British Columbia's Medal of Good Citizenship has been presented to residents of Ahousaht First Nation and the town of Tofino for an all-out effort helping dozens of people when a whale-watching ship overturned last October.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne said the community has come together to help the survivors of the whale-watching tragedy on Sunday where at least five people died.

Members of a First Nations community are being credited with helping save the lives of several sightseers after a whale-watching boat sank Sunday afternoon near Tofino, B.C.