The Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards honour individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to co-operatives and credit unions in Saskatchewan.
Click on the titles below to jump to that section on this page -
- Congratulations to our 2022 Award Recipients: Naomi Seaborg, Gordon Lightfoot, Gene Krepakevich and CSS Pension
- You're invited to attend the Merit Awards dinner and ceremony on October 17th in Regina
- Nomination information and Award category details
- Last Year's Recipients
- Merit Award Recipients archive
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022 CO-OPERATIVE MERIT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Scroll down to learn more about each recipient and to watch a brief video
Naomi Seaborg
Co-operative Young Leaders Award
Naomi is a living example of the co-operative value “Concern for Community.” Naomi started her co-operative career in 2007 with Conexus Credit Union and hasn’t looked back.
When she is not staffing at Camp Kindling, Naomi is developing and mentoring Conexus’s Emerging Leaders and in her spare time volunteering in her community of Drake. Read MORE.
Gordon Lightfoot
Lifetime Co-operative Achievement Award
Gordon is seen as an innovative and future-focused leader whose decisions are always guided by the co-operative principles. His approach to governance ensured that the member’s best interest was always at the heart of the board’s decisions.
Gordon has served in co-operative governance for more than 40 years and led Innovation Credit Union to the success it enjoys today. Read MORE.
Gene Krepakevich
Lifetime Co-operative Achievement Award (posthumous)
A self-described “co-op man,” Gene served for 42 years on the local co-op board, retiring earlier this year. In the 1980s, Yorkton Co-op was struggling, and Gene is credited with saving the organization.
Through skillful negotiations and honest communication, Gene was able to turn the co-op around. Today Legacy Co-op continues to thrive, due in part to Gene’s dedication. Read MORE.
CSS Pension
Co-operative Enterprise Award
For more than 80 years, CSS Pension has been a competitive advantage for co-operatives and credit unions across Canada.
Seen as an innovative leader in the pension industry, CSS Pension is one a few pension companies which offers a fixed monthly plan and retirement planning services for their members. Read MORE.
JOIN WITH US IN CELEBRATING OUR RECIPIENTS
Join us in Regina on October 17 for our annual Co-operative Merit Awards Banquet.
Register to attend the awards banquet and help them celebrate!
The event will be held at The Atlas Hotel, 4177 Albert St, Regina.
Reception begins at 5:30pm. Dinner & Awards Ceremony begins at 6:30pm.
Tickets cost $65 and can be ordered from the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association at 306-343-3582 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The deadline to order tickets is October 11, 2022.
Our 2022 Award Recipients during the Awards Ceremony: Back- Ken Francis, MLA Kindersley; Gordon LIghtfoot; Martin McInnis, CSS Pension; and SCA board president, Jim Deane. Front - Naomi Seaborg; and Mrs. Gene Krepakevich.
Download the invitatation for all the details (suitable for emailing or printing) HERE.
Download the Awards event program HERE. (high resolution version available upon request)
Nominations for the 2023 Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards will open in January.
ONLINE NOMINATION FORM (becomes active January 2023)
Click on the image above to download a PDF of the nomination flyer and details.
NOMINATION AND AWARDS INFORMATION
Click on the link below to quickly move to that section
SCA presented the 2020 and 2021 Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Awards at the Awards dinner and ceremony on October 18th, 2021. The 2020 Merit Awards were deferred because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Back row: Keith Nixon; Josh Noble; Muhammad Fiaz, MLA for Regina Pasqua; Lori Sanders; Brad Schultz
Front row: Liz Kerpan; Jim Deane, president, SCA board of directors; Wes Filson; Kim Schmidt; Karla (Kerpan) Kain
Absent: Stuart Dyrland
Scroll down to view celebratory videos of each recipient. Brief biographies on all recipients can be found HERE.
View the Co-operative Merit Awards video profiles for past years in our Co-operative Merit Awards Archive.
LIFETIME CO-OPERATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
2020
- STUART DYRLAND
- BRAD SCHULTZ
2021
- MILTON KERPAN (posthumous)
-
KEITH NIXON
-
LORI SANDERS
CO-OPERATIVE YOUNG LEADER
2020
- WES FILSON
2021
- JOSH NOBLE
- KIM SCHMIDT
MERIT AWARD RECIPIENT CELEBRATORY VIDEOS
Stuart Dyrland
Brad Schultz
Milton Kerpan
Keith Nixon
Lori Sanders
Wes Filson
Josh Noble
Kim Schmidt
Click on the image above to download a PDF of the nomination flyer and details. g
AWARD CATEGORIES
Awards are presented in some or all of the following four categories. To download a copy of these categories and the eligibility requirements, click HERE.
