For its doctor recruitment and retention strategy and its Community Health and Wellness Centre, the Town of Kamsack won first place in the ninth annual Saskatchewan Municipal Awards program.
These awards recognize innovation and excellence in Saskatchewan local governments of all types, said a release from the awards program.
The winning urban municipalities will receive their awards at the annual SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) convention in February in Regina, while the winning rural municipalities will receive their awards at the SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities) midterm convention today (November 5) at the Conexus Arts Centre.
The Town of Kamsack received the first-place award for having “established a committee that developed a strategy to recruit and retain physicians in the community, including the construction of a health and wellness facility.”
An independent, six-member committee reviewed 11 nominations, submitted on behalf of 20 municipalities to choose the four winning projects, the release said. The committee members were: Keith Schneider, former executive director of SUMA and principal with ADVOCO Consulting; Ken Engel: former executive director of SARM; Jim Scarrow, former mayor of Prince Albert and former vice-president of cities for SUMA; Gordon Barnhardt, president of the University of Saskatchewan and former Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan; Neal Hardy: former president of SARM; and
Jeff Mulligan: managing partner of AHHA Moments Inc. and former mayor of Lloydminster.
Placing second was the Town of Kindersley for its waste water project which included “an agreement allowing the oil and gas sector to access and utilize the wastewater from the water treatment plant to alleviate steadily increasing water consumption.”
Jubilee Park in the Town of Shaunavon placed third for its “rehabilitated recreational infrastructure including a new arena, curling rink, skate park, tennis courts, playground, ball diamonds, swimming pool, basketball courts, and an outdoor rink with more plans for the future.”
Nine other municipalities were recognized for regional co-operation, a “planning for growth services agreement among the rural municipalities of Mervin, Frenchman Butte, Parkdale, and Turtle River, the Town of Turtleford and the villages of Paradise Hill, Glaslyn, Mervin, and Edam.
The “winning practice” that was recognized by the awards committee is “a shared-services agreement giving 19 RMs, towns and villages in the area access to the services of a growth professional planner, enabling better planning for the future for subdivisions and servicing requirements for increased infrastructure needs.”
“We must acknowledge Councillor Joe Kozakewich, whose idea it was to apply for this recognition and Laura Lomenda who helped prepare the application,” Mayor Rod Gardner said last week. “Kudos to those two.
“We also thank the people and companies who made the clinic possible without receiving any government money,” Gardner said, adding that tax deductible receipts are still being issued for donations for the clinic through the Health and Wellness Foundation.
The mayor and other members of Kamsack town council plan to attend the SUMA convention in February when the award will be presented.
