TORONTO — On Thursday, April 10, the Ontario Heritage Trust celebrated five outstanding people with King Charles III Coronation Medals.

The Coronation Medal was created by King Charles III on the advice of the Canadian Government to mark the significant and historical occasion of His Majesty’s Coronation as King of Canada and to recognize Canadians who have made a difference. The Trust was invited by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Edith Dumont, to nominate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional qualities and outstanding service to our province in the field of heritage. The five people honoured yesterday are among 30,000 exceptional Canadians also receiving this medal.

“The Trust appreciates the dedication of these remarkable people. They have made important contributions that help us all to understand our past and preserve it for future generations,” said John Ecker, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Heritage Trust. “Through their efforts, they have cultivated pride in our province and pride in Canada — so important during these challenging times.”

The recipients were:

Anthony (Miptoon) Chegahno (Head Councillor, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation) is an Anishinaabe advocate dedicated to cultural and natural conservation. His knowledge and leadership have been instrumental in protecting Nochemowenaing, a sacred site in Neyaashiinigmiing. Miptoon worked with Parks Canada to create a multi-species action plan for species at risk. As an Elder, mentor and advisory committee member at Guelph University, he has supported Indigenous initiatives like “Learning on the Land” and the Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice program.

Barbara G. Carter (Chatham-Kent), a descendant of Josiah Henson and former curator of the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, has devoted decades to preserving Black history in Ontario. Her leadership, vision and tireless dedication has ensured the lasting recognition of Black Ontarians' contributions to the province’s heritage. Through her lifetime of work, Barbara has made a profound impact on the landscape of cultural preservation and historical education in Ontario.

Daniel Dishaw (North York), Executive Director of the Ontario Historical Society (OHS), has worked with partners inside and outside the heritage sector to tackle systemic issues facing grassroots historical organizations in Ontario, working toward greater sustainability and resilience for the sector. Among his many projects are the OHS Student Publishing and Placement programs, providing valuable culture and heritage sector opportunities to students and early-career historians. Daniel works closely with grassroots heritage organizations to support their mandates and promote their incredible cultural and economic impacts, leveraging and fortifying local passion and stewardship.

Natasha Henry-Dixon (Mississauga) is a historian, educator and community leader who is advancing our collective understanding of Canada’s rich and complicated Black history. She is an Assistant Professor of African-Canadian History at York University, as well as past president of the Ontario Black History Society. Natasha has written a number of publications that deal with the enslavement of Black people in Ontario, their quest for freedom, and celebrations of emancipation — including numerous articles in the Canadian Encyclopedia and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography — contributing to our understanding on these topics.

David Hannivan (Toronto) is a decorative artist specializing in historical restoration, historical decorative art and traditional decorative finishing. With his wife, artist and business partner Patti, he has completed projects across Ontario — including the Trust’s own Gallery at 8 Adelaide Street East and the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres — as well as many projects across Canada and internationally. Hannivan has dedicated his skills to the celebration and preservation of the beauty found in our built heritage, earning him a distinguished reputation, and ensuring that Ontarians can enjoy art that would otherwise have been lost to us.

Contact

David Leonard, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, Ontario Heritage Trust at david.leonard@heritagetrust.on.ca or 437-246-9065.

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About the Ontario Heritage Trust

The Ontario Heritage Trust (the Trust) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Trust conserves, interprets and shares Ontario’s heritage. The Trust conserves provincially significant cultural and natural heritage, interprets Ontario’s history, celebrates its diversity and educates Ontarians of its importance in our society. The Trust envisions an Ontario where we conserve, value and share the places and landscapes, histories, traditions and stories that embody our heritage, now and for future generations.

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