Information is key to success in today's sport, culture and recreation environment. In Get the Scoop, you will find the latest news, funding and resources from the South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District.

Recruitment is on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days; everyone wants to know how to keep their current base of volunteers engaged and recruit new volunteers for sustained support and continuity of services. This one-hour lunch-n-learn workshop is about basic volunteer recruitment tips and techniques to keep talent and recruit new volunteers reflected in the community you serve (diversity and inclusion).

This recruitment workshop explores the many ins and outs of attracting volunteers who are the right fit for your organization and are committed to supporting your vital work. From partnerships to targeted recruitment strategies, family volunteering opportunities, student-initiated projects and individualized volunteer engagement plans, many tips, strategies and options will be explored.

Register for our Zoom-based lecture led by Denise Bukowski who has 35 years of experience that spans healthcare, recreation, education, child care, fitness, and sport administration and who currently works at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is a free-of-charge event, open to anyone interested; register today!

Presenter: Denise Bukowski

Date: Friday, January 19

Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

We are excited to launch this new year of 2024 a series of free online modules for sport, culture and recreation board and committee volunteers! Choose to complete all modules or just those of interest to you!

Benefits of our Online Modules

With the 2024 summer coming up, you may be looking to enhance your sport, culture and recreation programs and offerings for the busy summer season. And what better way than to hire students looking to make some extra money on their break from school? They’re usually excited to get work experience and learn new skills, which can make them great employees!

It can be challenging to find students for summer positions. We compiled some tips to help break the student recruitment and hiring process down into actionable steps! Click the button below to learn more.

Young Canada Works: January 19, 2024

Community Initiatives Fund Summer Grant: February 1, 2024

Are you seeking information to build a case to Council or partners for a specific recreation or cultural proposal? Look at these evidence-based resources and messaging that could help build and support your case! 

In this engaging session, we'll delve into the vital importance of cultural understanding and collaboration between communities.

Presenter: Laura (Lori) Whiteman

Date: January 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free

Is it time to change how your organization recruits, retains and engages volunteers? This session is 100% worth your investment of time.

Presenter: Shelley Thoen-Chaykoski

Date: January 25, 2024

Time: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free

The new year means applying for grants! Many funding program deadlines are in January and February for 2024!

Are you seeking help with grants or need to research?

Recorded Grant Webinars (Source: Sagehill’s YouTube channel)

In the village of Odessa, a unique sport has become a big part of the community, creating bonds of friendship and promoting physical fitness for nearly five decades. The story of Odessa's broomball league dates back to 1983 when Annette Gaetz brought the game with her when she moved to the village. Today in Odessa, there are two men's teams, a women's team, a junior boy’s team, and combined bantam and midget teams with both boys and girls.

If you are interested in being a coach or manager at the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games, please contact the Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) responsible for your sport of interest. Each PSO is responsible for naming the coaches for each District team. For more information on the level of certification required to coach, review the technical package for your sport available here.

Additional Coach and Manager applications for each sport will be linked on the Saskatchewan Games Coaches and Managers page as they become available!

Think Like a Tactical Placemaker! There are so MANY ideas for arts and culture programming in this resource – check out the “Tactics” section where you can learn to aestheticize, whimsicalize and festivalize!

Save the date! The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association will be hosting a HIGH FIVE® PHCD Trainer training on April 10th and 13th, 2024 in Saskatoon.

If you or anyone within your network is interested in attending, please review the ‘Becoming a HIGH FIVE Trainer’ resource which includes details on prerequisites and how to apply.

Having someone trained to facilitate within your organization or community is a great way to build capacity and reduce some training expenses if you plan to continue offering PHCD. SPRA is offering the Trainer training at a subsidized rate of $275, which includes hard-copy Trainer resources mailed to you in advance of the start date.

Questions? Please contact Kelsey Michaluk, kmichaluk@spra.sk.ca or (306)780-9219.

Students in Grades 10 through Grade 12 who volunteer 100 hours of their personal time can receive the new high school credit.

The minister says the elective credit will give students more choices; a chance to pursue, or perhaps discover, what they are passionate about.

Busy high school students say prioritizing their time is needed to fit in their volunteer hours.

“So maybe sacrificing time playing basketball or reading your favourite book, for coming in and devoting that time to getting to meet the people in your community,” said Lila Gelowitz, a Grade 12 student at Luther College High School.

Eligible students will need to submit a personalized plan to their school outlining how they will earn the credit.

The new program may also encourage students who have not yet volunteered to give it a try.

This new resource will help everyone—including not-profit professionals and businesses—gain a better evidence-based understanding of the nature of giving and volunteering in Canada.

The Hub will:

All sports and physical activity organizations are strongly recommended to have an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy in place. Many organizations have an Equality policy in place, and this may not have been reviewed for some time.

Check out the top tips from Moving to Inclusion on establishing an equality, diversity, and inclusion policy!

To help you and your co-workers stay active and healthy while building camaraderie during this tough time of year and beyond, ParticipACTION's created a Move for your Mood At Work Kit filled with simple tips on how to foster a more active day. Plus, spread the word using our communications toolkit!

The Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program assists non-profit, volunteer-led, community organizations. These organizations develop impactful and innovative sport, culture and recreation programs that meet the needs of the local community. Municipalities and bands apply for this grant and have their own process of distributing these funds to local groups. Please contact your municipality or band to learn how your group can apply for funds.

Every year, these community grants help fund diverse programs and activities, such as:

The program is a partnership involving the Government of Saskatchewan, Sask Sport, SaskCulture and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association.

👉Can’t find the grant you need? Check out the SPRA Grant Guide to research more funding opportunities or reach out to our staff by email at ed@southeastdistrict.ca for assistance in your grant search!

Sask Lotteries funds over 12,000 sport, culture and recreation groups across Saskatchewan. Every time you purchase a lottery ticket in Saskatchewan, a portion of that revenue supports a wealth of organizations in our communities. Subscriptions allow lottery players to play draw-based games – including LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, WESTERN MAX, WESTERN 649, DAILY GRAND and EXTRA – for up to a year in advance. Subscriptions can be purchased by phone, by mail, or on the Sask Lotteries website.