Two long-serving community volunteers in Sarnia received special recognition in a surprise ceremony at Bluewater Health on Thursday morning.
Rick McAlpine and Mary Anderson were presented King Charles III Coronation Medals at an event in the hospital's atrium, on behalf of the Volunteer Coordinators' Association of Sarnia-Lambton.
McAlpine -- who volunteers at Pathways Health Centre for Children, Lambton Literacy and Sarnia-Lambton Rebound -- was still stunned when he spoke with local media after the announcement.
"They told me I was coming to pick up some boxes," McAlpine said. "So, I had no idea what was going on. I've been with Lambton Literacy, well I guess all three of them, since about 2018, and I just love teaching and I love volunteering and it's just a great experience overall."
McAlpine said he'd always been interested in volunteering and, through the Elks of Canada, got involved with some of the organizations once he retired.
"It's quite an honour to be recognized for the work I do in the community and I hope I have many more years of helping people in the community," said McAlpine.
Anderson said she's been volunteering in the community for over four decades.
"I started at Sarnia General," she said. "I started at the front desk doing the doctors' mail 42 years ago, and then we amalgamated and I started here. I work at patient registration. I also volunteer at the Legion, I belong to the Ladies Auxiliary."
Anderson also helps collect tickets at Pat Stapleton Arena.
"I volunteer for the [Sarnia] Legionnaires Hockey Junior B team. I work at the door," she said.
Anderson said the recognition felt great.
"I had no idea I was getting it until I came in this morning," she said. "I saw them setting up chairs and I thought, 'Oh, they must be presenting cheques to somebody today.'"
Ten people were recognized by Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu earlier this month at Sarnia Legion.
~With files from Lindsay Newman