SEVEN CITIZENS TO RECEIVE VOLUNTEER MEDAL

Lt.-Gov. John Wiebe and Marguerite Gallaway, chair of the Saskatchewan
Honours Advisory Council, today announced seven citizens have been
selected to receive the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal for 1996 -- the
second group of recipients since the honour was established in 1995.

The recipients are:

Judy Buzowetsky, of Weyburn, volunteer in Red Cross, youth and
educational activities.

Lee Gisi, of Prince Albert, leader for 50 years in civic, sports
and church organizations.

Louis Hough, of Grasswood, key figure in equestrian associations
and former president of SaskSport.

Lillian Mitchell, of Grenfell, dedicated volunteer for UNICEF.

Roy Nelson, of Glentworth, active in local agricultural, sports,
veterans and civic associations.

Paul Rezansoff, of Swift Current, who has played a major role in
regional and provincial arts and culture.

Ruth Swanson, of Churchbridge, long-time activist in community,
agricultural and tourism organizations.

The medals will be presented by the Lieutenant Governor at a ceremony
at the Legislature in March.

The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal was established in 1995 during the
province's 90th anniversary to recognize outstanding volunteer service
or exceptional community involvement beyond the individual's normal
profession or duties. The first medals were presented to six people
last year.

Over a hundred nominations were received for the 1996 medal from 48
communities across the province.

Recipients of the volunteer medal receive a certificate, medal and
lapel pin and may use the initials S.V.M. after their names. The motto
on the medal, Nos Ipsos Dedimus, is Latin for "We give of ourselves".
Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of voluntarism in Canada.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Jackson, Secretary
Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-3109

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Biographies and telephone numbers of the recipients of the Saskatchewan
Volunteer Medal are attached. All recipients are willing to be
interviewed.


Recipients for 1996 of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal

Judy Buzowetsky

A teacher of home economics at Weyburn Junior High School, Judy Buzowetsky has extensively volunteered
her time for education and youth-related activities, especially with the Red Cross. Among her Red Cross
projects are blood donors, charity bazaar and other fund-raising activities, assistance to seniors, and four
years as chair of the provincial Red Cross youth advisory committee. She is also a leader in the district
multicultural council and promotion of heritage languages.

Ms. Buzowetsky was instrumental in the formation of the Saskatchewan Home Economics Teachers'
Association and has served as its president. She has held offices in the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
and the University Women's Club; she has also been national president and is a fellow of the Canadian
College of Teachers. In 1978, she was named to the Outstanding Young Women of Canada. In 1995, she
received an award of merit from the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association and in 1996 a
distinguished service award from the Canadian Red Cross.

Tel. (306) 842-7474 work
(306) 842-6456 residence

Lee Gisi

Lee Gisi, an engineer with the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, has been a community volunteer
for 50 years, starting in the Tisdale area with rural telephones and the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. While
living at Clemenceau, Saskatchewan, he was involved in rural electrification, the board of trade, school
board, sports and church activities. After moving to Prince Albert in 1966, Mr. Gisi served as president of
the East End Community Club. He led campaigns to build the club's first covered rink and the city's 3,500
seat Communiplex, a community hall, a day care centre and a curling rink.

Lee Gisi was a city councillor in Prince Albert for 15 years. He also served on the school board, library
board, Victoria Union hospital board, police commission and regional health board. He was provincial chair
of regional health boards. He was active for many years in hockey as a coach and team volunteer. He has
taught firearms safety in schools and first aid and safety rescue in the army reserve, and has been a
120-time blood donor to the Red Cross. He is an honourary life member of the Knights of Columbus and the
Prince Albert and District Labour Council.

Tel. (306) 764-1234

Louis Hough

Lou Hough has made a major contribution to equestrian sport in Saskatchewan. In 1976, he brought a
number of organizations together in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation. Mr. Hough served on the boards of
directors of the Canadian Horse Shows Association, the Canadian Equestrian Federation and the Canadian
Thoroughbred Horse Society. He and his wife organized the nationally-ranked Sandcastle Horse Show from
1977 to 1982 and he chaired the equestrian committee for the 1979 Western Canada Summer Games. Lou
Hough was also one of principal organizers of the Thoroughbred Classic Series in 1989, now an annual event
across Western Canada.

