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Retention and recruitment remain a focus for Sask Rivers

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Retention and recruitment remain a focus for Sask Rivers

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division is having success in their Human Resources (HR) as highlighted by a report to the board of education. 

The division’s board had a look at staffing numbers in the yearly accountability report presented by Superintendents of Schools Corey Trann and Jeff Court at their regular meeting on Sept. 8. 

Director of Education Neil Finch that a major focus for the division is recruitment and retention.  

“One of the focus areas will remain to be recruitment and retention. And there are different classifications where we still are trying to find enough qualified people for those classifications. And that will continue to be a focus for us,” Finch said. 

“Whether that be teachers, EAs, secretaries, caretakers, bus drivers, those are all difficult to fill positions. But Cory and Jeff are doing great work and being creative to make sure that we recruit, but then also retain,” he explained. 

The division is having strong recruitment as they work with multiple universities. Highlights of the report include the 88 percent retention rate of our new to the profession teachers, and the tireless support of students shown by the SRPSD staff. 

“I think that any time you’re around that 10% of people leaving the system, that would be a fairly normal societal number. If you start getting much higher than that, then you need to start reviewing what it is and why people might be leaving. But there is a normal exit percentage that organizations, regardless of what sector you’re in, would have,” Finch said. 

Last year the division increased the number of superintendents in charge of the human resources in the division. Previously Trann was the lone superintendent, but Court came aboard last year The two are split with Trann in charge of teachers and Court responsible for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) pool. 

During the 2025-2026 school year, there were more than 585 full-time equivalent teachers in the division with 32 principals and 23 vice principals. There were 19 female and 13 male principals and 16 female and seven male vice-principals. 

There were over 28 full-time equivalent employees working out of the Education Centre. 

The total budget for teachers and administration was $59.5 million. The largest percentage of money spent on salary goes to teachers at 85 percent of the total. 

The division saw a modest turnover of 7.5 percent including early resignations and retirements. 

The division was up six full-time equivalent teachers for the 2025-2026 school year through the budget allocation. The Division also added 24.5 full-time equivalent teachers to comply with the Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement class complexity teacher allocation. 

Saskatchewan Rivers also has a First and Second Year Program where newer teachers meet formally throughout the year. There are also formal classroom visits from the superintendent in charge. This year it has been assigned to new superintendent Jeff Court. 

There is also an educational bursary offered to a maximum of $85,000 in the division. This year there were 21 applicants and they paid out a total of $26,290.25. 

Teacher recruitment is ongoing and a year-long focus, but the main efforts come during recruitment fairs at the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan in January and February. The division also attends other fairs if necessary. 

The substitute list in the division is around 160 people. Over the past couple of years, the division has had difficulty to maintain an adequate substitute list and the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB) has allowed them to add teachers who have completed internships but not their education degree. The report stated that this was a valuable asset. 

“If we had an ideal we would be around 200 subs. On the teacher side. And so we will continue to try to build that back up and get to get to a place that we’re really comfortable. So we will still have with 160 subs on teacher sub list. there will still be some misses throughout the school year, so we continue to try to build that up,” Finch said. 

Trann addressed the concern that the substitute teacher list has decreased 

over the past two years as this is a trend across the country and not an SRPSD isolated 

Issue. In a release by the division, Trann commented that overall we are still a school division that is attracting teachers from across the province because of the good work being done here. 

In 2025-2026, there were over 460 employees in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) pool with EA (Educational Associates) making up the largest number with over 243. There are also 77 employees through separate funding arrangements, along with 27 Out-of-Scope personnel. 

“One of the things on the, when you think about the EA sub list, it has really bounced back nicely. At one time we were struggling to fill EA sub positions and now we’re in a much better spot than we were even a couple years ago,” Finch said. 

The total non-teacher employee salaries are $22.9 million. This includes accounting and payroll, computer technicians, bus drivers, caretakers, educational associates, language associates, library staff, maintenance staff, mechanics, mentors, KidsFirst project coordinators, social workers and secretaries. 

The total staff in the divisions numbers 1,726 of staff shows that 75 percent and 24 percent male with all staff in all areas including teachers, CUPE and staff.  

