Conrad Matwick, a long-time Kitimat resident known for his dedication to informing his community about the LNG Canada project, was posthumously awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal on Aug. 27. Matwick, who managed the "Kitimat for LNG" Facebook group, provided crucial updates to the community while quietly battling terminal cancer.
His mother, Joan Davis, accepted the award on his behalf. “It’s been very emotional, and I’m really pleased he received this,” Davis said. She added that the Facebook group gave her son purpose when he could no longer work or enjoy his favourite pastime of walking in the woods with his dog.
As the sole administrator of the "Kitimat for LNG" group, which had 2,700 members, Matwick provided regular updates on the $40 billion LNG project and related global events that could impact Kitimat. Even as his health declined, he continued posting until five days before his death.
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, who nominated Matwick for the award, described him as “a man of few words,” whose contributions often flew under the radar. “Even though his body was riddled with cancer and in excruciating pain, he continued to research and post stories,” Ross said.
Ross noted that Matwick would have been embarrassed by the recognition, likely shrugging it off with, “Give it to someone who deserves it.” Davis laughingly agreed, saying her son was never the type to seek attention for his work but that she was proud of the honour, particularly for how her son was misunderstood by many.
“A lot of people saw him as just a man with long hair and no job, not knowing what he's been through” she said,
Twenty-five years ago, Matwick was struck by a car while walking his dog, leaving him with extensive injuries that multiple surgeries couldn’t fully repair. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to return to his work as a roofer. According to Davis, her son spent his latter years often by the river near his home, voluntarily cleaning up trash, but it was his work managing the "Kitimat for LNG" Facebook group that became the true focus of his life.
Matwick was 63 years of age.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal, is the first Canadian coronation medal in over seven decades. It honours individuals for significant contributions to their communities. In British Columbia, 551 medals were awarded.
