Peter Skoreyko’s Drive-By 70th Birthday Celebration

Peter Skoreyko’s Drive-By 70th Birthday Celebration

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

Vegreville celebrated a well-known citizen, Peter Skoreyko’s 70th Birthday with a Drive-By or Walk-By Celebration where Peter was seated in the gazebo at the Rotary Rendevous Park in Vegreville on August 29.

Then if people wished to come up and speak to Peter, they had to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer.

According to the people who have known Peter, they all admitted that he is a well-known person in Vegreville. Karen Streets, Program Coordinator for VALID said Peter has been involved with VALID for almost 40 years. “Peter has done some volunteer work for VALID, he has done some work for us, and he has obtained services from us. Peter is also the Equipment Manager for the Jr. B. Rangers which he volunteers for, he also volunteered for Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) for different functions and groups around Vegreville at events like the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and other community luncheons. As well, he volunteers and works for Pot O Gold.

When Streets was asked what was special about Peter, she replied, “Peter is very community-minded, very active in the community, and has been involved in pretty much every form of Special Olympics which has been offered in Vegreville; swimming, bowling, golf, floor hockey, and track and field. When there were triathlons in Vegreville as part of Special Olympics. Also, he has an excellent sense of humour. He is very caring and outgoing. He is just an all-around good community member.”

Dana Swedgan, Organizer of Peter’s birthday celebration said Peter didn’t want any gifts for his birthday. Instead, people were welcomed to give towards a silver collection for a Bursary Program in Peter’s name called, “Pull Up Your Socks”. “This program is meant for in the future when Peter’s passes away, Peter has created a bursary fund to give to one of the hockey players, it doesn’t matter what team they are on between Junior B Rangers or Vegreville Wranglers. The bursary can be used towards the hockey player’s hockey fees in Vegreville. Peter wants to have a yearly bursary towards the most valuable player which will be chosen either between him and the coach or a family member and the coach. We haven’t put it in place when he wants to start giving that bursary out,” Dana said.

While the star of the celebration, Peter Skoreyko, said he likes to help out the Junior B Rangers because it makes him feel good and useful.

As well, he participated in the Wendy Brook Festival where he earned certificates for performances with Vegreville Readers’ Theatre as well as solo vocal performances and a duet vocal performance with Faith Swedgan. He also earned a bursary for a few of these performances.

Peter added he likes to go for walks, swimming, and mingling with people. He also enjoys watching hockey, playing floor hockey, bowling, going fishing, playing golf, watching wrestling, and comedies on television.