Saskatchewan Provincial Park campgrounds officially open for the 2019 season this Thursday, May 16!

This spring, save $5 per night while camping in any electric, non-electric or economy campsite. Discount is valid up until June 24, 2019.

Spring is the perfect time to get out and explore while the parks are still quiet. 

Campsites are still available in many provincial parks for nightly reservations. Book your stay at saskparks.goingtocamp.com.

During the Victoria Day Weekend (Thursday, May 16 to Monday, May 20 inclusive), the alcohol ban will be in place once again and will include cannabis. The alcohol and cannabis ban applies to all campgrounds and picnic areas within provincial parks and recreation sites. The ban is also in effect at several regional parks. 

This spring, save $5 per night while camping in any electric, non-electric or economy campsite. Discount is valid up until June 24, 2019.
​

                              
Zak's Home Hardware Grand Opening  Thu May 9th - Sun 12th

Zak's Home Hardware Grand Opening May 9 - 12
Zak's Home Hardware Warman 930 Centennial Boulevard
zaksbuilding.com
Meet the Saskatchewan Rush on May 12

​The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) wants you to understand what your insurance policy covers so that you are protected in case of an extreme weather event.  Have you considered whether your home and car are protected from hail and wind damage when summer rolls around?

Here are some severe weather tips to consider:

1. Know what’s covered – Read your policy, find out what types of damage are covered and what types are not.  Certain types of damages may not be covered in a standard home policy.   For instance, overland flooding usually requires a separate endorsement added to the standard policy
2. Contact an insurance company, agent or broker if you have any questions – They will be able to help you find the coverage that suits your needs and protects your property in the event of severe weather damage.
3. Be prepared in case of a severe weather emergency by making a plan –

• Have a home inventory of your belongings including an estimate of the value of each item.  If your home or contents are damaged, you will be required to prove your loss.  Before damage occurs, take photos of your belongings and store the files or pictures in a safe place for future reference.
• Have emergency supply kits for your home and vehicle.  This should include items such as a flashlight, food and water, first-aid kit, blankets and extra clothing.
• Have an evacuation plan.  It’s important to be prepared and establish designated meeting places for your family, alternate routes out of your area, means of transportation and arrangements for pets.
• Take precautions around your home.  Secure loose items that may be damaged or cause damage in strong winds.  Keep gutters and downspouts clear to keep water moving away from your home.
• For more tips visit:

• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/environment-public-health-and-safety/disaster-prevention 
• https://twitter.com/InsuranceBureau

​

The Provincial Disaster Assistance Program

The Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) helps Saskatchewan residents and municipalities recover from natural disasters.  Once a community has applied and been approved as being impacted by a natural disaster, PDAP will assist with the costs to replace or repair uninsurable essential items.  PDAP will also assist with costs for cleanup from the disaster and for temporary relocation if required.  PDAP is not intended to compete with private insurers or to provide full replacement coverage.  Reimbursement of costs from PDAP are based on the depreciated or pre-disaster condition on essential items and prescribed rates are established for cleanup and other disaster-related costs.

For more information about PDAP, visit https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/environment-public-health-and-safety/access-funding-through-the-provincial-disaster-assistance-program. 

For more information and tips about insurance, visit http://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/consumers/insurance-consumers/insurance-basics.

​Released by The Saskatchewan Government

​One bad decision… a life forever changed
  
Media release: May 1, 2019 by SGI
  
Impaired driving the focus of May’s Traffic Safety SpotlightImagine climbing into a vehicle after a night of partying with your friends. You drift off to sleep.  Later, you wake up, on your stomach in a ditch, and you can’t feel your legs.
​  
In May 2010, that happened to Nolan Barnes. After a night of drinking and drug use in Saskatoon, Nolan was a passenger in an SUV driven by an impaired driver. While en route back to Yorkton, the vehicle crashed, killing Nolan’s friend and injuring eight passengers.

Nolan’s injuries were the most severe. His back was shattered and his collarbone was broken.

Following the crash, Nolan endured surgery, two weeks in an induced coma, two months in hospital, followed by many more months of rehab. He had to learn how to navigate life in a wheelchair.

​In the hopes of convincing others to make better choices than he did, Nolan regularly shares his story at schools, corporate events and SADD conferences. He speaks to people with brutal honesty, sparing no detail about living as a paraplegic, and the impact his choices made on him and the people who care about him.

​You can hear more of Nolan’s story in a series of videos on SGI’s YouTube channel. And if you’re interested in having him speak to your organization or school, contact him directly via email or through his Instagram.

This month, SGI and law enforcement are focusing on impaired driving for the May Traffic Safety Spotlight.

Nearly 6,600 people have been injured in impaired driving collisions over the last 10 years in Saskatchewan. While the number of injuries has continually trended downward over the past decade, there were still 368 people injured from impaired driving collisions on Saskatchewan roads in 2017.
​
When it comes to something as preventable as impaired driving, one person hurt is one too many. Always #DriveSober. If your plans involve alcohol or drugs, #PlanASafeRide.

​Between May 1 and June 30 residents who sign up for the City of Warman’s Utility E-Billing service will be entered to win a $25 credit towards their water bill! Four lucky winners will be chosen at random on July 3.

Already signed up? You’re automatically entered in the draw!
​
Application forms were included in May’s water bill, or can also be found at this link: https://bit.ly/2IQH7OX.

Email your completed form to [email protected] or drop it off at City Hall.

 Q1 Economic Dashboard Release (SREDA)

Q1 showed signs of continued stability in the Saskatoon Region economy.  Employment indicators have turned positive with unemployment dropping to 6%, as both the labour force and employment levels increased during the quarter. We continue to see population estimates increasing, which bodes well for future work force engagement. Ongoing weaker commodity prices in Q1 and concerns related to international trade barriers on key exports remain to be important challenges for our local economy. GDP estimates continue to forecast ‘modest growth’ (1.9%) for 2019. Weighing all these factors we have decided to maintain our B- ranking (‘modest growth’) for Saskatoon Region economy.  Alex Fallon, President and CEO, SREDA

JOBS | Employment Level (178,633) & Unemployment Rate (6.0%)

​We are seeing unemployment rates slowly return to pre-commodity price slowdown. An average unemployment rate of 6% for a quarter hasn’t been seen since mid-2015.  Likewise, we are seeing net job growth at levels we haven’t seen since 2013.  Year-over-year job growth from Q1 2018 to Q1 2019 was 7,833.

Employment Headlines

Uber comes to Saskatoon:
Ride sharing laws were passed in the province and city in Q4 2018, and Uber became the fi rst ride sharing company to
jump into the Saskatoon market this quarter. It is so far unknown the number of jobs this has created in Saskatoon or the
effect it has had on the taxi industry.

Tech companies going global for new hires:
Companies like 7Shifts, Vendasta, Skip the Dishes and more are looking overseas for skilled employees. Talent attraction
continues to be a challenge for tech companies in Saskatoon.

Housing Starts (158)
​
This quarter showed a continued downward trend for both building permits and housing starts in Saskatoon. Building permits were down 23% compared to Q1 2018 and housing starts are down 25%. This is likely in response to lower demand, some continued oversupply in the market and a continued decline in the number of borrowers.

In December 2017, the federal and provincial governments agreed that provinces would receive 75 per cent of the cannabis excise tax revenues instead of a fifty-fifty split. These additional dollars were to support municipalities. But nearly one and a half years later, and more than six months since the legalization of cannabis, the provincial government has failed to pass on a portion of the cannabis excise tax to Saskatchewan’s hometowns.

Local governments are the order of government closest to daily lives, and as a result, Saskatchewan’s hometowns are on the front lines of cannabis legalization, controlling cannabis production, sales, and consumption.
​
Municipal bylaws regulate zoning for producers and retail facilities, and where and when cannabis can be consumed publicly.

Our bylaw enforcement officers and building inspectors are the ones ensuring those growing cannabis in their homes are adhering to electrical codes and requirements.

And our police and contracted RCMP services are undertaking increased enforcement activities around public consumption and impaired driving.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimates that municipalities are facing new annual costs related to cannabis of up to $9.50 per resident. This is on top of everyday policing, fire, and bylaw enforcement costs that our hometowns already pay to ensure the safety of residents.

