Ken Neden was recognized for his 50 years as a volunteer with Arrowsmith Search and Rescue and presented the King Charles III Coronation Medal by Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay-Alberni, during a surprise celebration with fellow volunteers and supporters on Sept. 8.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is awarded to 30,000 Canadians who have made significant contributions to their community and their country, according to a news release.
“Your contribution of thousands of volunteer hours over 50 years of service with Arrowsmith Search and Rescue on central Vancouver Island and your selfless mentoring of dozens of new generations coming up through the ranks of search-and-rescue volunteerism in Canada,” Johns said in front of the crowd gathered at the Qualicum Bach Community Centre.
Neden, ASAR search manager, acknowledged the tribute along with his wife Dallas and family members, “I started young and it became a way of life.”
He thanked his family for their support without which his service would not have been possible and promised to continue on.
“One day, I may show up with a walker for a search,” Neden joked.
“I couldn’t be prouder to join all those honouring Ken today,” Johns said. “Volunteerism is a family tradition that he learned from his dad, Isaac, a founder of Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, and he lives in a place where giving your time in the service of others is a community value."
Johns has been asked by the Governor General’s office to present the King Charles III Medal to 20 residents of Courtenay-Alberni in the coming months.
“It is a way to recognize outstanding individuals of all ages and from all walks of life who have made a difference through their achievements and their service to our communities, “ he said.
