Saskatchewan philanthropists honoured for a lifetime of giving

Gordon Rawlinson says he learned the importance of giving back to the community from his father.

It was a good lesson, as the owner and CEO of Rawlco Radio and his wife, Jill, have become two of Saskatchewan’s most important philanthropists. Now, Gordon and Jill Rawlinson are being recognized for their contribution with honorary Doctor of Laws degrees at the University of Regina’s 45th annual spring convocation on Friday.

Through their Lily Street Foundation, the Rawlinsons and Rawlco Radio have supported a range of causes and charities with one goal — making Saskatchewan better.

“Jill and I are both from Saskatchewan and it’s where our hearts are,” Gordon says.

Everyone from parents of newborn babies to First Nations youth looking to get into the world of business have benefited from the Rawlinsons’ commitment.

The Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at the Regina General Hospital and support for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation has provided a world-class facility for childbirth — and, Rawlinson says proudly, for families.

“The Mother Baby Care Centre also allows parents who have children that were born prematurely to actually stay with their babies,” he says. “I know a person whose grandchild was there for 73 days. His daughter and her husband slept in that same room for 73 days. It’s just amazing.”

St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert and the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford have also received significant funding.

The Rawlinsons recognize the important role First Nations peoples play in the future prosperity of Saskatchewan. The Rawlinsons established a support program and provided financial support for aboriginal business students at the Edwards School of Business in Saskatoon as well as in Regina.

The U of R School of Journalism gets important support, as do the arts. The Remai Gallery in Saskatoon, the E.A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts in Prince Albert, the Dekker Centre in North Battleford and the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon all benefit, as does the Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan and the United Way in Regina and Saskatoon.

It all started with that lesson from Gordon’s father, E.A. Rawlinson.

“My father actually started our company 72 years ago in Prince Albert and he always said the better you serve your community, the better your business will do,” Gordon says. “And it has proven to be a really good philosophy for us.

“My brother (Douglas) and I have followed it for all our lives and it’s really true, so we really try to serve our communities and to serve the people in our communities through Rawlco Radio and through giving back.

“I think that you just try to give back because our business has done well in Saskatchewan. We owe a lot of credit to the great businesses and the great people in Saskatchewan. I don’t know; it feels good, but I think it’s a person’s duty to give back if you can.”

It’s a duty, but as Rawlinson says, it’s one that can offer deep and meaningful rewards.

“Just recently when we made a donation to the Saskatchewan hospital in North Battleford, we got a nice letter from a friend of ours who we hadn’t seen in 20 years and they said that they have a son that’s had some issues with depression and that this hospital is going to really make a difference in their son’s life and they just were really grateful,” Rawlinson says.

“And we’ve also had many people tell us stories about premature babies being born and the neo-natal centre at the Rawlco Mother Baby Care Centre in Regina. It really has saved many babies’ lives and that’s rewarding.”

Gordon Rawlinson’s contributions to Saskatchewan and Canada have resulted in him being invested as a Member of the Order of Canada and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. He also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.

This latest honour for the Rawlinsons from the U of R leaves him reflective of what still needs to be done.

“Well, it’s a good feeling, but Jill and I have worked hard all our lives to do the right thing and we’re proud of what’s been accomplished but there’s still lots more to be accomplished,” he says. “We are grateful and honoured by this award.”

Rawlco Radio owns and operates radio stations 980 CJME, Z99 and Jack 94 in Regina, 650 CKOM, C95 and Rock 102 in Saskatoon, and Soft Rock 97.7 in Calgary.