Three more Sylvan Lake area residents are among those who have been presented with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals.
The medals were created to mark the 2012 celebration of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada, according to the website of Governor General David Johnston’s. The medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour significant contributions and achievements by 60,000 deserving Canadians.
Allan Cameron, was the most recent recipient, receiving his medal during a ceremony at Government House last Tuesday.
The citation read during presentation of Cameron’s medal by Alberta Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell, stated: “Allan Cameron travels across Canada with a video recorder and camera, documenting the personal war memories, pictures and documents of over 500 Canadian Veterans from the Korean and Second World Wars to provide invaluable preservation of this history.”
He’s the founding executive director and producer for Veterans Voices of Canada (formerly Memories Recovered Project). In late 2005 he pursued his dream to meet, interview and document Canadian military veterans for history and education purposes.
At a ceremony Nov. 30 in Calgary, the list of recipients included Darwin Durnie of Sylvan Lake. He was among 131 recipients from across the province and various walks of life to receive the medal at a ceremony presided over by Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell and reception with Premier Alison Redford. All the recipients were chosen by Redford.
“It was an honour to acknowledge the achievements of these giving Albertans,” she said in a news release. “From firefighters to police officers to psychologists to front line youth workers, advocates and artists, each recipient had an inspiring story and their devotion to their community is truly humbling. These men and women represent the forward - thinking, compassionate and caring spirit that Alberta and Albertans are known for.”
The citation read during Durnie’s presentation stated: Darwin has been an active volunteer in Alberta and Drumheller for 30 years. He helped build the Drumheller Ski Hill and Waterpark and pioneered a program for Public Works Employees in Alberta that has been adopted by the American Public Works Association. Darwin returned to his hometown during the floods of June 2005 and led a response team to prevent flooding to 1,000 homes. As president for the Canadian Public Works Association, Darwin continues to be an advocate for Alberta.”
The third recipient from the Sylvan Lake area is RCMP Sgt. Michael Numan who lives west of town and is currently the operations NCO at the Rocky Mountain House detachment.
He was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Sept. 12 in the West Edmonton Mall ballroom by Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell along with 300 RCMP members and employees from across the province.
The recipients had been nominated to receive one of the medals, which are meant to recognize a significant achievement or distinguished service to fellow citizens.
“I am proud of the members and employees of the RCMP who received this most prestigious recognition from His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, on behalf of our honorary commissioner, Her Majesty the Queen,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Marlin Degrand was quoted in a Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune story about the event. “Every day I see examples of the dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of our employees in Alberta. I am pleased to see this recognition of some of the many exemplary and deserving people within the RCMP who contribute, day in and day out, to the betterment of their communities and the safety and security of their fellow citizens.
Nationally the RCMP was given an allotment of 2,300 Diamond Jubilee medals for regular and civilian members, and 64 medals for RCMP auxiliary constables.