And the Judges Are....
Meet this year's judges—four of our former Heroes of the Year who voted to select this year's winners in five different categories: community service, rescue, public life, education, and health and/or research.

By Alison Ramsey

Hetty van Gurp

Hetty van Gurp was honoured as last year's Education Hero for establishing an international program fostering peaceful, non-violent schools. Since then, she has written two books and was delighted when two of her seemingly settled sisters swapped their teaching careers to volunteer abroad—Carolyn is extending Hetty's peaceful schools program in Sierra Leone, while Susan is starting a school for the deaf in Mexico. 

"I wonder if maybe my experience gave them the confidence," says Hetty, who quit her principal's job to launch Peaceful Schools International. "They saw that it turned out fine for me. I encourage people to do what's in their heart. Don't wait until you're old or sick!"

Last year, at 57, Hetty thought she might retire soon. She wondered, Can I keep doing this? "I understand now that I can't stop. It's too much a part of who I am."

Mathew Vizbulis

Our Rescue Hero of 2006, Mathew Vizbulis was honoured last April by the Hindu community in Markham, Ont., for his bravery in saving a father and his two sons from drowning in the Niagara River. He also switched careers in 2007. While installing a metal roof on a group home for young offenders, Mathew, a graffiti artist with an interest in athletics, approached the director to see if they had any arts or outdoor programs he could volunteer for. He ended up being hired as a recreation coordinator—a job he loves. And when he is not working at his new job, he is working audiences, recounting his experience at a chambers of commerce meeting and a number of high schools.

"I was always trying to find work that would let me use my broad range of skills," says Mathew. "This does." At the centre he's a gym teacher, art therapist and counsellor rolled into one. "I'm just trying to understand people better," he says. "People are very different from one to the other."

Ashid Bahl

Last year's Community Service Hero, Ashid Bahl continues to raise money to support children both in his home province of Alberta and in developing countries shattered by war or natural disaster.

During a trip to Sri Lanka in October 2007, he was thrilled to visit the Sri Ravi Shankar School for 100 children orphaned by the 2004 tsunami. When he had first visited the school on a tour of the region following the disaster, all that had remained was part of a wall with a blackboard clinging to it. At the time, Bahl was moved to witness the school's teachers holding classes despite the destruction. "They didn't want to lose one more thing," he says. Materials supplied through Bahl's organization, For the Love of Children Society of Alberta, helped rebuild the school.

Esther Matsubuchi

A Vancouver-based dragon boat veteran and breast cancer survivor, 71-year-old Esther Matsubuchi earned 2005 Hero of the Year status in the Research & Education category. It's been a year out of water for Esther, who is caring for her ailing husband, but also a year of joy as she welcomed her fifth grandchild.

She was so excited when the baby was born last September that she forgot to attach her votes for this year's judging to the email she sent just before dashing off to catch the ferry to Victoria to visit the latest addition to the family. Luckily, her son was able to access her computer the next day and send off her picks for this year's heroes even as she cuddled Kyle Matsubuchi, marvelling at his thick dark hair frosted with blond tips.