Pike Lake – Whitecap Christmas Bird Count Saturday, January 3, 2022 Watch birds in your yard or area and help the Saskatoon Nature Society survey winter bird populations in the Pike Lake and Whitecap areas. Every year in the Christmas season, birders across the world spend a day out counting every bird they can find in a particular area. The results from these annual surveys help establish trends in bird populations. Volunteers will be fewer in number this year, so we’re inviting help from area residents who feed or watch birds. If you live within the circle shown on the map below, please ensure your feeders are well supplied on January 3rd. And please consider registering as a “feeder-watcher”. All you have to do is keep a list of the birds you see in your yard or area on count day and submit it following the instructions we will provide when you register. To register or get further information, please contact count organizer Donna Bruce at 306-956-3437 or donna.bruce@sasktel.net. For further information about Saskatoon Nature Society, check out saskatoonnature.org.
|
Festival of Lights Pike Lake Provincial Park December 10-12, 16-21, & 28-29
November 29, 2021 The Festival of Lights is back! Enjoy the twinkling light displays, sit by a crackling campfire, and enjoy the holiday season with your friends and family. But don’t miss out—the Festival of Lights isn’t over when you’ve seen the light displays, there’s still so much more to enjoy.
• Grab a hotdog, coffee, hot chocolate or choose from a variety of other snacks available for purchase in the Rec Hall, courtesy of the Pike Lake Cottage Association ($$). Cash only.
• Make some new friends at the petting zoo by J&S Entertainment, located in Group Campsite #3. Petting zoo is free. Pony rides will be available for $5 and feeding cones for $2. Cash only.
• Lace up your skates and glide along the lake (weather permitting).
• Challenge your friends and family to a round of Crokicurl (first-come, first-served).
• Remember to come back in January and check out our ongoing winter offerings available until March 6, including guided interpretive programming.
|
Operation Santa Providing Christmas Hampers in Asquith for 22 Years
November 1, 2021 Asquith’s Operation Santa is a Christmas hamper program that was formed by a group of concerned
citizens in Asquith who wanted to help needy people. The program is now starting year twenty-two. Every year, the community of Asquith and
area is generous in their support, both monetary and in donated grocery items. Gifts for the children of the needy families have been donated in past years, as well as lovely hand-knitted toques and mittens for the children.
Last year, the program provided hampers and
groceries to ten family units, in which there were ten children. Thanks to the generosity of the community, a small gift for each child was also provided with the hamper.
The program is being run again this year, with a goal to provide grocery and Christmas Meal hampers, as well as small gifts for the children, to the families that are needy. Request forms will be available at the Asquith Co-op, the Post Office, and the Town office.
All recipients’ names are very confidential; we protect each person’s dignity.
Applicants are screened to ensure that help is directed where most needed. All requests for hampers MUST be turned in to the Asquith Town Office by December 3rd, 2021. If you are wanting to donate a small gift for a child, this must be turned in to the Town office prior to the December 3, 2021 deadline.
We are appealing to our entire community to be a part of this. We would like to thank you for any help you might be able to give, be it in the form of a food drive for donated grocery items or a cash donation.
We do not give cash out to families or individuals,
rather all cash donations are used to purchase
appropriate hamper items locally.
For more information regarding Operation Santa,
please contact Kathy at 329-4341 or
Holly at 306-329-4939.
|
Turkey Bingo Cancelled
November 1, 2021 The Vanscoy & District Agricultural Society loves bingo and we love your support; however this year continues to bring great uncertainty. We have made the difficult decision to cancel our annual Turkey Bingo (Nov. 20th).
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to decorating a campsite in Pike Lake at the Festival of Lights this December.
Submitted by Anita Roston, Co-President
|
Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project
A year ago Premier Scott Moe announced the first steps of a generational
project that will fulfill the vision of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
to ensure the prosperity of Saskatchewan people and irrigate up to
500,000 acres of land from Lake Diefenbaker, more than doubling the
irrigable land in Saskatchewan. The project is beginning with an
immediate $22.5 million investment in preliminary engineering and
initial construction. Project construction is expected to occur
approximately over the next 10 years in three main phases at a cost
estimated at $4 billion.
