Portage la Prairie celebrates a unique distinction as local volunteers Angela and Colin Hourie each receive the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal, recognizing their exceptional dedication to community service.
The couple stands out as both partners independently earned the honour through their tireless work with different organizations, marking a rare double recognition within their community.
A couple dedicated to service
Colin Hourie, Treasurer for the Portage chapter of Habitat for Humanity and an active leader within the local Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans’ Club (ANAVETS), received his medal after being nominated nationally.
He talks about the significance, explaining, "I was nominated by Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. I'm told that Habitat for Humanity Canada was awarded 57 King Charles Medals to be distributed to deserving volunteers in the local communities. So I'm one of those recipients."
Reflecting on the win, Colin shares, "Yeah, felt pretty special, really. I was honoured just to be nominated, I think that's an honour. And then to actually win it too. Yeah, I was very proud and honoured to receive that."
Angela Hourie, current President of ANAVETS Unit 13 in Portage la Prairie, received her medal at the Dominion Convention in Sherbrooke, QC, in September 2024.
"I was awarded the medal this last September for my volunteer work with the Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans Association, as well as my work on the provincial board for Manitoba and Northwest Ontario," Angela states.
She describes the association's vital mission, saying, "Across Canada, we have units all over the country... Our main concern is to support our veterans, whether it be our older veterans or our newer veterans... The more members we get and the more people that can support us, the more we can support our veterans."
A unique Honour for a dedicated couple
The true uniqueness lies in both partners receiving the medal.
Colin highlights this special circumstance, saying, "I think it's pretty unique. I don't imagine there are too many couples that have both been awarded. We're not the only ones, I'm sure, but yeah, it's pretty unique. It's nice that we both have it."
Angela echoes the sentiment of pride and recognition for their shared commitment: "I was very honored to receive the medal and I was very happy when Colin got his medal as well because it's a nice feeling to know that your work does get recognized when you volunteer and put all your time to an association or an organization. So it was really a great feeling to get the medal."
Continuing their community impact
Their volunteer efforts continue unabated. Colin is actively involved with Habitat for Humanity's next local project.
"We're just about to start our build for the next family for this summer... hoping to break ground in early July. That will be the 14th house that we've built in Portage la Prairie for families that need a safe and affordable place to live," he says, describing the planned home on Goodale Drive as similar to their previous builds.
Meanwhile, Angela focuses on strengthening ANAVETS Unit 13: "We've been working to reorganize things with our new board members to make it more streamlined, cost-effective, and to support our veterans."
The King Charles III Coronation Medals shine a well-deserved spotlight on Angela and Colin Hourie, a Portage la Prairie couple whose shared dedication to service has earned them a rare and celebrated dual honour.