Penny Walsh McGuire, M.S.M., was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) and 10 individuals were awarded the new Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers for their commitment to our communities and service to Canada.

"Once again, Islanders have put dedicated service to their communities and our society above themselves and have been recognized in a very special way by the Governor General," said His Honour.

"The Meritorious Service Medal is indeed a very prestigious honour in Canada. Penny Walsh McGuire was instrumental in the success of the PEI 2014 celebrations and community legacy projects. This is appropriate recognition and Dorothy and I offer our most hearty congratulations," added His Honour.

The 10 people who received the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers have collectively added so much to a wide range of organizations in PEI and at the national level. Their service is remarkable and we are fortunate to have each of them among us in Prince Edward Island. The recipients are: Colleen Bannon, Kensington; Michelle Blanchard, Charlottetown; Richard Burns, Charlottetown, Edmond and Zita Gallant, Mont-Carmel; Sterling "Stu" MacFadyen, Charlottetown; Donald McLeod, Vernon Bridge; Sarah Paynter, Kensington; Kaitlyn Reher, Charlottetown; and William Whelan, Charlottetown.

Their Honours will host a reception in honour of these recipients at Government House in the very near future.

For more information on honours and the full list of recipients and their citations, please consult the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General’s news release: www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16506&lan=eng (English) www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16506&lan=fra (Français)