Phase 1 of the project is estimated to cost $500 million and will
include the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Westside
irrigation canal system. This work will increase the amount of
irrigable land by 80,000 acres in the area. It is considered one of the
most shovel ready irrigation projects in the province with 90 per cent
of the current canal already in place.
Phases 2 and 3 of the project are estimated to cost up to $3.5 billion.
Phase 2 will see the further expansion and buildout of the Westside
Irrigation Project, adding an additional 260,000 acres of irrigable
land. Once fully built and developed, the project will eventually see
land made available for irrigation near Macrorie, Milden, Zealandia, and
as far north as Delisle and Asquith.
Phase 3 will see the buildout of the Qu’Appelle South Irrigation
Project, adding an estimated 120,000 acres of irrigable land. Starting
at Lake Diefenbaker and going south, the project would run near the
communities of Tugaske, Eyebrow, down to Marquis and into Buffalo Pound
Lake. It would provide the Moose Jaw-Regina corridor and southern
Saskatchewan with a secure source of water for the next century and act
as a catalyst for significant industrial expansion in the years to come.
This year, $22.5 million is being invested as part of Phase 1 to
immediately begin preliminary engineering and initial construction of
the Westside Irrigation Project. Preliminary soil quality analysis of
the Qu’Appelle South Irrigation Project area will also begin this year.
More information can be found at www.wsask.ca
|
Prairie Spirit School Division Cancelling Bus Service
for Rural Students who attend Saskatoon Schools
MARCH 4, 2021 - Within the Rural Municipalities of Corman Park and Vanscoy, and within 10 km from the western edge of the city of Saskatoon lies a community of over 300 households that has been dubbed “the GEMS area”.
The GEMS area includes land within the historic school districts of Gideon, Edzell, Merrill, and Smithville.
Since the closure of these schools in the 1960s, children
from the GEMS area have been bused to Saskatoon schools.
In 1996, a letter of understanding was signed by designates from Saskatoon (WEST) School Division No. 42 (now Prairie Spirit School Division No. 208) and GEMS residents. The signed document indicated that Saskatoon (WEST) School Division agreed to provide transportation to designated Saskatoon school facilities for GEMS students going forward.
Today, more than 70 children from the GEMS area are enrolled in designated Saskatoon elementary and high schools and receive transportation services from Prairie Spirit School Division. This number does not reflect students who have chosen not to use the service this year for reasons related to COVID-19, nor families who were denied service due to “lack of space”.
On January 28, 2021, a letter was issued from the Prairie
Spirit School Division advising residents of the GEMS
areas that bus service to Saskatoon schools would cease, effective
June 30, 2021. GEMS families were not consulted
regarding this decision. GEMS families were notified of the decision and given the option to retain bus service by transferring children to Dalmeny, Vanscoy and Delisle schools or continue to attend school in Saskatoon with parents responsible for their children’s transportation.Following notification of the decision to cease transportation services, concerned parents and community members reached out to the
Prairie Spirit School Division, Saskatoon Public School Division, Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division, the Ministry of Education, our MLAs, and other designates with concerns and requests to have this decision re-evaluated and overturned. Decision makers are currently
discussing the matter and intend to provide concerned GEMS parents with an update in the coming weeks.
The decision to cancel transportation services for GEMS children has the potential to affect the entire GEMS
community, yet only families with children receiving Prairie Spirit School Division transportation during the
2020/2021 school year have been notified of the decision. Families who are currently engaged in virtual
learning, chose not to use bus service this year due to the pandemic, or who have preschool-aged children may not be aware that this service has been revoked for future school years. It is our understanding that residents,
landowners, and business owners who do not have school aged children using the bus service were not notified.
If you are affected by this decision, and would like to connect with, and receive updates from, concerned GEMS parents and residents, please consider emailing
us at gemstransportation@gmail.com to sign up for our mailing list, or call us at the contact information below.
