Like her provincial counterpart, the MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith will recognize residents of the region for their exemplary service to the community.

Sheila Malcolmson, then MP for Nanaimo, announced the winners of the King Charles III Coronation Medal in early September. Similarly, Congresswoman Lisa Marie Barron hosted a luncheon for 58 candidates at the Coast Bastion Hotel on Saturday, November 2.

The nominees are George Anderson (community advocate), Horst Backe (Reaching Out Assisting Refugees), Roger Bird (Vancouver Island Military Museum), David Boyce (mental health advocate), Joel Canfield (cycling advocate), Kathleen Darby (culture -education- hospitality leader), Guy Dauncey (author, climate educator), Barbara Desprez (posthumously, Nanaimo Theater Group) and Grace Elliott-Nielsen (Tillicum Lelum Friendship Centre).

Jim Fiddick (Cedar Community Hall), Steven Fielden (union activist), Susan Fisher (Nanaimo and Area Land Trust), Terre Flower (anti-racism champion), Bert Forrest (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10) and William Good (master Snuneymuxw sculptor).

Melissa Griswold (cycling community advocate), Ron Gueulette (Cranberry Volunteer Fire Department), Wendy Hall (posthumous disability advocate), Cyndy Hall (missing and murdered indigenous women advocate), Jean -Michel Hanssens (ecologist), Tony Harris (Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation) and Violet Hayes (Island Crisis Care Society).

Mandy Hayre (Dental Care for Vulnerable People Advocate), Tanya Hiltz (Wisteria Community Association), Ron Hopper (Friends of HMCS Nanaimo), Gary Howk (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 257), Blaise Hunter (Dental Care Advocate Reproductive Health), Robb Hunter (youth sports leader), Vicki Jones (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 257), Susanne Lee (Island Crisis Care Society) and Imogene Lim (educator and community organizer).

Jason Lott (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10), Advisor. Paul Manly (City of Nanaimo), Abby Matthews and Colin Matthews (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10), Kerilie McDowall (musician-filmmaker), Stephanie McDowall (posthumous social advocate), Brian McFadden (Island Military Museum of Vancouver) and Richard Meyers (LGBTQ activist).

Kate Mosse (Wiltshire Education Society), Alexander Nielsen (BC Wildfire Service), Chelsea Oaten (sexual health educator), Leo Oster (author), Graham Pike (Wiltshire Education Society), Lynn Redekopp (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10) , Michael Ribicic (teacher), Tom Roden (radio host), Georgina Rosewall (posthumously, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 257) and Scot Rounding (Nanaimo Navy League).

Deborah Saucier (Vancouver Island University), Lauren Semple (LGBTQ advocate), Doug Slowski (Air Cadet League of Canada), Jefferson Stanway (engineering-robotics), Janine Stokoe (Royal Cadet Corps Parent Support Committee of the Canadian Army 2422), Iris Taylor (union activist), Susan Toth (South Wellington and Area Community Association), Kerrie Vockeroth (community volunteer) and Joann Walton-Hatch (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256).

Barron said the nominees are “unsung heroes” and 20 of them will receive a medal, with the matter currently in the hands of Canada’s governor general as part of the nominations process.

Barron was assisted by a selection committee – Nanaimo Regional District Board Chair Vanessa Craig of Ladysmith City Council. Duck Patterson, Lantzville Mayor Mark Swain, Nanaimo City Council. Erin Hemmens, Signy Madden, Director of United Way British Columbia, and Jenn MacPherson, President of the Nanaimo Duncan District Labor Council.

The medal recipients will be revealed in the coming months.

Laurie Grubb (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256), Amanda Hall (BC People First Society), Peter Sinclair (Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank) and Const. Joshua Waltman (Nanaimo RCMP) received medals from Malcolmson.

The medals are awarded in honor of the accession of King Charles III to the British throne.