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Issue No. 17-05

February 27, 2017
Convention 2017: Last Chance for Evaluation

Have you completed Convention 2017 Evaluation You have until the end of the week to complete the survey and get your name entered into a draw for a prize! Ensure you've submitted your evaluation by Friday, March 3, for your chance to win.

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Convention 2018: Ready to Book?

Yes, you read that right: Convention 2018. We have hotel blocks set aside at several Regina hotels , so you can book now for next year. DoubleTree by Hilton is once again our Regina Host Hotel for convention and their block will open up on Monday, March 6. Book now as rooms fill up fast, and don't forget to identify yourself as a member. Rates during convention start at $136. We look forward to seeing you in Regina!

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New Host Hotels Starting Wednesday

SUMA is pleased to announce our partnership with four hotels to offer members discounted rates in Regina and Saskatoon. The 2017-18 rates are effective Wednesday, March 1.

Regina:
DoubleTree by Hilton - rates starting at $145/night
Travelodge Regina - rates starting at $136/night

Saskatoon:
Holiday Inn Downtown - rates starting at $135.99/night
Home Inn & Suites - rates starting at $129/night

You can use the hotels when travelling for business or leisure. You need to provide a membership card at check in, but if your 2017 card hasn't arrived yet, you can still use your 2016 membership card.
 
Full details on the program, including links to the hotels' websites for more details on their properties, will be available on the SUMA website on Wednesday. 

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FSIN Conference: Prosperity Through Partnerships

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is hosting the Prosperity Through Partnerships Conference   March 8-9 at TCU Place, in Saskatoon. The conference theme is The Importance of Partnerships with Urban and Rural Municipalities. We are pleased to join with FSIN to explore  opportunities in partnership. Register online today  to reserve your spot. For more information, call Brad Michael at 306-491-6496 or email crystal.osecap@fsin.com

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Building Capacity: Community Planning Workshops

Community and regional planning is an effective means of addressing economic growth opportunities and challenges. 

The Ministry of Government Relations' Community Planning branch, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute, will be travelling the province to offer a series of full-day community planning workshops to build capacity for planning through presentations, exercises, networking and knowledge sharing. Elected officials, administrators, planners, First Nations and Métis representatives are all invited to attend.

Registration is $50 and includes lunch. Online pre-registration is required for these workshops.
  • March 7: North Battleford
  • March 8: Swift Current
  • March 21: Kindersley
  • March 22: Preeceville
  • April 4: Meadow Lake
  • April 5: Fort Qu'Appelle
  • April 18: Prince Albert
  • April 19: Davidson
  • April 25: Carlyle
  • April 26: Nipawin
For information on registration, please contact Sarah Taylor and for  additional information on the workshops, contact Eric MacDougall.

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Have Your Say: Solar Power Generation

SaskPower is working on a solar strategy with the aim of adding 60 megawatts of utility-scale solar generation by 2021, to be sourced equally from SaskPower procurement, partnership with First Nations Power Authority, and community-based projects. 

The utility is soliciting feedback on the topic of solar self-generation from key stakeholders, including municipalities. Please take a moment to fill out the  online survey with any additional comments to be submitted by email. Please copy Steven in our office with any of your submissions.

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Funding: Climate Change Adaptation and Infrastructure Planning

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities recently launched two new programs designed to help municipalities  take action on climate change, and strengthen infrastructure planning and decision-making. The programs are funded by the Government of Canada. 

The Municipal Asset Management Program is designed to help municipalities take a holistic approach to infrastructure renewal.  

The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program includes several cycles of grants, the earliest of which offers up to $175,000 to develop plans and studies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help your community adapt to impacts of climate change. 

One initiative of the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program is the Climate and Asset Management Network. You can register now for a free webinar from noon to 1:00 p.m. on March 7. The webinar will cover the  benefits of joining the Climate and Asset Management Network, the t ypes of projects that are eligible, and h ow to apply to the program. 

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Funding: Community Airports 

The Government of Saskatchewan is now accepting applications for the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) Program until Friday, March 31.
 
Eligible applicants include municipal or community owned airports that support economic development, general access to surrounding communities, and air ambulance operations. Communities are encouraged to partner with other communities, RMs and businesses in their proposal.

SUMA has long advocated for sustainable funding for community airports. In 2010, the SUMA Board of Directors endorsed a policy advocating for additional funding for airport infrastructure in southern Saskatchewan. The Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program has since received a much-needed boost to continue building links between Saskatchewan and national and international markets. Please take advantage of this program for your regional community airport.
 
CAP is an ongoing program subject to the availability of funding on an annual basis. Half (50 per cent) of the eligible cost is available for funding, with a maximum contribution of $275,000, for an approved project. 
 
Find out more by reading the 2017-18 CAP Program and Application Guidelines and by visiting the Government of Saskatchewan CAP webpage Questions? Contact Alan Hill at 306-787-2251.

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Wastewater Case Studies

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund has prepared a number of wastewater case studies  to help Canadian communities meet the  wastewater regulations  introduced by the federal government in 2012. The project to replace two gravity-fed septic tanks with a new facility in St. Louis, SK, is one of the case studies highlighted in the series.

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Waste Reduction Conference Early Bird Ends Tomorrow

Waste ReForum 2017, happening  May 17-19 in Saskatoon, is the joint conference of Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Northern Lights, and Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC). The theme is Co-Creation, and will examine the role of waste reduction and waste management in a circular economy and look at ways we all can contribute to arriving at solutions. Register by February 28 to get the  early bird registration rates: $500 for SWRC and SWANA members, $600 for non-members.

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Communities in Bloom Registration Period Open

Interested in community beautification, environmental responsibility and civic pride? Sign your community up to participate in Communities in Bloom. Participation helps communities track the quality of community growth and development over a multi-year span, and establishes a standard for continuous improvement of the entire community. Learn more by visiting the SPRA's Communities in Bloom website or checking out the brochure. Registration deadline is April 15. 

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Celebrate Freedom to Read Week

Freedom to Read Week is February 26 to March 4. The Saskatchewan Library Association is maintaining a listing of Freedom to Read Week events around Saskatchewan. 

T he SLA is also encouraging participation in its One Book One Province initiative encouraging everyone to read The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir , by Joseph Auguste Merasty with David Carpenter during the month of March. If your community is participating, make sure to register your event.

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Urban Update Advertisement

Water Infrastructure Regionalization Conference

Having trouble securing funding for your water 
infrastructure projects?

Tried going it alone and weren't successful? 

Come discover the benefits of regional water systems.

ACEC-SK & SaskWater Present:

Joint Regionalization Conference
Sheraton Cavalier, Saskatoon
March 29, 2017
In This Issue

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Get Ahead of Mosquitoes with Evergro

Spring is almost here  and it's time to start thinking about mosquito control. SUMAdvantage partner, Evergro (Division of Crop Production Services), has products to help eliminate those pests:
  • Vectobac 200G
  • Altosoid
  • Vectolex CG 
The team at Evergro (CPS) is ready to serve you and answer any questions about the above products. Please make sure to tell them you are a SUMA member and have your certification number ready as well.  Phone 1-800-661-2991 or email evergro@cpsagu.ca.

Visit SUMAdvantage online for a complete list of member programs or email  Lisa Rawlings at SUMA with any questions.

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On the Reading List

The February edition of Municipalities Today is available. This quarterly newsletter is produced by the Municipal Relations Advisors at Government Relations is not to be missed! 

Also the February edition of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation newletter is available. The entire issue is devoted to rural research.

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Building Capacity: 
Greening Government Speaker Series on YouTube

The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre in Alberta (MCCAC) has excellent recorded webinars available for free on its YouTube channel called the Greening Government Speaker Series. The MCCAC is in its third season of production of these presentations. It's also free to register for the live webinars, so stay tuned the MCCAC events page for new webinars as they are scheduled.

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Funding: Connect to Innovate Rural Broadband

You have an extra five weeks to apply for the Connect to Innovate Program, a federal fund to support new and upgraded high speed Internet infrastructure for rural and remote communities. The new deadline to apply is  April 20. The online application process, was launched by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada early this year.  Connect to Innovate aims to ensure "rural and remote communities across Canada are well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the digital age."

Check the  eligibility map to see if your community qualifies; according to their website, the map was updated February 14. Questions? Email  Connect to Innovate or call them at  1-800-328-6189.

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Funding: SaskCulture Multicultural Initiatives Project

SaskCulture's Multicultural Initiatives Fund is accepting applications for up to 70 per cent of project expenses to a maximum of $10,000 for projects such as festivals and events, educational projects, and  First Nations and Métis educational activities; or programs that address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. The deadline to apply is March 31. Questions? Contact  Paul Gingras at  306-780 - 9813 or  1-866-476-6830.

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Find the latest listings by visiting the SUMA Classifieds  section of our website, under the Programs and Services tab.

Have a position to fill or an item to sell? Submit your ad  on our website.

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Grants 

Upcoming Deadlines  
For a full listing of grants, check the   Grants   section of our website under the Resources tab.

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About Us

Thank you for reading the Urban Update this week. We welcome your comments.
  

SUMA

200 2222 13th Ave.

Regina, SK  S4P 3M7

suma@suma.org

www.suma.org