July 17, 2025, 4:52pm MDT
Seven members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada were awarded the honorable King Charles III Cor Crown Medal for their efforts in the work of pagans and in community service.
Based in communities across the country, these recipients were nominated for Canadian pagan conversations and recognized by the Canadian government for their great contributions to religious harmony, service and public discourse.
Founded in honor of Charles III’s ascension, the Coronation Medal celebrates Canadians who have had a lasting impact on the community.
The Church’s Canadian Newsroom played a unique role in promoting understanding, respect and cooperation between the Latter-day saint honors among their local faith groups.
National Effort: A central dialogue between pagans
Sandra Palin, the National Communications Director for Canadian Churches, has served on the Canadian Pagan Conversation Executive Committee for the past decade. She has also helped organize five consecutive “Overall Our Society” conferences, an inter-fiction event that promotes civic dialogue and religious inclusion.
“Events like the ‘Overall Society’ conference are an important starting point for dialogue and bridge construction if you want to raise understanding and find a common foundation in Canadian civil society,” Palin said.
Charter expresses its vision of “promoting harmony and religious insights,” working towards “the greater truth and reconciliation between Indigenous groups and subsequent arrivals of Canadians.”
Organizing Community: Faith in Action in Calgary
In Alberta, Dalton Harding co-founded the Calgary Interface Council in 2017. His efforts have led many religious people to serve others through food drives, joint service projects, and “Bible reasoning” groups in which sacred texts trigger conversation and learning.
He described the main focus of his inter-pagan work as mobilizing people of faith to do good within the community.
British Columbia’s advocacy: Improved faith in public squares
Recipients Shelley Marceil and Neil Mackenzie are known for defending their belief in education and public policy. They co-developed a “multi-faceted resource manual” for teachers and led statewide professional development for educators on religious pluralism.
“We are defending the government on behalf of people of faith,” Marseil said.
Mackenzie added: “We need to focus on public square policies, which will advance the status of faith once and once forever.”
Their advocacy helps ensure that religious voices are not only respected, but also included in the formation of Canadian classrooms.
Religious Freedom in Edmonton: Community Conversation
In Edmonton, Chantelle McMullen helped launch a conference entitled “Religious Freedom: Community Conversations” and brought together speakers of diverse faiths to affirm the common importance of religious freedom.
McMullen has also strengthened its relationship with Catholic social services through JustServe and was a key partner at the Food Bank’s largest collection event in the city, Edmonton Food Drive.
Indigenous spirituality and mutual respect
John Borrows, an Anishinabe and a member of Chippewas of the Nawash First Nation, shared how serving the Victoria Multifais Society can help both his own traditions and other traditions.
“When we are calm and quiet, life is at its peak,” he said. “Being curious and asking people to attend a friend’s service will provide a greater mutual understanding and respect.”
Halifax hospitality and harmony
For Janet McLennan of Halifax, the work of a pagan begins with friendship. Through her service with Pagan Harmony Halifax, she shared her experiences of food, stories and faith with many religious neighbors.
She said, “The biggest thing I’ve learned is that no matter what religion we practice, if we are trying to live faith in faith, our similarities are far greater than our differences, and we can become friends rather than enemies.”
Heritage of religious freedom
The Church President Russell M. Nelson said, “There are so many things to praise in each of our faiths, so it is important for us to maintain the integrity of our religious system and to maintain the tolerance of each other’s sacred beliefs.” That message was delivered in 1993 by the Congress of Religions around the World.
Palin explained that Latter-day Saints “respect the diverse beliefs and unique contributions to all faiths in the world. From our early beginnings, the Prophet Joseph Smith will allow him to worship when he states, when he states. May.'”
