Poilievre Honours Three Heroes for History with Diamond Jubilee Medals

December 14, 2012

Poilievre Honours Three Heroes for History with Diamond Jubilee Medals

 

Manotick, ON — On December 13, Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton, hosted a ceremony at Watson’s Mill in Manotick to honour three individuals with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.  These three individuals have made significant contributions to preserve important parts of history and pass that knowledge on to others.

 

“Our commitment to Canada is strengthened when we collectively recognize those who distinguish themselves by virtue of their talents, generosity and service to our communities,” said Poilievre. “Today we gather to recognize the Heroes of History in our community who have recognized the importance of protecting, disseminating and creating history: Chief Kenny Blacksmith, Mrs. Coreen Atkins-Sheldrick and Mr. Ronald Cohen.”

 

Chief Blacksmith was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal for his tireless work in bringing reconciliation, healing and unity to people, nations, churches and governments through Gathering Nations International, a First Nations non-profit organization which was founded in full partnership with his wife Louise. Working with a national coalition of aboriginals across Canada, he led the response to Prime Minister Harper’s historic apology to First Nations people, culminating in the National Forgiven Summit in 2010. As Deputy Grand Chief of the Cree Nation of Quebec, Councilor of the Cree Nation of Mistissini, Commissioner and President of the Cree School Board and a social worker and Bible translator, Chief Blacksmith has demonstrated his deep passion to see a united and prosperous Canada.

 

Mrs. Atkins-Sheldrick received her medal for her work in the Fallen, but not Forgotten initiative. As a self-proclaimed ex-Air Force brat, elementary school librarian and avid volunteer in the community, she has dedicated over a dozen years researching the contributions that the Township of Osgoode had made to Canada’s military history. When she discovered that several names of local soldiers were missing from the community cenotaph, she came to Mr. Poilievre to correct this wrong. This past fall, four names that she had discovered missing were inscribed in a newly renovated cenotaph in the village of Metcalfe, just in time for Remembrance Day.

 

Mr. Cohen, a graduate of both Harvard and McGill Universities, was nominated for his research on Sir Winston Churchill. He is one of three co-founders of the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Ottawa and, after a quarter century of research around the world, authored the definitive three-volume Bibliography of the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill. For this, he was honoured by The Churchill Centre with the grant of the Farrow Award for Excellence in Churchill Studies. As a Churchill expert, Mr. Cohen has since published hundreds of articles on the subject and speaks in cities across North America.

 

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to celebrate Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne 60 years ago. This commemorative medal is a tangible and lasting way to pay tribute to 60,000 Canadians whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community, their organization and the country. It provides an opportunity to look back and recognize those who made Canada what it is today, and to look forward and recognize youth who are actively involved in our country’s future.