A member of the Southern family was awarded a royal award for her service to Alberta.
Linda Southern-Heathcott is the President and CEO of Spruce Meadows, and she was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
She was awarded the medal for her 'Outstanding service to Alberta, Canada, and her fellow citizens.'
Only 30,000 people across Canada are being awarded this medal, and they are awarded to recognize the achievements and contributions of individuals to their community, province, territory, or country.
Southern-Heathcott was presented her award by the Minister of Tourism and Sport for Alberta, Honorable Joseph Schow, on March 11.
"I am deeply honoured to receive this medal," Southern-Heathcott stated in a media release. "I’ve never been more proud to be Albertan and Canadian. I’ll continue to do all that I can to promote, and give back to, our beautiful province and country."
Not only is Southern-Heathcott a former professional equestrian who competed in the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, but she has become widely acknowledged for her public service, which includes sitting on a variety of boards.
She has also been awarded the Coronation medal, back in 2019, Southern-Heathcott was appointed Chair of Travel Alberta, and since 2018 she has been serving as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the King's Own Calgary Regiment.
On top of that, she received the British Empire Medal in 2020, due to her services to British Equestrian, military, and commercial interests in Alberta.
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