YORKTON – Mayor Aaron Kienle says this year’s Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention reinforced a familiar theme that communities across the province are facing the same challenges.
Kienle returned from the four-day gathering in Regina, held from April 12 to April 15, pointing to collaboration and shared experience as key takeaways.
“Whether you’re talking to Saskatoon, Regina or smaller communities like Foam Lake or Churchbridge, we’re all dealing with very similar situations,” Kienle said. “Being able to come together and talk through those issues is always positive.”
The convention brought together municipal leaders from across Saskatchewan, along with representatives from provincial and federal governments.
Kienle said those connections extended beyond the main sessions, including direct meetings with senior officials.
He noted discussions with provincial ministers, as well as federal Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger, focused heavily on infrastructure funding and long-term planning.
“We were able to have some really productive conversations,” Kienle said. “There are grant opportunities and expressions of interest out there right now, and we’re optimistic about what the next couple of months could bring for Yorkton.”
Among the resolutions debated and passed during the convention, Kienle said several stood out as particularly relevant to Yorkton. That includes proposals tied to fire services, where municipalities are seeking additional provincial support as departments respond to a growing range of emergency calls beyond traditional firefighting duties.
“There’s recognition that firefighters are doing more and more,” he said. “We’d like to see a funding model that reflects that work.”
Other resolutions focused on improving census participation and expanding municipal revenue tools beyond property taxes.
“There’s a push to find different ways municipalities can generate revenue without always relying on property tax increases.”
While much of the convention focused on policy, Kienle said informal conversations continue to play a significant role in shaping ideas at the local level. He referenced past discussions that helped spark the upcoming Living Skies Music Festival in Yorkton and said similar conversations took place again this year.
“There were a couple things that piqued my interest,” he said. “We’ll continue those conversations and see where they go.”
Kienle said the overall tone of the convention left him encouraged about the direction of ongoing discussions with other levels of government.
“We came back feeling positive,” he said. “There’s still work to do, but there’s reason to be optimistic about what’s ahead.”
