Volunteer Recognition
The NSCRD has many volunteers who give up their personal time to support and deliver activities, so it is important for us to thank them for their sacrifices and recognize them for their efforts. We thank volunteers personally, with notes and emails, and acknowledging their specific contributions. We also like to publicly recognize volunteer efforts and this section of the website serves that purpose.
Glen Trites, La Ronge
Glen Trites, a high school teacher at Senator Myles Venne School (SMVS), who resides in the Town of La Ronge, has been working at SMVS for the past six years. He wears many hats and volunteers effortlessly to teach any student who loves archery, cross-country and down hill skiing as well as broomball. He also takes students every year downhill skiing at Wapati in Gronlid and Table Mountain near North Battleford. You will most certainly see him at all the school special events and tournaments. Glen is also is involved with the Scouts Program, and sits on the Northern Saskatchewan Special Needs (NSN) Board that helps adults with disabilities. The NSN will be opening a soup kitchen in September below the Lampwick Store in down town La Ronge.
Glen is most known for his commitment to the school’s archery program. When asked how he finds the students in the archery program, he stated, "All the kids in the school went through the Archery Program and they love it!" He also stated that, "Archery has changed their perspective and has lifted their confidence. They can't wait to sign up for archery!” Archery is an on-going program at Senator Myles Venne School.
A favourable mention regarding this Archery Program is that SMVS is the first Aboriginal Band School to have this program across Canada. The National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) has been in many schools throughout Saskatchewan and we are proud to know they made the time and effort to come to North, more specifically the Lac La Ronge Indian Band Reserve where SMVS is located. Archery is a sport that emits a positive atmosphere, gets youth involved and is fun for all.
Leslie Wood
Leslie Wood is a wonderful volunteer for recreation. Leslie was born and raised in Flin Flon, Manitoba and has 3 wonderful grown children. Her volunteering started while helping with her children's activities and she has carried her involvement with the community to this day. She has cooked hot dogs for many Terry Fox Walks, flipped burgers for the Quad Run, sold tickets for the Bust the Winter Blues Festival, and helped at the Community Halloween party. She is the type of person that will go out of her way to help in the community especially when it involves kids. As a volunteer she is very reliable and someone that you can always count on. She is definitely someone that should be recognized not only in the community but in the North. She has a deep passion for golfing, knitting and loves to be involved with the community. Leslie is currently semi-retired.
Greg
Hatch, La Loche
One person that comes to mind when you talk about sport volunteers in northern Saskatchewan is definitely Greg Hatch of La Loche.
Greg has worked to enhance opportunities for the youth of La Loche through his role as the Principal at the La Loche Community School and as a former member of Town Council. On the volunteer side Greg has put in many hours coaching volleyball in La Loche with the school, Arima & Age Class/Club volleyball programs as well as coaching Zone 9 teams at the 2002 and 2006 Saskatchewan Winter Games. Greg has been the Chairperson of the NRCC Sport Committee, who is responsible to oversee Zone 9, from 2004 to present. For all that you have done & all that you continue to do, thank you Greg!
Celebrating Successes
Every great organization needs to celebrate their successes. The following are only a few of the great things that are happening in the Northern Sport, Culture & Recreation District. Please feel free to pass along your success stories.
Hall Lake 2009 Kid's Festival
Hall Lake indulges in one of their favourite special events, the annual Kids Festival. This event is made possible by the numerous community volunteers. The 2009 Kids Festival consists of great food and fun for the school and community. Some activities in this annual event include: nail pounding, log sawing, hockey shooting, mouse snaring, tea boiling and animal calling. Alex Halkett is very familiar to the traditional ways of the Cree culture. He is originally from La Ronge (Far Reserve) and recently moved to Hall Lake in the school year of 2008. In this picture, he is teaching the children how to call animals. He names them first in Cree and then in English. He gave out prizes to the winners. Alex became ill near the end of the school year, but since then he is on his way to better health. Alex is in our prayers. The children love him and wish him a full recovery so he can come back to their school in the fall of 2009.
Play Leadership Workshops a Success!
On June 19-21 in Creighton and June 26-28 in Beauval, NSCRD and the communities of Creighton and Beauval hosted S.P.R.A.’s Play Leadership Workshop. Facilitator Shelly Panko-Schultz did a fantastic job guiding these new leaders with important topics such as Play for All, Stay Safe and Great Expectations. From these workshops there were 33 new Play Leaders certified in the North! Congratulations to all of those who participated and we look forward to seeing your summer plans in action.
Workshop in Creighton
Workshop in Beauval
Ile-a-la-Crosse: Canoe and Outdoor Adventure Club
The Ile-a-la-Crosse Canoe and Outdoor Adventure Club just finished up their first season with great success. There were three coaches and volunteers as well as 14 youth involved in this program. This program was made successful by the assistance from the Aboriginal Community Sport Grant Program; Ile-a-la-Crosse received $5000. Their program promotes physical fitness and healthy lifestyles through canoeing, as well as introductory skills in paddling and racing. “The major successes are opening opportunities to youth and setting the challenge. This leads to positive excitement about life, sense of pride and accomplishment,” says Derek Birkham, a teacher and coach from Rossignol High School.
North-wide Cultural Successes
Northern Spirits 
It all began in September, 2007, when over 50 northern youth participated in a workshop led by Sheryl Kimbley, Voices of the North, which covered all aspects of performing and producing a Musical Showcase. The talent level and the support of parents and friends were phenomenal. Twenty five youth were then selected to return to Prince Albert to experience the time of their lives on the weekend of October 4 – 8th to participate in the First Annual Aboriginal Music and Arts Festival in Prince Albert.
Northern Spirits was developed through a partnership between Musqua Entertainment / Voices of the North, the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District and Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
