Mark your calendars! Here are the full list of 2024 events.
SASKATOON: May 30, 2024
Golf Tournament
Where: Dakota Dunes Resort
LUMSDEN: September 12, 2024
Golf Tournament
Where: Deer Valley
niroworld | 123rf
The First Annual Redhead Equipment Heavy Hitter Charity Classic
To celebrate 75 years in business, Redhead Equipment raised more than $166,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan
By Craig Slobodian, Redhead Equipment
In conjunction with Redhead Equipment’s 75th business anniversary, the company held its first annual Redhead Equipment Heavy Hitter Charity Classic on Monday, June 12, at Wascana Country Club.
Through our 11 locations, we do business in every community in the province and beyond. When choosing a charity to partner with, we look to find one that can benefit every one of those same communities.
This year, we chose to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan; their CEO, Tammy Forrester, shared plans to build new houses in Regina and Prince Albert.
The golf tournament brought together individuals and organizations from all walks of life, united in our shared commitment to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Our marketing department put together a first-class experience for the 136 golfers who attended. Our staff and volunteers also did a great job, making everyone feel welcome and kept everything running smoothly.
Our suppliers stepped up and supported the tournament with both donations and attendance. Many customers also attended the tournament. The support from suppliers and customers was incredible and we thank them for their support.
Wascana Country Club made the event special with great service, great food and a meticulously maintained course. This provided a remarkable experience that will be treasure by all who participated.
Through the day, we were able to raise $78,000 for Ronald McDonald House. Through the generosity of the Redhead and Wallace families, Redhead Equipment matched those funds for a total donation of $156,000!
One of our customers was inspired by the day’s events and donated $5,000 the following day. Redhead Equipment matched this donation as well, so the new total is $166,000!
It was a great way to celebrate 75 years in business and we are grateful to everyone involved. We are very proud of 75 years in business.
Thank you to our customers, suppliers and staff for 75 years in business! Our success depends on you and because of you, Redhead Equipment is able to give back to the communities that support us.
WCB Shares 2022 Results in Annual General Meeting
At the end of May, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) shared its 2022 results at its annual general meeting (AGM), held in Saskatoon. The WCB’s CEO, Phillip Germain, and members of the WCB’s executive team also provided attendees with an overview of the WCB’s financial, strategic and operating highlights, including 2022 workplace injuries and fatalities statistics.
The WCB has remained in a fully funded position at 114.8 per cent in 2022, an increase from 107.6 per cent in 2021. The improvement in the funded position is primarily related to the reduction in the benefits liability, based on changing claim cost experience compared to expectations, and changes in actuarial methods and assumptions. This position ensures that the organization has the capacity to cover the future costs of all claims in the system.
“Maintaining a strong funding position is vital to support injured workers in our province through benefits and programs to help restore their abilities,” said Germain. “A solid funding position also provides employers with the confidence that their needs will be met, as we strive toward enhancing our efficiencies and customer experience.”
In March 2023, WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the partnership between the WCB and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, launched a new strategy that focuses on two key streams of work that will be undertaken to reduce injuries and fatalities – a regulatory and enforcement stream, and a prevention and learning stream. Building on the success of the initial strategy launched in 2019, the new strategy lays out a direction for working together with stakeholders to address high-risk industries and occupations that are resulting in workplace fatalities and injuries.
“Without question, we must continue to work together to make all workplaces in Saskatchewan safe,” said Germain. “Working with our stakeholders – including employers, unions, researchers and associations – the updated Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy will guide us in our efforts to bring injury rates down. We will continue to work with our partners to enhance our workers’ compensation system and to ensure that every Saskatchewan worker returns home safely at the end of each workday.”
For more information on these results, the WCB’s 2022 annual report is available online at wcbsask.com.
Highway Construction Season in Full Swing
When the daylight hours become longer and warmer weather rolls in, construction equipment rolls out onto Saskatchewan highways. The Government of Saskatchewan is reminding travellers to keep an eye out for highway construction zones across the province.
“The Ministry of Highways has crews working all over the province making improvements to our transportation network,” said Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill. “Let’s keep them safe, so everyone gets home safe at night. We have lots of work going on and these slowdowns are only temporary.”
