Thirty Winnipeggers to receive Queen's medal

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Minister of Heritage James Moore holds out a new medal to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Thirty recipients will receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Sunday at a private function at The Fort Garry Hotel.

The awards, presented on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, will be presented by MP Pat Martin and recognize 30 people in Winnipeg Centre who have "dedicated themselves to making their community great."

This year’s recipients are:

1. Herman Ivan Berkowitz who has been an advocate for heart health in Manitoba through his work with the Manitoba Heart Foundation, the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St. Boniface and the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences.
2. Rod Cantiveros , a leader in Winnipeg’s Filipino community through involvement with the Filipino Journal and as a founder of the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba.
3. Jacques Chenier, who for more than two decades has shared his Franco-Manitoban heritage with family audiences throughout Canada with his educational and bilingual music.
4. Marty Dolin, a former MLA, who has dedicated himself to public service through his two decades of leadership through the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Centre, a non-profit agency dedicated to sponsoring and supporting refugees in Winnipeg.
5. Judith Flynn, who for 12 years, served as Chair of the Manitoba Arts Council.
6. Robert Gingras, who dedicated his life to his community by bringing people together to revitalize the Valour Community Club, and serving as program director of the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres.
7. Gary Grouette of Freight House Community Centre which provides safe recreational space to a struggling community’s kids.
8. Joan Hay, who has a long history of service in Winnipeg’s West End and working and volunteering for numerous aboriginal and local community organizations.
9. Morgan Hoogstraten, who while a student at Gordon Bell High School, spearheaded a campaign that brought the community together with all levels of government and secured green space for her school.
10. Sister Margaret Hughes, who delivered individualized programming to children at Wi Wabigooni, an alternative school for inner city First Nations students in Grades 3-6.
11. Rev. William Hutton, who turned a loved one’s dying wish into a celebrated Winnipeg institution by founding Jocelyn House Hospice along with his wife Miriam in 1985.
12. Vinh Huynh, the principal of Hugh John MacDonald School where the specialized programming and individualized approach he champions helps ensure students with language and other barriers succeed.
13. Lori Johnson, the long time executive director of Klinic Community Health Centre.
14. Cpl. Sean Walter Peter Madden, who has served selflessly as a stolid, willing Cameron since 1971.
15. Barry Patrick Marchand, the first person in Manitoba to form a citizen’s safety patrol.
16. David Martin, whose tenure at the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, his work for the provincial Disabilities Issues Office, and his efforts on numerous boards demonstrate a life of advocacy for the better treatment of people with disabilities.
17. Bruce McManus, an active local playwright in Winnipeg.
18. Bill Millar, minister of the Knox United Church. Millar tends to a diverse flock in Winnipeg’s colourful and multicultural Central Park neighbourhood. His ministry exemplifies community building by connecting residents and organizations together.
19. Paul Moist, who has spent over 30 years as a labour leader, fighting for the working people of Canada.
20. Lawrence Mulhall, the long time director and driving force behind the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre and its celebrated Just TV programming.
21. Sister Bernadette O’Reilly, a long-time community activist who was co-executive director for 23 years at Rossbrook House, a drop-in centre for inner-city Winnipeg youth.
22. Diane Orihel, who when the closure of the Experimental Lakes Area was announced, dropped everything to found the Coalition to Save ELA. She leads a passionate fight to protect our environment and keep scientific research free from political interference.
23. Sister Lesley Sacouman, who has spent thirty years dedicated to providing a safe place for Winnipeg’s inner city youth, along with immigrant and refugee women. She recently founded the Holy Names House of Peace to help immigrant women adjust to life in Canada.
24. Les Slingsby, who has spent over 50 years volunteering in the Weston Community.
25. Godwin Smith who runs Les Touch is a barber shop that is a community hub for Winnipeg’s African population.
26. Mark Titheridge, the long time director of West Central Community Program, who has spent 35 years working in the West Central area of Winnipeg in support of after school community programming.
27. Jordan Van Sewell, an artist whose unique ceramic sculptures have made him a pillar of Winnipeg’s art community for thirty years.
28. Maria Vigna, the co-executive director for Rossbrook House, a drop-in centre available as a safe place for youth in the community to visit and provides numerous programming opportunities to Winnipeg’s inner city youth.
29. Linda Watson, a community volunteer working with Grands ‘n’ More, an organization based in Winnipeg that works with the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign to improve the lives of grandmothers and AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa.
30. Francine Wiebe, a long time teacher, who volunteers her home, time and expertise to running a home school program for refugee children.