Gary Hyland has made outstanding contributions to his province's cultural life. An accomplished poet and co-founder of Coteau Books, he served on the executive of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild and was highly regarded as a high school English teacher. In the mid 1990s, he conceived and established the Saskatchewan Festival of Words, which has attracted prominent writers from across the country. Renowned for his commitment to local arts organizations, he was also the driving force behind the development of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre to showcase the visual and performing arts.