REGINA – “Orange Shirt Day” will again be officially proclaimed on Wednesday, Sept. 30. School boards throughout the province, together with communities across the country, recognize the significance of this day for reflection and learning.

Sept. 30 is also proclaimed federally in Canada as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Orange Shirt Day represents an opportunity for expanding our understanding of history and committing to reconciliation,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the SSBA. “The SSBA and Saskatchewan’s 27 school boards are encouraging everyone to participate.”

Orange Shirt Day is part of a broader national movement that encourages truth, understanding, and reconciliation while fostering hope for future generations.

Since 2016, the Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed Orange Shirt Day every year at the Saskatchewan School Boards Association’s request.

“Everyone has a role to play in reconciliation,” Education Minister Everett Hindley said. “By proclaiming Orange Shirt Day, we are acknowledging the effects of residential schools on the people of our province and are demonstrating our continued commitment to supporting the success and well-being of all students.”

REGINA – Twenty schools in Saskatchewan are each receiving a $20,000 grant to support student nutrition after being selected to win this year’s Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge.

In 2026, The Mosaic Company and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) are celebrating the 20th year of the Mosaic Challenge with “20 for 20” – that means Mosaic is providing a total of $400,000 in funding this year.

“In celebration of our 20th year supporting this program, we’re deepening one of our longest-standing partnerships by expanding funding to 20 schools that each receive $20,000,” says Marnel Jones, Mosaic’s Director of Government and Public Affairs – Canada. “Through the Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge, we’re supporting student health today while helping grow stronger Saskatchewan communities for tomorrow.”

The winning projects have goals including implementing or expanding nutrition programs, promoting cooking and gardening, enhancing facilities, increasing educational opportunities, and supporting projects with cultural components. These will be supported by the grants.

For the total of $400,000 in prizes provided by Mosaic, schools from across the province submitted their projects to compete. Schools receiving grants this year are governed by the Chinook, Good Spirit, Greater Saskatoon Catholic, Horizon, Living Sky, North East, Northwest, Prairie South, Prairie Spirit, Prairie Valley, Regina Public, Saskatoon Public, and South East Cornerstone school boards. Please see the backgrounder accompanying this media release for a list of the recipients.

The Mosaic Challenge began in 2006 to encourage grassroots initiatives to help improve student nutrition.

“We are thankful for Mosaic’s ongoing support and particularly grateful for the exceptional funding this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mosaic Challenge,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the SSBA. “The Mosaic Challenge continues to contribute to helping to achieve our organization’s goal of ensuring that every student is supported to succeed at school.”

BACKGROUNDER: MSNC Recipients 2026

REGINA – The 2026-27 provincial budget is in line with what school boards have seen previously and maintains commitments to increasing specialized supports but falls short of significant new investment in other areas, according to the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA).

“The circumstances will vary among school divisions in the province, but overall, this budget is consistent with what we’ve seen for funding in recent years,” said Dr. Shawn Davidson, president of the SSBA. “However, it doesn’t represent additional investment in the sector outside of specialized support programming.”

The specialized support programming has been well-received in divisions, said Davidson, noting the budget commitment to expand that funding is consistent with the government’s promises to continue to increase the reach to more schools across a period of multiple years.

However, the budget is not keeping up with all inflationary pressures faced by school divisions, including transportation, local contracts, and funds needed to maintain infrastructure. While some planned capital expenditures are always welcome, more dollars for preventative maintenance and renewal are missing from the budget, Davidson said. Many school divisions are facing pressures around facilities.

“What is included for capital is appreciated but will not fully address the urgent needs out there,” said Davidson. “We have growing communities that need new schools, and facilities in many areas are in need of repair.”

School divisions have identified a need for preventative maintenance and renewal funding that equates to about two per cent of school value allocated annually. The current funding level is remaining stagnant at about one-half of one per cent based on the budget announcement.

“Although the industry standard is two per cent, we would be happy to see the level reach at least one per cent as a first step,” Davidson said.

The SSBA will be working with school boards over the coming months to unpack the budget.