SASKATOON, Sask. (CCN) — Mildred Kerr, who has worked for decades as a justice and peace advocate in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, is the recipient of the 2025 Saskatoon Citizen of the Year Award, CTV News Saskatoon announced Dec. 31, 2025.
“Mildred Kerr has been a lifelong advocate for social justice and supporting others in Saskatoon,” said J.C. Garden, Manager of Operations, Local TV & Radio and Director of News and Public Affairs Saskatchewan, Bell Media.
“From her early career at the Saskatoon Community Clinic to her volunteer work on the board of the Saskatoon Open Door Society, Mildred has been a tireless advocate for all people to be treated equally,” said Garden.
Born in Kuroki, SK, Mildred Kerr and her late husband Don lived in Saskatoon, raising their three biological sons and fostering two sons. She is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan where she attended St. Thomas More College (Class of 1959) and she earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Regina.
Sharing news of the award Jan. 2, St. Thomas More College (STM) noted that Mildred and her family have a long association with the federated Catholic college on the University of Saskatchewan campus. “She began her studies in the original White House building and was actively involved with the Newman Club and with the St. Thomas More Student Association. She met her husband, Don Kerr, a well-known Saskatoon author and USask English professor, while studying here.”
The STM news post added: “For her leadership in social justice areas in our community, the college recognized Mildred as the STM Distinguished Alumna of 2001. Mildred has taken the values and mission of the College into the world, making the city of Saskatoon a more just and caring place.”
In the early 1980s, Mildred Kerr was instrumental in the founding of Equal Justice for All. She was also a founding member of the Saskatoon Food Bank and has served on a variety of different boards including the Saskatoon Open Door Society and Saskatoon Interval House.
A long-time parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Saskatoon, Mildred served for many years on the Justice and Peace Advisory Council in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon up until 2021 and continues to be involved in other ways.
“More importantly, Mildred also walked the talk, along with her late husband, Don, by regularly welcoming people living on the margins into their own home for extended periods of time. Mildred knows the poor by name and continues behind-the-scenes advocacy of helping many, including newcomers, navigate through complex social systems,” says Myron Rogal, coordinator of Justice and Peace for the diocese.
“As a founding member of the Poverty Action Coalition, Mildred helped equip many people living in poverty to become advocates by taking leadership roles in their communities,” Rogal added.
In addition to the 2001 STM Distinguished Alumni Award, Mildred Kerr has been honoured with numerous other awards and recognitions, including the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal and Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.
The Saskatoon Citizen of the Year Award presented by CTV is an annual tradition now in its 59th year. Each November, CTV Saskatoon accepts nominations from viewers for the Saskatoon Citizen of the Year Award and presents the award at the end of December to an individual who exemplifies excellence in community service.
