King’s Coronation Medals to Child-rights Advocate, Merchant Navy Captain, Farming Researcher, and Volunteer Home-builder

In March The Banner wrote about two Christian Reformed women in Canada who were recognized with the King Charles III coronation medal in honor of their contributions to their communities. Then readers told us about more community-minded Christian Reformed Church members who received the same recognition. In the anniversary year of King Charles III’s coronation, 26,000 medals are being presented to civilians and 4,000 to Canadian service members.

Kathy Vandergrift, a member of Kanata Community Church near Ottawa, Ont., received a medal Dec. 12 in a presentation by Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean. Vandergrift was honored for her years of advocacy work on children's rights and leadership in her community. Vandenbeld noted that Vandergrift “co-founded the Watchlist on Children in Armed Conflict and contributed to resolutions on this issue. In 2008, she received the UNICEF Aldo Farina Award for her work on child rights. She has also served as the chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children and worked (for the implementation of) the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child” in Canada.

Philip Visser, a member of First CRC in Owen Sound, Ont., was presented with a medal March 15, in Owen Sound. Presented by Member of Parliament Alex Ruff, Visser’s certificate noted the Merchant Navy Captain’s decades of service as a “longtime community volunteer, educator and leader.” Visser’s wife, Shirley, told The Banner that Philip was nominated by a member of the Silver C’s Caring Canadians organization, which hosts events such as Thanksgiving Food Drives, breakfast for local schools, and singing at long-term care homes. “Captain (MN) Philip M. Visser has contributed decades with the Merchant (Navy), his church, youth, the Mission Thrift Store, along with service as a member &director with the Silver C's,” the certificate read. “He made a difference.”

Peter VanderZaag, a member of Alliston (Ont.) CRC, received a medal March 18 in a ceremony honoring 26 Simcoe-Grey county recipients. He was nominated by Member of Ontario Provincial Parliament Brian Saunderson for his lifelong work improving food production through potatoes in Ontario and around the world. In April 1973, VanderZaag was commissioned to serve with World Renew in Bangladesh to assist with potato and vegetable production. He was also directly involved with food for work projects that was the precursor to the Canada Food Grains Bank. He has worked to improve potato production in 60 countries of Africa and Asia. For his work in China he was given the highest honor given to a foreigner: The National Friendship award in 2014. His farming and potato research in Canada have developed new potato varieties for general potato production and support Indigenous communities in Ontario.

Jim Romahn of Community CRC in Kitchener, Ont., received a King Charles III Coronation Medal on March 19 in recognition of his more than 20 years of volunteer service to Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region. Romahn’s wife, Barbara, told The Banner, “Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region has recently built 60 new townhomes in Kitchener.” She said, “In his acceptance speech Jim said, ‘I have been so happy to help provide new homes for so many needy people.’” The Romahns have also worked with many Christian Reformed volunteers on Disaster Response Services assignments across the U.S., and Jim once served as Canadian president of the board of directors for what was then the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (became World Renew in 2012). The March 19 medal presentation took place at the Habitat for Humanity headquarters in Waterloo, Ont.