Nachhattar (Norm) Sangha received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal on June 18, presented to him by immigration minister Jason Kenney in Surrey.
Sangha, an Abbotsford farmer and businessman, said he felt honoured by the recognition.
"I have been volunteering in this community for many years."
Sangha is the past president of the Khalsa Diwan Society, and was instrumental in securing national historic site designation for the Gur Sikh Temple on South Fraser Way. He also worked to establish the Fraser River Community Crematorium Society, and was on the fundraising committee for the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley.
The medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. A total of 60,000 people across Canada will receive the award, which requires the recipient to have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region on community within Canada, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.