Montreal (QC), Canada – Retired Canadian mogul skier Jenn Heil received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in a ceremony here today.
The Montreal resident and Spruce Grove, Alberta native was presented the medal by His Excellency, The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.
This new commemorative medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The medal honors Canadians who have made significant contributions to the country.
Heil, a three-time Olympian, won the first gold medal for Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy and a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. In addition, over her ten years on the Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team, she took home five FIS Crystal Globes, four World Championship titles and 52 FIS World Cup medals.
“We are deeply honored that someone from the Canadian Freestyle family is being recognized with this very significant honor. Along with her gutsy Olympic performances which helped define and lead our new approach to sport through to 2010, Jenn has been tirelessly committed to a number of very valuable causes particularly around activating youth and girls and as such is an extremely worthy recipient of this unique honor,” said Canadian Freestyle Ski Association CEO Peter Judge.
Since retiring from competitive sport, Heil has been a fierce advocate for the Plan Canada Because I am a Girl initiative and has set herself a goal to raise $1 million to promote the advancement of girls in underdeveloped countries. She also established an annual ski camp in Alberta to encourage more girls to embrace the sport of mogul skiing.