Former City of Powell River mayor Stewart Alsgard was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal at a ceremony at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 last week.
The award was presented to Alsgard by Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons. Tla'amin Nation elder Elsie Paul started the ceremony with a blessing, followed by the Canadian national anthem, “O' Canada”, performed by Steven Cramaro and Brooks Secondary School students.
Former Tla'amin hegus Maynard Harry addressed the room, with praise for his friend Alsgard, but also stern words to the community and City of Powell River regarding its progressions and regressions toward reconciliation with Tla'amin.
"I'm here to honour Stewart because he's a role model in this [reconciliation] and we need more people like him to step up," said Harry.
After words from community members, including former city councillor Aaron Pinch, Alsgard took to the podium with some words of his own and addressed the room filled with those who came to honour him.
"It is not an easy process to weave through the strands of personal history, together with an understanding of Canada's colonial history and a commitment to civic duty, truth and reconciliation," said Alsgard. "I share this recognition with everyone present and those who have worked with me over the years; your support, your guidance, your participation, your criticism and your personal counsel move us all forward."
The prestigious honour highlights Alsgard’s dedication and significant contributions to the community, including 12 years as mayor, 15 years as coroner, tenure as past president of Powell River Chamber of Commerce, and his role as the founder of Community Futures.
"It's good to be acknowledged for the work that I've done, but more importantly, though, accepting this reinforces my pledge to be a part of this community and this country and its change for the better," continued Alsgard. "So, I stand before you, honoured and privileged to be in your company and share your achievements. Let's work together in the spirit of cooperation, collaboration and equality to lead and to create unique opportunities for prosperous lives."
A former business owner, Alsgard is perhaps most renowned for creating the Community Accord during his mayoralty, which recognized Tla’amin’s right to self-governance and established protocols around culture, heritage and economic development.
In a surprise turn of events, before Alsgard left the podium, he read a letter to the audience and Simons.
"By command of His Majesty the King in right of Canada, and upon the order of the lieutenant-governor of the province of British Columbia, I am, at this time, to announce the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal," said Alsgard. "It is my honour to call forward to present the letter of order and to place the medal upon the person of Nicholas Simons."
Alsgard’s career also includes 28 years of service in the Royal Canadian Navy, retiring as a captain, and his role in Queen Elizabeth II’s security detail in 1977 while attending the National Defence College in Kingston, Ontario. In 2013, he was a recipient of the Jubilee Award.
"Lift your hands up, look up, rise to the challenges ahead and don't be afraid," said Alsgard.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal, comprising a medal and accompanying certificate, is part of the coronation celebrations and represents the highest level of recognition for public service under King Charles III's reign.
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