor Malcolm Brodie to the Richmond Hospital Healthcare Auxiliary to mark the occasion.
The day recognizes the work of volunteers who help improve the care and comfort of patients and their families and acknowledges their fundraising efforts to improve and support healthcare in local communities.
Rajan Paul, president of the Richmond Hospital Healthcare Auxiliary, said presidents of auxiliaries across B.C. are "ecstatic" this has finally happened.
"This is great recognition for the work we do," said Paul.
He told the Richmond News the proclamations are a way to "legitimize" the organization's work.
"We're not just a group of people that got together and decided to raise money for the hospital," he said.
"We're on the registry now for the provincial government and this is a step forward for everyone on the importance of what we do."
This includes being able to apply for grants and being noticed by other organizations to connect and work together for bigger goals for the sake of the community, he added.
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