A Swift Current resident received a medal acknowledging his volunteer work. 

Mitch Minken was presented with the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers at Monday night's city council meeting.  

Minken has volunteered as part of the Children Wish Foundation as a board member, ambassador, and as a fundraiser and has spent the last decade developing curling in Saskatchewan and Canada through the Swift Current Curling Club, CURLSASK, and Curling Canada. 

Minken said that it is very special to be able to receive the award that recognizes exceptional volunteer achievements from across the country and celebrates a wide range of voluntary contributions. 

"It has been a very fulfilling experience getting to be a part of a very magical organization that provides heartfelt wishes for children with life threating situation," Minken said when talking about the Children's Wish Foundation. "Being a part of that is certainly a reward in itself. I got to meet a lot of really strong kids and families that are going through some pretty tough times. To be able to provide a little joy in their lives and also to be able to help with their treatment. It does your heart a lot of good when you know that your part of that and what you've done for those kids." 

For the Curling Club, Minken said highlights are being able to participate in amazing events and meet great people. 

"I had the opportunity to help shape where the organization is going, but I also had the opportunity to attend a ton of events and meet so many great people from right across the province. It's an amazing privilege to be able to serve in that capacity. I remember some of the greatest memories are handing that first green jacket to provincial champions, particularly in the younger age categories and the absolute [joy] that they were feeling as they had just won a provincial championship and now that they are going on to represent Saskatchewan at a national championship, so that's a pretty powerful privilege." 

Minken said that without volunteers, things like the World Championships of Curling that Swift Current has hosted and events like Frontier Days, and the Windscape Kite Festival, wouldn't happen. 

"Things wouldn't happen without volunteers, so we need volunteers to participate. I think that's Saskatchewan, that's Swift Current. People get behind stuff, and it really speaks to the community fabric. Everybody gets to know one another, and everybody supports one another in what they are doing. It just makes for a great community."