Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese was among four people awarded Diamond Jubilee medals Monday night.
The 2012 Governor Generals’ awards, which recognize the achievements of outstanding Canadians, are part of the year-long diamond jubilee celebration of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
They were presented by former Senator Gerry St. Germain, in a ceremony in the Langley Township council chambers.
St. Germain retired from the Senate in November, after turning 75. He served in the upper chamber of Parliament for 19 years.
In his remarks, St. Germain noted that mayor Froese, a retired Vancouver Police officer who operates a family-run wholesale turkey farm, has served as director of security for the 2010 Langley Summer Games, president of the Aldergrove Rotary Club, president of the Central Fraser Valley Girls Soccer Association as well as stints as directors of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and Fraser Valley and B.C. Egg Producers Association.
Also honoured was Chief Sophie Pierre of Cranbrook, chief commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission, and a founding member of the First Nations Finance Authority.
Also receiving the medal was Murdie Pollon, president of Hallmark Poultry in Vancouver and a longtime farmer and businessman. He is also a philanthropist, whose beneficiaries include Vancouver General Hospital, the YMCA Nanook House for Children and the Zajac Ranch for Children.
The fourth person honoured was well-known businessman George Tidball, who brought McDonald’s to Western Canada and founded the Keg chain. Tidball was cited for his generous support of local community initiatives.
He and his family developed and continue to operate the Thunderbird Equestrian show park in Langley. His son Stephen accepted the award on behalf of his father.