Released on January 18, 1996
The first recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal, the
province's newest honour, were announced today by Lt.-Gov. Jack Wiebe
and Marguerite Gallaway, chairperson of the Saskatchewan Honours
Advisory Council. Six citizens are to be recognized for their
volunteer service and contributions to the community:
Earl Berard, of Kindersley, prominent leader in the
Saskatchewan Baseball Association.
Marion Buckler, of Regina, volunteer in health care, Red Cross
and Meals-on-Wheels.
Mildred Kerr, of Saskatoon, active in social justice, poverty
and food bank issues.
Russ McKnight, of Moose Jaw, promoter of community theatre and
music festivals.
Nina Moore, of Sintaluta, community volunteer in museum,
church and seniors activities.
Vital Morin, of Ile-a-la-Crosse, Second World War veteran and
long-time volunteer among the Metis people.
The medals will be presented by the Lieutenant Governor at a ceremony
at the Legislature.
Established in 1995 during the province's 90th anniversary, the
Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal recognizes outstanding volunteer services
or exceptional community involvement beyond the individual's normal
duties or profession. Ninety nominations for the medal were received
last fall from the public.
The province's first honour, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit,
recognizing a wide range of endeavour, was established in 1985. The
second medal dedicated to the volunteer sector reflects Saskatchewan's
record as one of the highest rates of voluntarism in Canada.
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for further information, contact:
Michael Jackson, Secretary
Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-3109
NOTE TO EDITORS
Biographies and telephone numbers of the recipients of the
Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal are attached; all recipients are
willing to be interviewed. Also attached is a fact sheet on the
Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.
Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal 1995 Recipients
Earl Berard
Earl Berard has been involved in baseball since 1953 as player,
coach and executive member of the Saskatchewan Baseball
Association. Through the þBaseball for Everyoneþ program
established under his leadership, baseball in Saskatchewan grew
from 6,000 players to over 20,000. Mr. Berard has served as
president of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association, president of
the Western Canada Baseball Association, and vice-president of
Baseball Canada, responsible for Canadaþs youth baseball team.
He has been organizer of a number of regional, national and
international championships; his 1991 Team Canada youth team won
the world championship.
Earl Berard has received a number of baseball awards and the
Canada 125 Commemorative Medal. Berard Field in Kindersley is
named after him. Mr. Berard is district manager with TransGas in
Kindersley.
Tel. 965-7374 work
463-2582 residence
Marion Buckler
Marion Buckler is a dedicated volunteer in the area of health
care. She is a regular blood donor, delivers meals on wheels,
and is an official volunteer at the Regina General Hospital,
where she assists with admissions, visits patients and arranges
entertainment. Since her son became a quadriplegic as a result
of an accident in 1979, Mrs. Buckler has been a role model for
the care of those with spinal cord injuries, who are often
referred to her by medical social workers for advice and
inspiration. She frequently opens her home to the families of
people hospitalized in Regina.
Marion Buckler is a long-standing member of the Womenþs Institute
in Saskatchewan. She is also active in the United Church and the
Sweet Adelines choral group.
Tel. 586-5258
Mildred Kerr
Mildred Kerr devotes much of her personal time, energy and
resources to assisting low-income and disadvantaged people in
Saskatoon. A qualified social worker, she is a founding member
of Equal Justice for All, an advocacy group primarily composed of
low-income people. Mrs. Kerr is an articulate spokesperson and
advocate with the poor and has assisted thousands of citizens to
obtain social benefits and fair treatment under the law. She has
been actively involved in developing work for the disabled
unemployed through the Hand-E Workers Cooperative and is a
founding member of the Saskatoon Food Bank.
Mildred Kerr has served on the board of directors of the
Saskatoon Community Clinic. In 1995 she received a Saskatoon
YWCA Woman of the Year Award.
Tel. 653-6263 work
652-9379 residence
Russ McKnight
A long-time promoter of community events in Moose Jaw, Russ
McKnight has an exceptional involvement in volunteer activity in
the city. He has served as president of twenty-two organizations
and chair of more than four hundred projects. In particular, Mr.
McKnight has been a driving force in the performing arts, such as
the Moose Jaw Kinsman International Band and Choral Festival,
Highland Festival, Multicultural Festival, Saskatchewan Drama
Festival, community theatre groups and Scottish pipe bands.
Russ McKnight has held numerous leadership positions in the
Optimist Club, Kinsmen Club, Jaycees, Moose Jaw Arts Council and
Multicultural Council. He is employed with the provincial
department of Social Services at Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw.
Tel. 694-3068 work
692-0528 residence
Nina Moore
Nina Moore has been a key figure in the community life of
Sintaluta since retiring to the community in 1983. She was
instrumental in the development of the community museum and the
local history book. She plays a major role in the United Church
as organist, janitor, caterer, visitor and presbytery delegate.
Mrs. Moore is a tireless promoter of local tourism and is
involved in the seniorsþ club, town hall and sports complex.
