Some 70 residents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound are being recognized for their contributions to the community with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee coin.
Conservative MP Alex Ruff presented about 40 of the coins to recipients at his first annual constituency barbecue in Chesley last weekend.
Ruff and a few other members of parliament decided to have their own platinum jubilee coins created by a Canadian company after the federal government did not announce plans to observe the milestone as it has with other jubilees.
Over 70 people were nominated by their fellow community members for their work either as volunteers, people who have contributed through arts, culture or heritage, community builders, good neighbours, community services, first responders, educators, community workers, business, enterprise or others.
Ruff says in a statement, “I was not surprised with the volume of quality nominations received, making the selection process extremely difficult.”
The following constituents received their Platinum Jubilee Coin at the July 24th barbecue:
Betty Adair – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For her dedication to many community organizations, including the local symphony and the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority as well as her contributions to the Georgian Bay Gardening Club.
Ellie Adams – Southgate – Community Builder: For her volunteerism and contributions through the Holstein Community Centre executive, the Holstein Christmas Parade and the Egremont Optimist Club.
Alissa Angel – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For her volunteer work with local school fundraising, environmental clean-up days, women’s charities, and with many other local boards and organizations.
Dr. Ian Arra – Owen Sound – Community Service: For his local leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination clinic strategy that was widely used as a model.
Carol Barfoot – Georgian Bluffs – Township of Georgian Bluffs: For her work on municipal council for 27 years, and with community organizations including the Sydenham Sportsmen and Kemble and District Lions Club.
Joan Beecroft – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For her work as an educator, advocate for a more inclusive community, and efforts to make the area welcoming to new immigrants and refugees.
Calvin Bell – Durham – Community Builder: For his volunteer work with Beaver Valley Outreach and helping neighbours in need.
Margaret Benedict – Owen Sound – Community Service: For her dedication to the local business community, involvement with local theatre, and the local arts and culture scene.
Glenn Breadner – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For the dedication of his time to many community organizations including Meals on Wheels, Special Olympics Bowling, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Norma Breadner – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For her commitment to providing programming to youth in the community, in particular disadvantaged youth, as well as her continual to sharing of her culinary and leadership talents.
Jan Chamberlain – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For her contribution to numerous community organizations, her work with the Council for Aging, and as a past Chair of Community Foundation Grey-Bruce.
Sharron Colter – Stokes Bay – Royal Canadian Legion #202: For her leadership in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #202 and contributions to the Lion’s Head community as well as her contribution to preserving the history of the branch by writing a historical book.
Marjorie Davison – Meaford – Community Service: For her service as an educator and her work to diligently to preserve the history of St. Vincent Township.
Jane DeJong – Chatsworth – Community Service: For her work as a volunteer in community healthcare through the South East Grey Community Health Centre.
Alan Fisher – Hanover – Royal Canadian Legion #130: For his service as a municipal politician, Chair of the Hanover Hospital Board of Directors, and legionnaire.
Harley Greenfield – Meaford – Community Builder: For his service as a municipal councillor for seven consecutive terms and his involvement with restoration of Meaford Hall restoration, as well as his affiliation with a number of community organizations.
Dan Haverson – Hanover – Town of Hanover: For his service to the country as a veteran, and through his work with the Royal Canadian Legion, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his efforts to preserve the Royal Canadian Legion as an institution.
Elizabeth Henry – Owen Sound – Community Service: For her dedication to veterans’ causes and her work as a civil servant with Veterans Affairs Canada.
Joanne Horton – Owen Sound – Community Service: For her dedication to a number of community building initiatives, including local healthcare as the Chair of the Owen Sound Hospital Foundation and her work with the Chamber of Commerce as well as the local Kiwanis Club.
Caleb Hull – Wiarton – Community Builder: For his contributions in the area of community recreation by organizing free-of-charge sporting and cultural programming, including the William Wilfred Campbell Appreciation Society Poetry Festival.
Barrie Jack – Owen Sound – Community Builder: For his service to Canada through his 42-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, and his work as a Service Officer assisting veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #006.
