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Five Kootenaians nominated for Queen’s medal

Two former RDCK chairs and two former directors are among the nominees for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.

Two former Regional District of Central Kootenay chairs and two former directors are among the nominees for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.

New Denver’s Gary Wright, who chaired the board from 2004-10, and Ymir’s Hans Cunningham, who did the same job from 1993-2004, were both endorsed for their “long and exemplary service” to the RDCK, province of BC, and their communities.

Cunningham is still a director, while Wright recently retired and is writing a political memoir.

Also nominated are Corky Evans, John Voykin, and Geoff Yule.

Evans served as the RDCK’s Slocan Valley director in the early 1980s before running for provincial politics. He was Nelson-Creston MLA from 1991-2001 and 2005-09.

Voykin, a Pass Creek resident, recently retired after 31 years representing rural Castlegar, making him the longest-serving director in the regional district’s history.

Yule, a Castlegar accountant, is a Rotarian, soccer coach, and has travelled to Honduras and Bolivia with the Stanley Humphries Secondary Interact Club. He’s also been an active member of the Castlegar Aquanauts.

The nominations came at the request of MP Alex Atamanenko, who put out the call for worthy candidates in his riding.

The medal, created to mark the 60th anniversary of the queen’s ascension to the throne, will be presented to 60,000 Canadians this year to honour “significant contributions and achievements.”