Cindy Fuchs, a Saskatchewan Polytechnic alumna, has built a remarkable career with her education in recreation technology (rec tech) serving as the foundation for her decades of leadership in the Saskatchewan Red Cross and her role with the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation.
Image Credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
From her beginnings in the small town of Bethune, Saskatchewan to managing large-scale emergency responses, Fuchs's path has been one of adaptability, community focus and a deep commitment to public service.
Fuchs's journey with Sask Polytech started in 1982 with the SIAST Rec Tech diploma at the Saskatoon campus. Reflecting back, Fuchs remarks, "I had no idea where that program would lead me but it turned out to be the perfect alignment with my skills and interests."
The Rec Tech program, a blend of recreational therapy and management, equipped her with skills that proved foundational throughout her career. "That program pulled something out of me that I didn't even know was there. It gave me the confidence to take on roles I never expected," she shares. After completing her program Fuchs secured her first job with the Canadian Red Cross, though not in the capacity she initially envisioned. Instead of the recreation role she had anticipated, she took a position overseeing a veterans' arts and crafts therapy program at the Wascana Rehab Centre in Regina. Fuchs' father encouraged her to stay in the role recognizing the opportunity for growth. And grow she did. Within this position Fuchs managed budgets, coordinated volunteers and developed programs all while drawing on the skills she had acquired during her time at Sask Polytech. "I never thought I'd be working with older adults or managing a program right out of school but it ended up being an incredible learning experience," Fuchs reflects.
The Canadian Red Cross ran the programs across the country for years. Fuchs says, "I helped the organization turn over all those programs to the local health authorities right across the country. The Regina one was the last one to be turned over."
Fuchs transitioned over to the Saskatchewan Red Cross spending over three decades with the organization. She eventually became vice-president and a key figure in disaster management, community relations and Indigenous partnerships. Her involvement in coordinating emergency evacuations for floods and fires across the province, including the 2015 fires that led to the largest evacuation in Saskatchewan's history, showcased her leadership and resilience.
"That was the hardest thing I ever did, but my experience in recreation management prepared me for handling logistics and leading a team under pressure," she explains. Fuchs's background in Recreation Technology may have started with a focus on physical activity and community engagement but the problem-solving, organizational and public speaking, event planning and media relations skills she developed during the program were essential in handling these high-pressure situations.
One of her most notable achievements during her time with the Saskatchewan Red Cross was the development of the Pink Day bullying prevention program, a grassroots initiative that grew into a province-wide movement. Fuchs played a pivotal role in bringing the story of Travis Price, the original creator of Pink Day in Nova Scotia, to the forefront. "Bringing Pink Day to Saskatchewan was one of the proudest moments of my career. It wasn't just about a campaign; it was about creating a movement," Fuchs says. "There were a number of initiatives that were born here and rolled out across the country. Pink Day was one."
After 35 years with the Saskatchewan Red Cross, Fuchs was hired as the executive director of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. In this capacity she builds programs that focus on youth, wellness and community engagement. "I wanted to create something new and meaningful and the Roughrider Foundation gave me that chance," Fuchs explains. The Roughrider Foundation allows her to use her skills in fundraising, relationship building and program development to create initiatives that support amateur football, mental health and literacy programs across the province.
Throughout her career Fuchs has continually drawn on the principles she learned in the Recreation Technology program. She emphasizes that while the program title may suggest a narrow focus on recreation, the skills it imparted leadership, event management, public relations and budgeting have been instrumental in her ability to adapt and excel in roles that were never part of her initial plan. "It's not necessarily what you study, but what you do with it. That program gave me the foundation to do things I never imagined," she says.
Fuchs's story is a powerful testament to the flexibility and relevance of Sask Polytech's programs. A proud alumna, her journey from a small-town high school student unsure of her future to a leader in Saskatchewan's nonprofit sector is inspiring. "I had no idea where my career would take me but looking back, every step of the way was built on the skills I gained from the Recreational Technology program," Fuchs concludes.
The former Recreation Technology diploma program now exists as the Therapeutic Recreation diploma and the Recreation and Tourism Management diploma.
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