Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal

In 1995, the Government of Saskatchewan established a decoration to recognize the volunteer sector on the occasion of the province's 90th anniversary: the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. Saskatchewan has the highest rate of volunteerism in Canada. Each volunteer reaches outside his or her personal activities to help others and make daily life in our province better for everyone. Formal recognition of volunteers is a way both of expressing the gratitude of the community and of presenting role models to the people of the province.

While the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, established in 1985 as the province's highest honour, does recognize volunteer or community service, this is only one among many fields of endeavour for which the Order is bestowed. Prior to 1995 the volunteer sector in Saskatchewan was not adequately recognized by the provincial government.

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1. Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal

National Status

In 1998 the Government of Canada accorded status to the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal after national and provincial orders, under other national decorations and medals. This means that recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal are entitled to wear it on national occasions and recipients of Canada's national honours who also receive Saskatchewan honours may wear both in the sequence approved by the Governor General.

Insignia

The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal is silver, circular in form, and suspended by a V-shaped clasp from a ribbon of green and gold, the provincial colours.

Bears the Saskatchewan shield of arms
The Crown and the motto Nos ipsos dedimus (We Gave of Ourselves).

Recipients also receive a circular silver lapel pin displaying the Saskatchewan shield of arms superimposed on a "V,” a certificate, and are entitled to use the post-nominal letters S.V.M. The medal is presented by the Lieutenant Governor in an annual ceremony.

The names and photos of the recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal are displayed adjacent to the Athabasca Gallery on the second floor of the Legislative Building.

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2. Nomination Criteria and Process

Nomination criteria

Any Canadian citizen who is a current or former long-term resident of Saskatchewan is eligible for nomination for the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

Not Accepted

Posthumous nominations.
Organizations, only individuals.
Sitting members of Parliament or the Legislature or members of the judiciary who still hold office.

Any individual or group may submit nominations. The Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council recommends recipients based entirely on the information submitted with the nomination.

Completing the Nomination Form

Only one nomination form is required per nominee.

Please provide:

Mailing address
Email address
Telephone number as well as the nominee's.
Summary statement briefly explaining the reasons you are nominating this person.

Support letters

Please provide three to six letters from others in support of the nomination, explaining why your nominee is worthy of this honour. Do not exceed six letters. They must be on 8-1/2 x 11" paper, typed or clearly hand-written in dark ink.

Additional Information

You may provide material in support of your nomination. Please ensure that this material is succinct and directly relevant to the nomination. All support materials must be on 8½ x 11" paper, typed, reproduced or clearly hand-written in dark ink.

Acceptable

Including an expanded statement of your reasons for the nomination
Biography of the nominee
List of achievements

Non-acceptable

Cassettes
Videotapes
Compact discs
Photographs
Albums
Newspaper clippings (unless photocopied onto 8-1/2 x 11" paper) as they will be discarded

Submitting a Nomination

Nominations are accepted year-round; the deadline is October 18th. Nominations received after this date will be considered the following year. The person submitting the nomination must sign nomination forms.

All information provided to us is confidential and exclusively for the use of the Honours Advisory Council. We ask that you not inform the nominee of his or her nomination.

Submit signed nomination form and materials by:

Email
Mail
Courier; or
In-person

Address

Saskatchewan Honours and Awards Program
Protocol Office
300 - 3085 Albert Street
REGINA SK S4S 0B1

Contact Us

Phone: 306-787-8965
Toll free: 1-877-427-5505
Fax: 306-787-1269
Email: honours@gov.sk.ca

Acknowledgement of Nomination

You will be sent an acknowledgement email upon receipt of your nomination. Please advise us if you do not receive this email within one month of sending your nomination.

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3. Newest Recipients

Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal 2018 recipients

Christine Boyczuk (Moose Jaw)

Among the accomplishments Christine is proud of are the collaborations with others in establishing programs for children and youth in Moose Jaw. These programs include summer literacy camps for children, autism camps (the Moxie Club), and planning the Strong Start Family Centre. Christine worked to establish the HUB approach in Moose Jaw, an intervention program for at-risk individuals, the implementation of the Drug Treatment Court, and the region-wide Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol and Process. Christine is a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, the 2014 Community Safety Award, the 2016 Business Women Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2017 Citizen of the Year Award.

Ben Buhler (Osler)

Ben is an active volunteer in his community. For decades he has been a leader in sports organizations such as Warman Minor Hockey, and Osler Monarch Fastball. He donates his time and musical talent to church, school, and community activities. He spent several years as the SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) North West Region Director and was mayor of the town of Osler from 2003 to 2016.

David Burke (Kindersley)

David has been volunteering in his community for more than 41 years. He has served as the Rural Municipality Secretary and Kindersley Secretary/Treasurer, and is currently a senior captain on the town’s fire department. David has been a baseball umpire for more than 30 years and has devoted much of his time to mentoring young umpires. He also has been involved with the Royal Canadian Legion since 1980, serving as president and executive member.

Janet Caldwell (Meadow Lake)

Janet has volunteered primarily in music and health care in Meadow Lake and area. Janet became an active volunteer in 1967, organizing a junior choir at Grace United Church, and was volunteer organist at the church for more than 50 years. In 1978, she helped organize the Meadow Lake and District Music Festival, serving on the festival committee for 30 years, also serving on the Provincial Music Festival Board. Janet has taught piano to more than 400 students. She has served in many organizations, including steering committees to establish home care services in Meadow Lake and to start an area Community Health Advisory Network.

