(Submitted photo/Janis Olesko)

By Alison Sandstrom

In The Service Of Children

P.A. woman to receive award for leadership

Oct 18, 2019 | 10:09 AM

A Prince Albert woman is being recognized with an award for leadership from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Janis Olesko is a former teacher with 27 years experience in the P.A. area, and a long-time volunteer in the community.

In 2017 she was honoured with a Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

Her accomplishments include starting the “Discoveries” Prince Albert Children’s Festival and helping to open a local Ukrainian pre-school. But Olesko says what she’s most proud of is her time as a teacher.

“Kids are all like little diamonds and you just are very lucky to touch a little part of that sparkle,” she told paNOW.

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This year, Olesko left teaching to focus on a new project, spearheading the development of a science centre inside the old Sears Store at the Gateway Mall.

Working with a team of volunteers she plans to turn the recently vacant space into “44,000 square feet of fun.”

The project is still in development, but Olesko hopes to have it open within the next few years.

A member and former president of Veselka, the Prince Albert Ukrainian Culture and Heritage Club, some of Olesko’s fellow Veselka members will accompany her to the awards ceremony in Regina.

“It’s a great fellowship to know where you came from and where you can go – how much Ukrainians have contributed to Canada,” she said speaking about the group.

The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom