John Fryters, left, receives the award of merit from Mayor Greg Dionne. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Long Road Back

John Fryters wins two awards for work in community, reflects on battle with COVID-19

Mar 11, 2022 | 8:00 AM

A long time Prince Albert resident has been recognized for his work in the community.

On Thursday afternoon, Dr. John Fryters was given the gala award presented by the Seniors Advocacy Centre, which is awarded to someone 70 years old and still going strong and working.

This is the eighth time the award has been presented and the decision of who it is given to is made by the board of directors and was last awarded to Charlie Squires.

He was also presented the award of merit from the City of Prince Albert for his long-time senior’s advocacy and policy efforts in Prince Albert and area.

During the ceremony, John’s wife Hannelore Fryters read out reasons why the board selected John as this year’s winner saying he has been a leader in the community in addictions and has been passionate about the topic.

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He said it means a lot to him to win the award.

“To get it myself I never thought I would ever get it,” he said.

He has also been a writer and a public speaker who advocates for the city’s most vulnerable. He has helped people recovering from substance abuse, young mothers, Indigenous people, and of course seniors, through his work with the senior’s advocacy centre.

He has volunteered his time to be on boards for hospice societies, alcoholic and drug centres, as well as schools and churches. He has done missionary work in Canada but also in Peru, Accra, Uganda, South Sudan, and India. He said he is most proud of his missionary work in Peru where he said he worked with highly thought of ministers.

Fryters is currently working on writing a book on how to write in a biblical way and he said it’s almost finished. He said it will be put on sale on his website.

Fryters has been recovering from his battle with COVID-19 that put him in hospital in November of 2020. Two days after being admitted into hospital he had a major stroke and was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

He said when he first came home after having the stroke, he couldn’t talk and was not able to do anything for himself.

“Now I’m talking, I’m moving, and I’m helping. I can help people out with certain things and it’s coming back very gradually. My desire to preach, which is really my real desire, it has been taken away,” Fryters said.

He added it’s been difficult because he sees something and wants to explain it by finding the words in the bible, but he can’t find those words. He hopes he will be able to do that again soon.

He gave credit to Hannelore for pushing him through the process and acknowledged she has been a big help.

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12