Two more King Charles medals for Uxbridge

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two well-known Uxbridge residents, along with two people from Pickering, were recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for their community service.

The Uxbridge recipients were John McCutcheon and Patricia (Tish) Macdonald.

Tish MacDonald (in black dress) and John McCutcheon (third from left) received King Charles III Coronation Medals from Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, centre. Also pictured are members of MacDonald’s family, Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton, and veteran Norm Goodspeed, who received a Coronation Medal from former MP Jennifer O’Connell earlier this year. Photo from Facebook

Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, who nominated the four for the honour, said McCutcheon was recognized for his conservation work in Uxbridge for the past 40 years. Through the John and Pat McCutcheon Charitable Foundation, McCutcheon has supported major environmental organizations to promote nature restoration, as well as placed a conservation easement on his Uxbridge property and donated the land to the Township, which led to the creation of the Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park.

McCutcheon was also the driving force behind the restoration of the old railway trestle bridge which now forms part of the Uxbridge trail system.

Macdonald has long been a passionate advocate for veterans and remembrance education. She created the Honour Them Well banner program, which sees more than 300 banners that honour veterans displayed in Uxbridge and its hamlets before and on Remembrance Day. The program has inspired similar initiatives across Canada.

Macdonald also organized Uxbridge Secondary School’s Remembrance Day services when she taught there, and she also helped with the Uxbridge Firefighter Memorial.

The two Pickering recipients were Raphael Francis and Darlene Walker.

A number of Uxbridge residents received their medals at a ceremony at the Uxbridge Historical Centre a few weeks ago. They were all nominated for the award by either MP Jennifer O'Connell, township council or the Uxbridge Legion. Since McCutcheon and Macdonald were nominated by Bethlenfalvy, their award ceremony was held at Queen's Park. McCutcheon said the medals were presented by the Speaker of the Legislature Donna Skelly, wearing her ceremonial robes.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created to mark His Majesty’s coronation, which took place in May 2023.