As with many non-profit organizations, the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild relies on the efforts of volunteers for many of our events and outreach. We are incredibly lucky to have a number of dedicated members who freely share their time, efforts and passion with the Guild.
The Hyland Volunteer Award was established to recognize the many achievements of Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild members through their volunteer support of the literary community. This award, previously named the SWG Volunteer Leadership Award, was renamed in honour of Gary Hyland in 2007. Garry was a dedicated SWG member and volunteer, who received the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal and was made a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his many community contributions.
Each year, we recognize a Guild member or two for their contributions to the writing community on a local, provincial or national level. They must have been a volunteer in the writing community for at least 5 years, and have provided outstanding service to the growth and development of the Writers’ Guild and the writing community.
Previous winners have included: Rita Bouvier and Bruce Rice (2021), Cathy Fenwick (2020) Danica Lorer (2019), Bernadette Wagner (2018), Lois Simmie (2017), and many more.
This year, the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Board of Directors is very pleased to present the 2022 Hyland Volunteer Award to Ted Dyck.
Ted Dyck is a longstanding SWG member living in southwestern Saskatchewan. Ted has studied at and graduated from a number of colleges and universities: M.Ed. (U of SK 1964); M.A. (Math. Logic, U of Minn. 1973); PhD (English, U of Man. 1988). He has taught at all of the above plus Red Deer College (AB), University of Marburg (GER), Aurora College (Inuvik, NT). At times and in places, he has been a writer (5 books of poetry, some 100 periodical pieces, 3 edited anthologies, 1 collection of non-fiction pieces, etc.); editor (GRAIN, TUSAYAKSAAT, TRANSITION); scholar; mentor; businessman; professor; pseudo-hermit; instructor; brush salesman; ranch-hand; and so on. Ted writes in a number of genres -- poetry, fiction, essay -- and operates a writing, editing, and work-shopping service called WorDoctor.
In recommending Ted for this award his nominator says, “Ted Dyck has been and continues to be an important member of the Sask writing community. He started up several Writing For Your Life groups associated with CMHA [Canadian Mental Health Association] in several communities across the province. Ted believes in the value of creative writing as a means of expression for people suffering with mental health issues. He works tirelessly on behalf of Sask writers… I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
Congratulations Ted.