This release was issued under a previous government.
Among the recipients were Members and Officers of the Order of Canada who have served their fellow Canadians as distinguished artists, ground breaking health care professionals, innovators and dedicated business and community leaders. His Honour, Colonel (Ret’d) the Honourable Donald S. Ethell also presented medals to long serving and 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.
“The Diamond Jubilee Medal is a way to recognize and thank the sterling citizens among us who have made a lasting difference to the quality of life we are fortunate to enjoy as Albertans and Canadians,” said Lieutenant Governor Ethell. “These recipients are outstanding examples of the dedication to duty and service to others that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has demonstrated throughout her reign and they have earned the thanks of their fellow Canadians.”
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 Calgary and area as the Diamond Jubilee year unfolds.
Other upcoming events to mark the year will include a Diamond Jubilee garden party at McDougall Centre in Calgary on Saturday, July 21 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. The party will be open to the public. Further information about Diamond Jubilee is at Alberta.ca/diamondjubilee.cfm. Albertans are also invited to visit the website to send messages of congratulations to Her Majesty.
Attachment: Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal -May 14, Calgary, Alberta
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Janet Resta
Communications Officer, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
780-427-9222
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
Backgrounder
Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal -May 14, 2012, Calgary, Alberta
The following individuals were presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell at McDougall Centre, Calgary on May 14, 2012.
Kenneth A. Barrett (Calgary)
Kenneth Barrett is a Korea War veteran who also served with the Canadian Army in NATO and peacekeeping operations around the world. He has been a dedicated and long-serving member of many veterans associations, including the Korea Veterans Association, the PPCLI Association and the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association.
Dr. Jeanne Besner (Calgary)
Jeanne Besner is a highly regarded medical administrator and researcher who has worked to optimize nurses and other health care team members in a collaborative, patient-centered approach. Her dedication and commitment to excellence have served to strengthen the professional development of nurses and improve health services for Canadians. She is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Captain Peter Boyle (Calgary)
Peter Boyle has offered 23 years of dedicated service to the Canadian Forces and the military community, including duties with the Royal Regiment of Canada, the Cadet Instructor Cadre and the Calgary Highlanders. He is an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
Sharon Butala (Calgary)
The writing of author Sharon Butala captures the essence of the prairies and explores the lives of the people who inhabit them. Through her fiction and non-fiction works, she has provided a particularly effective voice for rural women. She has also served through her work with the Banff Centre for the Arts and through her ardent support of natural grasslands preservation efforts. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
John Currie (Calgary)
John Currie has offered valuable contributions to Calgary’s legal and business communities while lending equal focus to serving community initiatives in a range of areas. His extensive volunteer work includes service to amateur sport, 4-H, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Calgary Parks Foundation, the Glenbow Museum and the Calgary Catholic School Board. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Captain Randy Fisher (Calgary)
Randy Fisher is 22-year veteran of the Cadet Instructors Cadre, Canadian Forces Reserves who has offered extensive service to the Air Cadets. He is an active community volunteer and has been an Aide de Camp to three Lieutenant Governors of Alberta.
Edward W. (Ted) Godwin (Calgary)
Ted Godwin is a member of the avant-garde group of artists known as the "Regina Five" and a distinguished modern abstract painter known for his distinctive, large-scale interpretations of the Canadian landscape. He has also served as a writer, professor and mentor for upcoming Canadian artists. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Sergeant (Ret’d) Tom Hamilton (Calgary)
Tom Hamilton is the current vice-president of the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping. He enjoyed an extended service career with the Canadian Army and continues to support veteran’s causes and to educate younger generations about the military and veterans.
Dr. Robert Haslam (Okotoks)
Bob Haslam is a respected leader in pediatric neurology who has had a major impact on the care of, and advocacy for, children with nervous system disorders. He established the U of C Department of Pediatrics, served as Chief of Pediatrics at the Alberta Children's Hospital and also provided leadership at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Dr. Margaret (Marmie) Perkins Hess (Calgary)
Marmie Hess’s impressive contributions in a range of fields include her pioneering work to foster the art and environment of Canada’s Aboriginal people, her considerable service with Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, her longstanding support for a wide range of Calgary community and social service organizations and her dedication to preserving the western way of life. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Master Corporal (Ret’d) Tom Hradec (Moyie, British Columbia)
Tom Hradec is a charter member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping who has served as past national president and vice-president, as the Calgary Chapter president, and as western regional director. He is a long-time member of the PPCLI and Airborne Associations and is a current member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He has demonstrated a life-time dedication to supporting the Canadian Forces and veterans.
Corporal (Ret’d) John Jarvis (Calgary)
John Jarvis is a retired member of the Canadian Army whose extensive service record includes duties in Alert NWT, as a peacekeeper in Egypt and Golan Heights and service during two NATO tours of duty in Germany. His valuable contributions as a dedicated volunteer include his work to serve fellow veterans as a member of the West Central Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.
Frank King (Calgary)
Frank King was one of the original visionaries responsible for bringing the 1988 Winter Olympics to Calgary. He served as Chairman and CEO of the Calgary Olympic Organizing Committee and has also served Calgary and Alberta as a business leader and a longstanding contributor to community and charitable endeavours. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Robert Lee (Calgary)
Robert Lee is an innovative engineer with some 200 patents to his credit. These include inventions that increased metal refining production efficiency worldwide and introduced a safe replacement for harmful insecticides. Other patents in the areas of pulp and paper production, gas injection technology, improved combustion capacity and environmental protection have cemented his reputation as a leading inventor. He is a Member of the Order of Canada
Warrant Officer (Ret’d) L. Tex Leugner (Cochrane)
Tex Leugner is a veteran of the Canadian Army who served his fellow Canadians through postings across the nation as well as tours of duty in Cyprus and Egypt. He has also served his fellow veterans as an outstanding advocate at the provincial and national levels. He is the regional director for Alberta of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.
Gerald Maier (Calgary)
Gerald Maier is chairman emeritus of TransCanada PipeLines Limited and a respected leader in Canada’s oil and gas sector. He has also offered valued guidance and support to numerous civic and charitable organizations including Athol Murray College and the Canadian Olympic Foundation. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
F. Richard Matthews (Calgary)
Dick Matthews is a tireless supporter of arts and culture in Alberta whose strong record of service includes contributions as a founding board member and benefactor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also offered longstanding and considerable support for the University of Calgary. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Allan Monk (Calgary)
Allan Monk is a critically acclaimed baritone who has performed on the silver screen, on the concert stage and with major opera companies across North America and Europe. Throughout his career he received many prestigious awards in recognition of his great artistry and his contributions to opera in Canada. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Honourable Justice W. Kenneth Moore (Calgary)
Kenneth Moore's 50-year career as a lawyer and judge includes his tenure as Chief Justice for the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and service leading reform in areas such as alternative dispute resolution and case management. In addition to his legal contributions, he has provided valuable support to community organizations such as the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and Scouts Canada. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Virgil Moshansky (Calgary)
Virgil Moshansky has made important contributions to aviation safety in Canada. As a senior trial judge and civil aviator, he headed a Commission of Inquiry and undertook an exhaustive study that led to new and stringent procedures for airplane de-icing. He has also shared his expertise with air disaster and aviation safety organizations in other countries. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Corporal (Ret’d) Larry Neis (Sylvan Lake)
Larry Neis is a veteran of the Canadian Forces who served overseas as a peacekeeper in Egypt. He also has been a dedicated volunteer and advocate on behalf of fellow veterans in his community. He is a member of the West Central Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.
Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Ronald W. Noël (Medicine Hat)
Ronald Noel’s service to Crown and country includes Army postings across Canada as well as peacekeeping duties in Cyprus and Egypt. He has been a dedicated supporter of his fellow veterans and is a member of the West Central Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.
Alice Payne (Calgary)
Throughout her long and distinguished career as a geologist, Alice Payne has served as an industry leader and a trail blazer for women in science. She was the first woman to serve as President of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and has been an ardent advocate for young women pursuing careers in non-traditional fields. She is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Chief Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Earl (Sam) Simpson (Calgary)
Sam Simpson is the current Alberta provincial director of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping. He is the Calgary Chapter’s sergeant-at-arms and a member of the PPCLI Association. He is also a distinguished volunteer at the Calgary Military Museums who continues to provide support to currently serving Canadian Forces members and veterans across the country.
Dr. Gordon Swann (Calgary)
Gordon Swann founded the Cleft Palate Clinic at the Alberta Children's Hospital and has also provided leadership to the health care community by volunteering his time and expertise to various institutions, including the University of Calgary, the Foothills Hospital and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. He has had a major impact on the field of forensic science and dental forensics. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Vera Swanson (Calgary)
Vera Swanson has had a major impact on the arts in Calgary. She served a guiding force behind fundraising efforts for the city’s Centre for the Performing Arts and spearheaded the creation of the world-class Calgary International Organ Festival. She has also been a dedicated supporter of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Churchill Society. She is a Member of the Order of Canada.
Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Bob Titus (Calgary)
Bob Titus is the current president of the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping. He has also served as the President of the Calgary Chapter of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association. Following his long service career he has continued to care for Canada’s veterans and educate younger generations.
Dr. Mamoru Watanabe (Calgary)
Mamoru Watanabe has long played a valuable role in shaping national health care education, research and policy. As former Dean of Medicine, he brought international recognition to the University of Calgary for its expanded research role and pioneering use of telemedicine. He also encouraged the development of a national physician-resource database and has championed access to quality health care around the world. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Lt-Colonel (Ret’d) Rick Wright (Calgary)
Rick Wright is the national vice-president of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and the past Alberta provincial director. He has served as president of the Calgary Branches of the Royal Military Colleges of Canada Club and the Armed Forces Communications Electronic Association, and as a member of the board of directors of the Royal Alberta United Services Institute and the Communications Electronics Museum Foundation.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Janet Resta
Communications Officer, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
780-427-9222
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.