By Dan Archer
The Palliser Library’s Community Assessments were made available online on January 25, revealing many interesting details about Assiniboia as well as the town’s neighbouring communities, such as the RM of Stonehenge and Limerick. There’s always questions about the reliability of surveys, but I consider these compiled explorations authored by researchers Katelyn Barrett, Brianna Miller, Matt Gibney and Jan Smith to be accurate portrayals of our towns and districts in Southern Saskatchewan.
The majority of the conclusions in Assiniboia’s Palliser survey are positive and thought-provoking, while some responses are puzzling. The survey also reveals specific issues which need to be addressed in Assiniboia, predominantly in the areas of education, community development and physical amenities. Regarding the town’s facilities, a few responders thought the town required infrastructure upgrades, such as improvements to the town’s roads, while other participants wanted the shopping precinct on Centre Street to get a new look, suggesting more businesses should be invited to fill-in the empty buildings on both sides of the street.
However, most described Assiniboia as a prosperous and hardworking community with excellent services. Assiniboia is not a retirement community like Victoria or Qualicum Beach, but the average mean age here is 48.5, with almost 30 per cent of respondents listed as being 65 years of age and older. There’s a considerable amount of younger people living here too, with 14.4 per cent of Assiniboians listed as being between the ages of 5-19. Twenty per cent of the local population are aged 20-39.
Thus, one of the many concerns for Assiniboians in the Palliser survey related to the lack of activities and diversions for teenagers and young adults living in a town so distant from urban centres like Moose Jaw and Regina. Regardless, the survey acknowledged the town’s first-rate sporting facilities which will receive improvements in years to come, including a new arena. Of course, the town presently enjoys a top-notch library and a movie theatre, but respondents said the swimming pool should be renovated. Others suggested Assiniboia needs a youth drop-in centre, which would be an excellent place for young people to meet and connect with each other. Some survey respondents are fearful for their children, because there’s an apparent drug culture growing in Assiniboia, which is doubtful, but this idea isn’t necessarily inconceivable either. The abuse of hard drugs such as crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and opioids by people of all ages should always be addressed as health concerns in progressive communities.
Overall, most of us believe Assiniboia possesses a healthy society for children where quality education is readily available. However, some survey participants are concerned about specific aspects relating to Assiniboia’s educational standards. Cutbacks to scholastic institutions throughout rural Saskatchewan have troubled many in this community, where some local teachers are saying they are being underpaid and overworked.
Other survey responders thought Assiniboian schools should adopt a fail policy and place a stronger emphasis on literacy. Regarding literacy, a proposal stood out in the responses, outlining a brilliant idea where students could receive confidential tutoring in reading, writing and comprehension through programs developed in partnership with local schools and the Assiniboia and District Public Library. If funds are available, this tutoring idea involving the library and local schools is stellar.
