Marie Codner was recently presented with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal during a ceremony at the Town of Torbay Council Chambers. Her husband, Barry, also received the award.

The commemorative medal, created to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne as Queen of Canada, is a tangible way for Canada to honour significant contributions by Canadians. Sixty thousand deserving Canadians will be recognized.

Councillor Ralph Tapper of the Torbay Town Council nominated Ms. Codner for the municipal level medal. She has been an avid volunteer in her home community for over 30 years. In fact, it has evolved into a family tradition she shares with her husband and three children.

She’s been involved in dinner theatres, concerts, fall fair and garden party suppers, church choir, minor softball, sports hall of fame awards, softball tournaments for town days, scholarship fundraisers for the high school, band parents committee, youth bowling and knitting for the Janeway and cancer clinic on her lunch break is a favorite pastime.

Ms. Codner has been with the Department of Biochemistry as a research assistant since 1980 and as a science technician III in the student labs since 2006. She also volunteers with many aspects of the department’s life.

“I have never volunteered for recognition but am a true believer that when given talents, one should share them,” she said. “Being recognized for volunteering, especially in 2012, the Queen's Jubilee year, has been an absolute surprise, honour and quite humbling.”

(Original story by Kelly Foss.  Published here with a minor edit)