Healthy Built Environments

The Health Promotion team works with rural and urban municipalities and community organizations to make the healthy choice the easy choice within the built environment. The built environment is the “human made or physical spaces in which people live, work and play. These include our homes, communities, schools, workplaces, parks/recreation areas, business areas and transportation systems”. The way we design and structure our built environments can either improve mental health, physical activity levels and nutrition or prevent our ability to be the best we can be.

Healthy built environments are made up of:

• A food system that has safe, affordable and equal access to healthy food, protects and restores environment and supports the local economy;
• Transportation networks that are safe, accessible, and prioritizes active transportation, such as walking or biking to places such as work, schools, parks and recreation and healthy food;
• Neighbourhood design where people can easily access day to day services, which create chances for social interaction;
• Housing that is affordable, accessible and free of environmental and physical hazards; and
• Natural environments which are protected, connected and accessible for all to enjoy.

Our work with communities can range from helping to start community walking tours or bicycle paths to promote physical activity or working with neighbourhood corner stores or recreation facilities to increase access to healthy foods. We also provide further education sessions and workshops on healthy design and how to maximize your communities’ health potential. We talk with the community to identify a process that works for that specific community. The need is determined by the community, for the community.

Community Assessments: Partnered with the community, our focus is to assess and take action to reduce the risk factors and in the end increase the health in the whole community.

Review of Official Community Plans & Development Reviews: Working with a team (including Emergency Medical Services, Environmental Health and the medical health officer) development applications and official plans are looked at through a health lens. This lens blends traditional planning ideas such as land use, transportation, community facilities, parks and open spaces with healthy themes such as physical activity, public safety, healthy food access, mental health, air and water quality and social inclusion.

Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA): Tools are designed to do a complete active living audit of rural communities. This includes collecting data on physical environment features and amenities, community characteristics, community programs and policies that could potentially impact levels of physical activity among residents in your community.

For more information or for assistance in planning an assessment in your community,

please contact us at 306.766.7283 or [email protected]

The 2016/17 Cupar School yearbook is now available to order.  This can be done on-line at YBPay.lifetouch.com – just enter the ID code 10119117.  Yearbooks are $25 and will be delivered in September.  Thank you for your support!

For the Period May 16 to 22, 2017

Seeding is advancing quickly in the province thanks to warm, dry weather. Producers now have 60 per cent of the provincial crop in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2012-2016) seeding average for this time of year is 65 per cent. Many producers have completed seeding operations while others will need several more weeks of warm, dry weather. At this time, it is estimated that five per cent of acres will not be seeded due to excess moisture.

Seeding is most advanced in the southeast, where producers have 80 per cent of the crop in the ground. Seventy-six per cent is seeded in the southwest; 59 per cent in the west-central region; 53 per cent in the east-central region; 43 per cent in the northwest and 25 per cent in the northeast.

Much of the province did not receive any moisture this past week, although the Vonda area reported 18 mm. Fields remain wet in more northern regions while fields in other parts of the province are in need of rain to help crops germinate and emerge.

Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 11 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate, 15 per cent short and two per cent very short.

The majority of crops are either at or behind normal developmental stages for this time of year. Overall, emerged crops are in good condition, although there has been some damage caused by strong winds, localized flooding and lack of moisture. Hard frost last week damaged some alfalfa, winter cereal and canola fields; some fields will be re-seeded in the coming weeks.

Pasture conditions are rated as 15 per cent excellent, 53 per cent good, 24 per cent fair, seven per cent poor and one per cent very poor.

SaskPower reports that there were 23 power line contacts involving farm equipment between May 15 and 21 (67 in May to date), and encourages farmers to use caution. Safety information is available at www.saskpower.com/safety.

Producers are busy seeding, controlling weeds and moving cattle

2017 Dust Control will be applied in the beginning of June.  If you would like dust control, please contact the office at 723-4726 to request it.

The average cost is $700 for a farmsite.

SSGA 104th AGM & Convention

Mosaic Place
Moose Jaw, SK

Registration

Click here to register online for the 104th AGM.

