Sask. volunteers awarded medals

A group of staff women went to cheer Beth on at the Legislature today.







We watched from the gallery and cheered our "here here" for our
volunteer of the year!








On the way out I had time for a quick pose as they awarded me "Premier for the Day" status:

Leader-Post
Annie McLeod

REGINA -- A group of Saskatchewan citizens received provincial recognition from the Lieutenant Governor during a ceremony at Government House on Tuesday.

Lt.-Gov. Gordon L. Barnhart presented eight people with the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal for 2008, which recognizes outstanding volunteer service or exceptional community involvement.

"We know that Saskatchewan has the most volunteers of any province in Canada, and this is a time to celebrate eight particular people who have volunteered their time and their money and their energy to the people in Saskatchewan, and particularly their own local communities," said Barnhart.

The award recipients were nominated by the public and selected by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council.

Regina residents Beth Ell and Ken Sagal were among the medal recipients. Sagal has been committed to cultural growth in the province, and among the many ways in which he has served the province was his instrumental role in the restructuring of the Saskatchewan Council of Cultural Organizations into SaskCulture.

Ell, who began her volunteer work at a young age, has worked to enhance the quality of life for others. She fundraises and runs programs, parties and events for sick and underprivileged children in the city.
"I just love (volunteer work). I work in an office, so what I do is volunteer work with children and in the soup kitchen ... it's totally different than my work," said Ell. "It's just so refreshing to be doing something different and working with people and seeing the changes in their lives ... just to try to make their day a little better."
Barnhart said the medals are a way for all the people of Saskatchewan to thank the recipients and encourage them to continue their good work in the community.

"It's also an example for other people in the community to say, 'Gee, look at ... so and so is doing this, well I should be out there helping as well,'" he said.

Saskatoon, John Ford of Gray, Ajay Krishan from Prince Albert, Camille I. Ross-Bell from Gravelbourg, Maurice Taylor of Tisdale, and Courtney Vaudner from Melville.