YORKTON, Sask. — Longtime Yorkton businessman and community volunteer Evan Ortynsky will be inducted as an Honorary Life Member of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce later this month, recognizing decades of service to the local business community and economic development efforts.
The honour will be presented during a luncheon at St. Mary's Ukrainian Cultural Centre on Sept. 23.
According to the chamber, Honorary Life Membership is awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves through "meritorious or public service." The designation grants recipients all the privileges of active chamber membership, except the ability to hold office, while exempting them from membership dues.
Chamber executive director Juanita Polegi said Ortynsky was selected by a committee because of his longstanding contributions to both the business community and the chamber itself.
"He's been a prominent businessman and he's just recently retired," Polegi said. "He's been very active in the business community and has been very supportive of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce."
Ortynsky is perhaps best known as the former owner of the Key Auto Group, which included General Motors, Toyota and Kia dealerships, as well as a collision centre, detailing operation and vehicle rental business. Over the years, he became one of Yorkton's most recognizable business leaders while helping create jobs and investment in the region.
Beyond business, he has played a significant role in community development. He served as co-chair of the Parkland College Capital Fund campaign, which raised funds for the college's Trades and Technology Centre, and was active in economic development initiatives throughout the city.
His involvement with the chamber spans several decades. Ortynsky served as chamber president in 1997 and spent years as a director at both the local and provincial levels.
"My businesses were chamber members, and I was a chamber director pretty much from the 1990s into the 2000s," Ortynsky said. "I was deeply involved in economic development in Yorkton."
Ortynsky described receiving the honour as both unexpected and humbling.
"It's super humbling," he said. "I've worked with so many talented people in my business and in the community. I feel everybody needs to be rewarded, but I guess I'm the one being singled out. It's very, very humbling."
Reflecting on his career, Ortynsky said one of the most rewarding aspects of business ownership was the relationships he developed over the years.
"It's just so fantastic. You meet so many people, work with so many people, whether it's employees, customers, banks or suppliers. It's really, really interesting," he said.
Having spent much of his career in Yorkton, Ortynsky has also witnessed significant changes in the local economy.
"It's always been a strong retail centre," he said. "But over the last 15 years it's really changed a lot. Food processing and canola crushing operations have come in. Yorkton has really changed from that aspect while remaining a very strong retail centre."
Polegi noted that the chamber's first Honorary Life Memberships were awarded in 1969. While the recognition has not been presented every year, the chamber resumed the process in 2013 and continues to honour individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on the community.
The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce represents more than 420 businesses and organizations and works to promote a local business environment that supports investment and growth.
Pre-registration is required for the Sept. 23 luncheon. Interested attendees can contact the Yorkton Chamber office for more information.
