Victor Dutka – Builder

Victor Dutka is a man of all seasons and where ever he has lived he has left his mark on that community.

Born in Wakaw in 1935, Victor moved to Prince Albert in 1954 where he played ball for the Bohemians. In 1957, Victor was asked to join the Kinsmen Club and immediately he took on the responsibilities of running the minor hockey program in the winter and the Little League baseball in the summer. Victor was instrumental in getting the community clubs together to form the Kinsmen Minor Hockey Association and he also helped build Dent’s Ball Park. Victor didn’t limit his involvement to just administration as he was a coach in both sports for his time in Prince Albert.

Victor and his family left Prince Albert in the fall of 1966 and over the next 26 years they had stops in Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, Prince Rupert, Terrace, and Edmonton. At each place Victor continued his involvement in Little League baseball as he was an umpire and assisted with other duties.

Victor retired in 1992 and immediately moved back to the family farm outside of Shellbrook. Victor resumed his coaching career there, but it was in Shellbrook where he made his biggest impact. In 200, he and a group of individuals decided the community needed a better baseball facility and after a lot of work the dream was realized as Shellbrook now has a park that features a scoreboard, dugouts, turf, and shale base paths.

Victor who has been a director with the Saskatchewan Baseball Association on two occasions (1965-66 and 2001 – present), was honored by that group in 1999 for his lifetime of dedication in promoting and building the sport in the province. The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame also wants to recognize Victor’s accomplishments and it is with great pride that he is inducted into the Builder’s category.