Gary Barton has done a lot for his community, and he said he never did anything with the hope of receiving an award or medal for it.

However, the former municipal politician and longtime community builder has been recognized for his decades of community service with a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Barton was quietly presented with the medal at his home in Vankleek Hill early in the spring of 2025. The presentation was one of the final official acts of former Member of Parliament Francis Drouin before leaving the role as he had decided not to seek reelection.

“I was very fortunate to receive that,” said Barton, who added that Drouin thanked him for all of his service to the community.

Barton was elected to the former Vankleek Hill town council in 1972 and was elected to council upon the formation of Champlain Township in 1998. He also served twice as Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Barton’s time in municipal politics saw a growing role for local government, mergers of municipalities, the 1998 Ice Storm, and Prescott and Russell hosting the 2011 International Plowing Match. Barton left municipal politics in 2018 and continues to be involved with community activities including the board of the Vankleek Senior Citizens Manor, the Vankleek Hill Historical Society, the Higginson Tower Committee, and the Board of Health of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. He also volunteers in other, smaller ways, such as the announcer each year during the horse pull at the Vankleek Hill Fair.

Many area residents grew up calling him Mr. Barton because he was their teacher or principal in school. Barton retired in 1998 as Principal of Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute.

Barton is a lifelong resident of Vankleek Hill and grew up in a house on Main Street. The tradition of community involvement in his family goes back generations. Soon after receiving the Charles III Coronation Medal, he found a pin commemorating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 which had been awarded to his late mother Sadie Barton for community involvement. Barton said her activities included the Women’s Institute and church. He explained how community involvement was part of life in his family.

“That’s just the way we were brought up,” he remarked.

Barton said his decades of community involvement were a way of giving back.

“A lot of people have been good to me, and I returned the favours.”