The age categories show that there are 24 percent in the 40 to 49 category, 22 percent in the 50 to 59 category, 19 per cent30 to 39 category, 16 percent in the 60 to 69 category, 14 percent in the 18 to 29 category and five percent in 70 to 79 age category. 

The division currently has 213 educators in the First Nations-Métis-Indigenous category which is consistent with recent years. 

The report’s recommendation was to maintain current direction, ensuring staff remains at the best level to serve students. 

Sask Rivers changes transportation cancellation language

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Sask Rivers changes transportation cancellation language

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division has made some administrative procedure (AP) changes to simplify the bus cancellations policy and transportation and attendance area policies. 

The changes were approved by the board of education during the regular meeting on Sept. 8. Director of education Neil Finch explained that with the bus cancellations policy, the changes reflected a language change. He said that for AP it is best to have broad enough language that the policy is always in compliance. 

“And if it’s too narrow and too specific, sometimes it brings you outside of compliance when you have to make a decision, especially when it comes to student safety,” Finch said. 

Finch explained that to make the language more compliant the word noon was changed to midday in one of the parts of the procedure. 

“And last winter taught us some lessons, I’ll give you an example, it might be two in the afternoon, and a storm starts setting in and you need to get students on the road and get them home safely before the storm really settles in. 

The passage now reads ‘The Director or designate will announce morning bus cancellations or school closures by 6:30 a.m. Midday cancellations caused by deteriorating conditions or other unforeseen events will be announced as early as reasonably possible.  

“According to our AP, we would be late on what that cancellation would be because of the noon language, but midday allows us flexibility to ensure student safety that forefront,” Finch said. 

The language ‘as early as reasonably possible’ replaced ‘as soon as the decision is made. Finch explained that the new language keeps the division in compliance but also allows for more flexibility. 

“(It) Gives you the ability to make good decisions based on student safety,” Finch explained. 

The other language changes in the AP were regarding attendance areas. Finch explained that the word changes made it so the policy aligned with the current practice but was not in writing. The language changed to have students living in a rural  Pre-K to Grade 12 transportation area be a minimum of 48 months old, whereas the old language stated 42 months old. 

“That was just aligning the practice, but wasn’t actually written in there, but aligns with other safety languages,” Finch said. 

Finch said that it changed the language in such a way as to suit what was already happening. 

“It’s just additional language to capture what’s happening already,” Finch said. 

AP is dealt with as a consent item and passed by the board as administrative changes are necessary. 

Star City School to close after 2026-2027 school year

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Star City School to close after 2026-2027 school year

Star City School will close at the end of this school year in July. The North East School Division (NESD) board of education made the decision during the regular meeting on Sept. 22 at the NESD office in Melfort. 

The decision was made after the Star City School Community Council (SCC) passed a motion during their Sept. 8 annual meeting to close the school. 

NESD director of education Stacy Lair explained that in June the board put forward the intention to have the school put in a Viability Review. 

“The school review, the board set forward their intention to review the school to the school community council and let staff, and the town and RM know in the spring,” Lair explained. 

The AGM was a chance for the SCC to meet and let the board know their intentions, which Lair said is an important part of the process.  

“The board then was left with the decision of then to carry forward and review the material they had and make a closure decision and that’s what they did,” Lair said. 

The SCC passed a motion that the Star City School Community Council recommends to the North East School Division No. 200 Board of Education that Star City School be closed for the upcoming school year, and that the School Community Council consents to the closure of Star City School pursuant to section 54 of The School Division Administration Regulations. 

Lair said that the SCC made a very difficult decision to close the school. 

” It’s a hard one for them to consider, knowing everything that the school has meant throughout the many years of operations. However, they did decide to close effective July 2. So this essentially will be our last operating year of Star City School, and next year the students will transition to Melfort and Tisdale schools,” Lair said. 

Lair explained that the next steps will be the school division working with the SCC, staff and families to develop transition plans. The full closure comes after the school was moved to a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school after the 2024-2025 school year, with the last graduation hosted in 2025. 

Lair said that the hope was that the shrinking to a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school would give the school some viability. She added that the hope was that parents would know that students in middle years would transition to a larger school for greater academic and extracurricular opportunities. 

“However, that just wasn’t the case. The school continued to have declining enrollment and there’s only projected for 15 students next year, 16 currently in the K to six school. And so it just it wasn’t feasible,”  

The current projected enrollment for 2027-2028 was 15 students, the current enrollment is 15 students and the enrollment at the end of 2025-2026 was 24 students. “A school is.”  

