Category Archives: Government

Yes, there is “OpportUNITY in Unity!”

Leave a reply

Last year, the Town of Unity and the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce commissioned Prairie Wild Consulting Co. to determine where there might be gaps in the goods and services offered by businesses in Unity and what methods might help encourage entrepreneurs to fill those gaps.

business gap analysis front page

Unity’s economic development officer, Carey Baker, will be presenting highlights from the end result – a 140 page report, the Town of Unity Targeted Business Attraction Strategy and Business Gap Analysis,report – at a special public meeting Wednesday evening, Feb. 15. The presentation will be at the Unity Community Centre and begins at 7 pm. The report is also available on the town website, townofunity.com.

The study concluded there are some business gaps and opportunities in Unity, inlcuding in the construction, retail trade and transportation sectors.

Along with identifying gaps, the report suggests various strategies to strengthen Unity’s brand, help promote existing Unity businesses and explore options for entrepreneurial training and assisting business start-ups. It also looks at strategies to encourage redevelopment of vacant downtown buildings, suggesting a variety of specific potential business uses for each building.

Support for employees and the general quality of life in Unity were also examined. Appendices include a review of what other municipalities are doing in the way of business programs and incentives, an inventory of existing businesses in Unity, samples and summaries of surveys conducted and a regional comparison of businesses.

The report concludes with these words: “Moving forward, the Business Attraction and Retention Strategy and Business Gap Analysis helps to lay out a path forward that will help to make Unity an even more thriving place to be – whether a community to live in, a community to do business in, or both.”

To learn more, be sure to attend the presentation at the community centre next Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 7 pm.

Tomorrow’s paper

Leave a reply

You don’t want to miss the February 10th issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald. There is a little bit of everything in it. Check it out for the two pages of babies alone, to say nothing of:

  • photos and an article about the new wastewater system, now operational, at Unity SK;
  • a short history of the Unity Legion Ladies Auxiliary, who sadly are disbanding as the numbers have shrunk down to five members;
  • an interview with Light of Christ Catholic School Board trustee Gerald Beres; and
  • award winner names and photos from the Unity Wildlife Federation’s annual wildlife dinner.

Of course, there are also updates on hockey, curling and an RCMP too.

This shot of the control panel for one of the two MemFree water treatment systems at Unity’s wastewater treatment plant gives an overview of the system.

at the wastewater treatment plant in Unity SK

New mayor and council

Leave a reply

Congratulations to mayor-elect Ben Weber, returning councillors Brian Vanderlinde and Brent Weber and new council members Bob Abel, Doreen Bonogofski, Rick Hill and Curtis McLean.

Thank you to outgoing Mayor Sylvia Maljan for your years of service and for making the year’s election a mayoral race.

Thank you to Terry Flaherty, Shaun O’Brian, Pat Varga and Dean Wildeman for letting your names stand for council and giving the residents of Unity a choice.

Elections in Unity October 26

Leave a reply

Town of Unity voters will go to the polls October 26 to elect a mayor, six councillors and a representative for the Light of Christ Catholic School Division.

Incumbent mayor and long-time Unity resident Sylvia Maljan is seeking her third term of office as mayor. Maljan is being challenged by Ben Weber who has been on Unity town council as a councillor and formerly served on Yorkton town council both as mayor and councillor.

Ten people are vying for six councillor seats. Incumbents Terry Flaherty, meat manager at Delta Co-op; Brian Vanderlinde, maintenance person; and Brent Weber, who works in oil and gas, are being challenged by Robert Abel, marketing advisor; Doreen Bonogofski, clearing clerk; Richard Hill, retired; Curtis McLean, equipment operator; Shaun O’Brian, operations manager; Pat Varga, retired; and Dean Wildeman, business owner.

