Every year, we take time to recognize the important contributions that volunteers across the province make to our quality of life and show our heartfelt appreciation for their incredible work and dedication.
Across Canada, National Volunteer Week is being celebrated from April 19 to 25.
Saskatchewan is home to more than 330,000 volunteers. These individuals are ordinary superstars who live next door to us – people of all cultures, ages and abilities.
“Volunteers are hard-working individuals who come from diverse backgrounds, motivated by the simple desire to make our communities better,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “In the sport, culture and recreation world, we know them as coaches, instructors, leaders, board members, event planners, teachers, officials, caretakers and so much more.”
To recognize the contribution of sport, culture and recreation volunteers, we welcome you to read some of the amazing volunteer stories submitted to us by Sask Sport, SaskCulture and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association.
Making Waves at the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games
History was made at the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games in February, as it marked the first time two communities, the City of Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nation, came together to host the event.
Led by host organizing committee co-chairs Davin Hildebrandt, Dwight King and Regan Beck, nearly 600 individuals from the two communities donated their time planning the event and taking care of the day-to-day activities during the Games.
On top of that, there were a combined 299 volunteer coaches and managers from the teams representing each of Saskatchewan’s seven Sport, Culture and Recreation Districts in 15 different sports. Another 173 people volunteered as officials.
While there were a few hitches thrown into the event by Mother Nature, the Games were a great success and provided the athletes with an invaluable opportunity to compete and gain a special experience.
“Saskatchewan has incredible talent and successes to display when it comes to our amateur sport system, and we wouldn’t be able to showcase it without the dedication and hard work of volunteers. The more than 1,000 individuals who donated their time and efforts – not only at the Saskatchewan Winter Games, but those who put in work leading up to the event – are a testament to that fact. We thank all of them for sharing their passion and skills with us to help highlight young Saskatchewan athletes.”
– Amy Prokop, Sask Sport Board of Directors Chair
Kenaston Volunteers Make a Splash
Allie Lowdermilk joined the Kenaston Community Recreation Board as a member of the Swimming Pool Board in 2020 and has served as president for the past four years. The Board is a group of six dedicated community members, including Brad Owen, MacKenzie Nizinkevich, Stephanie Rink, Carolyn Moser-Prpich and Jackie Erlandson.
With Allie’s leadership, this group of volunteers has had a ripple effect on the community! From the pool’s revitalization to the registration, staffing and programming, their passion and dedication have made Kenaston’s pool a vibrant community hub.
“Facilities like the pool are the heartbeat of small communities, they create core memories and opportunities for our youth. Volunteering with the pool board is my way of giving back and ensuring those memories continue to be made for generations to come,” said Allie Lowdermilk.
Last year, the board faced multiple setbacks to get the pool up and running for the 2025 season. After fundraising over $80,000 and completing a major bathroom renovation project, the pool was found to have a significant leak. The board persevered, put in countless volunteer hours, and the doors finally opened on July 18.
“Volunteers are the catalysts, role models and champions that help parks and recreation thrive across our province. They inspire community engagement and consistently put the well-being of others first. A heartfelt thank you to these volunteers for igniting our communities and contributing to a better quality of life through parks and recreation.”
– Darcy McLeod, President, Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association
Celebrating Volunteer-Run Arts Councils
Volunteer-run arts councils across Saskatchewan are creating meaningful opportunities for people and communities to gather and share a love of music, visual art and live performance.
There are 45 volunteer-run art councils located across Saskatchewan. Along with 80 different schools, the arts councils are part of a network of community organizers that connect with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) to access professional artists, receive support in running quality exhibitions and performances and access other professional development opportunities.
Kevin Korchinski, executive director of OSAC, said the system is designed to make it easier for local arts councils across the province to access these artistic opportunities for their communities.
“All the scheduling and contracting with artists comes through our office,” he explained. “We make it a turnkey operation for the volunteers.”
For Joanne Bolen, chair of the Melfort Arts Council, that support is invaluable.
“They’re really great to lean on,” she said. “If you feel like you're doing this work alone, then it's daunting, but if you've got people that really want to see you succeed without strings attached, it's great.”
Korchinski emphasizes the broader impact of these efforts.
“It’s a real community-builder when people see how volunteers are bringing this quality of art to their community,” he said.
Across Saskatchewan, it is that volunteer dedication, neighbours organizing, hosting, and championing the arts, that turns performances into shared memories and strengthens the sense of belonging in communities.
Read more volunteer stories from across the province in Engage Magazine, published by SaskCulture Inc.
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities in Saskatchewan, visit the Volunteer Connector.
“Every day, people choose to give their time, creativity, and care to champion arts, heritage, and cultural life in meaningful ways. Each volunteer is guided by something personal, a love for a local event, pride in preserving traditions, a desire to mentor youth, or the joy of working alongside neighbours. Their contributions create welcoming spaces, strengthen connections, and ensure stories continue to be shared and celebrated. SaskCulture is grateful for the dedication our volunteers bring and the difference they make for present and future generations, helping to build vibrant, thriving communities across the province.”
– Yvonne Hotzak, Chair, SaskCulture Board of Directors