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August 2023
Note: Some email platforms distort the Rural Sheaf (RS) formatting. It is viewed best as a webpage through your internet browser.
View as Webpage
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2023 SARM Midterm Resolution Deadline
- September 24
Resolutions must be received in the SARM office by the 24th of September in order to be included in the convention guide and addressed at Midterm 2023.
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Refer to the Guide for Writing Resolutions and the Resolution Submission Form for details.
*Each resolution submission must include a brief (no more than 500 words) background that answers the questions in the below resolution submission form.
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Changes in the SARM
Legal Department
SARM’s Legal Counsel, Courtney Riviere, has tendered her resignation as of the end of the day on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Courtney has been a value to the legal team over the past four years and SARM wishes her all the best in her new endeavor.
Courtney’s active LSIP files will be handled by either Michael Morris, K.C., or Adryan Toth. It’s currently being determined who will assume Courtney’s solicitor files; the RMs involved will be advised directly as to who will be taking over.
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The search for a replacement lawyer has started and SARM is hopeful to have a new member of the Legal Team in place by December 1, 2023. During this transition, SARM’s Legal Department will have reduced capacity. We appreciate the membership’s patience and look forward to being back to full strength to serve RM’s needs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Colin Warnecke: cwarnecke@sarm.ca or 306.761.3946.
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2024 SARM Pocket Calendar Order Deadline to order is September 15, 2023
SARM is printing only pocket calendars for 2024.
Order Details:
- each RM will receive enough for their council members
- they will be mailed out in November
- RM will be invoiced by SARM, for shipping costs
The only way to order SARM 2024 Calendars is through the following survey. Orders outside of this survey will not be accepted.
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SARM continues to provide calendars in the following formats:
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Online: https://sarm.ca/resources/calendar/
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Outlook: Once the 2024 calendar has been finalized, SARM will distribute a link to download a digital copy that can be imported directly into your Outlook account.
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Rural Sheaf: each month we will outline important dates in the Rural Sheaf electronic newsletter
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Awards/Nominations/Scholarships | |
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Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) 2023 Board Elections
- Looking for Two Rural Representatives
Submission Deadline:
October 11, 2023
SARM is looking for elected officials who would do an outstanding job representing rural Saskatchewan on the SAMA Board.
Candidates will be elected by delegates at the 2023 SARM Midterm Convention for a three-year term and may be reappointed to subsequent terms.
Those interested should submit a completed Nomination Form (to Laurel Feltin - lfeltin@sarm.ca) by 5 PM on Thursday, October 11, 2023. A confirmation email with further instructions will be sent.
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The seven-member SAMA Board of Directors is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and consists of:
- three members named by the Ministry of Government Relations including the Board Chair;
- two members named by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM);
- one member named by the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) for urban and northern municipalities under 30,000;
- one member named by SUMA for cities with a population exceeding 30,000
| For more information, please contact SAMA CEO Betty Rogers at 306-924-8046 or betty.rogers@sama.sk.ca | |
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Submissions for the 2023 Heritage Saskatchewan Awards
- Deadline September 5
Living Heritage Awards – Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Sub-Categories
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Documentation: A project that utilizes audio/visual/textual/photographic documentation that is accessible to the public. This could be an original documentation or a new collection of previous documentation. Examples: books; audio/video recordings; collections of written narratives; photographic collections
Celebration & Recognition: A project or program (new or ongoing) that celebrates and/or recognizes elements of intangible cultural heritage. Examples: festivals, heritage events that focus on or have a strong element of intangible cultural heritage knowledge/know-how (King Trapper events; threshing demonstrations, quilt shows, etc.); museum and/or gallery exhibitions that focus on ICH themes
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Transmission: A project or program that facilitates the transmission of intangible cultural heritage knowledge and skills from one person to another or to a group. This could be something coordinated by an organization or committee or it could be an informal collaboration or relationship between individuals. Examples: educational programs, demonstrations, museum and/or gallery exhibitions
Community Development: This can include economic development activities and community wellbeing initiatives, often but not always related to cultural tourism and small business /entrepreneurship, creating a sense of belonging and place.
