Leadership Transition at the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

The Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) is celebrating a milestone for our colleagues at the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC): Executive Director Joanne Fedyk is retiring after 35 years — the only Executive Director SWRC has ever had.

Joanne was hired at SWRC’s founding meeting on October 5, 1991, and spent the next three and a half decades building Saskatchewan’s waste reduction movement from the ground up: composting, repair and reuse, extended producer responsibility, and circular economy education across the province.

Stepping into the role is Naomi Mihilewicz, who has grown with SWRC for nearly two decades; from outreach and communications into this new leadership position. Her deep knowledge of the organization and community-first approach make her a natural fit to carry the work forward.

“Over the years, RCA and SWRC have worked united across the unique recycling and waste reduction challenges and opportunities the prairies bring. We’ve loved the time spent building pilots and programs together, sharing ideas, and yes, admiring Joanne’s amazing conference costumes along the way. Her leadership has been a steady, generous presence in that partnership, and we’re excited to keep that momentum going with Naomi.”

— Jennifer Koole, Executive Director, RCA

Joanne shared her own reflections on the past 35 years in a recent SWRC blog post — from the early days of SARCAN to the birth of curbside composting in Saskatchewan. Read “Looking Back: 35 Years of Waste Reduction in SK”We extend our sincere appreciation to Joanne Fedyk for her remarkable contribution to the sector, and warmly congratulate Naomi Mihilewicz as she begins this new chapter.