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Introduced to mark the ascension of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, the recognizes significant contributions, whether in public service, arts, education, science, or other areas that have advanced Canadian society or brought international recognition to the country. The recipients exemplify the spirit of dedication and commitment to both their communities and broader Canadian society. It is the first Canadian commemorative medal to mark a coronation. A total of 30,000 medals will be awarded throughout the year and this article will be updated as new recipients are announced.

Sixteen Queen’s researchers and faculty members have been recognized with this honour. Recipients are nominated by a set list of partner organizations, such as national non-profits or government representatives, including members of parliament and senators. Awards are presented at ceremonies across the country by the Governor General, Lieutenant Governors, and Territorial Commissioners. The design of the medal itself incorporates symbols of Canada’s provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples, emphasizing unity and inclusion. The King Charles III Coronation Medal joins five previous marking significant milestones for the country dating back to 1967 with the Canadian Centennial medal.

Learn more about the Queen’s recipients:

– Nominated by the Paramedic Association of Canada. Dr. Batt is the Paramedicine Program Lead in Queen's Health Sciences, and an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Nursing. A recognised leader within paramedicine internationally, Dr. Batt’s research on competency frameworks in health professions, community paramedicine, and the evolving role of paramedics has informed education, policy, and practice around the world. He was previously awarded the Paramedic Association of Canada's Award of Excellence for Leadership. Dr. Batt is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Healthcare Leadership Academy, and a member of the Academy of Medical Educators.

– Nominated by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Dr. Steven Brooks is a professor and clinician-scientist in the Department of Emergency Medicine with over 20 years of advocacy experience in cardiac arrest and the development of international emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. His research focuses on resuscitation science and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, including mobile apps that support bystander response and community volunteer responder programs that enhance organized 9-1-1 response. Dr. Brooks is also the Chief Medical Officer for Rapid Response Revival, an Australian company that manufactures the —the world’s first miniaturized, single-use automated external defibrillator designed for personal access and household deployment.

– Nominated by Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Member of Parliament for Hastings-Lennox and Addington. Dr. Cass is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and director of the Indigenous Health Program. A member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Turtle Clan, Dr. Cass practices Indigenous Health as a primary care physician at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Through her community-focused practice, she advocates to reduce gaps in services and inequities in care for Indigenous patients, with efforts focused on inequitable access to medication. In 2024, Dr. Cass was awarded Queen’s Principal’s Teaching and Learning Award for Indigenous Education and the Indigenous Physicians’ Association of Canada’s Community Impact Award.

– Nominated by Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. Dr. Colgan is a professor emerita in the Faculty of Education. Her research spans K-12 and post-secondary elementary mathematics education, focusing on teacher training, parent involvement, and innovative curriculum development. Dr. Colgan’s contributions include authoring mathematics textbooks, creating the children's TV show The Prime Radicals, and leading community outreach initiatives such as Science Rendezvous Kingston. For these initiatives she was awarded the NSERC Science Promotion Award and the Margaret Sinclair Memorial Award for her lifetime achievements in mathematics education.

– Nominated by the Terry Fox Research Institute. Dr. Conseil is a research associate in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences. Over her two-decade career, she has been a vital contributor to cancer research, including supporting studies on drug sensitivity and resistance mechanisms in cancer treatment, sex differences in bladder cancer therapy responses, and participating in immune checkpoint inhibitor screening for lung cancer. In addition to her research, she plays a key role in laboratory operations, training students, and ensuring the success of collaborative scientific investigations.

– Nominated by Universities Canada. Dr. Eisenhauer is a professor emerita and former head of the Department of Oncology. She is a leading figure in cancer clinical trials and drug development, having coordinated over 170 phase I, II, and III trials through the Canadian Clinical Trials Group at Queen’s. Her contributions to oncology research and leadership in the field have been recognized with numerous honours, including an appointment to the Order of Canada, Royal Society of Canada Fellowship, Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. From 2006-2017, Dr. Eisenhauer served as the President of the National Cancer Institute of Canada and Chair of the Research Advisory Group of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

Stéfanie von Hlatky – Nominated by the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defense. Dr. von Hlatky is a professor in the Department of Political Studies and holds the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security, and the Armed Forces. She is also a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Fellow and the former director of the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen’s. Her research on NATO, military culture, and women, peace, and security is rooted in a commitment to build more inclusive security outcomes. Dr. von Hlatky is the founder of Women in International Security-Canada and the Honorary Colonel of the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment. 

