Weyburn Mayor Jeff Richards is among the many municipal leaders attending the annual Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention and AGM, currently underway in Saskatoon.
Speaking during a break at the event, Richards noted that the opportunity to network and engage with other municipalities has been one of the most valuable aspects of the convention.
“It’s been a day and a half, and already having a lot of conversations with other municipalities,” Richards said. “That’s where a lot of the value at conferences like this comes from, is networking with other municipalities.”
Alongside the sessions and keynote addresses, Richards said the bustling trade show floor has also provided insight into new resources and partnerships for municipalities like Weyburn.
“The trade shows are a chance for council to bring back good resources for administration, for staff,” he explained. “There are all sorts of vendors, including some offering educational opportunities for elected officials like the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School.”
Monday’s agenda featured keynote addresses from Premier Scott Moe and Leader of the Opposition Carla Beck. Richards emphasized the significance of having provincial leaders attend and address municipal delegates.
“It’s important for them to be able to articulate clearly how decision-making is impacting the municipal sector,” he said. “Cities are our bread and butter. We are the government that impacts people’s lives the most, and it’s important that we’re able to converse with our provincial counterparts.”
Richards said he’s particularly interested in the address from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which will touch on federal advocacy efforts and potential funding programs, including those related to infrastructure like airports.
But beyond formal addresses and trade show exhibits, Richards continues to place high value on the exchange of ideas among peers.
“One of the best parts of this conference is sitting down with other municipalities,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of time tomorrow where we can talk about how they’re working on some of the problems they have—maybe there’s solutions we can pick up from them, and maybe there’s solutions they can pick up from us.”
The SUMA convention runs through Wednesday, concluding with the annual Bear Pit session with the provincial cabinet.