The Melfort Rotary Club has been honouring volunteers in the northeast with galas each two years and will continue that tradition on April 12.
The Rotary will host a Sports Appreciation Dinner with the theme “Sports: Heroes, Athletes and Volunteers” at the Kerry Vickar Centre.
Rotary member Gailmarie Anderson said this will be the third gala hosted to show appreciation for volunteers.
“We did the first one with STARS and some of the emergency services and then we did a second one with a lot of the emergency services after COVID,” Anderson explained. “This third one is for all of the heroes, athletes and volunteers who work in the sports field because it’s just phenomenal in Northeast Saskatchewan how many people have achieved so much.”
Anderson said that these athletes accomplished these feats with the help of volunteer coaches and others in places like high school sports, elementary school sports, minor sports and other areas. The Rotary Club wanted to recognize the individuals who provided that helping hand.
“We have so many people in various sports that have gone on from Melfort to regional, provincial, national and international (competition). They did that all with the help of so many people.”
Along with the five featured speakers, the Rotary Club will recognize the men and women who helped build sports organizations in the area.
Speakers include Frazer Will, who was born in Star City and was a Multiple medallist in Judo, Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Champion Julie Kozun, SJHL Championship winning coach Trevor Blevins of the Melfort Mustangs, WPCA Chuckwagon Champion Layne MacGillivray, and Saskatchewan Roughrider Logan Ferland. Anderson said that the quality of keynote speakers shows the amount of talent produced in Melfort and area.
She added that the sponsors who came on board have also been incredible.
“We have just been overwhelmed with the sponsorship from local individuals and organizations and businesses,” she said. “It’s just been absolutely wonderful. we’re very grateful for that.”
According to Anderson ticket sales are also going well. As of press time they’ve sold nearly 400.
Businesses from the area have also sponsored tables including Bourgault Industries who have sponsored the table for all of the coaches from the high school in St. Brieux.
Anderson said money from the gala will also be going towards Sports Scholarships for 2025 high school graduates in Melfort, St. Brieux, Naicam, Kinistino and Star City. There will be two scholarships in Melfort and one each in the surrounding communities.
“It’s for their school experience,” Anderson explained. “It doesn’t mean that they have to go on to postsecondary or anything, but we just want to honour them because some of them will be going on to be major sports people.”
This is the first Sports Gala. Anderson said the Rotary will see what the future holds for their next gala.
“We’ll have to think about that. It’s been two years between each one so far. It’s major organising for our club, but we’re happy to do it and all of our proceeds always go back into our local communities.” There is also a silent auction which already has over 60 items as well as a live auction.
“People have been so generous,” Anderson said.
“For example, Penny’s Soup and Sandwich. Penny (Baker) has donated 10 pies which we are auctioning off live during the evening. And they people can have their dessert there or they can take them home,” Anderson added.
Another auction item is the Libra Plant, which is an App-based input tracking device for Planters, Drillers, Tenders and Sprayers which was developed by the son of a Melfort Rotarian. According to Anderson the device is worth $4,000.
All proceeds will support projects in communities the Rotary supports.
The event starts at 6 p.m. on April 12 and will be catered by Page Seven Catering.
Tickets are available for the Gala from any Rotarian and at the Box Office at the Kerry Vickar Centre.
“We’re just pretty excited to have the evening happen,” Anderson said.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