Trista Hodgson (306) 280 6574
Tyler Hodgson (306) 370 5330
Katie Suek (306) 281 9667
|
RM of Vanscoy Dismisses Administrator and Reeve Resigns The Council of the Rural Municipality of Vanscoy No. 345 wishes to share some changes that have occurred recently relating to Council and administration of the RM. Reeve Floyd Chapple has resigned for personal reasons. Deputy Reeve Leonard Junop has been appointed by Council as Acting Reeve until the election in November 2020. Elections for Reeve, Division 1 Councillor, Division 3 Councillor, and Division 5 Councillor will be held on Monday, November 9, 2020.
Council and Administrator Tony Obrigewitch have parted company by way of mutual agreement effective May 29, 2020. Legal direction was acquired throughout this process. Work has commenced to fill this position.
Council wishes to take this opportunity to thank Floyd Chapple for his many years of service and dedication to the RM.
Should you have questions or concerns, please contact the RM Council member for your Division.
|
Town of Delisle is Building Three New Streets Delisle will soon have three new streets along the east end of Railway Avenue (Highway 7 access road). The most easterly street will be named Paperback Road, the next street west will be named Hero Drive. These two streets are so named as a tribute to the Paperback Hero movie that was filmed in Delisle in the 1970's. The third street to the west will be named Valleyview Gate and will connect Railway Avenue to Valleyview Drive to the north. Construction is underway with a completion date yet to be announced.
|
Morning Break-ins in Outlook Outlook RCMP report that on March 16, 2020 in the early morning hours two break-ins occurred. One took place at the Macrorie Co-op. Items were missing from out buildings including several brand new vehicle batteries. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a truck. The same morning the Sherlie Kleen car wash in Outlook was broken into. The building sustained damage. It is believed that the suspect was on foot.
Attempted Damage in Milden Outlook RCMP is seeking the public's assistance in locating an individual(s) who responsible for deliberately placing a number of wood planks filled with nails on a driveway in Milden
If you have any information about these or any crime call Outlook RCMP at 306-867-5440 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or cell *8477 or visit www.crimestoppers.com
|
Local Community Events Cancellations - FREE
If you have canceled an event or made changes to your business, please send us your information and the RM Review will help get the word out to the community.
|
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM THE RM REVIEW AS SOON AS THEY HAPPEN
|
Emergency Measures Organization RM of Vanscoy #345
March 15, 2020 - The RM of VANSCOY is currently updating and making improvements to Emergency Measures.
The recent train derailments east of Saskatoon as well as last summer’s fire in the Biggar area and the potash mine and now the Corona Virus have shown the importance of this.
Glenn Thomson has taken the position of Director.
They will be developing social media sites and increasing the use of the media to share information regarding serious incidents.
In the future they will be looking for people who may be interested in becoming involved.
They are a member of VMAD Regional EMO.
You can contact them at rm345.emo@sasktel.net
|
RM of Vanscoy
Rural Crime Watch
Season’s Greetings from the RM of Vanscoy Rural Crime Watch. 2019 was a year of growth for both the Rural Crime Watch program and RM of Vanscoy Police Service. The Rural Crime Watch program welcomed 36 new households to the membership in 2019 and currently serves over 550 neighbours from 270 households in the RM of Vanscoy and communities of Asquith, Vanscoy, Pike Lake, and Delisle. Thanks to our friends at QuikSigns, we are happy to report that over 110 crime watch signs are, or will be, posted by our members across the RM. If you are a member and would like to purchase a crime watch sign, they are available for $10.50 each at the RM office (exact cash or cheque made out to RM of Vanscoy Rural Crime Watch accepted) during regular hours. The Rural Crime Watch organizing committee was out and about in the community this fall, attending the Vanscoy School Community Open House in September and the Area Crime Watch Leads meeting in October. In November, thanks to a generous donation from our friends at Moon Insurance, we hosted the 2nd Rural Crime Watch Anniversary Event to mark two years since the launch of the program. The highlight of the event for many members was the opportunity to meet Sgt. Jason Mochoruk, the newest member of the RM of Vanscoy Police Service. Until a call forwarding system is in place, Sgt Mochoruk can be reached at (306)-381-6150 when on duty and Sgt. Murray McCracken can still be reached at the main number – (306)-291-6050. During the event, we held a membership drive, sold signs, and had some great discussion over coffee. We discussed the benefits of security