WEYBURN – Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty presented the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) to 70 recipients in Regina on Tuesday.
Among the recipients was former Weyburn resident and longtime volunteer Linda Rudachyk, and her sister Betty, both now of Rosthern.
Linda was the executive director of the Family Place in Weyburn for many years, and a community volunteer.
“My sister and I were nominated for this by the Mayor of Rosthern, for our volunteer work in Rosthern and area. At this point, it has been focussed on the war in Ukraine and resettling displaced families in Rosthern,” she said.
“I am humbled! Nothing I have ever done has been to receive recognition and accolades. I have been blessed with a good life, and some leadership skills. Where I see a need, I surround myself with a group of ‘earth angels’ and, together, we take on the tasks and do our very best to be successful in our goals,” said Linda.
She and Betty worked on two projects, with the first immediately after the war in Ukraine broke out. “We raised $30,000 plus within two weeks to send to two charities who were immediately on the ground in Ukraine,” noted Linda, adding the second one was to resettle families in Rosthern from Ukraine.
“Right now, we work together with a group of earth angels and will be welcoming our third family from Ukraine into our little town of Rosthern. Our town has virtually no rental. And through miracles, we are in process of transforming a third house into a beautiful home, all furnished and totally outfitted and decorated and stocked with food,” she explained.
Some of her current volunteer efforts in Rosthern also included a leadership role in developing the Good Neighours Food Centre, which is food bank and food security centre. “I also volunteer cashier at the Mennonite Central Thrift Store, called The Clothes Basket, and love the extremely busy store which we refer to as our Rosthern Walmart,” she added.
“This medal allows us to honour Her Majesty’s commitment to service and pay tribute to Saskatchewan citizens who have devoted their time and effort to serving others in Canada, Saskatchewan and their communities,” Mirasty said. “I look forward to participating in medal ceremonies across the province as we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee year.”
This commemorative medal was created to celebrate the 70th anniversary year of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne and is the focus of the Government of Saskatchewan's Jubilee year celebrations.
