Two Locals Receive Premier's Commendation Award

Eight individuals received the Saskatchewan Premier's Commendation Award on Tuesday to honour their courageous action, empathy, or generosity.

Among those honoured, Swift Current resident Blaine Switzer and Rush Lake's Jonathan Thomason received the Award to acknowledge their actions after they rescued a woman from a burning vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway about three years ago.

"We have a number of awards that we offer to Saskatchewan people," said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. "The highest honour is the Order of Merit, and so that's typically a lifetime of achievement or at least over an extended period of time a great contribution to the province. Yogi Huyghebaert's point was we didn't really have anything to acknowledge maybe a singular act of courage that literally saved lives or a life. So he came to us as a caucus with the idea a few years ago, and we just decided it was the right idea. It was the right thing to do, and so we now have something to acknowledge amazing acts of courage. I think it's right that a province would acknowledge and celebrate those acts of courage."

"I consider it to be probably the second highest award in the province after the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, that's the way I look at it," added Wood River MLA and chair of the commendation committee, Yogi Huyghebaert. "I'm extremely proud of these individuals for the deeds that they have done, and it's very nice to see them honoured here at the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan by the Premier."

Other 2014 recipients included Travis Laycock (Saskatoon), Bill Nagel (Regina), Darren Katzell (Yorkton), Chris Katzell (Saskatoon), along with Anthony Williams (posthumously) of Burlington, North Carolina and Bob McGrath of Teaneck, New Jersey for their service to Saskatchewan people.