8TH ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN SENIOR VOLUNTEER AWARDS 2017 NOMINEES

HERITAGE AND CULTURE

STUART

BITTERNOSE has dedicated his life to ensuring that the history and traditions of First Nations people are not forgotten by the younger generations. He was raised by his grandmother, who instilled in him a commitment to “always remember where you come from, and be proud of who you are, and hold true to your heart your Indian culture, customs, language, and your beliefs.” Stuart devotes countless hours to ensuring that the community, particularly the younger generations, learns the importance of retaining the Cree language as well as the culture. He works with and teaches both First Nations and non-First Nations youth, seeking to bridge the gap between the two cultures through providing an awareness of First Nations history, cultural norms and values, and the Treaties. He also serves as a mediating Elder, and shares his wealth of knowledge, experience, and understanding of traditional ways and practices for the good of all.

KEN ALLAN

FADER has “spent a lifetime in service to others. He is a retired RCMP officer who devotes much of his time in retirement to cultural and historical activities, educating, enabling, and encouraging individuals and groups to celebrate our culture and our history. He volunteers at the RCMP Heritage Centre, greets the graduating cadets, and gives presentations to groups about the culture and heritage of the RCMP, including his experiences as part of the Musical Ride, as security detail with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and family in Ottawa, and his many postings throughout Saskatchewan. He has also been a member of the United Empire Loyalist Association for many years, supporting the activities of the group, giving presentations, attending Dominion conferences, and generally serving as a wealth of information about the UEL and about Saskatchewan history. He particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge with young people. One of his supporters says, “He is among the first to step up to help.”

TEAMWORK

THE BULYEA DISTRICT

LIONS CLUB is a hardworking team, celebrating their 40th year this year. Many of the founding members are still donating their time and talent to make their community a better place to live. They have promoted, and donated to, many sight-related projects such as the CNIB, the Lions Eye Bank, and the Lions Canine School. They built the Sports Ground in Bulyea, which sees a great deal of use each year. They were instrumental in building the local fire hall and the curling rink. They helped expand the community hall, and help to maintain the skating rink. They are involved in many fundraisers throughout the year that benefit the community. As one of their supporters says, “our community has truly been blessed with the support of this group of men. As the years go by, they still have continued to give back, work hard, and demonstrate the importance of the backbone of communities.”

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP (URBAN)

CHARLES

KEPLE “has been the living definition of a volunteer for some 60 years.” As a high school student, he believed in service to the community, setting a record for the most extra-curricular activities. He now devotes in excess of 50 volunteer hours per week, and has served in leadership roles in many organizations at the national, provincial and local levels, including the Conference of Defence Associations, the Canadian Military Engineers Association, the Last Post fund, the Memory Project, which takes veterans’ stories into schools and the community, various fitness groups, the Rotary, the Lifelong Learning Centre, the National Association of Federal Retirees and many more. According to one of his supporters, “his contributions have made Regina a great place for older adults to live and to learn, and have enriched the lives of countless others.” He “exemplifies those dedicated retirees who continue to serve as needed.” DOUG LEASK “lives to serve his community as a volunteer.” Not only that, but as one of his supporters says, “his commitment and integrity have inspired others to take up the cause of helping people.” He serves at countless sporting events, many of them with a national or international scope such as the Grey Cup games held in Regina, the Scotties and Brier curling championships, Skate Canada, the Queen City Marathon, as well as the Farm Progress Show and the Canada-Wide Science Fair held in Regina in 2017, to name only a few. He is also active with the Canadian Red Cross, leading a team who are on call and ready to assist whenever a fire, flood or other disaster hits Saskatchewan. When asked why he volunteers, Doug responds, “Because I like to help, because I like to meet new people, and because I like to learn new things.” Because of this devotion to helping others, he has given countless hours to his community and his province.

EDUCATION

PATRICIA

SUCHORAB dedicated her teaching career to the cause of literacy, serving on the executive of the Saskatchewan Reading Council, the North Central Reading Council, other organizations such as the Early Childhood Education Council, and served as a representative on the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation. Since her retirement, she has continued to be involved in the community. She is active in her church parish in a variety of positions. As an advocate for the arts, she volunteers at the Mann Art Gallery, encouraging membership, participating in events, and contributing her artistic talents. In all this, she continues to be a teacher. She is active in the Prince Albert chapter of the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan, which promotes literacy, art, music, and member well-being, serving in numerous capacities and bringing her time, effort, and compassion to the membership. One of her supporters says, “Pat is a gift who keeps giving.” LARRY BAILEY is “a man of very few words, but he speaks volumes through his actions.” He spends at least ten hours a week as the librarian at the small Earl Grey branch of Parkland Regional Library. In the summer, Larry spends up to 24 hours a week cutting grass at the Earl Grey Community Ball Park and the local cemetery. Visitors frequently comment on how beautiful and well-maintained the ball park is. He has served on Town Council, the Hall Board, the Rink Board, and the Park Board, belongs to the gardening club, and in the winter maintains the ice for the skating rink and the curling rink as well as taking care of the building. Even with all that he still makes time to sit and chat, and he loves to spend time with his family and his beloved jigsaw puzzles. One of his supporters says, “The example that he presents exemplifies community engagement, volunteerism, samaritanism and humanitarianism.” IRVIN BUFFALO is a well-respected Elder who regularly goes above and beyond the expected to provide leadership, counsel, teaching and support, promoting respect and tolerance for all people. He uses both traditional and more recent strategies to meet his people’s needs. He enthusiastically shares his knowledge of the Cree and Saulteaux languages, and is a positive role model for all. He is called on to assist with many cultural and traditional events, and does presentations on traditional parenting, language development, cultural values, and many other topics. He spends a great deal of time with children and young people, nurturing, teaching, and encouraging. He is always available to ensure the traditional ways are followed in ceremonial and personal occasions. He is a spokesperson within and outside his First Nation. He spends long hours dedicated to the cause of missing and murdered Indigenous women. “He is a tribute to his forefathers and mentors.” It is said of CAROL DRAPER that “the word ‘no’ does not exist in her vocabulary. If there is a need, she is there to do whatever she can to help out.” Indeed, it is almost impossible to list all she does in the Regina Beach community and beyond. As a retired RN, she makes herself available as a volunteer nurse in the community, particularly helping seniors with wound care, dressing changes, injections and advice, as well as being volunteer nurse for community groups such as Brownies, Guides, Scouts and Band. Her musical talents have been enhancing community life for decades. Her other volunteer efforts are countless, including instructing the Forever… in Motion senior exercise program and serving on numerous Boards and committees. One of her supporters says, “Whenever there is something going on in our communities, you will find Carol supporting it and willing to go the extra mile to volunteer where she can.”

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP (RURAL) DARLENE FERGUSON

“is one of the most visible volunteers and leaders in Spiritwood.” She gives not only her time, but also her skills and motivational attitude. Newcomers to the community soon get to know her, as she is everywhere – selling tickets, taking admission, serving tea, doing clean-up – wherever there is a need, Darlene is there. She is heavily involved in the Lions Club, spearheading the annual Seniors Appreciation Dinner, supporting the Lions Canada Walk for Dog Guides, volunteering at the Lions Cordwood Bonspiel, the Spiritfest Pancake Breakfast, and many other Lions events. She is active in numerous other community endeavours as well. Through Saskatchewan Angel Dresses, she makes tiny garments from old wedding and prom gowns for miscarried babies to be buried in. It is said of her that “in a world where so many things are taken for granted, Darlene is always there, ready to serve, ready to assist, and always ready to help.”

When FINNETTE LAIRD

joined the Meadow Lake Pensioners Organization a few years ago, things began to happen! New activities were started, membership increased, and now the Senior Centre is bustling. She then went to work on the interior of the building, spending countless hours researching, applying for, and obtaining a grant. Now, not only does the organization have a still-increasing membership, they have a nicely-painted, well-lit Centre to gather in. She also delivers Meal on Wheels, is active in the knitting club and book club, and is a strong advocate for continuing an active lifestyle, for keeping one’s brain active, and for reducing senior isolation.

