LISTOWEL – Perth-Wellington MP John Nater presented King Charles III Coronation Medals to 20 residents from Perth County and northern Wellington County at the Listowel Legion on Sept. 29.
“These recipients were nominated by their communities, their neighbours, co-workers, friends and fellow volunteers,” said Nater.
“They come from all nine municipalities in Perth-Wellington and embody different backgrounds, careers and interests.
“But each of them holds one important thing in common: a commitment to their community and country.”
The medals commemorate the coronation of King Charles III as King of Canada and is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
To receive a Coronation Medal an individual must be nominated by one or more people in their community and must have made a significant contribution to Canada, their province or territory, region or community, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
“This award means a lot,” said Conner Schmidt, a recent graduate of Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest.
“I don’t think I’m anything too special, though. I believe anybody can do what I do.”
Schmidt received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his involvement in several school activities in support of the community, including Relay for Life.
The Wellington North resident spent this summer working with youth at the Wellington North Day Camp and has volunteered to help coach both hockey and lacrosse.
All of that was accomplished while he maintained strong academic marks in school.
Wellington County residents recognized with Coronation Medals include: Jack Benham (back row second from right), Ron Ellis (front row fifth from right), William Nelson (back row third from left), Conner Schmidt (back row fourth from right), Rose Van Sickle (front row fourth from left) and Belinda Wick-Graham (front row third from right). Photos by Ellouise Thompson
The medal is silver and circular in shape. The front side of the medal features a crowned image of the King wearing his coronation robes.
Around the image, engraved in the medal, reads “CHARLES III DEI GRATIA REX” (Charles III, by the Grace of God, the King) and “CANADA.”
The other side of the medal features the Royal Cypher over the sunburst design of the Canadian Coronation emblem.
The medal is attached to a ribbon of dark blue, red and white, identical to the United Kingdom’s Coronation Medal ribbon.
“There’s so many things that wouldn’t happen without volunteers,” said Debora Ritchie, a medal recipient from the Municipality of North Perth.
“Even simple things like Santa Claus parades and stuff are really dependant on volunteer hours and without that the community wouldn’t look the same.
“It’s these things that really pull the community together.”
Ritchie is an ambassador for North Perth and has volunteered with the Stratford Perth Community Foundation, Listowel’s St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the Salvation Army, Perth Meadows, and the North Perth Women of Distinction Committee.
In 2000 Ritchie challenged herself to raise $5 million for local charities, schools and organizations. Since then she has raised almost $10 million.
The complete list of King Charles III Coronation Medal recipients from Perth-Wellington is as follows:
- Jack Benham of Wellington North;
- Richard Boon of Stratford;
- Julie Docker-Johnson of St. Marys;
- Ron Ellis of Mapleton;
- Stewart Grant of St. Marys;
- Michael Grosz of North Perth;
- Charles Hammond of St. Marys;
- Dianne Josling of West Perth;
- Ruth Kneider of Stratford;
- Mary McIntosh of Perth South;
- John Miller of Stratford;
- William Nelson of Wellington North;
- Cameron Porteous of St. Marys;
- Debora Ritchie of North Perth;
- Conner Schmidt of Wellington North;
- Jean Smelski of Perth East;
- Bernard Van Herk of Stratford;
- Rose Van Sickle of Minto;
- Belinda Wick-Graham of Minto; and
- Donna Yundt of West Perth.
