Archives for November 2019

REGINA – Saskatchewan Rivers Public Board of Education and Saskatchewan Rivers Students for Change have received the 2019 Premier’s Board of Education Award for Innovation and Excellence in Education for the submission of “Empowering Students and Responding to Student Voice: A Student-led Pathway to Improve Student Outcomes.”

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) co-ordinates the Premier’s Award each year. The award was presented on behalf of Premier Scott Moe during the SSBA Annual General Assembly on Monday evening in Regina.

“Congratulations to Saskatchewan Rivers School Division for winning this year’s award,” Honourable Lori Carr, Minister of Government Relations and MLA for Estevan, said on behalf of Premier Moe. “The Saskatchewan Rivers Students for Change council will give students valuable leadership skills and an opportunity to have their voice heard by the board of trustees. This experience will benefit them well beyond high school.”

In its application for the award, Saskatchewan Rivers said its board, along with a team of students, implemented a division-wide council known as the Saskatchewan Rivers Students for Change, which regularly discusses challenges and opportunities, takes part in leadership and learning, plans actions and events and advocates for student learning and well-being. The council provides advice and perspective directly to the board through elected student trustees.

“School board trustees work to ensure that the students in their schools get a good education and have positive experiences as they learn,” said Barry Hollick, Saskatchewan Rivers chair. “We are so pleased that this initiative to involve students in the governance of our school division provides them the opportunity to lead change and affect student achievement and outcomes. It has also enhanced the board’s awareness of student concerns and issues.”

The $3,000 award has been sponsored by Xerox Canada since its development in 1999, making this year the 20th anniversary of the award program. The award recipient is recommended by a panel of education sector partners.

“Xerox is proud to again sponsor the Premier’s Award,” said Karl Boissonneault, Vice President, Canadian Channel Operations, Xerox Canada. “Xerox has seen many changes over the 113 years of our existence and also made fundamental contributions to how work gets done every day. In celebrating the 20th anniversary of our partnership, we are excited that we can once again do our part to support school boards to bring innovation to the forefront and ensure that we continue to invest in and improve the future education of our young people.”

The Premier’s Award recognizes educational innovations and improvements focused on student achievement that have been advanced or directed by school boards. The prize is used to support or extend the innovation or project.

“Upon the 20th anniversary of this program, we are very appreciative of Xerox Canada for highlighting the great work being done by school boards throughout the province,” said SSBA President Dr. Shawn Davidson. “Each submission is worthy of recognition for promoting efforts to help ensure success for all students. Congratulations to the recipients.”

At its assembly, the SSBA also recognized Bernie Howe (Prairie Spirit Board of Education) with a life membership.

To raise awareness and engagement in local democracy, Local Government Week has again been officially proclaimed in the province of Saskatchewan, at the joint request of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), Métis Nation Saskatchewan (MN-S), the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA).

The week runs from Nov. 11 to 17 this year and was officially designated by Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations and Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs. This is the second year that Local Government Week has been proclaimed. The call to recognize the week with a provincial proclamation emerged through discussions between the partner organizations as an excellent opportunity to recognize and raise awareness about Saskatchewan’s systems of local governance.

The work of local governments affects the lives of Saskatchewan residents every day. Local governments are responsible for everything from educating the province’s youth to building and maintaining the local roads residents use. To provide the many services offered, Saskatchewan’s local governments collectively employ more than 38,000 people. Locally elected governments represent the voices of the people they serve and provide connections and accountability to their communities.

“Our province recognizes the important work leaders of all communities and local government organizations do each and every day. Chiefs, mayors, reeves, councillors, trustees and administrative officials all play roles that contribute to the quality of life for all who share this great land called Saskatchewan. When neighbouring communities work together with other government partners on common goals, resources can go farther and relationships can grow stronger to help improve the lives of everyone,” said Carr.

“The FSIN Executive welcomes the celebration of Local Government Week in Saskatchewan, as it highlights and recognizes the tireless work of the many leaders in all of our communities,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. “Our Chiefs and Councils represent thousands of First Nations people across the province and we want to recognize their efforts to create a better tomorrow for our future generations. Our Executive ensures that our Inherent and Treaty Rights and the exertion of First Nations jurisdiction remain at the forefront of our relationships with other local governments. We are thankful for the partnerships we have created and will continue to create in the future.”

“The self-government agreement we recently signed with the federal government recognizes the Métis Nation Saskatchewan as a government, which represents the Métis in the province,” said MN-S Minister of Education (Northern Region 1) Earl Cook. “It is only fitting that we celebrate our successes in Local Government Week.”

“Elected officials are instrumental in ensuring our communities remain strong and vibrant,” said SARM President Ray Orb. “SARM is committed to building capacity at the local level and it starts with recognizing the important role of municipal government through Local Government Week.”

“School boards are locally elected to bring community voice to publicly funded education,” said SSBA President Shawn Davidson. “Local Government Week helps to highlight the importance of grassroots-level decision-making.”

“Our hometown governments are responsible for everything from wastewater collection to fire and protective services,” said SUMA President Gordon Barnhart. “Local Government Week is a chance to highlight the role local governments play in shaping our communities.”

For more information: https://saskschoolboards.ca/advocacy/local-government-week/