The School Division Administration Regulations establishes the conditions under which a Board may carry out a school review. For a school offering Kindergarten to Grade 6, projected enrolment for the following school year must be fewer than 37 pupils. 

Lair said along with these enrollment statistics the board also considers the transportation aspect. 

“When you look at the map, the Star City catchment is a long, skinny area that’s right between Tisdale and Melfort that are a 40-minute drive, 35-minute drive apart from each other,” Lair said. 

The current students would either go to Reynolds Central School in Melfort or Tisdale Elementary School. 

“They know that it’s a reasonable transportation period to bus kids to one community or the other if that catchment doesn’t exist anymore. And that was part of the decision for sure,” Lair said. 

Lair said that even with the approval of the SCC, it was still a tough decision for the board to decide to close the school. 

” It’s an important fixture in all of our communities and we’re pretty proud of that. 

In the same way, they’re very sensitive to everything that comes along with that and what that means to a community,” Lair said. 

She said that the board and division appreciated the communication with the Town of Star City and SCC and they have done their best to let the community know what is happening as the process happened and could engage in the work. 

She explained that the process used was just a different pathway because there are two options. 

” This particular pathway utilized a section of the regulations that just ended the school review at this time with a closure decision,” Lair said. 

Lair said the catchment area and whether students go to Tisdale or Melfort will be a large part of the transition planning with families. 

“While we maybe don’t make the decision with their preference, but we still want to know and be informed from families to inform how we shape those bus routes for next year and go from there. So lots of communication, lots of contact with families going forward to make sure that we make the best plan for everyone,” Lair said. 

Lair said that the low enrollment numbers at 16 students in a school with a capacity of 240 really stood out to her. 

“And although the board is funded directly for the cost per student in the package, they are still as responsible folks acutely aware that there is a difference between $21,000 per student in Star City and $9,800 approximately in the Tisdale Melfort Elementary School cost per student.  

Lair said that the board makes people decisions not dollar decisions, but they still have to be financial stewards as trustees. 

Catholic Division part of provincial Reading Screener program

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic Division part of provincial Reading Screener program

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division is part of a new tool that will be used to help reading levels for Grade 3 students in the province. 

The Ministry of Education is continuing to work with educators and educational partners through the Action to Improve Early Literacy (AIEL). As part of this, beginning in 2026-2027 all students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 will participate in the Provincial Reading Screener. 

Director of Education Lorel Trumier updated the board on the screener during their regular meeting on Sept. 14. 

Trumier explained that because of a Human Rights Report, the province is ensuring that there is a reading screener for students across the province. 

“The Ministry of Education has been working with our personnel to develop and provide a good screener that would be able to identify students perhaps that may be at risk to learning to read,” Trumier said. 

Research consistently demonstrates that students who achieve reading proficiency by the end of Grade 3 are more likely to have more positive outcomes in their education. 

“We’re in that process and our teachers have received some professional development and we’re going to continue to work with them to make sure that they’ve got that,” 

The Reading Screener uses brief assessment tools to provide teachers information about a students reading development. These screening measures assist educators in identifying students who may benefit from additional literacy support and in informing instructional planning to meet individual needs. 

In addition to participating in the provincial screening program, four classrooms in the Prince Albert Catholic School Division have been selected to take part in a provincial norm study. These include three French Immersion classrooms and one English classroom. 

“We have a few classrooms that are involved in a norm study, which means the data will be de-identified, but yet that’ll help create a norming procedure for the screener,” Trumier said. 

The purpose of the study is to support the development of provincial reading expectations for students. Students involved in the research study will complete both the required reading screeners and the additional optional reading screeners available through the Provincial Reading Screening Program. Information gathered through the study will contribute to a broader understanding of student reading development throughout the province. 

“For example, you should have these particular students reaching these thresholds and that that would be, would identify the students that would fall below the threshold of perhaps requiring, being at risk or, so they’re trying to get that norm of the threshold for our students,” Trumier said. 

The memo to the board stated that participation in both the Provincial Reading Screener and the province’s norm study reflected the Prince Albert Catholic School Division’s ongoing commitment to supporting student literacy achievement and ensuring that students receive timely and appropriate interventions in support of reading development. 

