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Helen Panchuk recipient of 2014 Garden of Saskatchewan Citizenship plaque

A 90-year-old woman credited with a long list of volunteer work and who also has a passion for gardening was selected as the recipient of the 2014 Garden of Saskatchewan Citizenship plaque.
Garden of Saskatchewan plaque
At a private reception at Lam’s Restaurant in Kamsack last week, Helen Panchuk, right, of Kamsack was presented with the 2014 Garden of Saskatchewan Citizenship plaque by Helen Dumont on behalf of members of the Kamsack and District Horticultural Society.

            A 90-year-old woman credited with a long list of volunteer work and who also has a passion for gardening was selected as the recipient of the 2014 Garden of Saskatchewan Citizenship plaque.

            Helen Panchuk was presented with the plaque by her friend Irene Dumont during a private luncheon last week.

            Panchuk, (nee Sakal) who was nominated for the award by Dumont and “all members of the Kamsack Horticultural Society,” celebrated her 90th birthday on November 11.

            “Anyone who knows Helen knows that she’s a real go-getter,” the nomination paper says. “Her petite stature does not slow down seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“Fresh air and good old down home farm living have made her the feisty lady she is to this day,” it says. “Her talents in the areas of gardening, sewing quilts and cooking and her devotion to her faith have spilled into the many volunteer hours she has graciously donated to the community.”

            Panchuk served four years as a 4-H junior sewing leader and five years as a Pathfinder leader. She was a camp advisor with the Girl Guides, served three years on the Eaglestone Lodge auxiliary and over 20 years on the Kamsack Hospital auxiliary with many of those years serving as its secretary. She spent about 15 years on the nursing home auxiliary and was a member of the Kamsack Housing Authority for 21 years.

            “One of Helen’s passions is her flowers. She has won many ribbons and awards for her beautiful displays, which are the result of hard work and a love of nature. She has been part of the Kamsack and District Horticultural Society for over 25 years and has been a member of the Norquay Horticultural Society for 10 years.”

In addition to growing her own flowers and vegetables to exhibit in shows, Panchuk was trained as a horticulture judge and as such has judged many shows in other communities. She was a member of the Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions.

            A member of the Heart and Home Quilting Guild in Kamsack, she has made and donated many quilts for various community groups, and has served for four years with the United Church worship committee.

            “Always active and on the move, Helen walked to Veregin from Kamsack to raise funds for the nursing home. With the Girl Guides, she planted spruce trees on each side of the highway by the former toll booth area at Madge Lake. She was also one of the individuals who helped establish the Trackside Garden in Kamsack.

            “This dynamite lady exemplifies what a volunteer is,” the nomination says. “Her heart and soul are devoted to the community and the organizations that are near and dear to her heart and her family.”

            It has been said that Panchuk “drives her minivan like a woman on a mission and one had better hang on for dear life because she has places to go and people to see.

“Who else can curl her hair in the dark and come out looking like a million dollars?

“Her love of nature and her skill working with her hands make Helen a memorable lady and a wise mentor to many others… and she has many plans for the upcoming decade.”

Helen and her husband Mike have four children: Diane (Vidomski), Lonnie, Gary and Marjorie.