If you’re planning to bring the best of the province, or indeed the Prairies, the sponsorship and help of some local small businesses can really help.
Just ask Tania Andrist, who most recently helped organize the provincial Saskatchewan Speed Swimming meet at the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre.
“In Estevan, we’re so fortunate because when you’re an organization, a non-profit or a team or a club that goes to host something significant, there’s just a confidence that the people of Estevan really believe in supporting these kids of activities,” said Andrist.
“It was a big undertaking, but we as a board knew that with the past history that… when we went to ask our families within our clubs and even we went to cold call business that it was important to them.”
Hundreds of athletes and families from across the province descended on Estevan for the one-day swim meet and banquet.
“I think it’s kind of contagious in the community,” Andrist said. “When one gives, it’s like they think ‘That’s a good cause, too’. It’s not really about the individual effort and they say ‘We just want to support.’”
That support can come from a number of ways, whether it’s a small donation or a volunteer.
“There’s a value to feeling that your community is going to give back you,” said Andrist. “We know we can host an event because we also feel confident that these small businesses can come out. In Estevan… when you hear about events that are put on, of course the volunteers are important, but I don’t think that small businesses get enough credit.
“They’re faced with requests daily, weekly. Someone’s coming in from dance, someone’s coming in from a team. They sift through those and they make decisions and they don’t always get the glory. They’re buying hockey jerseys and there’s so many things they contribute to that I don’t think the average person who isn’t working in a small business realizes.”
They can’t necessarily support everything, Andrist said, and sometimes people in the community can take them for granted.
“There’s so much generosity here, it’s almost an expectation,” she said. “It’s simply generosity and wanting to support.”
They can’t support with the big dollars but what they do give often comes with no strings attached.
“That’s also really important when you’re in a team environment,” Andrist said. “If you’re just sincere and in need of help, that’s why our local businesses are so important. It’s not about the big donors sometimes, it’s about those small businesses with their connections in the community. And, again, they just want to see success in out community.”
