The Humboldt Legion Hall was packed on Wednesday night for a celebration of 40 years of excellence in innovation and business mentorship. Sagehill Community Futures celebrated the milestone along with its provincial and national umbrella organizations.
Members, the regional business community, dignitaries and representatives of various agencies were on hand for the banquet and presentations, which included Sagehill’s Annual General Meeting.
Sagehill Community Futures is one of thirteen regional offices in the province and one of the original drivers in the system to support existing and fledgling businesses to take hold in an area an hour or more surrounding its offices in Bruno.
Among the guests who spoke at the occasion was Community Futures Saskatchewan Director Jason Denbow. He reflected on both the growth of the affiliated organizations and the impact the collective has had on the face of business in the province.
“When they first started this thing back in the mid-eighties, there were a handful of pilot regions in each province,” Denbow revealed. “I cannot imagine that at that time, the federal government would have even dreamed that this program would not only still be running but would be in 267 offices across Canada, would be lending out around $375 million a year, and most importantly for us, getting about 20 thousand jobs up and running in Canada.”
Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek MP Kelly Block brought greetings from the Federal Government, and Batoche MLA Darlene Rowden represented the province.
Sagehill Community Futures Executive Director Susan Wehage has been an anchor in the regional endeavour for 35 of those 40 years. Wehage outlined the origins of those efforts stemming back to a pivotal event in the area – the closure of the Canadian Forces Station at Dana. The station was opened in 1962 as part of the NORAD Pinetree Line of radar stations. The station was disbanded in the wake of more advanced technologies. The economic impact spurred the region to commit to an independent study and subsequent plan to attempt to counter the economic loss.
“The closure resulted in the loss of 400 jobs in the region, 42 civilian jobs and millions of dollars that would no longer be spent in the local economy,” Wehage revealed. “Communities most affected included Bruno, Cudworth, Prud’homme, Vonda, Meacham, Colonsay, Viscount and Wakaw.”
The communities and surrounding RMs utilized the federal government’s Labour Market Adjustment Strategy to address what they saw as “a catastrophic event.” What emerged was a decision to apply for Community Futures status, a program afforded communities facing challenges such as the Dana region. The name Sagehill was adopted from the Forces Base post office designation.
With the help of the only other designated Community Futures area in the province, around Broadview, the inaugural committee forged ahead to establish what would be known as Community Futures Sagehill.
A posthumous honour was bestowed on Dianne Olchowski of Bruno who was on that initial committee and remained to work with Sagehill Community Futures, developing business support programs and connecting with regional partners and entrepreneurs looking to contribute to that economic revitalization.
Wehage herself was honoured for her 35 years of contributions. She was quick to share the kudos were her key staff members and close friends Jenny Glessman and Holly Marshak. She commented on the continuing success of Sagehill Community Futures as it passes the 40 year mark.
“We listen to our communities, we listen to our entrepreneurs, and we work with them. So, from there, new services and programs get created, and it presents a major opportunity. It’s a major milestone.”
The evening wrapped up with a retrospective video and guest speaker Francine Edmondson of Champetre County, a western inspired tourist and hospitality attraction east of Humboldt, just off Highway 5 near the community of St. Denis. Edmondson took listeners through the development of the original farm site into its small scale beginnings and through its growing pains. She talked about the support she’s received from family and colleagues, and she affirmed the importance of working with local and provincial organizations that offer financial and logistical support.
An advocate for mental health, she advised entrepreneurs to look after themselves as they engage with the day-to-day stress of building a business. Be on the lookout for our upcoming close look at Champetre County and its history and place in building the province as a tourist destination in an upcoming article on Discover Humboldt.
New programs are on the horizon for the Sagehill Community Futures region from a supportive staff and board not content to rest on their laurels. They’re all looking to the next 40 years.