Kevin Weidlich Honoured with Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal

The new commemorative medal was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.

“I am deeply humbled to be recognized,” said Kevin Weidlich, President & CEO of FMWBEDT. “This medal is very special to me because it is the first time I’m being recognized for both civilian and military service. This will always remind me of the great work of my colleagues at FMWBEDT and my colleagues in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve. Each one of them deserves recognition and I am honoured to know them, to work with them, and to call them friends and colleagues.”

Since moving to Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo with his family in 2019, Kevin spearheaded the start-up of the region’s first arms-length economic development organization, which has integrated traditional economic development with tourism development, and a business incubator all under one umbrella, to create synergies, efficiencies, and alignment to sustainably grow the local economy. During this time, Kevin also led the Business Recovery Task Force, where he worked with his colleagues and community leaders to create solutions that supported local businesses through flood recovery and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We did this as a community and this work could not have happened without the dozens of business and community leaders, and volunteers and hundreds of hours working together,” continued Kevin. “Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is emerging from difficult times with renewed strength and growth. This is due to the efforts of the many community leaders and my team at FMWBEDT.”

Kevin’s passion for service is tied to his 34 year career with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve. As a Colonel, he shares his spare time working with executives across the country to establish strong ties with businesses that enable the Canadian Armed Forces to have an effective reserve force in times of great need. Kevin contributes to the reserve retention strategy and lead programmes that make it easier for civilian employers of reservists to allow them to serve our country.

“The Board of Directors would like to congratulate Kevin for this deserving recognition,” said Gregg Saretsky, Board Chair, FMWBEDT. “We often say that everything we do is done through partnership, and at the heart of that lies a deep commitment to serving the region. Kevin embodies what it means to be a person of service, placing the public’s interest first and above anything else. We thank Kevin for his enduring leadership with our organization and his service to the community and to our country.”

Kevin joins members of the FMWBEDT Board of Directors, who are also being recognized as part of the medal program for the Platinum Jubilee year celebrations. FMWBEDT would also like to congratulate Board Vice-Chair Dan Fouts, Directors Andy Carter and Kristi Hines, and past Directors Melanie Antoine and RJ Steenstra.

Kevin Weidlich Honoured with Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal

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