Ogema honored with Sustainable Development Award
By Derek Lothian, Reporter
The Assiniboia Times
Date: October 3, 2005
The words “rural Saskatchewan” paint a solemn picture of a once-vibrant Prairie lifestyle, vanishing from the map quicker than a small-town grain elevator.
Ogema, however, cannot be classified as typical “rural Saskatchewan.”
The town elevator still stands, the rail line remains active, and the business sector continues to evolve. Unlike many of the other three-digit communities in the Province, population numbers are growing, not dwindling.
Noting the absence of black-tie’d businessmen and high-rise office buildings, it is safe to say Ogema’s economic leaders are similar to those of any other small town. It is also safe to say that no black-tie’d businessman could formulate the town unity and innovative strategy which have been vital in Ogema’s success.
And on September 24, that success was recognized once again.
In conjunction with the 2005 Communities in Bloom National Awards ceremony held in Saskatoon, the town of Ogema was presented with the Canada Lands Company Sustainable Development Award – a new National award honoring a Canadian community regardless of size for its economical self-sustainability.
Ogema, the first recipient of the award, has made significant steps in the past couple of years towards an economy that is financially, socially and environmentally viable to a municipality of only 300 residents.
“[The award] is a huge achievement,” says Ogema Economic Development Secretary-Treasurer and town Counselor, Carol Peterson, “Because it reaffirms that we are going in the right direction.”
The addition of the Big Sky Farms hog facility may be considered a key catalyst in the revitalization of the town. Fifty new jobs were created, and pending the expansion of another set of barns, more jobs may be in the works.
The operation spawned a rapid slate of projects, most recently the implementation of the Ogema Motel – which, thanks to an outstanding number of occupants, has already generated enough revenue to cover expenses for the remainder of the year – and, in partnership with the local museum, the relocation of the old train station back from Simpson, Saskatchewan.
Omega – not Ogema – Steel also continues to aid in the town’s growth, creating jobs by earning a CPR contract to renovate and repair 260 90-ton hopper railcars to 100-ton capacity.
Although the town’s achievements cannot be overlooked, Economic Development officials believe there is still plenty of room for growth.
“We don’t have high speed internet yet,” says Peterson, “and that’s holding us back. The sooner we can get it, the better.”
High speed internet was scheduled to be installed in September, although as September winded to a close, high speed internet remained a commodity the town of Ogema still did not have.
The Canada Lands Company Sustainable Development Award is not the first attempt by Communities in Bloom to recognize Ogema’s progress. The town was awarded with first place in the 0-500 category in last year’s competition.
With the growth of Ogema’s population, economy, and schools, there is no saying what this little town in the heart of rural Saskatchewan can do.
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