About 30 residents from the area received King’s Charles III Coronation Medals last week from Essex MP Chris Lewis.
The Conservative Member of Parliament awarded the medals over three days to members of the riding. Eligible candidates must meet national criteria including “having made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.”
Receiving the honour last Friday night were John Garnet “Jack” Edwards, Bill Granger, Ernest Gazdig, Ed Gibbs, Ron Giofu and Sarah Machnik.
Recipients Friday afternoon were Tim Byrne, Robin Martin and Andrew Stewart with medals presented that evening to John Vanthournout, Bruce Lodge, Sandy Repko, Jim Crichton and Brandon Chartier.
Receiving King Charles III medals at Lewis’ constituency office Saturday afternoon were Donald Lucier, Gilbert Bastien, Linda Lynch, Richard Brooks, Mary-Maureen Atkin, Tim McAllister and Jeremy Douglas Sinasac.
Other medal winners receiving recognition from Lewis include Christopher Bailey, Jennifer Baggio, John Cappucci, Jennifer Chevalier, Katherine Gunning, Kristin Kennedy, Thomas LeClair, Helen Lewis, Andrew Stewart and Stephanie Zekelman.
The River Town Times honours and congratulates all of the award winners for their contributions to the community. Of its very own co-owner and editor, Lewis said of Giofu: “Everything he represents is what these medals are for.”
Laura D’Alessandro, who also is a co-owner as is her husband Dominic said: “When I first heard about this award and the nomination criteria the first person that came to my mind was Ron. I obviously think very highly of Ron. We have worked together for over a decade and have been business partners for almost two years. However, it is not just Ron’s work ethic that I admire and think he deserves recognition for, it is his community involvement and dedication to our community that really makes Ron deserving of this award. As MP Chris Lewis and Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue both highlighted, Ron shows up to everything. He works tirelessly to keep people informed and does his best to highlight all things happening in Essex County. Outside of work Ron gives of his time to Community Living Essex County and the Rotary Club of Amherstburg. The Town of Amherstburg, the Essex County and the world is a better place because of Ron Giofu.”
Edwards was recognized just before Giofu, with Mayor Michael Prue on hand to review his accomplishments including the fact Edwards is in his 90s and still on the town’s economic development advisory committee.
McAllister is the long-time president of the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission while Martin, an Amherstburg resident was honoured for her writing and contributions to the arts.
Gazdig is a past commanding officer with the #202 Fort Malden Royal Canadian Army Cadets and former president of Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157.
By Noah Paquette
—RTT Staff contributed
to this article
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