Amanda Hall was one of four recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal on Thursday, Sept. 5, recognizing outstanding achievement and community impact. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

king charles medals

‘Such an honour:’ Nanaimo community leaders presented with King’s Coronation Medal

Sep 5, 2024 | 4:35 PM

NANAIMO — Four local community leaders have been recognized for their unending contributions.

Peter Sinclair, executive director of Loaves and Fishes Food Bank; Laurie Grubb, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256; Cst. Joshua Waltman, Nanaimo RCMP mental health liaison officer; and Amanda Hall, member of BC People First Society were presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal during a ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Recognized for his efforts in growing food security and distribution across Vancouver Island, Sinclair was quick to defer praise away from his own achievements.

“The directors and managers that I work with every day are some of the finest people I’ve ever met in my life. They’re hardworking, they’re innovative, but most importantly they are dedicated to doing whatever needs to be done to serve our community. The staff that we have, they’re amazing, super hardworking.”

Sinclair said he “not necessarily a big fan” of being the centre of attention, but used his time accepting the medal to heap praise on those he works with at Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Under Sinclair’s tenure, the food bank has gone from distributing around $800,000 worth of food annually to over $9 million last year.

Rapid growth of the organization has led to them currently developing a new facility off East Wellington Rd., and Sinclair said recent meetings with senior members of the federal government left him “very hopeful” the current $7.2 million fundraising shortfall will be closed shortly.

Amanda Hall was honoured for her work as an advocate for those with Williams Syndrome, a condition she also lives with, along with her countless hours working and volunteering in the community.

She paid tribute to her mother, who passed away in June.

“I couldn’t have done this without my mom, helping me reach my goals and dreams. I wouldn’t have been here without her help. I also want to thank my team for keeping me strong and healthy.”

Sheila Malcolmson, who presented the awards as MLA for the Nanaimo riding, said Hall’s presence and confidence were obvious right away.

“When you just strode up, introduced yourself to me and gave me your card when we first met a year and a half ago, I had just become the minister of social development and poverty reduction and I knew right away I was going to learn things from you.”

Laurie Grubb leads the East Wellington branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, as well as many of the events the facility hosts and organizes every year. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Laurie Grubb’s ascendancy to the role of president for the Legion happened quickly.

She was originally the group’s second vice-president, however two resignations within two months thrust her into the role and she hasn’t looked back since.

Grubb said she cried on the phone when Malcolmson called her about the medal and said it was “such an honour.”

“It’s been 70 years since this type of medal has been presented, and to be one of the four I’m just totally honoured. Totally feel unworthy actually because I know so many people that do so much work in our community besides me.”

In her speech to around 50 people gathered on Thursday, as well as to NanaimoNewsNOW after, Grubb said she accepted the medal on behalf of all those at the Legion who’ve made it a special place in the Nanaimo community.

In Nanaimo since 2019, Cst. Joshua Waltman heads up the Nanaimo RCMP’s mental health liaison post and Car 54. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Cst. Josh Waltman joined the Nanaimo RCMP in 2019 and helped develop Car 54, a specialized program combining RCMP and Island Health resources.

Waltman, along with a specially trained nurse, are deployed to a variety of situations and work to bridge the gap for those suffering from mental health challenges.

“Although I’m the one standing here accepting this award, it’s not lost on me that there should be a number of people up here that made this Car 54 program come to light, and also Project Happy Feet,” Waltman said Thursday.

He added his family, including his wife and two children, serve as constant reminders on how to go about his day.

“Every time I make a decision, I think what questions would they ask of me afterwards about the decision I made while I was working, I think that really grounds me.”

The Coronation Medal is awarded to those who “have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province” and is set to be awarded to upwards of 30,000 recipients.

Former Nanaimo fire chief Karen Fry was named a medal winner in late August.

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