cameras both for preventing and solving crime, we brainstormed opportunities for improvement of the Provincial Crime Watch System which we intend to pass along to the RCMP for consideration, and members shared some of their stories and concerns about recent suspicious activity in the RM. As we enter the final days of 2019, the RM of Vanscoy Rural Crime Watch would like to offer season’s greetings and leave you with these tips for a safe holiday season: • Expecting a doorstep delivery? Try to plan deliveries to limit the amount of time a package is visible on your doorstep. • Leave a timer on your house lights and/or radio/tv if you are away. • Do not announce your winter holiday plans on social media. • Ask a neighbour you trust to keep an eye on your property while you are away. • Use motion detectors on outdoor lights. • Ask a neighbour or house sitter to drive into the yard after a fresh snow to leave tracks. Ask them to brush the snow off of any sitting vehicles if you will be away so it looks like they were used recently. • Switch to LEDs and run your outdoor or porch lights all night. • Don’t leave your garage door opener in your car as it is an easy way to gain access to the garage. • Move rain barrels, garbage bins, or other large items away from fence lines and entry points of the house as they can be used as a step to hop a fence or access a window. • Trust your dogs. If they bark at night, there is likely a good reason. • Keep everything locked up tight, especially vehicles, and instruct any holiday guests to do the same. • Use warning signage such as “beware of dog”, “This Property is Under Surveillance”, signage provided by your alarm company, and, of course, your RM of Vanscoy Rural Crime Watch Sign. • Early in 2019 we received a lot of reports of stolen mail in the RM. Be sure to check your mailboxes regularly and follow up on any expected items that do not arrive. Stay aware, stay connected, stay safe and have wonderful holiday season. RM of Vanscoy Rural Crime Watch Committee
|
Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network
The Ministry of Corrections and Policing for the Province has announced the establishment of the ‘Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network’.
Supported by Everbridge Mass Notification Systems, the new network provides the RCMP and its Provincial Response Team partner agencies (Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and Saskatchewan Conservation Officers) with the ability to communicate directly with the public on matters of crime prevention.
Citizens can sign up at www.saskcrimewatch.ca to receive crime watch advisories from their local RCMP Detachments. As situations might be occurring, Detachment Commanders will have the ability to send important advisories by text message, email or phone. Those who sign up or register online will have the ability to choose how they would like to receive these advisories.
The new network is designed to ensure that ALL people of Saskatchewan can play an important part in public safety. If you have information about an advisory, the advisory itself will include information about what to do and or who to contact.
Supporting Local Crime Prevention Programs
The new system also allows the RCMP and its partner agencies to communicate directly with existing or developing crime prevention groups, such as:
Rural Crime Watch
Indigenous Peace Keepers (or like programs)
Citizens on Patrol, or Neighborhood Watch
To find out more how your local crime prevention program can be supported by the Everbridge mass notification technology, please contact your local Detachment to be put into contact with Saskatchewan RCMP’s Community Policing Branch.
The RCMP can arrange for a presentation and to have your group further added to the new network as a special group. These groups, approved at the local level by their Detachment Commander, will be provided access to the system to send their own unique crime prevention communications.
How will this new Network help?
The new Network acknowledges that crime prevention can be the most effective when the greatest number of people can participate. Residents can help by being the ‘eyes and ears’ of their communities, and by reporting crimes or suspicious activities to the police. The more people who sign up for the advisories, the more effective we can be at preventing crime. Criminals will literally have ‘no place to hide’ as we all work together to keep our communities safe.
Imagine someone is spotted breaking into a cottage or a home. The witness calls 911 to report the crime and describe the suspect’s vehicle. Police go to the scene, but the suspect is often gone. Now, with a Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory sent directly from the RCMP, the description of the suspect’s vehicle can be immediately sent to hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the area. People who receive the advisory can call police when they see the vehicle. This gives the police a better chance of catching the offender(s), sooner.
The Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network, along with existing crime prevention programs, helps create the right environment and culture where everyone can contribute to and be a part of community safety. The network itself sends a strong message to would-be offenders that people are watching and that we all care about community safety.
|
|
24 year-old Asquith Man faces Child Porn and Voyeurism Charges NOVEMBER 26, 2020 - In early November the Saskatoon police received information that in July a 24 year-old man had been in possession of child pornography and intimate photos of a woman that he had taken without her knowledge. On November 25th members of Saskatchewan ICE and Warman RCMP executed an arrest warrant at the accused's Asquith home, seizing three cell phones and a laptop. Elmir Drincic was arrested and charged. He appeared in Provincial court and was released from custody on numerous conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 9th.
RCMP BUST BICYCLE THEFT RING IN MARTENSVILLE OCTOBER 20, 2020 - RCMP Martensville have received a number of reports of stolen bicycles in the community recently. Many of these have been taken from the yards of homeowners. On the evening of October 17th, police conducted an investigation that led to a search warrant being executed in Martensville. A number of bicycle parts and bicycles were recovered from the property. As a result of the investigation, two adult males have been charged with Theft Under $5,000 and Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.00.
Be aware that there are several scams escalating from Covid-19. Please do not release information to unknown sources.
Warman RCMP is advising residents of Radisson and surrounding areas that Radisson RCMP office will be closed during the COVID-19 outbreak. Phone lines are all still open.
Warman RCMP is part of the SASKATCHEWAN CRIME WATCH ADVISORY NETWORK. Sign up at www.saskcrimewatch.ca to receive crime watch notifications.
If you have information regarding any crime, please contact Warman/Martensville RCMP at 306-975-1670/306-975-1610 or if you have information and you wish to remain anonymous in your reporting, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477),
submit a tip via their website: http://saskcrimestoppers.com/ or text in a tip: TIP206 + your tip to CRIMES (274637).
|
 |
| Click to read our Latest Newspaper |
|
|
Controlled Burn Line
1 - 866 - 404 - 4911
If you are planning on having a controlled burn on your property, report it to the Controlled Burn line.
Reporting the controlled burn will help to prevent the unnecessary use of valuable resources and manpower.
Failure to report the burn could result in unexpected company in the form of the fire department and an avoidable expense.
|
Read our Twitter Feed below...
|
Check out the
Community
Bulletin Board
Click to View or Post Events FREE
|
|
Community Members Share Their Skills and Experiences on School Community Councils
The School Community Council (SCC) is a primary link between the home, community and school. Prairie Spirit believes that involvement with School Community Councils is a rewarding and meaningful activity for parent and community members.
The purpose of School Community Councils is to:
• Support student learning success and well-being; and,
• Encourage parent and community involvement and engagement in the school.
School Community Councils provide mechanisms for parents and community members to support and influence the work of the school and to channel advice to the Board of Education and others. The focus of the SCC is student learning and well-being. The challenge for the SCC is to engage the parents and community with the school in a meaningful partnership that supports their shared responsibility.
School Community Council Responsibilities
Councils are accountable to their community. Responsibilities of the Council include:
• Understanding their community;
• Supporting parent and community involvement in the school;
• Advising the Board and school as outlined in the Board of Education School Community Council Policy;
• Working with the School to develop, support and provide advice to the Learning Improvement Plan;
• Helping parents find ways to support their children’s learning;
• Reviewing extra-curricular school activities approved by the principal and Student Council members;
• Advising and approving fundraising activities in the school; and
• Reviewing student fees to ensure alignment with Board of Education directions.
Council Member Responsibilities
Your role as a Council member is to build shared responsibility among parents, the community and school for student learning and well-being. In addition, your role is to lead parent and community involvement in school planning and improvement.
The term of office for Representative Parent and Community Members is two (2) years with no limit on the number of consecutive terms that may be served.
As a Council member you might expect to...
