Five Red Deer County residents receive Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals

Councillor Lonny Kennett nominated the Harts for each contributing over 30 years to rural crime watch, which he says can be difficult to get volunteers for. He says they both began with the Hanna Rural Crime Watch in 1995, with Verna also volunteering over 100 hours a month to the Alberta Rural Crime Watch, becoming the provincial board treasurer in 2012. In addition, she volunteered with the Festival of Trees, Red Deer and Lacombe Rural Community Crime Watch Association, and, for the remainder of her time, enjoys spending it with her granddaughter.

For Dean, Councillor Kennett said he also joined the provincial rural crime watch board of directors in 2012 and took over the website portfolio and social media platforms in 2018. He then became a member of the Police Advisory Committee (Red Deer County & Blackfalds RCMP detachment) for their Restorative Justice Program in 2017 and a board member of the Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice Program in 2019.

Councillor Christine Moore nominated the Charles’ for their 44 years of community service, noting that their son Kevin was also awarded the same medal just one month ago. Among some of her initiatives, she said Sue was a Kindergarten teacher at the Poplar Ridge School before becoming secretary of the school. Volunteering at the community hall, Moore said Sue has greeted residents for numerous years at their Christmas dinner, with multiple generations knowing her name.

John, Moore says, has been the go-to man for decades, always ready to help in electrical, roofing or whatever is needed. She says he is the “spirit of who we are in Poplar Ridge”.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals (Alberta) given to Red Deer County residents on Wednesday at council chambers. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

Lastly, Stephen Poburan, a county community peace officer, nominated David Matheson, who was actually nominated twice for the medal and received it at another ceremony.

As a community peace officer for 10 years, Poburan said he moved from Red Deer city to the county, believing there would be less crime. He said he quickly realized that was not the case and therefore became more involved in rural crime watch where he would hear the Matheson name at each meeting.

Poburan said Matheson has devoted a large amount of personal time and money to rural crime watch, building a community policing model that he says most agencies are looking for. When residents see something suspicious, he says they call Matheson immediately after calling police as he has developed a deep network of reliable and trusted community members to quickly uncover what’s going on. He says he collects his own evidence to assist police, becoming a professional witness with astounding accuracy and believes he is responsible for the arrests of a high number of perpetrators. Poburan added that RCMP officers in the area hold a respect for Matheson, as he continues to selflessly go out of his way to protect the community and the entire municipality as a whole.

Matheson said he was overwhelmed and surprised to receive the award. He says he began volunteering to chase crime out of his neighborhood after watching a friend’s car get stolen from his shop one morning at 2 a.m. while the closest police offer was almost two hours away.

After starting a patrol unit, he said it blossomed.

“We earned the respect and trust of the RCMP. If we say we got a problem, it’s a real one. We got good communication and I love that,” he said. “We all know it can be done just I don’t think anyone really tried. We’ve got good peace officers, good police officers but no one really tried to communicate with them. I did; that’s the only difference.”

by Alessia Proietti

Five Red Deer County residents receive Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals

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