Frances Chartrand is a huge supporter of the British Royal Family. And, that support makes her recent receipt of a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal, that much sweeter.
“It feels great. I got a letter from the Leg. in the first week of November,” Chartrand said, adding she was nominated to receive the medal by several people, with the one recognized in the correspondence coming from NDP leader and MLA for Fort Rouge, Wab Kinew.
“I’m a big fan of the Royal Family and I just love Canada and I love the Northwest Region and I love Parkland,” Chartrand added, displaying the kind of passion that got her nominated for the recognition.
“I want to thank my nominators, it was a huge honor and I want to thank the Province of Manitoba for recognizing the Queen’s commitment and her 70-year reign.”
The vice-president of the Manitoba Metis Federation based at the Northwest Metis Council Inc. office in Dauphin received the medal at a special ceremony at the Manitoba Legislature, last week.
Premier Heather Stefanson and Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville handed out the awards to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne in 1952.
“As recipients of the platinum jubilee medal, each of you brings the spirit of public service to life,” Neville told the recipients during the ceremony.
“Each of you leads by example. Each of you takes responsibility for making your community, your province and your country a better place.”
Queen Elizabeth, Canada’s head of state and the longest-reigning British monarch, died, Sept. 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
“In fact, I was in Scotland when the Queen passed away,” adding she had tried to earlier visit Balmoral Castle and was not allowed entry.
“But we went to Edinburgh, So we were on the Royal Mile and we were having dinner at five, well before five, I guess, and they made the announcement. Then some of the staff came and told us the queen passed away, so they started shutting down the Royal Mile. So we went to her palace and put flowers and paid tribute to her before we left the Royal Mile. So that’s a real piece of history.”
Manitoba was one of five provinces which decided to provide medals for their residents after the federal government opted out of offering medals for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Chartrand is appreciative of the recognition as it raises awareness about the work of the Manitoba Metis Federation in the Northwest Region and across the province.
“It’s a recognition, I believe. People think that ‘they’re way up there’ and they don’t understand and recognize what we do at the local level and the community involvement we have in the programs and services we’re able to bring to our citizens,” Chartrand said.
One hundred and forty Manitobans have received the medals so far, with a total of 1,000 selected to receive the honour. The remaining medals will be awarded at future ceremonies throughout the province.