Vanderhoof residents Alex Kulchar and Ahad Schams have been awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal, established to commemorate the monarch's coronation and launched by Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon. A total of 30,000 medals are being awarded across the country.
Kulchar was recognized for his extensive community service, including his involvement with the Nechako Valley Regional Cattlemen's Association, 4-H, local churches, and the Nechako Valley Exhibition Society and Fall Fair.
Reflecting on his journey, Kulchar said, “For me, a great inspiration has been the mentors in my life. You see people doing things, and you're drawn to that; they become your role models. I tried to emulate those who really impressed me by their actions.”
He also encouraged others to contribute to the community. “You may not think you're really accomplishing anything, but people do take notice, and you may inspire somebody to pitch in a little bit.”
Kulchar praised Vanderhoof as a wonderful community and urged residents to do their best to contribute.
Schams received the medal for his contributions in engineering and statistics. “I’m thrilled to be a recipient of this award,” he stated. Schams, an engineer focused on renewable energy and a statistician specializing in artificial intelligence, is the founder of Renewgen Systems Inc., which manufactures instruments used by Fortune 500 companies. He is one of the few technology entrepreneurs in Vanderhoof and actively teaches project management skills to licensed trades.
Earlier this month, Vanderhoof Councillor Brian Frenkel also received the Coronation Medal in Vancouver. Both Kulchar and Schams were nominated by Nechako Lakes MLA and Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad. A complete list of recipients and their nominators will be released by March 31, 2025.
