Diamond Jubilee honours for dedicated Edmonton citizens

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This release was issued under a previous government.

The recipients included Members and Officers of the Order of Canada who have served the nation as leaders in the fields of business, medicine, science and volunteerism. Lieutenant Governor Ethell also honoured current serving members of the Canadian Forces and presented medals to dedicated veterans on behalf of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association and the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping. A list of recipients is attached.

“Today’s medal ceremony is a tribute to the remarkable dedication to service that has been evident throughout Her Majesty’s remarkable reign,” said Lieutenant Governor Ethell. “It’s also a reminder of the power that individuals citizens have to shape our province and nation for the better through a steadfast dedication to serving others. Today’s honourees have made important contributions to the quality of life we enjoy as Canadians and they have truly earned this day of celebration.”

Diamond Jubilee medals will be presented at ceremonies across the province throughout 2012-13, hosted by the Lieutenant Governor and other dignitaries, public bodies and organizations taking part in the program. The Lieutenant Governor expects to host additional ceremonies in Edmonton and area later in the year.

Other upcoming events to mark the year will include a Diamond Jubilee garden party on the grounds of the Alberta Legislature from 1 - 4 p.m., Saturday, June 2. The party will be open to the public. Visit www.assembly.ab.ca/jubileegardenparty for more information.

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Backgrounder: Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - May 28, Edmonton, Alberta

Media inquiries, contact:

Janet Resta
Communications Officer, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
780-427-9222

Backgrounder

Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - May 28, 2012, Edmonton, Alberta

The following individuals were presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell at Government House, Edmonton on May 28, 2012.

Jack Agrios (Edmonton)

Jack Agrios is a respected lawyer and consummate volunteer who has offered exemplary service to his profession and the wider community. The extensive list of organizations he has served include the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club, the Citadel Theatre and the Alberta Family and Substance Abuse Foundation. He also led Edmonton's successful bid to host the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Herbert Belcourt (Sherwood Park)

Métis entrepreneur Herb Belcourt has made invaluable contributions to the life of his community through his work to remove barriers faced by people in need. He is co-founder of the Canative Housing Corporation, which provides affordable housing, daycare services and workshops to Aboriginal people and is a generous supporter of post-secondary education. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Singh Bhatia (Edmonton)

Singh Bhatia is a retired Citizenship Judge in the Court of Canadian Citizenship and a longstanding supporter of multiculturalism in Alberta and Canada. He has served as a member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, as publisher of the national multicultural newspaper Canadian Link, and as president of the International Association of Citizens for a Civil Society. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Brigadier-General Paul J. Bury (Beaumont)

Brigadier-General Paul Bury is the Deputy Commander of Land Force Western Area and Joint Task Force West and the senior ranking Canadian Forces reservist west of Thunder Bay. He is an Officer of the Order of Military Merit who has served in the past on numerous overseas deployments and currently with the Office of the Alberta Solicitor General.

Captain (Ret’d) Wayne Clayton (Edmonton)

Wayne Clayton’s contributions to Canada include his military service in locations across the country, including Alert NWT, as well as tours as a peacekeeper in Egypt and the Golan Heights. He has been a selfless advocate on behalf of veterans at the local and national level and serves as Edmonton Chapter President of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

Honourary Colonel Dennis Erker (Edmonton)

Dennis Erker has served the people of Edmonton and Alberta as respected business leader and dedicated community booster. The many organizations that have benefited from his valued expertise and support include the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club and Valour Place. He serves as Honourary Colonel of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

Master Corporal (Ret’d) Bill Escott (Stony Plain)

After a 22-year career in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, Bill Escott spent the next 22 years sharing his telecommunications knowledge with his students at NAIT. His ongoing work to support current Canadian Forces members and veterans includes contributions as a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion and as a member of the Stony Plain Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping.

Richard Fyfe (Fort Saskatchewan)

Richard Fyfe has played a major role in the recovery of the peregrine falcon, which was almost extinct because of environmental pollution. Together with the Canadian Wildlife Service, he established a captive breeding program in order to restore the falcon population. Because of his perseverance, peregrine falcons are no longer endangered and are nesting in areas where they were once extinct. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Inspector Gibson Glavin (Sherwood Park)

Gibson Glavin has offered 26 years of distinguished service to the RCMP and has also served the nation through a tour of duty with the United Nations Mission in Bosnia. He has maintained a longstanding commitment as an active community volunteer and also serves as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

Captain John Hodgson (Darwell)

Captain John Hodgson is a member of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, Canadian Forces Reserves and an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. He also serves as Assistant Principal of Woodhaven Middle School in Spruce Grove and as an active community volunteer.

