Pride Month recognition motion tabled by Sask. Rivers board

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Pride Month recognition motion tabled by Sask. Rivers board

A possible recognition of Pride Month in the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division has been tabled after the board of education’s regular meeting on Monday. The notice of motion by trustee Jaimie Smith-Windsor was tabled in a five to four vote in order to have further consultations.

Smith-Windsor’s recommendation in her notice of motion was that the board invite students and staff submissions for the design of the SRPSD logo in recognition and celebration of Pride, June 2021 and annually thereafter.

“I think that it’s important to recognize that our schools celebrate gender and sexual diversity and cultivate belonging and ally-ship in many different ways but the board has an opportunity also to promote safe and inclusive schools,” Smith-Windsor said in her opening.

The notice of motion was introduced at the board’s meeting on April 12. Because the motion was tabled it will be discussed at a future date when it is reintroduced to the board, that date has not been determined.

The intent of the motion according to Smith-Windsor was to affirm the commitment of the board to LBTQ plus students and staff and the core values of the division in the foundational statements. She also provided policy manual references which recognize gender and sexual diversity as well as the Ministry of Education’s policy framework on deepening discussion of gender and sexual diversity.

“I think it’s important we look at this in a virtual format this year and it would be a good ongoing practice for this school division as well. I think it’s important that all students and staff see themselves represented in and through our policies but also in this way through our logo as well,” she said.

Vice chair Darlene Rowden made the tabling motion because there was no input from students on the motion and it did not come from a student group.

“This was a discussion one time using our school division logo in pride celebrations at other ways and the board moved against it at that time. So maybe we all have different opinions and I think we need time to discuss and get the kids opinions on what should be done,” she said.

Smith-Windsor said it was pretty common practice throughout the province that there is a school division logo with the Pride design overlaid or integrated into the logo and can be used by schools or divisions to create things like shirts that staff and teachers use to celebrate pride in June and all year round.

Saskatchewan Rivers Students for Change (SRSC) trustee Emily Zbaraschuk said that the motion was briefly discussed at the last SRSC meeting but came up too late to be discussed at length. She added that there was some interest expressed.

Board chair Barry Hollick wanted to have it discussed again and to see a vote from the SRSC. According to Zbaraschuk they are not having another meeting but having an executive meeting later in May where it will be discussed and any action would have to take place next school year.

Rowden explained that when the motion was coming from a trustee rather than a student or staff group and this gave her pause

“There is no Pride parade this year because of the pandemic so maybe we just slow this down so we can all get our heads wrapped around what is wanted. I’m not sitting here saying no I’m siting here saying can we discuss this further than what we have got today,” Rowden said.

Smith-Windsor explained that the point of bringing the notice forward in April was an opportunity for trustees to engage with their communities ahead of the vote at this meeting and be able to form an opinion.

“With all due respect I think the board actually moved very quickly to snuff this out the last time it came up to the board level. And now you are saying you need more time to deal with this request and that’s a little disingenuous in my view. I would also point out that there is a point of order to use a tabling motion to shutdown debate if there is something that has come up or is unexpected, different than the original motion,” Smith-Windsor said.

Trustee Grant Gustafson also spoke in favour of the motion and saw it as done on behalf of the groups.

“This motion represents an accommodation, a valuation of a very marginalized group not just in our school division but in our community and they have made an approach before to get this kind of thing done and we turned this down,” he said.

Trustee Arne Lindberg did not like the accusation by Smith-Windsor and disagreed that it was a stalling motion but was an information motion to get feedback from students. Trustee Bill Yeaman voted for the tabling motion because he thought more time was needed to look at the motion. In discussion, trustee Alan Nunn wanted to see overall thoughts from students and to hear some different voices.

“I personally think that this is something I would agree with however if you need to hear more from students I am willing to consult with the students,” Zbaraschuk said.

Sask. Rivers board approves three year maintenance plan

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Sask. Rivers board approves three year maintenance plan

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division knows what the future holds for some maintenance and upkeep in the division. At their regular meeting on Monday the board of education

approved their three year Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) plan and budget.

The three years approved in the plan cover from 2022 to 2025. There were also some amendments to the current year’s plan passed by the board. The presentation to the board was by superintendent of facilities Mike Hurd.

