Milton Parent was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal posthumously by Senator Nancy Greene on Sept. 11, 2012, in a ceremony held at the Emergency Services Building.
The senator expressed her pleasure at being part of the medal-awarding process, being able to honour individuals who make a difference in their communities. She was aware that Milton was part of a team along with his wife Rosemarie, who was happy she was able to receive the award on behalf of Milton.
Senator Greene then pinned the medal over Rosemarie’s heart, after a few moments admiring the design with its recipient.
Rosemary then remembered the efforts she and Milton had made, and enlightened everyone why they had moved away for three decades before retiring back in Nakusp.
“Milton didn’t want to be a logger,” Rosemary explained, simply because “he was five-foot-one and was afraid he’d get hurt.”
After accepting the honour, Rosemary invited everyone in the room for a tour of the new archive addition to the Centennial Building which is now to lock up, and for which “there is also a little money to do a bit more,” according to Rosemary.
An invitation to cake and tea marked the end of the formal ceremony.