'The right thing to do': Past recipient reflects on Medicine Hat involvement before upcoming Community Spirit Awards. Courtesy/Karen Saffran

By Jayk Sterkenburg

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Karen Saffran was a recipient of the last Community Spirit Awards in Medicine Hat in 2023, and now with nominations opening for 2025 she said giving back to the community is quite rewarding.

“I’ve never really thought about it too hard,” Saffran said Thursday.

“I think it’s just the right thing to do.”

Saffran is president of the Praxis Science Outreach Society — but is also involved in Canadian Parents for French, the South East Alberta Watershed Alliance, and is the chair of Crescent Heights High School council.

“I’m at a place and time in my life that I do have time to give back to my communities,” she said.

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Karen Saffran. Courtesy/Karen Saffran

Nominations opened Tuesday for the awards recognizing those who have made a remarkable contribution to the community, and have enhanced the quality of living in Medicine Hat through their actions.

Residents can nominate deserving individuals for the seven categories of arts/culture, sports/recreation, compassion, environment, community inclusion, volunteerism and civic pride.

Nominations are also being accepted for a pair of excellence awards: the Heart of Medicine Hat and Change Maker awards.

Saffran was the recipient of the Change Maker award in 2023, and said the title suggested someone who is trying to make a difference in the community.

She said with CPF, it can give people more opportunities to speak French, to expand their cultural awareness with science fairs and Praxis’ involvement.

“It’s letting kids- giving them the tools to change their own lives down the road by learning new things,” she said.

Saffran said Praxis offers programs to schools, trying to encourage a love in science with the intention of kids being interested.

She said this in hopes that kids continue in a technical or scientific field, and come back to work in the community.

Saffran said with SEAWA, attitudes can be changed about water conservation, how water is used, and how we affect our environment.

She said for the 2025 awards, she would nominate Praxis — with which she volunteers for. She said Praxis is currently relocating to Community Futures Entre-Corp.

“There are so many valuable organizations in the community,” she said.

Saffran also listed the Medicine Hat Health Foundation, the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society, the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta, and Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation as deserving of an award.

“It is really more that I have been part of some great organizations than any individual effort on my part,” she said.

“There are a lot of hard-working people in this community who are dedicated to making it better in many different ways.”

In Saffran’s acceptance speech at the previous awards in 2023, she said she was grateful for the support and encouragement of her family.

“It might be a bit of a drag sometimes to have me off at another meeting,” she said.

“But whether it is promoting science, protecting our watershed, advocating for French language learning or supporting our school system, know that I do this for you.”

The 2025 Community Spirit Awards nomination forms are due by 4:30 p.m. at June 16. The awards, which take place every other year, will be presented at an Oct. 8 ceremony at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre.

Nominees may be residents of Medicine Hat, Redcliff or Cypress County. The remarkable contribution must benefit residents of Medicine Hat, the nominator must be a resident of Medicine Hat, and nominees must agree to the nomination.

More information on the awards, the process and more is available on the Community Spirit Awards page.