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In Saskatchewan agriculture, there are no guarantees. While you cannot control the weather, market fluctuations or rising input costs, you can manage your risk with AgriStability. | |
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AgriStability Deadline
- September 30
AgriStability is a cost-effective Business Risk Management program designed to help farm operations facing large margin declines caused by production loss, increased costs or market conditions. Coverage is personalized for each farm operation by using historical information, based on income tax and supplementary information.
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SARM Interactive Online Calendar - September 2023 | |
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Deadlines:
September 1:
- Deadline to publicize waterworks annual financial overview
- Deadline to assess a nominal fee for O&G Equip that has had no production over the last 12 months
- Deadline to publicize previous year’s financial statement/summary and auditor’s report
September 10:
- Deadline to remit and return monthly EPT funds
- Deadline to remit taxes to SMHI, C&D and regional parks
September 15:
- Deadline for completed tax roll
- Deadline for CRA source deductions remittance
- Deadline for MEPP remittance
September 24:
- Deadline to submit midterm convention resolutions
September 30:
- Earliest cut-off for supplementary assessments
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Meetings:
- Committee Meeting: September 7
- Committee Meeting: September 19
- Board of Directors Meeting: September 20-21
Special Days:
- Labour Day: September 4
- National Truth & Reconciliation Day: September 29
View the SARM Interactive Online Calendar to access the full year on the SARM website. This version is updated regularly as new dates of interest and deadlines are identified and should be viewed as the most current.
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Mental Health & Wellness - Youth
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the mental health needs of Canadians, including youth, as reflected in a series of investments and initiatives.
Budget 2023 confirmed that the Government of Canada will increase health funding to provinces and territories. A key priority area for this funding is expanding community-based mental health and substance use services for children and youth. The federal government also provides nationwide mental health and suicide prevention services.
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Access Pesticide Labels on your mobile device with this application that allows users to zoom in on the PDF labels, and to search for text within those labels.
Users can also save searches and download product labels to a 'Favourites' for access, even when offline.
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Statistics Canada is pleased to share findings from the 2021 Census of Agriculture, combined with data from the 2021 Census of Population, available online at https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/census-agriculture.
These findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the evolving socioeconomic landscape of Canada's farm population, shedding light on the dynamics, diversity, and contributions of various population groups within the agricultural sector.
Discover the key findings that provide valuable insights into what is shaping an evolving and sustainable future for Canadian agriculture.
- Canadian farm households are smaller in size and are increasingly diverse, reflecting the changing landscape of the agricultural community.
- Immigrants play a pivotal role in shaping Canadian agriculture, bringing diverse skills that can boost the potential for increased productivity.
- Individuals from racialized groups make significant contributions to the farm population, with South Asian and Chinese communities being the largest groups.
- The Indigenous farm population has seen a slight increase, with the majority identifying as Métis.
- A substantial portion of the farm population reported a religious affiliation, with Catholicism being the most frequently reported religion.
Statistics Canada is proud to share information from the 2021 Agriculture–Population Linkage, which includes 14 standard tables, three infographics and a data quality report. In the months ahead, a series of articles will be published in Canadian Agriculture at a Glance, offering supplementary socioeconomic insights into the country's farming population.
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Driving is one of the highest-risk activities
employees and family members participate
in every day.
Take the time to invest in a Defensive Driving Course in a community near you and brush up on driving best practices. All classes run from 10 AM to 3:30 PM unless noted. Customized group bookings are available upon request.
