These 10 Sask. volunteers are being honoured for contributions to community

Saskatoon resident Jyotsna (Jo) Custead says she never expected to be called up and given a medal for her volunteer work.

Custead has spent decades working on community development in the areas of health, the arts, justice, employment equity and women's advocacy. On Tuesday, she was among 10 people honoured with the 2023 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

"I really believe that if you want to make a change, get involved and be there when decisions are being made, so that you can make the change," she told reporters after the ceremony at Government House in Regina.

Custead talked about how after her daughter was born in the late 1970s, Custead and a co-worker who also had a young child worked out a plan where they would job-share and share child-care duties. But when they presented the plan to their boss, he said no.

That prompted her to get involved with a national advisory committee and in collective agreement negotiations to have better options for parents — hard work that has borne fruit over the years.

'This is how it starts'

Suzanne Eisler, right, pictured with her daughter Kim Ursell, has been making dresses and shorts with her volunteer group in Wawota, Sask., for 10 years. The clothing is sent to children around the world. (Suzanne Eisler/Facebook)

For Suzanne Eisler, the call about the volunteer recognition had her "in tears."

Ten years ago, the 85-year-old started up Little Dresses, a volunteer group from the small community of Wawota, about 200 kilometres southeast of Regina, that sews clothes for kids and sends them all around the world.

She mentioned her idea at a Bible study, where she was encouraged to put it into action. Eisler said she put a notice in the "local little paper" and was pleasantly surprised when, two weeks later, 21 women showed up with their sewing machines.

"This is how it starts, just by a whim," she told CBC Radio's Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger.

LISTEN | Wawota woman honoured for her volunteer work:

In the years since, group members have sewn dresses and shorts that have been sent to many areas of the world, including Africa, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. During the pandemic, the group pivoted to making masks, head bands, scrub caps and bags for Saskatchewan health-care workers.

The other recipients of the 2023 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal are:

• Retired major Brad Hrycyna.

• Jim Meikle.

• Douglas Osborn.

• Jeanette Tonita.

• Pat Tymchatyn.

• Hazel Urbanoski.

• Dr. Judy White.

• Helga Wold.

The 2023 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal was presented to 10 recipients. (CBC News)

In his remarks before the ceremony, Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty said it is a gratifying part of his job to pay tribute to those who give their time to improve the province.

"You, the recipients, are kind and caring for those around you, for your community, and really by extension, our province," he said. "Many volunteers are uncomfortable receiving public recognition, but it is important to acknowledge those citizens whose hard work and dedication benefits our communities, both to thank them and to inspire others to become actively involved."

Since its creation in 1995, the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal has been awarded to 261 individuals.

Volunteers 'desperately' needed

This week is National Volunteer Week in Canada, which is being marked with calls for more people to step up across the country.

Megan Conway, CEO and president of Volunteer Canada, said that a 2022 survey showed that 65 per cent of organizations had seen a decline in volunteers, which caused some of them to reduce or cut their programs.

"It's coming at a time when services are needed now more than ever," she said. "Think about the requirements or the increased burden on food banks, or other kinds of frontline service organizations. They desperately need volunteers to be able to continue their programming."

Megan Conway, CEO and president of Volunteer Canada, says volunteering enables people to connect with each other and with their community. (Submitted by Megan Conway)

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the factors that hit volunteerism hard, with many people losing touch with organizations and needs in the community, Conway said. The high cost of living also affects people's ability to volunteer – if they have to hold down two jobs, or can't afford transportation to a volunteering opportunity, for example.

Conway encouraged anyone thinking of volunteering to just do it.

"Find a cause or an issue in your community that you care about," she said, "and then connect to the local organization that's doing good work in that space and find ways you might be able to contribute your time or your talent or your skills, as an individual or as a group."