Rural Dart

March 4, 2025

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Next Week's Rural Dart

Due to the 2025 SARM Annual Convention and Trade Show, next week's Rural Dart email will be postponed until March 18th.

Saskatchewan Blue Cross Cards and EFAP Coverage for SARM Members

Effective today, Blue Cross will be making enhancements to our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). The Saskatchewan Blue Cross group benefits plan for SARM members now includes enhanced support through Homewood Health and Cleveland Clinic Canada, giving you and your family access to tailored, on-demand support for your mental and physical health.

Homewood Health’s EFAP program connects you to confidential, professional mental health and wellness services. Whether it’s counselling for anxiety, stress, or grief or coaching for work-life balance, parenting, or financial planning, Homewood is here to help. Their Enhanced Mental Health Care program even offers longer-term support for more complex needs, including up to 20 specialized counselling sessions. Register at homeweb.ca to access these resources today.

Cleveland Clinic Canada’s Express Care Online (ECO) service offers on-demand virtual medical consultations for your physical health. Available 24/7 across Canada, ECO lets you connect with a nurse practitioner for diagnoses, prescriptions, specialist referrals, and more—all from the comfort of your home. Simply download the Cleveland Clinic Express Care Online app to get started! (Apple | Android)

With these changes, there will be new ID cards mailed out with new ID numbers on them. Here are the things that will be required once your cards are received:

Effective March 4, 2025, update your pharmacy and your dentist with your new ID number.
Download the new app “SK Blue Cross: Group” and re-register. (Apple | Android)
If you use the online portal, visit www.sk.bluecross.ca/portal, click register, and follow the prompts.
Save your new digital ID card to your Apple or Google Wallet.

Linked below is more information on the enhancements that are being made. Please share this information with all employees. The code to register online is now listed in the EFAP & Virtual Care Registration Guide linked below.

EFAP Counselling Overview

EFAP & Virtual Care Registration Guide

EFAP & Virtual Care Brochure

Deadlines

SGI Public Grants Announcement

SARM has been in contact with SGI regarding the availability of grants to improve traffic safety within RMs. SGI offers a Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant program. Its goal is to stimulate and support local, collaborative action that will increase traffic safety awareness.

The deadline for submissions for the spring intake is March 31, 2025.

If you are interested in additional information regarding the grant, please click here for an outline of the grant guidelines and additional information on how to apply for the grant.

SARM encourages its members to look at the program. In 2024, 28 RMs took advantage of the program with $310,828 in grants being provided. This program is a great initiative by SGI to try and reduce traffic accidents and make our roadways safer.

If you have any questions, please contact Colin Warnecke, Manager of Risk Management, at cwarnecke@sarm.ca.

Learn More / Apply

Information & Resources

Free Crisis Support for Canadian Farmers

National Farmer Crisis Line

24/7, Confidential Help When You Need It Most

Farming doesn’t come with days off—it’s a job that requires everything you’ve got. When stress piles up and the weight feels too heavy, you don’t have to carry it alone. The National Farmer Crisis Line (1-866-FARMS01) offers free, immediate, and ag-informed crisis support for farmers, farm families, and agricultural workers across Canada.

ELIGIBILITY: Canadian farmers, farm families (relatives of farmers - living on or off farm), farm employees (staff who are employed on farms), and spouses and dependents of all farm employees.

PRIVACY: All information received through counselling sessions is confidential and in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (2004).

COST: It's free! no fees, no limits, just support when you need it.

ACCESSIBILITY: Operated by TELUS Health, you can call 1-866-327-6701, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Available in both English and French.

📞 Call 1-866-FARMS01 anytime — 24/7, 365 days a year.

Call Before You Dig

Sask 1st Call

Monday through Friday (except holidays) - Emergency requests are available 24/7 by calling 1-866-828-4888.

For assistance with online requests, call 1-866-828-4888 during regular operating hours.

Sask 1st Call is a service for anyone planning to dig or excavate. The service provides underground facility screening and notification for safe excavation. The Sask 1st Call team is dedicated to the prevention of unnecessary damage, injury or death due to unsafe digging practices. We look forward to serving you for your own safety, and that of our communities.

Submit Online Request

SCRWA Membership Registration for 2025

The Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association is a grass roots non-profit association, that has been incorporated since November of 2020. The goal of the Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association (SRCWA) is to advocate on behalf of our members and promote the creation of local crime watch groups in Saskatchewan. We provide support services and are striving to build a network across the province.

