Enterprise Saskatchewan

Carnduff
Jean Hanson is the owner of Orioles Paradise Bed & Breakfast, which recently opened for business. (Carnduff Gazette Post, January 11, 2010)

Breck Harris is the owner of the new flower and giftware shop, Magnolia Flower Boutique. (www.carnduffedo.blogspot.com January 14, 2010)

Estevan
A work camp, Atco Lodge Estevan, is being set up in the KRJ Industrial Park to help with the housing shortage. The camp will house up to 196 people. It is expected to be up and running in March. (Estevan Mercury, January 20, 2010)

Estevan Farmer’s Market had a record year for sales. The total sales for the market this year were $333,567, a leap of 200% over 2008. The increase is attributed to a new location for the market which provides much needed parking for customers and the boom in the oil field. (Estevan Mercury, January 20, 2010)

Kipling
Kipling Industries Inc. has opened a new six-space group home, made possible by a one time capital grant from the province of $100,000. The home provides opportunities for people with intellectual difficulties to learn day to day life skills. (Kipling Citizen, January 15, 2010)

Oxbow
Bow Gardens Restaurant opened in the Bow Manor Hotel. Christy Farrell is the owner and manager of the business. (Oxbow Herald, January 11, 2010)

Redvers
Loretta’s Baby Boutique has opened. The business, owned by Loretta Poirier, offers clothing, blankets, and other items for babies and young children. (Redvers Optimist, January 9, 2010)

Moose Jaw
Pat Ellingson has opened a new pharmacy on South Hill in Moose Jaw called Medicine Shoppe. (Moose Jaw Times Herald, January 21, 2010)

Tourism numbers are up slightly in Moose Jaw, compared to 2008. Although it was not a major increase, city tourism officials are pleased with the numbers. (Moose Jaw Times Herald, Monday January 18, 2010)

Outlook
Federal and Provincial officials announced additional funding support to strengthen economic opportunities in the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District, Riverhurst Irrigation District and Lucky Lake Irrigation District. (WD News Release, January 19, 2010)

Battleford
Good Sense Computer Services Ltd. opened. Owned and operated by Peter Ollenberger, the business provides service and equipment. (Battlefords Regional Optimist, January 15, 2010)

Maidstone
Desirae Blanchette, owner of The Curl Up & Dye Shop in Maidstone, has expanded her business. The young entrepreneur recently moved her salon into a newly renovated location at the Maidstone Mall and decided to open Dee Rose Clothing in the rear of the salon. The business sells baby and women’s casual and dress clothing as well as hockey sticks and tape. (News Optimist, January 13, 2010)

Beaver River
Visitor Reception Centers for Tourism in Saskatchewan showed an increase of 19.7 percent, up over the 2008 season, the highest level in more than three years. (Beaver River Banner, January 20, 2010)

Meadow Lake
The Meadow Lake OSB mill plant suffered a fire Christmas Day. Cause of the blaze is unknown, but not suspicious in nature. (Meadow Lake Progress, January 8, 2010)

The 55 West Enterprise Region will host a focus group on January 26th with its ultimate goal being a tourism strategy and marketing plan, to diversify the economy. (Northern Pride, January 19, 2010)

North Battleford
Chief Sheldon Wuttunee of Red Pheasant First Nation has made a presentation to City Council outlining the First Nation’s desire to complete an industrial development on a 30 acre site located on Treaty Land Entitlement land the band owns on the eastern edge of the city. The development hinges on the city and Red Pheasant Band establishing and signing an urban reserve services agreement under which services like sewer and water facilities will be provided. (Daily News Online, January 13, 2010)

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has three new directors for 2010. Rory Anderson of Norsask Equipment, Paul Scherr of SaskTel and Michael Silvester with Silverster Glass join seven incumbents. The new directors will be presented and ratified at the January board meeting. (News Optimist, January 13, 2010)

An increase in building permits in December wrapped up a good year in North Battleford with permit values up in 2009. (The News Optimist, January 20, 2010)

