Life of service its own reward, says Bill Powalinsky
STM College alum recently honoured as Hometown Hero for community efforts
By Paul Sinkewicz
Bill Powalinsky doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.
At an age when most people are enjoying retirement, the CEO of the Prince Albert and District Community Services Centre is still too busy helping others to stop, and so he’s happily still working.
“And I’m loving it,” says Powalinsky, 69. “I’m working with a tremendous agency and staff. We’re making change in the community and with individuals’ lives and its very rewarding.”
In June, CTV Saskatoon selected the STM College alum as its Hometown Hero for the work he’s done throughout his life, and continues to do.
“It’s an organization that I often said I’d like to work for,” he said of the Community Services Centre.
The organization offers employment and budget counselling centre, operates two SARCAN recycling depots and runs the paratransit and seniors transport programs in the city.
About 1,000 people a year come through its doors for employment services, a program in which Powalinsky takes particular pride.
Service to others has been a hallmark of his character. He has served with various groups and organizations over the years in P.A., as well as the other places he’s lived during his career.
“I’ve always had a bent for being involved on one board or another, and volunteering for different things.”
The Kinistino native attended STM from 1972-1976, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree.
He remembers the warm welcome he received on orientation day from faculty and students that quickly turned into fast friendships.
“We were able to make connections very early,” he said. “My haunt was the cafeteria. I would typically show up at 7:30 or 8 in the morning, and I might still be there at 8 at night. Of course, I would be in and out for classes, but we had a perennial bridge game that would start in the morning. The players would change, but the game would go on. You would come down and sit in for a while, then maybe go off to the library, come back and play a few more hands and then go grab a bite to eat. It was a real social event.”
He joined the student executive in his second year, and even served as president of the St. Thomas More Newman Alumni Association from 1973-1978, and helped develop the first Five-Year Plan for STM.
After Powalinsky earned his degree, he stayed in Saskatoon for a while, had a short career in real estate and then says he fell into career with federal government, first in Kinistino, then Melfort and Prince Albert. He went on to help his parents operate four group homes for people of various ages with intellectual disabilities, and credits their example with instilling the belief and benefits of community building.
He also remembers many of the professors at STM who had an influence on him, as well as the classes that shaped him.
“The sociology and psychology classes were useful, but it seemed like the most blended and practical application was social psychology – the study of groups,” he said. “I’ve facilitated a lot over the various careers I’ve had, and I think that gave me a solid base to develop that interest. So, I think that’s been character forming.”
“I think just the ability to learn and research was something that I’ve carried with me and the ability to work as a team was something that was very critical in my character development.”