Darrell Hubbell
When you put extreme pressure on coal for millions of year, it eventually transforms into diamonds. When you put pressure on Darrell Hubbell, he just shines and everyone around him benefits.
Darrell is familiar with the Citizen of the Year event, having volunteered to make it happen for nine years, taking days off work to organize the silent auction, but that's just the beginning of his volunteer efforts.
He has served on the boards of Two Rivers Gallery, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, the Town Centre Business Association and the Downtown Rotary Club for many years, taking a variety of leadership roles to further the goals of these organizations.
Numerous community groups have received donations of gift certificates or custom-made jewellery from Darrell to aid in their fundraising efforts. Here's a short list: The Prince George Public Library, the Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre, the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, Rotary International, the PGSO, Ducks Unlimited, the United Way, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the BC Cancer Foundation, RCMP Victim Services, the Hixon Community Association, the Mackenzie Chamber of Commerce, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, and, of course, the Prince George Community Foundation.
Darrell has been recognized several times for his leadership. He has been named as the Corporate Citizen of the Year three times in the last eight years - 2004, 2005 and 2009 - by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. Last year, he received a Community Leader Award from MLAs Shirley Bond and Pat Bell.
Also last year, Darrel was awarded a special certificate of recognition by Rotary District 5040's District Governor for "demonstrated commitment to the idea of Service Above Self and dedication to Rotary and the community."
When you enter Hubbell Designer Goldsmiths, you realize Darrell sets high goals for himself and his business. Hanging on the wall is the company's mission statement and it says: "Our Purpose - To make the world a better place for each person who walks through our door."
Darrell tirelessly works to make Prince George a better place and he doesn't wait for residents to walk through his door, either.
He goes to them, as a volunteer, as a philanthropist and as someone who cares for others, which is what makes Darrell Hub bell such a deserving nominee for the 2011 Citizen of the Year.
Published by The Prince George Citizen October 3rd, 2011
