Environmentally friendly innovations for recreational facilities, engaging youth, taking pride in preserving the past, employing municipal cooperation to create a joint sanitation system, and finding common interests in improving healthcare services through providing a residence for doctors and students: these were examples of the innovation and enterprise in Saskatchewan communities, and they were the chosen winners of the 2011 Saskatchewan Municipal Awards (SMA).
The 2011 winners who received awards at the annual SMA luncheon on May 13 in Regina included:
Municipal Innovation and Service Excellence Award
Wind Powered Rink Complex
Village of Hazlet
The rink complex was facing rising power costs, shorter rink seasons and was starting to increase rink fees substantially to cover the costs. The Village of Hazlet recognized the increasing power costs and importance of the rink complex to the community and came up with the idea to install an artificial ice plant powered by a wind turbine. In order to counter the extra cost of power for the plant, the village received funding from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program and is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan.
Regional Leadership and Partnerships Award
Doctor/Medical Professionals’ Residence
Towns of Rosthern, Hague, Duck Lake and Waldheim, RMs of Duck Lake No. 463, Rosthern No. 403, and Laird No. 404, and Villages of Hepburn and Laird
In response to a request from local physicians that the community invest in a living quarters for nursing, medical and lab technicians students, the nine municipalities partnered together to renovate the historic Rosthern Post Office into a residence for medical professionals.
Community Development Leadership Award
Kindersley Youth Council
Town of Kindersley
In October 2009, the Kindersley Youth Council was established, along with the creation of a part-time Culture and Youth Coordinator position to facilitate work with the junior council. Made up of seven members (six councillors and one youth mayor), the Youth Council was intended to be a means with which to expose youth to municipal governance, encourage leadership, and promote increased community participation and volunteerism.
Environmental Stewardship Award
Joint Sanitary Sewer System
Town of Dundurn, RM of Dundurn No. 314, and Resort Villages of Thode and Shields
This project provides a sanitary sewer system jointly owned and operated by four municipalities and provides a sewer system to a Hutterite Colony and 180 acreage sites in the rural municipality.
Heritage Conservation Leadership Award
Humboldt’s Heritage Values
City of Humboldt
The museum board had identified several heritage issues as a result of a community analysis conducted during its strategic planning process. Among the issues identified in the analysis was the need for a plan for overall heritage and cultural development for the city. The first step was to develop a heritage policy, which was approved in 2008 as part of the City’s Official Community Plan.
Saskatchewan Municipal Awards is a program partnership between the
Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) and the Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, New
North, the Rural Municipal Administrators’ Association of Saskatchewan (RMAA)
and the Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS).