Mayor Annette Clews presented the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Medal last week to Sundre citizen Tom Mennear for his lifelong commitment to enhance the community.
The medal presentation was made during council's governance meeting at the town office on Dec. 10.
Clews said the recipient is chosen at a federal level.
“For all of his years of commitment to the community, he has participated in several initiatives,” said Clews.
She said these initiatives included participation with Nutrition for Learning, the food bank, the fire department as well as Mennear's annual pancake breakfast during the rodeo season.
Born and raised in Sundre, Mennear, now 68, said he is “honoured” to receive this medal.
“It is nice to be recognized as a good Canadian and Albertan as well as a Sundre-ite,” said Mennear, a past owner of the local Sobeys store who is now working part-time on his Saskatchewan farm when he is not contributing to the Sundre community.
He opted not to boast about his involvement with the community throughout his numerous years spent in Sundre, but he acknowledges he has participated in many different ways.
A few activities he has been involved with include the economic development of Sundre, the chamber of commerce and the Red Deer River project.
“I was with the rodeo and we put on that rodeo breakfast for the last 45 years and we'd serve about 5,000 people, weather permitting,” added Mennear.
He has also been involved with promoting the community by being on the Sundre tourism committee for many years.
“We've got so much to offer with tourism and one of the nicest areas in the world here,” he said.
He encourages anyone and everyone to live in Sundre, adding the town has the “great outdoors to the west” for citizens to enjoy and three golf courses for recreation.
Mennear said he plans on continuing his involvement with the community.
