Applications are now closed for the 2024-2025 Cohort. Please check back in March 2025 for more information.
Alumni
Class of 2024
Class of 2023
Class of 2022
Alumni Reviews
Class of 2024
Class of 2023
Class of 2022
Alumni Reviews
Leadership Saskatoon Alumni Award
The award celebrates alumni who have made a significant contribution in the community, grown collaboration, supported inclusion and diversity, and continue to promote Leadership Saskatoon.
Pictured: Award Winner Sharon Clarke with Board Chair Julian Demkiw
Current Winner: Sharon Clarke – 2024
Leadership Saskatoon is thrilled to announce that Sharon Clarke, a distinguished member of our alumni and community leader, has been honoured with the 2024 Leadership Saskatoon Alumni Award. This recognition serves as a testament to Sharon’s outstanding achievements, remarkable contributions, and unwavering commitment to excellence and community leadership in the health field, through a unique combination of Indigenous, government, and non-governmental experience.
The Leadership Saskatoon Alumni Award is one of the most esteemed accolades presented annually by Leadership Saskatoon to recognize exceptional accomplishments and service among our alumni. Each year, this award is bestowed upon an alumni who exemplifies the highest standards of professional success, community engagement, and dedication to fostering positive change in Saskatoon – and in the case of Sharon, even beyond.
A member of the Chakastaypasin Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Sharon has gained extensive management and leadership experience working in health and education within government, non-profit, and Indigenous organizations across Canada and internationally. Her efforts have contributed towards a growing transformation and engagement of leaders and staff towards a culturally responsive and safe health system. This has required extensive leadership, creativity, and ingenuity on her part to work within the system to facilitate change. Sharon has been instrumental in the planning and implementation of an emerging Indigenous health strategy at the national level with the Canadian Institute for Health Information, while also consulting with the World Health Organisation around Indigenous health issues and initiatives. Sharon currently builds safe places for all people to learn and grow through her work with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Sharon remarks that it is wonderful to be honoured as an Alumna of this Leadership Saskatoon, saying, “I loved learning with and from the program facilitators and fellow leadership colleagues, and I value the learning and lessons as they have enriched my leadership journey!” She highlights the importance of lifelong learning, finding mentors along your journey, and letting go of the safety net and not being afraid to try. Solid advice from this esteemed alumna!
Welcoming, warm, and intelligent, Sharon leads with grace and strength – and a sense of humor! Working with both newcomer and Indigenous communities to find ways to share stories that build awareness and bridge understanding, she has led and served within many communities and organizations with the purpose of strengthening and building inclusive communities.
“Sharon lives the values of Leadership Saskatoon as she guides staff, peers, and senior leaders to build inclusion and diversity within the health field from local to global arenas, and we could not be more proud to call her an alumna of our program,” said Jolene Zidkovich, Executive Director of Leadership Saskatoon. “Her remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to driving innovation and change within the health field with the purpose of strengthening and building inclusive communities demonstrates true leadership in Saskatoon and beyond.”
Sharon was formally honoured during the Graduation Ceremony of Leadership Saskatoon in June 2024.
Previous Recipients of Don Ravis Leadership Saskatoon Alumni Award
2023 – Laurie O’Connor
2022 – Nancy Lautner
2021 – Betty Mutwiri
2019 – Bill Brooks
2018 – Kelley Moore
2017 – Jason Aebig
Previous Recipients of Cherry Insurance-Leadership Saskatoon Community Leadership Award
2017 – Namarta Kochar
2016 – Zeba Ahmed
2015 – Tom Kischuk
2014 – Milton Taylor
2013 – Dave Dutchak
2012 – Kirby Wirchenko
2011 – Om Kochar
2010 – Ayten Archer