The Saskatchewan Health Authority provided a response to our “Call for Action” Campaign regarding the concerns about the Primary Health Care Services in the community.

CLICK HERE to view a copy of the letter

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day – September 30, 2022

The Town of Foam Lake has made the decision to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2022. As such, the Town Office and Town services will be closed to the public on Friday, September 30, 2022.

Observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a part of the Town of Foam Lake’s commitment to continuing on our pathway forward in the vital process of truth and reconciliation. More information can be found in our “Good Neighbour Policy”

CLICK HERE to download a copy of the “Good Neighbour Policy – 2020-001”

Brief history of Orange Shirt Day:
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013.  It grew out of Phyllis’s account of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.  The date was chosen because children are back in school and teachers have time to plan, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the year.  Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. (for a full history of Orange Shirt Day click here)
Resources from www.orangeshirtday.org

 

Links and Resources:

1. Orange Shirt Day: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/
   The Orange Shirt Society was formed in Williams Lake by the founders of Orange Shirt Day to encourage and support communities to recognize Orange Shirt Day and to support reconciliation events and activities. Our goal is to create awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Day activities, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.
2. The Orange Path (Resources for Learning): https://www.orangepath.ca/resources?category=Indigenous+Veterans+Day
   The Orange Path is a movement that helps each person shape their path toward reconciliation. Your journey is unique to you.
   The Orange Path is based on 4 key steps for everyone to forge their own path to reconciliation.
   1. Learn about the history and what needs to change.
   2. Share what you have learned with your family, friends, and your network.
   3. Show your support for truth and reconciliation.
   4. Act now and you can shape the path forward!
   We have a collection of resources for your journey to truth and reconciliation.
3. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: https://nctr.ca/education/trw/
   TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION WEEK 2022 is a national program open to all schools across Canada. This year, our theme is “Remembering the Children”. Join us as we memorialize the children lost to the residential school system and honour Survivors and their families. Learning and commemorating the truth of our history from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit knowledge keepers is an important part of the path to Reconciliation.
   Upcoming events are listed here: https://nctr.ca/education/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-2/
4. Free Online Programs through Coursera
   Several universities in Canada offer free online courses intended to deepen our understanding of the history and issues impacting Indigenous peoples in this country.

   Aboriginal Worldviews and Education (Offered by the University of Toronto)
   Intended for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners, this course will explore indigenous ways of knowing and how they can benefit all students. Topics include historical, social, and political issues in Aboriginal education; terminology; cultural, spiritual and philosophical themes in Aboriginal worldviews; and how Aboriginal worldviews can inform professional programs and practices, including but not limited to the field of education.
   CLICK HERE to register for Aboriginal Worldviews and Education for FREE

   Indigenous Canada (Offered by the University of Alberta)
   Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.
   CLICK HERE to register for Indigenous Canada for FREE

5. Government of Canada – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
   Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
   The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
6. Government of Saskatchewan – Moving Forward with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/first-nations-citizens/moving-forward-with-the-truth-and-reconciliation-commission
   The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) is an independent body that was established to provide former students of Indian residential schools and anyone affected by the legacy of those schools with an opportunity to share their individual experiences in a safe and culturally-appropriate manner.
7. Reconciliation Canada – Useful Links: https://reconciliationcanada.ca/resources/useful-links/
   Reconciliation Canada actively provides programs and initiatives to inspire positive change in communities throughout Canada.

Videos:

1. Origin of Orange Shirt Day in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuW4WbekhxY
   Phyllis Webstad explains the story of her experience at Residential School and the origination of Orange Shirt Day in Canada. She discusses the present situation and her hopes for the future.
2. Canadian Residential School History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFbLMNgTXeI&t=3s
   A brief history of Canada and the Residential School System imposed on the indigenous people of Canada. Timeline from early European contact through to the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2010.
3. Truth and Reconciliation channel on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user6187854
   The Truth and Reconciliation Channel on Vimeo features 213 public access videos about the legacy of residential schools and the importance of truth and reconciliation.

The Town of Foam Lake recognizes that we are located on the lands of the Treaty 4 Territory and Homelands of the Metis

The Town of Foam Council and Citizens express sincere sympathy on the passing of our Queen Elizabeth II this past week.