FBDI Funding

Producers that have completed their FBDI application are eligible to be reimbursed up to 75% of the registration cost for Monday June 12th. This training program is registered with Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Farm Business Development Initiative (FBDI) which is part of the Federal-Provincial Growing Forward 2 suite of agricultural programs. For more information please visit your nearest Regional Office or visit the FBDI website: Click here to learn more.

Hotel Accomodations

We have a block of rooms set aside for conference attendees at the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa for $139/night. Click here to book online or call (306) 694-5055.

For more information on Visit Moose Jaw Accommodations please visit: visitmoosejaw.ca

Sponsorship

If you would like to become a sponsor, click here to download a sponsorship application form.

Heritage Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Canadian Hereford Association
Federated Co-operatives Ltd.
Heartland Livestock Services
Johnstone Auction Mart Ltd.
Masterfeeds
Saskatchewan Bison Association
South Country Equipment

Trade Show

Agriclear LP
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
Canadian/Saskatchewan Angus Association
Grain Millers Canada Corp
ILC Agriculture
Range Ward Inc.
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association
Saskatchewan Charolais Association
Saskatchewan Forage Council
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Saskatchewan Verified Beef Production Inc.
Savory Institute
Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc.
Western Beef Development Centre

Agenda

Click here to download a copy of the detailed agenda.

Sunday
• Bus Tour & Reception at the new JGL Assembly Yard

Monday

• Cattle: Villains or Saviours – Alan Savory, The Savory Institute ***Remote Presentation
• Solving the Succession Puzzle – Jonathan Small, Business Advisor – MNP
• CCA Update – Dan Darling, President – Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
• Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program & Regulatory Changes to Antimicrobial Access – Dr. Wendy Wilkins, Disease Surveillance Veterinarian – SK Ministry of Agriculture
• Cattle Market Outlook – Anne Wasko – Cattle Trends
• Consumer Prespective on Protein Production – Bryant Johnson, Director of Market Access – Elanco
• VIDO – Current Research and Future Projects – Dr. Volker Gertz, Associate Director of Research – VIDO
• A Saskatchewan View on Global Labour Supply – Bill Martin, Agriculture Director – ILCAg
• National Beef Sustainability Assessment Results – Brenna Grant

 

Tuesday

• SSGA 104th AGM
• 2016 Agriculture Census – Terry Bedard, Statistician – SK Ministry of Agriculture
• The Value of Vaccination – Kathy Larson, Beef Economist – Western Beef Development Centre
• Trace Minerals and Reproductive Performance – Dr. Cheryl Waldner, Professor – University of Saskatchewan

Resolutions

For the Period May 2 to 8, 2017

Seeding is underway for most producers in the province. Eleven per cent of the 2017 crop is now seeded, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2012-2016) seeding average for this time of year is 16 per cent.

Seeding is most advanced in the southeast, where producers have 30 per cent of the crop in the ground. Eighteen per cent is seeded in the southwest; three per cent in the west-central region; two per cent in the northwestern and east-central regions and one per cent in the northeast.

Although recent warm weather has allowed producers to complete field work such as seeding, herbicide application and harvest, significant rainfall in many regions earlier this week will delay progress. The Outlook area reported receiving 40 mm of rain, the greatest amount of precipitation in the province. Fields and roads across much of the province remain wet and are unable to support equipment. Warm and dry weather will be needed to help fields dry before field work can continue.

Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 26 per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate and three per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 14 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate and six per cent short.

Producers are busy seeding, controlling weeds, moving cattle and trying to wrap up last year’s harvest.

Health officials are reminding residents to take precautions against hantavirus when in areas potentially infested by rodents.

People can get hantavirus by breathing in contaminated airborne particles from the droppings, urine and saliva of infected deer mice.  Hantavirus infection is rare but it can be fatal.  Symptoms of hantavirus include fever, muscle aches, cough, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.  These symptoms can quickly develop into a severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

“Seek urgent medical attention if you develop a fever, coughing and shortness of breath within one to six weeks of exposure to potentially infested areas,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said.

