Christine Ruys

Christine is always amazed by the collaboration of Saskatchewan people. There are so many people who have a heartstring cause and many of these groups somehow intersects with others - which promotes this amazing synergy that you don’t find in other places. Having been born and raised in Saskatoon by Dutch immigrant parents, she understands how important these connections can be. She saw her father, Henk Ruys, with a vision of a first indoor soccer centre in Saskatoon, make it a reality by collaborating with only Saskatchewan supporters.

Christine is an avid volunteer for so many causes over her lifetime. Starting with Folkfest and volunteering within the Holland Pavilion and then on the Folkfest Board spending over 40 years in total. She has volunteered with Persephone Theatre for over 15 years, organized hundreds of events within Saskatoon including many years as volunteer captain for the Wintershine Soup Cook Off and Fireworks Festival.

She currently sits on the Discover Saskatoon (previously Saskatoon Tourism) Board and the Saskatoon Sports and Special Events Committee. She is also Vice-Chair of the Saskatoon Zoo Society for the last eight years wanting to give back those amazing memories of the zoo to other children.

Christine volunteered as board administration for the Restorative Action Program (RAP) 2013-2022, Cochair of the Rotary Badge Star Shield Dinner 2019-2023 and Development Appeals Board (City of Saskatoon) 2010-2015.

She has worked at the University of Saskatchewan for the past 28 years in many administrative capacities, but currently works in the International Student and Study Abroad Centre since 2017. She won the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal in 2020 and the Queen Elizabeth Volunteer Medal in 2023. Christine lives in Saskatoon with her husband, a retired Saskatoon Police Inspector and they have three adult children and two cats.

With her extensive board experience, Christine is very knowledgeable of Board Governance, Finance and Strategic Planning. She hopes that these skills as well as the extensive all-around experience would be a benefit to the SaskCulture Board and members.