The 2023 SARC Award Recipients
The Good Neighbour Award
The Good Neighbour Award recognizes a person who makes a difference in their community through their contribution or volunteer efforts.
Meet the 2023 Good Neighbour Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s Good Neighbour Award recipient, Stephen Moleski. Stephen lives in Regina and loves to connect with others within his community through volunteering and his workplace. Stephen is very dedicated to serving others in any way he can and is proud of the work he does in his community. Stephen gives back by volunteering at the Terry Fox Foundation and other volunteer opportunities as they are available to him. These volunteer opportunities have helped build his confidence in obtaining employment.
He always fills us up with, like, little warm fuzzies. He makes sure that every single person here knows how important they are to him.
Diandra Nicolson – Regina, SK
Nothing is going to slow him down. He wants to do it, he’s doing it. And, you know, nothing stops him. So, yeah, he really he was so excited about this job and getting out in the world and working.
Jackie Berg – Gravelbourg, SK
The Great Work Award
The Great Work Award recognizes a person who demonstrates a great work ethic and professional growth in their community.
Meet the 2023 Great Work Award Recipient
Introducing this year’s Great Work Award recipient, Garritt Hallborg. Garritt lives in Gravelbourg and has worked hard to achieve employment at Wheatland Pub and Eatery. He started his work experience journey at Café de Paris where he was able to gain confidence in his skills as an employee and was ready to take on employment with Wheatland.
The Spotlight Award
The Spotlight Award recognizes a person who has an amazing skill or talent and who is eager to share this talent with their community.
Meet the 2023 Spotlight Award Recipient!
We’re shining the spotlight on Kylie Zacharias. Kylie lives in Saskatoon and is being recognized for her makeup artistry talents. She was interested in makeup at a very young age and uses these talents to lift others up. She is a strong advocate for those experiencing disability, as well as the LGBTQ2+ communities.
The makeup helps her to help others. I think we live in a world that can be very mean, that can be very hateful. It has it’s ups and downs. And with Kylie, she reminds you that there is beauty. There’s true beauty in everyone.
Asha Arnold – Saskatoon, SK
Anytime you meet her, it’s always you’re greeted with laughter and a smile, and it’s always just jokes and stories.
Lorenzo Apostol – Saskatoon, SK
The Spirit Award
The Spirit Award is given to someone who lights up any room they’re in. Whether this person is the life of the party or a kind and caring friend who goes out of their way to make people feel welcomed, this person loves to share their spirit with others.
Meet the 2023 Spirit Award Recipient
Introducing this year’s Spirit Award recipient, Yvonne Ronning. Yvonne lives in Saskatoon and is a great example of someone who is not afraid to be themselves. Yvonne figuratively and literally lights up a room, with her amazing personality and her handmade outfits that incorporate lights. Everyone loves spending time with Yvonne; her laugh is infectious and her unique individuality is something to be admired.
The Community Builder Award
The Community Builder Award recognizes an organization, business, group, or individual whose efforts have a profound impact on their community.
Meet the 2023 Community Builder Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s 2023 Community Builder Award Recipient, The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery. Jennifer Fitzpatrick and her team at the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery are true community builders for the people of Humboldt and area. The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery works hard to ensure that community is reflected back through their exhibits. It is evident that the community is at the heart of what they do when you experience the exhibits for yourself. Whether it is working to ensure all cultures are represented or working with other organizations, the Humboldt & District Museum and Gallery looks for opportunities to celebrate community.
Our folks were allowed to be their authentic selves, and that is what the museum stands for. they provide local artists, local music. They’re always about the community…
Stephanie Keller – Humboldt, SK
With Kevin he recognizes the strengths in his staff and that’s where he moves them so that they can be best utilized. They can use those strengths and abilities that they have, and he sees that in them, in those employees, and moves them to do those duties that support their skills and abilities.
Carmen Donald – Regina, SK
The Inclusive Advantage Award
The Inclusive Advantage Award recognizes an employer who is a leader in supported employment by employing people experiencing disability.
Meet the 2023 Inclusive Advantage Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s Inclusive Advantage Award recipient, Sherwood Co-op – Harbour Landing. Management at the Sherwood CO-OP, Habour Landing location, is committed to working with community-based organizations in Regina to reduce barriers to employment and helping new employees feel welcomed and comfortable while working in a busy and fast-paced environment. Kevin Jensen, who is the Manager of the Sherwood CO-OP, Habour landing location, is a champion for inclusive hiring and believes that is important to their business and is willing to take the time to set each employee up for success.
The 2022 SARC Award Recipients
The Good Neighbour Award
The Good Neighbour Award recognizes a person who makes a difference in their community through their contribution or volunteer efforts.
Meet the 2022 Good Neighbour Award Recipient!
This year’s Good Neighbour Award is awarded to Marry Dusaman from Saskatoon. From Marry’s support staff to regulars on her Meals on Wheels route, everyone who meets Marry knows her for her warm and welcoming personality, love of cooking, and easy way she connects with everyone she meets. Sharing food, time, and connections makes Marry a great neighbour.
