Released on October 13, 1995
Economic Development Minister Dwain Lingenfelter today announced that
Oct. 15 to 21 has been designated Co-operatives Week in Saskatchewan.
The special week celebrates the importance of co-operatives and credit
unions to the province and is also observed nationally.
"Co-operatives play a special role in Saskatchewan and are much more
than economic entities," Lingenfelter said. "While co-operatives are
involved in every aspect of business in our province, from child care
to fishing to cattle feeding and more, co-operatives are also a part of
our culture, our institutions, our very way of life."
Festivities around the province will be officially kicked off with an
Oct. 16 flag-raising ceremony at the Legislative Building in Regina,
where the internationally-recognized co-operative flag will remain
throughout Co-op Week.
The centrepiece of the celebrations will be the 16th annual
Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards ceremony in Regina Oct. 16, at
which the provincial government and Saskatchewan's co-operative sector
will honour five Saskatchewan individuals for their outstanding
contributions to co-operative development.
The five will receive the Saskatchewan Co-operative Order of Merit
Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions by individual
co-operative and credit union members at the provincial and community
level.
The 1995 recipients are Herman Boehler of Loon Lake, Walter Dupin of
Beatty, Bernard Mundell of Leroy, Joyce Rasmussen of Assiniboia and
James Van Eaton of Shellbrook.
The Saskatchewan Co-operative Enterprise Award, introduced for the
first time this year, recognizes outstanding initiative and achievement
in co-operative enterprise. In its inaugural year, it is being
presented to Donald Milne, a former Dalmeny resident now retired in
British Columbia, and to the Prairie Centre Credit Union Limited,
formed on May 1, 1993, as an innovative partnership among credit unions
in Beechy, Eston, Kyle, Outlook and Rosetown in response to changing
needs and opportunities in rural Saskatchewan.
"The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes that the co-operative
principles of self-help, democratic control and open membership empower
people with the means to shape the economic and social conditions of
their communities and society," Lingenfelter said. "Saskatchewan
co-operatives are meeting essential social and community needs in
cities, towns, villages and rural areas across the province."
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For further information please contact:
Tom Marwick
Economic Development
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0192
Note to Editors: Biographical information is attached
.....3
LEADERS HONOURED DURING CO-OP WEEK
The annual Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards Program, initiated in 1980, honours
co-operative and credit union members who have made outstanding contributions to co-operative
development in our province.
The Saskatchewan Co-operative Order of Merit Award recognizes outstanding contributions by
individual co-operative and credit union members at the provincial and community level. This year
the award is being presented to five individuals.
Herman Boehler, a Loon Lake resident, has been involved in co-operative development for almost
50 years. He supported co-operative retail stores in Loon Lake, Makwa, and Meadow Lake, a
credit union in Makwa, and served on their boards for a total of more than 30 years. He has also
been involved with a farm machinery co-operative, two pasture co-operatives, the Saskatchewan
Wheat Pool and Canadian Co-operative Implements Limited.
Walter Dupin, of Beatty, has given dedicated service to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Melfort
Co-operative Association and Federated Co-operatives Limited, plus numerous community
organizations and causes for more than 40 years. He was also involved in the formation of co-
operative community health clinics in Kinistino, Melfort and Prince Albert.
Bernard Mundell, of Leroy, has been a co-operative leader in the Englefeld-Leroy-Watson area for
more than 30 years. He was a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool delegate and district director, and a
board member of Leroy Credit Union, Leroy Co-operative Association, and Leroy-Watson
Co-operation Association. He also served on the Co-operative College of Canada advisory board.
Joyce Rasmussen, an Assiniboia resident, has been a strong co-operator and community leader
form many years, a board member of Assiniboia Co-operative Association Limited, and a member of
the Co-operative Guild.
James Van Eaton, of Shellbrook, was a founding member of Shellbrook Credit Union in 1961, and
has served continuously on the board since that time. He was a delegate to Credit Union Central of
Saskatchewan, a director, and a delegate to Federated Co-operatives Limited, the Co-operative
College of Canada, and the Co-operative Union of Canada.
The Saskatchewan Co-operative Enterprise Award, introduced in 1995, recognizes outstanding
initiative and achievement in co-operative enterprise. It is being presented to one individual and
one financial co-operative.
Donald Milne, a former Dalmeny resident now retired in British Columbia, is known for his
dedication to co-operative development, staff and member training and development, He was a
Federated Co-operatives delegate and member relations officer, and a strong supporter of the
Co-operative College where he later served as an instructor, consultant and manager. He was also
a charter member, president and manager of Prairie Feed Co-operative, which specializes in
livestock feeds and has members in the three prairie provinces.
Prairie Centre Credit Union Limited was formed on May 1, 1993 as an innovative partnership
among credit unions in Beechy, Eston, Kyle, Outlook and Rosetown in response to changing needs
and opportunities in rural Saskatchewan. The credit union provides state-of-the-art, diversified
services to members across a broad geographical area, is involved in a trust services pilot project,
and has introduced a community development loan program. It is now a prototype for rural
restructuring and diversified, regionalized services in the credit union movement.
