Extremely humbled to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Columnist and cultural diversity advocate Ken Herar is among a number of Canadians being recognized across Canada with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Herar, who is the founder of Cycling4Diversity, rode his bike 200km for the past two years along with his team from Mission to Victoria speaking to students and organizations about diversity, culture and inclusion. The C4D team made over 40 stops visiting 9 cities before their final destination stop at the BC Legislature Building. During this year’s ride the province of British Columbia named it; Cycling4Diversity Week in BC from May 20th-May 26th, 2012 to support their message.
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. During this year’s celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized.
Herar, who comes from a tennis family, organized local community tournaments spanning two decades in the Mission/Abbotsford area. Throughout the 1990’s, he was one of Canada’s and BC’s top ranked tennis players.  In 2007, he received the Champion of Diversity Award at the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards and was also the recipient of the Art and Culture Service Award from the District of Mission in 2010.  
Herar said: “ I am definitely humbled to receive this recognition. I was honestly not expecting this and was very surprised to receive the phone call this week from our local Member of Parliament. My involvement and efforts have never been about medals or awards. I have always enjoyed working with people towards the common good of our community and nation. Life is about values and what we choose to represent and the legacy we leave behind. I have chosen to spread this message across the province and hopefully across Canada in the near future that cultural diversity is Canada’s greatest strength and that it is not about only celebrating differences, its actually about building relationships with each other. I have met some incredible people who have supported Cycling4Diversity and have assisted our team in getting this particular message out. Your only as strong as the support and team around you. I am grateful for this. There is a lifetime responsibility that comes with this recognition and is something that I am committed too and will always hold that dear to my heart.”
Cycling4Diversity Co-founder Sarina Di Martino Derksen said, " Its always been a honour and a pleasure to work with Ken both personally and professionally on various issues and projects. He is an individual who has dedicated a good part of his life serving the communities whether it be sporting events, or various community initiatives in particularly tireless efforts to bring awareness and bring discussion to each community regarding the importance message of diversity, inclusivity and break down the barriers of biases and hatred which are the foundations of racism and discrimination. This medal could not have been awarded to a more deserving and committed individual of our community."
 Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission Member of Parliament Randy Kamp will be presenting Herar with his medal on November 3rd in Mission.