Canada's population in 2011 stood at 34,482,779. Of that number, 60,000 - or less than 1/20th of 1 per cent - are being honoured for their contributions and service to fellow citizens with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. One of these medals has been awarded to William (Bill) George Fleming of Unity.
The commemorative medal marking the 60 anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's reign was presented to Bill Fleming by Mayor Sylvia Maljan at a special banquet she hosted Sept. 20 to show appreciation for Unity's protective services - fire, police and EMS.
Besides having to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and alive Feb. 6, 2012 - the actual 60th anniversary date of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne - recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal must "have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada."
Ninety-six years old this month, Fleming has been working for 83 years -stoking and threshing grain when he was 13 years old and leaving school to do farm chores for the winter.
Working on farms in the summer and cutting wood in the winter in the late 1930s was not the way to earn and save enough money for a farm of his own. The army provided a steady wage and Fleming signed up in October, 1941.
Fleming was assigned to the First Hussars Regiment from London, Ont., and took part in the D-Day landing. Returning from overseas duty in July, 1945, he was able to buy a tractor, a team of horses and some land near Adanac with the assistance of the Veterans Land Act (VLA).
Despite long hours on the farm, early crop failures sent Fleming looking for off-farm income and he worked in Paul Greenwood's Garage in Adanac, becoming a self-taught mechanic. He continued to use those skills throughout his life, later repairing and restoring old machinery for both the Western Development Museum (WDM) in North Battleford and the Unity & District Heritage Museum.
Once some decent crops came in and bills were paid, Fleming and his wife Nellie bought more land. By 1970, they had six quarters of land, 40 cows and 75 pigs, as well as chickens and a big garden. They never had a hired man, doing all the work themselves after son Harold left home. In 1973, they sold the farm and moved to town for the sake of Nellie's health, who had had one lung removed.
During his years on the farm, Fleming was on the Langemarck School Board and an active community member, helping with square dance parties and the snow plow club among other community activities. After the move to town, Fleming spent many hours driving, maintaining and repairing the community service bus used by the girl guides, cubs, boy scouts, air cadets and seniors.
Fleming first joined the Unity Legion in 1948 and, after Nellie passed away in 1983, he spent more time volunteering with the Legion. He has held virtually every executive position locally, as well having been Zone Commander, District Commander and Provincial Poppy Chairman. He was on the building committee for the provincial Legion office and helped build the Legion Hall in Unity.
He continues to be the Unity Poppy Chairman, a position he has held for years. He is a familiar sight in area schools at Remembrance Day ceremonies, handing out prizes in the Legion's annual poster, essay and poem contest. Along with other Unity Legion members, Fleming even travels to the school in Macklin each year, as there is no longer a Legion branch there, as well as to Senlac on Remembrance Day.
Along with Legion activities, Fleming works as much as 2,000 hours a year at the Unity museum. Just this year, he finished restoring an old grain wagon, which he hopes will be in the 2013 Western Days parade.
Fleming spent 20 years volunteering with the WDM, including throughout his 80s. It was only three or four years ago he decided he had to give that up as "it was just a little too far to drive, then work all day and drive back home again at night."
He remembers one winter when he, Paul Greenwood and a gentleman from Speers worked on two 110 Case steam engines. They had a good boiler and they were able to create one good, running engine from the two. "We went every day, all winter, seven days a week," Fleming said.
When presenting Fleming with the Queen Elizabeth II Daimond Jubilee Medal, Mayor Maljan said, "On behalf of your town, we thank you for being one of ours, we owe you a debt of gratitude."
Fleming's exemplary service to his community was also recognized in 2006 when he was named Unity's Citizen of the Year, and in 2005 with a Centennial Medal. He has received two nation builder certificates - one from MP Gerry Ritz and one from the Battlefords North West Historical Society.
