BALCARRES, Sask. – Small towns have an endless list of projects but they need leaders to get the jobs done, says volunteer Beverly Esplin.
“In a small town you see so many things that need to be done,” said Esplin. “A lot of small towns just lack leaders and people with energy.”
In her town of Balcarres, a 12 member senior citizen club has grown to more than 40 members since Esplin became involved in August.
Once she retires from a job as bookkeeper for Chatterson Lumber, she hopes to be able to do more, from offering classes in fitness, sewing and cooking to organizing movie nights, coffee hour and potluck meals.
Read Also
AgriStability updates offer stronger support for farmers
One of the most significant updates to the AgriStability program for the 2025 program year is the increase in the compensation rate.
That’s just one of many volunteer hats donned by the tall, white-haired, bespectacled Esplin.
For her many volunteer efforts, she was recognized with an award of merit from the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association this year.
In addition to town involvements, she served on the provincial association’s board from 2000 to 2004, and the Qu’Appelle Valley Recreation Association board for a quarter century.
Esplin grew up in Rapid City, Man., the daughter of two active volunteers.
She started curling at the age of 10, and later participated in provincial high school tournaments and in the Legion mixed provincials. She credited her involvement in 4-H and Canadian Girls in Training with teaching her how to be a leader.
She moved to Balcarres with her grain buyer husband, raised two children and drove the school bus while working at the lumber mart. Esplin also stayed active with curling and golfing in addition to singing with the Fireside Singers for almost 40 years.
As chair of the Balcarres Parks and Recreation Association, she stressed the need for accessible recreational opportunities for all ages, from free public skating to golf clinics.
She has lobbied hard to ensure recreation is funded, noting the disproportionate amount that goes to organized sports.
“Recreation benefits a far wider group. Anyone can take part,” she said.
“In many organized sports, you have to be good.”
Esplin is also aware of the importance of establishing strong recreation habits in children to spawn lifelong interests in staying fit and active. She said schools have an important role to play.
“If you start at a young age, you will continue,” Esplin said.
Those interests were passed to her children. Her son coaches sports and her daughter supports her own children’s many activities.
During Esplin’s time with SPRA, a non-profit volunteer organization that promotes, develops and facilitates parks and recreation opportunities throughout the province, she always kept Balcarres in her sights, said Garry Michael, the association’s program manager.
“She ensured small towns are represented and considered in decisions,” he said.
Esplin is keenly aware of the amount of support needed to run a community of 670 people like Balcarres.
She has chaired the arena board, organized canteen workers and watered plants for the Communities in Bloom beautification project. When regional recreation sports councils were recently formed, Esplin wanted to be involved to ensure no programs would be lost for Balcarres.
Michael called her a people person, citing her unpaid job as a tour guide leading groups around North America and to far-flung locales like Hawaii.
“She has a lot of energy, she’s very dynamic, outgoing and motivated,” he said. “She loves people, meeting with them and talking to them.”
Esplin winces at the thought of idle days watching television soap operas.
“I’d be bored to death if I didn’t have involvements,” she said. “There is such a sense of accomplishment getting involved in the community and seeing some good happening.”
