LA RONGE GROUP RECEIVES SPIRIT AWARD

Gary Tinker Federation for the Disabled of La Ronge today received its Spirit Award for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the category of services for people with disabilities.

"Community-based and voluntary organizations are the backbone of the high quality of life Saskatchewan families enjoy," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "The Spirit Awards are one way we can celebrate and profile the tremendous work of CBOs in Saskatchewan and their role in making our province a national leader in voluntary participation."

"Gary Tinker Federation, like other human services CBOs, is an integral part of the social services sector," Community Resources Minister and Minister Responsible for Disability Issues Buckley Belanger said. "It is an excellent example of the determination that exists in the sector to develop caring and vibrant communities and to make life better for Saskatchewan families."

"Our Board of Directors and staff are very pleased to receive the first Spirit Award for CBOs," Gary Tinker Federation Co-ordinator George Ward said. "This award shows that Gary Tinker's 650-kilometre walk on crutches from La Ronge to Regina in 1989 has truly made a difference for people with a disability in northern Saskatchewan."

This is the first year of the Spirit Award for CBOs. It was created to honour the human service CBOs that deliver programs and services on behalf of Community Resources and help address important social issues at the local community level. CBOs that received funding in the last two years from Community Resources or the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, an agency of Community Resources, to provide programs or services in one of the five award categories were eligible.

Award recipients were selected by a group of individuals from the education, government, Aboriginal and community sectors based on their ability to make a difference in people's lives and their demonstrated success in areas such as building inclusive families and communities, good governance, accountability and linkages with others groups.

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For More Information, Contact:

Lindy McIntyre Community Resources Regina Phone: (306)787-0916

George Ward Gary Tinker Federation for the Disabled La Ronge Phone: (306) 425-6612