Janelle Luddington has been honoured with the highest recognition a Kin Canada member can receive — a life membership.
Luddington, who has been part of the Estevan Kinette Club since 2007, was shocked to learn she had been selected.
“It was pretty wild. I was completely surprised,” Ludington said. “My friends with the Estevan Kinettes and my family kept it a secret from me. I had no idea it was happening.”
Life memberships are awarded through peer nominations and are considered the organization’s top honour.
Luddington has dedicated nearly 18 years to the Estevan Kinettes, first joining at her sister’s invitation shortly after graduating high school.
“I didn’t really think it was for me because I was still a teenager and wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do,” she said. “But I joined, loved every minute of it — and even though there have been ups and downs — I stayed. It just became a part of me.”
Over the years, she’s taken on numerous leadership roles, including chairing the club’s annual Christmas craft show for the past decade. She also played a key role in launching the club’s PJ Project, which continues to grow in success, and has been involved in events such as the Princess Ball and the Cystic Fibrosis Walk.
In addition to her local work, Luddington served on committees for Telemiracle 42 and 44, and participated on three district boards. Her broader involvement began when her brother-in-law, who was serving as district governor at the time, invited her to be his secretary — an opportunity that opened the door to new experiences.
“It was interesting to see how things worked on the regional level, and I’ve made so many friends throughout Saskatchewan because of Kin. It’s been so much fun,” she said.
She encourages anyone considering community involvement to check out the Estevan Kinettes.
“It’s definitely a great way to meet people. If you’re new to town, it’s a great place to start,” she said. “You never know where one meeting could take you.”
The Estevan Kinettes meet the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at Estevan Diversified Services.