Boyle Mayor Don Radmanovich was honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal at the beginning of last Wednesdayís village council meeting.
Councillors were in high spirits and were all very jubilant for the mayorís recognition.
As part of the Queenís 60th year on the throne, 60,000 individuals across Canada are being recognized throughout the Diamond Jubilee year.
ìThe Queen was unable to be here tonight and she asked me to say a few words on her behalf. ëPhilip and I, and the corgis Ö ,íî chuckled chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey, leading to a brief laugh from councillors around the oval table in council chambers.
ìSheís pleased to see people in the colony are doing well, and serving their community,î said Ashbey on a more serious note before presenting the medal and a certificate to the Mayor.
ìThe Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) nominated Mayor Radmanovich for a Queens Jubilee medal to recognize the contribution of the village of Boyle in helping FCM establish a new federal-municipal partnership ó which lead in part to the federal governmentís commitment to develop a new long-term infrastructure plan,î said Brock Carlton, CEO of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, in a written statement.
ìThe Queens Jubilee medals could only be awarded to individuals, and as a result FCM decided to nominate the Head of Council on behalf of the council, the staff, and the community as a whole,î said Carlton.
Radmanovich has lived in Boyle for more than 50 years, where he was born and raised.
Speaking to the Advocate, Radmanovich said it felt good to be recognized for his years of contribution to the Boyle community.
One project the mayor said he is proud to be working on is his continued work to try to bring a Portage College campus to the Boyle area, and ìtrying to move the town on in development,î according to the mayor, who said itís important to keep engaged in the community and to keep Boyle moving forward.
ìIíve basically been in business all my life, so I have a bit of a soft spot for business (in the Boyle area),î said Radmanovich, who since 1985 has invested in about half a dozen village developments.
Ashbey received an email on Jan. 29, from Karen Leibovici, Edmonton City Councillor and the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, that said he was being honoured with the medal.
ìFCM chose you to receive this distinction for your exemplary efforts to make your community a great place to live,î wrote the president.
ìIn an elected office, sometimes you feel like a dart board, and itís nice once in a while when you get recognition for public service,î said Ashbey.