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Estevan
Kindersley
- September 12 (5 - 10 PM)
- December 14
Melfort
Moose Jaw
- October 16 (5 - 10 PM)
- December 7 (5 - 10 PM)
Regina
- September 6
- September 18
- October 11
- October 12
- October 23
- October 24
- November 6
- November 7
- November 22
- November 23
- December 4
- December 5
- December 13
- December 14
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Saskatoon
- September 18
- October 11
- October 12
- October 24
- November 8
- November 9
- November 20
- November 21
- December 6
- December 7
- December 11
- December 12
Swift Current
- September 11 (5 - 10 PM)
- December 13
Weyburn
Yorkton
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Can’t Make it in person? Attend These Webinarsimprovement.html | | | |
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The Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDP)
This is a series of modules developed exclusively for elected and appointed municipal leaders in Saskatchewan. Mayors, reeves, councillors and municipal staff are able to benefit from this program that is designed to strengthen local government leadership.
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Module(s) open for registration:
Community and Land Use Planning - this online module covers a variety of topics including: the roles and responsibilities of council, administration and the public; the creation, adoption, and amendment process for Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws; the subdivision process; servicing agreements; the development permit process; the development appeal board process; enforcing bylaws; the building permit process as well as regional planning.
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Join the 2023 National Online Campaign School from wherever you are in Canada! Application Deadline - September 20th
This program is designed to equip women and gender-diverse individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to run for political office in Canada.
This course runs from October 11 - November 29 from 7-9 PM EST.
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Attend an Open House to celebrate the Centre’s new name
A short program, tours, and refreshments will take place.
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SARM is pleased to be partnering with the Public Service Network on their Local Government Roadshow coming to Regina on November 16. This half-day event will bring together municipal and local government leaders from across Saskatchewan to embrace connection and resilience for a future-proof local government. | | |
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Respect in the Workplace Training
Since 2019, SARM has been fortunate to offer the Respect in the Workplace Training at half the cost due to SARM’s partnership with the Respect Group. This program is designed to empower your team with the skills to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination. Our goal is to have our members, both council and staff, certify themselves through the training. The program takes approximately 90 minutes and is done online in one sitting, but we recommend you break it up. You can come and go from the modules. The focus of the training is on culture change but of equal importance is the legal risk and liability avoidance it affords.
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The certification costs $20.00 per person. Councils and staff simply register for the training. SARM will invoice the members on a quarterly basis based on your activity. It’s as simple as that.
Linked below are the registration and access for Respect in the Workplace. You will also see the “Respect in the Workplace One pager”. Providing these instructions to your users simplifies the registration process for end-users and reduces possible confusion or challenges.
For helpdesk support, please go to https://support.respectgroupinc.com
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WEBINAR
Municipality Panel: Overcoming Challenges & Building a Culture of Respect
Date: September 20, 2023
Time: 11 AM - Noon
This Municipality Roundtable webinar was designed for forward-thinking leaders in HR and administration within Canadian municipalities.
Hosted by Brad Blaisdell, VP of Workplace Solutions and Compliance at Respect Group, this panel will provide a comprehensive understanding of the strategies, tools, and best practices that empower municipalities to build a thriving workplace culture. From embracing mental health support frameworks to implementing effective EDI initiatives, the session panelists will share real-world experiences, success stories, and actionable insights.
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Rural Crime Watch (RCW) is a community-driven, community-led, police-supported crime prevention and reduction collaborative program.
The Rural Crime Watch program in Saskatchewan is a partnership between the Saskatchewan Rural Crime Watch Association (SRCWA) (includes local RCW boards where they exist), the RCMP, and its authorized Protection and Response Team (PRT). The RCMP’s PRT partners include Saskatchewan Conservation Officer Services and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol. RCW members are volunteers who serve as the ‘Eyes and Ears’ of their communities and contact the police to report suspicious persons/vehicles.
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Why Participation in Asset Management is Crucial
Failure to invest adequately in current services means the well-being of future generations will suffer. They won't have the privilege of experiencing the same level of service that we enjoy daily. Naturally, we're inclined to improve, not worsen, their circumstances. Asset Management - SK's purpose is to enhance, after all. Effective asset management practices serve as our means. They enable us to organize and structure our assets, ensuring smooth operation, maintenance, and renewal. This guards against failures or interruptions in service for our present clients, residents, customers, and even those yet to be born.
