Four Leaders. Four Legacies. One Purpose.
March 31, 2025 (New Westminster, BC) — YMCA BC is proud to congratulate four individuals demonstrating outstanding service and dedication to the Y who have been honoured with the presentation of a King Charles III Coronation Medal—Mary Beck, Steve Butz, Roy Funk and Gavin Hume, K.C.
Each of these medal recipients have served YMCA BC and YMCA Canada in a leadership or volunteer governance role for many years and fulfill the award’s criteria of making “a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.”
Beck, Butz, Funk and Hume are among 30,000 Canadians receiving a medal commemorating Charles III’s ascendance to the throne as King of Canada. All four were nominated for the medals at the initiative of YMCA BC or YMCA Canada.
“Our association is pleased that these four community leaders and YMCA champions have been recognized with a prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal,” said YMCA BC President & CEO Heidi Worthington. “Their impact is immeasurable and their dedication to the YMCA’s purpose has helped countless children, families and individuals thrive and reach their full potential.”
The four recipients’ medals were presented during a ceremony held March 4 in Victoria. YMCA BC honoured all in a separate event that took place March 28 in downtown Vancouver.
More information about each recipient’s local, national and international contributions to the YMCA can be found below.
Mary Beck
Mary Beck is a longtime YMCA governance volunteer whose impact has been felt at the local and national levels. She previously served as Board Chair for both the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and the YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation. Later, Beck went on to hold the Board Chair role for YMCA Canada. Her leadership has been crucial to establishing approaches to governance that have positioned several YMCA entities for success.
Steve Butz
Steve Butz has held a variety of YMCA leadership roles over the past 35 years, including an 11-year tenure as President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Vancouver that concluded with his 2022 retirement. Prior to his arrival in BC, Butz served in various executive positions at the Ontario-based YMCAs of Niagara, Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford, and Cambridge. He now serves as CEO of the YMCA World Urban Network in a volunteer capacity.
Roy Funk
Roy Funk recently retired from a career with the YMCA spanning more than 45 years, most recently serving as YMCA BC’s Vice-President, Properties. Over that time, Funk held a wide variety of roles with the YMCA locally and nationally, with responsibilities that drew on his experience in operations, finance, IT and facility development.
Gavin Hume, K.C.
Widely considered one of the country’s leading employment and labour law practitioners, Gavin Hume, K.C., has served in a volunteer governance role for the YMCA of Greater Vancouver—and now YMCA BC—for more than 30 years. He was recognized with a YMCA Fellowship of Honour in 2009, which recognizes outstanding service of the highest degree to the YMCA movement. He continues to sit on the YMCA BC Board of Directors, as well as the Boards of both the YMCA BC Foundation and YMCA BC Properties Foundation.
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About YMCA BC
By igniting belonging and championing health equity, YMCA BC strengthens the foundations of community. With over 3,000 employees and volunteers, YMCA BC serves 150,000 individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities across hundreds of service locations, from the Sunshine Coast to Fort St. John. As a charity, YMCA BC promotes equitable access to healthier outcomes by providing vital programs and services to help address many of our communities' most pressing social issues, including health and wellness, affordable child care and camps, mental health, employment services and newcomer supports. At our core, the YMCA is committed to creating spaces and experiences where everyone feels safe, welcome, and like they belong. YMCA BC collaborates with YMCA-YWCA Vancouver Island and YMCA Southern Interior on provincial initiatives, valuing the strong partnership with these associations. Learn more at bc.ymca.ca.
Media Contact:
Oliver Lam
Director, Marketing and Communications, YMCA BC
oliver.lam@bc.ymca.ca