Nipawin wants public’s input for strategic plan

Nipawin is asking its citizens to give input for its new four-year strategic plan.

The plan aims to build an inclusive community for all by ensuring sustainable services, effective governance, efficient practices and affirming peoples’ experiences. In short, the goal is to have a town for the people.

“It’s important for a community to move forward in one direction,” said Jayne Remenda, Nipawin’s economic development officer. “We need to have a focus and it’s important that every department at town hall is moving in the same direction towards the goals of council and the community.”

The town presented the plan at a public forum Jan. 29, where participants were asked to answer five questions.

What’s good about Nipawin? Its physical beauty, wide streets and cultural diversity, the participants said. What needs to be added? More opportunity for physical activities and more business to support the area’s agricultural industry. What would you like to see in 10 or 15 years? A casino and an increase in the population by 30 per cent. What are the possible roadblocks? Money available, the economy, stagnant population growth and a unwillingness to change. How should the town communicate with its citizens? Being at local trade shows and sporting events, through the local media and through an app.

The plan also had seven key values: promoting an active, healthy and walkable community; being safe, inclusive and welcoming; being a prosperous centre with diverse business opportunities; becoming a creative destination for arts and culture; being a green and clean community; ensuring that citizens are connected by technology, events and transportation; and having a sustainable community.

Remenda said she believed the forum went well and had a good turnout.

“Obviously it was a small section of the community, so one of the things we really want to highlight is that we’re still open to comments via email and our website.”

The economic development officer said the town wants to see more public input before it moved on.

“Once we’ve gathered a little bit more input and we feel that we’ve had fairly decent representation – or at least, we’ve given the opportunity for the community to participate – then, as the mayor had mentioned, we’ll continue with open houses.”

The plan is to have an open house in the early spring.

Remenda said the strategic plan is meant to be a living document that’s able to change to meet citizens' needs.

“Council was adamant that this would be a very fluid document and would be open to lots of change and opportunities as we move forward.”