Midori Oba and Peter Wohlwend, community organizers who have received the 2006 Lower Mainland Good Neighbour Award, the Mayor’s 2005 Environmental Achievement Award, and (Midori) the Vancouver School Board Recognition Award
How they met:“We met in the apartment building where I used to live with my boyfriend in the ’70s,” says Midori. “I lived on the third floor, and he was on the main floor.” “We knew each other for a long time as friends,” Peter adds. “It took over 20 years until we got together.”
Peter on Midori: “Midori is an honest straight shooter, giving and loving. She’s an early childhood and parenting educator, musician, fabulous cook, soap maker, seamstress, and above all a community builder. She has a tremendous appetite to learn and educate herself—whether it’s a new musical instrument, the latest in infant brain development research, a new ethnic recipe, or community building.”
Bragging rights: “At her work they call her the ‘handy chick’! She means what she says and is totally honest.”
If you could change one thing about midori it would be… “Not a thing!”
Midori on Peter: “A big project of Peter’s that is still growing is the Dickens Community Group in Cedar Cottage. He connects our neighbours through e-mail service, organizes activities and events in our community. He strives to achieve what he believes in. In a sense, we all do what we like to do, but he does it without selfish reasons.”
Bragging rights: “He is honest and sincere. He does not have any hidden agenda.”
If you could change one thing about peter it would be… “If I change anything about him, he would not be him. Well, I guess I like him the way he is!”
—Stephanie MacDonald
