Community advocates receive King Charles medals for contributions

A long list of community advocates received a new medal for their work over the weekend.

MP Mike Morrice presented the King Charles medals to 20 leaders, including 570 NewsRadio talk show host, Mike Farwell.

Farwell was recognized not just for the voice he lends to community issues but for his initiative called Farwell for Hire, that’s raised $1.3 million since 2014.

“I could run down virtually the entire list, and I just wonder how my name ended up amongst those people who do such great work,” said Farwell.

“We are about raising issues in the community, allowing people to talk about issues in our community. Helen (Fishburn) is a regular contributor to our show because she does such great work in the mental health space, so to be included in this with somebody like Helen just means an absolute ton to me.”

Farwell has been watching MP Mike Morrice’s career since he graduated from Wilfrid Laurier, soon after launching Sustainable Waterloo Region then becoming Kitchener-Centre’s Green Party MP.

“It shows that our MPs are connected to our community, they’re paying attention to what’s going on and they want to recognize individuals who do something in whatever small way to make the community a better place,” said Farwell.

The medal was created to mark King Charles’s coronation in 2023, to recognize 30,000 outstanding people for the difference they make.

Some other community advocates awarded the medal include Cait Glasson for her service with the 2SLGBTQ+ community and Chantal Huinink for community service, philanthropy, and disability advocacy.

“I certainly have no plans yet to slow down, although my advancing years remind me from time to time that I can’t run as fast as I used to and I still can’t touch my toes, I have no intention of being silenced anytime soon,” mentioned Farwell.

“I hope that people will continue engaging in conversations with me on 570 NewsRadio from 9 until 1 every weekday.”

The full list of people awarded King Charles medals include:

• Anita Nickerson — community service and philanthropy, national
• Cait Glasson — community service and philanthropy, 2SLGBTQI+ advocacy
• Chantal Huinink — community service and philanthropy, persons with disabilities advocacy
• Dr. Chris Steingart — community service and philanthropy, specialization
• Clarence Cachagee — community service and philanthropy, Indigenous groups
• Donna Dubie — community service and philanthropy, Indigenous groups
• Faduma Musse — community service and philanthropy, visible minority groups
• Helen Fishburn — community service and philanthropy, health services
• Jim Parrott — community service and philanthropy, 2SLGBTQI+ advocacy
• Lannois Carroll Woolery — community service and philanthropy, visible minority groups
• Marcia Smellie — community service and philanthropy, visible minority groups
• Mary Jane Patterson — science, technology and innovation, nature conservation
• Mike Farwell — arts and media, broadcasting
• Dr. Mike Stephenson — healthcare and medicine, specialization
• Mona Loffelmann — community service and philanthropy, visible minority groups
• Myeengun Henry — community service and philanthropy, Indigenous Groups
• Pam Patel — arts and media, performing arts
• Sara Casselman — community service and philanthropy, women’s groups
• Teneile Warren — community service and philanthropy, community and provincial
• Father Toby Collins — community service and philanthropy, poverty