Rocanville community meeting a great step in the right direction
March 5, 2024, 11:36 am
Kevin Weedmark
It was great to see the spirit of co-operation that was evident at the community consultation meeting organized by the Rocanville Economic Development Organization, because it’s by working together that communities move forward.
The meeting was entirely positive, with lots of positive ideas for tapping into and building on the economic momentum in the area.
A few years back, I was asked to go to Rocanville to speak to a few business owners about the success of what was being done in Moosomin, but was told “whatever you do don’t mention Moosomin.”
I think we are far past that now, recognizing that communities thrive when they support one another. There’s lots going on in Moosomin that Rocanville can build on, and Rocanville has assets like the indoor pool that are a benefit for the whole area. (It’s great to see that project moving ahead with some final decisions made about the project last week.)
It was great to see some of the ideas brought up at last week’s meeting, and it was great to see the openness to regional co-operation. The most important thing for the folks in Rocanville is to remember that everyone has to work together as they move forward on economic development. The town, the RM, and REDO should all be on the same page and should all be working with each other on local priorities and with neighboring communities on regional priorities.
In Moosomin we have multiple groups all working on economic development, but they all work together. If you tried to draw a flow chart to explain them it would no doubt be confusing. The Economic Development Committee is jointly funded by the Town of Moosomin, the RM of Moosomin and the Community Builders Alliance. The town is in the business of economic development, developing and selling lots, so is the RM of Moosomin, and the CBA’s sole purpose is to develop and build the community.
The three jointly fund the Economic Development Committee, which hires the Economic Development Officer, and also jointly fund a Government Relations Consultant who helps with dealing with higher levels of government.
Then there’s the Chamber of Commerce which provides a forum for discussion on ways to better the community, serves as a meeting point where new businesses and new ideas can be introduced to the community, and serves to co-ordinate business promotions from the sign corridor to Moosomin Bucks to the summer parade to Moonlight Madness and Christmas events, and serves to advocate for the community, for instance sending a letter of support to the province at the request of the Southeast Cornerstone School Division to indicate that the business community supports the proposed renovations to McNaughton High School.
All these groups work together and are tied together in various ways. For instance I run the chamber, I’m also a member of the CBA, and I’m one of two representatives of the CBA on the EDC.
It sounds a bit complicated, but really economic development in Moosomin is a bunch of committed people working very hard together to improve the community, with the help of a couple of invaluable resources—a talented and smart economic development officer and a knowledgable and well-connected government relations consultant.
Saskatchewan’s rural areas are the backbone of its economy, contributing significantly to the province’s agricultural output, manufacturing, and resource industries. Communities have to work together to find and develop growth opportunities. This necessitates a concerted effort that transcends individual interests and embraces collective action.
One of the most potent catalysts for economic progress in rural Saskatchewan is community collaboration. When towns, villages, and municipalities come together, pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise, they unlock new possibilities.
The meeting in Rocanville was the first step in involving the public in the economic development discussion. If that continues, it will foster a sense of ownership and empowerment among residents. I like to think we have fostered that in Moosomin, where the Chamber is an open forum for ideas and people feel free to approach the EDC, the EDO, the Chamber, and the CBA with ideas.
When individuals are actively engaged in shaping their economic future, they become more invested in the success of their communities.
The importance of communities working together on economic development in rural Saskatchewan cannot be overstated.
Look at the front page this week—more than $50 million in construction under way right now in the Moosomin area, $4.5 million grant for Redvers’ water treatment plant, $4 million pool refurb taking place in Rocanville—we are in a booming area, and the more communities work together the more we can all build on that, and benefit from it.
I was very encouraged with the meeting in Rocanville last week, I understand a few folks from Rocanville will be attending our next chamber meeting in Moosomin, some of the comments at the meeting were along the lines of “this seems to work in Moosomin, how can we replicate that here.” So working together within the community and with other communities seemed to be the theme of the meeting, and with that first step Rocanville will go a long way.It was great to see the spirit of co-operation that was evident at the community consultation meeting organized by the Rocanville Economic Development Organization, because it’s by working together that communities move forward.
