Seventy-seven-year-old Gordon Yarde of Battleford was ordained recently as a vocational deacon in the Anglican Church. He is a member of the Battle River Parish, which is made up of St. Paul's in North Battleford and St. George's Anglican Churches in Battleford.
Yarde says, "My field of work will be First Nations and small towns around the Battlefords."
He has already begun his work and has visited several communities, performing communion and meeting with parishioners.
Yarde says his training for ordination has been ongoing for 30 years. A retired psychiatric nurse and active community advocate, Yarde worked at his training part time. If he chooses, he can continue training to become a full-time priest.
His work as one of two deacons from the St. George's congregation will be part time, about three days a week. He is officially known as Rev. Yard, however, he says, "I'll just be known as Gordon."
Yarde was born in Barbados, moved to London, England in 1960, where he trained as a psychiatric nurse, and then to Canada in 1975. He worked in Manitoba until 1977 when he moved to Battleford.
He has worked at Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford, Edwards Residential Centre and the North Battleford Youth Centre.
He is active on the Battleford and Lakeland Library boards, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, serves as a town councillor and is on the Town of Battleford's Municipal Services Committee and Land and Business Development Committee. He is also active with the Kiwanis Club of the Battlefords, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Shriners and Masonic and Ionic Lodges.
He recently received an Honorary Service Award from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, an award that is granted to elected officials throughout the province with 20 or more years of service. It recognizes long-term dedication to and involvement in the recipient's community.
