Two people with connections to the Moose Jaw area have been invested with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in Saskatoon.
Moose Jaw born Geoffrey Ursell, a writer, editor and publisher, and William Shurniak, who lives in Limerick and established an art gallery in Assiniboia, were both recognized at the ceremony on Thursday.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the order, which is the province’s highest honour.
Including the 12 new members, there have been 168 appointments since its inception in 1985.
Ursell, who now lives in Saskatoon, founded the publishing house Coteau Books with three writers from Moose Jaw.
He was also a founder of the Saskatchewan Publishers Group and the Saskatchewan Playwrights’ Centre.
He said: “The ceremony was a splendid occasion. It was an honour to be in the company of the other people who were invested.
“it was terrific to have another writer like Sharon Butala as part of it.
“The chief justice of the province was there and he invested people.”
