For decades, longtime Moose Jaw resident Glenn Hagel has given countless hours of his time to serving the people of his community not only as the city’s Mayor and MLA, but through a host of volunteer ventures designed to help make lives better in the city.
And all the while, he was surrounded by many, many others in the community trying their best to do the same, through as many means as possible.
On Friday afternoon, Hagel and a host of his fellow Moose Jaw citizens received their just reward.
A total of 45 people from all walks of life -- education, sports, community volunteers, military and everything in between -- were honoured with the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) during a special ceremony at the Heritage Inn.
The award is in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary of ascending to the throne and is designed to recognize significant contributions and achievements by Saskatchewan citizens.
While accomplished public servants like Hagel and many others honoured Friday might be used to recognition, this was something a little more special in his eyes.
“This is really at the top of the list, and adding to it is it coming at a time at the end of Her Majesty’s career and the proximity to her passing,” Hagel said shortly after receiving the medal from Saskatchewan provincial secretary and Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod. “It reminded me how deeply and strongly I felt common values with Her Majesty about the structure and the process of our democracy and how that contributes to the potential for happiness of people who live all around us.”
Sarah Bryan, vice-chair at Heartland Hospice, was also among those honoured for her countless hours of volunteer work in the community.
“It’s so meaningful and more emotional than I expected,” she said. “It was a very beautiful ceremony and it’s such an honour to see all the people here. We have an amazing community and I’m constantly astonished at how much is being done by people who are represented here today and who aren’t here today. Just going through the list it’s ‘oh, they’re here and it’s cool to see them here’. It’s really nice to be a part of.”
Fellow recipient Ryan Boughen felt much the same way after being honoured for his years of service as a teacher, educator and coach with the Prairie South School Division.
“It’s fantastic, I wasn’t really sure what to say when I heard about it,” said Boughen, the director of education for PSSD. “There are some kids here I used to coach and teach in high school and lots of people I’ve connected through with work and lots of people who do great things in the community as volunteers. So it’s a really nice thing for the community and to see all these people involved and recognized this way.”
Also honoured on Friday were Dana Ansell, Colin Belsher, Starla Ann Bond, Richard Bourassa, Eric Campbell, Alex Carleton, Rob Carnie, Roy Champion, Krystal Chow, David Chow, Bonnie Lee Copeman-Bender, Elise Yolanda De Garie, Bernard Dudka, Della Ferguson, Clyde Garrett, Darlene Geib, Darlene Guy, Ken Hawkes, Melanie Hopkinson, Ryan Hrechka, Bert Hunt, John Iatridis, Gayle Jones, Shant Haroutune Kahvedjian, Laurie Kosior, Melinda Lee, Jackie L’Heureux Mason, Michael James MacNeil, Jared Mathieson, Warren Miller, Rod Montgomery, Greg Moore, Josh Peneycad, Joel Pinel, Jared Robinson, Kyle Sereda, Angela Sereda, Carly Jaye Smith, Robert Todd Smith, Robert Thomas, Wendy Vincent and Grenville James ‘Tex’ Young.
A total of 7,000 medals are to be awarded throughout Saskatchewan, with Queen Elizabeth herself having approved the design at Windsor Castle on May 17.
For more on the awards, including the nomination criteria, be sure to visit https://bit.ly/3VejB08.
