ASSINIBOIA — Assiniboia Airport will be making airport improvements as part of the Community Airport Partnership Program.
Funding was secured through an application process and was received from the local authority and the Community Airport Partnership Program that will enable those at Assiniboia’s airport to complete some much-needed work.
“With this welcome funding, we will be able to resurface the taxiway between the entry gate and runway, also including a loading area for medivac patients,” Grant Payant, chairperson for the Assiniboia Airport Authority, states.
“A portion of this funding will be spent on an engineering report of the status and future development plan. This will go a long way in improving the airport to better serve the surrounding area. A big thank you to the Town of Assiniboia, RM Lake of the Rivers and the RM of Stonehenge, as without them, none of this would be possible, “adds Payant.
The funding total of $90,865 is shared by the local authority and the Ministry of Highways.
“We hope to one day have a modern and well-serviced airport to better serve our community and surrounding areas,” Assiniboia’s Municipal Airport Authority says.
The Government of Saskatchewan is allocating $1.8 million in infrastructure improvements at eight community airports. Assiniboia was included in those eight recipients.
"Thanks to this ongoing partnership with the provincial government, communities can make strategic infrastructure investments to improve their airports so they can continue to provide the key services that support our quality of life and contribute to our economy," Saskatchewan Aviation Council president Janet Keim said.
Mayor Sharon Schauenberg states, “Part of the success of projects in our community is from successful partnership between the Town of Assiniboia and the surrounding RM's and Towns. In this case, partnering with RMs 72 and 73 assisted us in not only receiving funds from this CAP grant funding program, but the creation of the new Assiniboia Municipal Airport Authority. “
The mayor acknowledges that since its inception, the Authority has been diligently working towards much-needed improvements for Assiniboia airport, which serves not only the Town of Assiniboia but the surrounding area.
“We know that working together produces positive results and that collaboration and communication are key with everyone involved. We pride ourselves on being a very progressive community and look forward to continued relationships to sustain the future of small-town Saskatchewan. We are thankful and acknowledge the hard work from those involved in the receipt of these grant funds and look forward to future opportunities,” adds Assiniboia’s Mayor.
A June 2024 story in Assiniboia Times and SaskToday.ca describes the new Assiniboia Municipal Airport Authority and its goals.
The story outlines many changes since this community airport was first created in the early 1940s. Payant had noted in that story that in the last year, the Sask. Air Ambulance made five transfers from this airport, resulting in many lives being saved.
There are details on the Assiniboia Airport’s history on the RCAP Station Assiniboia Wikipedia page.