Catholic board approves continuing Indigenous Education Committee

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic board approves continuing Indigenous Education Committee

In response to Pope Francis’ Apology for Residential Schools in 2022 and in the spirit of reconciliation, the Prince Albert Catholic School Division created a new Indigenous Education Committee in the division. 

The board approved the Indigenous Education Committee to continue for another year at its regular meeting on Sept. 14. 

Director of Education Lorel Trumier gave an update on the committee’s progress during the board’s regular meeting on Sept. 14. 

The school division made the decision after the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association created a similar group. 

“The board approved their engagement both at the local level and provincial level, which means they’ll like our teams will collaborate with others across the province to ensure that we are culturally responsive to our students and their needs,” Trumier said. 

Trumier explained the Pope’s Apology was an instigator in the decision, but they were already working on fulfilling the TRC Calls to Action before that. 

The division began to work with Elders and Knowledge Keepers and developing a curriculum focused on Indigenous learning. 

One example is the Invitational Shared Service Initiative (ISSI) with Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, which came about because the division has a high percentage of students from PBCN. Roughly 70 per cent of Prince Albert Catholic students who live on reserve are PBCN members. 

The provincial government will provide $92,300 to support the partnership between 2024 and 2028. 

The ISSI develops partnerships between First Nation education authorities and provincial school systems. 

Locally, the Indigenous Education Committee supports activities like the Moccasin Project, which includes Grandfather Teaching and the Five Marks of Catholic School Identity, teaching about smudging at events through the year for staff and students among others. 

The division also hosts activities throughout the year such as Orange Shirt Day, and Indigenous Storytelling Month. Students attend the Heart of the Youth Pow Wow and celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. 

They also work with the SCBA Indigenous Leadership Committee with meetings throughout the year. 

The local committee is made up of Tate McDougall, the coordinator of religious education, Gwen Clyke, the coordinator of student achievement and assessment and Superintendent Wade Mourot, along with teaching staff. They also work to strengthen relationships with local Knowledge Keepers and Elders. 

The goal is to incorporate Indigenous and Metis learning into the regular curriculum as much as possible. 

The Indigenous Education Committee was approved for another year of work at the board of education’s regular meeting on Sept. 14. 

“There’s some really great work that occurs there each year.So I’m grateful that the board sees the this as a priority, ” Trumier said. 

Catholic Division appreciates decade of support from Feeding our Future

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Catholic Division appreciates decade of support from Feeding our Future

The Feeding our Future Emergency Lunch program is celebrating 10 years serving students in Prince Albert. 

The program has served over one million meals to students in Prince Albert in the decade since it began. 

The program serves student in both the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division and Prince Albert Catholic School Division. It provides emergency lunches to all children in need, from Kindergarten through Grade 8. 

The program partners include Lakeland Ford, Lakeland Hyundai, Broda Group, Lake Country Co-op, Conexus Credit Union and B&B Construction. 

Prince Albert Catholic School Division education director Lorel Trumier thanked those partners for their commitment. 

“When you think of the support that we receive from our partners on this process, it really you can’t measure just in dollars and cents, the impact that they’ve had. It’s been tremendous support,” Trumier said. 

Trumier appreciates the commitment from the partners. 

“And the fact that they have made it sustainable, I think is one of the key goals of the project that they had wanted 10 years ago. And to see it last 10 years really speaks to the demonstrated strength of the commitment of the organizations that are supporting us,” Trumier said. 

Trumier updated the board of education on the program during their regular meeting on Sept. 14. 

A Catholic School Division memo shows 13,583  emergency lunches were provided for students during the division’s 2025-2026 school year (from September to May). Each lunch provides a meat sandwich, a piece of fruit and some yogurt. 

According to the Catholic Division memo, the donated value of the lunches was more than $28,000. The partners have confirmed their commitment for 2026-2027. 

Trumier said there is no way the division would be able to meet that need on their own as demand has increased. 

On Dec. 5, 2016, Lakeland Ford, Lakeland Hyundai, the Broda Group and Lakeland Co-op collaborated to start the initiative. Conexus Credit Union came aboard in 2019. 

Together, these businesses have fulfilled an urgent need for the children of Prince Albert – providing nutrition and better allow children to learn. 

