A group of local service people and long-time volunteers were honoured last Friday in the name of Her Majesty.
Canadians in all provinces are being honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, as 60,000 are accepting the award to mark her 60th year on the throne. More than 100 people gathered in the Taylorton Room at the Days Inn on Nov. 16 for the ceremony as local recipients from the southeast received their award.
Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki presented each of the 18 recipients with the medal as a brief biography of each person was read for the audience. A ceremony in Weyburn was held two days prior, honouring several people from that area.
"Canadians from all ages and from all walks of life are being honoured for their contributions or distinguished service to their fellow citizens, to their community and to their country," said Komarnicki, then turning to the recipients and adding, "you're part of that distinguished group. Our country is stronger because of you."
Komarnicki noted the ceremony marks the Queen's ascension to the throne, marked only once before by Queen Victoria in 1897.
Accepting the medal last Friday were Ken Box of Windthorst, Donovan Bradley of Moosomin, Robert Burns of Estevan, Brad Chapman of Nova Scotia, Irene Doty of Carlyle, Brian Glass of Weyburn, John Henderson of Carnduff, Clayton Leduc of Moosomin, Donald Lees of Arcola, John Len of Estevan, Patt Lenover-Adams of Estevan, Peter Piper of Stoughton, John Pott of Carlyle, Anne and Douglas Silversides of Glenavon, Patricia Ann Steinke of Estevan, Kenneth Turner of Midale and John Wilson of Carlyle.
Brad Chapman is an Estevan native now living in Nova Scotia as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy. His family stayed on the East Coast while he returned to the Prairies for the award ceremony.
"They're actually still getting adjusted in Nova Scotia. They're still exploring. They'll be able to attend via Facebook," said Chapman.
It was about a month ago that he received an e-mail from Komarnicki, advising him that he would receive the medal.
"It was quite fantastic," said Chapman of his initial reaction. "It's nice to be back home, first of all. It's nice to receive the Queen Jubilee Medal. Just being a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and then coming home to a town that probably doesn't have a lot of naval history is quite an honour."
Back in Estevan, he was catching up with old friends and seeing some of the changes the Energy City has undergone since he's last been in the city about five or six years ago.
Ken Turner is a Midale resident who served with the Canadian Militia and Primary Reserve for more than 42 years.
"It's very nice to be recognized," said Turner, who had previously received the Queen's Gold Jubilee Medal. "The medals that are presented in Canada here go a long way to showing appreciation for the part that people do on behalf of both country and community."
He said it's one way of going to the smaller communities and recognizing people in various kinds of programs who have given themselves for their communities. He called small communities the "backbone" of the country, so the recognition for everyone is welcome.
"I know a lot of the Legion members who are here and a lot of the other guys. It's surprising how interchangeable the pieces are with the people that you actually do know. There are people here that I know through other people, and somehow they're interconnected. It makes for a good solid community. It really does."
Turner said he was surprised when he received a phone call from Komarnicki's office letting him know of the receipt of the medal.
After receiving the Gold Jubilee Medal, he said it was definitely a surprise to receive the Diamond Medal 10 years later.
"It was a bit of a shock actually. I wasn't expecting it at all."
