CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2021

Royce is a natural historian; he is well spoken and diplomatic. Over the years, he has been the rock of the SW Saskatchewan Oldtimers’ Association, whether it was putting together a PowerPoint presentation, organizing the Oldtimers’ Association through tedious tasks or the annual “garage” sale as well as writing many newsletters and grant applications. Royce has spent countless hours in the restoration projects the museum has undertaken at the Orr Building, the Glascock Building, and then the Log Museum.

Royce has represented the Town of Maple Creek and various boards throughout Saskatchewan and Canada through his participation with Saskatchewan Museums and Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. He has been an advocate wherever heritage is connected.

When the Town hired Royce as the “Manager of Community & Economic Development/Main Street Program Coordinator”, they struck gold. He was instrumental in bring different partner organizations together to earn Maple Creek a staggering number of local, Provincial and National awards in the areas of Community Development, Economic Development, Tourism, and Historical Preservation. The most notable is The Prince of Wales Prize awarded to Maple Creek in 2019; a National Trust for Canada’s most prestigious prize and the highest honor for heritage stewardship that can be awarded to a Canadian Municipality.

Royce has helped put Maple Creek on the map Provincially and Nationally and, for that reason, he is well deserving of this recognition.