MARY NIETH

is the “go-to” person in her community for getting things done, for meeting short deadlines, for accomplishing whatever task is in front of her. Over the years, she has been a driving force behind activities of the United Church and the United Church Women, the United Church Board, the Quill Lake Cemetery Association, many sporting organizations, the Ladies Auxiliary and later the Legion, the Quill Lake Winter Games, the Horticultural Society, the three Homecomings, the two local history books, the Community Club, the Seniors group, fundraising for Telemiracle and the Cancer Society, and doing grief counseling after a bereavement. She is known throughout the community for her intelligence, work ethic, positive attitude, teamwork mentality, leadership and diligence. She lives her life by the motto, “If you have time to complain about something, you have time to pitch in and do something about it.” She says you volunteer because you can.

“Most communities have that one person who stands above the rest and is always mastering ways to make the lives of the people and the community better.” In Strasbourg, that person is CAROL

SCHULTZ. One of her supporters says of her, “when asked to do something, the phrase ‘no, I don’t have time’ doesn’t exist.” She served on Town Council for 28 years, 8 of those as Mayor. She has served on the School Council, the Recreation Centre Board, as well as the Museum and Library boards. She chaired the Homecoming and Town 100th Anniversary celebrations, and was a founding member of the Last Mountain Pioneer Home Foundation and the Last Mountain Theatre Company. She has worked on numerous community projects over the years, benefiting everyone from children to seniors. Besides all the visible work she does, she also helps forge relationships in the community, and enriches the entire community with her kind and gentle spirit.

CONTRIBUTION TO A FIRST NATIONS OR METIS COMMUNITY CARL AND CATHY CRANE

give freely of their time to grieving people, with Carl providing music and singing Cree hymns at wakes and Cathy giving support to those in mourning. At the time of the La Loche shooting, they were among the first to respond. As well as offering the healing power of music to people across Northern Saskatchewan, Carl makes time to talk with people who are struggling to overcome addictions. They have been foster parents for over 80 children, as well as raising their own children and grandchildren. They have helped to feed the homeless, have helped raise funds for an aboriginal youth camp, have assisted in searches for missing women, and visit and support people in hospital. They travel all over the north to support grieving families, and to give information on depression, suicide, or addictions. One of their supporters says, “They are usually the first a family will call when in crisis or grief.” FITNESS

LESTER COOK

has been involved with the Northgate Walkers Club and their fitness program for many years. He began leading the exercise program in 1999, and has dedicated countless hours to both teaching and administering the classes. He now has assistants who help with the teaching, but he is still responsible for the entire program. Monday to Friday, from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m., members are led in standing and floor exercises, muscular strength, flexibility, cardio-vascular exercises, balance exercises, and resistance band exercises. Through all these years, Lester has been a faithful and devoted leader, keeping the program going and promoting physical fitness for seniors. His supporters say, this “remarkable, quiet mannered, unassuming gentleman” has an “enthusiasm for physical fitness that knows no bounds. He has taken every course available for seniors interested in fitness. He is always available for advice.”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CHESTER BEDDOME

thrives on helping others. Year after year, he takes on more. In 2012, he started an inhouse band in Preston Park Retirement Residence where he lives. He continues to lead this band as well as playing in it. Not only are the residents of Preston Park able to enjoy the band’s music, as well as the sing-songs he regularly leads, but the band takes their music to many other seniors homes and care homes as well. He is happy to lead the singing at the weekly chapel service, and has even taken the service on short notice when necessary. He warmly welcomes newcomers to the residence, and encourages all residents to stay active by dancing to his band’s music, and attending the regular fitness programs and aqua fitness programs in the residence. One of his supporters says, “He has been improving the quality of life for many people in our community in many ways.”