Saskatoon’s 2024 Citizen of the Year presented by CTV 

WATCH: Don Greer was honoured as 2024 Saskatoon citizen of the year for his contributions to the community.

Friends and family gathered in Saskatoon to celebrate the 2024 Saskatoon Citizen of the Year presented by CTV, Don Greer.

Everyone who lives in Saskatoon has probably come across his work as an architectural engineer, including on Bishop Mahoney High School and the Saskatoon City Hospital.

But it’s more likely someone has come across his volunteer work. Whether it’s the ice sculptures he spent the last five decades making, learning how to tie a knot in Scouts, or being coached by him in water polo or curling, Greer’s fingerprints are all over the city.

That’s why he was chosen as the 2024 Saskatoon Citizen of the Year.

“The Citizen of the Year has been going for 58 years in Saskatoon,” said J.C. Garden, director of news & public affairs at CTV Saskatchewan. “And CTV, we love telling people’s stories. This is the one opportunity we get to actually recognize some of these folks that make such a big difference in our communities.”

Greer was honoured at a breakfast Wednesday morning, emceed by Jeff Rogstad from CTV Saskatoon. He was nominated by Bruce Acton, who met Greer 25 years ago.

“I think the Citizen of the Year award is great recognition for volunteers in our community,” said Acton. “I’d known Don for 25 years through the Cubs and Scouts program. Back in early 2000, our Alex was four or five years old, we marched down to North Park Wilson School and joined the Beavers group down there. That’s the day I met Don.”

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Over the years, Acton learned of all the other things Greer was involved with, including his work with the performing arts and as a composter and gardener, as well as a coach.

“The list goes on and on, and it’s really quite significant,” he said. “And so, I thought, you know what? If anybody deserves this award, it’s him. So, in retirement, I found the time to write the nomination and submit it.”

Greer says being honoured as 2024 Saskatoon Citizen of the Year brings back the warm feelings he gets from volunteering.

“It brings back all those memories of all the things that, over my lifetime that I’ve done and why I’ve done it,” said Greer. “And so it’s memories, it’s what’s come back.”

Greer says having his hand in so many different things requires good time management.

“We all have families, we all have jobs that we had to go to, and the ability to organize your time so that you can get those kids to the game,” he said. “And if you’re going to be at the game, you might as well coach from the sideline.”

Now that he’s received another award, Greer says he’s not going to sit back and relax.

“No, I’m never quiet,” Greer told CTV News. “I don’t even watch a lot of TV because I’ve always got something on the go. I think staying healthy. When you get to my stage in life, you want to be able to do those sorts of things. So looking after my health is important to me.”

Congratulations to Don Greer, 2024 Saskatoon Citizen of the Year, presented by CTV.