Ken Sauer

Dr. Ken Sauer’s work is recognized and noticed throughout the community for his involvement in education, municipal politics, health boards, non profit and charitable service clubs, his church, as well as a significant impact on the sporting community in Medicine Hat.

As a young boy in Fox Valley, Saskatchewan, Kenneth Charles Sauer began to emerge as a youth community leader and a fixture in efforts to build basketball courts for the school as well as curling and ice rinks for the community. In 1950, Ken graduated from high school and was ready to embark on his chosen career as an educator. He completed teachers’ college in Moose Jaw in 1951 and then returned to his educational roots in a one-room school in Linacre, Saskatchewan. Over the next 17 years, Ken would move on to teach high school in the Saskatchewan communities of Eatonia, Kindersley and Saskatoon.

Throughout his early career, there were two constants in Ken’s very busy life: a steady commitment to building the breadth and quality of sports programs offered by his schools and an unyielding drive to strengthen his own education. He worked through night and summer school at the University of Saskatchewan to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education Degree, followed by a Master of Education Degree in Educational Administration.

Ken and his wife Valerie moved their young family to southern Alberta in 1971. Ken’s remarkable energy, focus and organizational skills allowed him to fulfill his new duties as principal at Lethbridge Collegiate while earning a Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Montana. In 1974, the newly-minted Dr. Sauer found an opportunity to put his growing expertise to work as Superintendent of Schools for Medicine Hat Public School District #76.

Ken quickly settled into his new community and established a sterling commitment to volunteerism and leadership that would eventually see him involved in virtually every aspect of the community.

In addition to his duties as Superintendent, Ken served for 24 years as city alderman, a choice that sprung from his work to help develop a master plan for recreation and culture for Medicine Hat. Throughout his eight successive terms as alderman, Ken was recognized as a highly efficient and positive team leader as well as an outstanding ambassador for the city. He also contributed to the quality of life enjoyed in other communities as president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and as a director of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Association.

While Ken Sauer has served as a volunteer and leader in a wide range of areas, sports have been a constant focus for him over the years. Dr. Sauer was the driver behind many Provincial and National events in Medicine Hat, and took on everything from initiating bids, to rallying the troops and gaining support from volunteers in our community, to ensuring these events left legacies for our community to enjoy. He was Director of Sports for the 1975 Canada Winter Games in Lethbridge, Director of the 2000 & 2011 Southern Alberta Summer Games, Director of Administration for the 1998 Canada Senior Games, Vice-Chairman and Director of Administration for the 2002 & 2016 Alberta Winter Games and the 2008 Alberta Summer Games, Secretary-Treasurer of the Medicine Hat Baseball Canada Cup Society and currently the Director of Administration for the 2017 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games. Through these activities, Ken has helped to boost civic pride for the people of Medicine Hat, generate economic benefits and create a significant legacy in terms of sports infrastructure and community development.

Dr. Sauer’s most notable and fulfilling accomplishments include the construction of the Rotary Track which is located at the Crescent Heights High School, and the recent recognition for his commitment to education with the naming of the Dr. Ken Sauer School which will be opening in the fall of 2017.

Dr. Sauer has received numerous awards and recognition for his volunteer efforts and making our community, province and country a better place to live, including the Order of Canada (2009), the Alberta Order of Excellence (2008), Medicine Hat College Honorary Applied Baccalaureate (2008), Tourism Recognition Award for Recreation (2008), Alberta Centennial Medal (2006), Wild Rose Foundation Stars of the Millennium Volunteer Award (2004), City of Medicine Hat Humanitarian Award (2002), Southern Alberta Recreation Association Max Gibb Award (2000).

Dr. Sauer has always held his community at the forefront, wanting to make it a better place for the citizens to live and enjoy, and his enthusiasm and energy encourage others to want to do the same.