When Grade 7 students at Drinkwater Elementary School got the opportunity to select the first-ever recipient of an award named in honour of their classmate Caleb Kroffat, the vote was unanimous.
The award, which goes to a student who shares Caleb's qualities - good-natured, adventurous, sense of humour and unique - went to his twin brother, Ethan.
Caleb died suddenly last Nov. 8 outside a Cowichan Valley Capitals hockey game, but thanks to the award and other initiatives at the school, he won't be forgotten.
At the end of each school year, Grade 6 students will vote on a new award recipient.
Along with the award, which was unveiled earlier this month, the school is also honouring Caleb with a set of 38 brand new school jerseys, all of which will bear a crest in his honour.
The jerseys, which were purchased with money set aside from the Bev Lashman Memorial Golf Fundraiser, were the idea of the Kroffat family, Drinkwater principal Karen Petersen, and fundraiser organizer Darin Lashman. Lashman, his father, Dave, and Karny Dhillon were on hand to present the jerseys, as were Caleb and Ethan's parents, Jason and Renee Kroffat. Ethan received the jersey sporting No. 10, which was Caleb's number, and he will get to keep it while the remaining jerseys stay at the school.