At the Sept.8 board of education meeting of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division the five partners were recognized for their decade of commitment. 

According to Trumier the board has recognized the partners in the past and are planning recognition in the future. 

“Our board is discussing what we would be looking at to thank the organizers and doing a little something for them. We’re just getting our heads wrapped around that,” Trumier said. 

First Student partnership in transportation positive in Catholic School Division

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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First Student partnership in transportation positive in Catholic School Division

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division board of education received an update on the division’s transportation services during the board’s regular meeting on Sept. 14. 

There were no routes cancelled due to mechanical issues, five routes cancelled due to weather, 15 routes cancelled due to having no driver available and no routes cancelled for unspecified reasons. 

Chief Financial Officer Greg McEwen gave the report at Monday’s meeting. It featured data from Feb. 1 until June 30. 

Director of Education Lorel Trumier said that the partnership with First Student continues to be positive. 

“There’s the review and statistic information that we get. So obviously they have a role to monitor and report to us and things are going very well,” Trumier said. 

The Bus Contractor Review and Statistics report is a periodic review of First Student compliance with their internal processes and policies along with pertinent statistics. 

She said that the purpose of the report is to document these matters for the board, so they have a record of checks and balances with their contractor.  

As of 2026, the age of the average bus is 14-years-old. Around 1,500 students were transported. 

The inspection documentation portion shows that there are currently 30 drivers and one spare driver. First Student currently operates 34 vehicles in the division. 

The compliance report concludes that there is nothing to indicate that First Student is not compliant with their training and inspection process. 

The average capacity of buses utilized is 50 per cent. The average one-way bus ride is 45 minutes and the longest one-way bus ride is 90 minutes. There was one accident reported in the time period. 

The report is compiled in consultation with the local First Student manager. 

Curator and arts advocate Campbell to be inducted in Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame

Michael Oleksyn
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Curator and arts advocate Campbell to be inducted in Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame

A frequent nominator for the Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame is the fourth member of the induction class of 2026. 

Mann Art Gallery Artistic Director Jesse Campbell has been part of the Prince Albert Arts community since coming to Prince Albert to work at the Mann as an assistant curator in 2012. 

Campbell said that she has contradictory emotions after being nominated by 

2016 Arts Hall of Famer and current Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Lynda Monahan. 

“To be honest, I had mixed feelings. I was absolutely honoured to be nominated and to be thought of by Lynda Monahan as a worthy recipient of an award, I have so much respect for Lynda,” Campbell said. 

“And at the same time, and I’m sure other inductees have had similar mixed feelings, I’m aware that there are many deserving artists and arts administrators,” she explained. 

Campbell has previously nominated 2024 Arts Hall of Famer and Mann Art Gallery Manager for Education Programs Lana Wilson and 2018 Inductee Margreet Van Walsem and said she is familiar with the process. 

Campbell is originally from Saskatoon and came to Prince Albert in fall 2012 to do a six-month internship as the assistant curator at the Mann Art Gallery. She said that being fresh off her Master’s in Art History she saw a posting for the assistant curator position and was interested in curatorial work. 

She said that she had done some work in education and wanted some experience and spent the fall of 2012 and spring of 2013 in Prince Albert. She said that 

“And that was a very important introduction to the visual arts community here. 

Artists, other curators, Diane and Roger Mann, who I learned very quickly were integral to not only this organization but to the visual arts ecosystem in our city,” Campbell said. 

She explained it was an intense but worthwhile time. During her internship she was also teaching an introductory Art History course at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. 

“I was very busy and you know that way of working has carried through this very moment,” Campbell said. 

She said it was very interesting to consider art history but then work with contemporary artists and to work with a collection. Campbell said that she was grateful for the time as it was her introduction to Prince Albert. 

Campbell then returned to the Mann as director and curator from 2014 until 2019. She then returned as Interim Artistic Director in 2024. 

Campbell explained that her art history and contemporary art side work in tandem in her work as a curator and administrator. 

She explained that the history side informs the contemporary work. The history side informs the work and tells you about the social, political and art historical context. 

The art history background also informs her curatorial work in projects that are showing works from the Mann archive, or in the case of a project with George Glenn the personal archives of artists. 

