SUMA recognizes work of Barry Gunther
Barry Gunther, a long-time area municipal politician and community worker received a Life Membership Award at the recent convention of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association.
The award recognizes a former SUMA board member whose career exemplifies commitment and dedication to community and significant contribution to urban government in Saskatchewan through SUMA. Gunther was instrumental in getting Sun Valley incorporated as a resort village in 1985 and then served as the community’s mayor for nearly 32 years. During that time he served on the SUMA board for 30 years. He was the Southwest regional director from 1987-98, and vice-president of villages, resort villages and Northern municipalities until retiring from municipal politics in 2016.
For his contributions to his community, SUMA and members, he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. His nomination read as follows: “Barry committed to serving Sun Valley and other Saskatchewan hometowns with his whole heart, serving on countless boards and committees and making connections everywhere he went. He dedicated most of his adult life to public service and helping others, whether it was in his career in economic and community development, his work as an elected official or in his many volunteer roles. Always focused on connecting with and helping people, Barry was there to consult, counsel, advise, build bridges and help people resolve disputes.” In 2011 Gunther received the Outstanding Official Award from the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association, given for close to 40 years as a football official, working games in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw. He officiated at the university and junior level in Regina and Saskatoon and in the peewee, bantam and high school levels in the three cities. He was president of Football Saskatchewan for seven years and served a four-year term as president of Football Canada.
As chairman of the South Central Enterprise Region he led a trade and business delegation to China. Gunther has also been active with the Moose Jaw Health Foundation.
In other SUMA awards presentation, the Scoop Lewry Award went to Debra Button of Weyburn who served on the SUMA board for many years and was the first female president. The award is dedicated to the memory of Louis H. (Scoop) Lewry long-time mayor of Moose Jaw and a past president of SUMA.
Honorary service awards went to Barb Caird and Wayne Myren of Ogema for each contributing 25 years to community leadership.