Waskesiu Community Council
Welcome to Waskesiu, where you can experience lake living at its most serene.
The Waskesiu Community Council is democratically elected to represent the view of the Waskesiu community to Parks Canada. We assist Prince Albert National Park in establishing practices for the operation of Waskesiu.
Our council operates under the terms of a Memorandum Of Understanding outlining responsibilities to you and to Parks Canada.
Mission Statement
It is intended that the Waskesiu Community Association, a body corporate established pursuant to the laws of Saskatchewan, through its elected council, known as the Waskesiu Community Council will be the recognized voice of the community.
In that regard, membership in the Association shall be made available to every elector in the community either
at a nominal cost or as the constitution of the Association may determine.
It is assumed that the Association will be generally supported by the community at large.
Council Members
Officers and Members
Chair: Jim Kerby (Cottage Owners' Representative)
Vice Chair: Rob Phillips (Cabin Owners' Representative)
Secretary/Treasurer: Jennifer Wood (Member at Large)
Councilors:
Bentley Crozier (Member at Large)
Bryan Matheson (Member at Large)
Council Administrator: Noreen Matthews
Contact us:
Waskesiu Community Council
Box 203,
Waskesiu Lake SK
S0J 2Y0
Or use our convenient online form.
Committees
Budget/Finance:
Chair - Bryan Matheson
Committee member: Jennifer Wood
Business Relations:
Chair - Jennifer Wood
Committee member: Bentley Crozier
Community Planning & Development:
Chair - Rob Phillips
Committee member: Jennifer Wood
Communications & Community Relations:
Chair - Jim Kerby ( primary focus on Communications)
Committee member: Bentley Crozier, (primary focus on Community Relations)
Non-voting Members of the Committee:
Gord Bueckert (from the community representing the Chamber)
Noreen Matthews (waskesiu.org website)
Essential Services - Fire & Policing:
Chair: Rob Phillips
Vegetation Management/FireSmart:
Chair - Bryan Matheson
Committee member: Jim Kerby
Council History
Background
In August, 1994, Parks Canada initiated an operational review of the communities within the National Park system. This review was undertaken in the context of significant budget cuts in Parks Canada and large federal deficits.
The Waskesiu community established a six-member committee, with six alternates, to negotiate the future administration of the townsite. Parks Canada appeared intent to devolve some of its management authority to the community level in return for increased financial participation by the community. The goal was to make the community self-sufficient financially. The Committee became known as the Waskesiu Interim Community Council.
The negotiations, which were slow and sometimes difficult, lasted for more than two years. The Committee took the position that it would not accept responsibility
without authority to make decisions. Therefore, the task became one of finding ways to provide the community with meaningful input into decisions affecting the
village without impinging on the authority of the Minister under the National Parks Act.
The final product, agreed upon in 1997, but not signed until 2002, was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that, for all intents and purposes was implemented upon agreement. The first Council elections were held in August, 1997.
The MOU details the mandate of the Council, election procedures, a dispute resolution mechanism, funding mechanisms, and the relationships of the Council to Parks Canada at all levels. The MOU essentially provides for a quasi-municipal structure with some major differences. In particular, the Council has no taxation or levying authority, thereby limiting its ability to undertake community projects. However, the Council is very much involved in setting budgets for utilities.
The MOU should be viewed as a Work in Progress to be amended and improved, as required to meet the needs of the community and the Park. The Council is increasingly recognized as the voice of the community.
Council Documents
Documents pertaining to the Waskesiu Community Association and the Waskesiu Community Council are listed below.
The current year and previous two years of Council minutes are available here. If you require a copy of Minutes prior to that, please contact us.
All documents are provided as PDF files, which you may click to open, read, print or download.
Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Waskesiu Community Association
The Waskesiu Community Association Bylaws
Waskesiu 2020 & Beyond Action Plan Documents
Waskesiu Community Association Annual General Meetings
2018 Minutes - July 29
2016 Minutes- August 7
2015 Minutes - July 26
2014 Minutes - August 17
2013 Minutes - August 11
Waskesiu Community Council Meeting Minutes
2020 Meeting Minutes
2019 Meeting Minutes
2018 Meeting Minutes
2017 Meeting Minutes
Website Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors!
The core philosophy of membership in any organization is "benefits and benefactors." The Waskesiu Community Council (WCC) is deeply indebted to companies who generously support the activities of WCC through our sponsorship program.
By becoming a sponsor you will be providing the WCC with additional resources for services to the community of Waskesiu while also helping to sustain WCC core services for the townsite. We ask every member and business to consider investing in both WCC and our townsite through the sponsorship program.
The Waskesiu Community Council gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors:
Armstrong Hillcrest Cabins Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce
The Hawood Inn Waskesiu Foundation Inc.
Lost Creek Resort Waskesiu Golf Course
Kapasiwin Waskesiu Heritage Museum
Pete's Terrace Restaurant Waskesiu Lake Lodge
Restaurant Pietro Waskesiu Marinas
SaskTel Waskesiu Recreation Association
Become a waskesiu.org Sponsor
This is a unique marketing opportunity and we are confident your involvement in this prestigious global forum will provide your company with exceptional business rewards. As a sponsor of waskesiu.org your company will receive considerable marketing exposure.
To become a sponsor, please email the Waskesiu Community Council Administrator.
