Clockwise from bottom left, lawyer Kathy Hodgson-Smith honoured, the NorthWest Community Lodge grand opening, the new Meadow Lake multi-use rec. facility designs, and proposals for the new stampede grounds. (Kathy Hodgson-Smith submitted/NorthWest Community Lodge Association Facebook/the City of Meadow Lake/Meadow Lake Stampede Association) 

By meadowlakeNOW staff

Year of growth

Year in Review: Meadow Lake area sees plenty of progress in 2022

Dec 27, 2022 | 5:03 PM

As 2022 draws to a close, meadowlakeNOW is taking a look back on some of the most important and impactful stories of the year.

From plans announced for the new multi-use recreation facility to the opening of a new long-term care home, it’s been a busy year in the Meadow Lake area in 2022.

The year started off on a positive note, when Meadow Lake city council committed support to a new skate park development in January. In September, it was announced the project would start construction in October.

In May, it was announced that Meadow Lake is examining possible paths forward on a new stampede grounds for the community. During a city council meeting the Meadow Lake Stampede Association (MLSA) presented a funding request for a new recreational property to feature the grounds. The MLSA presented three possible options for council to consider.

In July, it was announced the federal government would commit more funding for green projects. Building capacity for a regional focus on renewable energy and an 816 kW solar farm was part of a $6 million announcement for the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. MLTC and Mee-Toos Forest Products (owned by Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies) both received federal dollars for new green initiatives. Mee-Toos will use around $2 million to replace propane heating systems in schools in Pelican Narrows and Deschambault Lake with biofuels.

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It was an exciting time in August when the new NorthWest Community Lodge held its grand opening in Meadow Lake. A replacement for the Northland Pioneer Lodge long-term care home, the facility can accommodate up to 72 beds once fully operational, compared to 53 in the Pioneer Lodge.

In October, the city shared more details about a new multi-use facility planned ahead. They hope the new recreation and civic centre will have a new ice surface that will be ready for use for the start of the 2024 hockey season. The province announced over $37-million in combined funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, the federal government and the city for the new recreation complex project. The news came after the Meadow Lake arena burned down in June 2021 under suspicious circumstances.

In November, Meadow Lake city council took the first steps in the process to allow a temporary emergency shelter downtown. Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries has been working with the Homeless Coalition to move a shelter project forward to meet the need in the community.

Another highlight of the year, in November it was reported the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is receiving $142,313 from the federal government to help with the pre-design for two new cultural centres in northern Saskatchewan. One of the centres will be built in the north to service Dene communities and the other will be in the south to support Cree communities.

The funding is in response to a need identified in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. That report calls for all Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people to have a safe place for meaningful access to their cultures and languages. The federal government also says spaces like this are key for Indigenous communities to move forward on self-government.

To cap off the year, in December Meadow Lake lawyer Kathy Hodgson-Smith was honoured with the 2022 King’s Counsel (K.C.) designation. She joined an elite list of 14 Saskatchewan lawyers, recognized for their contributions to the legal profession and public service.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @meadowlakeNOW