Unbreakable DB

Saturday, 10 September 2022

My indirect connection to Queen Elizabeth II

I never met the Queen. The closest connection I had with her, albeit an indirect one, was the night I was presented with a Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. The medal commemorated her 60th anniversary as monarch. It was fellow honouree George ‘Strombo’ Stroumboulopoulos who gave me the medal. Later that night I met up with David Onley, then the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Queen’s provincial representative. Years later I learned that it was Onley himself who nominated me for the medal. Though it did not come from the Queen personally, I accept it as a gift from her. I also see the medal as recognition for my participation in disability advocacy and voluntary activities.