Funds, Scholarships & Awards

HSAS maintains several funds to assist HSAS members and their families. Please click below to learn more about each fund and how to apply.

Past winners of HSAS Scholarships and Awards are listed in each year’s convention book.

Click here to view past convention books.


Community Engagement Volunteer Fund

The purpose of this fund is to support HSAS member engagement in community activities and causes that support the mission of HSAS.

Only members of HSAS are eligible to apply.

HSAS members must fill out and submit the application form at least 30 days prior to the event commencing.

Donations will not be provided unless a completed event summary is received at the HSAS office within 2 weeks of the completed event.


Education Fund


It is the position of HSAS that the employer should be responsible for costs associated with continuing job related education and that this Fund should not be viewed as a primary funding source.

Only members of HSAS are eligible to apply.

The Education event must be directly related to your present position.

A lottery system is used to select successful applicants. Up to 80 applicants may be selected each year – 40 on February 28th and 40 on July 15th.

Education Fund Winners


Emergency Fund

The purpose is to provide members with monetary assistance when an unusual circumstance arises.

Open to all HSAS members in good standing for six months or longer.


Karen Wasylenko Service Recognition Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize the commitment and years of service provided by HSAS members.

Karen Wasylenko worked as a Speech Language Pathologist in public health for over 42 years. During her career Karen was nominated in 2004 to sit on Executive Council for HSAS representing Speech Language Pathologists, Audiologists, Orthoptists and Music Therapists. Karen’s dedication to the union continued over the years accepting many positions including Treasurer, Chair of Job Action Committee and President of HSAS for 12 years. Karen’s dedication and commitment to HSAS as a whole was easily seen, fighting for better working conditions, improved overall wellbeing and an improved quality of public health care in Saskatchewan. For this reason HSAS would like to recognize Karen Wasylenko and all of the HSAS membership for their many years of service to the public.

In recognition of the commitment and years of service provided by HSAS members over the years, HSAS would like to recognize their members. When a member has received notification stating they have reached a service milestone listed below in years of service from the SHA they will complete an application form and submit it to the HSAS office.  Once confirming that the member has completed the years of service and is an active member HSAS will notify the member and send out a recognition in the mail for their service and/or retirement.

Service Recognition Milestones:

15 years of service – $150
20 years of service – $200
25 years of service – $225
30 years of service – $250
35 years of service – $275
40 years of service – $300
45 years of service – $350
50 years of service – $400

Retirement with (15 years of service or more) – $200 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When does the new Karen Wasylenko Service Recognition Award take effect?

A1.  The new Service Recognition Award takes effect as of October and is on a ‘go forward’ basis.


Labour Relations Fund

The purpose of this Fund is to encourage HSAS members to increase their knowledge of Labour relations; therefore, the course being applied for must relate directly to this subject area.

Only Members of HSAS are eligible to apply.

Employees must be HSAS Members of at least twelve (12) months standing as of the day the course commences.

Awarded on a first come, first served basis.


Roberta Ekberg Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding, long-standing commitment and contribution to furthering and promoting the vision, well being and interests of HSAS. One yearly award of $500.00 will be given to the selected nominee.

Nominations must be received in the Saskatoon HSAS office no later than August 31st.


Ron Currie Award

Established in 1985, this $500.00 scholarship is awarded to a Pharmacy student in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan.  The award recognizes Ron’s leadership in guiding the formation of our Union.  A committee representing the Faculty of Pharmacy, HSAS and the Pharmacy Students Society chooses the recipient.


Silver Anniversary Scholarship

Open to a spouse or dependant of an HSAS member enrolled in full-time studies at a post secondary educational institution leading to a degree, diploma or certificate.

A lottery system is used to select successful applicants – up to 40 scholarships are awarded.

Applications must be received in the Saskatoon HSAS office no later than September 30.

Silver Anniversary Scholarship Award Winners


Warren Chykowski Memorial Award

Warren Chykowski graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton with a certificate in Respiratory Therapy and in 1990, he embarked on his career in the Saskatoon Health Region.

Warren began his involvement with HSAS by serving on Executive Council representing Respiratory Therapists, Anesthesia Assistants and Perfusionists. He was elected to the office of Treasurer of HSAS from 2003-2005 – followed by an election to the Board of Governors, a role that he served in for 6 1/2 years.

Additionally, he served as Chair of the Essential Services Committee during two contract negotiations, the Negotiations Committee and Finance Committee. Warren was a true activist – a passionate advocate for his profession and for HSAS as a whole, promoting inclusion and encouraging HSAS Members to become involved in HSAS.

The purpose of this award is to honour the memory of Warren Chykowski as a valued Member to HSAS for all that he accomplished during his years involved with the Union. In his memory, HSAS would like to encourage HSAS Members to apply for the award.

Any Active HSAS Member is eligible to apply for funds up to $500.00 to attend coursework (online or in person) which focuses on the following areas:

  1. Human Rights
  2. Climate Change and Its Impacts
  3. Cultural Awareness
  4. Community Activism
  5. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion in Health Care

Or other equivalent content to the above.

Only Active Members of HSAS are eligible to apply.

The 2023 winner of the Warren Chykowski Memorial Award is Adam Buettner.


NUPGE Scholarships


HSAS is a component union of NUPGE and that partnership provides the opportunity for HSAS members to apply for NUPGE Scholarships.

Click here for information about the scholarships and eligibility requirements: https://nupge.ca/scholarship-faq/