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Regional residents recognized for community contributions
The King Charles III Coronation Medal has been awarded to four outstanding Kootenay East residents.
Ian Benson, Nancy Lemire, Erin Stevenson and Robert Termuende are among 551 British Columbians to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
The Coronation Medal was created to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, which took place on May 6, 2023. It is the first Canadian commemorative medal to mark a coronation.
Recipients represent a diverse group of individuals who have made significant contributions to the country, a province, territory, region or community, or an achievement abroad that brings benefit or honour to Canada.
The medals are being presented at private ceremonies by Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka.
“It is both an honour and a privilege as your MLA to present these four remarkable individuals with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The true value of a community is defined by those who give their time and energy to make it better, and their dedication and countless hours of service are part of what makes Kootenay East such an exceptional place. I am incredibly proud. The nomination process was a collaborative effort with provincial and federal offices to ensure no duplication in the submitted names,” said Shypitka.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is a visible and tangible way to recognize outstanding individuals of all ages and from all walks of life who have made a difference in their communities.
Nominating partners include Provincial Lieutenant Governors and Territorial Commissioners, Provincial and Territorial Governments, members of Parliament, senators, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and several other organizations.
Ian Benson
Field of Endeavor – Community Service and Philanthropy
Ian Benson co-founded Bearspaw Contracting in 2006 after an 18-year career in the mining industry, where he gained hands-on experience across all coal mine operations, from driving haul trucks to working in mine rescue, blasting, and processing. Alongside his mining career, he owned and operated several local businesses, including a mobile DJ service, grocery store, and the Lamplighter Pub, which he sold in 2007. Using his diverse business background, Benson focused on vertical integration, expanding Bearspaw into liquid hazardous waste, founding Transcendent Mining, and acquiring Fiorentino’s Bros Contracting in 2020. Born and raised in Elkford, Benson’s commitment to community support led him to establish the Bearspaw Contracting ‘Community First’ Society, which has raised $1.5 million for charitable causes in Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Crowsnest Pass, and the Cranbrook NICU since 2013.
Nancy Lemire
Field of Endeavor – Social Sciences and Humanities
Nancy Lemire has dedicated decades to volunteering and supporting marginalized groups in Cranbrook. She formerly served as the Coordinator of Community Ministries at the Cranbrook Salvation Army and volunteered with the Cranbrook/Kimberley Hospice Society. Currently, Lemire works with the Ktunaxa Nation, assisting individuals struggling with addiction. Lemire’s ongoing commitment to helping vulnerable populations has made a lasting impact in her community.
Cst. Erin Stevenson
Field of Endeavor – Politics, Public Service and Justice
Cst. Erin Stevenson piloted Cranbrook detachment’s newly formed mental health liaison position from 2016 to 2021. In developing the position to the unique needs of our community she established many best practices that eventually contributed to a seamless transition to the current collaborative program with Interior Health.
Post retirement, she has maintained strong community bonds working within the school district and is now piloting the gang violence and exploitation prevention coordinator position with SD5. Stevenson has also been an active volunteer in the community. She was part of a team that helped resettle a refugee family in Cranbrook and assisted new Canadians with tasks such as driving and navigating government paperwork. In addition, she has coached Special Olympics basketball and worked extensively as a basketball and volleyball coach at both the community and school levels, from elementary to college.
Retired Staff Sgt. Robert Termuende
Field of Endeavor – Community Service and Philanthropy
Retired Staff Sgt. Robert Termuende is a Military Veteran. He co-founded Cranbrook-based Eagle Plains Resources in 1992. Eagle Plains has a history of supporting community initiatives in the areas it operates through donations to select clubs, charities and organizations. This includes B.C. Children’s Hospital, youth sports, food banks and community organizations. Termuende has served on numerous boards including Friends of Fort Steele and Cranbrook Rotary Club and was recently named Cranbrook Rotary Club Rotarian of the Year.
Sadly, Bob recently passed away.
Submitted
