PROVINCE RECOGNIZES HONOURS RECIPIENTS

Released on May 3, 2000

Saskatchewan today recognized 20 citizens who have been awarded national and

provincial honours for accomplishments in arts and culture, medicine, science,

public and military service, and for acts of bravery.



Governor General Adrienne Clarkson joined Lieutenant Governor Dr. Lynda

Haverstock and Mr. Harley Olsen, Premier Roy Romanow, Speaker of the

Legislative Assembly Ron Osika, Provincial Secretary Jack Hillson, Opposition

Leader Elwin Hermanson, Liberal leader Dr. Jim Melenchuk and MLAs from the

recipients' constituencies to honour these citizens at a ceremony at the Hotel

Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza.



"On this special day we take time to gather and honour those who have made a

lasting impression on our lives," Haverstock said. "From all corners of the

province, stories of dedication, hard work, volunteerism and bravery show the

kind of people who represent the heart and soul of this province."



The ceremony honoured recipients of the Order of Canada, Saskatchewan Order of

Merit, Bravery Decorations, Meritorious Service Award, Saskatchewan Volunteer

Medal and the Governor General's Caring Canadian Awards.



"Saskatchewan's richest resource is our people," Romanow said. "It is only

fitting that we recognize them together, not only for their individual efforts,

but for the inspiration they provide for all."



"The citizens being honoured today have contributed in different ways to the

quality our lives and those of future generations," Hillson said. "Coming from

all walks of life, they exemplify the courage and selfless spirit that built

Saskatchewan and have made it prosper."



After a luncheon in their honour, the recipients were invited to attend a

sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature where they were introduced by their

respective members of the legislative assembly.



This honours event is unique in Canada and has been held annually since 1985.



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For more information, contact:



Michael Jackson, Secretary

Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-3109





Biographies – Honours Recognition Event 2000



ORDER OF CANADA



Boyd Anderson

Member of the Order of Canada

Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit



As a rancher, writer and local government councillor, Boyd Anderson has made

important contributions to the rural life of Saskatchewan. He has served in

many capacities with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and the

Canadian Cattlemen's Association where he was a spokesperson for producers of

cattle, sheep and grain. In addition, he helped plan and build Waverly

Gardens, a popular skating and curling rink for the community.



Douglas Knott

Member of the Order of Canada



Professor Emeritus of Crop Science and Plant Ecology at the University of

Saskatchewan, Mr. Knott is internationally recognized for his major

contributions to our understanding of rust resistance in wheat. He is also

credited with the development of several improved varieties of durum wheat.

Over the years, his work has had a direct impact on the production and export

of Canadian wheat. A Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, he was

also inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame.



Kenneth Mitchell

Member of the Order of Canada



Professor of English at the University of Regina, Mr. Mitchell is also an

actor, novelist, playwright, short story writer, screenwriter and poet, whose

works frequently reflect his prairie origins. Much of his writing has been

translated into several languages and his plays have been produced abroad,

presenting images of Canada to an international audience. He is a literary

ambassador, lecturing in various countries and promoting the study of Canadian

literature at home.

Dr. Geoffrey Pawson

Member of the Order of Canada



Dr. Pawson is founder of the Ranch Ehrlo Society, a non-profit, long-term

residential treatment centre for youth coping with drug addiction, alcoholism

and family and social problems. As Executive Director of "The Ranch," he has,

over its thirty-year history, developed innovative programs from which more

than 2,500 young people have graduated. Thanks to his dedication, many

troubled youth have successfully changed the direction of their lives.



SASKATCHEWAN ORDER OF MERIT



Dr. Marc Baltzan

Officer of the Order of Canada

Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit



Dr. Baltzan started a renal transplant program in Saskatoon, which has drawn

international attention for its high rate of success. He continues his

practice and research in renal medicine, including kidney transplants and

dialysis. He is the author of a large number of articles in professional

journals and essays, and makes frequent contributions to newspapers and

television. Dr. Baltzan has served as chair of the Canadian Association of

Professors of Medicine. He is the only Saskatchewan person to be named a Master

of the American College of Physicians.



Gordon MacMurchy

Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit



Gordon MacMurchy has devoted a lifetime of service to community, sports and

politics in Saskatchewan. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall

of Fame in 1989. Mr. MacMurchy was a prominent cabinet member in the

government of Allan Blakeney, serving as minister of education, housing,

municipal affairs, transportation, Indian affairs, and agriculture. Mr.

