Latest Figures Show Growth Was Flat In
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Your community... your newspaper! Call 1-844-GNG-NEWS to renew subscribePSBEWFSUJTF today. $1.50 Vol. 59 No. 40 • Friday, January 15, 2021 Covered Health Population Count Latest figures show growth was flat in ‘20 Growth was 4.5% over 5 years By Chris Ashfield Grasslands News The population of Fort Qu’Appelle and surrounding communities has stayed relatively flat over the last year but over the last five years has seen a 4.5 percent growth. The figures come from the 2020 Saskatchewan Covered Health Population report. The covered health population is a count of every- one who held Saskatchewan health coverage on June 30. The report does not include people who have moved into the province but have not yet met the residency requirement of three months or people who moved out of province but remain eligible for coverage for the ALAN HUSTAK | GRASSLANDS NEWS same period. It also does not include members of the Ready to bloom Canadian Armed Forces, members of the Royal Cana- 0DULH%LOODORQJZLWKKHUJURXSRIYROXQWHHUVLVDOUHDG\SODQQLQJKRZWRPDNH)RUW4X·$SSHOOHDEHW- dian Mounted Police and inmates of federal prisons, WHUSODFHIRUERWKYLVLWRUVDQGUHVLGHQWVWKLVVXPPHU7KHJURXS·VJRDOLVWRKDYHWKHWRZQUHFRJQL]HG all of whom are covered by the federal government. by a national Communities in Bloom program. According to the latest report, Fort Qu’Appelle’s population stayed exactly the same as the year before at 4,668 people. Other nearby communities also stayed relatively the same with a change of just three or less people. Abernethey increased by two people to 320 peo- Communities in Bloom has optimistic ple while Balcarres dropped by three to 1,824. Fort San is down two to 45 while Qu’Appelle lost one person and now has a population of 838. The covered health population figures can be some- goals for beautifying Fort Qu’Appelle what skewed, however, as people who reside in a rural municipalities who list a post office box as their ad- dress will be assigned the residence code for the vil- By Alan Hustak Pitch In and Clean Up drive each Windthorst where she helped her lage, town, or city where they get their mail rather Grasslands News spring. Communities in Bloom, she mother garden. “I love gardening,” than for the rural municipality where they reside. says is much more than just plant- she says. “My dad was a bit of a This typically results in rural municipalities having a ing flower boxes. Judges with the male chauvinist who didn’t want It was -10C on a bright Janu- lower number than what the Canadian census shows, national organization award points girls doing boy things. So I helped ary morning, but Marie Bill, the while the population of towns will be larger than the for overall attractiveness, neat my mother weed our garden. That’s live-wire behind Communities in census numbers. streets and alley ways, artwork and what you did back then.” She be- Bloom in Fort Qu’Appelle, already For example, local RM’s show population differ- community spirit. The town of In- came a nurse, married in 1966 and had thoughts of spring in her mind. ences of up to 80 per cent compared to the last census dian Head has twice been awarded raised three children. Before they She and her corps of 30 volunteers count that was done in 2016. The covered health pop- the organization’s top prize and came to Fort Qu’Appelle in 1992, ulation numbers for the RM of Abernethey is just 123 are responsible for the plantings on Bill is determined to compete for she and her husband of 55 years while the RM of North Qu’Appelle is 159 (down one). Broadway, including the revamped the prize in the Canadian beautifi- spent ten years in Kuujjuag in The RM of South Qu’Appelle shows a population of 660 pocket park, Treaty Park, the Fort cation program. the High Arctic where even Marie (up one) with the population for the RM’s of Cana and Compound and Lakeview Ceme- couldn’t coax a tomato to grow in Stanley are 717 (down 5) and 928 (up 12) respectively. tery. the tundra. When they moved into By comparison, the 2016 census numbers for the “Our flowers have already been Broadway Towers the flower beds RM’s show that the population for the RM’s of Aber- ordered, the industrial arts class at outside the building were in a sad nethey is 362 while the RM’s of North Qu’Appelle and the school is building new planters “I want to help build a community in shape, so Bill took it upon herself to for us, and we’re deciding where South Qu’Appelle are 855 and 1,275 respectively. The which everyone works together – it is a look