We’re pleased to welcome Dawn Kilmer, SUMA Vice President of Towns and Councillor for Prince AlbertJoin us as we unpack the Board’s role, the benefits of SUMA for Municipalities in all regions of Saskatchewan. ***************************************************
Learn More About SUMA:
Website: https://suma.org/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SUMAConnect
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SUMAConnect
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saskatchewan-urban-municipalities-association
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suma.connect
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SUMASask
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Listen to the Show:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QLq7OluynaodZyd7c30DN?si=f67427d5b2ec4483
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/municast/id1750494860
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnyOMC0SKIN9AwtusJmC9pLyuaudHP7Bf&si=SnzkKbG0GQvkMLb4
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Music: ‘One Foot On Main Street’ written and performed by Jeffery Straker, used with permission.
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Follow the Cross Border Network:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/
Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/
MuniCast is made in partnership with SUMA and the Cross Border Network
©2025
Today, we head to Cow Town, Saskatchewan, the last stop along the trans Canada Highway before heading west into Alberta, and the gateway to the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Welcome to Season 9 of MuniCast!
MuniCast is brought to you by SUMA, the voice of Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities. MuniCast discusses topics that are important to municipal leaders, like local governance, best practices, education, and so much more.
In Season 9, we are meeting SUMA’s Board of Directors. SUMA has adopted a new, modern governance structure built from a thorough governance review and member consultation.
This new structure is a caucus model with a 7-member Board and 34 representatives from villages, resort villages, towns, cities, and northern municipalities across all regions, marking the beginning of a new chapter for SUMA. To follow up on our first episode of Season 9, we continue to dive into the SUMA Board Members.
And Today we are honoured to sit down in person and speak with SUMA Vice President of Towns, and Mayor of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan Michelle McKenzie.
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Learn More About SUMA:
Website: https://suma.org/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SUMAConnect
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SUMAConnect
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saskatchewan-urban-municipalities-associationInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/suma.connect
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SUMASask
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Listen to the Show:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QLq7OluynaodZyd7c30DN?si=f67427d5b2ec4483
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/municast/id1750494860
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnyOMC0SKIN9AwtusJmC9pLyuaudHP7Bf&si=SnzkKbG0GQvkMLb4***************************************************
Music: ‘One Foot On Main Street’ written and performed by Jeffery Straker, used with permission.
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Follow the Cross Border Network:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/
Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/
MuniCast is made in partnership with SUMA and the Cross Border Network
©2025
We’re pleased to welcome Shanon Zachidniak , Councillor for the City of Regina and SUMA Vice President; City of Regina.
Shanon brings municipal experience and a Regina perspective that will help listeners understand how the new governance model works in practice, the priorities guiding the Board, and what members can expect from SUMA’s renewed approach to representation and decision-making.
Join us as we unpack the Board’s role, the benefits of SUMA for Municipalities in all regions of Saskatchewan.
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Learn More About SUMA:
Website: https://suma.org/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SUMAConnect
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SUMAConnect
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saskatchewan-urban-municipalities-association
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suma.connect
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SUMASask
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Listen to the Show: Apple:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QLq7OluynaodZyd7c30DN?si=f67427d5b2ec4483
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/municast/id1750494860
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnyOMC0SKIN9AwtusJmC9pLyuaudHP7Bf&si=SnzkKbG0GQvkMLb4
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Music: ‘One Foot On Main Street’ written and performed by Jeffery Straker, used with permission.
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Follow the Cross Border Network:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/
Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/
MuniCast is made in partnership with SUMA and the Cross Border Network
©2025
To launch season 9, we’re pleased to welcome Randy Goulden, Councillor for the City of Yorkton and SUMA President. Randy brings municipal experience and leadership perspective that will help listeners understand how the new governance model works in practice, the priorities guiding the Board, and what members can expect from SUMA’s renewed approach to representation and decision-making. Join us as we unpack the Board’s role, the benefits of the caucus model, and the priorities that will guide SUMA moving forward.
