A community-minded Sundre resident was among dozens of Canadians recently recognized by the Governor General and presented with the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.
Harvey Shevalier, who lives with his wife Helen near Westward Ho, was one of 46 citizens presented with the honour on April 24 during a ceremony in Ottawa. His wife accompanied him on the trip.
"It was an episode to behold!" he told the Round Up during a phone interview last week, when he took a break from working on his yard to talk about his experience.
"It was a tremendous treatment down there by the Governor General and his staff. It was really great."
Learning that he was among the select group of Canadians to be recognized came as a complete surprise, and Shevalier said he was humbled to be personally presented the medal by David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.
"The Medal for Volunteers recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields," the Governor General's official website states.
"As an official Canadian honour, it also pays tribute to the dedication and exemplary commitment of volunteers."
Over the years, Shevalier has always demonstrated his commitment to the communities he's lived in, having along the way been involved in too many initiatives and organizations to mention in one article. However, some examples include volunteering with Scouts Canada, food banks, the Royal Canadian Legion, as well as a variety of sports such as minor hockey, soccer, and lacrosse.
"I played all of them sports when I was a kid ó I was a real sports buff."
So as an adult, Shevalier wanted to pay it forward and make sure younger generations also had the same opportunities he once had.
An active member of the Royal Canadian Legion, he has belonged to five branches across Canada, including of course the Sundre Legion 223. Shevalier has in the past served as branch president, district commander for the Alberta-Northwest Territories Command, and was even eventually elected Command vice-president and president. He was also a driving force ó pun intended ó behind the push to rename a 560-kilometre stretch of highway as Veterans Memorial Highway, also known as Highway 36.
His numerous contributions to the Royal Canadian Legion were also recognized with several awards, including Life Membership, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Palm Leaf.
Shevalier has 11 children from two loving marriages ó his first wife Bernice lost a struggle against cancer ó as well as 22 grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren.
After retiring in the early 1990s from the Canadian military with the rank of chief warrant officer, he and Helen sought to move to Alberta to be closer to family.
"We toured from Sylvan Lake all the way down to Crowsnest (Pass)," he said, adding that their home near Westward Ho was among their top choices.
Before long, any doubts the couple had about moving to the area vanished and they decided to call their real estate agent at midnight to make an offer.
At first, Shevalier confessed he was concerned they might always be considered as outsiders, but his fears proved to be completely unfounded.
"I thought it would take a lifetime to get accepted," he said.
But before he knew it, "I was part of the family."
While the local scenery doesn't hurt, it's the people who have kept the couple convinced they are right at home.
Long since comfortably settled, he has no intention of relocating anywhere else.
"I'm going to just stay here until the good Lord plants me ó I hope it's not too soon!" he said with a chuckle.