Nelson Eng (Regina)

Nelson is a strong community advocate and philanthropist in support of many charitable and volunteer endeavours. Nelson’s volunteer commitments have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of the children’s ward, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Pediatric Asthma Clinic, the Emergency Department of the General Hospital, and the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. Nelson immerses himself in volunteer work that benefits diversity and inclusiveness. He holds regular fundraising dinners to support other community groups, such as Spring Free from Racism. He has received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, the Saskatchewan Centennial medal, and the Senate 150th Anniversary medal.

The Reverend Alvin Hingley (Humboldt)

For more than 40 years as a United Church Minister, Reverend Hingley served in several Saskatchewan communities. During his ministerial work in these centres, he was always active in community initiatives, seeing volunteering as part of his community involvement. He is a founding committee member of the Humboldt Good Neighbour Store and a life member of the Humboldt Branch, Royal Canadian Legion. Reverend Hingley was Humboldt’s Citizen of the Year in 2011 and has received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal, the Saskatchewan Centennial medal, and the Knights of Columbus Veteran of the Year Award.

Syl and Ivadelle Kulyk (Saskatoon)

Syl and Ivadelle are a couple that have been giving of themselves by volunteering for more than 40 years, making the city of Saskatoon and the province a better place. They have volunteered for Oliver Lodge, Veterans Tribute events, the Canada Remembers International Air Show Tribute to Veterans, Tim Horton’s Brier, Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Saskatoon Police Volunteers, World Junior Hockey, Remembrance Day Services, Saskatoon Tourism Ambassadors, and the Royal University Hospital.

They were awarded the Spirit of Volunteerism Award in 2003 and the Saskatoon Police Service Badge Award in 2008.

Myrna Nagy (Prince Albert)

Myrna goes above and beyond in convening and organizing many fundraising projects. Her wide-ranging volunteer contributions include organizations such as the Prince Albert Crime Stoppers, Prince Albert Chambers of Commerce, Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce, Prince Albert Winter Festival, Kinette Club of Prince Albert, Kinsmen Foundation, Saskatchewan Summer Games, Victoria Union Hospital Foundation, The Waskesiu Recreation Association, the Waskesiu Foundation, and Kozun House. She was named Prince Albert’s Citizen of the Year in 1994 and received Waskesiu’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015.

Teena Polle (Prince Albert)

Teena has touched many lives in Prince Albert. Her motto is “I do what I love, and I love what I do”, and that is evidenced in all she participates in. Some of the projects include the Victoria Hospital (Information Desk and Ronald McDonald House), the Rawlinson Centre of the Arts (ushering and Front of House Captain), the Royal Canadian Legion (visiting schools and promoting the Legion), the Red Cross, music competition at the First Nations Fine Arts Festival, assisting with food service for the homeless, and working and performing with the media to promote worthy causes.

Edna Poncelet (Grandora)

In 2002, Edna Poncelet created Cloth 4 Kids (C4K) from her fabric and sewing shop in Saskatoon. C4K is a volunteer organization that sews and donates children’s clothes for the needy. Since its inception, C4K has grown to more than 60 volunteers and, in 2017, donated almost 9,000 items free of charge to agencies that serve at-risk children and families such as the Open Door Society, Kids First Saskatoon, Friendship Inn, Interval House Saskatoon, YWCA, White Buffalo Youth Lodge, and Saskatoon Community Schools.

Barb Ryan (Regina)

Barb has been a long-time board member for the Regina Wascana Progress Club and Ranch Ehrlo. She has acted as a host, through the Regina Open Door Society, to new families from Africa and is now advocating for newcomers from Syria. Barb has started a support group called Women to Women for newcomer women. She has organized, volunteered, and raised funds for the Regina General Hospital's Children's Ward. Barb and her family also started the Bob Ryan Foundation in honour of her late husband. She is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, the Red Cross Humanitarian Award, and the Senate 150th Anniversary medal.

Mary Walters (Pilot Butte)

Mary Walters has been a dedicated volunteer with St. John Ambulance's Medical First Responder Program in Regina for 52 years, with more than 22,600 volunteer hours to her name. Mary has also volunteered for 25 years as a member on the St. John Ambulance Saskatchewan Council. She has received the St. John’s Ambulance Chair's Commendation for her dedication and leadership in Saskatchewan and has been appointed as a Dame of Grace within the Order of St. John.

Robert Dumur (Pasqua Lake)*

Robert Dumur is an extraordinary volunteer leader. As the former Honorary Colonel of the Royal Regina Rifles his contributions to that unit were exceptional. By supporting our veterans and promoting the history and the traditions of the Regiment he tied our veterans to the young soldiers of today. His impact was clearly felt through unit retention, strong relationships between the Canadian Armed Forces and the public, and the enduring legacy of the Royal Regina Rifles.

Audrey Heit (Kindersley)*

Audrey Heit is a warm, thoughtful, and dependable person who is also described as “one hard-working volunteer.” She is committed to making her community a better place with her time and efforts through local volunteerism. From the Food Bank to the curling club, Audrey freely gives of her time wherever it is needed.

*Robert Dumur and Audrey Heit were 2017 recipients who were presented their medals at the 2018 ceremony.