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Learn More About SUMA:
Website: https://suma.org/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SUMAConnect
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SUMAConnect
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saskatchewan-urban-municipalities-association
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suma.connect
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SUMASask
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Listen to the Show:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QLq7OluynaodZyd7c30DN?si=f67427d5b2ec4483
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/municast/id1750494860
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnyOMC0SKIN9AwtusJmC9pLyuaudHP7Bf&si=SnzkKbG0GQvkMLb4
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Music: ‘One Foot On Main Street’ written and performed by Jeffery Straker, used with permission.
***************************************************
Follow the Cross Border Network:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossborderpodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/crossbordernetwork.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@crossborderpodcast
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CrossBorderInterviews/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossborderinterviews/
Website: https://www.crossborderinterviews.ca/
MuniCast is made in partnership with SUMA and the Cross Border Network
©2025
Libraries have long been pillars of knowledge, community,and accessibility, but as the world shifts toward digital media and instant information, their role is evolving. In this episode, Reimagining Libraries, Director of Advocacy Sean McKenzie sits down with Jason Barnhardt and Malcolm Eaton from Praxis Consulting, along with Jeff Barber from the Regina Public Library, to explore the enduring value of libraries in today’s society, both in larger cities and smaller communities.
Both Jason and Malcolm were key players in a study SUMArecently hired Praxis Consulting to conduct into the provincial library system, and to make recommendations on what could be improved. Jeff has been the Library Director and CEO of the Regina Public Library since 2005 and has also worked within the Southeast regional library in Weyburn, been head of Access Services in the University of Saskatchewan, and is a past president of the Saskatchewan Library Association, as well as past Chair of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council.
From ebooks to streaming services, technology has reshapedhow we access information, yet libraries continue to offer something irreplaceable. However, they are not without challenges. Funding remains an ongoing concern, and the demands on these institutions are increasing. What needs to change to ensure their future? This episode examines the essential services they provide, the unique structure of Saskatchewan’s one-card system, and how regional collaboration ensures that resources remain available to as many people as possible. This discussion dives the pressing issues and possible solutions that could shape the next chapter of library services.
Saskatchewan communities are facing significant challenges in healthcare access, affecting the quality and availability of care for residents. Key findings from recent research reveals gaps in service delivery outside larger urban centers including limited resources, staffing shortages, and geographic barriers. Mental health services face similar struggles, with individuals encountering difficulties in accessing support due to systemic barriers and regional disparities. Tackling these issues requires innovative solutions to improve healthcare access and ensure equitable support for all residents.
In this episode, Accessing Health Services in Saskatchewan with the University of Regina and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Advocacy Advisor, Kerri Martin, sits down with Dr. Nuelle Novik, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina, and a researcher with the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), and Rebecca Rackow, Assistant Executive Director and Dave Nelson, Senior Program Consultant, with the Canadian Mental Health Association, to discuss the challenges faced by residents in small and remote communities when accessing healthcare services.
To learn more about the state of healthcare in Saskatchewan access the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit's report on The Current State of Health Care in Rural Saskatchewan here.
To learn more about the state of mental health in Saskatchewan in comparison to other provinces across the country access the Canadian Mental Health Association's recent report The State of Mental Health in Canada here.
Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities are dealing with evolving environmental regulations, which makes collaborative waste management essential for a long-term sustainability. Effective waste management reduces greenhouse gas emissions, extends landfill lifespan, and helps municipalities remain environmentally responsible. By working together, communities can share costs, access funding, and implement innovative waste diversion strategies.
In this episode, Collaborative Waste Management with the Ministry of Environment, SWRC, ARWMAS, and TSS, Advocacy Advisor Augustina Osaseri sits down to discuss opportunities for effective waste management in Saskatchewan with
From dangerous animals to noise and debris and many areasin between, bylaws are municipal regulations that cover areas not enforced by provincial and federal law. However, despite their importance in keeping a community safe, enforcement of bylaws is a challenge faced by many of Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities. In this episode, Bylaw Enforcement for Public Safety with the City of Yorkton and the Town of Allan, Advocacy and Communications Advisor Cheyenne Geysen sits down with Jordan Hafichuk, Mayor of the Town and Allan, and Nicole Baptist, Bylaw & Safety Supervisor with the City of Yorkton, to unpack some of those challenges and look at the perspective of bylaw enforcement seen by their communities.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced the creation of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service in 2024. After a comprehensive search and hiring process, Robert Cameron was appointed as the Chief Marshal of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service effective January 1, 2024.
