Lemuel Boyd

Lemuel Boyd’s enthusiasm for life is contagious and his contribution to the community is reflected in his life’s work. His involvement with Sea Cadets as a young boy and later with the University Naval Training Division, enabled him to develop his skills as both a marksman and public speaker. Throughout his high school years he played football and was involved in drama. He is a self confessed “ham.”

Lem was encouraged to study engineering which he did for a couple of years before deciding it really wasn’t for him. After working around Edmonton for a couple of years unsure of what to do he decided to return to the University of Alberta and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in psychology and sociology. This led to his first job in Saskatchewan as a Probation Officer. After two years he took another position as a Child Protection Officer. These experiences confirmed his commitment to helping others and he returned to University once again. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Master’s in Social Work.

Lem returned to Saskatchewan and in 1967 became the Supervisor of Family Services and Public Assistance. This was the beginning of a long and distinguished career with the Government of Saskatchewan. He accepted early retirement in 1987 to take on another leadership role within the not-for-profit community, as Executive Director of the Phoenix Residential Society. The society focuses on keeping people with long-term mental illness in their homes and offers special programs for them. Almost fifteen years later he retired in 2001.

Lem married Carol LaFayette in 1984.