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Asset management also ensures compliance with legal requirements—a significant consideration. It aids in determining the most fitting allocation of resources in the face of competing demands, thereby bolstering our ability to secure funding opportunities. Moreover, it functions as a decision-making instrument. It furnishes reasoning for our recommendations, especially crucial when addressing governing bodies. It tackles risk management, including safeguarding our political reputation.
Asset Management - SK's aim is to elevate you from a state of complacency to one of awareness. That's why asset management holds significance. It's a tool to systematically and strategically oversee your infrastructure and assets.
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The following RM’s have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service. | |
Looking to Hire:
District of Katepwa, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, SEPT 23 - Close
RM of Montmartre No. 126, Seasonal Full-Time Equipment Operator – Sept 23 - Close
RM of Buchanan No. 304, Acting Administrator,
RM of Hearts Hills No. 352, Equipment Operator, SEPT 7 - Close
RM of Duck Lake No. 463, Working Foreman, SEPT 7 – Close
Resort Village of Pasqua Lake, Municipal Administrator, SEPT 7 - Close
RM of Arm River No. 251, Administrator/Administrator Trainee – SEPT 6 – Close
RM of Wheatland No. 163, Administrator/Admin Assistant – SEPT 6 - Close
RM of Corman Park No. 344, Chief Administrative Officer, AUG 27 - Close
Looking to Buy/Sell:
RM of Lakeside No. 338, Volvo Grader – SEPT 16 – Close
RM of Moose Creek No. 33 – 2019 Arn End Dump Trailer – SEPT 12, Close
RM of Hillsdale No. 440 Grade Packer – SEPT 3, Close
RM of Sutton No. 103, Misc. Equipment - AUG 30, Close
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If you have questions or would like to post in the SARM Classifieds contact: (306) 757-3577 or sarm@sarm.ca
Please send your advertisement in a Word Document.
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In partnership with your employer, Homeweb is introducing the Homewood Pathfinder Suite. Homewood Pathfinder is designed to enhance Homeweb - your current online mental health and wellness portal. It will assess the reason for accessing the program, determine how serious your concern is, your level of risk and your care preferences and offer you the right Employee Assistance Program service or resource at the right time. Where clinically appropriate you are able to book services or connect with a professional immediately, and through Pathfinder you can also manage service scheduling. | |
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Elected/Appointed officials and people with LTD benefits can sign up today and start using Homewood Pathfinder!
YOUR CUSTOMER ACCOUNT NAME IS:
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)
YOUR INVITATION CODE IS:
SAR995
To register a new account:
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1. Visit: Homeweb.ca
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2. Click ‘Sign Up’ to create an account and enter your invitation code
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3. Enter your name, preferred email address, and a few other pieces of information to create your profile
A key component of Pathfinder, Homewood PulseCheck will ask for a few additional details including how you’re feeling and your primary area of interest or concern.
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Keep everything running smoothly | When you need extensive expertise and leadership in wastewater management, look to the Canoe Wastewater Management Program. Our suppliers are industry leaders, providing advanced wastewater surveys, analyses, and treatment solutions. All of this comes at preferential pricing with less administrative hassle to keep your wastewater projects running smoothly. | | |
SARM Webinars
SARM offers webinars for members. Not only can you participate in these live, but you can also have them as a resource to view again when it’s convenient. Past topics have included:
- Fire Bans and Emergency Preparedness
- Municipal Safety Manual
- Civic Addressing
- Municipal Leaders' Roles and Responsibilities
- Tendering and Procurement Best Practices
- Mental Wellness in Agriculture – Fostering Resiliency
- Nuclear Power in Saskatchewan
- Principles for Positive Employment Relations
- And more
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For information and direction to resources and programs regarding the current drought conditions, please see the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association drought resources. | | |
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Thank you to President + CEO of First Nations Power Authority, Guy Lonechild, and Canadian Renewable Energy Association Director, Erwin Heuck for speaking with SARM. SMRs can be less to build, scalable to meet specific industrial and remote community needs, and are competitive with other low-carbon forms of energy.
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