The Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon to highlight a number of individuals and groups in the community who have gone out of their way to better Moose Jaw, before awarding one nominee from each category with an impressive title.
This year’s Citizen of the Year Award was given to Krystal Chow, to celebrate the volunteer work she has done around the community.
Chow was nominated for a long list of community involvement: her work with the Warrior’s Booster Club, her help organizing radiothons for the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital and Humane Society, her involvement with the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program.
She was also a part of the volunteer force that made the recent Saskatchewan Air Show hosted at 15 Wing possible, and will be providing her time and expertise as a volunteer with the upcoming Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
“[I’m] very surprised and very lucky to be Citizen of the Year,” said Chow, on winning the award. “Most people would say when they volunteer, they don't expect anything. . . so for it to be recognized is very humbling, very exciting, and I'm very happy.”
Volunteer work is something that Chow has always considered important, and is why she continues to lend herself to the community in so many ways.
“Growing up in our family, you always knew that you volunteered, you always help the community, you helped your neighbour, even if it was just shovelling their walk,” said Chow.
This year’s Group of the Year Award was given to Moose Jaw Families For Change, for the numerous ways they offer support and betterment to the entire community.
The group focuses on creating an inclusive space for adults with disabilities, offering independence through their housing initiative, programming at the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, and their new workplace experience program at the Kinsmen Cafe.
MJFFC also supports other initiatives, organizations, and even businesses throughout the city, and works with many community partners in their programming.
Several representatives from MJFFC were present to receive the award, including both staff and clients from the organization who were excited to be recognized.
“We're certainly humbled and we're most definitely grateful for the opportunity to win this award,” said Katie Statler, community coordinator for MJFFC. “We really try to do what we do for the acknowledgement of those that we support and not for ourselves as the messengers.”
An impressive number of nominees were featured this year for both awards, a fact that Chamber CEO Rob Clark was happy to accommodate.
“Wow is the word. I feel the nominees we had were absolutely awesome this year,” said Clark. “Moose Jaw always comes through, with nominations.”
The Chamber also gave the stage to the Heritage Advisory Committee, who presented six awards to deserving Moose Jaw heritage advocates for the work they have done to preserve the city’s history.