Some major construction projects will continue or be completed to improve safety and traffic flow, including:
- Continuing passing lanes and widening on Highway 5 from Saskatoon to Highway 2;
- Beginning construction of twinning projects near Rowatt and Corinne on Highways 6 and 39 between Regina and Weyburn; and
- Beginning upgrades on Highway 15 east of Kenaston between Highways 11 and 2
“Provincial road builders employ close to 30,000 workers, making our industry one of the largest employers in the province, and they are working to build Saskatchewan,” said Shantel Lipp, Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association president. “We want to remind drivers to be patient and drive with caution while our builders go to work on the roads this season. This will help ensure their safety as well as yours.”
“Our members are pleased to work with our partners at the Ministry of Highways to make strategic improvements to the transportation network,” said Bev MacLeod, executive director of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Saskatchewan. “These improvements will make the highway system better and safer for all the people of Saskatchewan.”
There are plans to improve another 1,000 km of highways, for a total of more than 4,600 km of highways improved over the last four years. Improvements this year include:
- 230 km of repaving;
- 300 km of medium treatments, like micro surfacing;
- 340 km of pavement sealing;
- 115 km of thin membrane surface (TMS) and rural highway upgrades; and
- 35 km of gravel rehabilitation.
Highways will also invest $62.8 million to repair or rebuild 14 bridges and replace more than 100 culverts across the province. Significant bridge projects include
replacing the Montreal River Bridge on Highway 2 near Weyakwin and
rehabilitating the Highway 6 bridge over Regina’s Ring Road for traffic heading north into the city.
How Purposeful Infrastructure Grows Our Economy
Summer is here and construction is underway with crews working across the province on projects that are making transportation in this province better.
Many Saskatchewan drivers travelling this summer are going to encounter you on the job. While we want them to think about your safety and drive responsibly through your work zones, we also want them to consider what projects governments choose to invest in and what those projects mean to our province’s economy and our quality of life.
Across Western Canada, heavy construction associations continue to encourage governments to recognize the value of investing in trade infrastructure. We know it is not just our industry that values infrastructure and the role it plays in our economy. Those buying Saskatchewan commodities want to know that this province has the infrastructure to move what they are purchasing. Those who produce and move those commodities see how having quality, purposeful infrastructure that supports trade helps grow our economy, which generates revenues that support health care, education and social programming. That all contributes to the quality of life we enjoy in Saskatchewan and Canada.
To bring wider awareness to the importance of building and maintaining good infrastructure, which is key to our trade corridors, the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association is running a campaign. The voices of several industry and community leaders can be heard discussing the importance of investing in infrastructure as part of this campaign. You may have heard them during ads that ran on Rawlco Radio’s Newstalk radio stations.
We will also bring attention to their perspectives online, starting with this message, but in the weeks to come, you will find them on our website and social media platforms. I encourage you to share these social media posts with your network online to spread their words even further. The more people who see these posts, the more influence they develop, making this message about the value of investing in trade infrastructure part of important public conversations.
We have Susan Ewart, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, who said, “Our province has a lot of what the world wants. Global demand for made-in-Saskatchewan products continues to grow every year. The trucking industry is responsible for delivering those products to the world and good roads make that happen. A long-term commitment to investing in transportation infrastructure is what will keep the growth going.”
She is joined by Tony Playter, the CEO of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, who said, “Regina drivers may be a little frustrated now that road construction season is upon us. But having good infrastructure helps our business community operate, prosper and grow. By supporting local road builders to build and repair Regina roads, we keep those dollars in our community where everyone benefits. When our local businesses prosper, we all prosper.”
Also from Regina is James Bogusz, the president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, who stated, “Demand for air travel is growing on a daily basis and Regina is no exception. Our airport is meeting the demand by investing in our infrastructure. This year, we are improving the major runway at Regina Airport that will allow us to grow and continue to connect to the world. A long-term commitment to investing in transportation infrastructure is what will keep the growth going in our city and our province.”
Adding his perspective is Warren Steinley, Member of Parliament for Regina Lewvan, who explained, “In Saskatchewan, we manufacture and produce what the world needs. Last year, Saskatchewan agriculture exports were the largest on record with total international sales of $18.4 billion. What we produce here has to get to market.”
To meet this goal, it is vital to maintain and grow our infrastructure needs. A long-term commitment to investing in transportation infrastructure is what will keep the province growing. If you have leaders in your region of the province who would like to contribute to this campaign, I would love to have a conversation with them about adding their voice. Please pass along their name and contact information and I will reach out to them about our efforts.