Hudson Bay
Wescan Goldfields Inc. announced that Phase 1 drilling has been completed on its 100 percent owned Hudson Bay and Pinehouse Coal properties. At Hudson Bay, coal was intersected in 21 out of 40 drill holes, with a maximum coal zone thickness of 12.90 metres. These initial coal discoveries will direct the drilling locations in the upcoming 2010 Phase 2 Drill Program, aimed at targeting thicker intersections of coal. Drilling results from the Phase 1 program indicates that the prospective area for coal is much greater than previously anticipated in the Hudson Bay area. (Melfort and District Chamber of Commerce, January 20, 2010; Prince Albert Daily Herald, January 21, 2010; Star Phoenix, January 21, 2010))

The North East Enterprise Region held its official grand opening at their regional office located in Hudson Bay on January 21, 2010. The North East Enterprise Region assists the region to increase business and industry competitiveness, realize its economic potential and compete globally. (Melfort Journal, January 12, 2010; Northeast Chronicle, January 13, 2010)

Humboldt
BHP Billiton, the Anglo-Australian mining giant, is preparing to make its first foray into potash production by earmarking $240 million US for the development of its Jansen project in Saskatchewan, about 140 km east of Saskatoon. The Jansen project is the first phase of what they expect to be their strong presence in the potash sector. (CBC News, January 20, 2010)

Melfort
The Melfort Co-op Association is no more. It has been replaced by the Prairie North Co-operative, the result of the amalgamation of the Melfort and Naicam Co-operatives. Gord Dmytruk is the general manager. (Melfort Journal, January 12, 2010)

The new Canadian Tire store in Melfort is on schedule for completion and is expected to be open for business sometime in March 2010. Owner of this national retail facility is Paul Penner. (Melfort Journal, January 19, 2010)

Nipawin
The Town of Nipawin is one of four communities to have $100,000 allocated to them from the Community Development Trust Fund. Nipawin will use their funds to draw up a comprehensive Economic Development Plan aimed at diversifying their economy. (Nipawin Journal, January 13, 2010)

Prince Albert
EyeCandy Optiks, a new shop for sunglasses, is open for business. The manager is Marlene Wilkinson. (Prince Albert Daily Herald, January 11, 2010)

In a company press release, Domtar announced that it planned to continue removing equipment and machinery from the Prince Albert Pulp and Paper mill site, take steps toward hiring a demolition contractor and file for a demolition permit. (Shellbrook Chronicle, January 8, 2010; Star Phoenix, January 11, 2010)

Zelensky Brothers LaRonge Sawmill, who previously leased land for their planer mill at the Wapawekka Lumber Ltd. site have now purchased this property located in the R.M. of Buckland. Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., who purchased the equipment and buildings through auction, are still in the process of removing the assets. The site is expected to be cleaned by June. Zelensky Brothers have ideas but have not yet decided what they plan to do with the property which is zoned for heavy industrial use. The sawmill, a joint interest between Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Lac La Ronge Indian band and Domtar Inc , has been closed since 2006 and now went into receivership. (Prince Albert Daily Herald, January 15 and 16, 2010)

Artisan’s On the Avenue, a diverse artisan’s gallery, opened for business late fall 2009. Owner is Anne Meoller. (Prince Albert Daily Herald, January 18, 2010)

Wynyard
Lilydale’s Rendering Plant near Kandahar was officially closed in December 2009. Now that the Rendering Plant has closed, the chicken carcasses from Lilydale are being shipped to West Coast Reduction in Saskatoon. The plant was originally started in 1964, at peak periods there were 22 employees. (The Advance Gazette, January 11, 2010)

Indian Head
Bigway Foods in Indian Head came under new ownership on January 7, 2010 as Ken and Esther Glass sold the business to the Lim and Park families. No changes are in the current plans. (Indian Head-Wolseley News, January 11, 2010)

Regina
Regina saw 569 single-detached housing starts in 2009, down 42 per cent from 979 in 2008, making 2009 the slowest year for single-family home construction since 2003, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. On the multiple-unit side, there were 361 starts in 2009, slightly lower than the 396 multiple starts in 2008. CMHC said the 930 total housing starts recorded in 2009 is a more sustainable level of activity for Regina’s housing construction industry. (Leader Post, January 12, 2010)

