A recent Tuesday was a day for the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of the Battlefords to recognize nine community leaders with Canada 150 medals.
The medals, which were personally paid for by Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Gerry Ritz after the Liberals cut funding for them, were presented at the Gold Eagle Casino. Five medals were presented by the chamber while Rotary presented four of their members with medals.
Receiving medals were the following individuals:
Terry Blanchette: longtime member and current president of Rotary Club; longtime board member of Battlefords Humane Society; inducted into NB Sports Hall of Fame
Warren Williams: current president of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Rotary Club of the Battlefords.
Jean Walker: longtime investment advisor, longtime Rotarian and former Rotary Club president, Paul Harris fellow.
Harvey Walker: lawyer/Queen’s Counsel, active Rotarian and former Rotary Club president, mayor of Cochin. Travelled abroad to provide polio shots to children as part of Rotary’s Polio Plus program.
David Dekker: former general manager of Rawlco Radio in North Battleford, longtime chamber director and former president; longtime emcee of BBEX.
Rob Rongve and Heath Gabruch: “dynamic duo” at RBC Dominion Securities who led CUplex and BTEC fundraising efforts, among others; both former chamber presidents.
Two other individuals are receiving Canada 150 medals but they were not in attendance on Tuesday:
Heather Guthrie: longtime employee with the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce; has been their first point of contact serving visitors and travelers entering the community.
Howard Kirby: proprietor of Anderson Pump House, which has won multiple BBEX awards and was inducted into Sask. Business Hall of Fame.
