The Young Fellows Club of Weyburn will be among the first recipients of the new Premier’s Service Club Award.
“Saskatchewan is truly blessed to have such wonderful and dedicated local service clubs which help when people need it the most and make our communities better places,” said Premier Brad Wall. The Young Fellows, along with the other inaugural recipients, will be presented certificates signed by the Premier.
Brett Ferguson, president of the Young Fellows Club, was very excited about the announcement.
“Saskatchewan is known for organizations who do volunteer work, and to have an organization from Weyburn receive the inaugural Premier Service Club Award is pretty huge. The Young Fellows are honoured to be that organization.”
While a date for the award presentation is not known yet, Ferguson is hoping that any current or past member of the club will be able to attend the award presentation.
“It is a true honour to be signalled out as a great volunteer in our community, especially since we have held a number of big community events that were a success,” said Ferguson.
Andy Barber, past president of the Young Fellows, noted that receiving the award won’t change what the Young Fellows do for the community. “We are based 100 per cent on volunteer activity, and 100 per cent of our members have been volunteers, and 100 per cent of what we fundraise goes back into the community.”
He was president of the club when a fellow member, Darryl Ward, brought forth a newspaper advertisement promoting the new Premier’s Service Award.
From there, the club turned to an outside person to bring forth a nomination for the award. “It is truly a honour to be recognized, when there is so many clubs in our area who do a lot of work, and also donate back to their community,” said Barber.
Scott Paxman, who is called “Mr. Young Fellow” by other members, reflected on his time with the club. “As far as my personal view of the club, I joined in 1991 on the advice of Mal Barber and haven’t looked back since.”
“I was past president in 1998 and have chaired most of our major projects at one time or another over the years. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, joining the Young Fellows,” said Paxman.
“Looking back, I just couldn’t imagine not being part of the Young Fellows; there really has been lots of hard work and it is great giving back to the community of Weyburn. But the real reward to me personally is all the friendships that I have made over the years. There are so many guys and their families that I would have not known at all, if it wasn’t for being part of the club, for that reason alone I will always be truly grateful for being part of the club.”
The Young Fellows Club of Weyburn was established in 1922 with the goal of making its community a better place to live.
Since then, the organization has invested more than $2 million into the community by donating to almost major Weyburn project.
Highlights of the club’s work in their 92 years include financial and volunteer support for the first outdoor pool in Saskatchewan in 1931; every local minor sports program; the health care system; fire department rescue vehicles; playground equipment; swimming lessons; an indoor pool, a second rink ice surface; and a splash park at the Don Mitchell Tot Lot.
The club was founded with the aim to promote the spirit of fraternalism among its members; to develop its members for better citizenship; and to contribute in any way it deemed advisable to public welfare.
Launched in late 2013, this new Premier’s Service Club award was created to recognize the dedicated service clubs and fraternal organizations that help improve Saskatchewan’s quality of life by contributing to the province’s communities.
