On the afternoon of Jan. 9, 15 worthy Manitobans gathered at a ceremony in Government House with Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon and her husband Gary. On behalf Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, she presented each with a medal in recognition of outstanding Indigenous leadership.
Eight of the recipients received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, and seven recipients were awarded Meritorious Service Decorations – Civil Division. “These awards will honour some of the province's most dedicated Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders who are working to strengthen urban and rural Indigenous communities and create an environment in which reconciliation is possible,” a press release on the lieutenant-governor's website noted.
Among those honoured were two laudable Northerners from Herb Lake Landing: Hazel and Jim Corman. The Cormans have lived in and around the area all their lives and if you ask anyone who knows them, they’ll tell you the couple works tirelessly at preserving and promoting the heritage of their tiny east shore of Wekusko community. The Cormans are stalwart defenders of the environment and advocates of growing and eating local, as well as physical fitness for every age. They work hard to instill a sense of community in each resident of "The Landing" and they’re just plain fun folks to be around!
Jim Corman is in his early 80s and was born just up the shore at the now-abandoned gold mining community of Herb Lake. Hazel is in her late 70s and was born in Norway House. They settled in Herb Lake Landing in 1976, after selling a prosperous taxi business in nearby Snow Lake. They remained here, fishing, trapping, then building up and running a tourism venture, Tawow Lodge, before selling it several years back. They have kept themselves busy since then, helping neighbours and contributing their knowledge and sweat to the community they love.
The Cormans are modest people and when asked about the honour, Hazel reluctantly noted, “Jim and I are very honoured to be the recipients of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteerism.”
She says that they were made aware of their selection through a November 2017 phone call from the lieutenant-governor’s executive assistant. Hazel admits to being a little shocked when she answered the phone. “I wasn’t able to say anything at first, she just waited on the other end,” she said in a recent interview. “I just remember her saying we would be presented with the medals in a ceremony. I gave the phone to Jim, so he could hear the news. We were both surprised, this was so unexpected.”
Hazel says that the event itself was special from the moment the couple walked up the steps of Goverment House. “We were greeted and made to feel very welcome,” she said. “We met the other honourees in a separate room and were told the protocol. We were to each say our name and were presented to the lieutenant-governor and her husband. They were very gracious. So after meeting them we weren’t as nervous when they called Jim and I together to come forward and the lieutenant-governor pinned on the medals. I was very impressed hearing what the other honourees were being recognized for.” The Cormans say that they will always remember this night.
They were also grateful that some of their family and friends were able to attend. Their daughter Cathy and her husband Greg Erickson drove them down and attended, as did their granddaughter Ashley Erickson, who flew in from Edmonton for the night. Daughter-in-law Brenda Corman came in from Gimli with her friend Janice Dey, and fellow Landing resident Margo McDougall and her sister Alice Tremblay were there. “It was a very proud moment for us … brought tears,” said daughter Cathy Erickson. “We know Mom and Dad do, and have done, a lot for their little community, but to be recognized in the same category as the Bear Clan Leader and the Bannock Lady, as well as other amazing selfless people, just brings it to a whole new level of proud. They, at first, thought they might not attend; thinking they were not worthy. They are very grateful they did and came away feeling very honoured and proud of themselves in their quiet way.”
Of note, the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields. As an official Canadian honour, the Medal for Volunteers incorporates and replaces the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, created in 1995 by former governor general Romeo LeBlanc. The medal builds on the legacy and spirit of the Caring Canadian Award by honouring the dedication and commitment of volunteers. The other Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recipients were: Michael Patrick Belhumeur of Winnipeg, Lucille Bruce of Winnipeg, David Chartrand of Duck Bay, Philip Chiappetta of Winnipeg, Greg Shedden of Stonewall and Harold Westdal of Winnipeg. Those receiving Meritorious Service Decorations were Mitch Bourbonniere of Winnipeg, Michael Redhead Champagne of Winnipeg, James Favel and Larry Morrissette (posthumous) of Winnipeg, Althea Guiboche of Winnipeg, Ry Moran of Winnipeg and Diane Louise Roussin of Winnipeg.
