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Okotoks' first female mayor honoured with nine other Foothills residents

Ten Foothills locals received Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals on Dec. 4 for outstanding service to family, community and country.

Ten Foothills residents were among those honoured with Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals during a ceremony hosted by Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) in Calgary on Dec. 4. 

About 100 individuals from central and southern Alberta received medals in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to family, community and country. The medals were awarded in three categories: Citizen Community Builders, Sitting Mayors, and Past Presidents & Life Members of ABmunis. 

The following locals received citations from ABmunis in the Citizen Community Builders category:

Jim Berry has been a peace officer in Black Diamond for 15 years, and from 2004 to 2007, he served on the Black Diamond Volunteer Fire Department. His connection with the youth in the community has been an inspiration to many of his colleagues and he helped provide services to smaller communities in the region. 

Sharlene Brown has contributed to the betterment of Black Diamond by participating with groups, including Beneath the Arch, the community garden and the annual river cleanup. She served as councillor from 1998 to 2007 and as mayor from 2008 to 2016. She has worked diligently on the amalgamation with Turner Valley as Black Diamond's CAO.

Jamie Campbell, Black Diamond’s fire chief, was recognized for volunteer work in Black Diamond and area, and for assisting other communities in their time of need, including Cranbrook, B.C., Fort McMurray, High Level and other fire-afflicted communities. Campbell was director of emergency management during the floods of 2005 and 2013. 

Malcolm Hughes’ commitment to the Okotoks community, and to veterans, is unwavering. He is deeply committed to the Okotoks Legion Branch 291, works tirelessly on the Poppy Fund, youth bursary programs and Remembrance Day ceremonies, and he was instrumental in renaming Centre Avenue in Okotoks to Veterans Way. 

Sandi Kennedy, the first female mayor of Okotoks, from 1988 to 1994, helped guide the town through growth and change, including the development of the Okotoks Library, the fire station, and the Sandstone Lodge seniors' residence. Kennedy is chair of the 2023 Alberta Summer Games. 

Okotokian Richard Quail received a medal as a Life Member of Alberta Municipalities. 

Mayors Barry Crane (Turner Valley), Brendan Kelly (Black Diamond), Craig Snodgrass (High River) and Tanya Thorn (Okotoks) received medals as sitting mayors. 

To commemorate her Majesty's 70-year reign, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal will be awarded to 7,000 Albertans throughout 2022 in recognition of significant contributions to the province. 

The medals are being distributed on behalf of the provincial government by numerous partner organizations, including ABmunis. 

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