Wednesday September 4, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated September 5, 2024]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today four King Charles III coronation medals were awarded in the west shore, as announced by the BC NDP caucus for the Langford-Juan de Fuca electoral area.
Local MLA Ravi Parmar (Langford-Juan de Fuca) hosted the event at the Langford Legion this afternoon, September 4, 2024.
“Former Chief Planes, Elder Alphonse, former Mayor Young, and former Minister Sihota embody the spirit of our community. Their work has touched countless lives, and their legacies will continue to inspire and impact our community for generations to come,” said Parmar.
The recipients were announced by the BC NDP caucus as:
- Stew Young, former Langford mayor. “Former Mayor Young played a key role in transforming Langford into a fast-growing, award-winning municipality. During his tenure, he helped improve infrastructure, expand services, and support growth that has made a lasting change to the community landscape.”
- Gordon Planes, former T’Sou-ke Nation Chief. “Former Chief Planes served as T’Sou-ke Chief from 2008-2024 and championed sustainability and economic development for the Nation, completing one of the largest solar energy projects in B.C. during his time and creating a lasting legacy of sustainable practices for the Nation and beyond.”
- Shirley Alphonse, T’Sou-ke Elder. “Elder THE-LA-ME-YÉ Shirley Alphonse is a respected elder and spiritual leader in her community, supporting people from birth to end-of-life. She also teaches SENĆOŦEN language at local schools, and as a residential school Survivor, is dedicated to healing and cultural exchange through being a part of initiatives from local to global scales.”
- Moe Sihota, retired provincial NDP MLA and cabinet minister. “Retired MLA and former Cabinet Minister Sihota was the first ever Indo-Canadian elected to a Canadian Parliament. Championing policies to advance social justice and equity in BC during his time helped expand opportunities for others and create a more inclusive ecosystem in Canadian politics.”
The event attended by about 100 community leaders and guests, as well as local media.
See: event report, photos and who was there.
About the medal:
The Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in May 2023, was launched by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and recognizes those who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province.
The medal is being awarded to 30,000 deserving individuals across the country and is the first Canadian honour to mark a coronation.
===== RELATED:
West shore mix: Stew Young & Moe Sihota supported by family & friends (September 5, 2024)
Former Langford Mayor Stew Young receives King Charles III coronation medal (September 4, 2024)
NEWS SECTIONS: LANGFORD | VANCOUVER ISLAND | BC ELECTION 2024