A former MLA who represented Tisdale and Melfort will receive the Saskatchewan Order of Merit this fall.
Rod Gantefoer聽will be among ten extraordinary people that will receive the honour.
Gantefoer said the award comes as a nice surprise and is deeply honoured.
鈥淭o my mind, it proves that if I can do it, anyone can do it. I鈥檓 just pleased to be recognized for some of the things I鈥檝e helped with.鈥�
Looking back, Gantefoer said he got started helping out in community organizations at a young age and now everything has seemed to add up.
鈥淢ost of the good and generous things that happened in the province, happened behind the scenes, unknown and unrecognized, by people who want to do good.鈥�
Gantefoer 鈥渟tumbled鈥� into his political career when he ran as a member of the Liberal party in the Melfort-Tisdale riding in 1991.
He did not win but that did not stop him from running again in the 1995 provincial election, winning the seat.
Gantefoer had a varying career throughout his time in office as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Party in 1997 and being a member of the opposition and then later as Finance Minister and Government House Leader of Brad Wall鈥檚 cabinet when the Saskatchewan Party won the 2007 provincial election.
As Finance Minister, Gantefoer tabled Brad Wall鈥檚 first three budgets which was both exciting and humbling, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big responsibility.鈥�
After 16 years in office, Gantefoer said he has perspective on how government is run.
It is not an easy job, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 relatively easy to be in opposition, it鈥檚 much more difficult and challenging to be in government where the decisions you make really are important.鈥�
You can play football pretty good from the bleachers, he said, and really it is a challenge by any party to govern.
There are plenty of people who worked quietly behind the scenes, and Gantefoer said he gained a better understanding of those who worked to make Saskatchewan a better place.
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of unsung heroes who go about their jobs everyday on behalf of your fellow citizens. They do good work and never will be recognized for it.鈥�
Seeing the fruits of projects that he was a part of is a recognition enough for himself, said Gantefoer.聽 He is amazed as he watches the Children鈥檚 Hospital being built in Saskatoon, since he was able to set aside $200 million as Finance Minister for the project.
Gantefoer鈥檚聽 political career ended when he decided not to run in the 2011 election after being diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 Disease.
Current Melfort MLA Kevin Phillips said that those were not easy shoes to fill when he came into the position after the 2011 election after being Mayor of Melfort.
鈥滺e was very well liked,鈥� said Phillips, 鈥渁t the same time people of the constituency gave me a chance.鈥�
Gantefoer is someone Phillips has complete respect for, he said, even before he came into office.
鈥淲e鈥檇 have an hour-long coffee every six weeks or so just to go over the trials and tribulations of the jobs.鈥�
Even after he left the office, Phillips said Gantefoer was always there to introduce him to his new constituents and to council him on issues and problems.聽
His last six years have been spent with STARS Foundation, accepting the position of Executive Vice President in 2011.
鈥淲hen I see that red helicopter going across the sky, I鈥檓 very proud of that,鈥� said Gantefoer.
The fact that Gantefoer went from MLA to starting the STARS project while dealing with Parkinson鈥檚 Disease, is an incredible feat, said Phillips.
With this year being Canada 150, this is the year that people give thanks for their many blessings, said Saskatchewan鈥檚 Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield in a press release. 聽
鈥淭hose who will receive the Saskatchewan Order of Merit this year exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Canadian; they exemplify excellence, generosity, and leadership.聽 I congratulate and thank them, most sincerely, for their impressive contributions to our province and to our nation.鈥�
