The SARC Awards
Meet the SARC Award recipients from previous years
Access the Al McGuire Awards from previous years
Access the Volunteer of Distinction Awards from previous years
Access the Employer of Excellence Awards from previous years
The SARC Awards honour diversity and inclusion in the disability service sector.
The SARC Awards are an opportunity for SARC Members to shine the spotlight on the people they support or organizations they partner with who are committed to community development and inclusive employment.
The SARC Awards honour people from across the province.
Every summer, SARC staff travel to recipients’ communities to create honourary videos that highlight the exceptional accomplishments, a profound journey, impressive skills, an incredible work ethic, community development, and voluntary commitments.
At the annual SARC Awards Banquet, recipients are presented with their awards in front of family, friends, SARC Members, government dignitaries, and special guests.
The 2025 SARC Award 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 2025 Good Neighbour Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s Good Neighbour Award recipient, Kelsey Stadnyk. Kelsey lives in Wadena, SK, and is known for her kind nature and her dedication to helping others around her.
She’s a very kind lady and beautiful soul to her because she’s wanting to help everybody.
Shannon Spafford – Wadena, SK
After Tristen received the promotion, I could just see kind of like a shift in his demeanor. And he was just so excited and had so much confidence.
Brittney Norman – Meadow Lake, 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 2025 Great Work Award Recipient
Introducing this year’s Great Work Award recipient, Tristen Sabados. Tristen lives in Meadow Lake, SK and works for Tokyo Smoke. In his video, you will get to hear more about Tristen’s employment path and how he has been promoted at Tokyo Smoke.
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 2025 Spotlight Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s Spotlight Award recipient, Emery Lebel. Emery has a passion for broadcasting and content creation and uses his talent to share what is going on in the community of Nipawin via the “Emery Show” on social media.
He’s willing to try anything and he had an idea and he approached us. Found the people that could help him do it and he continues to find ideas all the time.
Chrystal Bourlett – Nipawin, SK
Everyone knows Alena. Like you can take her out and everyone like stops to talk to her. It’s not just the smile and then it’s not just the eyes. It’s about her whole face smiles, right? Yeah, she’s a pure soul, just saying.
Tania Hicks – Meadow Lake, 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 2025 Spirit Award Recipient
Introducing this year’s Spirit Award recipient, Alena Ouellette. Alena lives in Meadow Lake, SK. Her smile is very infectious, and her positive and loving nature is something to be admired. She is a great example of someone who lifts up those around her.
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 2025 Community Builder Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s Community Builder Award Recipient, Hunter’s Bowling Centres. The ownership and staff at Hunter’s Bowling Centres are true community builders. Hunter’s Bowling Centres are welcoming, inclusive, and safe places for everyone in the community. It is evident that community is at the heart of what Hunter’s Bowling staff and ownership do, when you take into account the extra mile they go to make sure everyone is having a great time in their facilities. Whether it’s providing specialized equipment that makes it easier for everyone to bowl, or their determination to foster relationships with everyone who walks through the door, everyone feels welcome at Hunter’s Bowling Centres.
And Hunter’s Bowling has done nothing but provide a very safe, welcoming environment for our individuals to come in and just be themselves and enjoy a sport that they love.
D’arcy Nemanishin – Saskatoon, SK
There’s so much benefit in having a diverse workplace. It just is a betterment for all of our society. I mean you can talk about like our small little structure of what’s happening in the store but like the more people that we can include into lots of circles of life the better we all are off.
Nancy Broten- Saskatoon, 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 2025 Inclusive Advantage Award Recipient!
Introducing this year’s Inclusive Advantage Award recipient, Life Outside Gear Exchange. the owners at Life Outside Gear Exchange are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and reducing barriers to employment. Life Outside owners and staff believe inclusive hiring is important to their organization, and they experience many benefits from this practice.
Do You Want to Nominate Someone for a SARC Award?
Nominations open in April of each year for Regular and Associate SARC Members and are accepted until end of May of the same year. Two to three weeks after the closing date, nominators from SARC Member Agencies are contacted. Then, throughout July and August, SARC staff travel across the province to meet each recipient, their family, friends, and other community members to film a video vignette so that it can be shared with family and friends, other SARC Members, SARC Member Board representatives, government representatives, and members of the public at the SARC Awards Banquet.