“I’m thinking of again the story that’s being told, I’m very aware of the connections that exist amongst different artists or maybe the histories that they are pulling from in their work or the specific traditions that they are working within or coming from,” she explained. 

Campbell said the two sides are part of the same conversation. She said that the art history side involves research and detective work, an aspect she loves. 

“Working in a community, in a gallery setting, it’s very rewarding for me to be able to apply some of those research components to public engagement, Campbell said. 

She explained that one aspect of coming from art history and working part time in a gallery like the Mann is that she has found it is important to have a collection. 

Campbell said that the Prince Albert arts community has helped her learn about art and who has access to art and where it takes place. 

“And so, I feel that I am constantly learning about the histories of this place and I’ve benefited enormously from artists and non-artists who share with me specific histories of this place. And there are constantly people who are thinking of different ways of interpreting this place and exploring it. And I find it most rewarding to be working with these artists and to support them in their ideas,” Campbell said. 

She said that through events like the Prince Albert Winter Festival Arts Show and Sale she can have access to all these new artists. 

“It’s also when I’m interacting with artists who are not connected to an institution, that’s just as important. Not everyone has a relationship with an institution. I’m aware that there’s a lot of people and a lot of work being made that I don’t know about either,” Campbell said. 

She said that an interesting aspect of being the curator of a gallery is that they can have the power over what is displayed or not or get attention. 

“I think about what voices are out there and what voices we do not hear right now,” Campbell said. 

She explained that she sees this through the premise of the show ‘Remix’ which was beginning installation at the time of the interview and the selection of the curator for the Prince Albert Winter Festival Art Show and Sale. 

“It’s all done with that intention to be attentive to the characteristics of our local community. Everything is intentional. It has to be done,” Campbell said. 

Campbell said that she thought one of the drivers of Monahan’s nomination was a project she undertook five or six years ago. She explained that she was contacted by Judy MacLeod Campbell the Arts and Cultural Manager for the City of Prince Albert. MacLeod Campbell asked Campbell to do some research on the need for arts programming in the City of Prince Albert. This included all artistic disciplines and non-traditional art spaces in the community. 

“I looked into that and unsurprisingly there was an overwhelming interest in having arts programming and the belief in the importance of the arts for everyone regardless of your life situation,” Campbell said. 

Since that time, a group of 10 artists, along with Campbell and MacLeod Campbell, have been working to increase access to all forms of art, Campbell said that importantly this included people who may not have been born into situations with access to art. 

“And that has shown me a tremendous amount that we need to work really hard at supporting the arts because quite simply, arts are the most powerful thing to affect a person’s life,” Campbell said. 

She said this lesson came from artists but also mostly Sheryl Kimbley and Elder Liz Settee. 

“Those are two folks who come to mind in conversations I’ve had with them over the years. They’ve really imparted that to me, and that’s a motivation in work that I do that is afoot outside of the institution,” Campbell said. 

Campbell continues to work independently on a variety of creative projects with artists, organizations, and municipalities across Saskatchewan. Guided by her belief that art has the power to create meaningful communities and shared spaces, she remains a respected leader and champion for the arts. 

“I feel very fortunate in Prince Albert to have unknowingly developed a path where I feel that I’m in a constellation of artists, of organizations, of arts administrators, of institutions, of non-profits to just day by day try and increase the integrity and the access to arts,” Campbell said. 

The Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame induction ceremony is on Sept. 25 at the EA Rawlinson Centre. 

Province celebrates opening of Playground Equipment Grant for second year

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Province celebrates opening of Playground Equipment Grant for second year

A celebration marking the opening of another round of School Playground Equipment Grant applications was held at Ecole St. Anne School on Wednesday. 

Representatives from the Prince Albert Catholic School Division, Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, and Ecole St. Anne School joined Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross to announce the opening of the second year of the grant. 

“Today is also an opportunity to celebrate how the program has made a difference after just one year,” Ross said in her speech. 

“94 schools throughout our province have received funding, benefiting more than 25,000 students in total. Thousands of children now have better places to be active, to build friendships and to enjoy outdoor recreation.” 

All six elementary schools in the Prince Albert Catholic School Division have received grants since the program was introduced. 

The funds were used to upgrade playground equipment at Ecole St Anne, Ecole Holy Cross, St. Catherine Community School, St. John Community School, St. Francis School and St. Michael Community School. 

