Thirty-five area residents were recently bestowed with the King Charles III Coron-ation Medal for having made a significant contribution to their community, the province of Ontario or Canada as whole. Or they have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to their country.

'Several of the recipients are either active duty or retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who received their medals for having made a significant contribution to the CAF’s operations.

Several other recipients received their medal in honour of their long-standing careers in the federal public service.

Some of the community members who received the King’s Coronation Medal include Zybina Richards who has served as president of the Fallingbrook Community Association for over 25 years and has been involved in organizing the east end’s largest Canada Day Celebration for just as long.

Retired teacher Moses Pratt also received a medal. Pratt taught at both St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School and Lester B. Pearson High School for years, but he was honoured for his work as the founder of the Global Community Alliance which has held its youth achievements awards on the final Saturday of Black History Month for the past 13 years.

Other recipients include Nicole Fortier, president of the Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l’histoire d’Orléans; Olympic soccer referee Dr. Carol Anne Chénard; Mark Kiejna, chief policy advisor for the United Nations; and Mashood Sayed who, among other things, is a member of the board of directors of the Ottawa Children’s Aid Society and one of this city’s leading fundraisers.

The medal presentation ceremony was hosted by Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde who congratulated all the recipients during her opening remarks.

“It makes me proud to represent Orléans as we come together to recognize outstand-ing citizens for the passion and dedication they have shown to the community and to Canada,” said Lalonde.

The 35 local recipients are among 30,000 people who will receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal this year, including 4,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The recipients were all selected by the Governor-General’s office which is administering the program.

Back row – Maj. Graeme Ogilvie (special guest), Donato Iannaccio, Sgt. Benoît Leduc, Col. (Ret’d) Michel Drapeau, Robert Rainboth, Maj. (Ret’d) André Thivierge, Capt. Denis Charbonneau, Lt. Col. Christopher Jackson, Alexander Comber, Maj. Christopher Blencowe, Col. (Ret’d) Gregory Burt, Maj. Gen. Gregory Smith (special guest). Middle row – Dr. André M. Levesque, Col. Omar Abouzaher, Dr. Stephen Poloz, Moses Pratt, Joseph Shiban Jebreen, MP Marie-France Lalonde, Dianna Miller, Dr. Holly Ellingwood, Lt. Cdr. (Ret’d) Richard Guitar, Comrade Wyn Fournier, Ian Faris, Mark Kiejna. Bottom row – Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Barry MacDonald, Rachelle Lecours, Mashooda Syed, Elizabeth Bengle, Nicole Fortier, Teresa Whitmore, Raina Smith, Lt. (Ret’d) Christine Wood, Zybina Richards, Dr. Rocky Dwyer, Dr. Carol Anne Chénard.] Not pictured – Aldege Bellefeuille (provincial nominee), Col. Gisèle Fontaine, Steve Sungho Min (picture 1880), Capt. (Ret’d) Yves Lesieur