Description
Ms. Michielin recalls being awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Anne Michielin
Ms. Michielin was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on November 5, 1923. She was orphaned at the age of 5, and was taken in by a Catholic order. At age 18, Ms. Michielin skipped her appointment she had made to enter the sisterhood, and joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps instead. Following her training in Vermillion, Alberta, she was assigned to the records department for the Canadian Women's Army Corps in Curry Barracks. During Christmas leave in 1943, she travelled to Drumheller with her roommate. While there, she would meet her future husband who was on leave from the Queen Charlottes. In 1944, during preparations for transporting overseas, she had a reaction to the vaccinations. She was not allowed overseas, and was medically discharged on July 7. After leaving the service Ms. Michielin became a dental hygienist, was married in 1945, and had a son. Ms. Michielin was also presented with the Queen's Jubilee Medal. One of six Canadian recipients for her service to communities.
Transcript
Interviewer: Anne you received the Queens Jubilee medal, can you share that story with us?
Yes I was very pleased, it is a very special thing, I thought. Anyhow that it was a surprise to me to begin with because I thought somebody who did a lot more things like politicians and things receive those kind of things, but in my case I'm certainly not politically inclined in anyway. But when I was first told that I would be receiving it and the member of parliament was supposed to present it to me, but he wasn't to be in Drumheller ‘til the day after the council met in Drumheller. So I convinced him that the mayor of Drumheller should present it to me and he did and it was a wonderful experience. After he presented it to me he said "To hell with the handshake!" and gave me a bear hug, and that's much better I think.