southeastdistrict

#MakeTheAsk Contest!

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We have a huge contest starting on March 31 leading up to National Volunteer Week! We have two prizes that you could win to go towards your community group or organization. 

Our #MakeTheAsk Campaign helps communities improve their volunteer recruitment processes by making simple changes. One out of four people say they don’t volunteer because no one asked them to, so let’s ask! 

Each comment is an entry to win a prize to go toward your community group or organization! We are giving away a Pickleball Kit or a Summer Programming Kit!

RULES
  • Each comment is an entry to win.
  • One comment per post, per person/organization.Post comments by April 19, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Campaign is open to community groups and nonprofit organizations in the South East District.
  • There is no individual prize in this campaign. Prize will be given to an organization of the winner selected. 
HOW TO ENTER

Comment on our post with a volunteer story with the hashtag #MakeTheAsk (Tell us when you made the ask, or when someone asked you to volunteer. Share a time when you wanted to volunteer or get involved. We want to hear about your volunteering experience!)

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Facebook: @SEDistrictSK IG: @SEDistrict

2020 Survey: Complete our survey and win a prize!

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South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District is conducting our yearly Member survey. Each south east municipality is a member of our organization. It is your input that drives what we do and helps us set organizational priorities that meet the sport, culture and recreation needs of your community! Tell us how we can HELP you!

We hope you will take 5-10 minutes to complete the following questions. The South East District staff will tabulate and analyze the data once completed. The survey is anonymous and voluntary.

Click Here to Take the Survey!

Thank you in advance for completing our survey! Your time and input is appreciated!

You may include your name and contact information at the end of the survey if you would like to be entered into our survey prize draw. We have several gift cards (ranging from $25 to $100) to give away!

Deadline to complete is March 1, 2020!

Note: To enter, you must be a community member in the south east municipality. See map below.

SPRA Host Committee seeking Presenters and Exhibitors for 2020 SPRA Conference in Estevan!

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The 2020 Conference will be held in Estevan from October 21 – 23, 2020. SPRA will be inviting people who live and work all over the province to congregate in Estevan to learn about the latest trends and issues in Parks and Recreation. The aim, to provide Education, Networking and Energy Building to our Parks and Recreation professionals in the hopes that it will inspire an increase the quality of life in Saskatchewan.

Check out the Presenters and Exhibitors packages!

Cheer Story: Artists and Community Collaborate to Offer Community-Engaged Art

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The Estevan Art Gallery & Museum (EAGM) hosted two mini artist residencies in 2019. Ruth Langwieser and Sarah Timewell were EAGM’s creative residents for two weeks, interacting with the community, sharing their talent and working on their own art. South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District funded the two residencies through the GROW Your Community Grant

Submitted by Amber Andersen, Director, EAGM
Through consultation with our artistic community, teachers and stakeholders, we kept hearing feedback that there was a need for access to contemporary artists, and local artists wanted more professional opportunities. We shaped our residencies to specifically be Indigenous and newcomer based. This also remedied another common request we kept getting from the schools, which was to have hands-on workshops with diverse cultures in our community.

The mini residency is a way to give opportunities to people in your community, and it can also act as professional development for your artistic community and for teachers. It is not a huge commitment of time, so it makes it possible for artists to participate that might have full time employment somewhere else.

EAGM partnered with Sarah Timewell, a Métis artist from Regina. She introduced patrons of the gallery and southeastern Saskatchewan to traditional Indigenous beading, pattern making and talked about specific flora and fauna that are significant to Saskatchewan Indigenous peoples. Sarah provided workshops through our family art programming, Halloween Haunt event, and adult/seniors through specific workshops.

This increased Indigenous specific programming to our institution and community, creating a tie to the larger Indigenous community. It reduced barriers for educators, children, adults, and families to artistic expression, particularly from a reference point of an Indigenous person. The activities that took place during the residency were hands-on and interactive.

We also partnered with Ruth Langweiser, a Swiss ceramicist newcomer to our community. She introduced participants to throwing pottery on a wheel, hand building and glazing. This increased newcomer artist specific programming to our institution and community. It also offered Ruth an opportunity to share her experiences in art making from her culture.

The most significant change we saw was a willingness from the community to attempt to learn new modes of art making and reducing barriers within cultures. We saw an increase of people being interested in having access to professional artist-lead workshops and witnessing art being made.

Walking Soccer

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Looking to stay active?
To keep fit and have a ton of fun?
To enjoy being part of a team?
To try something new?

What is walking soccer? This new, low-cost soccer format is breaking through barriers of traditional soccer and helping players get back on the pitch and introducing people to the game for the very first time. The game is played at a slower pace which makes it perfect for all skill and mobility levels and can be played on all surfaces including gym floors, grass, halls and church basements, and surfaces like tennis courts. That is what is so unique about the world’s beautiful game – all you need to play are some eager players, a ball and a few markers to line the field and mark the goals!

Whether you are a parent or grandparent looking to find new ways to play with the kids, a competitive player who craves the feel of a ball at their feet, or someone who is looking to enhance their neuroplasticity and physical literacy, walking soccer is worth a try!

We welcome you to come and check out a walking soccer event with one of our members FC Regina, Moose Jaw Soccer Association, or Saskatoon Adult Soccer! If you are interested in checking out all the soccer activities kicking off around the province or want more information on how to get started in your own community visit www.sasksoccer.com or like us and send us a message on Facebook.

Saskatchewan Soccer Association is the sport governing body for the sport of soccer in the province. The Association seeks to grow strong people and strong communities through the delivery of the sport of soccer. Through the efforts of 69 Member Organizations across Saskatchewan, close to 26,000 individuals are served to grow and thrive. The Association works closely with these Member Organization to develop and produce innovative quality programs. Soccer is a lifelong sport that is beloved by billions of people around the world and SSA welcomes everyone to experience the love of the game with us at these new events.

Eden Senger
Coordinator of Special Projects, Registrar
Saskatchewan Soccer Association

Article: Direction, Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

KAIROS Blanket Exercise

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South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District hosted a KAIROS Blanket Exercise on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Weyburn Public Library. Thank you to our event sponsors/partners who helped make the event possible: Canadian Mental Health Association, Southeast Regional Library, Weyburn Arts Council and PLURA Churches.

The event was led by KAIROS Canada Facilitator, Diane Campeau, as well as Elder, Tim Poitras and Chris McDougall. We had over 40 attendees from Weyburn and area participate.
This participatory workshop helped participants understand how colonization of the land we now know as Canada has impacted the people who lived here long before settlers arrived. Through this exercise participants explored the nation-to-nation relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, how this relationship has been damaged over the years, and how they can work toward reconciliation.

Joni Hagen, Executive Director states, “Our mandate is inclusive to working with all communities and organizations in the south east. We are one of many partners that can play a role in bringing the truth and reconciliation process and calls to action to the attention of communities and continue to create relationships with Indigenous communities. As we move forward, we will explore avenues to provide awareness initiatives for members of our sport, culture and recreation network.”

Photo: L to R: Chris, Diane and Tim

Cheer Story: Non-traditional Sport is a Win-Win!

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Why did the community of Pilot Butte offer fencing as an activity? What was involved/offered? Regina Fencing was the organization that came out to Pilot Butte to offer a Children’s Fencing program. They reached out to us to see if we would be interested in offering a session. We worked with Regina Fencing to offer introductory classes for children at a reduced rate to help encourage parents to register their children. Regina Fencing was responsible for taking all of the registration information and fees.

How many sessions were offered? What did Regina Fencing provide? Regina Fencing and the Town of Pilot Butte agreed to offer a 6-week program with classes once a week for an hour. Regina Fencing provided all of the equipment that was needed for the classes including plastic blades.

Who participated? How did you get people to come out to try it? The program was designed for children aged 9 to 12. This was the youngest age group Regina Fencing taught and had equipment for. The Town of Pilot Butte put posters up around town, used social media and sent handouts home with the students from the school.

What impact did it leave in the community? Our 6-week pilot program was successful in the Spring of 2019. There was some interest from parents that the program continue, with one child wanting to continue with classes in Regina. We were unable to find space in our Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 programming line up, however; we are in discussions with Regina Fencing to offer another program in the Spring of 2020 (April).

What equipment and space is required for fencing? We were fortunate that Regina Fencing had the equipment needed. Our class size was dictated by the number of plastic blades. The class was offered in our Community Hall but would be suitable for any open space or school gym. There needs to be room for up to 14 people to move around and be active.

