The word that kept popping up in conversation with the seven Niagara-on-the-Lake residents awarded King Charles III Coronation Medals by Niagara Falls MP Tony Baldinelli last week was ‘humble’.
Tony Chisholm said it. So did Joe Pillitteri and Art Viola. Though the word wasn’t uttered by Steffanie Bjorgan, Allan Magnacca, Dorothy Soo-Wiens and Peter Warrack, it was certainly implied in their comments to The Local immediately after the ceremony held at Delphi Banquet Hall in Niagara Falls.
Created to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, the medals recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community in Canada or attained an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to the country. Baldinelli bestowed 22 medals to residents of NOTL, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie.
“Steffanie has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for many children and their parents,” Baldinelli said of Bjorgan, the executive director and founder of Red Roof Retreat.
Bjorgan, who received a Meritorious Service Medal from Governor General Mary Simon in 2024, was also a director and chair of the Niagara Children’s Centre’s parent advisory council and a parent representative to the advisory board of the CanChild neurodevelopment research unit at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
“I’m standing here among people that I admired while growing up in Niagara-on-the-Lake,” she told The Local. “To be here with them and to receive an award alongside them, it’s pretty amazing. I’m surrounded by so much wisdom and experience. I’m grateful, and I’m taking notes.”
Baldinelli called Tony Chisholm “one of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s most dedicated and effective volunteers working to communicate Canada’s rich history and to preserve its heritage.”
The president of the Friends of Fort George and vice chair of the town’s Upper Canada Heritage Trail committee was also instrumental in the town’s celebrations of Canada’s sesquicentennial and the commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and the committee to develop the Landscape of Nation’s Memorial at Queenston Heights.
A humble Chisholm deflected the honour as “a testament to all the organizations I have volunteered for. I’m merely their representative in accepting this award. It’s a real honour and it’s wonderful to be here and see so many other people who are so deserving.”
Retired Lt. Col. Allan Magnacca served in the Royal Canadian Army Reserves Artillery for 33 years. Magnacca continues to be involved in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124 in NOTL, the Shaw Festival, Riverbank Art Gallery, and St. Mark’s Anglican Church. He also chaired a $90 million fundraising campaign for Niagara College.
“It’s humbling in terms of recognition,” Magnacca said. “When there are so many people, to take 22 and say they represent the Niagara region. My father got the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation medal in 1953, so it’s come full circle in a way some 72 years later.”
Baldinelli joked that he had been planning to ask Joe Pillitteri to emcee last week’s event but then realized it wouldn’t work out as the dedicated community volunteer was a medal recipient.
The MPP outlined the comedian and inspirational speaker’s impact on NOTL by raising nearly $1 million through his Team Pillsy for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Pillitteri told The Local that the honour came as a complete surprise.
“At a time when there is so much not-so-great news, this is a big bright spot for me,” he said. “But I feel a bit of the imposter syndrome when I see some of the others, like Rob Nicholson, and hear everyone’s stories. It was as interesting and entertaining to hear those tonight as it was to be here as a recipient.”
Former NOTL councillor and Lord Mayor (1997 to 2000) Art Viola moved to Canada from the Philippines in 1967. He was named NOTL’s Citizen of the Year in 1988 and in 2004 received the Pamana ng Pilipino award from Gloria Arroyo, president of the Phillippines, “for being an inspiration to other Filipino-Canadians.”
“I thank my dear friend Tony Baldinelli for this," said Viola. “I feel honoured and humbled. The things I do in NOTL are little signs of thank you to Canada for accepting me to live, work and raise a family here.”
Like Bjorgan, Peter Warrack has also been a recipient of a Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada. Baldinelli outlined Warrack’s work in fighting human trafficking through the development of Project Protect and other programs to combat elder abuse, fentanyl trafficking and suspicious casino-related transactions.
“I’m just really excited for Steffanie Bjorgan and Dorothy Soo-Wiens, who deserve this medal a lot more than I do,” Warrack told The Local. “They are excellent representatives for Niagara-on-the-Lake.”
Soo-Wiens, who was also named NOTL’s Citizen of the Year at last week’s Spirit Awards, was recognized for her long-standing commitment to Cornerstone Community Church, baking pies for the Mennonite Central Committee and coordinating health care for seasonal workers. Baldinelli also outlined her involvement with the Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre and the town’s Christmas Tractor Parade, among other contributions.
“When I sit and listen. I am honoured to be a part of this group,” Soo-Wiens said. “I hope this award makes public all the different things in the community that people can help with. We can’t have a good community unless people get involved. One small piece of cloth isn’t a quilt, but it adds to the quilt. Every small deed we do can make a big impact on our community.”