Kitchener’s Vanderpool awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal

It’s another medal for an already decorated local figure.

Kitchener’s Fitzroy Vanderpool, renowned boxing champ and community activist has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

It’s awarded to those who have made a “profound and lasting contribution to Ontario and to Canada.” The award was given to Vanderpool by Minister of Natural Resources and Kitchener Conestoga MPP Mike Harris Jr. on Monday.

“It is my pleasure to present Fitz with the King Charles III Coronation Medal,” Harris said. “Through his career, he represented Canada on the world stage and has since established himself as a leader in our region, and as a role model for the young people in our community.”

Vanderpool is one of the country’s most decorated boxing champions, holding six titles stretching from 1996 to 2002 across multiple weight divisions. He’s since shifted his sights to training, both for boxing at his local gym and as an international fire safety representative.

He’s also collaborating with the Region of Waterloo Food Bank with an annual food drive on April 12, at the Vanderpool Fitness and Boxing Gym at 178B Weber St. N. in Waterloo, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.