“That is some good planning in terms of preventative maintenance. One of the things that is really nice about that and we emphasize it because we have been doing it for years, this is a good way for the Ministry (of Education) to fund these things and it’s got a great team under Mike’s leadership that makes sure we have got really effective maintenance plans,” director of education Robert Bratvold said.

There were a number of questions around the aging buildings in the division by trustees after his presentation.

“We have aging buildings and that is part of the challenge. Mike’s team has done a great job of keeping them current and up to date that they don’t qualify for major capital funding but they take significant dollars investment to maintain them,” Bratvold explained.

He gave the example of windows, roofs and floors as items requiring investment.

“They are well maintained but they still take some investment to keep them that way,” he added.

The board also passed amendments to the 2020-2021 PMR, projects included sanding and refinishing the gym floors at both Riverside and St. Louis School, replacement of windows at Wild Rose Public School, two projects at Carlton including a washroom upgrade and replacement of condensate receiver and pump ad remediating mould in tunnels at Kinistino School.

Projects approved for 2021-2022 include upgrading to high efficiency boilers at Big River Public High School and a replacement of aluminum sliders with commercial grade double glaze windows at Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI).

Looking ahead, projects approved in 2022-2023 include window replacement at St. Louis School, a roofing replacement project at Carlton Comprehensive Collegiate and a gym floor replacement at PACI.

The 2023-2024 list includes a replacement of windows at St. Louis Public School, replacement of existing hardwood floor in the gym at PACI, replacement of roofs on the two gyms at Carlton and replacements of windows at King George Public School.

The deadline for submitting Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) plans is May 31, because of the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 deadline was set at June 30.

Mental health wellness texting service SaskWell offers new supports

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Mental health wellness texting service SaskWell offers new supports

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have partnered with a text-based service developer MEMOTEXT, to create a two-way wellness texting service called SaskWell.

SaskWell was developed to connect residents of Saskatchewan with information, supports and digital tools to support their mental health and wellbeing. The resources can be used to help with the challenges to mental health and wellness brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“It really is a service built by Saskatchewan people and nurses for Saskatchewan people. We have gotten some really good feedback and people really like it. We just finished our first pilot 10 weeks and we have got two more 10 week cycles to go and one is just starting up this week, so it’s a perfect time to join and to be SaskWell,” project lead Dr. Tracie Risling explained.

Risling said the project has received funding for COVID-19 based research from the Canadian Institute for Health Research. It was also awarded funding based on mental health aspects. The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation has also provided funding.

“We were lucky to receive this funding,” Risling said. “We set out to think about how we could create connection and understanding for people to know about the tools that are out there (and) to kind of help us out with our mental health and wellness. Because there are a lot of tools out there and maybe people just aren’t aware of these.”

The program runs over 10 weeks and people can text to join. It uses demographics to pair people with the proper mental health resources, since MEMOTEXT has the ability to partner needs with texting information based on responses.

“When we sign people up we ask them about what kind of data or WiFi access that you have and that helps us to target the resources more appropriately so everyone’s not getting the same thing,” she said. “I think that is really the cool thing. We have been doing some ongoing polling so people can share information with us through this via text. As the program goes on, it helps us to target information and provides better support.”

The SaskWell service is meant to bridge access divides and increase awareness of digital mental and wellness resources. Those who are interested in joining can text “JOIN” to 759355 or they can use the link mtxt.io/besaskwell to sign-up for the text-based service.

Once registered, participants will receive 10-weeks of resources and supports. This will include a week one match to a digital mental health tool and then frequent wellness prompts and tips. Polling questions allow participants to provide feedback on their pandemic experience to the research team, so that additional supports or information can be provided.

The survey and polling questions find where people are on a continuum from essentially flourishing to languishing.

“It’s just about having someone send you a couple of texts a week. Some of our wellness stuff is really simple, so it’s about taking a bit of time and maybe doing something creative, (like) getting outside (and) those kinds of things. It is just a reminder that we are here, that we are thinking about each other in Saskatchewan, and that we want to support each other through the challenges that continue with the pandemic,” Risling said.


She said the service was useful for people in rural remotes locations and uses texting to create a connection to other digital tools and resources.

