March 5, 2025

MP Gazan Announces Recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medals

On Tuesday, March 4, MP Leah Gazan hosted a dinner and award celebration honouring recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medals, releasing the following statement:

“I was honoured to be asked by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, to identify and award community members with the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of their remarkable achievements and contributions. With the help of my selection committee, we chose 19 exceptional people who have made a significant contribution to Winnipeg Centre. It was my great pleasure to come together with these recipients and their loved ones last night to share a meal and each others' company as we celebrated their remarkable achievements and the profound impact they have had on life and wellbeing in our neighbourhoods. It is the love and dedication of people like you that creates hope for our future. Together we keep community at the centre in Winnipeg Centre."

MP Leah Gazan presented the King Charles III Coronation Medal to the following recipients:

Mike Payne

Executive Director, Nine Circles

For ongoing health equity advocacy through Nine Circles

Hilda Anderson-Pyrz

Chair, National Family and Survivors Circle

For courageous leadership and grassroots advocacy for MMIWG2S and their family members

Kemlin Nembhard

Executive Director, Women’s Health Clinic

For ongoing health equity and reproductive rights advocacy through Women’s Health Clinic

Debbie Patterson

Artistic Director, Sick & Twisted

For creating spaces for disability arts in Manitoba

Al Wiebe

Peer and community engagement trainer and housing director

For advocacy on ending homelessness and for advancing lived experience leadership

Emily Merasty

For disability justice and access advocacy regarding service dog regulation

Laura Cameron

For grassroots climate action and exceptional community leadership

Matt Davidson

Founder, Spirit Horse

For building individual and community wellness through Spirit Horse Action Therapy

Raymond Ngarboui

Community Engagement Development Association

For advancing food security through culturally responsive community development initiatives

Gina Smoke

Director of Indigenous Relations, UNIFOR

For her work connecting the labour movement with human rights advocacy

Terese Taylor

Publisher/Editor, The Leaf and Streets Community Newspapers

For promoting quality local news through community newspapers

Gerald Brown

Lion's Place Seniors Action Committee

For advocating for seniors right to housing and challenging the financialization of social housing

Shakila Atayee

Aurora Family Therapy and Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba

For facilitating meaningful community development for ethnocultural community members in Manitoba, including Afghan women and youth

Izzeddin Hawamda

PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies

For promoting the human face of the Palestinian story through storytelling and community dialogue. He advocates for peace through meaningful conversations and anti-racism initiatives. As a co-founder of Bridge, he actively speaks about the power of dialogue and the importance of sharing, listening, and respecting diverse perspectives and narratives.

Harold Schuster

For courageous advocacy for peace and justice through Independent Jewish Voices

Diwa Marcelino

Migrante Manitoba

For advocacy for the rights of migrants in Manitoba and around the world

Marnermoo Galloway-White

For supporting newcomers to Manitoba with finding and maintaining housing

Seidu Mohammed

For improving experiences and outcomes for Black and other racialized communities through the Manitoba Africa Cup of Nations

Lara Rae

For lifting up young artists in Winnipeg’s comedy community and working to address food insecurity

Contact:

Leah Gazan

(204) 984-1675