MacMurchy was an innovator in his cabinet portfolios: among other things he

introduced physical education as a core curricular subject, publicly-supported

rural kindergartens and teacher collective bargaining in education.



The Honourable Dr. Stephen Worobetz

Officer of the Order of Canada

Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit

Recipient of the Military Cross



Stephen Worobetz served as a medical officer with the Canadian Army in the

Italian campaign in the Second World War, during which he was awarded the

Military Cross for courage under fire. Dr. Worobetz was the first person of

Ukrainian origin to be appointed Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan; he served

with dedication and distinction as the Queen's representative. He and his wife

established the Stephen and Michelene Worobetz Foundation to promote

voluntarism and assist charitable organizations.



BRAVERY DECORATIONS



Clinton Carter

Roy Littlewolfe

Cecil Wolfe

Recipients of the Medal of Bravery



On October 27, 1997, Clinton Carter, Roy Littlewolfe and Cecil Wolfe pulled two

little girls and their grandfather from a house engulfed in flames in Onion

Lake, Saskatchewan. Mr. Littlewolfe and Mr. Wolfe were driving by when they

saw a severely burned woman run out of a house and collapse to the ground. As

they rushed to her side, a man emerged from the inferno, also severely injured,

and alerted them that two children and their grandfather were trapped by the

fire. The rescuers immediately smashed the windows and Mr. Littlewolfe ran

inside, found the five-year-old girl on the living room floor and brought her

to safety. He then went back in with Mr. Wolfe, and with Mr. Carter who had

arrived at the scene. Determined to find the two remaining victims, the men

searched through the intense heat and smoke until they located them, both

unconscious. Sadly, neither the elderly man carried outside by Mr. Wolfe nor

the three-year-old girl rescued by Mr. Carter survived the ordeal.



Kieth Heck

Recipient of the Medal of Bravery



On August 22, 1998, Kieth and Ron Heck pulled Shelley Radies and her husband

from the bottom of a farm well in Glidden, Saskatchewan. As Mrs. Radies'

husband was cleaning a cistern, he was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes and

collapsed into the water below. Mrs. Radies telephoned for help, then climbed

down the narrow passage and held her husband's head above water. When her

neighbours Kieth and Ron Heck arrived at the scene, Mrs. Radies had also lost

consciousness. Although aware that the fumes in the enclosure created a grave

risk to their own lives, they climbed down one after the other then struggled

up the ladder with the limp bodies. Mrs. Radies recovered soon afterwards but

sadly, her husband could not be revived.



Firefighter Brock Knipfel

Firefighter Donald McMillan

Recipients of the Medal of Bravery



On May 11, 1997, twelve rescuers combined their efforts to save the life of a

man trapped inside his burning vehicle following a collision between two semi-

trailers at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Liquid asphalt from the ruptured pup-

trailer of one vehicle had spilled onto a large area of the Trans-Canada

highway and seven-metre high flames were shooting into the sky. With complete

disregard for their own safety, the rescuers worked side by side, braving

intense heat and smoke during the long, arduous and dangerous process of

extricating the injured driver from the burning wreckage. Some men doused the

screaming victim and attempted to contain the flames with extinguishers and

water supplies, while others managed to attach a chain from a pay loader to the

tractor unit and pull it away from its burning trailer. Using the jaws of

life, the rescuers finally were able to pry open the driver's door and free the

man. Moments after the victim was carried to safety, the entire area was

enveloped in an enormous fireball.



Donald Therens

Recipient of the Medal of Bravery



On June 5, 1997, Donald Therens rescued a man from a burning car near Regina.

Mr. Therens was driving to work at sunrise when he witnessed a collision

between a tractor-trailer and a car on the Trans-Canada Highway. He

immediately rushed to the burning car and found the driver trapped inside.

Unable to open either of the front doors, he crawled inside through the back

door on the driver's side and despite the intensifying fire, managed to free

the injured victim. He then kicked out the driver's door and, aided by others,

dragged the victim to safety moments before fire destroyed the vehicle.





MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL



Le Gendarme Hervé Millette

Recipient of the Meritorious Service Award



Le 26 octobre 1994, le gendarme Millette et trois collègues, en mission de

reconnaissance de routine à Haïti, sont arrivés sur les lieux d'un accident de

la route qui s'est soldé par un camion renversé et de nombreux passagers

blessés. Ils devaient agir rapidement puisque de l'essence coulait du camion

et qu'une foule grandissante de curieux fumait sur les lieux, représentant un

danger pour la sécurité des victimes et des secouristes. Les quatre membres de

la GRC ont évalué la situation et pris contrôle des lieux. En l'absence de

contact radio, deux d'entre eux se sont rendus à un hôpital proche pour

demander de l'aide, mais à leur retour le problème de circulation avait empiré

et les secours n'étaient pas arrivés. Voyant que les fournitures médicales

diminuaient rapidement, les policiers ont réquistionné un camion à plate-forme

pour transporter à l'hôpital les blessés les plus graves. Tout au long de

cette difficile épreuve, le gendarme Millette et ses collègues ont fait preuve

d'un leadership et d'un professionalisme exceptionnels et ont fait grand

honneur au Canada.



Constable Hervé Millette

Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal



On October 26, 1994, Constable Millette and three colleagues were performing a

routine reconnaissance mission in Haiti when they came upon a road accident

that had resulted in an overturned truck with many wounded passengers. Fuel

spilling from the overturned truck further compounded the need for quick action

and effective crowd control as a growing number of onlookers were smoking,

posing a safety hazard to the victims and the rescuers. The four R.C.M.P.

members assessed the situation and secured the scene. With no radio contact

possible, two members were dispatched to a nearby hospital for medical help,

only to return later to a growing traffic problem and still no emergency

assistance. With medical supplies quickly dwindling, the members commandeered

a flat-bed truck and loaded the most critically injured to be taken to the

hospital. Throughout the ordeal, the four men displayed outstanding leadership

and professionalism, and brought great credit to Canada.



SASKATCHEWAN VOLUNTEER MEDAL



Ron Kruzeniski

Recipient of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal



Ron Kruzeniski has shown a keen sensitivity and commitment to issues facing

blind and visually impaired persons. He has served as chair of the Canadian

National Institute for the Blind provincially and vice-president nationally.

He has been chairman, deputy chairman and trustee of the Regina Separate School

Board and vice-chair for the Regina Public Library Board. Other volunteer

activities include the Canadian Cancer Society, Archdiocese of Regina, Catholic

Family Services, Ranch Ehrlo Society, Regina Plains Community College, Disabled

Persons Employment Service, and Canadian Bar Association.



Thérèse LeClaire

Recipient of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal



Thérèse LeClaire has a history of over 50 years of volunteering with

organizations at the local, provincial, national and international levels. She

was active with Canadian Save the Children, initiated the Regina Early Learning

Centre for Aboriginal children and began the Valentine Tree Program, where

school children collect money for children in a Third World country. Mrs.

LeClaire was provincial president of the Catholic Women's League. She received

the Best Actress Award for the Dominion Drama Festival. Her involvement in

Canadian unity led her to become a member of the Saskatoon Canadian Club's Task

Force on Canadian Unity.



Clark Lewis

Recipient of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal



Mr. Lewis has been a volunteer for 50 years. In the field of agriculture he

has been an Agriculture Fair judge and served as a director of the Fairmede

Agricultural Society for 40 years and secretary-treasurer for 26 years. Mr.

Lewis was a charter member of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies

Association, serving in all positions including president. His voluntarism

includes committee service with the Wheat Pool for 30 years. Clark Lewis is a

person who puts the needs of the community and others ahead of his own and his

advice is often sought out in matters far removed from his occupation of

farming.



THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S CARING CANADIAN AWARD



Muriel Jarvis

Recipient of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award



A former nurse at a long-term care facility, Muriel Jarvis has committed her

life to improving the health of others, both in her professional and voluntary

involvements. She helped create a training program for non-professional staff

working at special care homes and helped develop the Evergreen Neighbourly

Services, offering seniors assistance to enable them to remain in their own

homes with safety and security. Miss Jarvis is working to change the focus of

geriatric care from custodial physical care to holistic care, by fostering

independence, and actively supporting recreational programs, physical and

occupational therapy, and pastoral care.



Samuel McAdam

Recipient of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award



Sam McAdam has been committed to Scouts Canada and the young people it serves

for more than twenty-five years. He was involved in almost every aspect of

scouting, from the camps, to fundraising, to training leaders. He helped

organize a winter weekend of outdoor events called the Arctic Daze and helped

initiate a community service project involving paper recycling, which became an

annual event. A local farmer, he has also offered his farm as a site for

weekend camps, his pick-up truck for bottle drives, his grain truck for paper

collection, and his tractor and wagon for hay rides. In addition, Mr. McAdam

is a youth group counsellor in his church and a drummer for the Melfort Legion

Pipe Band.