SASKATCHEWAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD PRESENTED

Deputy Premier Clay Serby presented the Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award today to Ken Battle, Thomas Courchene and Sir Conrad Swan on behalf of Premier Lorne Calvert.

Ken Battle is the President of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy in Ottawa. He has played a key role in establishing new directions for Canadian social policy, including the National Child Benefit which has been significant to Saskatchewan.

Thomas Courchene is a professor of Economic and Financial Policy at Queen's University. He was instrumental in the province receiving additional financial compensation from the federal government through the federal equalization program.

Sir Conrad Swan is the former head of heraldry in England and one of the world's leading authorities on heraldry and honours. Dr. Swan has taken special interest in Saskatchewan, helping to obtain the province's coat of arms from The Queen in 1986 and a new Great Seal in 1991.

"Through industry, agriculture, technology, the arts, education and finance, Saskatchewan now reaches into every corner of the world," Serby said. "And I am pleased that knowledgeable experts from outside our province share our enthusiasm for the great strides we are making."

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes non-residents of the province who have made outstanding contributions to Saskatchewan and the development of the provincial economy and society.

Including this year's recipients, 19 non-residents have received the Distinguished Service Award since its inception in 1997.

The three Distinguished Service Award recipients also received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal today.

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For More Information, Contact:

Maureen Boyle Government Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-5959