But here's the thing: the work you do every day, building belonging, connecting people, creating the spaces and programs that make communities worth staying in - that is a part of economic development! It just hasn't always been called that. And this fall, there's a room full of people who are ready to have that conversation. 
SPRA is a collaborating partner on the 2026 Paths to Prosperity Provincial Summit alongside the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA) and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network (SIEDN), taking place October 26-28 at the Sheraton Cavalier in Saskatoon.
It's a gathering of people from across sectors who are working every day to make Saskatchewan communities stronger. Municipal administrators, elected officials, economic developers, Indigenous leaders, community builders - all in one place, connecting the dots. As recreation providers, you belong at the centre of that conversation.
Recreation and Parks Has a Seat at This Table
SPRA is presenting three sessions at the summit. Here's a snapshot of what to expect, with more details to come as the event gets closer.
Reimagining Community Recreation and Parks - building on ideas introduced at SPARKS 2026, this session explores how recreation and parks function as the relational infrastructure that holds communities together.
Funding Pathways for Parks, Recreation and Community Spaces - a practical look at funding programs that many communities haven't fully tapped yet, and how to align recreation investments with broader economic and social development goals.
Communities in Bloom - connecting parks and community beautification to broader community development and prosperity themes.
The Program Will Challenge How You Think
The keynote program was built to challenge how we think about community development, and each speaker connects directly to the work you do, here are a few highlights to start:
- Bill Stainton – finding unexpected connections that unlock creative solutions to community challenges.
- Brenda Herchemer – moving beyond silos, how cross-sector partnerships are essential to community well-being and prosperity.
- David Hughes – finding solutions to the most complex challenges that your community is facing.
- Jada Yee – how shared purpose and trust between community sectors drives long-term prosperity.
Beyond the keynotes, the summit features more than 20 sessions on topics ranging from funding and Indigenous partnerships to rural innovation and community safety.
Worth a mention: the Community Safety and Wellbeing pre-conference forum on October 26 is relevant to recreation providers. Many of you are already on the front lines of community safety and belonging, and this session brings that work into focus.
A Word About Professional Development This Year
SPRA’s professional development and networking event, SPARKS, has officially moved to an 18-month cycle – our next events will be in the spring of 2027 and fall of 2028 (more on those later this summer). The Paths to Prosperity Provincial Summit is a great opportunity to:
- stay connected to your peers
- gain practical solutions to help you with current challenges you are facing
- explore transferrable approaches being applied by other community-focused organizations
- increase the understanding and value of recreation and parks with other community leaders
Think about what two days in the right room can do. New relationships, new funding leads, and a front-row seat to how other Saskatchewan communities are growing. You'll come back with a tote bag, but more importantly, you'll have the language, the connections, and the confidence to make a stronger case for recreation and parks at home!
Time to get registered!
When: October 26-28, 2026
Where: Sheraton Cavalier, Saskatoon
Registration: Super Early Bird pricing saves $100 - deadline June 15
Register at www.saskleaders.com
A note for your planning: Saskatoon has several large events scheduled during the week of October 26. We encourage you to reserve accommodations as early as possible - the group rate deadline is September 1.
We hope to see you there!
