Kathy Kemmere from Olds is one of the local recipients of a King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Recipients of this honour in the Red Deer-Mountain View region were nominated through the office of MP Earl Dreeshen and they have made significant contributions to the country, province, territory, region, or community – or made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
Kemmere was recognized for her work as a member of the Olds Hospice Society – now known as the Mountain View Hospice Society – to create a better opportunity for rural hospice/palliative care and bereavement. Kemmere became passionate about hospice/palliative care almost 30 years ago. She says “we met with a group of ladies that had hospice experiences in other communities and the main question was asked, why not in Olds? So we began that journey in 2007 and then, yeah, we were able to actually get two hospice suites within our community as well as supporting those at home with palliative care. From my view, the spectrum of offering bereavement support kind of was an important piece to that. So we do connect with families after their loved one has passed away and offer bereavement support.”
Kemmere is still a volunteer with the Hospice Society. She also the Trustee for Ward 7 with Chinook’s Edge School Division. CESD’s board congratulated her during their meeting earlier this month. She says “honestly it was a surprise. I felt very honoured. I felt honoured the day of the presentation, but to have the team behind me and support me in that way, shout out to Mandy Nelson for the amazing cake but, no, it was really an honour to have their support in my previous life I guess, and what I am doing now and recognize that. So they are a good group of people.”
Kemmere’s husband Al also received royal recognition earlier this decade. He was one of Albertans who was bestowed with Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubliee Medal for significant contributions to the province and to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s reign in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Mountain View Hospice Society’s annual Hike for Hospice is coming up on May the 4th in both Olds and Didsbury. Learn more online at OldsHospice.com.