Both mayoral candidates and all council candidates will be in attendance this evening, Wednesday, October 12, at an all-candidates forum sponsored by the Unity and District Chamber of Commerce. Each candidate will be introducing his or herself to the audience and there will be time for a meet-and-greet afterwards. Plan to attend! The forum is in the upper hall at the Unity Community Centre and begins at 7:30 pm.

Catholic ratepayers will also be electing a representative to sit on the LOCCSD board on behalf of St. Peter’s School. In the running for this position are incumbent Gerald Beres, retired, and educational assistant Sandra Morin.

Nominations for mayor and council close next week

Leave a reply

All council positions are up for re-election this year. Nomination forms are available at the town office and must be returned before 4 p.m. next Wednesday, September 21.

The Town of Unity needs people to serve their community by serving on council. (NOTE – local RMs will also be having elections and the nomination deadline there is also September 21.)

To be eligible to run for council – whether as a councillor or for mayor – you must be 18 years of age on or before election day, Oct. 26, a Canadian citizen and have lived in Unity for at least three months and in Saskatchewan for six months.

The Town of Unity has passed a bylaw also requiring criminal record checks to be done and filed with the nomination papers.

The most important issues councils make decisions on are core services such as roads and streets, water treatment and sewer facilities, snow and garbage removal, recreation facilities and programs, land use planning and economic development, building code regulations, crime fighting and prevention, fire fighting and prevention, animal control and emergency planning.

Remember council sets the policies and priorities but they don’t have to do the day-to-day work; municipal staff members are the ones who have to follow through and ensure council’s directives are implemented.

You don’t have to have education or experience in a government setting to run as a candidate. Everyone has unique skills, knowledge and experience which can help guide the decision-making process. All you need is a willingness to get involved, learn and an ability to work with others.

Volunteering and other community involvement, work experience, membership in different organizations and even managing family life can all provide relevant experience for serving on council.

Each council member brings his or her own perspective, and that of the demographic he or she belongs to, to the decision-making table. It’s best for our town when our council reflects the demographics of the town.

As a council member, you can influence changes that benefit your community, put forward new ideas, provide a voice for your community and make a positive difference in the quality of life.

Remember, nomination forms can now be picked up at municipal offices and the deadline to submit a nomination is 4 p.m. September 21.

River cleanup prompts RCMP warnings/requests

Leave a reply

With cleanup of the oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River ongoing, RCMP are issuing a couple of warnings.

For motorists using Highway 21, Maidstone RCMP would like to advise that the speed limit on the river hill on Highway 21 at the North Saskatchewan River (Toby Nollet Bridge) has been reduced to 60 KM/HR as a temporary site of operations for the river cleanup has been established there. The site is set up on the east side of Highway 21 at the North Saskatchewan River and there is a significant amount of vehicle traffic coming on and off the highway.

The site has been identified as a road hazard and the speed zone has been changed accordingly by the Department of Highways. At this time, there is no end date for the speed zone change.

The Maidstone RCMP are undertaking traffic safety initiatives in the area including check stops and speed enforcement. They ask that you please obey the signs and posted speed as it may prevent a serious collision and save a life.

FYI, the average speeding ticket for somebody going 20KM/HR over the posted speed limit is $130.

Below: RCMP photo of a cruiser beside the road hazard sign on Highway 21.

Cruiser @ Road Hazard Sign

For boaters on the river: The Maidstone RCMP and Battlefords RCMP are both cautioning recreational boaters and users of the North Saskatchewan River to be mindful of the ongoing cleanup. There are several temporary operational sites being used, five of which are along the river between Maidstone and the Battlefords.

Several boats are often the water at this time from different agencies as part of the cleanup procedure. Please be respectful of those working on the river.

Friday’s paper

Leave a reply

The July 22nd issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald is small but mighty with coverage of:

  • the Mosquito Cardinals and UK Royals’ provincial ball wins;
  • Senlac’s 100 years’ celebration and homecoming;
  • a farewell to a 27-year Unity business; and
  • an article on what goes into preparing to host a Western Canadian event (which will happen August long weekend).

