CANORA - The Activity Centre at the Canora Golf Course was the site of a recent meeting that organizers believe could have a transformative effect on the region’s economy.
The idea for the first meeting of the Central Prairie Development Alliance on Dec. 12 grew out of a recent Yorkton Development Committee meeting, according to Juanita Polegi, Executive Director, Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, who opened the meeting.
“We were talking about the Yorkton economy growing, but we realized a strong regional economy was needed,” said Polegi. “Today is all about making connections, creating a regional focus on economic development and also combating rural depopulation.”
She added that a recent survey of Yorkton and surrounding area gave an indication of the importance of shopping local.
“For every $100 spent locally, it creates another $38 of economic activity."
In attendance at the meeting were community and local organization representatives from numerous area communities, including: Langenburg, Yorkton, Buchanan, Ituna and Foam Lake, among others.
Gwen Machnee, Applied Research Chair, Suncrest College, told the meeting, “This initiative is not just about Yorkton, this is about development for the whole region. That’s why we chose to have this meeting in Canora. We need partnerships. No one place can do economic development on their own. There’s lots of groups and organizations involved in this.”
Machnee said Suncrest College “has a mandate to serve businesses and organizations across the region. We have 11 campuses in nine regional communities. Economic development provides learning opportunities for our students. We need a thriving hub that connects ideas and solutions.”
The Canora meeting was focused on promoting that process.
Doug Jones, CEO, Cornerstone Credit Union, said, “We wanted to bring agricultural tech activity to our region, so we started the Rural Tech Activation Plan, but then the pandemic hit.”
Now that the pandemic has subsided, Jones said the group is getting active.
“We needed to make an investment,” said Jones. “Our board has made a three-year plan, including hiring Lyndon Lisitza as the Rural Tech Activation director.”
Jones told those in attendance that, “You need to go back to your groups and organizations from this meeting, and commit resources to this Central Prairie Development Alliance.”
Lisitza then took over the mic, and made it clear that he thoroughly enjoys his work. His background includes growing up on a farm near Porcupine Plain, and later being involved in multiple agricultural startups.
“Our vision is to empower farmers, rural innovators and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive.”
Lisitza said it can be hard to be innovator, as there’s lots of work involved, with plenty of ups and downs. They need a stable support system in areas such as legal, accounting, business structure and others.
“We are assessing ways to enhance education, collaboration, and access to financial solutions to promote the adaptation among farmers.”
He said they are working with the definition that ag tech is “anything that improves efficiency, productivity, sustainability, yields, saves time and labour, and ultimately improves profitability.” There have been significant challenges and barriers to the successful adaptation of ag technology in the past, “including insufficient return on investment, regulatory issues, employee training, lack of tech support, and hesitation by those farmers who have been burned before.
“In addition to helping famers, overcoming these challenges and barriers can be a boost for the whole community,” said Lisitza. “More jobs in this area can keep more of our youth at home and help fight rural depopulation. If related local businesses are successful, they pay more taxes, which supports things like our schools and roads. They also tend to be our biggest supporters of minor hockey, art shows, and other important local activities.”
Another initiative for RTA is engaging with farmers who have had significant success with the adoption of ag technology.
“We are going to showcase the importance of ag tech by getting successful farmers to talk about it, and then going out and telling those success stories to other farmers,” said Lisitza.
Increased adoption of ag tech is likely to create a need to educate young people for jobs in this field.
“We’re looking to work with Suncrest College and Ag in the Classroom to create an ag tech post-secondary education option. We are hoping to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to identify problems and challenges facing farmers and come up with solutions.”
Lisitza said support is also needed from community members and businesses. “It could be a good way to build up your client base.”
After gathering information from a number of farmers regarding needs in the ag tech area, Lisitza said he will be looking for more feedback from the farming community in the new year.
Representing the Yorkton Tribal Council at the meeting were Tribal Council Chief Isabel O’Soup and Economic Development Co-ordinator Mitch Hippsley, former Yorkton mayor. Yorkton Tribal Council serves six First Nation communities in the Treaty 4 territory: Cote, Keeseekoose, The Key, Zagime Anishinabek, Kahkewistahaw and Ocean Man First Nations.
“I’m always looking for ways to education the public on the history of Indigenous people,” said Chief O’Soup. “Our goal is to develop economic partnerships through Yorkton Tribal Council, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. I’m here to build bridges and relationships.
“This meeting is huge, getting all these people from various groups together.”
Chief O’Soup said Yorkton Tribal Council is heavily involved in farming, which includes “trying to find ways to keep young people in our communities.”
She added that networking is sure to play a key role in the new Central Prairie Development Alliance.
“Try to get to know and understand your First Nations partners in your area. It’s the same for us in reverse, we need to try and get to know our non-First Nations partners.”
Chief O’Soup closed her remarks by explaining, “We developed a strong relationship with former Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley, and we were pleased to bring him on as our economic development co-ordinator.”
In his new position, Hippsley said he has become aware that there is a lot of intelligence in their Yorkton Tribal council communities.
“We are starting numerous initiatives including housing, solar power and garden greenhouses,” he said. “We are already looking at investments.”
These types of initiatives have the potential for long-term future benefits.
“We need to retain our children and show them the economic opportunities we have for them. We are a humble people, which is fine, but we need to let everyone know about all the opportunities we have in rural Saskatchewan.
“We need to start dreaming more and thinking bigger,” said Hippsley.
"After the final speaker, those at the meeting broke into groups for further discussion about economic development across the region.
The top three strengths that were highlighted were: the natural resources, passionate people, and recreation and parks.
Top three weaknesses were: lack of funding for economic development, scar tissue (memories of failed collaborations in the past), and rural depopulation.
Top three opportunities included: ability to create a strategic plan for the larger region, creation of a regional hub to work together for a common goal, and rural transportation could be a great opportunity for development.
Top three threats identified were: cost of everything has increased dramatically, support for young families in rural areas is limited (childcare, health care and so on), and maintaining environmental standards when the standards keep getting higher.
Meeting organizers said they were happy with the turnout.
“We will be working on this initiative in the New Year,” said Gwen Machnee. “The organization committee will be meeting in the first full week of January with a view to the next meeting in early February.”
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