Reimagined to engage and delight despite uncertain times, Culture Days 2020 was a year unlike any other. Extending beyond the traditional 3-day celebratory weekend, the festival morphed into an interactive and accessible 4-week run taking place indoors, outdoors, and online across Canada.

While being safe and respecting regional regulations on social distancing and staying apart, our communities came together to celebrate arts and culture with virtual concerts, live shows, self-guided exhibitions, digital demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. This page is a round-up of Culture Days 2020 highlights, including exemplary initiatives and can’t-miss programming, as well as shout-outs to communities that topped the charts with impressive rosters of events and activities.

Skating and curling rinks are integral to the creation of vibrant, active, and connected communities in Saskatchewan. These facilities play a critical role in health and wellness, at a time when that has never been more important. Recognizing the escalating operating costs communities and organizations face, Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association has partnered with the Government of Saskatchewan to offer the Community Rink Affordability Grant.

A maximum of $2,500 will be available per ice surface to help offset the expenses in eligible indoor skating and curling rinks for the 2020-21 operating season.

Separate registrations will need to be completed for each ice-skating facility and curling facility.

The Saskatchewan Blue Cross Go Out & Play Challenge is celebrating its 10th year by adding even more opportunities for play in Saskatchewan hometowns this year. In addition to its normal $10,000 grand prize and $5,000 runner up prize, the challenge will give away 10 $500 playground stencil packages.

Communities can now register for the challenge, which focuses on the importance of outdoor play. Participating communities rally residents to log physical activity minutes during the 10-day challenge. The community that moves the most wins the grand prize for a project that gets kids and families out to play. The stencil packages will go to communities that finish in 3rd to 12th place.

Communities can register for the challenge until February 15, 2021. Online registration and challenge rules are available at challenge.saskatchewaninmotion.ca.

We all have a role to play when it comes to raising physically literate kids. And though it might sound complicated, it doesn’t have to be.

The Saskatchewan Physical Literacy Work- Group is collecting resources from around the country to help explain physical literacy, why it’s essential and how you can use it in your work. If you work or volunteer to inspire kids who love to move, you’ll want to check it out.

Following the success of this year’s virtual National Health and Fitness Day, which saw Canadians engaging in physical activity from coast to coast back in June, organizers have decided to host a week-long winter-themed follow-up. With an emphasis on encouraging people to get out of their houses and moving with winter-themed sports and activities, it will be hosted with all the COVID-19 pandemic health protocols in place at all times.