Local rural crime watch groups are volunteers who serve as the ‘Eyes and Ears’ of their communities and it's about neighbours looking out for neighbours. They support law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity which aides in crime reduction and prevention.

Please join us, in our effort to make Saskatchewan communities safer by becoming a member of the SRCWA, in one of two ways:

Full Memberships

Any local crime watch group/association with similar objectives to the SRCWA.
Eligible to sit on the SRCWA Board, can nominate members to the board of directors, and vote in elections.
Can submit resolutions and vote on resolutions at the annual general meeting.
Must confirm that their Executive has had criminal record checks within the last six months prior to joining.

Associate Membership

person or entity other than a Local Crime Watch Association (Examples: municipalities, non-government organizations)
subject to restrictions and approval by the SRCWA Board

Both memberships provide access to communications from the SRCWA and access to signage that can be used in your community to help deter criminal activity. Members are also eligible to attend the AGM and receive additional communications from the SRCWA.

The SRCWA kindly asks for your support by becoming a member. The annual membership fee is $50.00. Cheques can be mailed to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities at 2301 Windsor Park Road, Regina, SK, S4V 3A4. Please click the link below to access the membership form. Fill out the form and submit it with your cheque.

Your support will assist us in the growth, development and sustainability of Rural Crime Watch Groups throughout the province. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Tim Brodt via email at tim.brodt@edenwold-sk.ca or via phone at 306-539-9117.

Membership Registration Form

Disclaimer: The following RMs have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.

Looking to Hire:

RM of Wilton No. 472, Municipal Clerk, Mar 4 - Close

RM of White Valley No. 49, Grader Operator, Mar 4 - Close

RM of Maple Bush No. 224, Grader Operator/Maintenance Worker, Mar 5 - Close

RM of Mayfield No. 406, Operator, Mar 6 - Close

RM of Viscount No. 341, Equipment Operator, Mar 7 - Close

RM of Pipestone No. 161, Chief Administrative Officer, Mar 10 - Close

RM of South Qu’Appelle No. 157, Foreman, Mar 11 - Close

RM of Montmartre No. 126, Equipment Operator, Mar 12 - Close

RM of Marquis No. 191, Gravel Truck & Trailer Driver, Mar 12 - Close

RM of Calder No. 241, Mower Operator, Mar 14 - Close

RM of Monet No. 257, Equipment Operator (2), Mar 14 - Close

RM of Kindersley No. 290, Administrator, Mar 15 - Close

RM of Lakeview No. 337, Administrator, Mar 15 - Close

RM of Langenburg No. 181, Seasonal Operator, Mar 15 - Close

Town of Shellbrook, Chief Administrative Officer, Mar 15 - Close

RM of Sarnia No. 221, Administrator, Mar 18 - Close

RM of Meadow Lake No. 588, Manager Public Works, Mar 21 - Close

RM of LeRoy No. 339, Equipment Operators, Mar 25 - Close

RM of Sarnia No. 221, Maintenance/Equipment Operator, Mar 28 - Close

RM of Whiska Creek No. 106, Administrator, Mar 28 - Close

RM of Livingston No 331, Administrator, Mar 31 - Close

RM of Frenchman Butte No. 501, Chief Administrative Officer, Mar 31 - Close

Prince Albert Rural Water Utility, General Manager, Mar 31 - Close

Looking to Buy/Sell:

RM of Maryfield No. 91, 2017 Midland Crossgate Trailer, Mar 18 - Close

RM of Mervin No. 499, 2022 Mandako Hitch, Mar 25 - Close

RM of Mervin No. 499, Tenco Sander, Mar 25 - Close

RM of Enfield No. 194, 2013 John Deere Tractor with Loader, Mar 31 - Close

SARM Classifieds

SARM Classifieds Submissions

Ad postings for the SARM Classifieds can be submitted through the online submission forms. For questions, contact 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca.

Submit a Classifieds Ad

March Proclaimed as Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan

Agriculture Literacy Month has been proclaimed in Saskatchewan, providing an opportunity for students in schools around the province to connect with agriculture through various presentations led by industry volunteers.

Saskatchewan Announces Measures to Protect Communities Against Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

The Government of Saskatchewan announced further measures to protect communities from illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production, transportation, trafficking, and street use in the province.