Her long service and dedication to the Commonwealth is to be recognized and commended.

The Queen’s Funeral Services in London shall be on Monday September 19th and we ask that each of you, in your own way, pay your respects to

Queen Elizabeth II; the only Monarch that most of us as Canadians have ever known.

—–

Monday, September 19, 2022 was declared National Day of Mourning in Canada to honour and mourn Queen Elizabeth II. Please join us that day at 1:00pm to pause for a moment in order to reflect on her life and legacy.

 

On behalf of the Citizens of Foam Lake –

Your Town Council expresses extreme sadness and condolences to all the people of the James Smith Cree Nation on the tragic loss of life, injury and the resulting trauma inflicted upon the community.

As people and communities – we stand together during times like this to support each other.

Notice – Water Main Break & Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory for areas of Foam Lake

 

CLICK HERE for a pdf of the full information regarding the Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory

Mayor’s Message – August 22, 2022

It has certainly been a busy summer in our community; having things fully opened up following Covid protocols is certainly a breath of fresh air. Connecting with people again is awesome. Your council and staff have been busy dealing with community matters and I want to take this opportunity to share a few “tidbits” of information with the community about happenings and initiatives that are on the go.

In no particular order-

– It was great to celebrate the financial payoff of the Waterpark Improvement Project that was complete in 2014. It was also a great way to celebrate and honour long serving volunteer Virginia Kreklevich by declaring a special day at the water park in her honour from now on, annually! Well done to all who made this project possible, what a great asset to Foam Lake.

– Building relationships with our neighbours in Fishing Lake First Nations, Wynyard and Wadena has been on our agenda a few times this summer. First with a tri-town meeting (Wynyard, Wadena and Foam Lake), then with a Mayors, Chief and MLA meeting in Wadena, followed by a meeting at Fishing Lake with community members and Health Authority reps to talk about Mental Health and Addictions Services and then just last week our MLA Hugh Nerlein and Premier Scott Moe met with us as Mayors and Chief again to talk about community issues with health care and discussing future directions for us towards solving staff shortages and service interruptions!

– Our CAO Joleen Tuchscherer attended Premier Moe’s Town Hall meeting in Kelvington and hand delivered our town letters to the Premier and our MLA advocating for action on getting health care positions filled towards normal levels of service at our Health Centre and Jubilee Special Care Home. We ask you as citizens to all send letters as well (letters for you to sign and send can be obtained by calling the town office or checking online)

– The Town provided facilitation support at a meeting for our local business community to get organized and help form an organization in the community that would represent and be a voice for business. Watch for more details soon on this initiative.

– Our staff and employees have been at the Tuesday Market in the Park connecting with people and asking for your opinions on the soon to be developed sport activity court in Ralls Park, as well as simply promoting our great community. Look for the people with I LOVE FOAM LAKE buttons on at the market!

– We held the official opening of the new play equipment in the Northside Playground. What a great new addition to promote children play AND another wonderful asset to the community. Kudos to our staff and volunteers who all helped to make this happen!

-The newly formed Cemetery Committee toured the cemetery a few weeks ago and discussed clean up issues as well as revitalization and beautification of this ever-important place of honour and remembrance in our community. Watch for details

-It was great to sit down and have lunch with our new RCMP Sargent Shannon Brouwer. Mayor STC and CAO Joleen took the opportunity to meet with Shannon and talk about our policing and working relationship. Sgt Brouwer is the head of the Wadena/Foam Lake detachment and transferred here from her last posting in Swift Current. Welcome Shannon.

– Access Communication did about an interview on community news with Mayor STC. This was an opportunity to let others know about the current happenings in Foam Lake and will be aired soon.

– The damaged shingles pile at our transfer station grows bigger, mainly due to the repairs from last year’s hailstorm. The Town has contracted services to have them hauled away, the nails removed, and then the shingles shredded and crushed; the resulting crushed product is returned to Town where the Public Works crews are testing out the recycled shingles as a dust suppressant on some non-paved roads. Stay tuned for reports later on how this works out.

