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Lighting Up the Community: Katie Durant

When the Olympic flame arrived in Swift Current, it had already travelled a long journey, the torch having been lit in Olympia months beforehand. As Katie Durant, 21, picked up the Olympic torch to carry it on the final leg of the Swift Current run, the symbolism was vivid.

This is because Katie has also been on a journey of hard work and her own spark illuminates her community. After receiving several nominations, it was the City of Swift Current that chose Katie to light the cauldron at Kinetic Park. Katie earned this honour through her many roles in the community, including Staples employee, Special Olympic athlete, and Swift Current Bronco volunteer.

Katie is a shining employee at Staples where she has worked for the last three years. After high school, Katie found help at Partners in Employment, a program with the Saskatchewan Abilities Council where employment services are offered to employers and job seekers with a wide range of disabilities. After some work placements, Katie found a permanent position at Staples. She says some of the best parts of her job are assisting new employees, helping customers, and assembling new office equipment. She also says that it just “feels good” to be employed. Renae Pitchko, Katie’s Job Coach, says that Katie’s motivation to work hard makes her “a joy to work with.”

Another way that Katie lights up her community is in her role as an athlete. She is both a swimmer and a figure skater. Jackie Powell is her swim coach and is also an Employment Specialist at Partners in Employment. In figure skating, Katie has won silver medals in both the 2003 and 2007 Special Olympics Canada Games and has also represented Saskatchewan at the Special Olympic National Winter Games in 2004 and 2008 where she won bronze and gold medals. Additionally, Katie received the Special Olympic Female Athlete of the Year Award in 2007. Katie’s athletic interest also extends to volunteering where she brightens the Swift Current Broncos hockey association by regularly giving her time.

Katie has grown up a lot since she first attended the Summer Fun program at the Saskatchewan Abilities Council when she was younger.

The Council recognizes that in order for Katie to be successful, it is important to support the different aspects of her young adult life.

Katie says she still has dreams to fulfill, particularly qualifying for the Provincial Figure Skating Team that will enable her to attend Nationals that will then advance her to the World Championships. She recognizes that fulfilling those dreams would not be possible without the support of her community. With the on-going commitment and support from her Job Coach, her Special Olympic skating and swimming coaches, her parents, and the same Swift Current community that cheered her on as she lit the Olympic cauldron, Katie has the opportunity to shine brightly in all her roles.