Morton’s in the Golden Mile Shopping Centre is closing after more than 80 years in business. (Leader Post, January 13, 2010)

The provincial government announced that it would be giving the Saskatchewan Transportation Company an operating grant for 2010. The $9 million grant for 2010 is up from the $7.8 million subsidy allowed in 2009. (Leader Post, January 18, 2010)

Saskatoon
The Saskatoon Zoo Society received a $25,000 grant from an advertising agency that awards money to non-profit groups to improve marketing and communications. The society, a non-profit group formed in 1976, ensures animals at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo are cared for properly. (Star Phoenix, January 8, 2010)

Saskatoon's Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (GWMG) announced its plan to raise $7 million through a prospectus offering. The company explained in a news release it would use the funds to buy new equipment and expand product offerings at Less Common Metals Ltd. (LCM), GWMG's wholly owned subsidiary in Birkenhead, England. The proceeds would also provide additional capital for LCM operations, fund additional rare earth exploration activities and be used for general working capital. Even more encouraging, the company also had requests to expand the range of products to include strip-casting and metal-making. As a result, some of this capital will be used to purchase additional equipment needed to expand the range of products. (Star Phoenix, January 13, 2010)

A total of 23 crop-related research projects will share $3.2 million in funding from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). Additionally, the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre has been awarded $1 million through ADF, money that will help fund the annual operation of the facility. The research projects to receive funding this year include increasing disease resistance in canola, improving camelina seed, developing new flax varieties, increasing the nutritional value of pulse crops and expanding markets for malting barley. (Star Phoenix, January 13, 2010)

The company planning a metallurgical processing facility near Langham announced a significant increase in mineral reserves at the Northwest Territories mine that will feed the refinery. Fortune Minerals Ltd. has increased the mineral reserves at its Nico gold-cobalt-bismuth-copper project in the Northwest Territories by 43 per cent to 31 million tonnes. The increase in reserves has also led to an extension of the mine's life to 18 years from 15. (Star Phoenix, January 15, 2010)

Saskatchewan government officials signed a memorandum of understanding with a Vietnamese delegation visiting Saskatoon. The goal is to bring more Vietnamese workers, students and entrepreneurs to the province. Under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, 2,914 people applied for residence in Saskatchewan, 52 of which were from Vietnam. The goal for the current year is 3,400 nominees, with significant growth from Vietnam. (Star Phoenix, January 18, 2010)

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) is establishing an aircraft maintenance engineering program and new training centre in Saskatoon, following a funding injection from government and private industry. The new program will employ two new instructors at SIIT and has space for 30 training positions every year. The program will start in August. (Star Phoenix, January 18, 2010)

Saskatoon's Youth Development Corporation (YDC) is a youth-based social entrepreneurship organization that aims to give young people skills to enter the workforce while being paid. Programs are self-sustaining and rarely rely on grants for funding. They are targeted toward youth living in the core neighborhoods that are out of school and out of work. Every two weeks, participants in the program meet at Nestor's Bakery on 20th Street to prepare $20 boxes of baking for the public. They fill boxes with two loaves of whole grain sandwich bread, an artisan loaf, muffins, squares and a pie or cookies and deliver the boxes to people's homes. (Star Phoenix, January 18, 2010)

NEW BUSINESSES:
What a Mess Professional Dog & Cat Grooming, owner, Heather Richards. (Star Phoenix, January 9, 2010)Bridgepoint Business Brokers, owner, Travis Kellett. (Star Phoenix, January 9, 2010)Axiom Commodities, owners, Kim Bristow and Jackie Kress. (Star Phoenix, January 9, 2010)My Kitchen Restaurant, owner, Wai Lin Ko. (Star Phoenix, January 16, 2010)Cooper’s Lodge, owner, Jan Budnick. (Star Phoenix, January 16, 2010)

Perdue
Feudal Co-op in Perdue celebrated 75 years in business. (The Independent, January 11, 2010)