Introduced in 2025, schools can receive up to $50,000 in matched funding to build new playgrounds or update existing equipment. The government is providing $3.75 million each year for four years to the program, which has already helped 94 schools throughout the province.   
Ross said that the application process is dependent on the schools that apply. 

“So whatever money has been raised, they apply for a matching grant and they can apply more than once. Some people apply and it helps get them over the final hurdle to be able to get their playground equipment like we talked about here, it was that last piece they needed. and some might split their project into pieces and they’ll apply for some here or some there and the maximum grant at one time though is $50,000,” Ross said. 

 The school received $50,000 through the program to develop their new playground which benefits more than 700 students, as well as a daycare and community league that share the space.   

Prince Albert Catholic School Division director of education Lorel Trumier said that the division is grateful for the opportunity of these grants. She said that the projects really could not have moved some of these projects forward unless there was this opportunity. Ecole St. Anne was one of the first to jump on the opportunity in 2025. 

“What had happened with our school division is a school such as Ecole St. Ann School had been doing some fundraising and getting some of the visioning in place and some of the dollars in place with the fundraising,” Trumier said. 

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division had already initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the playground when the announcement was made in January 2025. 

“We contacted right away the office and said, ‘Can we capitalize on this grant? Even though we’ve started the RFP process, we hadn’t broken ground, we had been doing fundraising, this helped us move this over the finish line.’ And that’s what happened here at Ecole St. Anne,” Trumier explained. 

At the time a project at Ecole Holy Cross was in a similar position and also benefitted from the program. 

“We were very fortunate and each one of our six schools actually benefitted from a project application under very different circumstances,” Trumier said. 

The grant covers part of the upgrade cost. The rest comes from School Community Councils (SCC), school fundraisers, and donations from parents, guardians, staff, anonymous donors, and First Student bus contractor services. 

“We had some donations that were made, some businesses that had helped us move those projects over the finish line as well. Again, we’re very grateful. I know our board chair, Suzanne Stubbs, and our entire board are very supportive of this kind of initiative,” Trumier said. 

“It helps our children grow. I love what our principal ( Gisèle Stalwick) said, that this really is an investment in our children, and you can’t do that with the province of Saskatchewan and the Government of Saskatchewan. So happy that this is happening now, and we’re looking forward to round two, hopefully,” Trumier said. 

Trumier explained that the division was so quick to apply the first time to help get the projects over the finish line. 

“And I’ve had very great school community councils and principals in our schools and staff who want to make this happen.” Trumier said. 

Trumier noted that during her speech Board Chair Suzanne Stubbs noted that she had been a trustee for 18 years and had never seen an opportunity like the grant program. 

“This is wonderful for our communities and even what happens in the evenings and it happens after school And on weekends, our children get to benefit from this. So a great investment. Thank you to the government of Saskatchewan and our playground grant opportunities that come. And thank you again.” 

Ross said that the 94 in the first round of grants was a great number and used 90 per cent of the $3.5 million that was available last year. 

“Once that maximizes, then we’ll just roll them over into the next year,” Ross said. 

Ross agreed with Trumier on the importance of the program. 

“It’s so important for so many of our schools and our communities and the fundraising committees that they access this,” Ross said. 

“And we want all the schools to access this and to be able to get them to that next step and complete the projects or finish something they weren’t able to do, previously. It’s really important for our children,” Ross said. 

The new playground structure at École St. Anne School cost in the neighbourhood of $140,000, according to the chair of Prince Albert’s School Community, Jeanette Murphy. They had already begun fundraising by the time the grant became available last year. 

“Today is a very special day for our children at our school and our community. As a parent and a board representative, it is truly heartwarming to see the playground become a reality,” Murphy said in her speech,” 

During her post-speech interview Murphy encouraged schools in Prince Albert to take advantage of the program, no matter what school division. 

“It is more than just a place to play. It is a place for our children to laugh, to make memories, to build confidence and create memories that they will carry with them. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. Thank you for investing in our children and in our community,” Murphy said. 

Murphy said that it was most importantly a playground for the children. 

“May this playground benefit with laughter, joy and many wonderful memories for years to come,” Murphy said. 

