Local volunteers awarded Jubilee medals

For 75-year-old George Bartlett of Fort Frances, the Golden Jubilee medal he received here Saturday afternoon recognizes more than just his volunteerism and community spirit.
It represented a memory that’s more than 60 years old.
In 1939, Bartlett was a Cub Scout and his troop was part of the honour guard for the two princesses during a royal visit to Toronto. The reigning Queen Elizabeth II was one of them.
“I always remembered her,” he said. “She was just a little girl. Now I know she remembered me.”
The Golden Jubilee medal was struck last year to commemorate the Queen’s 50th year on the throne while, at the same time, recognize the volunteerism of Canadian residents.
“The medal is presented for exemplary contributions to community, within Canada and beyond,” NDP leader and local MPP Howard Hampton told the more than 60 people on hand for the ceremony at the old CN station before he presented the medals.
“It is to pay tribute to those who are often unsung and provides the opportunity for us to make that recognition,” he added.
Hampton’s office was given the honour of presenting 17 medals across the Kenora-Rainy River riding—and he left it to local community and volunteer organizations to put forward names.
Eight local names were on that list.
Bartlett was joined in the spotlight Saturday by fellow Fort Frances residents Betty Newman and Leo Noonan. Other medal recipients from the surrounding area included Alphonse Langlais (Pinewood), Val Pizey (Morson), Owen Lindsay (Atikokan), Anne Wilson (Rainy River First Nations), and Nancy Jones (Nicickousemenecaning First Nation).
“I was very, very pleased and excited,” Bartlett said upon hearing of his selection. “It means a lot to me. It’s a little recognition for what I’ve done and enjoyed doing.
“I felt really humbled to get it,” he added. “I am honoured to be associated with the other who have received it.”
“I feel very proud to be chosen for this honour,” agreed Newman.
“Well, we’re pretty well the same age,” she added of her connection to the Queen. “And our names are both Elizabeth.
“I can remember when she took over [in 1952]. Her coronation, her wedding. Anything about the Royal family I’m quite interested in,” Newman remarked.
The group was recognized for their efforts with community groups like the Royal Canadian Legion, Lions Club, Boy Scouts, hospital boards, and Chambers of Commerce, as well as for fundraising for such worthy groups as the Canadian Cancer Society, local Salvation Army, and the Canadian Diabetes Association, among others.
All had a dramatic impact on their communities, including the development of community halls, recreation facilities, and even sitting on municipal council.
“This community is the greatest part of the world,” Bartlett said of Fort Frances. “Toronto couldn’t hold a match to this place.
“It’s very easy when you have people who are so generous,” he added.
“The medals allow us to say to people out there this is what being Canadian is all about,” Hampton noted at the ceremony.
“We live in a pretty special part of the world,” he noted. “Special because of these people who make these special contribution.
“I think they are an inspiration to all of us.”