Battleford Community Youth Club

Induction Year: 2025

Category: Builder

In February 1957 four men, Art Burdet, Ralph Smart, Bob Allen, & Keith Watkins, recognized youth needs in Battleford and area that were not being met. A group of residents came together and accepted responsibility for these needs and worked toward fulling them.  As the undertaking aimed at “youth welfare work in the community”, the name included the words community and youth; thus, Battleford Community Youth Club was formed. An executive was set up with the following objectives were stated in the original constitution:

1) To encourage participation by the youth of the Town of Battleford and surrounding area in as many activities as possible;

2) To plan, supervise, administer, and finance these activities;

3) To stress the value, appreciation, and skills involved in all competitive activities and to promote co-operation, friendship, sportsmanship and leadership. The main sports developed were hockey, baseball, softball and later figure skating. Many more sports, clubs, projects were undertaken over the years – one of the most popular still today being the Battleford Tot Lot. Many of the youth who were able to participate in sports because of the financial support and guidance of B.C.Y.C volunteers moved up the ranks to become coaches, assistant coaches or volunteers in order to give back to the community. It is noted that all the activities of the organization were completed on a volunteer basis – by club executive members, parents/adults and youth.

Members of the first executive pictured include:

Back Row – Left to Right: Ken Knight, John Ballendine Jr, Bob Allen, Keith Watkins, Art Burdett, Ron Sack, Herald Rorke, George Fedler

Front Row: Olga Rorke, Lois Smart, Maureen Wasson, Fred Moore, Marg Rorke, Eva Schweitzer & Mayme Sack.