‘pinnacles of leadership’ — former windsor mayor among king charles medal recipients
an ex-mayor of the city and the former head of the mult...
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recognition for windsor community leadership: eddie francis, left, windsor family credit union president and ceo, mp brian masse — ndp — windsor west), and kathleen thomas, former executive director of the multicultural council of windsor and essex county, are shown on monday, feb. 24, 2025, at the wfcu head office in windsor. masse presented king charles iii coronation medals to francis and thomas.
dan janisse
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windsor star
an ex-mayor of the city and the former head of the multicultural council were the first of multiple windsorites this week to receive prestigious medals commemorating the coronation of king charles iii.
former mayor eddie francis and kathleen thomas, the retired executive director of the multicultural council of windsor and essex county, each received medals on monday from local mp brian masse (ndp — windsor west).
“i was honestly humbled when they shared with me that 30,000 people across canada are getting it,” said francis, currently the president and ceo of windsor family credit union.
“i was humbled because since i’ve left office my focus has been the work that we do here, but we do it rather quietly. so, it’s been a long time since i’ve been out there. it’s been a long time since this type of recognition has been shared, and i’m grateful.”
prime minster justin trudeau announced the medal program a few days before king charles iii was officially coronated on may 6, 2023. to be eligible, candidates must have made a “significant contribution” to canada or a particular province, territory, region or community.
the first medal ceremony occurred on may 6, 2024. the federal government said 30,000 medals will be awarded this year.
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each member of parliament is allotted about 20 medals to give out.
irek kusmierczyk (l — windsor-tecumseh) will host a ceremony on wednesday at the canadian aviation museum to honour his selection of coronation medal recipients.
masse will host a formal ceremony on march 9 to recognize all of his 20 recipients. but he took a head start with francis and thomas on monday during a short event at wfcu headquarters.
francis, who had been city councillor for ward 1, was elected mayor in 2003 at age 29. masse said there is “no questioning his passion, dedication for windsor and his boundless drive to see it flourish.”
masse called thomas, who retired in 2022 after 30 years with the multicultural council, “a champion of human rights and inclusion.” both were chosen for their “leadership qualities,” he said.
“especially at this time and age where we see so much negativity out there, whether it be social media, whether it be some of the things that we face, the challenges with regards to the current environment with the united states,” said masse.
“in other words, we have two people who are pinnacles of leadership, regardless of what’s taking place.”
thomas told the star she was honoured and surprised when she learned last week she would receive the medal.
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“it’s exciting and it’s very special to receive it,” said thomas, who also sits on the wfcu board of directors. “i’m taking it on behalf of everyone that i’ve worked with at the multicultural council and all the volunteers and the board of directors there.”
the office of mp chris lewis (c — essex) did not immediately respond to the star’s requests to confirm when he is handing out medals.
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