Taghum’s Gordon McGregor was among three local recipients Sunday of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal from the Canadian Aboriginal Veterans Association.
McGregor, a Metis veteran, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force between 1954 and 1965.
He’s been the volunteer treasurer of the Metis NationBC veterans committee for the past four years and is also the Kootenay representative.
He’s volunteered with the BC Tel ambassadors, Living in Retirement, Meals on Wheels, and the MS bike tour, plus he’s raised funds for Kootenay Lake hospital, and is a Streetcar 23 driver.
Also on his resume, McGregor was director of communications for the 1989 BC Winter Games in Nelson and president of Morning Mountain ski hill when his kids were growing up.
He was raised in Vancouver but moved here 30 years ago to take a job with BC Tel.
“I appreciate it very much for all the volunteer work I’ve done,” McGregor said of the medal. “I felt quite honoured.”
He’s one of 80 aboriginal veterans across Canada who will receive the award.
Association president Richard Blackwolf also presented them to Castlegar fire chief Gerry Rempel and Lower Kootenay band chief Jason Louie at the ceremony in Creston.
The Queen’s Jubilee Medal is being awarded to 60,000 Canadians for service to their communities to mark the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s reign.
Other local nominees include Kaslo’s Aya Higashi, New Denver’s Gary Wright, Nelson’s Donna Macdonald, and Ymir’s Hans Cunningham.