Public safety, and policing in particular, are extremely important topics for SUMA members. In this episode, Behind the Badge with Chief Marshal Robert Cameron, learn more about what this new service will mean for SUMA members, the reason for creating the Marshals Service, and how they will work with other established policing services including the RCMP and municipal police services.
During the episode Chief Cameron refers to the "James Smith" incident. More information about the tragedy can be found here: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20241001/12-en.aspx
In Season 8 of MuniCast we are taking a deep dive intoSUMA’s Advocacy Initiatives.
Diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones of thriving communities and a sustainable economy. Diversity brings unique experiences and innovation, while inclusion ensures everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. Theseprinciples are essential for municipal growth, addressing labor shortages, strengthening social connections, and retention.
In this episode, Diversity and Inclusion in EconomicDevelopment, Verona Thibault, CEO of the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA), Lovely Magnaye, CAO for the Town of Tisdale, Jean Goerzen, Executive Director for the Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA), and Ronke Edoho, owner of 9jaFoodie, sit down with Augustina Osaseri, Advocacy Advisor with SUMA, to discuss the ways that embracing diversity can strengthen community economic development.
Events and resources mentioned in the episode:
Rural Sask hosted by Conseil économique et coopératif de laSaskatchewan (CÉCS): https://cecs-sk.ca/en/areas-of-interest/employability-immigration/ruralskTaking place March 14, 2025. Occurs annually.
Intercultural Competence Training from the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS): https://mcos.ca/programs/education/
Want to continue the discussion?Speakers from this episode invite listeners to follow up with them directly.
Verona Thibault, CEO, SEDA: Verona.thibault@seda.ca
Jean Goerzen, Executive Director, SAISIA: jean.goerzen@saisia.ca
Lovely Magnaye, CAO, Town of Tisdale: cao@tisdale.ca
Ronke Edoho, Owner, 9jaFoodie: ronke@9jafoodie.com
Augustina Osaseri, Advocacy Advisor, SUMA: advocacy1@suma.org
Get to know Convention 2025 MC Trevor Moore before we gather in Saskatoon in April!
Trevor is a neurodivergent husband, father and entrepreneur who lives life as a mental health advocate, chronic pain warrior, kindness crusader, and over-thinker in recovery. As a professional emcee, host, speaker, and corporate standup comedy magician with 17 years of experience at the microphone, Trevor understands how to steer the rhythm, focus, and feel of any event. His intimate and interactive style, engaging attitude and refreshing, upbeat persona is sure to entertain guests at this year’s Convention.
In this episode, Eventful Conversations with Trevor Moose, discover what audience members can expect as he guides us through Convention 2025. Learn more about Trevor, how he will incorporate his vast hosting and speaking experience, and his hopes for attendees to walk away inspired
Want to get to know keynote speaker Pamela Barnum before Convention 2025? Tune in to this bonus episode of MuniCast!
After a successful 20-year career in the criminal justice system, Pamela Barnum transitioned to the corporate world with a focus on negotiations. During her time undercover in the Drug Enforcement Section, she honed her skills in building trust and detecting deception—often with some of the most dangerous individuals imaginable. Now, she's leveraging her real-world experience to teach others how to interpret body language and detect deception in both personal and professional settings.
In this episode, discover what audience members can expect from her keynote presentation at Convention 2025. Learn about the crucial role of non-verbal communication for municipal leaders, how to apply Pamela's insights across various areas, and more.
Doug Griffiths is a wildly popular community strategist and author of two best selling editions of his book "13 Ways to Kill Your Community”. He has supported, guided and inspired hundreds of communities to create effective change. Doug grew up on a ranch outside a small town where he learned the value of hard work, critical thinking skills, and the value of community. That background led him into politics, which gave him a deep understanding about how to move people and to get things done. He deliberately retired from politics in January 2015, after serving for 13 years, to return to his passion for community building.
In this episode, Revitalizing Your Community with Doug Griffiths, hear what audience members can expect to take away from his keynote presentation at the Virtual SUMA Summit, his experiences as a former elected official, the inspiration for his best-selling book, "13 Ways to Kill Your Community", and more.
The Saskatchewan Municipal Peer Network is available to assist municipal leaders as they face diverse challenges in their role as an elected official or administrator. The Municipal Peer Network connects municipal officials and administrators with highly experienced mentors who can provide advice and suggest options to help resolve disputes. Mentors are veteran municipal administrators and elected officials who offer guidance and support from their own experiences to help resolve issues at a local level. There is no cost to the service and conversations between a mentor and peer are confidential.
In episode five Municipal Networking with the Municipal Peer Network we have a conversation with former Peer Network Chair Michelle Buechler and current Peer Network Mentor, Michelle McKenzie about how the program started, how mentors are selected, and the benefits of contacting a mentor.
Saskatchewan's Municipal Peer Network is a partnership between the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), Rural Municipalities Association of Administrators (RMAA), Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS), and the Government of Saskatchewan.
The Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDP) was carefully designed to address the unique needs of municipal officials. This series of modules was exclusively developed for elected and appointed officials in Saskatchewan, including mayors, reeves, councillors, and municipal staff. The program aims to enhance leadership skills and strengthen local government leadership. In this conversation, learn about the modules included in this program, the different ways modules are delivered, and the valuable benefits they offer to both elected officials and municipal employees.
The MLDP is a joint partnership of SUMA, SARM, New North, RMAA, UMAAS, and the Ministry of Government Relations. The program seeks continuous feedback through the municipal associations regarding the education and training needs of municipalities.
In episode 3, Local Government Administration with the University of Regina, we discuss the Local Government Administration certificate program offered by the University of Regina, Centre for Continuing Education.
In this conversation with Dr. Christie Schultz and Robin Markel, we discuss what this program covers, how it can be accessed, course pricing, and more.
The Certificate and the Advanced Certificate satisfy requirements for local government administrator certification through the Rural Municipalities Administrators’ Association (RMAA) and the Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS).
In season 7 of MuniCast we are discussing the educational opportunities available to municipal administration and elected officials in Saskatchewan.
In episode two Municipal Administration Specialty with Saskatchewan Polytechnic we discuss the new municipal administration specialty for the Business diploma program with Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Business.
Graduates with the new specialty will be trained to successfully manage the day-to-day operations of a municipality as a municipal administrator, clerk or city manager. In this conversation learn more about the program, and which courses may be valuable to elected officials.
This specialty has been developed in partnership with SUMA, SARM, UMAAS, CAMA, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations.
In season 7 of MuniCast we are discussing the educational opportunities available to municipal administration and elected officials in Saskatchewan.
In episode one Municipal Management with Southeast College we discuss the Municipal Management Microcredential offered by Southeast College. The Microcredential an accessible opportunity available to participants across the province to increase their knowledge of municipal management. Partnerships with SARM, SUMA and Municipal Hail Insurance continue to support training opportunities at Southeast College that challenge and build on participants’ core business, leadership, and management skills.
In episode six we speak with long-time MuniCast sponsor, SaskTel, about their 2020-25 plan to expand broadband services to small and remote communities in Saskatchewan. Expanding Broadband Access with SaskTel features a conversation with Greg Jacobs, External Communications Manager with SaskTel about this initiative, the work that has been done to date, the value of this initiative to citizens of these small urban communities, and SaskTel's plans to continue expanding broadband access throughout the province.
Episode five, Serving Members: Membership, Funding, and Supplies, features a conversation about the value of membership, ordering election supplies, connecting members to legal support, and more information on the funding opportunity available through the Targeted Sector Support initiative. The work done in corporate services is often done behind the scenes, but their work does a lot to support SUMA members. Led by Jean-Marc Nadeau, CEO of SUMA, learn more about the behind the scenes work that SUMA engages in behind the scenes to support members.