The Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN) is celebrating 50 years of service to the Yorkton community this year. In 1968, Father Paul St. Pierre, Rev. Jack Jones, Rev. William Shank and the Rev. Roland Wood felt there was a need for an organization to reach the community in a way that was beyond what was possible by individual churches. SIGN first opened its offices on May 1, 1969. The first board of directors consisted of the following, seen in the photo above, back row from the left: Father Len Ratushniak of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, banker Bryan Smith, businessman Mike Keaschuk, businessman Al Porter, Rev. Ray Glen of Knox Presbyterian Church; front row from the left: accountant Ernie Quine, Father Paul St. Pierre (Managing Director) of St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church, Kathy Derworiz (Admin Assistant), Rev. Jack Jones of St. Andrew’s United Church and Rev. Roland Wood of Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Rev. William Shank of Westview United Church, one of the founders of SIGN, had moved away from Yorkton before the organization started operations. While most of the original board has passed away, Father Ratushniak now lives in Winnipeg, and Rev. Glen lives in Edmonton. SIGN has not been able to determine the whereabouts, if he is still alive, of Father St. Pierre. If anyone knows of him, please contact SIGN at d.deryk@signyorkton.ca.
Dick DeRyk
SIGN Communications
Yorkton SK
