WEYBURN – A longtime volunteer for the Weyburn branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Harold Whiteoak, was honoured as he received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteerism at a luncheon on Tuesday.
The medal, usually presented by the Governor General of Canada, was presented by Saskatchewan’s representative, Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty, at the luncheon.
The Lieutenant Governor was a special visitor to Weyburn on Tuesday, as he also visited St. Michael School in the morning, and Parkway Lodge in the afternoon. He addressed the students at a special assembly, then visited a Grade 4 class to take questions, and then visited a Grade 9 class. At Parkway, he spoke to the residents then spent time meeting them and enjoying a tea with them.
For the special honour at the Legion Hall, Whiteoak was nominated for the Sovereign’s Medal by members of the Legion as he volunteers as the branch’s historian, membership chairman, and the Honours and Awards committee chair.
He has been a member of the Weyburn branch since 1990, and has designed and managed the branch’s membership database, keeps the Veterans Gallery in the Vimy Room updated, and documents historical information on members dating back to the Second World War.
At each of his three appearances, Lt.-Gov. Mirasty touched on his role as the King’s representative for the province of Saskatchewan, and noted he is the honourary patron for the Saskatchewan Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. As a former RCMP officer, he commended veterans and police members, both serving and past members, for their service and dedication to the country and their communities.
Mirasty was appointed by the government to a five-year term, which will be up this summer, once the government determines who his replacement will be.
