Eight stalwarts in the community of Chatham-Kent have received a prestigious medal for their service and commitment to the community.
Retired Chatham-Kent Police Chief Gary Conn, Royal Canadian Legion Chatham Branch 642 President Len Maynard, former area Legion Zone Commander Irene Williams, former CK Councillor and local lawyer Doug Sulman, retired police officer Cliff Hartwick, who founded Cop Camp, Executive Director of The Cross-Border Institute at the University of Windsor Marta Anderson, General Manager of the Leamington District Chamber of Commerce Wendy Parsons, and late businessman Wes Thompson, all received the King Charles III Coronation Medal at a ceremony at the Legion in Chatham on Friday afternoon.
Hartwick, Anderson, and Parsons couldn't make the ceremony due to other commitments.
The King Charles III medal is awarded to those who made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
The medals were presented by Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones, who told the crowd they all earned the recognition.
Conn told CK News Today the honour was unexpected, but very welcome.
"It was surreal to be the recipient of a medal for doing something that you love to do," said Conn, who is back at the police college shaping young officers.
An emotional Maynard told CK News Today he's touched by the recognition and is glad to be standing amongst such great company.
"Just honoured to get the medal and I'm glad that other members of the community were able to receive this medal. It was quite an honour to be amongst them," Maynard said.
The Coronation Medal was created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, which took place on May 6, 2023.
It is the first Canadian commemorative medal to mark a coronation.