LIFETIME CO-OPERATIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
For long, varied and meritorious service by individuals in volunteer and/or elected positions within co-operatives and credit unions.
Eligibility: Current or former Saskatchewan residents who have served as elected officials, volunteers and members of co-operatives and credit unions locally, provincially, nationally or internationally.
CO-OPERATIVE CONTRIBUTION AWARD
For those who inspire others as a role model, leader and mentor through the development and expansion of co-operatives and credit unions, or increasing awareness and understanding of co-operatives and co-op principles.
Eligibility: Current or former Saskatchewan residents, such as employees, elected officials, volunteers and members of co-operatives and credit unions.
CO-OPERATIVE ENTERPRISE AWARD
For leadership, innovation and achievement in co-operative business and member service initiatives for the social and economic development of the co-operative sector.
Eligibility: Co-operatives, credit unions and organizations working on behalf of the co-operative sector, operating in Saskatchewan. Organizations may be nominated or self-nominate.
CO-OPERATIVE YOUNG LEADERS AWARD
For outstanding contribution by a young person to co-operatives and credit unions in Saskatchewan.
Eligibility: Saskatchewan residents under age 36 (at the time of nomination) who have demonstrated personal support of and involvement in at least one co-operative or credit union.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Follow these eight nomination steps.
- Identify a person or an organization that has made an outstanding contribution to co-operatives and credit unions in Saskatchewan.
- Select an Awards category. (You may submit nominations for different people or organizations in multiple categories.) If you're note sure, don't worry, the committee can change the category if need be.
- Gather information to support the nomination, using these nomination form questions as your guide. As you develop your nomination, remember that the Selection Committee is looking for stories and details of the actions your nominee has taken and how your nominee has created a positive impact (not just a CV or list of their accomplishments).
- Submit your nomination(s) online by the deadline. If you are submitting multiple award nominations or need to submit in MS Word format, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (Documents submitted in Word format must still follow the format used in the sample nomination form.)
- Nominations will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. Both nominees and nominators will be notified by letter if the nominee has been selected as an award recipient.
- Award recipients will be required to validate the accuracy of the information, and consent to the publishing of any photographs or information provided by the nominator.
- The 2022 Awards will be presented during National Co-op Week (Oct. 16-22, 2022).
- Nominations for individuals not selected as an award recipient can be revised and re-submitted in a subsequent year. Self nominations for the Co-operative Enterprise Award are welcome.
NOMINATION PACKAGE TIPS
- Download and review the sample nomination form. This PDF version of the nomination form shows all of the nomination questions so that you can prepare your nomination information and documents in advance before completing your online submission. Note that this PDF is not fillable and will not save your answers.
- Create your nomination package in MS Word and cut and paste the answers into the online nomination form in case you experience technical difficulties with the online system.
- Include specific examples of the nominee's contributions to the betterment of each co-operative they've been involved with. Provide examples of the role they played in some of the
milestones or significant achievements of the organization. We recommend that you share stories of the impact your nominee has had. (Please do not only submit a CV/resume or list of their accomplishments, though these items can be included in your nomination package.) - You may need to gather information from other co-operatives or organizations they've been involved in. Supporting materials such as letters of support, resumes or other documentation are welcome. Letters of support strengthen your nomination! Ask those who have worked or served with the nominee to write a letter outlining stories and specific examples of the nominee’s contributions to co-operatives.
- Nominations are not only assessed on length of service, but also on the specific contributions and innovations the nominee has made to the organization(s) and the community while in each role.
- Be sure to include names and/or contact information for any media that we should contact if the nominee is selected, such as local tv and radio stations, newspapers, etc. Also include any trade publications, federations/associations, service clubs, professional networks, etc. that should be notified by SCA.
- Completed nomination packages must be submitted online or reach the SCA office by 11:59pm on May 1, 2022 to be considered.
Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Award Archives
Become inspired! View the Co-operative Merit Awards video profiles for past years in our Co-operative Merit Awards Archive.