Speakers at the event included Ross, Stubbs, Stalwick, Murphy and SPRA representative Chelsea Corrigan. The application period runs from Sep 16, 2026, to Jan. 29, 2027. 

Tree planting kicks off International Conference

Michael Oleksyn
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Tree planting kicks off International Conference

A ceremonial tree planting next to the Margo Fournier Arts Centre took place Tuesday morning as part of the First International Trade Fair and Fifth International Conference on Environmental and Raw Materials Sustainability (ICERMs 2026) . The tree planting brought together local leaders, organizers and provincial representatives to highlight the connection between resource development and sustainability.

Leo Ekhaguere, president of CaCeRMDI and chairman of CRMC, explained that the tree planting, which occurred for the second year, was symbolic.

“I want to use it as a symbolic way to open a conference each year and to represent what our organizations stand for, particularly the Canadian Centre for Raw Materials.

Even though we know that the work of the Council complements the work of the Centre, we want to create a symbolic representation of the fact that we don’t just discuss sustainability theoretically. We want to demonstrate sustainability,” Ekhaguere said.

He said that the ceremony represents ICERMs’ continuing commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability, responsible resource development and international cooperation. ICERMs 2026 is being held from Sept. 14 to 18 in Prince Albert and Saskatoon under the theme “Raw Materials: Uniting Nations Through Innovation, Sustainability, and Trade.”

“We chose that topic and it is essentially meaningful to us today because raw materials, as it were, is supposed to unite nations. Today we see wars, we see conflict, we see geopolitical tensions everywhere in the world today. And if you look at the main cause of those things, it has to do with raw materials,” Ekhaguere said.

Ekhaguere said that raw materials should unite nations rather than dividing them.

“So that is the theme of our conference, and that’s what we represent. We know that if conflict erupt in one country, It doesn’t sit in that country. It’s the consequence and the effect spread round,” Ekhaguere said.

A special guest at this year’s conference is a top government official from Nigeria who is expected to join the group at the Chamber Dinner or later in the evening.

CaCeRMDI was the sponsor of the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Tuesday with guest speakers from Eldorado Gold who provided an update on the McIlvenna Bay Project and its exciting future in Saskatchewan’s mining sector.

CRMC secretary and CaCeRMDI vice president George Lewko said that they were excited to be sponsors for the event.

“We’ve never sponsored a luncheon before, but we had an opportunity during the conference for them to be here,” he said.

Lewko said that they could walk over to Chamber HQ and attend the luncheon following the tree planting.

Lewko said the group would tour Paintball Paradise in the afternoon to witness agritourism as well as Olympia Farm to witness a large farm operation.

“And then, tomorrow we’re going to head to Saskatoon and take in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and we’re going to take in geology, and we’re going to take in the Rayner Dairy Center and the Crossmount Cidery with apples,” Lewko said.

Lewko said that the tours would represent all parts of raw materials from farming to mining.

The commemorative tree also symbolizes the international relationships ICERMs seeks to build by connecting communities, governments, researchers, businesses and institutions through responsible resource development, innovation and trade. Ekhaguere said that the tree was an apple tree as a symbol for future generations.

“We have planted it for people that we may never know, people we may never see. They will eat out of it and they will hear the stories of how an international conference resulted into the planting of this tree,” Ekhaguere said. “So not just for this generation, but for generations to come. So we’re kind of trying to practicalize The word sustainability.”

Following the Prince Albert activities, ICERMs 2026 continues in Saskatoon from September 16–18, with technical, business, trade and international engagement activities.

The conference concludes on Sept. 18, Raw Materials Day, reinforcing the importance of natural resources, sustainability, innovation and international cooperation.

“We’ll be taking in Wanuskewin tomorrow because it’s such a nice conference area to go take in,” Lewko said.

The City of Prince Albert has proclaimed Sept. 18 Raw Materials Day.

“Every year, September 18th is Raw Materials Day. We have a council who claim it global that September 18th all over the world will be Raw Materials Day. So the city of Prince Albert is keying into that, and they continue to pronounce it every year. As they have from the start,” Ekhaguere said.

Ekhaguere and Lewko spoke on behalf of the conference, Mayor Bill Powalinsky brought greetings from the City of Prince Albert. Piper Dave Monette piped in the dignitaries and the tree for the ceremony.

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