Long-time City Councillor Randy Goulden was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Saskatchewan Spirit Award at the YWCA Saskatoon announced its 2019 Women of Distinction presentation Tuesday evening.
“It was pretty awesome, and a little bit overwhelming,” she told Yorkton This Week Tuesday morning.
Goulden said when she looked over the list of nominees across the various categories she said she couldn’t help but be impressed.
“There were so many amazing contributions they’ve made to their communities,” she had said at the time of her nomination.
As it was the new award was the last to be presented, and Goulden said she was just enjoying the evening talking to people such as fellow nominee Sheryl Spence the Mayor of Warman.
“I was having some nice conversations,” she said.
And then her name was announced.
“I kind of didn’t believe it,” she said, adding she initially thought they were simply reviewing the nominees.
Then it sunk in that she has won.
“It was just overwhelming,” she reiterated.
Goulden said the award was made just a bit more special for her as it came on the same night Senator Lillian Dyck was presented the 2019 Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I called her my silent mentor,” said Goulden, who added she has long followed Dyck’s career finding inspiration in it.
Dyck is a member of the Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, and a first generation Chinese Canadian, The Honorable Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck is well-known for advocating for equity in the education and employment of women, Chinese Canadians and Aboriginals. She is the first female First Nations senator and first Canadian born Chinese senator.
“Imagine some of the things she had to go through in her life,” said Goulden.
As for Goulden’s own career her bio notes state she has “many years of work in the community as well as her involvement with provincial and national organizations which have kept her in close touch with the people of Saskatchewan and the issues directly affecting them. First elected to Yorkton City Council in 1997, Randy continues to serve and is on both the provincial Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the national Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She believes all municipal councils and associations are to be inclusive with women equally represented. An active community volunteer, she has served on community, provincial, and national committees. Randy believes and promotes that all people should be more active, working with Saskatchewan in Motion since its inception.”
Following the presentation many stepped forward to congratulate Goulden. She said she could not help but recognize the variety of connections she has made in her life as people ranging from community mayors to a waitress that used to serve her and her grandchildren were in attendance.
Having family there, husband Rex, two daughters, a grandson and two granddaughters also “made it special,” said Goulden