“When you work in digital health, we think about the connectivity across the province and really the country. We are really trying to be a lot more aware of finding a point of connection for everyone. That’s a big part of what SaskWell is about,” Risling said.

This texting service is led by nursing researchers in partnership with patient and community advisors.

Westview School awarded Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge grant

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Westview School awarded Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge grant

Westview Community School in Prince Albert been selected as one of  10 Saskatchewan schools that will each receive a $10,000 grant to support student nutrition after being selected to win this year’s Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge

According to Principal Cheryl Arcand, the school applied to enhance some of the programming that is already in place including being a Breakfast Club of Canada school.

“We are so fortunate that we are able to serve breakfast for our students every day and that helps them to get their day started in a great way and then this additional grant dollars will just enhance what we currently have and so much. It will be an amazing opportunity, it’s exciting actually,” Arcand said.

“It just builds on all of the good things that are happening here at the school,” she added.

The grant funding will centre around a reconciliation project and will allow them to develop hydroponic and compost programs and purchase a new dishwasher, cooler and freezer.

“It will just enhance what we have. The school was built in 2000 and so we will be looking at purchasing and updating some stoves, two stoves and adding an additional refrigerator, cooler and microwave to our kitchen and then new will be the composting system,” Arcand explained.

According to Arcand, kitchen staff already does baking and the composting will help enhance the garden boxes that are already in the school. Other things that they are looking into include growing towers in classrooms.

“ So then to be able to see firsthand just growing, planting, harvesting that growth of lettuce or strawberries we will be planting in those grow towers so that they can reap the rewards of it too. So they can share in some healthy food together and of course you hope that they will take all of that learning and that passion for growing your own healthy food and then try that at home too,” Arcand said.

As the project is planned into next year, they are also trying to incorporate traditional medicines in the school community with the help of a teacher who is a carpenter.

“We are just trying to wrap our minds around that what that will look like. We have four garden boxes in our Pre-K Kindergarten outdoor learning space so we are going to add to that as well with traditional medicines and wave garden boxes too to do that,” Arcand said.

The entire concept is also based around Truth and Reconciliation at the school.

“That’s helping us on our Truth and Reconciliation journey that we have in the school. It’s something that I know our staff and students will benefit from,” she said.

“You have to have a name for your project and that will ground it and give it that focus and our school is known as Westview Community School and then underneath that it is Kistahpinanik which is the meeting place. Then we added an additional layer to that so we called our Mosaic Nutrition Challenge we called it Pe micisok Kistapinahnihk which translates to You all come to eat at the meeting place,” she explained.

The grants will support winning projects that have goals including supporting reconciliation projects, enhancing kitchen and garden facilities, increasing educational opportunities for students and families and expanding nutrition programs. Schools from across the province submitted their projects to compete for the total of $100,000 in prizes, provided by Mosaic.

“We can’t wait to see what this year’s winning schools create with their funding for the next school year,” Sarah Fedorchuk, The Mosaic Company’s Vice President, Government and Public Affairs, North America said in a release.

“From gardens to cooking classes to breakfast programs, these 10 schools are providing healthier school environments that are sure to have a lasting impact on students and their schools, building on the program’s legacy that’s helped deliver better access to nutritious food in 70 Saskatchewan schools.”

Other schools receiving grants this year are part of Christ the Teacher, Good Spirit, Northern Lights, Prairie South, Regina Public, Saskatoon Public and South East Cornerstone school divisions.

To encourage grassroots initiatives to help improve student nutrition, this program, formerly known as the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge, began in 2006.

“The 27 school boards in Saskatchewan are so grateful for Mosaic’s ongoing generosity and continued commitment to this program,” Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the SSBA said in a release.

“We are so excited to see innovative ideas continue to come forward in this, the 15th year.”

Arcand said that the plans are tied to curriculum outcomes in the province and the school wants to thank all of the community partners associated with the Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge for this grant opportunity.

“We have all of the partners that make that our school. Our students are very appreciative it is just a wonderful surprise for sure,” Arcand said.

May 9 to 15 is Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
May 9 to 15 is Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week

This week (May 9 to 15) is Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week, and the province recognizes it as a time to highlight invasive species and the important role the public can play to protect our province’s waterbodies from this significant threat.

