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April 21, 2026
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| | In this edition of the Rural Dart... | |
- Advocacy
- SARM Resolution Responses
- Strategic Communications
- 2027 Lieutenant Governor's Award Nominations Now Open!
- Risk Management
- Programs
- Member Purchasing
- Community Planning
- Finance & Administration
- SARM Classifieds
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- Emergency Use of Strychnine
- Announcements
- Water Security Agency Issues April Update to 2026 Spring Runoff Outlook
- Government to Undertake Comprehensive Farm Land Ownership Review
| | - Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM) 2026 Annual Conference
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SARM’s Advocacy Team, at the direction of the SARM Board of Directors, meets and speaks with members and outside agencies on issues important to RMs, including bringing concerns forth at the provincial and federal levels.
SARM, through its Act of Incorporation, is mandated to work on files of importance to rural municipalities (RM) and agriculture producers.
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SARM Resolution Responses
SARM has received responses from the Saskatchewan Minister of Highways and Minister of Community Safety pertaining to resolutions passed at the 2026 SARM Annual Convention. Click the links below to review the responses.
| | SARM’s Strategic Communications Team leads the initiatives, events, and public-facing components of the work we do for RMs. Strategic Communications is responsible for our conventions, the Rural Dart, Rural Sheaf, Rural Councillor, webinars, and many other events and initiatives. | | |
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Lieutenant Governor's Award for
Outstanding Service to Rural Saskatchewan
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Do you know a reeve, councillor, or administrator with an inspiring story?
Nominations for the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service to Rural Saskatchewan are now open!
The 2027 nomination period runs until December 31, 2026.
To submit a nomination or request a nomination form, please contact:
Kathleen Israel,
Selection Committee Secretary
executivecoordinator@sarm.ca or 306.761.3731
2301 Windsor Park Road,
Regina, Saskatchewan S4V 3A4
To learn more about this award and how to submit a nomination, refer to the LGA Guidelines Document linked below or visit the SARM website.
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SARM’s Insurance & Benefits Team administers and
facilitates various SARM and external partner insurance and
benefit products, including SARM’s fidelity bond, liability, and
property insurance plans, the SARM Benefits Plan, and external
group benefits plans.
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| SARM’s Legal Services Team principally represents rural municipalities in legal proceedings where a SARM insurance plan (e.g. Liability Self-Insurance Plan) provides coverage. The team also provides in-house legal services to SARM’s other departments and Board of Directors. In addition, the team provides legal services to individual RMs, which can include researching legal issues, drafting opinions, and drafting agreements, on a fee-for-service basis and as time permits. | | |
| SARM’s Programs Team engages with provincial and federal governments, industry leaders, and program partners, as well as other stakeholders, to effectively deliver SARM programs. | | |
| SARM's Member Purchasing Team provides group purchasing and procurement advising services to save member municipalities money and time through the buying and procuring processes with the goal of being the first stop for all municipalities’ purchasing and procurement needs. | | |
| SARM’s Community Planning Team is driven by a proactive and collaborative approach with municipalities to support growth, certainty for investment and landowners, and the protection and promotion of what already exists in the community. | | |
| SARM’s Finance and Administration Team provides the budgeting, accounting, and reporting functions for SARM, the Insurance and Benefits Funds, all externally funded programs, and the Tax Loss Compensation Trust Funds administered by SARM. In addition, the team provides administrative assistance performing reception duties that include being the first point of contact for all guests and SARM members both in-person as well as virtually by phone and email. | | |
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SARM Classifieds
The following municipalities/towns/villages have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.
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Looking to Hire:
RM of Meota No. 468, Administrative Assistant, Apr 21 - Close
RM of Laird No. 404, Assistant Administrator, Apr 24 - Close
RM of Marquis No. 191 & Village of Marquis, Administrator, Apr 26 - Close
RM of Usborne No. 310, Equipment Operator, Apr 30 - Close
RM of Spiritwood No. 496, Heavy Equipment Operator, Apr 30 - Close
RM of Corman Park No. 344, Planner 1, May 4 - Close
RM of Lake Johnston No. 102, Administrator, May 8 - Close
RM of Kellross No. 247, Administrative Assistant/Trainee, May 13 - Close
RM of Biggar No. 347, Foreman, May 13 - Close
RM of Cana No. 214, Equipment/Maintenance Operator, May 16 - Close
RM of Elmsthorpe No. 100, Operator, May 23 - Close
RM of Terrell No. 101, Administrative Assistant/Trainee, May 29 - Close
RM of Meadow Lake No. 588, Manager of Public Works, May 31 - Close
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Looking to Buy/Sell:
RM of Grayson No. 184, Mandako Side-Arm, May 14 - Close
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SARM Classifieds Submissions
Ad postings for the SARM Classifieds can be submitted
through our online submission forms. For questions, contact 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca.
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Emergency Use of Strychnine
An Emergency Use Registration for two per cent liquid strychnine has been approved to support the integrated pest management of Richardson’s ground squirrels in Saskatchewan. This temporary authorization is in place until November 2027.
Eligibility to access strychnine under the emergency registration includes 208 rural municipalities (RMs) across 15 crop districts in southern and western Saskatchewan.
The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with SARM, is developing a Strychnine Stewardship Program.
Additional program details will be shared through saskatchewan.ca and participating RMs once stewardship requirements and product manufacturing timelines are confirmed.
For the 2026 growing season, strychnine is expected to be available for late‑summer application. If the product becomes available before the spring application window closes, producers will be notified through their RMs.
If you have questions about the emergency use of strychnine, eligibility, or stewardship program requirements, please contact rgs@gov.sk.ca.
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Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM)
2026 Annual Conference
The 2026 SSM Annual Conference will consist of three unique morning sessions held via Zoom on April 21, 29, and May 12.
The conference will recognize the reality of life for older people today, including the analysis of the effectiveness of how societal systems support older people. Participants will explore how they can take action to effect change for the future and feel comfortable doing advocacy for themselves and others.
Sessions will emphasize the value of older people in our society – capable; bring experience, wisdom, and skills that differ from other age groups; large contingent of people, many of whom have time and financial resources and are looking for purpose in this stage of their lives.
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April 21: Beyond Ageism – Rockin’ into the New World
Featuring Ashton Applewhite, an internationally recognized expert on ageism, author of
This Chair Rocks: a Manifesto Against Ageism. Ashton is funny, lively and challenging as
she uncovers the hidden ageism in our society.
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April 29: Health Care – Rockin’ the Boat
Featuring a moderated conversation between Steven Lewis and Dr. Sally Mahood about
how to transform health care in order to provide the right care for all, at the right time,
in the right place.
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May 12: Life Satisfaction as We Age – Older Adults Rock On
Featuring information from Blue Cross about how, through education and support, they
work towards their goal of growing preventative care and health knowledge throughout
our communities.
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Register today!
Pre-registration is required. $20 for all three sessions. Click the link below to learn more and register to attend.
| | SARM is now on Bluesky! Follow us here: @sarm.ca | | | | |
