The province of Saskatchewan shared that more than 330,000 volunteers have offered their time in 2025, playing a vital role in keeping communities running every day.

In a special event honouring some of the top volunteers, 14 volunteers were presented with the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal by Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre. The special event was supported by groups like Sask Sport, SaskCulture, and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association and highlighted how volunteers help in places like hockey rinks, hospitals, schools, festivals, community halls, and more.

The officials shared that the impact of volunteers is impossible to replace and called them the “heartbeat” of communities. Volunteers have been working behind the scenes in many ways, from coaching sports, organizing events, serving on boards, running programs, and supporting schools and charities. Together, they form the backbone of sport, culture, and recreation across the province.

The theme for National Volunteer Week 2026, Ignite Volunteerism, aims to celebrate the power of civic participation and the vital role volunteers play in building resilient, inclusive communities. The special award ceremony also highlighted Saskatchewan’s unique volunteer culture, where residents step into roles that range from coaching and officiating to governance and event planning.

National Volunteer Week serves as both recognition and recruitment across Canada, a reminder that community systems rely heavily on unpaid work.

Source: Denis Conroy, MooseJawToday