“We have only to look to neighbouring provinces and states to see the devastating impact that aquatic invasive species can have, ecologically and economically,” Environment Minister Warren Kaeding said in a release.

“This week is intended to highlight the threat our province faces when it comes to aquatic invasive species but, more importantly, it also creates awareness that we can support the health of our water and fishery resources by taking preventative measures. These measures can be as simple as removing the plug when transporting your watercraft.”

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are plants, animals and invertebrates that enter ecosystems where they don’t occur naturally. These species disrupt the ecosystem, and can damage aquatic habitat, fisheries, valuable recreational resources and important power generation and water infrastructure.  Once established in a waterbody, AIS can be impossible to eliminate, and cost millions of dollars each year to manage. Examples include zebra mussels, Prussian carp, flowering rush and the spiny waterflea.

Saskatchewan’s AIS program continues its focus on public education, including promotion of the Clean, Drain, Dry Program for watercraft, as well as roadside inspections, decontaminations and regular monitoring of the province’s waterbodies. Prevention of zebra and quagga mussels remains a top priority for the province. The program has proved successful so far, with no invasive mussels found in Saskatchewan waterbodies to date.

The ministry has eight mobile watercraft decontamination units that support its AIS inspection and decontamination program. Two units will be set up along the Manitoba border, three along the U.S. border, and the rest throughout the province. Watercraft inspection stations in Estevan, Regina, Swift Current, Moosomin and Churchbridge are set to open next week, as well as mobile inspection stations at strategic locations. The U.S. border remains closed to non-essential travel.

“Saskatchewan continues to partner with federal agencies, as well as provincial organizations and provincial governments, to co-ordinate prevention efforts across Western Canada,” Kaeding said.

“The importance of these relationships was highlighted earlier this year, when a serious threat posed by imported aquarium moss balls contaminated with zebra mussels was identified and stopped. Quick and co-ordinated action averted potential disaster for Saskatchewan’s aquatic ecosystems.”

The ministry also works with the provincial AIS Task Force and the Invasive Species Centre for public education and monitoring, with a focus on the prevention, introduction and spread of AIS in Saskatchewan.

More information about aquatic invasive species can be found at saskatchewan.ca/invasive-species.

Area projects receive federal and provincial funding

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Area projects receive federal and provincial funding

On May 6 Jim Carr, the Government of Canada’s Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Saskatchewan’s Government Relations Minister Don McMorris, announced more than $50.2 million in joint funding for 55 infrastructure projects across the province.

The projects are funded under the new COVID-19 Resilience Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Among other projects, the funding will go toward the construction of a new community centre in Kinistino, which will house the town office, a rental hall, a daycare and a library.

Active transportation networks will be expanded or improved in the Battlefords, Estevan, Kindersley, La Ronge, Swift Current and Yorkton helping to enhance mobility connections and the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. New walking pathways will connect the Flying Dust First Nation community to Meadow Lake, providing increased and safe pedestrian access to community services. In Regina, the Saskatchewan Science Centre will be renovated to make it more accessible. Projects in Moose Jaw, Wilkie and Biggar will upgrade the power supply to municipal buildings using solar panels.

Providing communities with reliable and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. The Government of Canada is investing more than $21.2 million in these 55 projects. For projects requiring consultations with Indigenous groups, funding is conditional on all consultation requirements being met. The Government of Saskatchewan is also contributing over $16.4 million toward these projects. Contributions by recipients toward their respective projects are $12.5 million.
“Through collaboration with our provincial and municipal partners, we are funding important infrastructure projects throughout Saskatchewan,” Carr said in a release.

“With the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, we are also responding to the impacts of the pandemic through flexible and accelerated investments in key infrastructure upgrades as quickly as possible.  The funding announced today will help communities build back better, create jobs, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities.”

“From Buffalo Narrows to Estevan, and dozens of communities in-between the Government of Saskatchewan’s $16.4-million investment in these 55 local infrastructure projects will not only help protect local economies, which are continuing to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also help create safe, healthy and prosperous communities across the province,” McMorris added.

Area projects funded under the resilience stream include the installation of a new sidewalk and associated works along First Avenue North between First Street North and Ausland Street in Big River, with the federal contribution of $88,578, the provincial contribution is $73,808 and the proponent (community) contribution of $73,808.