• Attend meetings from September to June as determined by the Council calendar;
• Engage in the work of the Council such as:
o Supporting and advising the development of the Learning Improvement Plan with the staff of the school;
o Developing, leading and taking action on Council initiatives to help families support their children’s learning;
o Providing advice to the school, Board of Education and other community organizations and agencies, as outlined in Board of Education policy;
o Providing advice for school fundraising activities, school fees and the student code of conduct;
o Reporting to parents and community on Council progress; and,
o Working with other Council members to learn more about the role of the Council and how to fulfill its responsibilities.
In order to run for election to your local SCC, you must live in the school attendance area or be a parent of a student in the school. Contact your school’s principal or Prairie Spirit School Division for more details.
|
Prairie Spirit School Division Releases Weapons Policy
Over the past several months, Prairie Spirit School Division has been developing a formal procedure
regarding weapons in schools. The procedure provides a consistent approach for all Prairie Spirit schools
to follow to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The procedure states that students and adults must not possess or use real or replica weapons on
school premises or at school-sponsored activities held off school premises. This also includes
transportation on the school bus. There are no exceptions to this procedure.
Examples of weapons include, but are not limited to:
• any liquid, spray or powder capable of
injuring, immobilizing or otherwise
incapacitating any person
• daggers
• crossbows
• explosives
• tear gas
• mace
Under certain circumstances, the principal, in consultation with the school division, may give permission
for an item to be in the school that could be considered to be a weapon (e.g., tools or equipment for
Practical and Applied Arts or Phys. Ed.).
If other students are aware of a student in possession of a weapon, they should inform a staff member.
In-school administrators are authorized to take the necessary steps to remove weapons from the school.
This will include following an established school safety protocol and contacting the police.
The safety of our students is our first priority. Our dedicated staff members work every day to ensure
our students are learning in a safe and caring environment.
If you have any questions or if you would like to review the procedures document, please contact your
school.
|
Construction Zone Fines
When traveling on two lane highways you must slow to 60 in both directions when passing workers or equipment.
On a divided highway it applies to the direction the workers are on.
Saskatoon is different as it applies to the entire area signed as a construction zone.
The media coverage told the base fine and the additional per KPH which may not have gotten your attention.
To give you an idea of how serious this is, here are an example of the new fines.
Traveling at;
100 KPH the fine is $530.00
110 KPH the fine is $714.00
120 KPH the fine is $798.00
Hopefully showing the amount of the fines will make it clearer and help you realize how serious this is.
Please slow down to 60 for the safety of the workers who are trying to improve the roads for your travel.
|
RM #315 Montrose develops an Official Community Plan
|
The Council of the RM of Montrose No. 315 adopted three bylaws under The Planning and Development Act, 2007. The RM has established a new Official Community Plan, a new Zoning Bylaw and a new fees bylaw.
The Official Community Plan bylaw will establish municipal land use policies, goals and objectives. The Zoning Bylaw will implement land use policies, establish zoning districts, prescribe permitted and discretionary uses within each zoning district, establish a development permitted process, prescribe a process for appeals and provide a provision for amendments. The Fees bylaw will establish fees for municipal services including planning and development services.
The Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw and Fees Bylaw will affect all land within the incorporated area of the Rural Municipality. The zoning and policy maps show the affected lands.
The Official Community Plan provides the Rural Municipality with direction on development decisions and municipal goals. The Zoning Bylaw helps direct and manage growth and development within the Rural Municipality. The Fees Bylaw provides the Rural Municipality with a schedule of fees to be charged for services provided by the Municipality.
Any person may inspect the Bylaws and maps at the RM office during normal office hours. Copies of the bylaws and maps are available at cost. Electronic copies of the proposed bylaws and maps can be viewed and/or downloaded on line at http://www.rmreview.net/ocp.html.
|
RM #345 Vanscoy has had Official Community Plan since 2009
|
The RM of Vanscoy No. 345 adopted an Official Community Plan (OCP) back in 2009. The plan allows for new subdivisions through out the RM, primarily on the main traffic corridors. Since the adoption there have been many applications for subdivision of residential land into parcels smaller than the previous 40 acre minimum parcel size. Each application requires council to hold a public hearing. In some cases there has been considerable opposition that stopped the proposed subdivisions, though many have been approved.
Contact the RM office or website to find out the affected land.
|
|
|
