Jesse Shkuratoff of Mossbank – a member of the Assiniboia Kinette Club – had the honour of being the Telemiracle 44 Committee Chairperson in 2020. This year, Shkuratoff also had three Assiniboia Kinettes on her committee, including Lorna Menke (Manpower), Amanda Duxbury (Kin Coordinator) and Alicia Menke (Souvenirs).
Shkuratoff has enjoyed a long relationship with the Kinettes, having been a member of Kin Canada for almost 20. Whenever she isn’t participating with her duties as a Kinette, Shkuratoff is engaged with work on her family’s grain farm northwest of Mossbank as well as raising two teenagers, so she leads a busy life. Still, she always has time for the Kinettes.
When Telemiracle wrapped up its 44th edition on Sunday, March 8 in Regina at the Conexus Arts Centre, the final numbers onstage showed a total of $5,523,472 had been raised for Saskatchewan’s charity. Since 1977, the total amount of money raised by Telemiracle is pegged at over $140 million. “Every year, when you see that total, you know that several people were involved with raising that amount. It’s special to me to know that so many people were rallying behind our cause,” Shkuratoff exclaimed.
She has played many active roles in a number of Telemiracles in the past. “I was zone representative on the Kinsmen Foundation Board from 2008-2010 – the Kinsmen Foundation Board reviews applications and decides where the money goes,” she added then discussed her additional roles at Telemiracle. “I was also the Treasurer of the Foundation Board from 2011-2012.”
Shkuratoff had been on Telemiracle committees on multiple occasions – these committees are responsible for organizing the show. So far, she’s had a role on the committee for Telemiracles 36, 38, 42, 43 and 44. “I think the opportunity to serve on the provincial board has been wonderful,” Shkuratoff recounted.
Her husband Clint has also participated in Telemiracles at the executive level. For example, he functioned as the Chair of Telemiracle 38. This year, Clint Shkuratoff was the Co-Corporate Chair on the TM 44 committee.
Shkuratoff actually first became involved with the Kinettes through her husband, Clint. “I married a Kinsman and moved to Mossbank. The local Kinettes wanted to sign me up.” She joined the group, because she thought being part of the Kinettes would be fun. Also, she wanted to serve her district in a charitable facet of some kind. “I’ve enjoyed meeting Kinettes and Kinsmen across Canada and giving back to the community.”
When asked why she thought the Telemiracles were important, Shkuratoff replied “I think it’s because so many people are in need. We can provide help for so many people when they are feeling desperate.”
Finally, Shkuratoff was proud this region had been well-represented at the Telemiracle in 2020, as there were significant amounts of local volunteers from Assiniboia and district. Also, she was happy for Assiniboian Jordan Engstrom’s performance this year at Telemiracle 44, where the student from ACHS sang Holly Dunn’s song, Daddy’s Hands early Sunday morning on March 8.
Anyone who made a pledge during the telethon can mail their donation to Telemiracle, Box 83000, Saskatoon SK, S7K 9S1.
