Christians honoured for queen's jubilee

Roche gives medals to outstanding achievers

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

An array of volunteers and community activists paraded in front of Lt.-Gov. Lois Hole and Senator Douglas Roche to receive the special recognition Nov. 3.

The event, held at Roche's Strathearn area home, attracted some 25 people, including award recipients, family members and guests.

The Golden Jubilee Medal commemorates the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign as Queen of Canada and is currently being awarded to approximately 46,000 Canadians who over the past 50 years have helped create the Canada of today.

As Roche put it, the medal recognizes citizens "for an outstanding and exemplary achievement or service to the community or to Canada as a whole." It acknowledges, he said, service to others that has freely transcended the ordinary bounds of duty and employment.

Hole praised the recipients for serving the common good and called them "excellent role models" for other Canadians. "You are role models who show us how to effectively work for positive change in our country and there is no greater accomplishment than that," she said. "You are among our finest citizens and every Canadian should be tremendously proud of you. Congratulations."

Roche, founding editor of the WCR, read a brief statement on each the recipients as he called them up to receive their medal. Hole gracefully shook hands or shared a hug with each honoree.

The Golden Jubilee Medal features a Golden Maple Leaf with the dates 1952 to 2002 on the reverse and an image of Her Majesty on the front, suspended from a royal blue ribbon and striped in Canada's red and white. Below are those who received the medal.

Patricia O'Brien: Recognized for volunteer work. She is a retired teacher who has provided leadership to social services, health care and post secondary education. She is chairperson of the board of directors of Catholic Social Services, a member of St. Stephen's College Council and a volunteer ESL teacher.

Elizabeth (Betty) Farrell: Recognized for volunteerism. She is a member of the Edmonton Inner City Housing Society, volunteers at Anawin Inner City Food Depot and is on the Quality of Life Commission. She has also volunteered for the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

Kathleen Feehan: Recognized for volunteer work on behalf of low-income families. A retired social worker, she co-chairs the Quality of Life Commission and has volunteered on a Youth Justice Committee, the Safer Cities Advisory Committee and the ABC Headstart.

Chinwe Okelu: Recognized for volunteerism. A member of St. Theresa Parish, he chairs the Millwoods Multicultural Board and the Millwoods Community League Presidents' Council. He is a former president of Knottwood Community League and a former member of the Quality of Life Commission.

Stuart Lindop: Recognized for volunteer work with the Progress Club whose motto Promote Pride in being a Canadian he actively promoted. He originated the movement to take sexist words out of the national anthem.

Robert McKeon: Recognized as a member of the founding group and a leader in the establishment of the Edmonton Inner City Housing Society. A professor at St. Joseph's University College and at Newman Theological College, McKeon was a founding member with a continuing presence in the Edmonton Community Loan Fund.

Sister Teresa Devine: A sister of Providence, she is recognized for her volunteer work on behalf of low-income people and families. She volunteers faithfully and kindly at Anawin Place, an inner city emergency food bank for the needy.

Kathleen Quinn: Recognized for volunteerism in her McCauley neighborhood as a community activist. When high levels of street prostitution became a problem, she mobilized members of her community into action and Communities for Changing Prostitution was formed. Quinn has also served the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

Msgr. Bill Irwin: Recognized for his continuing record of outstanding services to people in need throughout Alberta and his commitment to help to alleviate some of the distressing social problems of our time. He is founder of Catholic Social Services.

Dr. Ronna Fay Jevne: Recognized for volunteer work. An author and a chartered psychologist, she is director of programs and research at the Hope Foundation of Alberta. In 2001 she received the University of Alberta Board of Governors Award of Distinction.

Rev. Donald Mayne: Recognized for his volunteer work in areas of seniors, poverty, housing and elder abuse. A United Church minister, he is president of the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action and chair of the North American Faith Network.

Patricia Hartnagel: Recognized for her volunteerism with Project Ploughshares, a peace organization. She is on the Quakers' Peace and National Concerns Committee and the Quaker International Affairs Program Committee. In 2000 she received the Salvos Prelorentzas Millennium Peace Award.

James Gurnett: He is director of the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, member of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, past executive member for Mahatma Gandhi Foundation for World Peace and for Burma Watch International. (He was unable to attend the ceremony.)

In a separate ceremony, Father John McNeil also received the Golden Jubilee Medal. McNeil, 82, has long been involved in drug and alcohol addiction counselling. He was a military chaplain for 15 years and also served as archdiocesan chancellor and parish priest in the Edmonton Archdiocese.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter