UNITY – Brian Woytiuk was named Unity’s 2018 Citizen of the Year at the kickoff supper for Unity Western Days June 1.
Mary Ann Gaetz, secretary of the Western Days committee and chair of the Citizen of the Year selection committee, described Woytiuk as “a pillar of our community (who) tirelessly supports all minor sports and community events .... He is an extraordinary volunteer in the community and you will see him at almost every function that is going on.”
The list of Woytiuk’s contributions include having been a member of the Unity Lions Club for six years, helping organize Citizens on Patrol, being president of the Unity Miners Senior Hockey Club and being a longtime active member of the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce. On the chamber, Woytiuk helped initiate and continues to organize the “Grand in your Hand” local shopping promotion held annually prior to Christmas.
He is chair of the Unity Facilities Committee, which fundraised for a new swimming pool and is now working on a community hall. Gaetz added, “He was also very involved in the Unity Golf Club and initiated the remodelling of the club house.”
Along with being president of the Miners, Gaetz said, “He volunteers in the penalty box for all Miner, midget and double A midget hockey games. He also volunteers in the penalty box for bantam and peewee playoffs.”
Woytiuk is a member of the Unity Western Days committee, joining the committee when he first moved to Unity 17 years ago. He currently holds the vice-chairman and treasurer positions and looks after all the sponsorships and advertising for the event.
Although Woytiuk is on the Western Days Committee, he was not on the Citizen of the Year selection committee. Son Bryce, also on the Western Days Committee, confirmed it was a surprise for his dad to win the award, although Brian did guess what was happening earlier in the evening when extended family members arrived at the supper.
It was an emotional Woytiuk who, after accepting the plaque from Gaetz, thanked the approximately 200 people attending the supper for the honour. Beyond his thank you, he did not say much other than to affirm “I love this community.”
The next week, Woytiuk – a little difficult to reach because he was back at the rodeo grounds cleaning up after the weekend – added he wanted “to thank all the committee members that I work alongside because, without them, there would not be a me, and thank you for all you do for the community.”
Woytiuk is the manager and an owner of Unity Motor Products, a Chevrolet dealership. In making her comments, Gaetz said, “He has been in retail business all his life. He has sold machinery and vehicles as well as been in the restaurant and mini golf business.”
He grew up in North Battleford and has a cottage at Meota where he also volunteers, sitting on the Meota Regional Park board.
Woytiuk and his wife, Randi, have two sons and a granddaughter. As Gaetz noted, “He has instilled volunteerism in his family as well. In that respect (also) he is a positive asset to the community.”
