The Municipalities of Saskatchewan, formerly known as the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), is holding its annual convention virtually beginning on Sunday. 

Representing the City of Moose Jaw at this year’s convention will be Mayor Fraser Tolmie and Coun. Dawn Luhning. 

Tolmie said he will be taking on a bit of a different role at this year’s convention. 

“I was the chair of the City Mayors Caucus and normally I would be chairing the bearpit but I decided to take a step back. We've got a new council and I wanted to focus on more within our community,” he said. 

The heavy-lifting gets underway on Monday with keynote speaker Kendal Netmaker from Sweetgrass First Nation, Netmaker founded five different companies and has been named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. 

Premier Scott Moe will address the group Monday around noon. 

Elections will take place in the afternoon, including the election for the Municipalities of Saskatchewan President.  

Current president Gordon Barnhart, mayor of Saltcoats, will be running again but under controversy. Barnhart traveled to Hawaii recently during the COVID-19 pandemic and some members have called for his resignation. 

Running against Barnhart is Rodger Hayward, the mayor of Naicam and current Vice-President of Towns. 

Keynote speaker Doug Griffiths will be addressing members on Tuesday morning. Griffiths is an author and community strategist who spoke at the convention in 2018. 

Some of the breakout sessions taking place on Tuesday will touch on topics such as city projects, tourism, economy, and government relations in northern communities. 

“I will be presenting about economic development in one of the forums, so I'm excited about that,” Tolmie said.  

“I'm excited about our city story and, you know, I'm very excited about really the future of our community, so that's one of the things that I'll be bragging about in the conference.” 

Tuesday will wind down with resolutions from staggered municipal elections, supplementary assessments, monitoring water quality in lakes and rivers, and the development of a wetlands policy. 

The convention will wrap up on Wednesday with the bearpit with provincial cabinet ministers.