‘We’re entwined and entangled’: Meadow Lake teacher behind medal design for 2026 Sask. Winter Games

When she learned her design had been selected, the moment felt both surprising and deeply personal. Her work is now being worn by athletes across the province.

Sara Dydejko, a teacher at Jonas Samson Middle School in Meadow Lake, designed the official medals for the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games. (Image Credit: Sara Dydejko)

Medals for the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games, designed by Meadow Lake teacher Sarah Dydejko, are shown in photo. (Image Credit: Saskatchewan Games Council)

Dydejko, who teaches science and art, said the design draws from the landscape and relationships that define the Meadow Lake region. Beginning with the required “running S” symbol, she shaped a piece meant to reflect both place and partnership.

“I was thinking about reconciliation, I was thinking about showing Flying Dust and Meadow Lake and the partnership and the friendship that kind of had between us,” she said.

The medal weaves together elements of the Beaver River, local scenery and symbols representing both Indigenous and agricultural traditions. Sweetgrass and grain appear at the base, while imagery tied to Flying Dust First Nation and Meadow Lake share space within the design.

“We work together and we’re entwined and entangled in this community,” she said.

Despite its layered meaning, the concept came together quickly.

“That was just a surface design, so I just kind of had a picture in my head of what it would look like and I gave it a go and it didn’t take me very long,” she said.

“Sometimes that’s nice when you do art is just to sometimes just let it happen naturally and go from there.”

She hopes to share the finished medals with her students, many of whom helped prepare for the Games.

“It will be really fun to see them get to see what the medals look like,” Dydejko said. “They were all kind of part of that building of that history together.”

At its heart, she hopes the design represents more than podium finishes.

“It was really to show how our communities are linked and about the story of reconciliation and how it really is a coming together of our cultures and working on ways of going forward and building things and good memories and good experiences together,” she said.

Medal count update (Day 5):

As of Day 5 of competition at the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games, Saskatoon leads the medal standings with 17 gold, 20 silver and 19 bronze medals for a total of 56.

Regina sits in second with 16 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze medals (36 total), followed by Prairie Central with nine gold, 11 silver and six bronze (26 total).

South East has earned five gold, one silver and seven bronze medals for 13 overall. Lakeland and South West are tied with nine medals each – Lakeland with two gold, four silver and three bronze, and South West with two gold, two silver and five bronze.

Host district Rivers West has collected one gold, two silver and four bronze medals for a total of seven, while Parkland Valley has one gold and two bronze for three medals overall. Team North has yet to reach the podium.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

‘We’re entwined and entangled’: Meadow Lake teacher behind medal design for 2026 Sask. Winter Games

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