Prince Albert will see an upgrade for the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre including upgrade and renovate the entrance area, washroom and related facilities, the federal contribution is $817,800 and the provincial contribution is $272,600.

The Northern Village of Buffalo Narrows has been funded for a repair and upgrade of the Lake View Complex, the federal contribution is $140,000, the provincial contribution is $116,655 and the community contribution is $93,345.

The Resort Village of Candle Lake has been funded to construct a flood mitigation berm and active walking trail, the federal contribution is $101,580, the provincial contribution is $84,642 and the community is contributing $67,729.

Carrot River will be funded for a Pasquia Regional Park Authority Pool House upgrade, which will repair, upgrade and expand the combined shower and pool house, the federal contribution is $52,200, the provincial contribution is $43,496 and the community contribution is $34,804.

The Town of Duck Lake will be upgrading and expanding the Community Park including installing interactive and accessible play structures, along with associated work, the federal contribution is $84,365, the provincial contribution $70,297 and the community contribution is $56,250.

The Town of Kinistino will be build a community centre to house the town office, hall to rent, daycare facilities,library and potential medical clinic, the federal contribution is $2,336,000, the provincial contribution is $1,946,472 and the community contribution is $1,557,528.

La Ronge will be upgrading seven kilometres of existing community trails, the federal contribution is $95,730, the provincial contribution is $79,767 and the community contribution is $63,828.
Nipawin will be doing recreation upgrades as well by adding four permanent dressing rooms with washrooms and showers to the Jubilee Arena, the federal contribution is $669,411, the provincial contribution is $557,787, the town will be contributing $446,330.

Spiritwood will also be doing work on their skating arena mezzanine including items such as insulation, drywall, paint, along with raising the floor for seating,improvements to the concession area and finishing of the stairs in the fire exit area, the federal contribution $58,284, the provincial contribution is $48,565 and the community contribution is $38,861.
According to the release to support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories. Through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, over $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects. The COVID-19 Resilience Stream allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 per cent in projects that support provinces, and up to 100 per cent in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.

In Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada has invested more than $812 million in$70,297 over 460 infrastructure projects since 2015 under the Investing in Canada Plan.

Catholic Education Week to celebrate staff and essential workers

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Catholic Education Week to celebrate staff and essential workers

Next week (May 9 to 15) is Catholic Education Week and the Prince Albert Catholic School Division a will be paying tribute to all staff, healthcare workers, essential workers, emergency services, frontline workers, service providers, bus drivers and essential workers in Prince Albert.

In the year of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the division’s Board of Education is honouring all of its staff for the work they have done to keep learning going during uncertain times.

“Our school division is going to honour all staff with an honourary achievement award in terms of recognizing their commitment and dedication to Catholic education and our Catholic educational community. And it is really because of the efforts of all of our staff during the pandemic that supported our children and our families in the best way they could. So our board felt that would be an appropriate way to recognize the efforts of our staff,” director of education Lorel Trumier said.

“We are also honouring all of our essential workers, frontline workers, our healthcare workers, our clergy. We are taking an extra bit of focus on letting the community them know how much we appreciate that they supported us as well,” she added.

Each school will also display their thanks by lining the fence lines and/or school windows with student art and messages of thanks.

“You will see along our fence lines and our school windows different acknowledgements of support,” she explained.

With 3,000 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 and 350 staff the board felt this was a great acknowledgement of the efforts of those who are supporting staff, students and families during the pandemic.

Each year during Catholic Education Week the board of education selects and honours individuals who made significant contributions and positively impacted staff, students and the Catholic education community with the Catholic Education Service Award. In 2020 the winners were Louise Kerzinger and Mark Phaneuf.

“We might be small but we hope to have an impact in terms of what is happening,” Trumier said.

The theme of Catholic Education Week this year is “Nurturing Hope” and this recognition acknowledges how all of these people have been doing just that.

“We know that our staff have done their best to provide hope to our students and staff, their colleagues and their families,” she added.

