2017 Citizen and Group of the Year Awards

Friends, family, nominee's and local dignitaries gathered at the Heritage Inn on Thursday afternoon for the Citizen and Group of the Year Awards. 

2017 garnered the largest amount of submissions in the two categories, with a total of 11 residents and 9 local groups in the running for an award. 

Christine Boyzcuk was the recipient of the Citizen of the Year award. She is currently the President of the Provincial John Howard Society, Board President of the local YMCA and a member of the Canadian Mental Health Association, among many other responsibilities including her role as Vice President of the Wakamow Rotary Club. 

"I would just like to say that volunteering has personally brought me more satisfaction then anything else that I have done." Said Boyzcuk during her acceptance speech, "I think it gives you a chance to give back and it also gives you a chance to make some changes that you might want to see in the community." 

As the 2017 Citizen of the Year, Boyzcuk was humble in her response, "It's surprising what a few good people can do with a little passion, a little energy and some hard work. So I'd like to say how much I appreciate all of you who I've worked with before, now, in the past and in the future".

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Moose Jaw were named as the Group of the Year.

The organization re-established services in Moose Jaw in 2016 and has since matched 31 local youth with mentors in various programs including traditional, group and in-school meetings. Their goal is to pair quality "Bigs" with young people in the community who need them. 

"We're so happy to be back in the City of Moose Jaw,"  Regional Manager, Amy Mohr said while explaining how grateful they are for the recognition,"We wouldn't be here in the first place if it wasn't for this amazing community of dedicated volunteers who are striving to make a big impact and investing in the future." 

The finale to the luncheon included several Heritage Awards. The first order of business was to show appreciation to former chair, Ira Dales for his many years of dedicated service to the Moose Jaw Heritage Advisory Committee. 

The Heritage Education Awards were given to the Youth Advisory Committee and the South Hill Community Association. The Vintage Aircraft Restorers received the award for Heritage Tradespeople. The Sympathetic New Construction Award went to Halstead Denture Clinic and lastly, The Stewardship Award went to Zion United Church. 

The annual event is sponsored by the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce, Golden West Broadcasting and CAE, the company responsible for NATO flight training at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.