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The two Cochrane winners of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award pins awarded on Sunday were Paul Singh and Jag Thind – and neither of them knew when they walked up on stage that they were about to receive the honour.
The awards, celebrating the 70th year of Her Majesty’s reign, were given to the two deserving Cochrane volunteers in honour of the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The awards were handed out to Singh and Thind by Blake Richards, Member of Parliament for Banff-Airdrie at the Cochrane CultureFest.
Both recipients – who know each other well – were invited by Richards individually, to come up on stage to say a few words honouring the other.
It was only at the last minute they became aware that Richards was having a bit of fun with his ‘surprise.’
Thind laughed as he retold the story Monday.
“It was completely unexpected. They asked me if I was going to be around, and would I mind saying a few words about Paul, because they were going to announce something,” he said.
When Thind walked up and saw Singh onstage already, he started to suspect something was up.
“I thought ‘what’s going on here?’” he laughed. “I was totally surprised – I had no clue at all.”
Thind said he felt “amazing” when he received the award.
“Living and working in Cochrane is always special, always amazing,” he said.
And there’s no doubt he will cherish this recognition, especially coming as it does on the heels of the Queen’s recent passing.
“It does add to it actually. I have something to remember all my life now. I can say I got the last award from the Queen before she passed away,” he said.
“It’s sad of course, but I’m honoured and I’m going to remember it always.”
Singh was similarly surprised and honoured to be recognized.
“I didn’t expect it – it was a complete surprise,” he said.
He said he doesn’t do volunteer work to get recognized, but the recognition will spur him on, and he hopes it will do so for others as well.
“I’m going to be motivated to do more stuff,” he added.
Singh has served as an active member of the Cochrane Immigrant Service Committee (CISC) for many years, volunteering countless hours to provide newcomers the services and supports they need to be successful in their new life in Canada.
Beyond his work with CISC, he also volunteers with the BGC Cochrane and Area youth club and other community initiatives.
Thind, a local business owner and cornerstone of the Cochrane Chamber of Commerce, has long been involved in promoting local food banks, especially during seasonal food drives. His work helps to ensure that in-need families in Cochrane are not left empty-handed when they cannot afford groceries.
The pins they received are representative of the Queen’s lifelong commitment to service, and are distributed by members of parliament to deserving members of their communities.
Given the timing, the awards are especially important reminders of the Queen’s lifelong commitment to duty.
