2026 Program and Livestream

Recipient: McDougall Family

McDougall Acres Grainex Inc. is rooted in a century farm and built on generations of hard work, strong relationships and community involvement. Two of the four directors grew up on the family farm, and all four have been part of the company’s leadership since 1998, helping guide its growth from a grain farm into pedigreed seed production and grain and pulse processing. 

The company’s philosophy is reflected in its tagline: Seed > Producer > Market. McDougall Acres Grainex Inc. supports the full journey from seed production to providing quality seed for producers to grow to developing dependable markets for the crops produced. This connection between agriculture, producers, and end users continues to shape the company’s approach today. 

While the company has grown and evolved, the values on which it was built have remained the same: honesty, transparency, respect for others and a pledge to building long-term relationships that create positive outcomes for everyone involved. 

The directors believe strongly that business success should go hand in hand with supporting the communities that support them. Whether contributing to projects like the local multiplex, hospital, and community hall, volunteering on community boards, coaching youth sports, or supporting local recreation facilities, community involvement has always been an important part of their lives. 

Their commitment to future generations is also reflected in the McDougall Acres Grainex scholarship at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, which supports students who demonstrate values of hard work, leadership , and community involvement. 

Today, the directors, working alongside the fifth generation, continue to take a hands-on role in the business while remaining grounded in the same principles and prairie values that shaped them growing up as part of the rural community.

Recipient: Leon Friesen

Leon Friesen is a Saskatchewan-born carpenter, builder and entrepreneur. In 1978 he graduated from the Carpenty program at the SIAST Palliser Campus, receiving top marks and was awarded top student in the Industrial Division. 

Leon founded Westridge Construction Ltd in 1989, a General Contracting firm that has grown into a $200 million a year company focusing on the industrial, commercial and institutional areas of the construction industry. A journeyperson carpenter by trade, early in his career Leon had the opportunity to gain hands- on experience in the industry as a carpenter, foreman, superintendent, estimator and project manager. That experience has given him the solid background and knowledge needed to found Westridge Construction and to lead his team for 36 years through many challenging projects. Leon is also the founder of Westridge Homes Ltd. and Westridge Developments Ltd. Construction has been more than a career for Leon. It is his passion and is just part of who he is. 

Over the years Leon has served on many industry boards such as the Canadian Construction Association, Saskatchewan Construction Association, Regina Construction Association, Merit Contractors Association, and Saskatchewan General Contractors Association, having also served as President of many of these associations. One board Leon has been particularly proud to have served on for 12 years was the Carpentry Apprenticeship Board and National Carpentry Curriculum and Examination Board where he had the opportunity to work at developing a new National Red Seal Carpentry Exam. For his dedication to the construction industry, Leon has been given an Honorary Life Membership to both the Saskatchewan Construction Association and the Regina Construction Association, and he has recently been recognized by Economic Development Regina with a Mentor Award. 

Giving back to the community with one’s time and resources has always been important to Leon. Leon is just wrapping ten years as a Founding Board Member of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. 

Leon has been married to his wife Edie for 52 years and they have two married children and two grandchildren. Leon’s wife is a double graduate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and their son has also graduated from Sask Polytech. 

Recipient: Mitchell Holash , K.C.

Mitchell Holash, K.C., is the managing partner of the largest regional law firm in central Saskatchewan, Holash Wilcox McCullagh (the Novus Law Group).

Mitchell received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981 and his Juris Doctor in 1984. Since then, he has dedicated himself to strengthening communities across Saskatchewan as a successful and active lawyer, contributing to many high-profile litigations, arbitrations, and public hearings, as well as through his philanthropy and extensive volunteer work. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010 and remains designated as King’s Counsel.

Through his board and volunteer work, Mitchell has been recognized locally, provincially, and nationally for his contributions to justice, culture, recreation, health care, and education.  His twelve-year tenure as a nationally appointed member of the Oversight Committee provided impactful governance to the Indian Residential School Adjudication Secretariat that laid restorative groundwork for the critical social justice mandate of Indigenous reconciliation that continues across Canada.

His tireless dedication has enriched his local community. He was the founding Chair of the Prince Albert Arts Board, and served as Project Chairman for the establishment and construction of several celebrated community facilities in Prince Albert, including the E.A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts, its Olive and John Diefenbaker Theatre, the permanent home for the Mann Art Gallery, the  Alfred Jenkins Soccer Field House, and the refurbishment of the Art Hauser Centre Arena for the Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders.  Currently he is supporting efforts to establish new Ronald McDonald Houses in Regina and Prince Albert, and an Indigenous Ceremonial Grounds on traditional gathering lands at the Little Red River Park.

Mitchell has received numerous honours, including the Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal (2005), the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023), and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025).  He has been a recipient of the Saskatchewan Municipal Planner’s Association Community Development Award, has been named Prince Albert’s Sportsman of the Year, and has been inducted into Prince Albert’s Arts Hall of Fame.

In addition to managing his independent law firm where he is recognized for his expertise in both municipal law and police service administration, Mitchell has served appointment as City Solicitor for the City of Prince Albert since 2017.  

He has for over 40 years provided respected governance as a Trustee and as a Director to several foundations and public sector corporations, including as Chairman of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company, as the HR Committee Chair for Sask Power, and as an Executive member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. 

Mitchell currently chairs both the Lieutenant Governor’s Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council and the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission, and is an active Trustee with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.  It is notable that he executed these senior governance responsibilities at highest levels during his tenure as Chair the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Board of Directors over nearly 8 years from 2018-2025, while he also served as a Cabinet Member for Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s $100 million Time to Rise campaign. 

Mitchell and his bride Sheila have made Prince Albert their family home for 41 years, a community they love, and in which they raised their three sons, Conor, Brenner and Kienan.

Recipient: Candace Laing

Candace Laing is the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Candace’s career spans over two decades, encompassing roles in both private and public sector organizations. Most notably, Candace worked for more than ten years with Nutrien, leading both the Sustainability and Human Resources functions and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Candace is passionate about ensuring that healthy organizations and a strong economy can serve societal needs and support our communities.  

She is proud to have grown up in Saskatchewan, where her family maintains a longstanding farming operation. 

Candace is a Fellow of Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (FCPHR). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction and a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Saskatchewan. Additionally, she has a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Sustainability and Innovation from Harvard University and a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.