Nine Central Okanagan residents who have been inspirational to their communities will be honoured as recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medals. The medal presentation ceremony will be held in Kelowna on Wednesday at the Innovation Centre before a limited invited-guest-only audience. "These nominees are all outstanding people and citizens who have contributed in a positive way to our beautiful valley,” said Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield.
“It is wonderful to be able to play a small part in this recognition and honour." Kelowna-West MLA Ben Stewart echoed Merrifield's sentiments, adding the medal recipients are “inspiring individuals who have contributed to Canada through a lifetime of business and community engagement. These members of our community define their success by the legacy left in our community.
” The medal nominees include business owners, civic politicians, business people and community service providers. They are: • Carmen Rempel, executive director of Kelowna's Gospel Mission • Dr. Rhonda Nelson, executive director of Starbright Centre for Child Development • Domenic Rampone, with Rampone Farms and a volunteer with Kelowna agriculture advisory committee, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Western Canada-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Okanagan Historical Society • Lois Serwa, long-time volunteer and philanthropist, most recently donated $1 million to the Okanagan College Recreation & Wellness Centre along with her husband, Cliff Serwa, a former MLA, provincial cabinet minister and co-founder of Big White Ski Resort • Peter Wannap, retired realtor and land development consultant and West Kelowna volunteer (Kinsmen Park and Westside Daze) • Maria Byland, co-owner of Bylands Nurseries and Bylands Garden Centre, donor to Kelowna General.
Hospital Foundation • Nick Arkle, CEO of Gorman's Brothers Lumber • Maxine DeHart, Kelowna city councillor and United Way volunteer and fundraiser • Steve Thomson, former Kelowna-Mission MLA and provincial cabinet minister, co-chair of the Kelowna 2026 Memorial Cup bid committee • Mohini Singh, Kelowna city councillor, Kelowna Women's Shelter volunteer, co-founder of East Meets West Orphans Foundation • Larry Gray, marketing and political strategist The Coronation Medal was created to mark King Charles III being crowned monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on May 6, 2023. Eligible candidates must meet certain national criteria: have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community in Canada; made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada; and be alive as of May 6, 2023 (the award can be made posthumously as long as the candidate was alive in this case as of May 6, 2023). The actual medal is circular, silver in colour and 32 millimetres in diameter, on one side having a crowned and robed effigy of King Charles, and on the reverse, a ring of 13 frosted triangular shapes alluding to Canada's provinces and territories in a circular arrangement meant to convey the idea of inclusion for all Canadians.
Canada will award the Coronation Medal to 30,000 nominated Canadians this year..