And yes, there’s a new police report, information on a “CRA” scam and a senior Cardinals’ update too as NSRBL teams start playoffs this week.

Below – the “mayor’s car” in the Senlac Centennial parade, July 2, 2016

Village of Senlac

Local RCMP issue warning about CRA scams

Leave a reply

The Unity/Wilkie/ Macklin RCMP Detachment has recently seen an influx of reports of scams from the CRA.

Some recent telephone scams involve threatening taxpayers or using aggressive and forceful language to scare them into paying fictitious debt to the CRA. Victims receive a phone call from a person claiming to work for the CRA and saying that taxes are owed. The caller requests immediate payment by credit card or convinces the victims to purchase a prepaid credit card and to call back immediately with the information. The taxpayer is often threatened with court charges, jail or deportation.

If you get such a call, hang up and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

These types of communication are not from the CRA. When the CRA calls you, it has established procedures in place to make sure your personal information is protected. If you want to confirm the authenticity of a CRA telephone number, call the CRA by using the numbers on its Telephone numbers page. The number for business-related calls is 1-800-959-5525. The number for calls about individual concerns is 1-800-959-8281.

To help you identify possible scams, use the following guidelines:

The CRA:

  • never requests prepaid credit cards;
  • never asks for information about your passport, health card, or driver’s licence;
  • never shares your taxpayer information with another person, unless you have provided the appropriate authorization; and
  • never leaves personal information on your answering machine or asks you to leave a message containing your personal information on an answering machine.

When in doubt, ask yourself the following:

  • Is there a reason that the CRA may be calling? Do I have a tax balance outstanding?
  • Is the requester asking for information I would not include with my tax return?
  • Is the requester asking for information I know the CRA already has on file for me?
  • How did the requester get my email address or telephone number?
  • Am I confident I know who is asking for the information?

The CRA has strong practices to protect the confidentiality of taxpayer information. The confidence and trust that individuals and businesses have in the CRA is a cornerstone of Canada’s tax system. For more information about the security of taxpayer information and other examples of fraudulent communications, go to www.cra.gc.ca/security.

For information on scams or to report deceptive telemarketing contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or toll free at 1-888-495-8501. If you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or financial information unwittingly, contact the RCMP.

Sask Central Victim Services – local board members needed

Leave a reply

Sask Central Victim Services – “Helping victims of crime and traumatic events through Support, Information, Referral and Advocacy” – is looking for volunteer board members.

Qualifications

  • Mature and responsible
  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to commit to two years
  • Willing to complete a criminal record check
  • Experience working with a Governance Board is an asset
  • Ability to work as a team
  • Community minded
  • Willingness to learn
  • Support board decisions as well as professional staff appointed to serve the organization

If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact Sask Central Victim Services at:

  • Phone: 306-260-0820
  • Fax: 306-975-1612
  • Email: crystal.chahley@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
  • Regular mail: Box 179, Martensville SK. S0K 2T0.

(Funding provided by the Province of Saskatchewan)

Next week’s paper

Leave a reply

Next week’s Unity Wilkie Press-Herald might be a smaller issue than normal, but it’s stuffed full of local news and ads for upcoming events. Check out the calendar for an events update and check out the paper for even more details on events and for the following stories:

  • next weekend is Saskatchewan’s 40th Telemiracle broadcast – check out our lead story for comments from local beneficiaries;
  • a big addition to town – Unity Community Daycare is now open;
  • Parks, Culture and Recreation Director Nicole Goldsworthy is not returning after her maternity leave; and
  • the latest on hockey playoffs.

Below, Town of Unity councillor Ben Weber, left, and Parks, Culture and Recreation Director Nicole Goldsworthy, right, July 25, 2013, on the occasion of the opening of a groomed walking path from town to the Paws Park, thanks in part to a grant from CN Rail. Goldsworthy applied for and received a number of grants for improvements to Unity during her eight-year tenure.

Nicole Goldsworthy