Indigenous people in Canada experience Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) at rates up to four times higher than the general population. Recognizing this critical health disparity made the ”By Your Side” Kidney Care Campaign an obvious initiative for Kitsaki Management CEO Ron Hyggen to get behind.
For Ron, involvement in the campaign goes beyond philanthropy—it’s personal and purposeful. ”I see my role as being a champion for what the By Your Side Campaign stands for,” he says, emphasizing the importance of advocating for Indigenous healthcare needs and opening doors to critical conversations with healthcare leaders and government officials. “If we can help even a small percentage of people avoid advancing to severe stages of kidney disease, we have already made a difference.”
Ron’s connection to St. Paul’s Hospital is deeply rooted. Growing up on Saskatoon’s west side, St. Paul’s was his family’s local hospital. His appreciation for the hospital’s commitment deepened through his family’s experiences with the hospital’s compassionate Palliative Care Unit. Ron’s commitment to community wellness eventually led him to serve for six years on the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Board, beginning with the Close to Home Campaign for Hospice and End-of-Life Care. He continues his advocacy today as Chair of the By Your Side Kidney Care Campaign.
Kitsaki Management made a significant commitment—a donation of $150,000—to support the By Your Side Campaign, which aligns closely with Kitsaki’s vision of supporting health initiatives with substantial and sustainable impacts for the Indigenous communities it serves. With approximately 2,000 Lac La Ronge Indian Band members living in Saskatoon and many regularly travelling to St. Paul’s for medical care, Kitsaki’s partnership provides meaningful support both locally and regionally.
The campaign notably includes a pioneering Early Screening pilot program designed specifically for communities at elevated risk of CKD. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Kinistin Saulteaux Nation have already begun benefiting from this initiative, underscoring Kitsaki’s commitment to targeted and effective health interventions.
Through strategic investments in health care, Kitsaki Management continues to shape stronger, healthier communities across Saskatchewan. As Ron puts it, “You can influence only the things you’re involved in.” By supporting initiatives like the By Your Side Campaign, Kitsaki is not just influencing—but transforming—the landscape of Indigenous health care for generations to come.
