SASKATOON — After a year of working towards reconciliation as well taking major steps towards helping the unhoused population in Saskatoon, Saskatoon Tribal Council Tribal Chief Mark Arcand has been named the CTV Saskatoon’s Citizen of the year for 2022.
The announcement was made Saturday evening during CTV’s 6 o’clock news broadcast. Arcand was selected by a panel of judges after being nominated earlier this year. This is the 56th year CTV has named a Citizen of the Year.
“I am honoured to be named the 2022 Citizen of the Year. I share this with the entire Saskatoon Tribal Council team, from our member chiefs to our employees, we cannot accomplish everything we did without the support of everyone. It is truly a team effort,” Arcand said. “We do everything for the people first and foremost. We do what’s right to help our community.”
Arcand was instrumental in the opening of the new Emergency Wellness Centre this past November which is home to 106 relatives. Originally opened on First Avenue north on Dec. 15, 2021, Arcand held four open houses for the residents of Fairhaven to explain the vision and future of this opportunity to move into a new facility.
Arcand also brought the community together as more than 10,000 people attended two urban powwows with a focus on reconciliation. According to Arcand, when you bring people together from all walks of life and you can showcase the beauty of culture, people start talking and sharing. That’s the start of reconciliation.
“In his nomination, it was noted that Tribal Chief Arcand is dedicated to reversing residential school effects through restoring cultural education. He has forged partnerships with both the Saskatoon Public and Catholic School Divisions as well as the University of Saskatchewan,” Jeff Bollenbach, GM for Manitoba/ Saskatchewan, Radio and Television, Bell Media added.
Arcand also helped organize a back to school backpack giveaway in August where 2,000 backpacks were handed out to less fortunate children preparing to head back to school. This summer he raised funds in order to introduce two mental health crisis vans for the streets and schools of Saskatoon. The vans are home to counsellors who visit Saskatoon inner city schools and supply mental health supports. In the evening the vans are used by Medavie paramedics to help with their evening calls. .
This year Arcand was presented with the Saskatoon Police Badge of Honour as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal and was named a Discovery Saskatoon Legendary Builder.
Arcand is a married father of four children (Collin 32, Courtney 23, K-Nin 12, Karder 7) and three grandchildren. He has called Saskatoon home for the last 29 years.
Arcand is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and has been the driving force behind the STC’s mission of making Saskatoon a better place for all.
