RECcellence

We imagine a province where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy recreation and feel more connected to nature, our communities, and ourselves - our 2020 RECognition Award Winners are helping to do just that. Here are the individuals and community groups who are energizing Saskatchewan and changing lives through parks and recreation.

Rosalie Flynn (Swift Current) - Volunteer of the Year Prince Albert Rotary Trail - Parks and Open Space Award

Rosalie has been a dedicated volunteer in the community of Swift Current, and in the province, for over 30 years. She has contributed her time and passion to ensure that all members of the community have the opportunity to benefit from recreational experiences and lead healthy lifestyles. Some significant volunteer roles that Rosalie has been involved in are the 2016 World Women's Curling Championship as a co-chair of the Lounge Committee and the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games as a co-chair of the Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre.

The past three years, Rosalie has played an integral roled in the local Forever...in motion program - as both a leader and a facilitator. As a facilitator she has trained many new leaders and allowed more programs to be delivered in the community. Rosalie is a strong supporter of recreation and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle at every age! The 22.6 kilometre paved loop of the city began in 2004 with a segment along the North Saskatchewan River. Various lengths of Trail emerged throughout the years with the final kilometre in 2019. This was a great achievement for the Multi-Use Recreational Trail Committee that initiated the concept in 2001 and the Rotary Club who are the main sponsor and steward of the Trail. The volunteer committee spearheaded the fundraising campaign that raised in excess of $3.2M with support from many businesses, volunteer groups and all levels of government. City groups were passionate about raising funds for the Rotary Trail and now enjoy its benefits.

Thousands of residents access the trail annually to walk, jog, ride their bike, skateboard or push a loved one in a wheelchair. One of the defining elements of the Rotary Trail is its’ 10 feet path width. A free and accessible recreation amenity, the Rotary Trail adds value to properties in close proximity. Created by a strong volunteer initiative and maintained by the City, the Rotary

Wynyard Co-operative Place - Cecil Nobes Facility Award of Excellence

The $10 million Co-operative Place multi-use recreation facility was built to house the arena, golf course, ball diamond canteen and public washrooms which were formerly individual buildings - all that required extensive work. The facility reclaims heat from the ice plant to help with the snow-dump pit. The building heating and cooling system runs on a schedule to lessen energy use. High-efficiency LED lighting also runs on a preset schedule to reduce energy costs. The new facility was constructed to meet accessibility code requirements, including accessible seating areas, parking areas and an accessible elevator allowing everyone to enjoy all areas of the facility. Additional dressing rooms, a regulation-size ice surface and seating for over 1000 fans allows our arena user groups to utilize the facility for events and tournaments. A fully stocked kitchen and spacious lounge allows the summer user groups to enjoy golf tournaments and other special events. Wynyard's new multi-use recreation facility was much needed and will function as a hub for the community for decades to come.

Swift Current - Community Achievement Award

2019 showcased the Volunteer spirit in Swift Current, with four major special events being held: • The Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada held which had more than 100 volunteers • The Western Canada Summer Games, 1770 volunteers contributed over 50,000 volunteer hours to make the

Games a huge success • The Canadian Cowboy Association Finals Rodeo with over 400 volunteers • And the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge with over 150 volunteers

The hours that volunteers offer to make sure that everyone in the community can be engaged in their leisure time is invaluable. Major events and on-going programs alike, Swift Current is a community of volunteers, demonstrating that working together makes a community strong and viable.

Kristen Cutting - Fitness Leadership Award

Kristen certified as a SPRA Fitness Instructor in 2008. She is known in Saskatoon as the top Zumba and Step instructor and her classes are always full. Kristen teaches 2-3 classes/week at the University of Saskatchewan and has also taught at the Saskatchewan Health Authority within the Healthy Workplace programs for employees.

Kristen has presented at the SPRA SaskFit Conference on several occasions, as one of the local presenters. She has a high energy, is fun and has an approachable personality. She is always willing to help people in every way to achieve their goals and be successful in any new patterns she is teaching. She is able to break down the moves for beginners and make moves more complex for seasoned participants in order for everyone to achieve success. Kristen’s passion and dedication to the fitness community shows in all of her classes.

Chris Bruce (Melville) - Facility Operations Award

Chris Bruce started working for the City of Melville in 2013 in the Public Works Department. He was quickly promoted to management in under a year. His profound abilities were able to identify efficiencies within our sewage pump stations, our labour force and our operational and capital budgets. In 2017, Chris’s forward-thinking was noticed by the entire organization which lead to Chris to be selected to be the Director of Community Services. He overlooks a team that includes tourism, facility management, IT, user groups, corporate communications, programming, parks, a convention center, swimming pool, and two hockey rinks, just to name a few. Chris was up for the challenge, and through excellent leadership and determination, Chris found numerous efficacies throughout his portfolio.

Chris has achieved much over the past three years as the Director of Community Services and managing the Horizon Credit Union Center. This facility hosts a 1,524 person seating capacity arena where fans are able to cheer on the Melville Millionaires SJHL hockey team. The 10-year-old facility hosts, all ice sports and recently the Men’s and Women’s provincial curling championships and includes meeting rooms, a convention centre and a walking track. Having never operated a facility with as many moving parts before, Chris took it upon himself to quickly learn everything there was to know about his new role. In doing so, Chris rapidly understood where he could make improvements in facilities Operation and Maintenance.

When not in his office, Chris can be found on the floor under a Zamboni making repairs, in a skid steer pushing snow when he is short-staffed, and crawling into a duct to fix a fan. The community of Melville is unquestionably better with Chris Bruce as one of its leaders