Community News
Linden King receives The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin and Medallion for outstanding community service and dedication to Canada
BY PAUL JUNOR
It is fitting that Linden King is the recipient of the Platinum Jubilee Pin and Platinum Jubilee Medallion. The first award is in recognition of the Queen’s 70th anniversary of her Majesty’s ascension to the throne and was given based on his community work. He received the Jubilee Pin from Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South on Friday, October 14th, 2022. On Sunday, October 16th, he received the Jubilee Medallion from the Honourable Senator Victor Oh. He was one of sixty recipients to receive this Medallion for dedicated service to community and country.
Linden continues to have a profoundly positive impact in his many leadership roles.
He serves as the Chair of Mayor Crombie’s Black Caucus City’s Anti-Black racism strategy, which was formed in 2021 after the death of George Floyd. As a result of ten community consultations between May and June 2021, a Black Community Engagement (BCE) Report, “First Steps: A Community-Driven Report on Making Mississauga More Equitable for Black Communities,” was released in April 2022.
Linden also serves as President of Safe City Mississauga and currently Chairs The United Way Greater Toronto Black Community Advisory Council, is a Board of Director with the Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin, and is an advisor at the Region of Peel Community Safety and Well-being System Leadership Table.
He also served as: Co-Chair for the Peel Region Police Black Community Advisory Group, Chair for The Liberty Silver Foundation, and Vice Chair for The Congress of Black Women Mississauga Chapter Non-Profit Housing Inc., Director for the Mississauga Arts Council, and advisor with The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Halton-Peel Grant Review Team. In addition, he was the Community and Stakeholder Liaison for The Toronto Caribbean Carnival and a strong supporter of the carnival arts.
Linden has received numerous awards and recognitions for his commitment to volunteerism and leadership. In 2015, he was recognized as a Top 100 Black Canadian Role Model and received the Gordon S. Shipp Memorial Award as Mississauga Citizen of the Year. In addition, he has received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Ontario, as well as the Volunteerism and Community Service from Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary Committee in Toronto. Linden has also received Civic Awards of Recognition from the City of Mississauga for the Arts for his commitment to volunteerism. He was one of four to be acknowledged as a Black change maker in the GTA during Black History Month.
I interviewed Linden on Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 regarding his most recent awards. He was particularly grateful for the Platinum Jubilee Medallion. “I feel truly blessed to be recognized in such a significant manner for my extraordinary contributions towards the betterment of communities and country.” His track record of selfless dedication shows how important community work is to him. He reiterates, “Volunteerism ranks highly among my values with a particular focus on the least advantaged. I find gratitude in community service without expecting anything in return.” He mentioned that “Compassion, Empathy, and Authenticity” are three leadership skills that he has acquired from his years of tireless community service.
Linden knows the importance of being a servant leader and a positive role model to youths. He believes it is important to “Find something that you are passionate about and get involved. My philosophy is to be part of the decision-making process to help make a difference.” As a change leader and visionary thinker, Linden is interested in the future. He states, “It is vital for leaders to help mentor and instill the values for future generations to be prepared for success and transitions when necessary.”
Given the emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) in organizations and institutions, he believes that lack of inclusion and diversity are two challenges that must be overcome.