The Province of Saskatchewan honoured Paul Ortynsky, pharmacist and long-time community activist on April 25 during a ceremony at the Provincial Legislative Building in Regina, he was invested with the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. Ortynsky has served several terms as a member of the Board of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatchewan Provincial Council (UCC-SPC).

Ortynsky, who in 1999 received the UCC-SPC Nation Builders award, is a veteran participant in community, business and civic affairs of Canora, where he served as mayor. His other accomplishments include: past vice-president of Parkland Regional College, Canora Ukrainian Centennial celebrations and millennium reunion, past national president of Ukrainian Professional and Business Association, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress branch in Canora, president of the Canora Ukrainian Heritage Museum, member of the University of Reginas Senate and a member of the Provincial Governments Advisory Committee on Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations.

The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal was established by the provincial government in 1995 to recognize the volunteer sector on the occasion of the provinces 90th anniversary.