YORKTON - The City of Yorkton is putting its annual Civic Recognition Awards for 2022 on hold, in favour of participating in the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal Program (Saskatchewan).
The decision was unanimously supported by Yorkton Council at its regular meeting Monday.
The new awards are part of an effort to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th anniversary since Ascension to the Throne in 1952, explained Jessica Matsalla - City Clerk with the city Monday, adding, “She is the first British Monarch to celebrate this honour.”
To mark this historic milestone a series of initiatives are taking place throughout Canada to honour The Queen’s service and dedication to the country.
“One of the initiatives to recognize and celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) Program,” said Matsalla. “The medal is cited on the provincial government’s website as “a tangible way for the province of Saskatchewan to honour Her Majesty for her service to Canada. A total of 7,000 medals will be awarded at ceremonies held throughout the province during the Platinum Jubilee year. The medal program will be the focus of the Government of Saskatchewan’s Jubilee year commemorations.”
In June, the Mayor’s office was contacted by the Province of Saskatchewan Protocol Officer with Intergovernmental Affairs regarding participation the program, noting that the City of Yorkton would have up to 15 medals to distribute.
This item was considered as suitable for the Civic Recognition Committee to discuss, said Matsalla.
“At their meeting of June 28, the Committee supported City of Yorkton participating in the program, and recommended that the QPJ Medal Program replace the Civic Recognition Awards for 2022, so that the main focus can be on the medal program. The Committee also supported the process mimicking the CRA process, whereby the public submits nominees, and the Committee adjudicates them, as well,” she said.
The medals and certificates are provided by the province and therefore, as this is anticipated to be similar to the Civic Recognition Awards, it is assumed that the amount budgeted for this could be used for the reception (estimated to be $1000-$2000), said Matsalla.
A deadline for the public for the QPJM nominations would be the same as is for the CRA Awards – October 31, 2022, with the awards to occur late in 2022.
