"As president of the Ladies Committee in Meadow Lake, [Dawn] Alger has been a driving force behind the annual ladies night dinner — one of the social highlights of the year," said DUC in a statement. (sumbitted/ Duck Unlimited Canada)

By Kenneth Cheung

SASK. REPRESENTATION

Meadow Lake volunteer recognized nationally for decades of community work

Apr 25, 2025 | 12:09 PM

A Meadow Lake woman is being recognized as one of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) top volunteers in the country for 2025.

With National Volunteer Week approaching from April 27 to May 3, DUC is recognizing Dawn Alger, who has led the organization’s Ladies Committee in Meadow Lake for more than two decades.

Alger is among a handful of volunteers honoured this year from DUC’s network of about 3,000 volunteers nationwide, including roughly 530 active in Saskatchewan.

“At DUC, volunteers are the currents behind our conservation efforts—propelling the organization forward since it began, 87 years ago,” said Tim Binch, DUC’s national manager of volunteer fundraising, in a statement Thursday.

The organization first established its Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015 to formally honour outstanding grassroots leaders. Each year, one volunteer from each province or region is chosen from nominations submitted by its staff, volunteers and supporters.

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Since its inception, DUC has conserved and restored more than 9.2 million acres, influenced over 244 million acres through policy and partnerships, and enhanced nearly 493,000 acres. As of April 2024, the organization manages more than 6.2 million acres across 13,575 habitat projects.

As president of the Meadow Lake Ladies Committee, Alger has been at the heart of one of the community’s most popular events — the annual ladies night fundraiser — for 23 years.

“I do believe I’m probably the only original one left,” she said, noting her involvement started with an invitation from DUC.

What began as a small gathering at the Catholic Hall with about 100 guests quickly grew in size and spirit.

“It was very successful,” Alger recalled. “Then we just continued from there … and the demand kind of grew for tickets. So then we moved to the Civic Centre. I would say, for at least 15 years.”

After the Meadow Lake chapter of DUC closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alger and her team kept the local committee alive, ensuring Ducks Unlimited remained visible in the community.

“There’s been years and years of dedication and commitment and also our husbands have also helped set up the event,” she said. “There’s been decades of volunteerism through our spouses and our children and even coworkers.”

For Alger, the commitment is personal. Her family operates a cattle ranch north of Meadow Lake, protected by a flood prevention system installed by Ducks Unlimited in the 1960s.

“We were always aware of the work Ducks Unlimited did for us and how it really did impact us,” she said. “Before we purchased the ranch, my husband remembers the whole family being taken out by a float plane because the waters had flooded that close to the house.”

Thanks to the infrastructure, flooding today is controlled.

“We do get flooding, but not to that extent. It’s controlled,” Alger said.

While ladies night is a fun social occasion, its mission remains rooted in conservation.

“It is a fundraiser and all the money goes to Ducks Unlimited,” she said, adding that by combining efforts over the years — including support from the former Meadow Lake men’s committee — the community has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for conservation.

DUC provides event organizers with guidelines, merchandise and support, which she said makes hosting the evening easy.

Reflecting on the community’s enduring support, Alger said she is proud of what they have built together but also surprised.

“I can’t believe we’re still doing it, you know? After all these years, it’s still something that’s relevant. There’s still that community interest and support.”

Now preparing to pass the torch to new committee members, Alger said she hopes the event — and the spirit behind it — will continue.

“Meadow Lake has been a very, very strong supporter of Ducks Unlimited events for decades, and it’s been amazing,” she said.

This year’s other provincial recipients include Bettylou Christenson of British Columbia, Jim Anton of Manitoba, Darcy McWilliam of Ontario, Dr. Gaston De Serres of Quebec, Layton Ford of New Brunswick, Amy Young of Nova Scotia, and Reg Maddix and Eric Shaw of Prince Edward Island. Travis Brenton was also honoured from Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com