One of my favourite parts about being the Member of Parliament for our community is to meet so many amazing people who work to make our city and our country a better place. I had the chance to recognize the work of several of these individuals through the award of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Thank you to Shahada Jack, Toronto’s Youth Poet Laureate, for performing a poem for all of us.
Congratulations to all of the recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal:
Jenny Crober, celebrating 20 years as the Artistic Director of VOCA Chorus Toronto.
Laurette Jack, Boys and Girls Club Eastview Program Coordination, 25 years with BGC dedicated to tackling issues and barriers for youth at risk.
Dr. Chelsea Rochman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Toronto researching microplastics and their impact on our environment.
Alison Duke, co-founder OYA Media Group, Emerging Filmmakers Program helps support Black youth who are graduates of film, television and digital media programs to access training mentorship and film industry spaces. Alison is the creator of Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story film, available on Crave.
Chris Abraham, Artistic and General Director of Crow’s Theatre and dedicated advocate for supporting live performance.
Yafa Sakkejha, Standing Together Toronto, bringing together Muslim, Palestinian, Jewish and Israeli people together for respectful and collaborative dialogue on the issues facing our communities, and to advocate for peace in the middle east.
Maytal Kowalski, Executive Director of JSpace Canada, building spaces for respectful and collaborative dialogue between Jewish, Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian communities in Canada. Maytal is also the co-founder of Press Pause Collective, specializing in inclusive fundraising and marketing.
Anne Babcock, President and CEO of Woodgreen Community Services, one of Toronto’s largest social service agencies and the largest affordable housing provider. Anne has been dedicated to addressing poverty and homelessness
Cara Stern, co-creator and co-host of the Missing Middle podcast. Cara advocates for middle-class housing solutions, addressing the gap between single-family homes and high-rises.
Mike Yorke, President of Carpenters Union Local. Mike is a strong advocate for unionized workers.
Eric Scmidt, Canadian Army Reserve veteran. Erich has dedicated himself to honouring Canadian history. Through the Limber Gunners, he preserves World War 2 artillery, leads a mobile museum, and fires cannons at major events, showcasing Canada’s military history
Gloria McPherson, has led Out of the Cold program for 17 years, providing meals, shelter, clothing, and support to those in need.
Lawrence Warriner, co-founder of Don’t Mess with the Don in 2018. Lawrence has transformed the Don Valley through community clean ups, youth trail running, biking, kayaking, a free summer and much more. Lawrence's efforts inspire thousands of volunteers, fostering stewardship and community.
Patrick James O’Neil, former President of Todmorden Branch 10. Under his leadership Todmorden Branch 10 started a day of recognition for Soldiers and First Responders who experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and specifically breaking the stigma around suicide.
James Durand-Smith, Canadian Armed Forces veteran and reservist. James has served with the 48th Highlanders, training across Canada and the U.S., and has worked as a Commissionaire with Commissionaires Great Lakes and has volunteered with GlobalMedic since 2016.
Lanrick Bennett Junior, advocate for sustainable urban mobility and is Toronto’s first Bicycle Mayor. Lanrick is an Urbanist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities.
Theresa Tova, Head of ACTRA Toronto, Theresa has championed performers’ rights and shaped industry standards through her advocacy for fair working conditions in film, TV, radio, and digital media.
Stephen Lautens, dedicated Canadian leader, journalist, and philanthropist. Stephen has led major charitable efforts, raising millions for various groups such as veterans, refugees, and LGBTQ+ military members.
Rod Cohen, for 35 years, Rod has led Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach, offering free psychotherapy, life skills, and support to youth at-risk and families. Rod's fundraising engages hundreds of donors, ensuring vital services that foster a safer community and brighter futures.
Gillian Irving, helped found the Riverdale Basket Brigade, a volunteer run charitable organization dedicated to feeding our community. Gillian has been a tireless supporter of our Boys & Girls Club and Food Bank since 2020, raising funds to provide over 350 holiday food hampers and gift cards to families annually.
Anke Simpson, another founding member of the Brigade is a tireless supporter of our BGC and Food Bank programs. Anke's incredible team also provides weekly hot meals to our after school children and they came to the rescue when in 2023 we were in desperate need of camp subsidies, raising $10,000 to meet our goal.
Ruth Abbott, Ruth runs the East York Farmers Market which fosters community by connecting neighbors with fresh, local produce and handmade goods. Ruth champions local businesses, supports sustainable practices, and creates a welcoming space that strengthens the east end.