Joint News Release

For Immediate Release

March 2, 2012

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH’S DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL

Local MP and MPP Form Committee to Honour Local Citizens

Sault Ste. Marie – Bryan Hayes MP and David Orazietti MPP are inviting local residents to nominate eligible individuals in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma for the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The occasion will be marked by the allocation of 60,000 medals to outstanding Canadians who have contributed to the country through their service, contributions and achievements.

“The Federal Government is proud of our monarchy as made evident by our renaming the Canadian Navy and Air Force to the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Hayes.  “This is an opportunity for the Queen to give back, by honouring Canadians who have had positive impacts on their communities.”

“Our community is very fortunate to have a great number of individuals who dedicate their time and efforts to making Sault Ste. Marie a great place to live and raise a family,” said Orazietti. “Commemorating Her Majesty the Queen’s service to Canada by recognizing the outstanding contributions of local residents is a fitting way to celebrate the progress we have made in our community.”

To be eligible for the Diamond Jubilee Medal individuals must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• Made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada; and
• Must be alive on February 6, 2012, the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne.  The medal can be awarded posthumously, as long as the recipient was alive on that date.

Nomination forms are available online at http://medals.ssmont.ca; or can be picked up at the main lobby of the Civic Centre.  Nominations will be accepted until April 16, 2012 in Sault Ste. Marie and may be submitted in writing, by fax, or electronically to the:

            Sault Ste. Marie Diamond Jubilee Nomination Committee

            Sault Ste. Marie City Hall: Attention Mayor’s Office

            (Level 4) 99 Foster Drive, PO Box 580,

            Sault Ste. Marie, P6A 5X6

            By fax at 705-541-7171

            Online:  http://medals.ssmont.ca

Members of Provincial Parliament have been allocated 14 medals and Federal Members of Parliament have been allocated 30 medals for individuals in their ridings.   

An independent selection committee has been arranged to review all nominations. The local committee will be chaired by Mayor Debbie Amaroso and include Bryan Hayes MP, David Orazietti MPP, Dr. David Walde, Victoria Chiappetta, Dr. Lou Lukenda and Donna Ford. This committee will be responsible for selecting nominations of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for the riding of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma.  Details of the presentation of the Queen’s Jubilee Medals to successful recipients will be provided in the coming months.

LEARN MORE

• To find more information visit the Governor General’s website or the Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration website
• Provincial nominations will be accepted online until April 30, 2012 if submitted through Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration website.

-30-

Media Contact

MP Bryan Hayes

705-941-2900

Media Contact

MPP David Orazietti

705-949-6959