– Sask. Highways just announced highway work, in the form of Highway 16 passing lanes, to be done from Saskatoon to Dafoe (some of this has already been done) and from Springside to the Manitoba border. Following up with Sask. Highways, we learned the 150 km stretch of highways from Dafoe to Springside has no plans for passing lanes. When questioned, the response from Sask. Highways was that the vehicle numbers did not warrant work on this stretch of highway 16. Mayor STC and Council have contacted MLA Hugh Nerlien on this matter and will be questioning the lack of safety passing lanes further. We will also be contacting the Northeast Transportation Association to advocate in this issue.

– The issue of provision of necessary supports to older adults and adults that may be at special risk in our community has been on the agenda and a focus group spearheaded by our Leisure Services Board has been meeting to discuss positive actions to improve supports for our older citizens.

– Are you interested in serving on Town Council? The call for nominations for a by-election to fill a vacant council seat has been posted. For more information on council roles and responsibilities contact the Town Office or have a chat with myself, or any member of Council. The term will be for approx. 2 years until the next general election for council positions in 2024. Think about it. What can you contribute?

– We gathered as a Town Council and Staff to honour our long serving now retired Public Works Foreman Bob Reynolds on Aug 14 at the Foam Lake Golf Club. Some golf, a great meal and speeches with gift presentation to Bob for his 42 years of service took place. Co-workers, Council, friends and family were all present to say, “Well done Bob and thanks!”

– Town Council is very pleased to have signed the completed joint Emergency Measures Organization agreement with our Rural Municipality of Foam Lake #276. This is a great step forward to coordinating our emergency resources and responses.

– The new speed signs on Highway 16 through Foam Lake have been installed and seem to be quite effective in reminding us all to slow down to the posted limits through town!

– The cheque presentation for the newly installed digital x-ray machine at our Foam Lake Health Centre Lab took place with local Health Foundation members, Town Council, Government and SHA reps. This is a very proud moment for securing diagnostics services for our community. Well done Foam Lake Health Foundation Members!

The wheels of local government do not take the summer off. It is full speed ahead with projects and services for our community and our Council and myself want to acknowledge our hard working managers and staff for keeping our community “The Best Place in The World to Live!”

Till next time,
Mayor STC

CALL FOR ACTION!

The Town of Foam Lake Council is requesting the participation of ratepayers and residents in a Call for Action Campaign directed to Premier Scott Moe, Hugh Nerlien (MLA Kelvington-Wadena), Everett Hindley (Minister of Rural Health) and the Saskatchewan Health Authority in order to address the ongoing concerns regarding the lack of health care services currently provided in Foam Lake.

Please participate by following these instructions:

• Pick up a letter package from the Town of Foam Lake Office or download the letters using the links below
• Date and sign each of the four letters (or feel free to write your own)
• Return the letters to the Town Office and we will mail them on your behalf. Please return the letters to the Town Office during regular office hours or drop them off using our after hours drop box near our accessible entrance of the building (326 Main Street).

 

Download pdf copies of the letters here:
– Saskatchewan Health Authority
– Premier Scott Moe
– MLA Hugh Nerlien
– Everett Hindley, Minister of Rural Health

 

Addresses to send the letters:

Premier Scott Moe
Room 226, 2406 Legislative Drive
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4S 0B3

Hugh Nerlien, MLA Kelvington-Wadena
Box 547
Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan
S0E 1H0

Saskatchewan Health Authority
701 Queen Street
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 0M7

Everett Hindley, Minister of Rural Health
Room 208, 2405 Legislative Drive
Regina, SK
S4S 0B3

FORM 1
PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT in accordance with The Municipalities Act, the Regular Council meeting scheduled for July 12, 2022 has been changed to be held on July 19, 2022 at the Town of Foam Lake Office at 6:00pm.

This meeting is open to the public.

Dated this 4th day of July 2022
At Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
Joleen Tuchscherer, C.A.O.

CLICK HERE to download pdf versions of the map and listing

402 Cameron Street has a new name and is now available for bookings!

CLICK HERE for Rental Rates

CLICK HERE for the Community Cultural Centre Rental Policy