Kim Jo Bliss, a community leader and lead technician at the Ontario Crops Research Centre – Emo, has received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work driving agricultural innovation in Northern Ontario.
Bliss is a passionate beef and sheep farmer with deep agricultural roots and is the lead technician at the Emo site, helping with experiments, collecting data and analyzing results. The Ontario Crops Research Centre is owned by the Government of Ontario through its agency Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario and is managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Government of Ontario and U of G.
Bliss was recognized with the coronation medal for her work driving innovation and offering her knowledge and expertise to researchers working at the centre through Northern Ontario’s short growing season. She has been working with the centre since 1988.
The commemorative Coronation Medal is awarded to Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their country or province. It is the first Canadian medal to mark a coronation. Greg Rickford, minister of Indigenous affairs and First Nations economic reconciliation and MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, presented Bliss with her medal.
“I am so pleased to receive this honour,” Bliss says. “I don’t do the work for recognition. I do the work because I believe in it, and I want everyone to know about the good things happening in Northern Ontario.”
Building agricultural communities
Bliss credits her time in 4-H programs with helping her find and develop agricultural communities. She continues to give back to 4-H programs through volunteer work and has been involved with many other organizations in the farming community, including the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Food For All Committee, and the Rainy River Soil & Crop Improvement Association.
“I am so pleased that my parents taught me to get involved and contribute to the community,” Bliss says. “I feel extremely blessed to do what I do, and I am surrounded by the most amazing people.”
The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall.