Pembroke resident receives national award for volunteerism
Romeo Levasseur has dedicated his entire life to his community of Pembroke, and he has now been bestowed with the highest honour a volunteer can be awarded in Canada, the Sovereign’s Medallion.
The accolade is awarded to any living Canadian who has made significant, sustained, and unpaid contributions to their community in Canada.
“When I got it, there was a lot of warm fuzzies,” the 81-year-old said, describing the feeling of receiving the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. “It was a humbling experience in spite of the fact that you’ve been involved in so many things.”
Levasseur is now retired, but says he still dedicates up to 30 hours a week volunteering in his community. He is currently active with the Pembroke Legion, Pembroke’s planning advisory committee, the Knights of Columbus, and his local church. Levasseur also gave his time to the Kinsmen Club, the Rotary Club, and Pembroke’s fiddle and step dancing planning committee. One of his proudest memories is that of his time at Family and Children’s Services, where he helped start the first Kumon literacy and numeracy program in Ontario.
“He is one of the main cogs, he is,” says Stan Halliday, president of the Pembroke Legion and Levasseur’s lifelong friend. “And there’s no doubt [other members] do lots of work, but he’s always there when we need him.”
“I’ve been a life long learner,” says the award-winning volunteer. “So, if you have the opportunity to learn something new, or about someone,” Levasseur says he usually tries to take it. “Some of [the opportunities] I went after in order to be able to broaden my knowledge. Some of it, of course, I’ve had to unfortunately say no, I’ve got enough on my plate.”
“That’s the type of individual he is, and still doing it today,” says Pembroke Mayor Michael LeMay. The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers is usually presented by the Governor General, but due to the pandemic, LeMay was given the privilege of presenting the award to his long-time resident.
“In the case of Romeo, it was very well deserved. And I think it was an honour for me to present the medallion to him,” says LeMay. “It is definitely a feel good stamp because we know it is the highest volunteer honour that can be awarded to a Canadian.”
While the medal is a great recognition of Levasseur’s commitment, he doesn’t do it for the awards.
“It’s not greater than the satisfaction of seeing the smile in peoples’ eyes or on their lips when you’ve done something.”
Levasseur turns 82 next month and says he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“As along as I’m able to think and as long as I can stave off physical impairment, then I will continue.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Possible scenarios that could play out in Ottawa as the Liberal government teeters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is said to be reflecting on his future over the holidays after the resignation of his top cabinet minister, Chrystia Freeland, in mid-December. The bombshell move prompted a fresh wave of calls for Trudeau to step down as Liberal leader from inside and outside the caucus.
5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared
The virus is still with us, though humanity has built up immunity through vaccinations and infections. It's less deadly than it was in the pandemic's early days and it no longer tops the list of leading causes of death. But the virus is evolving, meaning scientists must track it closely.
The man who died in a Las Vegas Cybertruck was shot in head before explosion, sheriff says
The person inside the Tesla Cybertruck blown up outside U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel suffered a gunshot to the head before the explosion, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said Thursday. McMahill said a handgun was found at his feet.
Woman, father killed on New Year's Eve were victims of intimate partner violence: Halifax police
Halifax police are investigating three deaths that are connected – two of which they say were homicides resulting from intimate partner violence – in the city on New Year’s Eve.
Mounties investigate discovery of 'very small pipe bomb' in Kamloops, B.C.
Mounties are investigating and appealing for witnesses after an explosive device was discovered Wednesday on a beach in Kamloops, B.C.
LIVE UPDATES FBI says the New Orleans truck attacker acted alone in an 'act of terrorism'
The FBI now says the New Orleans truck attacker acted alone in an 'act of terrorism' when he drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year's revellers early Wednesday, killing 14 people.
Sask. RCMP locate missing inmate of Yorkton prison
An inmate who was wanted for being unlawfully-at-large after not returning to Whitespruce Provincial Training Centre in Yorkton has been found and arrested.
FORECAST Weather warnings issued in 6 provinces and territories
Wintry weather conditions, including heavy snow and wind chill values around -55, prompted warnings in six provinces and territories early Thursday morning.
Who are Canada's top-earning CEOs and how much do they make?
Canada's 100 highest-paid CEOs earned $13.2 million on average in 2023 from salaries, bonuses and other compensation, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.