RWDSU Northern Joint Council President awarded The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding public service

RWDSU Northern Joint Council President Derik McArthur (pictured right) with the Member of Parliament for Sudbury, Glenn Thibeault, moments after receiving the Queen's Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal on May 4, 2012 for outstanding community service.

RWDSU Northern Joint Council President, and UFCW International Vice-President, Derik McArthur received The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal on May 4 for his outstanding public service and strong community leadership.

“UFCW Canada is very pleased to see President McArthur receive recognition for the excellent work he and the Northern Joint Council are doing for working families in a number of communities throughout Ontario,” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. “On behalf of more than 250,000 UFCW Canada members, I congratulate Derik for this important and well-earned acknowledgement.”

The commemorative medals were created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Queen's ascension to the throne as Queen of Canada, Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault explained May 4, before presenting the medal to Brother McArthur and 14 other citizens in the Sudbury area who have served their community with distinction.

"The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for us to honour her majesty for her service to this country, and at the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians," Thibeault said.

More than anything, Thibeault said presenting the citizens with the medals was an opportunity to say thank you.

"One of the things we don't do is say thank you enough, especially to the people who do great work in our community each and every day," he said. "I hope you understand this medal is with our sincere gratitude from our community."

During the year of celebrations, 60,000 Canadians will be recognized. The Chancellery of Honours, as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, administers the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal program.

In addition to the medal, the recipients "will have their names entered into that public record for all Canadians to see and to read for decades to come," Thibeault added. "So we can always remember the great work they've been doing in our community.”