On the evening of June 23, the City of Vancouver came together to honour a historic milestone. Both the iconic Burrard Street Bridge and Vancouver City Hall were illuminated in brilliant St. John green, casting a glow across the city to celebrate St. John Ambulance BC & Yukon’s 115 years of humanitarian service.
These landmark lightings served as a powerful, highly visible tribute to our dedicated mission—marking over a century of helping people be prepared, responding to emergencies, and building safer, healthier, and more resilient communities across British Columbia and the Yukon.
A Legacy of Community Care
Founded in BC in 1911, St. John Ambulance has evolved into one of the province’s longest-standing charitable organizations. Over the past 115 years, our mission has remained steadfast: to help people be prepared, respond to emergencies, and build safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.
Today, that legacy is carried forward by a dedicated network of volunteers, employees, donors, partners, and supporters. Whether through life-saving first aid training, youth leadership development, our therapy dog programs, or medical first response services, our work continues to improve the safety and resilience of communities from urban centers to remote and Indigenous territories.
Reflecting on St. John’s Day
“St. John’s Day is an opportunity to recognize the volunteers, employees, donors, partners, and supporters who have carried our mission forward for more than a century,” said Brendan L’Heureux, Interim CEO. “For 115 years, St. John Ambulance has prepared people to be ready when it matters most, and we are proud to continue serving communities across BC and the Yukon.”
Observed annually on June 24, St. John’s Day is a global tradition of service, volunteerism, and leadership. This year, the glow of the Burrard Street Bridge and Vancouver City Hall served as a visual reminder of the thousands of people who have contributed to our mission over the last 115 years.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in marking this occasion. We look forward to continuing this work, ensuring that our communities remain prepared, supported, and ready to act when it matters most.
Special Thanks
A special thank you to the following individuals who took part in the City Hall lighting photo op in celebration of our 115th anniversary:
Richard N. Liu, MStJ, Honorary Brigade President, St. John Ambulance BC/Yukon
Leo Leung, MStJ, Area Operations Officer, Lower Mainland
Lukas Steele, Brigade Provincial Headquarters / Provincial Staff Officer (Formerly Division 731 – Central Fraser Valley)
Charmaine Lai, Cadet Leader, Division 881c (Richmond) Centennial
Caroline Ng, Piper, St. John Ambulance BC/Yukon