The Battlefords Citizen of the Year for 2013 has worked with the City of North Battleford for 36 years and is the manager of the building and licensing department.
Jerry Wintonyk says he was "shocked and humbled and proud" when he heard he was Citizen of the Year for 2013.
He's always felt a need to be involved in his community.
"It's such a great place to live, work and play," he says. "I grew up here and I love everything about it."
Wintonyk is described by his nominator as a man of integrity, honesty and selflessness.
"There is no end to his commitment and dedication," writes Ryan Shepherd in his nomination letter.
"Jerry has been involved with, volunteered and supported this community for over 60 years. He has never asked for anything in return and always has a smile on when he helps someone. He loves the Battlefords and I hope we can show him our gratitude with this award," states Shepherd, who works part time in Wintonyk's department and also as a private building inspector.
Jerry Wintonyk is the son of Alex, who passed away at 57, and Pearl. Wintonyk's mother is now 93 and still lives in her own home on Jackfish Lake with Wintonyk's stepfather Clarence McGregor. He makes a point of heading out to the lake to visit at least once a week. He also has a brother, Mervin, who lives in Calgary.
"My mother taught me a lot of good values," says Wintonyk, like courtesy and being polite. And people still comment on "what a nice man" his father was, he says.
Wintonyk is the father of Shallen and Janaya Wintonyk-Pilot and has four grandchildren.
Wintonyk's work life started right out of high school with a job with Bill and Don's Men's Wear. His employers were Bill Wheeldon, who passed away only a few weeks ago, and the late Don Ross. They were "amazing men," says Wintonyk. Working for them was his first experience working with the public.
He also worked at Northern Auto Parts and a number of other local businesses. When the clothing business where he was working shut down in 1977, he was casting around for a career path and applied at City Hall. They were looking for people. He met with Murray Richardson, then parks and recreation director, and Ernie Sansregret, then building inspector, and they took him on as assistant building inspector.
Things don't happen like that anymore, says Wintonyk. To be taken on and trained on the job as a building inspector would be unheard of today, he points out, and he has fond memories of Ab Bridges, city administrator, who treated him like a son and helped him establish his career.
Wintonyk had never been to college or university, but he excelled in continuing his education in building and fire code compliance with the Province of Saskatchewan. Wintonyk is a Class II building officer in the City of North Battleford and had his CRBO (Canadian Registered Building Official) designation with the Alliance of Canadian Building Officials Association. This is the highest designation that can be received in Canada for a building official.
Wintonyk has been a building official for 36 years and is highly respected throughout the province by colleagues and associates. He is also a mentor for the Southeast Regional College's Building Code Training for Canadians course and volunteers his time in an effort to train others to the high standard of professionalism that he is recognized for by his colleagues.
He has sat on the Saskatchewan Building Officials Association's board of directors for 28 years and has been their membership chairperson for more than 19 years. In 1985, Wintonyk served as president. As a strong community supporter, he has brought the SBOA conference to the Battlefords a number of times, each of which attracted over 100 delegates from around the province.
President of the association, Dan Knutson, writes of Wintonyk, "Jerry has been the guardian of our association's history. Jerry is often called upon to make tributes to members who are receiving SBOA service awards or remembering those who have passed away or retired. Jerry is a thoughtful, energetic man whose charisma and humour brightens everyone's day."
Wintonyk has also sat on the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Inspectors and Bylaw Officials board of directors for over 20 years. He has brought a number of licensing conferences to the Battlefords as well.
In his after work hours, Wintonyk is also involved in the community.
He completed his sixth and final year on the board of directors for the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation last year, serving two years as vice-chairperson and two years as chair. Throughout those years, he dedicated his time and energy to foundation functions including the Wayne Pruden Memorial Golf Tournament and the Festival of Trees.
Executive director of the foundation, Claudette McGuire, writes of Wintonyk, "His actions demonstrate his belief in the importance of giving back and doing his part to make our community a better place to live, work and play. He acknowledges and always thanks the volunteers for giving of their time and recognizing the difference they make to our organization and to health care in the Battlefords."
She adds, "He is a pleasure to work with and always wants to know what he can do, where he can be of value and how he can make our jobs easier."
He has canvassed for the Canadian Cancer Society for more than 20 years. He was and continues to be the area captain for Fairview in the annual Canadian Cancer Society Residential Campaign.
Janice Foley, Battlefords unit manager for the Canadian Cancer Society, says of Wintonyk, "Each spring we make the call, knowing that Jerry will be there to assist us with enhancing the quality of life of people living with cancer in this community."
Wintonyk is also a regular blood donor.
In 2007, Wintonyk received the Rotary Club of the Battlefords' Integrity Award, which is awarded on the following criteria: nominees shall be limited to non-Rotarian residents of the Battlefords and district; nominees must have a history of uprightness and honesty; a person is not eligible if he or she has ever been known to have acted dishonestly or been deceitful or to have unfairly taken advantage of others; it must be perceived that the nominee's word is their bond, even to their detriment; the nominee's "station in life" is irrelevant; and community service and/or philanthropic deeds are not relevant.
Other community initiatives he has been involved with are the Beaver Blues Senior Hockey Team, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Empty Stocking Fund and the Battlefords United Way Clean-up.
Shepherd wrote, "The list of contributions Jerry has made to this community is endless I am sure I have only noted half of what he has actually done for this community since I have known him. I could only imagine what he has done in the last 60 years."
Wintonyk's nominator also referred to Wintonyk as "somewhat of a walking City of North Battleford archive."
He wrote, "One of the most outstanding features I found from working with Jerry is his incredible memory of the Battlefords. Jerry could not only tell you who lived or owned a specific building in a specific year, he could also tell you who they were married to, who their kids were, who their parents were and where they all lived today. When the late Julian Sadlowski was researching his book on the history of the Battlefords, Julian spent numerous hours in Jerry's office because of his knowledge of the Battlefords."
The 2013 Citizens of the Year will be honoured at a banquet at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday, Jan. 31. Tickets are available at the Battlefords and District Co-op administrative office at Territorial Place Mall for $25 each.
The Citizens of the Year selection is sponsored by the News-Optimist, North Battleford Lions Club and the Battlefords and District Co-op.