Marry also just has a wonderful, welcoming, generous spirit. She walks into a room and says ‘hello’ to everyone, she greets everyone, she throws up her hands and says ‘hello’ and gives you a hug or high five or whatever, and she just wants to be like be a part of the community.
Miranda Wood-Sparrow – Saskatoon, SK
Marlo shows her passion for working at Cameco by being so willing to take on different jobs. Her position has changed many times over the years and she’s always been willing to take on those new challenges.
Michelle Martfeld – Saskatoon, SK
The Great Work Award
The Great Work Award recognizes a person who demonstrates a great work ethic and professional growth in their community.
Meet the 2022 Great Work Award Recipient
Marlo’s commitment to her career at Cameco has spanned three decades and fueled long-term friendships, a commitment to helping her community, and helped her become the wonderful outgoing and independent person she is.
The Spotlight Award
The Spotlight Award recognizes a person who has an amazing skill or talent and who is eager to share this talent with their community.
Meet the 2022 Spotlight Award Recipient!
We’re shining the spotlight on Jeannie Charles. Jeannie has been powwow dancing since she was two years old and prides herself on being self-taught. Jeannie is a very proud Cree woman and loves to share and explore her Indigenous culture in as many ways and at as many events in her hometown of La Ronge as she can. Jeannie is quick to welcome people she meets into her life.
She’s able to express, you know, the love that she has for being a Cree woman. Also, for our traditional ways, she expresses that all the time when she’s dancing and she’s always smiling.
Cathy Wheaton Bird – La Ronge, SK
He always has a smile on his face, he’s always spreading joy, doesn’t even really try to, like just puts you in a better mood being around him, he has great vibes.
Abbey Flaman – Saskatoon, SK
The Spirit Award
New for 2022, we’re introducing the Spirit Award. The Spirit Award is given to someone who lights up any room they’re in. Whether this person is the life of the party or a kind and caring friend who goes out of their way to make people feel welcomed, this person loves to share their spirit with others.
Meet the 2022 Spirit Award Recipient
This year we’re introducing the Spirit Award and we cannot think of anyone more deserving than Noah Mitsuing to win the inaugural award. In the nominations form, SARC asked for SARC Members to nominate someone who ‘lights up each room they’re in’. And, well. That’s certainly Noah. Noah becomes fast friends with everyone he meets and shares his culture, stories, and various passions with the people around him.
The Community Builder Award
The Community Builder Award recognizes an organization, business, group, or individual whose efforts have a profound impact on their community.
Meet the 2022 Community Builder Award Recipient!
The couple behind Limitless DAS are true community builders for the people of Estevan. After identifying a lack of opportunities and activities for people experiencing disability in their community, Conrad and Kandyce got to work, connecting with other businesses and community-based organizations to create connections and reduce barriers for people within their community. Whether working with the people at the golf course or taking over a private box at the multi-plex, Limitless DAS partners with various organizations to offer programs for people of all abilities.
I’m really super thankful that Kandyce and Conrad have started the programs—they don’t really know how much it means to all the parents. They’ve really stepped up and started everything for that.
Dallas Gillis – Estevan, SK
Right from the start and moving on I just always saw this sense of – it was always this is where the client is and we’re going to take their strengths and we’re going to put them in a place that they feel the most comfortable because then that’s when they’re going to do their best.
Bernice McKen – Yorkton, SK
The Inclusive Advantage Award
The Inclusive Advantage Award recognizes an employer who is a leader in supported employment by employing people experiencing disability.
Meet the 2022 Inclusive Advantage Award Recipient!
Management at Superstore in Yorkton are committed to working with community-based organizations in Yorkton to reduce barriers to employment and help new employees feel welcomed and comfortable while working in a busy and fast-paced environment. Understanding that a barrier to employment might be different for each person that comes through their door, the management team at Yorkton Superstore has worked hard to implement accommodations for the individual rather than asking the individual to make accommodations for the organization. That’s true inclusivity.
The 2021 SARC Awards Recipients
In 2021, we once again traveled around the province, awarding very worthy recipients their SARC Awards after COVID-19 forced us to take a year-long hiatus in 2020. From Watrous to Prince Albert, Regina to Swift Current, we met some incredible people working hard to create opportunities and diversity in their communities.
The 2021 SARC Awards Recipients are:
The Good Neighbour Award
The Good Neighbour Award recognizes a person who makes a difference in their community through their contribution or volunteer efforts.
Meet the 2021 Good Neighbour Award Recipient!
Lenny Smart is a true advocate for his community! Through his commitment to working with the City of Saskatoon Councillors to improve accessibility and remove barriers in his community, he is changing the urban landscape of the city’s core!
Lenny is a good neighbour because a good neighbour is someone who looks out for others and Lenny has done that day-in, day-out here. You know, he’s not asking for things just for him. He’s asking for things that are going to improve and help the lives of others for years to come. So he’s leaving quite a legacy.
