Congratulations to Dorothy Gareau, who was named the City of Warman’s “Diamond Citizen of the Year” for 2022 at today’s Regular Meeting of Council!
Dorothy was nominated for her extensive efforts as President of Warman Slopitch, among other volunteer endeavours.
Dorothy has been a Warman resident since 2007 – she began volunteering here the very next year. Her first community involvement was on the Warman Slo-Pitch executive committee.
After four years running the league’s Promotions and a one-year break, Dorothy returned as the President of Warman Slo-Pitch – a role she has now held for a decade. During her time on the executive committee, the league has doubled from 16 teams to 32, with a waitlist of teams hoping to be a part of this tight-knit ball community.
“My goal has always been to grow the league more as a family or community so that everyone’s enjoying it on the same level,” she said. “Everyone gets along. I don’t know if anywhere else can say that all 32 teams in their league can get along.”
To keep a league that size running, Dorothy has also helped expand the executive from four people up to 13.
For the past decade, Dorothy and her executive have started planning each upcoming season in early February. After months of prep comes 14 weeks of regular season play starting in early May, a one-pitch (per at-bat) tournament, their year-end tournament and six weeks of Fall Ball under the lights wrapping up in October. Their 2023 season also now includes a tournament in conjunction with Warman Days in mid-July.
“I’ve always loved watching people have fun in something that I’ve organized. I enjoy playing slo-pitch, but it brings me just as much joy to watch others have fun playing.”
During the season Dorothy invests between 600-800 hours to ensure the league runs smoothly. As for the entire time commitment over the course of the year, she admits it’s an unknown she’d prefer to keep that way.
“I don’t want to calculate it – I don’t want to know,” she laughed. “It doesn’t matter to me how much time I have to dedicate – whatever it takes to do the job properly is what I’m willing to dedicate.”
Dorothy’s passion and dedication provide an annual opportunity for the league’s 400 participants to be physically active, see old friends, meet new ones and enjoy beautiful Saskatchewan summers.
“It’s a huge boost to my mental health to come out here, do something I love, see people I love, and have a good time,” she said. “It’s part of what I do to stay healthy for myself. Despite some of the hard work, it’s always rewarding in that way.”
But, when it comes to the deserving recognition as the City of Warman’s Diamond Citizen of the Year, her humility quickly takes over.
“I was incredibly surprised to be nominated, first of all. I don’t know if I’ve ever thought that the effort I put in means something to anybody. I’m incredibly honoured – I never would have imagined.”
Having been volunteering her entire adult life, Dorothy has also volunteered with the following, among others:
• Vice President of the Scared Scriptless Payers (2009-19)
• Canada Day Pancake Breakfast
• Hockey Draft
• Events at her church
• Softball coach
Dorothy,’s efforts have touched the lives of hundreds of people and played a large part in bringing the community closer together.