Will Kymlicka – Nominated by Universities Canada. Dr. Kymlicka is a professor in the Department of Philosophy and former Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy. His research explores democracy, diversity, and social justice in multicultural societies. Dr. Kymlicka is the co-director of the CIFAR program Boundaries, Membership, and Belonging which is exploring how the boundaries of social and political membership are drawn in the contemporary world and whether we can re-draw these boundaries in a way that is more inclusive without losing solidarity and the possibility of collective action. He has earned other prestigious honours such as the SSHRC Gold Medal, Pierre Chauveau Medal, and an appointment to the Order of Canada.

– Nominated by ParticipACTION. Dr. Lee is an associate professor in Queen's School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and Department of Gender Studies and an Affiliated Investigator with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. As the lead of the , Dr. Lee’s research addresses pressing environmental and social challenges at the intersection of climate change, physical inactivity, and health inequity. By integrating social theories like intersectionality with quantitative methodologies, their work drives innovative solutions to enhance population health and advance equity on a global scale. Dr. Lee is dedicated to academic service and leadership, serving as the Health Section Editor for Gender Issues and a Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. They also serve as a member of ParticipACTION’s Research Advisory Group and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) Committee.

– Nominated by the Canadian Lung Association. Dr. Lougheed is a professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology and Sleep Medicine, of which she is a past-Chair. Currently, she is Vice Dean, Clinical in Queen’s Health Sciences and Medical Director of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO). She is a Senior Adjunct Scientist at ICES, and Director of the Asthma Clinic, the Asthma Research Unit and the Adult Cystic Fibrosis clinic. Her research is focused on asthma symptom perception, health services utilization, and guidelines implementation. She has led many initiatives to improve asthma care and outcomes, including standardization of hospital care for asthma, and development of asthma primary care maps and pan-Canadian electronic medical record data standards for asthma and COPD. 

John McGarry – Nominated by Universities Canada. Dr. McGarry is a professor in the Department of Political Studies and former Canada Research Chair in Nationalism and Democracy. His research on power-sharing and conflict resolution has had a significant impact on public policy, influencing governance reforms in Northern Ireland and UN-backed negotiations in Cyprus. From 2008-2009, he worked as the "Senior Advisor on Power-Sharing" to the UN (Standby Team, Mediation Support Unit), the first person appointed to this position. His contributions have been widely recognized, earning him prestigious honours including the Killam Prize, Molson Prize, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, an appointment to the Order of Canada, and the Pearson Peace Medal.

Jane Philpott – Nominated by the Office of the Premier. Dr. Jane Philpott is chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team. A medical doctor, professor in the Department of Family Medicine and former Member of Parliament, she served until December 2024 as dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, director of the School of Medicine at Queen’s University, and CEO of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO). As dean of Queen’s Health Sciences, Dr. Philpott led major innovations in health professions education, including the launch of a new MD program campus focused on training family doctors and an expanded partnership with the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. Her first book, Health for All: A Doctor’s Prescription for a Healthier Canada, published in 2024, has topped bestseller lists across the country.

– Nominated by Universities Canada. Dr. Rowe is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and former Canada Research Chair in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. His groundbreaking research on waste containment, landfill design, and geosynthetics has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Killam Prize, Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact, and an appointment to the Order of Canada. His impact extends globally through influential publications, editorial leadership, lectures, and advisory roles for governments and international agencies on environmental protection and engineered barrier systems.

– Nominated by Ted Hsu, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. Dr. Smith is a professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and director of the Perinatal Research Unit where his clinical research is focused on adverse obstetrical events. His work on women’s cardiovascular health screen postpartum has now become the international standard of care. He also developed the (Mothers’ Health Education, Research, and Screening) to help women who are contemplating pregnancy, are pregnant, or are new mothers, keep up-to-date on the latest medical information and access resources. Dr. Smith is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

John Smol – Nominated by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Dr. Smol is a professor in the Department of Biology and former Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change. As a globally recognized expert in paleolimnology, Dr. Smol’s research on Arctic climate change, acid rain, and aquatic ecosystem shifts has had a lasting impact on environmental policy worldwide. He has received multiple honorary doctorates and international scientific accolades, including the Vega Medal, Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal, Killam Prize, Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and an appointment to the Order of Canada. From 2019-2022, he also served as the President of the Academy of Science, Royal Society of Canada.

– Nominated by Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Streetsville. Wajahat Faizan is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Law for the (GDipICL). He is an international lawyer as well as an associate at Kormans LLP. Wajahat Faizan’s courses with the GDipICL program include ethics and professional responsibility, practice management, and citizenship. He has published on the topics of Islamic wills, Sharia-compliant financing, and property law. His contributions to immigration law and community service were also previously recognized by the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award.

Learn more about the recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal on the . 

The King Charles III Coronation Medals will be awarded throughout the year. Please reach out to the Gazette if you are a Queen's recipient so we can celebrate your achievement.