Rosetown
Local officials don’t expect to carry out any major projects on their own in 2010, but do look forward to construction beginning on two other large undertakings. The Saskatchewan Landing Water Pipeline intends to ask construction firms and other suppliers for bids on the multi-million-dollar project later this month. Also expected to go to the bidding process is the 54-bed care home that Heartland Health Region hope to attach to the local hospital. (Rosetown Eagle, January 11, 2010)

Shaunavon
Shaunavon has been approved for funding to help restore some of the brickwork at the Town Office. The Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation (SHF) has pledged to cover 50 per cent of the project’s total cost to a maximum of $8,000. (Shaunavon Standard, January 12, 2010)

Southwest
Hobby Shop held a grand opening. The shop is located 1 mile west of junction at Highway 32 and 332. (The Southwest Booster, January 14, 2010)

Swift Current
Swift Current’s Olympic Torch Relay committee received $20,000 from the provincial government to assist in remembering and commemorating the January 10th Olympic Torch festivities. (www.swiftcurrentonline.com, January 13, 2010)

According to the last stats from the city, Swift Current issued over $28 million in building permits in 2009, marking the fifth best year in the City’s construction history. City officials state residential developments will continue in 2010 in the Highland Subdivision, Valley Ridge Subdivision near the Cypress Regional Hospital and along South Railway Street East. (Southwest TV News, January 13, 2010)

The Living Sky Casino has scheduled a major powwow for February 2010 in Swift Current. Organizers are expecting approximately 500 dancers, 200 drummers and 1000 spectators to take part in the powwow. (Prairie Post, January 15, 2010)

Crownwest Continental Developments has been granted an extension from the City. The original plan for the development on South Railway Street East would have seen a 72-unit multi-family complex in six, three storey buildings. After beginning construction on the first two buildings and the foundation of the third building, the company realized their increasing challenges related to soil composition. Rather than the three-storey structures, the company has now proposed townhomes more compatible with the soil’s bearing capacity and indicated there should still be 72 units on site. (Prairie Post, January 15, 2010)

Canora
Jessica Kowalyshyn has opened up The Blend Salon, a family hair salon. (The Canora Courier, January 20, 2010)

Esterhazy
Jason Powers has opened up Kor-Power Electrical Installations, offering commercial, industrial and residential electrical services. (The Miner-Journal, Esterhazy, January 18, 2010)

Roger and Pauline Belfour have opened Esterhazy Taxi. (The Miner-Journal, Esterhazy, January 18, 2010)

Foam Lake
North East Terminal Ltd. has announced that it is acquiring the crop inputs facility of Tri-Way Fertilizers Ltd. The Foam Lake facility includes assets such as a chemical warehouse, two anhydrous fertilizer vessel tanks, and dry fertilizer storage shed. North East Terminal is a producer-owned grain terminal, with its head office located in Wadena and facilities in Kelvington and Ponass Lake. Tri Way Fertilizers is a joint venture between several producer stakeholders and Cargill Limited, with facilities in Abernethy, Balcarres and Leross. (Wadena News, January 13, 2010)

Kamsack
Dereck Wolkowski has opened Wolkowski Funeral Service Ltd. (Kamsack Times, January 21, 2010)

Yorkton
Parkland College has announced its intention to build a Trades and Technology Centre in Yorkton. The proposed cost of the Centre will be approximately $16.6 million. There is no time frame at this time as it will depend on the success of the college’s capital campaign and government funding. (Yorkton This Week, January 20, 2010)

Saskatchewan small business owners were less optimistic in December than they were in November - dropping from first to sixth in a countrywide survey - largely due to rumored delays in tax cuts, says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Small business owners in the province are still more optimistic than most of their counterparts in the rest of the country. Saskatchewan spokesperson for the CFIB, said business optimism is still relatively high, but may be slipping due to the province's fiscal problems. In his mid-term financial report in November, Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer indicated the province was projecting a $1 billion deficit and might have to delay proposed property tax cuts. (Star Phoenix, January 7, 2010)