The meeting was entirely positive, with lots of positive ideas for tapping into and building on the economic momentum in the area.
A few years back, I was asked to go to Rocanville to speak to a few business owners about the success of what was being done in Moosomin, but was told “whatever you do don’t mention Moosomin.”
I think we are far past that now, recognizing that communities thrive when they support one another. There’s lots going on in Moosomin that Rocanville can build on, and Rocanville has assets like the indoor pool that are a benefit for the whole area. (It’s great to see that project moving ahead with some final decisions made about the project last week.)
It was great to see some of the ideas brought up at last week’s meeting, and it was great to see the openness to regional co-operation. The most important thing for the folks in Rocanville is to remember that everyone has to work together as they move forward on economic development. The town, the RM, and REDO should all be on the same page and should all be working with each other on local priorities and with neighboring communities on regional priorities.
In Moosomin we have multiple groups all working on economic development, but they all work together. If you tried to draw a flow chart to explain them it would no doubt be confusing. The Economic Development Committee is jointly funded by the Town of Moosomin, the RM of Moosomin and the Community Builders Alliance. The town is in the business of economic development, developing and selling lots, so is the RM of Moosomin, and the CBA’s sole purpose is to develop and build the community.
The three jointly fund the Economic Development Committee, which hires the Economic Development Officer, and also jointly fund a Government Relations Consultant who helps with dealing with higher levels of government.
Then there’s the Chamber of Commerce which provides a forum for discussion on ways to better the community, serves as a meeting point where new businesses and new ideas can be introduced to the community, and serves to co-ordinate business promotions from the sign corridor to Moosomin Bucks to the summer parade to Moonlight Madness and Christmas events, and serves to advocate for the community, for instance sending a letter of support to the province at the request of the Southeast Cornerstone School Division to indicate that the business community supports the proposed renovations to McNaughton High School.
All these groups work together and are tied together in various ways. For instance I run the chamber, I’m also a member of the CBA, and I’m one of two representatives of the CBA on the EDC.
It sounds a bit complicated, but really economic development in Moosomin is a bunch of committed people working very hard together to improve the community, with the help of a couple of invaluable resources—a talented and smart economic development officer and a knowledgable and well-connected government relations consultant.
Saskatchewan’s rural areas are the backbone of its economy, contributing significantly to the province’s agricultural output, manufacturing, and resource industries. Communities have to work together to find and develop growth opportunities. This necessitates a concerted effort that transcends individual interests and embraces collective action.
One of the most potent catalysts for economic progress in rural Saskatchewan is community collaboration. When towns, villages, and municipalities come together, pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise, they unlock new possibilities.
The meeting in Rocanville was the first step in involving the public in the economic development discussion. If that continues, it will foster a sense of ownership and empowerment among residents. I like to think we have fostered that in Moosomin, where the Chamber is an open forum for ideas and people feel free to approach the EDC, the EDO, the Chamber, and the CBA with ideas.
When individuals are actively engaged in shaping their economic future, they become more invested in the success of their communities.
The importance of communities working together on economic development in rural Saskatchewan cannot be overstated.
Look at the front page this week—more than $50 million in construction under way right now in the Moosomin area, $4.5 million grant for Redvers’ water treatment plant, $4 million pool refurb taking place in Rocanville—we are in a booming area, and the more communities work together the more we can all build on that, and benefit from it.
I was very encouraged with the meeting in Rocanville last week, I understand a few folks from Rocanville will be attending our next chamber meeting in Moosomin, some of the comments at the meeting were along the lines of “this seems to work in Moosomin, how can we replicate that here.” So working together within the community and with other communities seemed to be the theme of the meeting, and with that first step Rocanville will go a long way.
