Janet Caldwell, left, shown with her husband Bill. Janet is being honoured with a provincial volunteer medal for her long service in the Meadow Lake area. (submitted photo/Janet Caldwell)

By Angela Brown

Honouring volunteers

Longtime M.L. volunteer honoured with provincial award for service

Apr 3, 2019 | 5:08 PM

It’s the satisfaction of seeing young people’s talents blossom and community-based initiatives flourish that are among the many reasons Janet Caldwell has volunteered in the Meadow Lake area for more than 50 years.

Caldwell is being recognized with the prestigious Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal for her long service in the community in music and health care after being nominated last year.

“I’ve always enjoyed being involved and seeing things progress, hopefully things getting better over the years,” she said of her passion for volunteering. “Many of the things I was involved in setting up are still continuing.”

The energetic woman said she was taken aback when she discovered she was named as one of the award winners this year.

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“I was very surprised,” she said, adding she appreciates the honour.

Caldwell is among more than a dozen recipients from across the province who will be presented with the Volunteer Medal from Lieutenant Governor W. Thomas Molloy in a special ceremony in Regina on April 9 during National Volunteer Week.

Amongst her contributions over the years, she became an active volunteer in the Meadow Lake area starting in 1967 when she was in her late 20s, and was involved in organizing a number of choirs and a youth group at Grace United Church. She also volunteered as an organist in the community for more than 50 years.

Notably, Caldwell helped organize the Meadow Lake and District Music Festival in 1978 as part of the steering committee, and dedicated 30 years to serving on the festival committee.

The advocate has also volunteered in many organizations over the years and served on steering committees to establish home care services in Meadow Lake and later to start the area Community Health Advisory Network.

At the same time she worked as a piano teacher, providing instruction to more than 400 students over the years. She also set up the Royal Conservatory of Music exam practical sessions that were new to Meadow Lake at that time.

“I enjoy doing things, hopefully to make a difference,” Caldwell said, adding there are many strong volunteers in the Meadow Lake area who like herself give their time and energy to volunteer and support programs and initiatives to benefit the community.

Originally from Northamptonshire, England, Caldwell came to Canada in 1959 and settled in Meadow Lake with her husband Bill in 1966.

Caldwell who has three grown children currently resides with her husband in Saskatoon after moving there last fall to be closer to family.

Jason Quilliam is the Saskatchewan Chief of Protocol and non-voting secretary on the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council, which recommends recipients for the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

He said Caldwell was a good candidate for the award for service.

“It’s obvious for Janet – you have somebody who has been volunteering for over 50 years,” he said. “She has done such great things in Meadow Lake. It’s obvious that she is very well deserving, the pillar of the volunteer community.”

Quilliam mentioned the Volunteer Medal is given to those nominated who have a long record of continued service.

“We consider the (award recipients) for extraordinary volunteerism over sustained period of time,” he said. “These are the best of the volunteers we have throughout the province, very deserving.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @meadowlakeNOW