Mr. Hough has been president of SaskSport Inc., chairman of the Saskatchewan Games Council and
Saskatchewan chair of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. He was first chair of the Saskatchewan
Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. He has also served as a councillor for the rural municipality of Corman
Park, board member of the Saskatoon YMCA and been active in the Saskatoon Midget Baseball League.

Tel. (306) 374-7777

Lillian Mitchell

Retired teacher Lillian Mitchell has been a volunteer for UNICEF, the United Nations Childrenþs Fund, since
1971. Over a 25-year period she has co-ordinated the promotion of UNICEF products through schools,
churches, businesses and the media and has led fund-raising for UNICEF products in Grenfell and the area
along the Trans-Canada Highway between Regina and Moosomin. She encouraged the formation of the
Grenfell UNICEF choir. Thanks to her work, UNICEF has a significant profile in the area and a high ratio of
money raised to population.

Mrs. Mitchell is active in the United Church as an elder and director of the children's choir. She is also a
volunteer in choral music and festivals and in the Superannuated Teachers' Association. She taught high
school for 30 years and has undertaken her volunteer activities despite being legally blind. Lillian Mitchell
received the UNICEF Saskatchewan Volunteer of the Year Award in 1990 and the UNICEF Canada 50th
Anniversary Gold Award and Volunteer of the Year Award in 1996.

Tel. (306) 697-2623

Roy Nelson

After service in the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, Roy Nelson was in business, then
farmed and ranched in the Glentworth area in southern Saskatchewan. He served for 20 years as president
of the curling rink, leading the building committee. He was president of the Wood River Legion bantam
baseball league for 25 years and coach for 21 years. He also coached minor hockey for 10 years and
organized hockey and baseball schools. He served as director and vice-president of the community hall and
as local branch president and zone commander for the Royal Canadian Legion.

Mr. Nelson served as a Liberal M.L.A. in the Saskatchewan Legislature from 1975 to 1978. He was chair of
the Grasslands National Park Advisory Committee for 11 years. He was national president of the Canadian
Piedmontese Cattle Association. He has served on the boards of the local credit union, United Church, union
hospital, village council and school. He has also been a volunteer in the fire department and ambulance.

Tel. (210) 899-2071

Paul Rezansoff

Now retired after teaching art for 24 years at Swift Current Comprehensive High School, Paul Rezansoff
continues his volunteer activity in arts and culture. He was instrumental in establishing a volunteer art
gallery in the city, then a National Exhibition Centre gallery, of which he was the first chair. He is a member
of the executive of the Swift Current Museum and is president of the Swift Current Allied Arts Council,
where he developed the Stars for Saskatchewan series in the performing arts.

Paul Rezansoff has been active in the arts and culture provincially. He has served as president of the
Saskatchewan Society for Education through Art, board member and now vice-chair of the Saskatchewan
Arts Board, president of the Saskatchewan Council of Cultural Organizations, president of the Organization
of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, of which he is a lifetime member, and chair of the Minister's Advisory
Committee on the Fine Arts in Education. He received the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the
Lescarbot Award in the arts sponsored by Communications Canada in 1993.

Tel. (306) 773-9509

Ruth Swanson

Ruth Swanson has for several decades played a leading role in the community of Churchbridge. She has
been a director of the agricultural society for more than 30 years, member of the Homemakers Club, and
founding member of the Evergreen club for seniors and the Churchbridge band committee. Mrs. Swanson
was active in the 4-H movement. She was recreation director for Churchbridge and helped raise funds for
the town's first swimming pool built in 1971. She has played a leading role in community music festivals.

Mrs. Swanson was the driving force for the Churchbridge history book produced in 1980. She is a member
of the cultural council and assists with the town's street beautification program and the annual arts and
crafts show. She is a member of the economic development corporation and is active in tourism promotion
for the Kelsey Country Tourism Association. She has also been a leader in the provincial Farm Vacation
Association.

Tel. (306) 896-2752