TISDALE — Fern Lucas has received the Lou Jacobs Award, the highest honour presented by the Rural Municipal Administrators Association (RMAA) of Saskatchewan, recognizing her more than four decades of service to rural Saskatchewan municipalities.
The award was presented during the RMAA convention banquet held May 13 in Regina. The convention took place May 11-14.
Lucas began her municipal administration career in 1977 with the RM of Barrier Valley No. 397, where she obtained her Rural “C” Municipal Administrative Certificate. In 1979, she became administrator for the municipality and remained in the role until 2009.
In 2010, Lucas became administrator for the RM of Tisdale No. 427, serving there until her retirement in 2019.
Throughout her career, Lucas mentored eight individuals, helping them complete Local Government Authority courses and required mentorship hours to advance their municipal administration careers.
She also served as Division 4 director on the RMAA executive from 2015 until her retirement in 2019.
Since retiring, Lucas has continued supporting municipalities by providing temporary relief administration services until permanent administrators could be secured. In 2025, she joined the board of examiners as an office inspector, conducting on-site office inspections for rural municipal administrators pursuing advanced certification.
RMAA president Sheila Keisig said Lucas’ commitment to rural Saskatchewan made her a deserving recipient of the association’s top honour.
“Fern Lucas is most deserving of this award because her dedication and passion to rural Saskatchewan has been her number one focus as an RM Administrator for over 40 years,” Keisig said. “Fern has shown commitment to strengthening our community through mentorship, integrity and leadership. This is the personification of a deserving Lou Jacobs Award recipient.”
The Lou Jacobs Award was established in 1973 in honour of former municipal inspector and deputy minister Lou Jacobs. The award recognizes past or present rural municipal administrators, council members or Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations personnel who have demonstrated consistent and outstanding service to municipal government and community.
Only one recipient may be selected in a given year, and the award is not necessarily presented annually if no nominee meets the required qualifications.
The RMAA and Keisig described the Lou Jacobs Award as the highest honour the association can bestow.
Lucas attended school in Sylvania and Tisdale, graduating in 1976. She and her husband, Dwayne, live on an acreage north of Tisdale. They have two daughters, three grandchildren and are expecting a fourth grandchild.
The couple enjoys gardening, greenhouse work, fishing, lake activities and spending time with family and friends.