Giving hometowns 33 per cent of total cannabis excise tax revenues collected in the province would help handle local costs related to cannabis.

Municipalities recognize that the province is also facing costs. But the provincial government has the ability to recuperate costs through retail application fees, six per cent PST on every gram of cannabis, and the downloading of enforcement costs to municipalities. Municipalities, who are mandated to have balanced operating budgets, have the options of either downloading the costs to residents or reducing services.

The Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agreement on Cannabis Taxation, the agreement giving provinces their increased share of cannabis tax revenue, recognized the need for sustained cooperation between federal, provincial, and municipal governments and obligated provinces to work with municipalities according to shared responsibilities toward legalization. Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec have acknowledged their obligations and introduced tax sharing plans.

It is time for the Saskatchewan government to honour its commitment to work with municipalities and share the cannabis excise tax with Saskatchewan’s hometowns.

Gordon Barnhart is President of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the voice of Saskatchewan’s hometowns.

Press Release by:
Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association
Unit 305-4741 Parliament Avenue
Regina, SK S4W 0T9
306-525-3727

​Saskatchewan has officially proclaimed May 2019 as Missing Children’s Month, which coincides with Child Find Saskatchewan’s 28th annual Green Ribbon of Hope campaign.

In March 2019, the province announced $125,000 for EGADZ to continue Operation Runaway and build on the successes they’ve had giving Saskatoon youth a voice to help reduce or eliminate the amount of times they run away.  The development of a risk assessment tool at EGADZ’s My Homes has resulted in 276 fewer reports of missing youth between September 2018 and March 2019.

“Thanks to the commitment from the Government of Saskatchewan, we are able to continue tackling the complex issue of runaways in Saskatoon,” EGADZ Executive Director Don Meikle said.  “Operation Runaway uses a community response with the expertise of the youth we serve to provide support and alternatives that bring our youth home.”

EGADZ’s Operation Runaway in Saskatoon is an innovative, non-traditional, interagency team with members from Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ministry of Social Services, Saskatoon Police Services and other EGADZ programs.  They focus on the root causes of running and use positive supports to encourage changes in behaviour.  Their staff work to build strong relationships with these youth, so they have someone to turn in times of need and to help address the issues they are facing.

Child Find Saskatchewan educates and advocates for the rights and protection of children and youth, and assists law enforcement agencies and other partners to locate missing children.  They are a member of the Provincial Partnership Committee on Missing Persons and work with like-minded organizations to recognize and promote the issues surrounding missing children and youth.

“Over the last 35 years, Child Find has developed preventative and educational programs which are delivered throughout the province with the goal of helping to keep children and youth safe,” Child Find Saskatchewan President Phyllis Hallatt said.  “Our Green Ribbon serves as a symbol of hope that missing children will return home safely.”

Green ribbons are available in communities across Saskatchewan.  To find the location nearest you, please contact Child Find Saskatchewan at 306-955-0070.  Proceeds generated by the campaign support Child Find Saskatchewan to continue their mandate of assisting in the search for missing children and the education of children and adults about abduction.
On May 8, during Missing Persons Week, Child Find is hosting an event at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon featuring Youth Advocate, Marnie Grundman.  Marnie has first-hand insight of what is like to be that missing child, that child that belongs to no one.

For more information about Child Find Saskatchewan and upcoming events, please visit www.childfind.sk.ca.

 Released on May 1, 2019 by The Government of Saskatchewan

City of Warman campgrounds open May 1 through September 30.

The City of Warman features 2 campground facilities, totaling 32 electrified sites, washrooms, showers and RV dump stations.  Each camping site is equipped with a barbecue pit and picnic table.

Site registrations can be made through a online portal or by calling Warman Recreation (306) 933-2210.

Registration Information for both sites is as follows:  

• Check-in time is 1:00 p.m.
• Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
• If you plan on staying longer, please re-register by 9:00 a.m. on your check-out date.
• Reservations are taken as a first come/first serve basis. Reservations open April 1st.
• Daily, weekly and monthly rates must be paid upon registration. There are no refunds.
• Stays will be no longer than one month at any given time.
• Campground will be open from May 1st to September 30th.

​