The former Fire Chief for La Broquerie has been awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Alain Nadeau received the award from La Verendrye MLA Konrad Narth. Nadeau served 45 years on the La Broquerie Fire Department, the last 20 as Fire Chief. He retired from the department in 2024.
"He was integral in building and developing the fire department that they have there today," says Narth. "That's contributed to the growth and development of that municipality and the community of La Broquerie."
Narth says it took tremendous dedication for Nadeau to serve four-and-a-half decades with the fire department. He notes that often people in positions of leadership do not realize how widespread their impact is.
"Mr. Nadeau had a personal impact on myself," he shares.
Narth says he clearly recalls the wildfires that ravaged the southeast corner of our province about 15 years ago. He notes those fires resulted in the largest demonstration of mutual aid efforts in the history of Manitoba. And Narth says he had a front-row seat as that was happening in his home municipality of the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn. Narth says because Nadeau was the mutual aid coordinator, he saw first-hand the impacts of his strong and dedicated leadership.
"I didn't know Alain Nadeau personally but it was an impact that stuck with me for all these years, 15 years now," says Narth. "And I was glad to have the opportunity to recognize him today."
"It's always nice to be recognized," says Nadeau. "It's very humbling."
Nadeau received the medal in front of family and friends. He acknowledged that being a firefighter is difficult on families. Nadeau says you miss a lot of suppers and need to be able to be spontaneous. As a result, he notes this can create very disappointing times for families.
Meanwhile, Narth recently recognized another constituent in the form of a King Charles III Coronation Medal, the late Marvin Hovorka. Narth says Hovorka, who was from the Sprague area, had a tremendous impact on the far southeast corner of the province.
He credits Hovorka with having a brilliant mind, noting he was an educated man at a time when education for a farm boy from that area was not the norm. Narth says Hovorka went to the United States to earn his university degree, became a teacher, and then returned to the community to become Principal of the Sprague school. Later he stepped away from education and stepped back into the family logging business and also served as the Reeve for the RM of Piney.
"He was integral and a pillar in community growth," adds Narth. "From his early years as a young man till his final days, he was passionate about his community and I think it's something that definitely deserved recognition."
Meanwhile, Narth refers to it as an honour and privilege to recognize these two constituents. He notes it is difficult to pick just two outstanding individuals but says both Nadeau and Hovorka contributed so much to their communities.