MOUNT FOREST – Wellington North resident Kay Ayres was presented with the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal on March 26.
Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae presented the award to Ayres at the Mount Forest Community Centre, surrounded by her family and friends.
“Kay is a compassionate and involved member of our community,” Rae said.
“She has demonstrated the utmost care for her fellow community members, be it through organizing fundraisers for local charities, holding informational sessions on important topics such as fraud prevention, or arranging weekly games that bring the community together.
“It is an honour to recognize her contributions to Ontario and Canada with a King Charles III Coronation Medal.”
To be eligible for the medal one must have made significant contributions to the country, Ontario, region or community, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
MPP Matthew Rae and Kay Ayres. Submitted photo
“Receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal is such an honour,” Ayres said.
“As I get older and realize I have more life behind me than I have in front of me, things like this take on a whole new meaning. To be kind to my fellow man, to do something for others.”
She added, “All the years I was working hard trying to make a living, I could not do these things. I love being able to give my time and what energy I still have left.
“I still think of King Charles as Prince Charles. He and I are about the same age. I have followed the Royal family all my life,” she noted. “I will be honoured to receive and have this medal that I will have with me for the rest of my days.”
Ayres has been part of the Mount Forest community for about 10 years and her accomplishments include:
- organizing weekly games and social functions for the local seniors group in Mount Forest and area
- holding informational sessions for local seniors on topics of interest i.e. fraud prevention, trips abroad, Alzheimer’s, and end of life information;
- heavily involved in an organization called 100 Women Who Care, which donates over $10,000 to local charities every quarter
- co-founder and active member of the Women’s Needs Program, which helps provide feminine hygiene products for free to individuals throughout Wellington North;
- a member of Mapleton Township’s Committee of Adjustment for over 20 years;
- participating and fundraising for the Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington’s annual Mount Forest Walk for Alzheimer’s;
- volunteering with the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team; and
- working to get free feminine hygiene products available at the Mount Forest and Arthur arenas.
In 2022, Ayres was recognized as Wellington North Senior of the Year and with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin.
