THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Anyone looking for an item at the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre in Fort Smith knows to ask Ray Currie.

Fort Smith's Ray Currie poses with Gov.-Gen. David Johnston during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on April 12. Currie received a Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers recognizing him for his work at the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre and the Fort Smith ambulance service. - photo courtesy of Sgt. Ronald Duchesne, Rideau Hall

"Let's just say I know where everything is," the 78-year-old told News/North.

Currie has volunteered at the centre for the past 30 years.

On April 12 his work was recognized during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa where Gov. Gen David Johnston presented him with a Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.

The medal also honoured him for his work with Fort Smith's ambulance service.

"I was given the medal, but I could name probably five or six people in Fort Smith alone who volunteered just as much in another way," he said. "I feel that yes, I got the medal, but I'm a representative of people who volunteer."

Currie said he now spends about two hours a day at the museum, helping to organize and take care of artifacts. His biggest project right now is sorting and cataloging items.

"I've made plastic boxes and I box them all and everything is entered into both hard copy and a copy on the computer," he said.

Currie was born in Caldwell, Ont. on Oct. 31 1937. He and his wife, Donna, arrived in Fort Smith in 1971 after working as a teacher in Chesterfield Inlet, Nu.

Though he retired in 1995, Currie still volunteered with the ambulance service for a total of 21 years. During that time he became an emergency medical technician and taught first aid and CPR courses.

"I've been busy," he said.

Currie was permitted to bring guests to his award ceremony in Ottawa, so he brought Donna and his daughter and granddaughter flew to the city from Grande Prairie, Alta.

"They were the three generations," he said.

During the ceremony, Johnston pinned Currie's medal and posed with him for a photo. Afterward, he was available to speak to recipients and their families.

Currie said meeting Johnston and his wife was a highlight of the trip.

"Both his excellency and his wonderful wife are just so down-to-Earth," he said.

While it took about 16 hours for the Curries to finally reach Ottawa from their home in Fort Smith, Currie said he's glad he made the journey.

"It was a tiring trip, but it was worth it," he said.