By Taylor MacPherson

P.A. woman to receive Sask. Volunteer Medal

Apr 5, 2017 | 6:00 AM

A retired Prince Albert teacher is among the nine individuals selected to receive the 2016 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

Janice Olesko will be heading to Regina on April 24 to receive the medal in a special ceremony with Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield. After a teaching career spanning more than 26 years in the Catholic school system, Olesko, who still works as a substitute, dedicated much of her time to various volunteer efforts.

“The recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal exemplify the very best of Canadian qualities,” Schofield said in a media release accompanying this morning’s announcement. “I congratulate each of them on this well-deserved honour, and I thank them for their enormous contributions to the people and communities of Saskatchewan.”

Olesko’s many achievements as a volunteer include serving as president of the Prince Albert and District Ukrainian Cultural and Heritage Association and as a founding executive of Prince Albert Catholic Family Services. She has also volunteered with the E.A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts and generously donated her time to the local health region and teachers’ association.

Her proudest moment as a volunteer, she said, was the creation of the “Discoveries” Prince Albert Children’s Festival, which was her brainchild from the very beginning.

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“I thought of the idea of having a festival in Prince Albert and it just caught fire,” Olesko said. “Four teachers put together a show and our first year had 6,700 kids come to it.”

The festival is her proudest achievement, Olesko said, because it showed how the entire city can unite behind a worthy cause.

“That was such an outstanding event because our city just pulled together,” she said. “It ran for 10 years.”

Olesko said she never works alone, and thanked all those who have helped her in her various efforts. In particular, she recognized Pat Suchorab, who nominated her for the medal.

“I know how much time it takes to nominate someone,” Olesko said. “She took the time and effort and I want to thank her.”

Despite being recognized as one of the province’s most active volunteers, Olesko said she has no plans to slow down any time soon.

“Right now I’m with the Veselka Ukrainian Club, and we’re planning some pretty neat things,” she said.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews