By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
RM of Corman Park councillors voted during their February 24 meeting to split the remainder of their Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant funding — a total of $2,062.41 — between the Dalmeny 4-H Multiple Club and the Merrill Community Improvement Project.
As noted in an administration report, the Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program assists in the development of sport, culture and recreation programs by providing funds to non-profit community organizations operated by volunteers.
The RM of Corman Park was allocated a total of $33,798 to disperse among community organizations prior to a March 31, 2026 deadline.
The Dalmeny 4-H Multiple Club, which had previously received a grant of $2,000 this year, requested the RM’s remaining funds to put towards program supplies, facility rentals, advertising and programming.
Specifically, the club wants to undertake a woodworking program to construct a podium that will be used in other programs and to host a Club Unity event focused on shared learning and relationships.
Meanwhile, the Merrill Community Improvement Project had submitted a request for $1,901.74 to purchase equipment for the Merrill Community Centre recreation park, including two high-quality hockey nets, a hockey shooting target and three-disc golf baskets.
This was the first request for funding from the Merrill Hills group this year, though they were previously given $4,479.96 in 2023 for benches.
Noting the two requests were for basically the same amount of money, Division 7 Councillor Calvin Vaandrager said, “I recommend that we just keep it simple (and) split it down the middle.”
NUP LETTER
Council also approved providing a letter indicating the RM’s support for the Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) and Parks Canada entering into an agreement to designate a portion of Meewasin Valley as a National Urban Park.
According to a presentation made last year by MVA representatives, the aim of the National Urban Park initiative is to create a series of parks in large natural areas in or near urban centres across Canada.
In late 2021, the MVA established a steering committee to explore the establishment of a National Urban Park. The RM of Corman Park was one of the entities making up that steering committee.
After years of work, the steering committee has established a vision for Meewasin Valley and also created a draft capital and operating plan for the proposed park.
It has also been determined that Meewasin will maintain its governance structure and a new advisory committee will be established in support of the National Urban Park. The RM will be offered a seat on this committee, incidentally.
Although Corman Park passed a motion in October to endorse Meewasin entering into an agreement with Parks Canada, a letter was required as part of the final step in this process.
SARM DELEGATES
Division 2 Councillor John Saleski and 3 Councillor Lyndon Haduik will serve as the RM’s voting delegates during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) annual convention, which is currently being held in Regina from March 10-12.
As noted in an administration report to the February 24 council meeting, each SARM member is allowed two voting delegates who must be elected officials of the RM and can vote at regularly scheduled council meetings.
These representatives will vote on resolutions at the 2026 convention based on feedback from other members of council at the convention.
It should be noted that Corman Park currently has no resolutions at the 2026 convention.