2017 AWARD NOMINEES

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CON’T DONNA RUMPEL

has been a driving force behind community theatre in Earl Grey for decades. She dedicates countless hours selecting plays, casting, designing and making costumes, designing sets, directing, and acting, ensuring that every production is a resounding success. She also volunteers in Regina with the Saskatchewan Express, Regina Little Theatre, Regina Summer Stage and others. Under her guidance, the Earl Grey Dinner Theatre Group has raised many thousands of dollars for a multitude of community causes. She has been involved in many other local endeavours, and as well as everything else is a United Church lay minister. It is said of her that “she works tirelessly to inspire a love for arts and entertainment … and without her efforts and encouragement, many would not have gone on to pursue theatre and/or music.”

CENTENARIAN KENNETH DUFFIELD

served overseas during World War II, landing with the Regina Rifles on the coast of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was wounded one month later and was sent back to

England. He returned to

Canada in early 1945, took up farming, and immediately joined the Royal Canadian Legion, beginning his life of volunteer service.

He is a past president of his Legion branch, a past master of the Masonic Lodge in Semans, a past principal of the Royal Arch Masons chapter of Govan, a former director of Semans Co-op, a director of Semans Credit Union, chairman of the Semans Wheat Pool committee, a member of the agricultural committee of the R.M. of Last Mountain Valley, and a member of the Regina Rifles’ Association. He and his wife were involved in square dancing for many years. He currently enjoys as many activities as possible at the Semans Drop-In Centre, and thrives on knowledge, keeping up on current events, and community activity.

INTERGENERATIONAL ORANGE TREE LIVING EDEN CARE COMMUNITIES

believes strongly in intergenerational connections. Eden Care at Home provides support to seniors and younger people who need assistance. At Broadway Terrace, in partnership with the Children’s Initiative Early Years Family Centre, the Music for All program brings the senior residents, children and their family members together to sing songs, play games, and just have fun together. Through the Miller High School Partnership, grade 9 students at Miller High School visit and interact with Broadway Terrace residents once a month. In a partnership with Cosmopolitan Learning Centre, a few adults with disabilities spend time with Broadway Terrace residents once a week. Similar interactions and more are encouraged at the Regina Lutheran Home, with a wide range of children and youth, university students, mothers with new babies, as well as people with disabilities, coming to spend time with the residents. Through all Eden Care does, they live out their belief that all are partners in the care of each other, regardless of age, ability, or culture.

introduced the intergenerational living concept to Saskatchewan within the Precious Memories Care

Home in Regina, which is home to 10 seniors and has 8 childcare spaces with daily intergenerational programming activities. In December 2016, Orange Tree

Village opened in Regina, bringing multiple generations together in personal care home suites, assisted living rooms, childcare spaces, and low income suites available to students in exchange for volunteer hours provided within the Village. A restaurant, hair salon, and fitness, educational and arts based programming are open to the public. This unique environment gives seniors the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with children, and also provides the seniors with opportunities to learn, grow, and try new things in the company of the children. One of their supporters tells of how her mother quickly began looking forward to the children’s visits, and says she has improved physically and mentally, flourishing at OTL. Orange Tree is truly “changing the conversation about aging through intergenerational living.”

INTERGENERATIONAL CON’T BILL STRONGARM

has devoted his life to learning, practicing and teaching his culture, language, and heritage to children, youth, and adults, sharing with both First Nations and non-First Nations people. He has catalogued local traditional knowledge including sacred landmarks and artifacts, and works with elders to recall and recover names and history related to the residential school era. He is passionate about retaining indigenous languages, and urges young people to learn and use their language. He encourages people to know their kinship and family structure, their heritage and culture. To this end, he makes presentations to both First Nations and non-First Nations children and adults, about such topics as the importance of speaking one’s traditional language; Rights and Treaties, the importance of family structure and kinship; historical landmarks and sacred sites; Indian Residential School; and the importance of lineage and genealogy. He sees his time and efforts as a tribute to the mentors who taught him.

SENIOR FRIENDLY BUSINESS SUDS FULL SERVICE CARWASH

is a Regina business that believes in giving back to the community, and they particularly believe in catering to the senior population. A senior can take their car there, hand the keys over, and know that the car will be taken care of. Coowner Natalie makes time to visit and to hear the seniors’ stories, even posting the stories on Suds’ Facebook page for others to enjoy. At Suds, they go the extra mile, fixing broken windshield wipers, giving away free car washes and gift cards – for example, from November 1 to 10 they offered all veterans a free car wash, recognizing the veterans and listening to their stories. One of their supporters says he has seen them make a special effort to help a disabled customer, and goes on to say that as a senior, he could not be more happy with the staff and the service at Suds.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT SHIRLEY WOLFEKELLER

has devoted her life to bringing awareness of issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women, physical and mental abuse, substance abuse, mental health, diabetes nutrition, health and wellness, as well as teaching about her Indigenous culture through workshops, seminars, presentations and speaking engagements throughout Saskatchewan. She is a member of the Sunrise Health Board, is a Treaty Land Entitlement Negotiator, and has spoken before the United Nations about First Nations people. She works with people to help them elevate and empower themselves. She helped found the Mamaooping “A Gathering of Elders” organization, a non-profit group that works toward building a safe community in which to live, learn, work and play. She is dedicated to volunteering and advocating in numerous areas of interest, including traditions and the traditional lifestyle, health education, justice, and human services. She teaches the younger generation in Kelliher School about cultural activities and traditional teachings. The tenets of her life are respect, fairness, understanding, accountability, honesty and caring.