Special Mark of Honour? Highest Qualities of Citizenship?

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is the highest honour awarded to individuals who have contributed significantly to improving the lives of people in Saskatchewan communities. Each year, the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan announces the names of the new recipients of this esteemed award. Service Hospitality is thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Don Meikle, Executive Director of EGADZ, and Jacqueline Tisher, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Hopes Home, who were both honoured with this prestigious award. The formal ceremony, which took place in Saskatoon on September 27, was a momentous occasion for these two remarkable individuals. Watch the ceremony here!

Don has spent his career and the past 30+ years selflessly empowering and improving the lives of the vulnerable youth of Saskatoon and the province of Saskatchewan. Don has been the driving force for EGADZ through many initiatives such as My Homes, Sweet Dreams (home and early learning centre), Ground Zero, Operation Runaway, Restorative Circle Initiative, the Baby Steps Program, Fusion 22, and I AM NOT 4 SALE to name a few.

Don continues to foster and build relationships with the social programming and other services of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan to help build a world that protects our youth’s health, well-being and safety through seeing young girls rescued from sex trafficking, getting youth off the street, establishing training and independence for young people, and reuniting children with their young mothers.

Don is being recognized for the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for the incredible strides he has made within our province and the great leadership he has used to do so. This leadership is seen within the organization as well as in the community. Don Meikle was awarded Service Hospitality’s most prestigious award, the Safety Centered Leadership Award (SCLA), in June of 2023. Don is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, and in 2022, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal recognizes his outstanding contributions to our community, peers, province, and Canada. In 2019 Don received the Governor General Innovation Award for Sweet Dreams Social Impact Bond and the following year was awarded the Saskatoon Police Service’s Chief’s Award for Community Service.

Don strives for the same health, well-being and safety of his employees within the doors of EGADZ, empowering them to aid in the initiatives that continue to change our community.

Jacqueline founded Hope’s Home in 2005, the first medically inclusive child care center in Canada for children with complex medical needs. Jacqueline had worked in the field and discovered a lack of community support for children and families facing life-threatening diagnoses. 2003, Jacqueline became a foster mother to one special infant, Hope Dawn Marie. Hope’s life was beautiful but short, leading Jacqueline to recognize that change needed to occur. Hope’s Home has grown from a small home-based business to a multimillion-dollar not-for-profit charitable organization providing care to Saskatchewan children with the highest medical needs. At Hope’s Home, each child is seen as capable learners and contributors to society, no matter their diagnosis – “There’s no place like Hope” for special children to be kids.

This is not Jacqueline’s first award, from the 2010 Saskatchewan Healthcare Excellence Award for Community Leadership, the 2013 YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the 2018 U of R Alumni Humanitarian & Community Service Award. She is also a proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee Medal. These are just some of the few amazing achievements Jacquelyn has been recognized for over the years, but truly, she has made a major impact on many people’s lives within our community.

Jacqueline is being recognized for the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for the incredible strides she has made within our province and the great leadership she has demonstrated. This leadership is seen right at Hope’s Home, with their dedication and commitment to making their workplace healthy and safe for everyone!

Members of Service Hospitality, please join us in congratulating Don and Jacqueline!

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