Nina Moore visits the Sintaluta School to read to the students
and supervise activities. She organizes work, events and fund-
raising activities for the volunteer fire department. She also
visits shut-ins and the sick in the community.
Tel. 727-4421
Vital Morin
Vital Morin has for many years been a role model for the Metis
people of Saskatchewan. A veteran of the Second World War, Mr.
Morin was instrumental in the formation of the Saskatchewan Metis
Veterans, of which he is president, and has worked to ensure that
Metis veterans receive appropriate benefits. He served fifteen
years on the Ile-a-la-Crosse town council, four of them as mayor,
and ten as chair of the school board. He has also served on the
aboriginal advisory board to the RCMP and on the boards of the
Dumont Technical Institute, Ile-a-la-Crosse Housing and Metis
Addiction Council.
Mr. Morin is a prominent senator and elder of the Metis Nation of
Saskatchewan and is active in a number of local associations,
including the Northern Fur Conservation Trappers Association.
Tel. 833-2037
The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal
Background
Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of voluntarism in
Canada. In today's society the volunteer sector plays a crucial
role and yet is under increasing pressure due to changes in the
economic and social environment. In 1995, the provinceþs 90th
anniversary year, the Government of Saskatchewan decided to
formally recognize volunteers in the province as a way of
expressing the gratitude of the community and offering role
models to the people of the province: a new honour dedicated to
the volunteer sector and called the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal
was incorporated into the provincial honours system through
amendments to The Provincial Emblems and Honours Act passed by
the Legislature in May 1995.
The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal Program
þ A maximum of ten medals may be awarded annually.
þ Nominations are invited from the public; any individual or
organization may submit nominations. The Saskatchewan
Honours Advisory Council recommends recipients from among
the nominations received. The Lieutenant Governor presents
the medals at an annual ceremony at the Legislature.
þ Any Canadian citizen who is a present or former long-term
resident of Saskatchewan is eligible for nomination, with
the exception of elected members of the House of Commons or
the Legislature or judges while still holding office.
þ Criteria for the medal are that the recipient has "provided,
without reward or gain, outstanding volunteer service or
exceptional community involvement in an area that is beyond
the performance of the individual's normal duties or the
exercise of the responsibilities of a profession to which
that individual belongs".
þ The medal, designed by Jack Glasser of Regina, winner of a
provincial competition, is circular in form, silver, and
suspended by a V-shaped clasp from a ribbon of green and
gold - the provincial colours. It bears the Saskatchewan
shield of arms with the Crown and the motto Nos Ipsos
Dedimus, Latin for "We give of ourselves". There is a
circular silver lapel pin showing the Saskatchewan shield of
arms superimposed on a "V". Recipients also receive a
certificate and are entitled to use the initials þS.V.M.þ
after their names.
Some Typical Questions
What is the relationship between the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal
and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit?
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit remains the province's highest
honour. The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal differs from the Order
in that it is aimed at a particular group in society, the
volunteer sector, while the Order of Merit continues to recognize
a wide range of achievement such as the professions, business,
agriculture, the arts, education and research, and community
leadership.
An analogy is the Canadian honours system. The Order of Canada
recognizes a broad spectrum of endeavour, but there are other
specialized national honours such as the Order of Military Merit,
Royal Victorian Order, Bravery Decorations, Meritorious Service
Decorations, and Exemplary Service Medals.
Is the Saskatchewan Order of Merit now closed to the volunteer
sector?
No, volunteer service continues to be one of the fields of
endeavour recognized by the Order and nominations will always be
welcome.
Can volunteer organizations submit nominations for the Volunteer
Medal?
Service clubs, churches, cultural and multicultural groups, youth
and seniors groups, sports and recreational organizations,
veterans' organizations, health and hospital organizations, to
name only those, are welcome to submit nominations for volunteers
they think deserve a medal.
What if a nominee is not chosen to receive the medal?
For the Volunteer Medal to be prestigious and meaningful, it can
only be awarded to a maximum of ten people annually. However,
some nominations will be carried forward to the following year
and any nomination can be re-submitted.
Are there any other medals like this in Canada?
Ontario has had a Medal for Good Citizenship since 1973. During
1996 the Governor General is introducing an award for volunteers,
which will complement the Saskatchewan medal on the national
level. Of course, there are a number of volunteer awards outside
the official honours systems.
What is the status of the Volunteer Medal?
The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal, like the Saskatchewan Order of
Merit, is an official honour of the Crown in right of
Saskatchewan, receiving similar status and protection through The
Provincial Emblems and Honours Act. The Queen's representative
in Saskatchewan, the Lieutenant Governor, bestows the medal in
Her Majesty's name.
To submit nominations and obtain further information or advice,
contact:
Protocol Office, 10th Floor
1919 Saskatchewan Drive
REGINA SK S4P 3V7
tel. (306) 787-3001, fax 787-1269
The deadline for 1996 nominations is October 18, 1996.
