Northern Bruce Peninsula Mayor Milt McIver is the recipient of a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee coin.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff was in council chambers during Thursday’s meeting to present the award.
Last year, 70 coins were minted for those living in the riding, but Ruff had set one aside for each municipality within Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for him to award to members of the community who were not nominated but worthy of the honour.
Some members of parliament, including Ruff, had decided to have their own platinum jubilee coins created by a Canadian company after the federal government did not announce plans to observe the milestone as it has with other jubilees.
Ruff then reached out to Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody to find someone who council could agree on.
“I polled — informally — our council members, to get an agreement, and they thought that [McIver] was the best nominee, given [his] long service to politics,” Peabody says.
After being presented with a Platinum Jubilee pin and certificate, McIver gave a brief speech to the members of council and county staff who were present:
“I want to thank Chris, and I want to thank Alex as well for taking time out of his busy day to present this award — it is an honour; I [very] much appreciate it.
I guess I just to comment with regard to politics. I think for most of us who get involved in politics, it’s not meant for everyone, of course, but for those of us who get addicted. I guess maybe I’ll choose a different word. We find it rewarding. I think we find it rewarding that we’re able to serve our communities that we represent, and the county as well. And we have just one voice in the decision-making process. And I think for those of us that stick with it, we enjoy that and appreciate it.
I’ve had great support from my local community as well, and I sometimes don’t know how it happens, but it does happen and I just appreciate the support they’ve given me over the 40+ years I’ve been involved.
I want to once again thank Alex for taking the time, it was much appreciated, and I’ll certainly be honoured to wear this pin and have this certificate in a place of prominence in my home.”