Bruce Hogle (Edmonton)

Bruce Hogle is a Canadian broadcasting pioneer. He has served as a passionate and effective advocate for those in need, through both his media service and his volunteer work with programs such as the Good Neighbour Fund. He has also used his voice to serve as a tireless driver of positive social change. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Louis Hyndman (Edmonton)

Louis Hyndman is a respected politician who served for nineteen years as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and as a cabinet minister. He also served on the Premier’s Commission on Future Health Care for Albertans, on the Royal Commission on National Passenger Transportation, and as Chancellor of the University of Alberta. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada

Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Wayne Kennedy (Hinton)

Wayne Kennedy’s contributions to Canada include his commendable military service as a peacekeeper in Cyprus as well as three NATO tours in Germany. He has been a highly active leader within the Royal Canadian Legion and is national Membership Director of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

Dr. Arvind Koshal (Edmonton)

Dr. Arvind Koshal is a leading cardiac surgeon who has significantly contributed to the advancement of health care in Canada. He was on the team that conducted the first total heart implant in Canada and has performed other innovative techniques that were adopted across the country. He served as a leader in developing both the cardiac program at the U of A and the Mazankowski Heart Institute. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Honourary Colonel Frederick P. Mannix (Calgary)

Fred Mannix has been a passionate advocate of the Canadian Armed Forces and is dedicated to enhancing the role of our military at home and abroad. He has lent his vision include organizations such as the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies and the Museum of the Regiments. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada

Dr. Austin Mardon (Edmonton)

Austin Mardon has used his own experiences with schizophrenia to serve as an active and highly effective advocate for those who live with mental illness. He has helped a great number of individuals to reclaim their place in society and has served as a spokesperson, mentor and a source of hope for fellow Canadians across the country. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Sergeant (Ret’d) Ron McBride (Wainwright)

Ron McBride’s extensive work on behalf of his fellow veterans includes contributions in New Brunswick as a Charter Member of the Woodstock Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nation’s Peacekeeping and as Provincial Director. He currently serves as an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Wainwright and as the local Chapter President of CAVUNP.

Dr. Axel Meisen (Edmonton)

Axel Meisen is a celebrated chemical engineer and academic administrator who has made significant contributions to education in Canada. He currently serves as a leader with Alberta Innovates and is the past president of Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has also served as President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Eric Newell (Edmonton)

Eric Newell has served as a highly respected oil industry leader at the provincial and national level. He has also provided valuable service as an advocate of business and education partnerships and as a champion of employment and business opportunities for Aboriginal people. He is a former Chancellor of the University of Alberta and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Captain (Ret’d) John Pinsent (Edmonton)

John Pinsent offered valued military service across Canada and as a Peacekeeper in Egypt. His many years of dedicated volunteer work on behalf of veterans includes active membership with the Royal Canadian Legion and as Secretary of the Edmonton Chapter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

John Primrose (Edmonton)

John Primrose is a distinguished athlete in the field of open international target shooting who competed on six Canadian Olympic teams and five Commonwealth Games teams. His accomplishments include two world titles and ten national titles. He has also served as a leader with provincial and national shooting associations and a member of the Canadian Olympic Association Athlete Advisory Council. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Sergeant (Ret’d) Robert Salt (Hinton)

Bob Salt’s military service includes postings across Canada as well as service as a peacekeeper in Vietnam and with the US forces in the Dominican Republic. He has service his fellow veterans at the local and national levels, including his current duties as President of the West Central Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

Captain Todd Walsh (Edmonton)

Todd Walsh has served for 13 years with the Cadet Instructor Cadre of the Canadian Forces Reserve. He also offers public service through his duties with the Workers’ Compensation Board and as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

Captain (Ret’d) Norman Westwell (Carvel)

Norman Westwell works as a public speaker to advance public awareness of Canadian Forces Peacekeeping. He is also very active as a volunteer with local charities, as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion who conducts Remembrance Day ceremonies for shut-ins and as President of the Stony Plain Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping.