Daniel Germain, founder and president of Breakfast Clubs of Canada, was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal as part of Canadian celebrations marking Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary as Queen of Canada.
This exceptional medal was created to honour significant achievements by Canadians who have helped make Canada a compassionate society and country.
The private presentation ceremony took place at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in the presence of the recipients and their guests.
Germain has become a part of the fabric of Quesnel. Through Breakfast Clubs of Canada, an organization started by Germain in an effort to feed hungry school children, a majority of the schools in Quesnel now feed children every school morning.
Breakfast Clubs of Canada is committed to its mission of ensuring all Canadian children have an equal chance to start their school day with a nutritious breakfast in an environment that promotes self-esteem. This work is accomplished with the help of both individual, corporate and field partners, all committed to the cause of feeding Canada’s children and their future. BCC offers funding, equipment, food donations and management tools to 1,170 schools and are serving 18 million breakfasts a year to more than 118,000 school children.
WalMart is a BCC sponsor and local manager Jorge Busca is proud to be associated with the organization and specifically Germain.
“I would like Quesnel to be recognized provincially as the city which has the strongest BCC campaign results and the best support to the schools in the program,” he said.
“A place where the community, the parents, students, teachers and school district work together for a common goal, because they all understand that when it comes to kids – that’s all that matters.”
In 2011, Germain received his honourary Grade 12 dogwood in Quesnel and became a member of the 2011 Correlieu graduating class.
“We hold Daniel in very high esteem,” Correlieu principal Mike Adams said.
“Daniel’s picture has a permanent place as part of our graduation class 2011 composite picture. I often refer students to Daniel’s story of how learning to give is a healthy part of leading a fulfilled life.
“It still gives me goosebumps to reminisce about the thrill of presenting Daniel as a graduate of Correlieu secondary school. It was truly one of the highlights of my career.”
Christy Kennedy, president of Quesnel Partners for Student Nutrition credits Germain and the BCC with providing nutritious breakfasts for Quesnel students.
“The Quesnel Partnership for Student Nutrition Society is very proud of Daniel Germain’s recent achievement,” she said.
“We are humbled to have the opportunity to be one of many partners across Canada with Breakfast Clubs of Canada support. Daniels’ dream to support children with breakfast has enabled QPSN to successfully provide our children in Quesnel with a proper nutritious breakfast everyday. It truly is a community effort and one that has been made easier because of Daniels’ dream.”