“Next week though we are also honouring all of our essential workers, frontline workers, our healthcare workers, our clergy. We are taking an extra bit of focus on letting the community them know how much we appreciate that they supported us as well,”

According to Trumier, there will also be a national day focused on Catholic education on May 13 with a special virtual mass at 10 a.m. with Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon presiding. For more information see www.saskatoonmass.com.

“We are excited about that,” Trumier said.

“We are forever grateful for the commitment and dedication that these very special people in our community. They have persevered through the pandemic and supported our Catholic educational community so much,” board chair Suzanne Stubbs said in a release.

“Whether it be healthcare workers, service providers, our Bishop, clergy, teachers, support staff, religious, caretakers, administrators, SCC volunteers, bus drivers, frontline workers, students in the workforce and all essential workers, our Board of Education is proud to be a part of this community. They have all done a tremendous job in serving us. They are inspirational and nurture so much hope. May God bless them all.”

Prince Albert area water project moving to next phase

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Prince Albert area water project moving to next phase

Development of a new water treatment plant on the North Saskatchewan River, and a pipeline that will serve the Town of Shellbrook, recently took another step forward.

The Prince Albert Rural Water Utility (PARWU) board passed a resolution at a special meeting on April 29 to move to the next phase.

PARWU purchases water from the City of Prince Albert that serves a network of customers in the RM of Buckland, the RM of Prince Albert, the Muskoday First Nation and the RM of Duck Lake. With this resolution, they have invited the RM of Shellbrook and the Town of Shellbrook to join their board for regional collaboration to enlarge the PARWU’s ability to service more municipalities with fresh, good drinking water.

Shellbrook councillor and steering committee chair Brent Miller said the cost came in a bit higher than expected, but he’s confident the project will still work.

All of the early indications are that we have some positive economics,” Miller explained. “The conceptual design came in higher than we were expecting. About $45 million was where we thought it would land, we used those numbers (but) it’s actually $52.5 million.

“We ran the numbers. (With) those kinds of numbers, we can make it work and it works for everybody. Of course the more people we sign up the better the economics look.”

Miller added that the initial estimate was low because there was no design work completed. The group only had a some engineering work done, and some of their own estimates.

“We knew what the estimate was from 2018 and we did some extrapolations based on what we thought the inflation rate and cost of living index had been and came up with the $45 million,” Miller said.

“At $45 million we were sort of just intuitively thinking this project would work. We found for $52.5 million the project would work, so that’s a good thing and I really believe the project will come in under budget,” he added.

Miller said one reason the project will come in under budget is the PARWU decision to enlist the services of Stephen Irving as project manager. Irving had a successful career with Enbridge Pipelines, and has extensive experience in pipeline and operational facilities in the areas of engineering, construction, and operation.

Irving has informed the board that the work of applying for the various environmental and regulatory permits would begin very quickly.

The board also plans on building a team under Irving to help run the project.

Miller is convinced the project will receive interest from contractors and consultants because the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed business.

“Usually when they are hungry there’s a side benefit too. You don’t just get good pricing. Generally, you are going to get their A team players as well, so you end up with a better product,” he said.

“We want to be careful who we use because we are a small regional utility. We don’t want Cadillac facilities. What we want is super functional and good quality, but we don’t need to hire an architect for our building,” Miller added. “It doesn’t need to be state of the art and absolutely beautiful and impress everybody that drives by, we have to be really prudent.”

As part of the next phase, the organization plans to refine the design to get the most accurate cost estimate possible. That will include obtaining proposals for detailed engineering week, gathering cost estimates from local contractors, preparing a schedule for all activities required to identify critical path items, and engaging with consultants to apply for federal grants.

The RM’s of Buckland, Prince Albert and Shellbrook will be sending out letters asking for expressions of interest to residents situated close to the new water pipeline right of way. Irving has indicated that once a final right of way for all pipeline branches has been established, the locations will be published so potential subscribers will know if they are in the vicinity for hook-ups.

Miller said there are zones between the water plant and Shellbrook that haven’t had water service before, including areas such as Peter Pond, Crutwell, Holbein and rural subdivisions between Crutwell and Holbein.

“We hear from many that they have good water and good wells but we also hear from others that they would really be interested in buying up ,” Miller said.

