Four West Kootenay residents were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal at a Castlegar ceremony on Sept. 12.
This commemorative medal recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada, their province, territory, region, or community. Across the country, 30,000 medals are being awarded with 551 coming from B.C.
The medals were presented to Gerry Rempel, Darlene Schultz, Anne Godderis and Jan Morton by Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy, who also nominated the recipients.
Conroy said the hardest thing to do for the award presentation was condensing each recipient's contributions into a concise list suitable for the ceremony.
Gerry Rempel
Rempel was born and raised in the Kootenays. He was Castlegar's fire chief for 26 years and gave a total of 44 years to the fire service and continues to serve as the department's volunteer chaplain to this day.
Rempel, who is Métis, is also part of the Selkirk College Indigenous Student Elders Program.
"I think that he proudly ensures that people in our region not only understand the Métis culture but also embrace it," said Conroy.
Conroy also mentioned Rempel's work with Rotary, service as the Brigade Superintendent for Saint John Ambulance, service as the Kootenay representative for BCM Original Veterans Association, work as the commanding officer for the Castlegar Air Cadet Squadron and his role as Castlegar's Santa Claus.
"All of these things, I believe, make Gerry an excellent candidate for the King Charles III Coronation Medal," concluded Conroy.
Rempel expressed gratitude for the support of his wife and children.
"There's always a cost to stuff and the cost is time away from family."
He also thanked the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society (COINS) where he both volunteers and receives support.
“Growing up, we didn't talk about our Indigenous ancestry. In our day, it wasn't very cool to have Indigenous blood," said Rempel who began to fully embrace and speak about his heritage in the last decade.
"I've always felt it an honour to help those who needed help," added Rempel. "In the fire service, it was never a job for me ... I enjoyed going to work and I enjoyed helping people. With these other organizations, it's the same.”
"It's important that people have support. We all carry issues and and it's so important to acknowledge that and offer support where we can."
Darlene Schultz
"Darlene [Schultz] cares for her family, friends and neighbours with a depth that is unmeasurable, whether it is ensuring the Castlegar Rebels have the best season possible year after year, checking in with her neighbours as she goes for a walk, or making sure her government represents her compassionate nature. Darlene is about caring for others," said Conroy.
Conroy also mentioned Schultz's commitment to the well-being of children from her days as a school bus driver developing relationships with her riders to her decades-long dedication to junior hockey.
"You would be hard pressed to go to a Rebels game and not see Darlene there volunteering in some capacity. Her commitment to youth is inspiring and certainly a good reason for Darlene to be nominated."
Schultz said, "I'd like to encourage anybody who isn't already active in their community, in a volunteer way, to step up and do what you can ... no community can flourish without what I call the 'underground army of volunteers.'
"Volunteering is part of my DNA and it's been my privilege to help where and when I can. It gives back to me in numerous ways. So I'm staying active at the games, being involved in the community, making new friends, strengthening existing bonds, and exercising my vocal cords – as those of you that attend hockey games can attest."
Anne Godderis
“Anne Godderis has been dedicated to helping women and children in this region for decades,” said Conroy, who first go to know Godderis at the Kootenay Columbia Childcare Society many years ago.
"She was amazing with what she did in those days. She ensured families got the quality childcare that they needed, but she also ensured that children of all abilities got the excellent early childhood education that they needed.”
Godderis then extended that passion into work in Guatemala. She also works with women who are victims of violence, the Smoke Eaters’ White Ribbon Campaign and the Trail Family and Individual Resource Society (FAIR).
“Many ... have benefited from Anne's compassionate, caring ways ... She supported women to survive tough times and overcome the barriers that they encounter in their daily lives in so many ways ... for all these reasons and many others, Anne definitely deserves the King Charles III Coronation Medal."
“For me, it's really important to name global and local work for social justice, respect for human rights, elimination of poverty and the creation of a more peaceful, sustainable world, including an end to violence against women,” said Goddderis.
“That's what's being recognized for me, personally, with this award because it's driven all the other things ...”
“I know I wouldn't be standing here if not for the many, many people living here, elsewhere in Canada and around the world, especially in Central America, who inspired, taught and supported me over the years and who are just as or more deserving of this public recognition.”
Godderis also mentioned her sister Jan Morton, who also was awarded a medal, her daughters and extended family as well as friends, neighbours and work colleagues.
“It's impossible, really, to find the words to convey how grateful and incredibly fortunate I am to have had them in my life.”
Jan Morton
“Jan has been a force in our region since she arrived here in the 90s,” said Conroy. “She brought her passion to support people in so many ways as the founder and executive director of the Greater Trail Community Skills Centre. She ensured people who were considered hard to employ got the skills they needed to get jobs.”
Conroy said Morton is known to say that the centre's principal focus is development of the labour market. However, it often serves as a bridge between the traditional business sector and the social sector, providing supports to people of all walks of life.
Morton is also a member of the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society, was involved in the implementation of the region's first poverty reduction plan, as well as the promotion of a sustainable community-centred primary healthcare delivery model and is a member of the provincial Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee.
She's been involved in affordable housing projects in Warfield, Rossland, Fruitvale, Trail, and throughout the region.
"She has a particular passion for the difference that affordable, secure housing can make for people and their sense of inclusion and opportunity,” said Conroy.
Morton used most of her acceptance speech to thank a plethora of people that she has worked with over the years.
This included her sister and fellow medal winner Anne Godderis and another sister, Lynn, who all played a role in the development of the poverty reduction plan for the Lower Columbia Region.
She also said she felt privileged to work in partnership with so many amazing people.
“So various times and in various circumstances, we make progress through teamwork and sometimes we're leaders, sometimes we're worker bees. Sometimes we're behind the scenes,” said Morton.
I want to thank each and every one of you in this room for the ways that each of you make a difference in community and the world of social and economic justice. Together we can, and we do, make a difference."
