Rod Santiago, the executive director of Abbotsford Community Services, has been honoured with an award this week.
The Award of Excellence was given by the Federation of Community Social Services of BC, a group that represents 130 B.C. community social service agencies and umbrella organizations, and gives the awards each year to leaders working for social justice.
Rick FitzZaland, executive director of the federation, said Santiago was honoured for his leadership of an organization that provides more than 80 programs to more than 40,000 people per year in Abbotsford.
He said Santiago has been a social-justice champion in making the case for a 20-bed housing project for homeless men in Abbotsford, adding that while the project was controversial and failed to win the needed rezoning, it has “led to an important public debate on issues of poverty, homelessness and community responsibility.”
This year’s awards were given to three community leaders.