Delta Police Chief Neil Dubord has become one of a select number of British Columbians to receive the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Dubord was among 60 individuals who received the medal at a July 18 ceremony held at Government House in Victoria.
The medal, created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, is awarded to those who have “made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada,” per the Government of Canada.
Dubord received the medal in recognition of “representing the Delta Police Department, [and] for dedicated service as an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor since 2018.”
Dubord learned he would be a recipient of the medal in early July, when he received a letter from the Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Janet Austin.
“I was just so honoured — and a little bit shocked, because I wasn’t expecting it,” said Dubord. “I’m very appreciative to be recognized for [my] community service.”
The ceremony itself was an experience Dubord says he’ll treasure forever.
“Any time there’s a ceremony at Government House — the location is just so elegant and dignified. And there were people there who have contributed to all kinds of different aspects of the community,” he said.
Dubord has received many distinguished honours throughout his career, including the Police Officer Order of Merit from the Governor General of Canada, the Police Exemplary Medal, and the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal.
But this latest honour, he says, should prove especially memorable because of its timing. Dubord retired on Friday, July 26, bringing a career of 37 years in law enforcement to a close.
Dubord joined the Delta Police Department (DPD) in June of 2015, following three years as Chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and 25 years with the Edmonton Police Service, where he was the Deputy Chief in charge of Community Policing Bureau.
Dubord considers his nine years with the DPD to be among the most rewarding of his career.
“My time in Delta has been very special,” he says. “We’ve built an organization that’s known for innovation, whether it be body cameras, a ‘top employer’ designation that we received, our drone operation… We have a lot of innovation and new concepts we’ve brought to Delta that have proved to be very beneficial for both our community and our police organization.”
