I Battlefords Trade and Education Centre to honoured its participants last week.
Thirty awards were handed out to those longstanding participants with BTEC ranging from five to 30 years.
Four of the awards were given out on Thursday, while the bulk were presented Friday at the Vida McDonald Centre, with most recipients able to be on hand in person to accept the honours.
Those receiving 30-year awards were Terry Dillon, Cletus Gerlinsky, Holly Keyko and Glen McLenaghan.
Twenty-five-year awards went to Glen Gabelko, Verla Gammel, Terry Sawarin, Stanley Schulkowsky, Violet Wahpitiskwan, Sherry Weekusk and Robin Wesley.
Twenty-year awards went to Darcy Delorme and Mark Reimer.
Fifteen-year awards went to Ryan Cornish, Douglas Griffith, Warren Oksasikewiyin, Charles Outwater and Shauna Windsor.
Ten-year awards went to Bernard Anderson, Bradley Aumack, Mark Borody and Amanda Rose.
Five-year awards went to Charles Crookedneck, Darren Cutts, Alex Heinemann, Alexis Jones, John Kraft, Elmer Kryzanowski, Kim Lafreniere and Ian Stubbington.
Each participant was recognized for the personal qualities they brought to their participation in BTEC. Of the 30-year honourees, Terry was recognized as a "collector of all collectors," Cletus was recognized for working in the New to You bookstore and for operating the canteen, Holly was recognized for having a wonderfully "caring spirit" and for her care and compassion for everyone, while Glen was noted for being a perfectionist, and also for his "contagious smile".
Each award winner received a plaque while those with 20 or more years of participation also received a jacket.
BTEC has been active for years in providing programming for the physically and mentally challenged in the Battlefords. The organization looks forward to moving into a new facility in the coming years, with the design phase for that building currently under way.
