During a ceremony held in Carman on Feb. 15, Branden Leslie, Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar, presented the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal to thirty exceptional individuals from the constituency.
These recipients were honoured for their outstanding contributions to their communities, reflecting the values of service, compassion, and dedication. Nearly 200 guests — including recipients, nominators, friends, and family members — gathered to witness the official medal presentation, followed by a reception celebrating the accomplishments of the honourees.
“It was a privilege to present the King’s Coronation Medal to these thirty remarkable individuals,” said Leslie. “Their selfless dedication and unwavering commitment to helping others have made a lasting impact. They represent the very best of Portage-Lisgar, and they inspire us all to give back to our communities and our country.”
The King’s Coronation Medal, created to commemorate King Charles III’s coronation in 2023, honours individuals who have demonstrated exceptional public service, leadership, and dedication to improving their communities.
Canada has a long tradition of celebrating royal milestones by recognizing the achievements of extraordinary citizens. The King’s Coronation Medal continues this tradition by celebrating those who have worked tirelessly to uplift others and strengthen their communities through charitable efforts, public service, and leadership.
Leslie received nearly 100 nominations from across the constituency, each highlighting stories of extraordinary commitment and selflessness. He noted that a committee of three people from Portage, Carman and Altona selected each recipient after assessing each application by going through and ranking them. MPs are usually allotted 20 medals to disperse, but due to a high number of applications this year, Leslie asked the Governor General’s office for 30, which was fortunately approved.
Some of the locals to receive the Coronation Medal include Kelvin Vanderveen (Carman), Bob McMillan (Miami), Estelle Thornson (Starbuck) and David Wilson (Sanford).
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Robert (Bob) McMillan is a devoted member of his community, volunteering for 67 years as an organist, 62 years with the Austin Historical Village, and seven years as a driver for cancer patients. He is recognized for his philanthropy and visiting those in need.
Estelle Thornson is an active member of the Starbuck and Elie communities. Her numerous contributions to local organizations reflect her selfless dedication to her family and community. Thornson continues to be a role model to those around her.
David Wilson has spent a lifetime as a community volunteer and 25+ years volunteering in his community. With over forty years of military service in the reserves, Wilson’s volunteerism is widely recognized and commemorated by his community.
Finally, Kelvin Vanderveen is the owner of Vanderveen Greenhouses in Carman and has been operating his business in town for approximately 55 years. His parents first moved to Carman in 1953 and raised a family in this area and the Vanderveen name continues to stay strong in the town.
Vanderveen provides the flowers along the town’s Main Street each year and is an active member of his church. He is recognized as a valuable and generous member of his community.
“It began on a very small scale and with God’s blessing it has expanded many times over the years,” said Kelvin Vanderveen. “We have also been supplying the flowers along Main Street too for about 20 years. As a large producer of flowering plants, it just seems natural to beautify our town with flowers. I travel through many towns in the prairies, and it is wonderful to see the beauty in Carman and how well the plants are maintained by the town employees.”
Vanderveen was pleasantly surprised to hear that he would be receiving the Coronation Medal, but is still elated to be honoured.
“I was surprised to hear that I would be receiving a Coronation Medal,” said Vanderveen, “especially since I feel there are many people more deserving than I am.”
These thirty recipients who earned a Coronation Medal in the Portage-Lisgar riding now join a distinguished group of Canadians who have been recognized for their exceptional service. They join past recipients of the Queen’s Jubilee Medals and other royal honours.
“Congratulations to all nominees and recipients,” said Branden Leslie. “Your work is truly a testament to the spirit of service, compassion, and selflessness that thrives in Portage-Lisgar.”
Full list of medal recipients:
Dawn Marie Froese – Portage la Prairie
Nahid Rahman – Portage la Prairie
Eric John Fast – Portage la Prairie
Valerie Hill – Portage la Prairie
Betty-Jean Checkley – Portage la Prairie
Charles (Chuck) Ian Ross Smith – Portage la Prairie
Dennis Galbraith – Oakville
Michael (Mike) Vaughn Jarvie – Elie
Cornelius (Neil) Schmidt – Winkler
Paulette Nicole Martel – St. Léon
Robert (Bob) Andrew McMillan – Miami
Patricia Gibson – Morden
Eva Unger – Reinfeld
Jenn McStravick – Elie
Peter Cantelon – Morden
Kelvin Vanderveen – Carman
Isaac Dyck – Winkler
Maurice George Butler – Morden
Harold Espinosa – Winkler
Jason Hoshowski – St. Francois Xavier
Estelle Jean Thornson – Starbuck
David Michael Wilson – Sanford
Gennadiy Sharapov – Morden
Rob Wesley Wiebe – Winkler
Kenton Dyck – Winkler
Marvin (Jack) Heppner – Altona
Callum Lewis Morrison – Altona
Rodney (Rod) James Hutter – Cartier
Linda Fehr – Morden
