An old tradition of the Saskatoon EX parade is back this year to celebrate a community member.

The Grand Marshal tradition returns to the parade, with Randy Pshebylo selected as this year’s recipient. He explained that the Grand Marshal tradition is done as a thank you to a community member who volunteers and makes the community better.

Pshebylo said he was told he had been picked a couple weeks prior and said he felt humbled when he found out.

“What I had was because someone else gave up their supper hour or woke up early and did things to shovel the rink or broom the ball diamond and things of that nature. Someone else paid it forward so it’s our turn.”

Pshebylo grew up in a family that valued community service, and it shows with his career and his list of volunteerism including 35-years with Prairieland, 40 years of volunteerism with various places, and with a career as the Executive Director of the Riversdale Business Improvement District and as a Provincial Police Commissioner.

This year’s Grand Marshal has also been the recipient of both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

The parade is downtown Saskatoon Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.