Exposure to hantavirus most often occurs when people clean up enclosed buildings such as grain bins, sheds, barns, garages, trailers, cottages and homes, or farm equipment and vehicles that have been in storage.

“Be aware of the risk and take the necessary precautions to avoid direct contact with mouse droppings or inhaling contaminated air particles,” Shahab said.

When cleaning rodent-infested areas:

• Ventilate the building by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning;
• Use wet mopping methods and wear rubber or plastic gloves;
• Wear goggles and a well-fitting N-95 type filter mask when cleaning areas contaminated by droppings in a confined space;
• Dampen areas contaminated with rodent droppings with bleach disinfectant and remove droppings with a damp mop or cloth;
• Avoid using dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming or air-hosing;
• Steam clean, shampoo or spray upholstered furniture with a detergent, disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water; and
• Wash clothes and bedding with detergent in hot water.

You can also reduce exposure to hantavirus by:

• Blocking openings that might allow rodents to enter a building;
• Storing human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly-fitted lids; and
• Moving woodpiles or other potential hiding places for mice away from your home.

There have been 31 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in Saskatchewan since 1994, 10 of which resulted in death.

For more information on hantavirus, visit the Government of Saskatchewan website at www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/diseases-and-conditions/hantavirus and HealthLine Online at www.healthlineonline.ca.  For advice on symptoms or when to seek care, call HealthLine 811.

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For more information, contact:

Shirley Xie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: [email protected]

For the Period April 25 to May 1, 2017

Saskatchewan farmers are slowly making their way into the field. Adverse weather has delayed spring field work, such as applying herbicide, harrowing and seeding, in some areas.  Many fields remain wet. Warm and dry weather will be needed in the coming weeks before seeding can get fully under way.

The majority of producers with crop from last year still in the field have so far been unable to finish harvesting due to cool weather, wet field conditions and lodged crops. It is estimated that approximately one million acres of the 2016 crop remains in the field, with the majority being in the west-central and northeastern regions of the province. There was little harvest activity over the winter months in these areas, and spring progress has been very limited. Aeration bins and grain dryers have been in continuous operation on many farms since last fall.

Despite these challenges, some producers in the south of the province have begun seeding pulses and cereals. One per cent of the provincial crop is in the ground, compared to the five-year (2012-2016) seeding average for this time of year of six per cent. In the southeast, producers are reporting that three per cent of the crop is seeded, while in the southwest, producers have two per cent seeded. There is very little, if any, crop seeded in the other areas of the province.

Much of the province received large amounts of precipitation over the last month, and fields remain wet in many areas. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 30 per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate and one per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate and three per cent short.

Producers are busy seeding, calving, controlling weeds, working fields and trying to wrap up last year’s harvest.

Fishing Season opens in Southern Saskatchewan today.  Here is the link to the 2017 Anglers Guide and a fishing Friday Funny.

http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/66/89778-2017%20Anglers%20Guide.pdf

Catholic School Ruling

In April, Justice Donald Layh ruled that the Government of Saskatchewan must stop funding non-Catholic students in Catholic schools as of June 2018. The ruling includes the following:

• “The Constitution Act, 1867 does not provide a constitutional right to separate schools in Saskatchewan to receive provincial government funding respecting non-minority faith students because funding respecting non-minority faith students is not a denominational right of separate schools” (p. 228).
• “Section 17(2) of the Saskatchewan Act, which provides constitutional protection against discrimination in the distribution of moneys payable to any class of school, only protects separate schools to the extent they admit students of the minority faith” (p. 229). 
• “Provincial government funding of non-minority faith students attending separate schools is a violation of the state’s duty of religious neutrality under s. 2(a) of the Charter” (p. 229).
• “Provincial government funding of non-minority faith students attending separate schools is a violation of equality rights under s. 15(1) of the Charter” (p. 229). 

On May 1, Premier Wall announced that the provincial government will invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect school choice in the province.

If you are interested in sharing it’s perspective on this ruling with SARM, please email comments to the office at rm218@sasktel.net