There will be other steps to get the RM of Shellbrook and Town of Shellbrook on the board. According to Miller, Shellbrook has already passed a bylaw that ends the rotating deputy mayor so that they can have a deputy mayor sit on the board to suit the current board structure of PARWU.

“We needed to get somebody who would sit on the board and be competent and learn about what’s going on there and be able to add value all of the time,” he explained. “Switching that person out every four months probably just wasn’t feasible.”

The permitting process is expected to take 18 months, and will also include things like public forums.

There are also going to be decisions about routes, environmental, historical archaeology investigations and there has to be investigations of threatened species. Miller said he thinks the permit process could take up to 24 months

The project end date could be anywhere from two to three and a half years away.

“Worst case scenario we are looking at three and a half years,” Miller said. “Best case scenario, we are looking at around two. I have yet to have a best case scenario in a situation like this in my career, so it’s probably closer to two and a half to three and a half.”

Miller is also impressed with the PARWU board and their progressive approach.

“They were so willing to just say, ‘look Shellbrook and the RM of Shellbrook have to come and be on our board and be with us here. It will be a PARWU project and we will do it together,’” he said.

“I’m really impressed with the way things are developing, good group of people.”

It is anticipated that PARWU will keep the same acronym, but change their name to Prince Albert Regional Water Utility. The organization will also update their mission statement, which currently says their primary goal is to make “a consistent supply of treated water” available to homes, farms and businesses in the Prince Albert District via pipeline.

“The Steering Committee has done an excellent job of shepherding this project. If things continue to point in the right direction, this project would present many positive benefits for the town and ratepayers of Shellbrook and subscribers to PARWU,” Shellbrook Mayor and steering committee member Amund Otterson said in the release.

Harley’s Garden project coming to West Flat

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Harley’s Garden project coming to West Flat

The Prince Albert non profit with a plan to build the Harley’s House youth home is looking to engage the community through the creation of a community garden in the West Flat.

They see the Harley’s Garden as a way to connect to the community before construction of the semi independent transitional housing project begins.

“The garden is a way for us to create certainty with the community for our overall project of the Harley’s House project. We have had to make some amendments to it but so far so good. We have raised $50,000 so far from Malcolm Jenkins and we have about four or five other corporate sponsors at this time also looking to jump on board,” Girardi Foundation executive director David Girardi said.

“It’s really an uplifting community revitalization project for the whole community of Prince Albert,” he added.

Canadian Tire owner and philanthropist Jenkins explained that he is at the stage of his life where he can’t take it with him and he wants to give back to the community he loves. The project will be built near the recently completed Alfred’s Spray Park.

“We built the splash park last year in that area. It has been largely an underserved area and the splash park went over well and the city added a playground and it has turned a small corner of the West Flat into a very nice area and this is adjacent to that,” Jenkins added.

He explained that the community garden will be another enhancement to the area.

“It is to enhance the area plus the goal is a worthy one it is to build a garden which is a nice addition to the community and then build a residence for at risk youth to give them a hand. It just seemed a very worthy thing to do and it’s adjacent to something we have already done so I think it is good if we can spread it from there it’s a nucleus and make something larger and more worthwhile of the whole thing,” Jenkins said.

“It’s coming back we have got a skatepark there now and that was the year before and now we have got a splash park and if this comes along. So it’s good I am hoping to see other people jump in and help and make it happen faster,” he added.

The amendments that have been made to the plans included adding garden plots and replacing benches to make it more of a community garden than a community space.

Girardi has filled out the development permit and is waiting on environment approval and other items.

According to Girardi the project build cost is $220,000 but they are fundraising will total $650,000. The project receives no government funding.

“We are using investment strategies through Edward Jones Investments that put a 75 to 100 per cent guarantee on all of the sponsorship capital raised and it pays out interest for monthly operating expenses. So if we raise $650,000 for the fundraising on the garden that will pay us $2,100 a month to cover all of the operational expenses of the garden,” he explained.

There is also a guaranteed succession in place if they raise the funds so if a board member passes away the program will continue according to Girardi. The garden will also include artwork from the Bernice Sayese Centre cultural program.

The purpose of the community garden is simple according to Girardi.

