‘Do what I love’: Medal honours Windsor’s unsung heroes

The King’s Coronation Medal was awarded to 24 residents in Windsor, Ont. on Feb. 26, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

Windsor-Essex community members whose good deeds may often go under the radar were recognized on Wednesday evening.

Irek Kusmierczyk, the Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh, awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal to 24 residents.

The honour is for those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, according to the eligibility criteria.

“Often these folks fly under the radar. They do the quiet work of building our community, they look for headlines, they don’t want to be in the spotlight,” Kusmierczyk told the crowd of more than 100 people.

Kusmierczyk previously awarded the medal to Charles Davis, a Second World War veteran, in October.

From chefs to long-time community volunteers, the medal was given to those from all walks of life.

Among them was Rod Gudel, a magician who uses his trade to brighten the lives of those most in need.

Gudel has regularly performed shows for children who are battling cancer, and seniors who need a reason to smile.

“I get to do what I love and there’s nothing I enjoy more than helping people, so whether it be doing magic at children’s hospitals or brightening up the day of someone at a retirement home or a long-term care home, that’s really where my heart is,” Gudel told CTV News after the ceremony.

“There’s no place I’d rather be, and I’ve been blessed to have so many charities over the years, and whenever they call me, the answer’s always yes.”

Gudel said he is the “luckiest guy on the planet” to be able to use magic to benefit others.

The King’s Coronation Medal has primarily been given out to those nominated by fellow community members.

The list of King’s Coronation Medal recipients includes:

• Dave Crosswell
• Kevin Racine
• Herma Brown
• Rachelle Leslie
• John Fairley
• Don Kumarasinghe
• Tom Henderson
• Wanda Darbyson
• Gary McNamara
• Jerry Carpenter
• Charles Davis
• Shirley Drouillard
• Bill Kell
• Carrie Lee
• Terry Cyncora
• Ted Farron (Posthumous nomination)
• Doug Diet
• John Meyer
• Anna Jurak
• Ron Sitarz
• Snjezana Gacesa (Posthumous nomination)
• Ron Gudel
• Jeanette Ledoux
• Rodger Fordham
• Rick Young