Preserving 39 Years of Telemiracle

Released on March 1, 2016

As the Kinsmen Foundation prepares for the milestone 40th airing of Telemiracle, the foundation is taking steps to preserve all known footage from the first 39 years of Telemiracle.

This morning, the Kinsmen Foundation gave a digital copy of all known show footage to the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan for safe keeping.  This will ensure an important part of Saskatchewan’s history will be available for researchers, historians and all people of Saskatchewan.

“We call ourselves ‘Saskatchewan’s Charity’ and with this donation, we’re making a Saskatchewan tradition available to anybody who’s interested,” Telemiracle 40 Chair Todd Bedore said.  “All Kinsmen and Kinettes throughout Saskatchewan are proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last 39 years – through the generosity of all who donate year after year.  As we move forward, it is important to preserve our past.”

“Telemiracle enhances the quality of life for so many in our growing province,” Minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission Mark Docherty said.  “This collection will not only preserve a piece of our Saskatchewan history, but will also acknowledge the important work that has been done to help thousands of individuals.”

“The Provincial Archives is thrilled to receive this important donation to the province’s Permanent Collection,” Provincial Archivist Linda McIntyre said.  “These records document the history of Telemiracle and the far-reaching generosity of Saskatchewan’s citizens over the past four decades.  The Telemiracle story and the successful work of the Kinsmen Foundation will be preserved for current and future generations to explore and discover at the Archives.”

The collection handed over today is not fully complete.  However, the Kinsmen Foundation will be working over the coming weeks and months in an attempt to locate the missing footage.

The Kinsmen Foundation makes miracles happen by providing Saskatchewan people and organizations with special needs equipment and access to medical assistance.  Through Telemiracle dollars, the Kinsmen Foundation is able to gift mobility equipment, travel costs to access medical facilities, community vans and equipment in hospitals and health centres.  Telemiracle 40 airs this weekend starting Saturday at 8 p.m. and runs until Sunday at 5 p.m. on all CTV Saskatchewan stations.

To learn more about the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan and its Permanent Collection, visit www.saskarchives.com/.

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For more information, contact:

Clint Shkuratoff
Telemiracle 40 Public Relations
Mossbank
Phone: 306-354-7488
Email: clintshk@live.com

Trina Gillis
Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0452
Email: tgillis@archives.gov.sk.ca

Linda Smith
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3506
Email: linda.smith2@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-550-5927