Other comments? It is always great to offer recreation activities that would be considered more unique then the typical hockey, ringette and soccer. Even if the program is only offered once you can take pride in knowing that you are providing innovative opportunities for your community.

Cheer Story Submitted by Meaghann White, Recreation Program Coordinator, Town of Pilot Butte

Saskatchewan Fencing is offering a free introductory 6-8 week session in fencing, with the hopes that there will be interest to continue afterwards. Equipment to be supplied. Contact president@skfencing.ca for more information and to discuss the opportunity.

Active Living Ideas in the Library

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Check out these great ideas to use your local library for active living activities and programming.

Cheer Story: “Stick” Around for the Roaring Game of Curling! It’s Truly a Game for Everyone!

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“Stick Leagues” are becoming increasingly popular with beginners, older adults, and those with injuries or mobility issues. No matter what your age, flexibility or skill level, Stick Curling ensures that anyone can enjoy the sport of curling.

Stick Curling involves delivering a curling rock the length of a sheet of ice using a stick, similar to outdoor shuffleboard. There are two teams of two (2) or four (4) players each, the goal is to score more points than the opposition. It is a game of skill, strategy and some luck.

Quite simply, it is an innovation that allows anyone to curl or to keep curling.  Stick curlers don’t have to squat down in the hack or slide low to the ice to deliver a rock; they can now do it from the standing position. The curling stick simply holds onto the handle of the curling rock and the curler walks from the hack position on the ice out towards the hog line (the area where the rock must be released). The curler just pushes the rock in the desired direction from that standing position using the stick.

The community of Montmartre offers stick curling. Jerry Fisher, Curling Club volunteer, explains, “There were people in the community interested in curling who wanted to continue to play without using a traditional slide delivery, since they could no longer slide. Eventually, the community decided to start a stick curling league.”

Fisher adds, “Currently, the Montmartre Curling Club only has stick curling. Stick curling is a good alternative, the people that are currently participating would not be curling if they had to slide. Our curlers range from the ages of 40 to 80 years. There are approximately 40 to 50 curlers participating.” 

Fisher states he would encourage other communities to consider stick curling, as it also provides as a social afternoon and/or evening for participants. Fisher explains, “it is easier to find teams because you only need two (2) people and the game is quick, it is played in under an hour. Stick Curling is a growing sport, including provincial competitions.”

“I enjoy being able to do a sport with my husband and other community members that we have known for years. We have also met new people in the community. Stick curling is a great physical activity that has adapted a traditional sport to make it easier on aging bodies.  Best of all, we end each curling game with coffee and camaraderie in the lounge!”
 – Montmartre Stick Curling Participant  

Want to learn more? Check out this link: http://canadianstickcurling.ca/?page_id=21

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Cheer Story: Performing Arts Expands Fundraising Opportunities in Community

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Stoughton is one of many communities in the south east which offers an annual dinner theatre to raise funds for the community. This is a unique opportunity where local volunteers come together to use “drama and the performing arts” as a method of fundraising. Communities need to invent new ways to raise revenue every year to sustain the infrastructure and activities that exist, as they cannot just depend on grants and user fees. Expand your community’s fundraising possibilities with a diversified approach, just like the community of Stoughton does!

Submitted by Danielle Hoffman

This year’s Stoughton Community Dinner Theatre/Show is called “Buying the Moose” by Michael G. Wilmot. The Stoughton Community Players put it on and there are approximately 70 volunteers that make it happen from door people, servers, kitchen helpers to the onstage actors, set and light people! It takes place the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December. This will be our fifth year.

The intent of this event was originally started to raise funds for the swimming pool liner, and once we achieved that we opened it up to other community groups. Usually six (6) community groups and Legion receive funds from the event. On average, we raise a minimum of $20,000 per year. The Stoughton Community Players have taken the event over from the Town to help bring arts and theatre back to our community.

Volunteers and sponsorship/support from the community, businesses and RM is what makes our event a true success!

We believe that this type of event brings so many people together from so many age groups and backgrounds. It helps bring a sense of community back, even if it is just for four (4) nights, as everyone comes together! Stoughton Community Players is hoping to bring back more theatre to our community. We are planning a One Act Pub Night in the spring that will feature two – one act plays just for one night! It will be a blast!

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