On the evening of January 15th, Robert McLachlan and Geoff Dowd, along with 40 other Montréalers, were honoured as recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The presentation ceremony was held at Montréal’s Atwater Library.
The awarding of this medal is administered by the Chancellery of Honours, Governor General of Canada. Eligible candidates had to meet the following national criteria: “Have made a significant contribution, to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region, or community of Canada; or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada”.
Only thirty thousand Coronation Medals were awarded to qualified Canadians. At the ceremony, prior to receiving the Coronation Medal, each of the 40 recipient’s unique volunteer contributions were shared with the audience.
Robert (Bob) McLachlan has contributed over four decades of volunteerism in Montréal. He served his country for over two decades with the Canadian Army Reserves where he rose from private to lieutenant-colonel commanding the Canadian Grenadier Guards. He made significant impacts within Scouts Canada, while an adult youth leader and later as vice-president and area commissioner for West Island Montreal. For many years he was a commander within the Military & Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, a Christian organization which works to supress leprosy across the world while aiding those requiring palliative care in Canada. During the COVID-19 pandemic he ran virtual evening prayer liturgy groups. Currently he is President of the Diocese of Montreal’s, Lay Readers Association, as well as an active member of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
For over 22 years, Geoff Dowd was Principal at Trafalgar School for Girls in Westmount. As Principal he established and promoted an extracurricular community service programme, where students learned about and engaged in civic responsibilities. Geoff was also a highly active volunteer within community organizations such as the Quebec Association of Independent Schools and the Greater Montreal Athletic Association. Currently Geoff is a Board Member and Vice-President, of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, which serves as a resource to Montreal’s Anglophone community for engagement and lifelong learning. He is also a Trustee of the Mount Royal Cemetery, which oversees the operations and maintenance of the heritage property on Mount Royal, as well as the Belvedere Cemetery in Senneville and the Des Trembles Cemetery, near the eastern tip of Montreal.