“The entire purpose of the garden is that it is a community garden. So available to the community through an online booking system to either have their own garden plot as well as for use to learn about gardening skills. To learn the value of growing something and how you do one thing in life is how you do the other,” he explained.

Girardi said that they will build certainty with the neighbourhood in the 1300 block of 13th Street West by having the smaller scale project go in first.

“Why would build a home without winning the approval of our neighbours first without proving the basic concept on our smaller scale project. It’s kind of like why would the bank give you money to construct an apartment building if you had no operational experience running an apartment, they simply wouldn’t. This is our way of showing that we can build something and we can also show the community that it’s designed and it works as intended and it also gives our neighbours a way to get to know us as well as the way in which we are operating and a way of us giving back to the community,”

Girardi said that the foundation is focused on being a non profit that is also self sufficient.

“We are hoping that if we do this for the community as well they will step up for us.

The entire idea is also that they will only have to fundraise once and not have to return to the well each year.

“This is a project that the whole community of Prince Albert can step up to get involved with for as little as $100 really as a capital donation and be proud of doing something. We are not going to be back every single year for more cash. We have a financial structure in place that makes it self reliant,”

Girardi said that programs such as the Lighthouse in North Battleford survive on provincial funding that can be cut and that just causes more social problems.

“That is why we have taken the approach that we have and our approach is to raise once and preserve and make sure that we always have enough operating capital on hand. At the very end of it, it is basically that we are 100 per cent self sufficient because a community is more likely and more comfortable in giving is if they have to give every 10 years versus every year over and over,” he said.

Girardi added they want to focus on projects instead of having to fundraise each year because of this model.

“We are trying to become an equitable non profit in the community of Prince Albert because we live here and we love it here. Not only that this garden will also give individuals aging out of foster care in the age category of 18 to 21 an alternative. When we are growing food and giving it back to the Prince Albert Food Bank because we are allowed to donate, We feel that it’s a positive thing for the whole community.”

Catholic Division board approves three year PMR plan

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
-
0
Catholic Division board approves three year PMR plan

Schools are always in need of maintenance and the Prince Albert Catholic School Division has an ability to stay ahead of these with the Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) Plan.

At their meeting on Monday, May 25 the board approved the three-year (fiscal years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-205) PMR projects list.

“The Preventative Maintenance and Renewal plan is very much a measured approach to articulating what the jobs are that we need to get done to our buildings and our facilities. We do have flexibility within the plan,” director of education Lorel Trumier said.

During the meeting trustee Darryl Sande noticed that St. Francis had a gymnasium floor replacement listed on the plan. This project has already been completed after a water main break in 2019 and was removed by an amendment before the plan was approved.

“So now we will have an opportunity to assess the future projects that are articulated and seek to finish an additional one instead,” Trumier said.

The entire budget in the three year plan totals $779,416.

The three-year plan includes project such as removing and replacing damaged bricks on the south wall of St. John and separate gym floor projects at St. Michael and St. John in the next series of projects.

“It’s a very measured approach, what it does is it highlights areas of concern and need in our system,” she explained.

According to Trumier one of the best examples of how the PMR budget works is school roofs which can be identified as a future need but moved to another time as the need arises.

“However we know that sometimes some roofs may experience heavy snow loads and where we will have to move that project up a couple of years and then we are able to shift a different one back because it wasn’t as necessary. And it allows us that opportunity to prioritize and shift them as the need calls upon and it guarantees that we have those dollars as it is earmarked dollars we are not able to spend them in other categories for those kinds of tasks,” Trumier said.

One example of this happening is the recently approved amendment to add the roof at St. Francis which was added this year as an amendment. One project listed in 2024-2025 portion of the plan is a roofing project at St. John.
The plan is administration’s current best estimate of anticipated projects, associated costs and potential timing. The plan is always subject to change as events occur in the future.

Should new projects arise that aren’t included, administration will request an amendment to the plan. For example, last March there were a number of amendments for costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The exercise of developing the PMR budget is a credit to the entire operation according to Trumier.

“I think our buildings are in really great condition and I credit the management, our school based administration, our facilities manager Dan Gareau and the team of people here that support the operation of the facilities because we have got really nice facilities,” she said.

All PMR plans must be approved by the board and submitted to the Ministry of Education.

1...150151152...221Page 151 of 221