Lester Jorgenson
SASKATCHEWAN LIBRARY TRUSTEES' ASSOCIATION
Honorary Life Membership
In Recognition of
Lester Jorgenson
The SLTA Honourary Life Membership Award for 2005, in recognition of service to libraries, was presented to Lester Jorgenson, a member of the Abbey Branch Chinook Library Board for the 33 years. During those 33 years Lester seldom missed a meeting.
In 1971, the provincial government announced the establishment of Chinook Regional Library as the fifth regional library system in the province. Lester wasted no time in volunteering to be a member of the Abbey Branch Chinook Regional Library board at the organizational meeting of the branch, November 2, 1971.
Lester represented the Abbey Branch Library on the local board and then as a representative to the Chinook Regional Library Board as the representative from the R.M. of Miry Creek #229. He also served as the Chair of the Abbey Branch Library board for eight years. He was always the first to volunteer for any task that the library put forward. Lester has been a positive asset to the Abbey Library Board.
A promoter of libraries, Lester is an avid reader and borrows many books through the interlibrary loan service. Lester is always wanted to further his knowledge, generally in the areas of health and the war years.
In addition to his dedication to libraries, Lester served in World War II as a signal man with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and is presently a member of the Abbey Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was stationed in Aldershot and Brighton, England with the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. After Normandy Lester then served in Belgium, Holland and Germany. In 1995 he returned to Holland for the 50th Anniversary of the liberation of that country.
Lester has served as a director of Local 636 National Farmers Union, chaired the board of the Lancer-Portreeve United Church for a number of years. He is presently the chairperson of the 50 plus Club.
Lester married Audrey Pearce of Lancer, Saskatchewan in 1958 and together they raised and educated five children, while farming and attending to their many varied volunteer projects.