On March 8, 2023 Red Deer County Mayor presented five Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals in recognition of their significant contributions to the province of Alberta. 

Mayor Wood remarked that the “medal recipients lead and tackled challenges head on. They see problems as opportunities instead of obstacles, and that each recipient made a special contribution to our municipality, their achievements have made our community better.” 

The medals were given to the following people:

  • Dean Hart and Verna Hart (Division 2)
  • Sue Charles and John Charles (Division 6)  
  • David Matheson (Division 5)

Division 2 Councilor Lonny Kennett, nominated the Harts for their 30 year contribution to the rural crime watch, both Dean and Verna started with the Hanna Crime Watch in 1995; and continues to dedicate their time. Verna currently volunteers over 100 hours per month to the Alberta Rural Crime Watch. Dean joined the provincial rural crime watch board of directors in 2012 and managed the website portfolio and social media platforms in 2018. He then became a member of the Police Advisory Committee (Red Deer County & Blackfalds RCMP detachment) for their Restorative Justice Program in 2017 and a board member of the Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice Program in 2019. 

Division 6 Councilor Christine Moore nominated the Charles for their outstanding 44 years of community service; and noted that they’re steadfast approach of always helping out in the community created multiple generations of people knowing who they were when help was ever needed in Popular Ridge. 

David Matheson, from Division 5 was nominated by Stephen Poburan, county peace officer who has seen Matheson devote an endless amount of time and money into rural crime watch, by protecting and keeping the community and the entire municipality safe. David Matheson is also an integral part of the Raven Rural crime watch. 

The medals have been awarded to 7,000 Albertans to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.