A full contingent of representatives from the Town of Canora, including Mayor Mike Kwas and Councillors Eric Sweeney, Brad Gabora, Jacqueline Fetchuk, Dave Wasyliw, Kerry Trask and Denise Leslie, were in attendance at the 2022 SUMA Convention and Tradeshow in Regina from April 3 to 6. The annual event, the first in-person convention for SUMA in more than two years, was attended by nearly 800 delegates from towns, villages, cities, and northern municipalities across Saskatchewan.
“This year’s theme was “Connect,” a little different then last year when the convention was held online,” said Kwas. “It was a really great opportunity to connect with fellow peers and council members. Our team had the chance to talk with many of the members of the surrounding municipalities and each of us were able to attend different workshops.”
During the speech by Premier Scott Moe, he announced that Terry Dennis, Canora-Pelly 小蓝视频, would be visiting Germany “to meet and talk with displaced citizens of Ukraine and find out how we can speed up the process of victims getting to Saskatchewan.”
In addition to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Premier also spoke about the province moving forward during the pandemic and the 2022 provincial budget.
“There were many relevant topics that were presented during the convention and a trade show which included many educational booths,” continued Kwas. “All in all there was a lot of information on attracting visitors through tourism, enhancing economic development, securing funding for projects and adding additional changes involving environmental liability. Among the resolutions that were mentioned, one that’s relevant to Canora was the decommissioning of the landfill.
“Overall it was a great opportunity to meet many new people while building relationships, especially with my peers and other community council members. It was a great way to familiarize ourselves with various cabinet ministers and to finally put some faces to some of the names that were mentioned during last year’s SUMA convention that was held online.”
In other news reported from the convention, Randy Goulden, Yorkton Councillor, was elected the new SUMA president.
Councillor Goulden was first elected to the SUMA Board of Directors in 2000, serving as SUMA’s East Central Regional Director. She has also represented SUMA as interim president.
“I first ran for the SUMA Board of Directors to help make a difference in not only my community, but communities in my region and across the province,” said President Goulden. “I look forward to continuing this work as SUMA President.”
Other convention highlights included:
• 24 resolutions passed, including ones on addictions and homelessness, removal of administrative fees on funding grants, and RCMP retroactive salary increases.
• The President’s Banquet and Awards Ceremony celebrated 34 long-serving municipal employees, nine long-serving council members, and former SUMA Board member, Mike O’Donnell.
• The provincial Cabinet answered municipal questions that focused largely on health care at Wednesday’s Bear Pit.
“SUMA thanks all delegates for their attendance, and looks forward to building on the momentum of another exciting convention,” concluded the convention report.
