Three Summerland residents have received the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

At a private ceremony on Jan. 28, John Dorn, Cathie Lauer and Susan McIver were presented with the medal.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal is presented to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a province, territory, region or community, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

鈥淭hese three individuals exemplify the spirit of service that makes our country stronger,鈥� said MP Dan Albas. 鈥淭heir contributions are remarkable. Each has helped establish or develop non-profit organizations that provide vital services to vulnerable members of our community and region. Each has made community service a part of who they are and we as a country are all the better for it.鈥�

Dorn has been active as a community volunteer since moving to Summerland in 2006. Among his areas of service include being the Summerland Legion鈥檚 past president for 14 years. He has organized the community鈥檚 Canada Day events since 2010 and served as the president of the Summerland Youth Centre Association for 12 years.

鈥淭his community means a lot to him,鈥� said John Lawrie, president of the Summerland Legion. 

Accepting the award, Dorn thanked his wife Laurinda for her support. 鈥淭his medal is only there because of her encouragement, support and understanding,鈥� he said.

Lauer is a founding member of Tomorrow鈥檚 Hope. The organization provides support, information and resources to anyone diagnosed with breast cancer in the South Okanagan. The goal is that no one faces a breast cancer diagnosis alone and without information. 

She is a two-time breast cancer survivor, now undergoing her third round of breast cancer treatment, She is also one of the founders of Survivorship, a dragon boat team for breast cancer survivors.

鈥淐athie鈥檚 story is one of remarkable resilience and dedication,鈥� MLA Amelia Boultbee said. 鈥淲hat truly sets Cathie apart is her unwavering commitment.鈥�

Receiving the award, Lauer thanked the Survivorship dragon boat team.

鈥淥ur whole goal is that no one faces breast cancer alone,鈥� she said. 

McIver, who received her doctorate at Washington State University, was a professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and the department chair at the University of Guelph. Her work shaped medical education in Canada, said Summerland mayor Doug Holmes.

In British Columbia, McIver worked as a community coroner and was the author of two books resulting from this work. She also has thousands of published articles to her name.

In addition to her medical and academic work, McIver has worked as a journalist in the Okanagan, is a member of the Summerland Community Arts Council, was instrumental in developing Agur Lake Camp near Summerland and works with the Ukraine Nightingale Project, which helps displaced Ukrainians.

鈥淗er work has touched countless lives and will continue to impact generations to come,鈥� Holmes said.

While McIver was grateful for the honour, she said there are other people deserving of similar recognition.

鈥淭here are many, many people in this world who do just as much or more and are not recognized,鈥� she said.

A total of 30,000 King Charles III Coronation Medals will be awarded in 2025.