Vanessa Lizotte, Saskatoon, SK
I worked at a preschool here in Watrous. I would help out the preschool kids and all of a sudden I just realized I wanted to be with little kids…I just love it!
Megan Lannan – Watrous , SK
The Great Work Award
The Great Work Award recognizes a person who demonstrates a great work ethic and professional growth in their community.
Meet the 2021 Great Work Award Recipient
Megan Lannan, from Watrous, SK. Megan knew from an early age that she enjoyed working with small children, and she never lost sight of that goal, now working at an early learning daycare centre in Watrous. Through this opportunity, Megan has really shone as a valuable employee and is absolutely adored by the children she supports.
The Spotlight Award
The Spotlight Award recognizes a person who has an amazing skill or talent and who is eager to share this talent with their community.
Meet the 2021 Spotlight Award Recipient!
Kirston Lodoen, Regina, SK. Kirston is a wonderfully talented artist who uses her art to express herself and bring joy to others. Throughout her two years working with the group of people who support her, Kirston has had the opportunity to expand her artistic skills and create meaningful connections through her art with everyone around her.
I just want my art to have an impact on people. Rather than it just being art.
Kirston Lodoen, Regina, SK
The Journey Award
The Journey Award recognizes a person whose personal journey has been extraordinary. This person has worked hard to achieve their goals or create positive changes in their life.
Meet the 2021 Journey Award Recipient
Khloe Nix, Prince Albert, SK. Khloe has worked to overcome adversity through much of her life.
Through her strength and commitment and the support of many people around her, Khole has charted a new course with immense possibilities for her, her family, and the people in her community.
[Khloe] puts herself out of her comfort zone and pushes herself to move forward. And I think it shows in the progress she’s made in the past couple of years.
Karla Ethier, Prince Albert, SK
The Community Builder Award
The Community Builder Award recognizes an organization, business, group, or individual whose efforts have a profound impact on their community.
Meet the 2021 Community Builder Award Recipient!
Ross Revill, Saskatoon, SK. As a member of the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon, Ross leaves a lasting connection with everyone he works with through his infectious energy and commitment to increasing the strength of community-based organizations. To Ross, building community is all about bringing people together to share and experience their gifts, talents, and interests, and Saskatoon is certainly better with him in it.
He helps to build community by allowing and providing opportunity and choice for people, like the folks we serve at Elmwood. Everything he does, everything he says, helps to build those things.
Linda Boyko, Saskatoon, SK
[The workplace culture] allows everyone to feel valued, and respected
Denise Cook, Swift Current, SK
The Inclusive Advantage Award
The Inclusive Advantage Award recognizes an employer who is a leader in supported employment by employing people experiencing disability.
Meet the 2021 Inclusive Advantage Award Recipient!
Original Joe’s, Swift Current, SK. The management team at Original Joe’s has created a truly diverse and inclusive environment through their commitment to making every staff member feel like family. “Creating an inclusive workplace has provided our business with an economic advantage and I would recommend any business owner to consider hiring people experiencing disability,” said Tyler Wallin, General Manager of Original Joe’s Swift Current.
The 2019 SARC Awards Recipients
In 2019, SARC travelled to five different communities to award the six SARC Awards to incredible individuals. The SARC Awards Banquet took place on October 30, 2019 at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon.
The 2019 SARC Awards Recipients are:
The Good Neighbour Award
Terry Saretsky, from Humboldt, SK, has spent his life committed to helping whoever needs help within his community. Terry volunteers as often and wherever he can and is loved by everyone in Humboldt.
The Great Work Award
Charity Jess, from Saskatoon, has been working at the Delta Bessborough in the heart of the city for over 20 years! Charity goes above and beyond to perform her duties and help out anyone else on the team whenever necessary.
The Spotlight Award
Catherine Berntson from Saskatoon, SK is an accomplished Opera and Choir singer who has travelled around the world, sharing her gift with many different people.
The Journey Award
Aaron Brubaker from Shaunavon, SK has had an incredible journey. By learning to appreciate the value of hard work and becoming a dependable and engaged friend and employee, Aaron has proven he can overcome life’s challenges.
The Community Builder Award
The group at Rongve, Gabruch, Schell and Weikle Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities has partnered with many organizations in the Battlefords to help nonprofit organizations in whatever way they need. Their work specifically with Battlefords Trade & Education Centre (BTEC) helped BTEC secure a brand new facility for their activity centre as well as a high-tech gaming system, BEAM.
The Inclusive Advantage Award
Juliana Pizza in Regina employs four people that are supported through Partners in Employment – Regina. The owners of Juliana Pizza treat all of their staff like family and won’t hesitate to make certain accommodations to help them out, if necessary.
The 2018 SARC Awards Recipients
In 2018, SARC introduced the SARC Awards to honour diversity, inclusion, and
community across the province.
The SARC Awards recipients were presented with their awards at the 2018 SARC Awards Banquet in Regina.