Statement by the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), on the Bestowing of Diamond Jubilee Medals to Canadian Athletes

VANCOUVER and OTTAWA, January 25, 2013 - Today, I invite you to join me in congratulating Canada’s outstanding athletes as they receive The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

As Minister of State (Sport), and a big Team Canada fan, I could not be more proud of the accomplishments of our exceptional Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the London 2012 Games. They showed the world what they could do and made Canada proud. It is only fitting that today, in Her Majesty’s honour, we recognize the achievements of these exceptional athletes who have worked hard to serve their communities and country.

The following athletes received their Diamond Jubilee medals at ceremonies in Ottawa and Vancouver: 

Douglas Blessin

Travis Murao

Ian Chan

Tobias Ng

Nathan Dewitt

Joelle Numainville

Bradedon Dolfo

Scott Patterson

Jason Dunkerley

Catharine Pendrel

Jonathan Dunkerley

Courtnay Pilypaitis

Kevin Evans

Joan Elizabeth Reid

Brent Hayden

Doug Ripley

Trevor Hirschfield

Jessica Smith

Brianna Jennett-McNeill

Nathan Stein

Joshua Karanja

Anthony Theriault

Stacie Louttit

Christos Trifonidis

Dorothy Ludwig

Nick Tritton

Michael Mason

Josh Vander Vies

Riley McCormick

Jessica Vliegenthart

Jan Margaret McLachlan

Dustin Walsh

John McRoberts

Michael Wilkinson

Sasha Mehmedovic

Dylan Williamson

Meghan Montgomery

Aleksandra Wozniak


In addition, the following athletes received their Diamond Jubilee Medals in December 2012:

Joe Bartoch

Janine Hanson

David Blair

Nikkita Holder

Jacqueline Brooks

Brittany MacLean

Aaron Brown

Natalie Mastracci

Rachael Burrows

Diana Matheson

Robert Joshua (Josh) Cassidy

Jessica Phoenix

Reid Coolsaet

Leah Robinson

Joel Dembe

Tamara Steeves

Tracey Ferguson

Shona Thorburn

Sultana Frizell

Joseph Veloce


The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is one of many ways in which we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the Throne. A total of 60,000 Diamond Jubilee Medals are being awarded to Canadians. Presentations took place throughout 2012 and will continue until February 28, 2013, the date when the program closes.

Commemorations like the Diamond Jubilee contribute to our collective identity and help define who we are as Canadians. As our athletes prepare for future challenges, especially the Pan and Parapan American Games that Canada will host in 2015, let us look forward to our country’s 150th anniversary in 2017 and celebrate all of the things that make Canada the united, strong, and free country it is today.

On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I invite Canadians to join me in honouring these special Canadians.

 

For more information (media only), please contact:

Robert Lynch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Bal Gosal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
819-934-1122
robert.lynch@pch.gc.ca