The 2020 recipients of Yorkton's Civic Recognition Awards were formally announced at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
The recipients are Jason Boyda in the adult category, Katelyn Anderson in the youth category and Farming For Health in the group category. The recipients were unanimously approved by Council.
In making the announcement Jessica Matsalla City Clerk, with the City provided a brief bio on the recipients.
Jason Boyda, a teacher at Yorkdale school, has been a resident of Yorkton for the past 11 years, and has been 鈥渁ll-in鈥� with the community since he moved here. He is a dedicated coach for sports (for all levels), mainly football and basketball. Jason is known to go the extra mile to run extra practices, and additional training to help any athlete who desires to improve, and will do what is in his power to help them excel.
Jason also provides opportunities to all ages of athletes that may not be otherwise offered, such as taking teams to out of city and even across the border for tournaments or camps. He not only coaches, but Administratively is involved in fundraising, organizing events, jamborees, inter-league and inter-provincial play, and cross border play. His passion for football and nurturing & developing youth, and for his involvement in the community is truly evident through all his work.
Katelyn Anderson has been involved in the Cadet organization in Yorkton since the age of 9 years old, first with Navy League Cadets and now with the Army Cadets. Through her nine years in the programs she has participated in all the volunteer opportunities that the Cadets are involved in, including Poppy Days, Remembrance and D-Day Ceremonies, bottle drives and more. Katelyn has received awards such as the Captain P. Jacques Award, (given to the cadet who goes above and beyond to give back to the community, exemplifying good citizenship), and the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of excellence for outstanding cadet service, citizenship, and comradeship.
Katelyn is extremely involved in the LGBTQ+ community in Yorkton, and has single handedly formed 鈥淧ride for Days鈥� an organization that brings LGBTQ+ Youth together in a safe environment for monthly activities, and has bigger plans to expand her work in this realm in the future.
The Farming for Health Project was founded in 2013, with the objective to provide a visible symbol of the support the community would provide to a fundraising campaign for a new hospital, and to demonstrate that money could be raised while continuing to conduct normal operations.
The Farming for Health Project has raised and set aside $1 million dollars that will be used to assist a new hospital, and further $446,914 in the last three years that has assisted the purchase of new medical equipment.
The Project has brought together many businesses that are normally competitors who set that aside to improve our community, making it a better place to live and raise a family in, now and in the future. Farming for Health are ambassadors to other centre for what is possible when the community works together.
This is the third year the Civic Recognition awards have been presented in Yorkton.
The policy is in place to recognize recipients 鈥淲ho have given selfless support, and made contributions for the betterment of the City of Yorkton,鈥� said Matsalla.
The Civic Recognition Awards Committee adjudicated submissions for the 2020 on November 23, and have made recommendations for Council on award recipients
Winners will be formally celebrated and given their awards (one per meeting) at a ceremony prior to the first three Council meetings in 2021.
