Clearwater councillor Ken Kjenstad has been awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend a recent awards ceremony held in Kamloops. MLA Terry Lake said he hopes to arrange a time so that Kjenstad can receive his medal in Clearwater.
“It seems that every time I go to Clearwater for an event, Ken is involved in some way,” Lake said. “When you look up “volunteer” in the dictionary, you will likely see Ken’s picture.”
As noted in his nomination form, since establishing Safety Mart (with partners) in Clearwater, which he owned for 25 years, he has been a major contributor to many community events and functions as well as various youth activities, especially minor ball and minor hockey. Kjenstad has been an umpire for minor ball and a referee for all levels of hockey since 1975.
The longtime Clearwater resident has served as a member and as the chair of the Regional Hospital Board. He has been nominated and recognized for the Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” several times. He was also a primary driver of the Chamber of Commerce in the early to mid-80s.
Kjenstad continues to contribute to the community of Clearwater in a very big way – with Winterfest, Canada Day celebrations, Clearwater Canoe Regatta and more.
Other Queen's Jubilee recipients during the recent ceremony from the Kamloops-North Thompson riding were Mayor Alan Raine of Sun Peaks, Bonnie CruzelleMyram of Barriere (awarded posthumously to her children) and Alex Sim of Kamloops.
Clearwater's Muriel Dunford, Jean Nelson and Pauline Gregory, plus Donald Turtiak of Blue River, Jill Hayward of Louis Creek, and Barriere's Geordie and Manne Salle, Tina Donald, Dr. Nathan Mathew, Carman Smith, and Keith Moore received Queen's Jubilee medals during earlier ceremonies.