Shirley Johnstone – Tobermory – Royal Canadian Legion #290: For her work as a local historian, preserving stories that are unique to Tobermory, including those of local veterans and contributing to the cultural fabric of the community as well as her dedication to the Twinning program.
Judith MacKinnon – Paisley – Municipality of Arran Elderslie: For her work as a local historian, helping to preserve stories unique to Arran-Elderslie and contributing to the cultural fabric of the community, as well as her contributions through The Paisley Advocate.
Aimo Manninen – Southampton – Community Builder: For his work supporting Long-term Care in the community and his advocacy for seniors through his work with the Board of Directors of Golden Dawn Senior Citizen Home and his support of their staff as well as for his contribution to the development and education of local youth as an educator and principal.
Theresa McLaughlin – Neustadt – Community Builder: For her service to a number of community organizations including Scouts Canada, and her work with horticultural societies around the region.
Jack Mcleod – Hanover – Community Service: For his community work in the areas of recreation, including maintaining recreation facilities, his work with the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority during the holiday season and the Maple Syrup festival.
Kevin McNab – Georgian Bluffs – County of Grey: For his dedication as a public service leader, serving as the Director of the Grey County Paramedic Service and his success in implementing one of Ontario’s first community Paramedicine programs.
Eleanor Pauling – Owen Sound – Arts, Culture, and Heritage: For her contribution to the community through her artistic talents. Recently, she painted 17 paintings and donated them for a fundraiser auction benefiting the Salvation Army.
Darren Reid – Markdale – Royal Canadian Legion #333: For his service as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and his commitment to assisting veterans battling mental illness, as well as his work in his local legion branch.
Martin Riordan – Meaford – Royal Canadian Legion #032: For his service as a 28-year veteran of the legion, including serving as the President and Service Officer for Veterans.
Lynn Silverton – Flesherton – Community Builder: For her strong commitment to her community and her public service as a Councillor in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, her service on the local Police Services Board and her work with the Royal Canadian Legion, Grey Highlands Peace Committee and Rotary Club.
Mae Smith – Chesley – Community Service: For her dedication to her community through her involvement with the Chesley Legion and Ladies Auxillary for over 50 years, her work with local veterans and community causes.
Irene Surridge – Owen Sound – Royal Canadian Legion #6: For her work as a volunteer at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6, working in the kitchen for nearly half a century, and working in many other capacities at the Legion.
Maryann Thomas – Owen Sound – Arts, Culture, and Heritage: For her contributions to local literature, including by publishing the stories of local authors through her business The Ginger Press, and for keeping local stories alive for generations to come.
Mary Trelford – Tara – Royal Canadian Legion #383: For her many years of volunteer service, notably in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #383 in Tara as well as her work with the Good Food Box, providing fresh produce.
Dr. Susanne Von Toerne & Heiner Philipp – Flesherton – Community Builder: For their contribution as community leaders and their recent undertaking of Ukrainian refugee resettlement efforts, as well as their work to help other families who are looking to host refugees. They are also recognized for their corporate citizenship through the operation of Rural Net in Flesherton.
Tracy Wade – Wiarton – Community Service: For her volunteer work at the Bruce Peninsula Community Food Bank, assisting nearly 1,000 families by providing meals to families in need as well as her recent work to help launch the Grub Hub program assisting children in accessing healthy meals during the summer months.
Heather Wright – Durham – Municipality of West Grey: For her work as a community volunteer and local historian, helping to preserve the stories of West Grey, and building the community for the future, as well as her efforts with the Durham Homecoming Committee, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #308, and coordinating fundraising for the Saugeen Valley school playground.
Bill Murdoch (presented 26 July) – Bognor – Community Service: For his record of service to our community throughout many decades and his representation for the people of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound at Queens Park, as well as his contributions to local councils and boards.
Photos of the coin presentations can be viewed at http://www.alexruffmp.ca/platinumjubileephotos
Ruff says more recipients will be announced as they are presented throughout the summer.