after them. When the founder RM of Cana census numbers show a population of 867 things will go,” she said. “We’ve of the local chapter of Communities while the RM of Stanley population is 957. had lots of donations, and people great place to live. We have to learn to in Bloom, Tanya Kulway stepped Overall, the population for the five communities support our efforts.” blow our own horn more often.” down three years ago, Bill said she Her biggest concern at the mo- (Fort Qu’Appelle, Abernethey, Balcarres, Fort San - Marie Bill, Communities in Bloom “kinda got the job by default.” One and Qu’Appelle) and the five RM’s (Abernethey, North ment is how to co-ordinate the of her aims this year is to develop a Qu’Appelle, South Qu’Appelle, Cana and Stanley) saw plantings with the Department of theme which will allow tree sculp- a decrease of just five people from last year but when Highways intention to resurface “I don’t do this all on my own. tor Doug Lingelbach, who has al- compared to five years ago, has grown by 442 people the full length of Broadway from We have dedicated volunteers, a re- ready graced the town with three (4.5%). curb to curb this year. She is also ally good bunch of people who are of his works, to embark on future The biggest percentage increase in covered health waiting to see how much money able to get stuff done. The town’s carving adventures. Bill not only population figures since 2016 was in the RM of Stanley, the town has set aside in its budget parks department helps us do the talks the talk; she and her husband which went from 505 people to 928, an 84% growth. to help with the landscaping. heavy labour. If we want anything donated a metal sculpture to one of Meanwhile the largest percentage drop was in the RM This year Communities in done, no matter how busy, we can the town’s planters. of North Qu’Appelle which lost 14 people in five years Bloom has partnered with the Ca- always depend on Bruce Betteridge “I want to help build a com- for an 8% drop. During the last five years, communi- nadian Nursery Association and and his team for help. Mo Choud- munity in which everyone works ties to see growth included Abernethey (5.6%), Fort garden centres in an effort to see hary (the town’s finance manager) together, not a town in which peo- Qu’Appelle (0.6%), Fort San (25%) and Qu’Appelle people plant “Hope Gardens,” in also helps us apply for grants. The ple who have moved here 20 and (2.3%). Other communities to see a decline since 2016 order to see Canada “awash in town guys are terrific.” 30 years ago are still looked down were Balcarres (-0.2%), the RM of Abernethey (-3.1%), yellow flowers, fruits, vegetables, The mother of three was upon as tourists. It is a great place RM of South Qu’Appelle (-1.3%) and the RM of Cana shrubs and trees.” drawn to gardening when she was to live. We have to learn to blow (-3.5%). Bill also co-ordinates the annual still a young girl growing up in our own horn more often.” 2 JanuaryHello 15, 2021 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSH there.OOH7LPHV Grasslands News We are pleased to welcome over 500 NEW READERS in 2021! THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING! We look forward to delivering the very best in local news, happenings and events to you each week. And THANK YOU to the over 12,000 readers who $32ধ2<';38'£@32<9;3 provide you with the news that 1!ħ'89139;;3@3<T!2&-;Z93<868-=-£'+';3&'£-='8-;W 2 !9'!3(1-9-2(381!ধ32!2&(!0'2'>9T>'Z8'683<&;3 3ø'8@3<$8'&-#£'T='8-)'&(!$;98'638;'&;3@3<#@3<8 team of journalists. For those looking to subscribe you can do so by calling 3<83ă$'!;f¥f f l'?;Wm3832£-2'!; www.grasslandsnews.ca Th e Melville Advance | Fort Qu’appelle Times | Whitewood Grenfell Herald Sun www.grasslandsnews.ca 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV January 15, 2021 3 2020 Melville Awards Volunteers recognized By Emily Jane Fulford makes Melville and Saskatchewan such a Grasslands News great place to live.” COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 430 Main St. - P.O. Box 1240, Melville, SK S0A 2P0 Melville’s Volunteer recognition awards for 2020 have been announced – Individual or Group • Phone (306) 728-6840 • Fax (306) 728-5911 after a year when public service was at “The Community Involvement Volun- :HEVLWHZZZPHOYLOOHFD an all time high for need. teer Award is presented Presented by The City of Melville to an individual or group Sport, Culture, and Recreation & Leisure who has shown exem- Services Advisory Board, the annual vol- plary community involve- unteer recognition program is organized ment and development.