Hat icon basks in glow of Games
The ‘VIP’ lanyard hanging around the neck of Dr. Ken Sauer is there for a good reason: He has been a very important person in Medicine Hat since moving here in 1974, and this week’s Special Olympics Canada Summer Games are the result of Sauer-led efforts from nine years ago.
In 2017, Dr. Sauer spearheaded a successful local bid for the 2022 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, but the event was cancelled when COVID-19 hit. “I went in to see the mayor and he said “if you guys are good with this, I’m good with it.’ National officials with Special Olympics said it was one of the best bids they’d ever received,” said Sauer.
Now 94, Dr. Sauer’s role with the current Games is more of an advisor, but committee members know they can always get good advice from him if needed. But he’s more than just an advisor. Thursday, for instance, he was at the Panorama Lanes distributing medals to the bowling winners.
“I’ve worked behind the scenes,” he said. “Vice-president of administration, public appearances. I like doing that. That’s my baby. This is a wonderful, wonderful event. The opening ceremonies were fantastic. I feel very satisfied now that it’s coming to a close and just as special as we thought it would be.”
Dr. Sauer, a longtime school superintendent in Medicine Hat and a city councillor for eight three-year terms, is always quick and eager to raise his hand when volunteers are needed. “I got here in 1974 and I’ve volunteered ever since,” he said. “You know, when I think of it, I’ve been volunteering since I was 14 and I’m now 94, so I’ve got 80 years of volunteering and I’ll continue to do so until I’m 104.”
His involvement in a wide variety of community endeavours led to his induction in 2009 to the Alberta Order of Excellence, the highest civilian honour an Albertan can achieve.
Dr. Sauer said he has lost track of the major events in Medicine Hat for which he has volunteered. “Alberta Summer and Winter Games; 55-plus Games, Southern Alberta Recreation Association Games, There must be 11 or 12 of them.”
Medicine Hat has a great reputation for volunteerism, said Dr. Sauer, and much of that work is led by local community clubs. “The Kiwanis Club (of which he is a member) has been very helpful when it comes to volunteers, as have the other service clubs in Medicine Hat. Not only do they do community work for their own projects, but they get involved in other things in the community, and it’s just marvelous to see that.”
Most of the volunteers who signed up to help for the 2022 Games have returned to the fold this year, said Sauer. “Most of them have come back. This is the volunteer capital of Canada and people feel good about being the host and working. They say they learn much more about the process, about Special Olympics for example, or Alberta Games. We get calls and emails from people saying ‘We just trust you guys to be good supporters of our kids.’ And that’s good to hear.”
Dr. Sauer said it warms his heart to hear visitors say how much they are enjoying the city.
“What they have told me is that Medicine Hat is a nice community and they say ‘boy do we enjoy being here.’ It’s a wonderful experience for them and that’s good for the reputation of Medicine Hat. Sometimes we hear the story, too, about being the forgotten corner. People across Canada now know where Medicine Hat is, and we may be in a corner, but we’re a big corner.”
Some people say Ken Sauer is one of the city’s best ambassadors and he doesn’t dispute that title. “That’s exactly what I feel like,” he said. “As an alderman and superintendent of schools, my job was to promote, always promote Medicine Hat. I felt good about it because I’m very proud of the community and very proud of my involvement.”
He estimates he’s met between 15,000 and 20,000 people in his many years of volunteerism.
So what’s next for Dr. Ken Sauer? “Another retirement,” he said with a chuckle. “No. 7 retirement. I’ll be keeping my eye on things in case they need somebody to say ‘Let’s do it.’ I’ll use my little know-how to help.”
— story by Bruce Penton, Special Olympics Canada Summer Games; Colton McKee, videographer; Andrew Parry, producer
