Angela Sereda was chosen by an anonymous jury as the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Citizen of the Year.
Earlier this year, Sereda was also nominated for the national Kubota Community Hero Award and placed in the top three in Canada. She donated her $5000 finalist’s award to Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw.
Angela co-created the new Community Paramedicine program in 2021. She co-founded Tru-Unity, a leadership program for girls, and has been a primary facilitator of the program for the past five years. She helped adapt the program to the restrictions of the pandemic by moving its programming online and by organizing safe in-person events.
Her nomination noted that “Angela’s compassion and positive leadership have motivated young girls to challenge career stereotypes and inspired them to believe in themselves and to pursue careers of their passion and not of societal expectations.”
Sereda is the chair of the Moose Jaw Heartland Hospice board. She sits on the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics’ Professional Conduct Committee and the CSA Technical Committee on Community Paramedicine.
“Wow, it’s such an honour,” Sereda said of her win. “Listening to (the stories) of all the other individuals who are nominated… how can you choose when there is so much good happening in our community?”
“Moose Jaw’s just a really great place to live,” Sereda added. “I recognize all of those who have helped me along my journey and got me to where I am today. So thank you. And congratulations to everyone. I share this with everyone else who was nominated today. Thank you for all you do.”
Recognizing the other nominees for Citizen of the Year
Della Ferguson is the fundraising coordinator for Square One, Inc., a community initiative aimed at reducing homelessness in Moose Jaw. Ferguson is known in Moose Jaw for her kindness and compassion, and for her involvement in numerous charitable projects. She is also involved with John Howard Society’s My Place program. She organizes monthly lunch n’ learns to raise awareness of societal issues such as mental health and addictions, and sexual assault. This is only a short list of the efforts she continually pours effort into.
Doreen Meadows was a psych nurse. Although she retired at the age of 70, she has not stopped giving to her community. At the age of 84, her nomination said, “she continues to give freely of her time – she cares and nurtures to the sick, the lonely, and anyone less fortunate or in need of assistance. Her efforts include home-cooked meals, rides to appointments, home deliveries for people without transportation, and celebrating birthdays with the lonely." Meadows volunteers at Minto Church, Canadian Blood Services, and the Dr F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital gift shop – just to name a few.
Jared Mathieson is an instructor at Sask PolyTech who has spent hundreds of hours organizing successful fundraising events in Moose Jaw. He has contributed to the Concerts of Hope at the Mae Wilson Theatre, which raise tens of thousands for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation. He was a key part of organizing the Ross Wells ballpark concert last summer, raising money for youth mental health. He was also the impetus behind a November fundraiser for Transition House that raised over $27,000.
Rudi Fast is recognized around town for keeping things neat and helping people out. Ever since he retired, Fast has walked or biked to pick up garbage from the ditches and the trees, collect tumbleweeds from where they have piled up to fences, sweep sidewalks, and much more. His friendly face is almost a daily sight. This winter he’s also been spotted with a shovel and a broom, spending hours cheerfully helping to keep his neighbourhood’s driveways, sidewalks, and front steps clear.
