Inside Saskatchewan - SEDA - Saskatchewan Economic

Inside Saskatchewan
Community Economic News
February, 2015
SEDA is pleased to report the community economic news from across
Saskatchewan. We feel it is an essential communications vehicle by which to
highlight the sustainability of our province.
Saskatchewan
There was some positive news
reported about land sales in
Saskatchewan. The provincial
government is reporting $17.5
million in revenue was raised for
the province from their February
sale of petroleum and natural gas
rights, their first one of 2015. That
brings total land sale revenues for
fiscal year 2014-15 to $164.7
million. The next sale of Crown
petroleum and natural gas rights is
set for April 6, after the 2015
budget is delivered. (NewsOptimist)
The public consultation process
regarding the future of liquor
retailing in the province is now
complete. “Saskatchewan people
had a lot to say about how liquor
should be retailed in the province,”
Minister responsible for the
Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming
Authority Don McMorris said. “I
appreciate the time that thousands
of people took to complete the
survey and especially those that
took extra time to share their
personal comments.” The
consultation was launched
November 4 with Saskatchewan
residents encouraged to complete
an online survey and provide
feedback via the consultation
website. (Yorkton This Week)
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Inside Saskatchewan is produced monthly and compiled of current articles
on Saskatchewan communities and businesses. Where possible, we have
included an electronic link to a media or web based source.
Carlyle
Carly Broberg and Lindsay Jones have combined their creativity and love of all things
natural to produce a line of eco-conscious bath and body products handmade in
Saskatchewan and Alberta. (Carlyle Observer)
Eastend
Primary Health Services in Shaunavon and Eastend have been enhanced with the addition
of a new Nurse Practitioner, Shelley Wilson. (Swift Current Online)
Glaslyn
Prairie North Health Region and the Village of Glaslyn are in the process of completing
renovations and computer network hookups to the Glaslyn clinic. (News-Optimist)
Grenfell
Charlie Chaiban, formerly of Montreal P.Q. and Lebanon in the Middle East, took over as
owner of the K. T. Koffee House and Bakery in Grenfell. (Grenfell Sun)
Humboldt
Arts Humboldt’s coffee house series opened at the Humboldt Gallery on Feb. 4 to a packed
house. The first coffee house ever was last year, but it was a one-off for 2014. This is
essentially the first of the series that will include a host of other Humboldt talent.
(Humboldt Journal)
Inside Saskatchewan
Community Economic News
February, 2015
Leader
The community of Leader has officially added a new physician.
Dr. Satis Singh Jhand began working on February 2nd, joining the Cypress
Health Region in serving the Leader community and surrounding areas.
(West Central Online)
Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation
A new career centre on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation hopes to connect
band members with employment. Spearheaded by councillor Donovan
Fineblanket, close to $15,000 was spent to renovate an existing building on
the reserve for the service. (Northern Pride)
Meadow Lake
During its regular meeting Feb. 9, city council approved both a new Official
Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw. Although the documents will now
go to the provincial Ministry of Government Relations for final rubber
stamping, city manager Diana Burton is confident about what’s in store for
Meadow Lake in terms of future growth. (Northern Pride)
Saskatchewan
Just one day after a report was filed that was
critical of SaskPower’s BD3 carbon capture
pilot project, the corporation responded with a
report of its own, indicating the $1.467 billion
carbon capture and power production plant
was functioning in excess of expectations.
The critical report submitted by the Canadian
Centre for Policy Alternatives reworked the
ongoing debate, suggesting SaskPower would
have been better served by immediately
seeking out and investing in alternative
sources to fuel their growing electrical power
demands. SaskPower, however, noted that
after four months of operations the Boundary
Dam Power Station’s refurbished Unit 3
power generator and the accompanying
carbon and sulphur dioxide capture island are
working even more efficiently than
anticipated. (Estevan Mercury)
Nipawin
At the Evergreen Convention Centre, the announcement was made that
Hanfood will be establishing operations on Railway Avenue by first
constructing a new high through-put grain terminal. With the handling
capacity of 46000 ton of oil seed. (Nipawin Journal)
North Battleford
The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is readying for another active year in 2015. Preliminary preparations for their major
events were a main focus at a monthly board of directors meeting, the first since the swearing in of President Brendon
Boothman and the new executive earlier this month. (News-Optimist)
There have been some big numbers reported by the Department of Leisure Services for January, and for 2014 as well. This
includes the use of arenas, the CUplex, and galleries. February has also brought the grand opening of the new synthetic ice
surface at Rotary Plaza at the CUplex. (News-Optimist)
North Battleford Hyundai was announced as a 2014 President’s Award of Merit winner. The President’s Award of Merit is
awarded to the top 15 Hyundai dealerships across Canada. (News-Optimist)
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Inside Saskatchewan
Community Economic News
February, 2015
Outlook
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan continues to shine, as the
province has now set monthly and annual
records for merchandise exports. The latest
figures released by Statistics Canada show that
in December of 2014, Saskatchewan saw a
30.2% increase over last year in exports
totalling $3.15 billion, the highest ever for the
month. Merchandise exports hit a record of
$35.12 billion last year, up 8.9% over the
previous $32.25 billion recorded in 2013, and
to top it all off, Saskatchewan had the highest
percentage increase among the provinces.
Minister of Immigration, Jobs, Skills and
Training, Jeremy Harrison, says this
highlights Saskatchewan's strong and
diversified economy. (Swift Current Online)
A preliminary blueprint with a design layout has just been released for the
proposed new pool in Outlook. The L shaped design touts swimming lanes, a
climbing wall, a tots waterslide as well as a speed slide perfect for any aquatic
enthusiast. (West Central Online)
Prince Albert
Girls and Women: An Evening of Greatness was held at the school’s cafeteria on
February 26th, to help women and girls find their inner goddess. (Prince Albert
Daily Herald)
Saskatoon
In Riversdale, a neighbourhood where change has become a constant, the
former Victory Manor building is currently having something of a renaissance
period. Located in the 200 block of 20th Street West, it's also the headquarters
of artist collective BAM, which stands for Bridges Art Movement. (Star
Phoenix)
Alan Wallace, the city’s director of planning and development, said designated
bus lanes and associated infrastructure will become the “gold standard” for
transit in Saskatoon. (Star Phoenix)
Changes to Saskatoon Transit's website - especially a new real-time GPS bus
tracking system - could convince more people to get on the bus. (Star Phoenix)
Swift Current
Parents and children can now take a break at the Family Resource Centre. The B.R.E.A.K program is a free drop-in program,
where parents and children can build friendships and supports between other families. (Swift Current Online)
Unity
The board of directors of North West Terminal Ltd. has announced a net profit of $6,722,058 for the period Nov. 1, 2013 to
Oct. 31, 2014, or 2.05 per share. It represents an improvement over numbers from the same period a year earlier, when the
net profit was $4,762,492 or $1.45 per share, with revenues from operations of $134.2 million and an EBITDA of $9,136,654.
(News-Optimist)
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Inside Saskatchewan
Community Economic News
February, 2015
Wolseley
At the February 21 Town Hall Meeting celebrating Heritage Week 2015, The Wolseley Heritage Foundation (WHF) was
expected to announce its success in raising $606,000 for the Wolseley Community Revitalization Initiative. (Grenfell Sun)
Yorkton
Yorkton’s Family Resource Centre, in partnership with KidsFirst and the Westview United Church, launched a new program
February 23 called Handle with Care to help new parents with the early infancy of their child. (Yorkton This Week)
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