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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024
CF Sunrise to hold business roundtables in southeast region
Helping daughter make Ukrainian Easter egg
Photo 2380 — Greg Nikkel
Tetiana Dmytryshyn helped her daughter Zlata with drawing a design onto her egg in kindergarten class on Tuesday at St. Michael School. The Dmytryshyns immigrated here from Ukraine two years ago, and were taking part in making Ukrainian Easter eggs with instructor Sherry Klemmer.
Community Futures Sunrise has completed their regional business survey, as they seek to support the development of the regional economy by supporting the growth and development of small businesses and communities. The survey was developed in order to help the organization better understand the current needs of the local business community. The survey, conducted over the past several months, has provided valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses. Among the key findings, issues related to workforce retention and recruitment emerged as prominent concerns for business owners in the southeast region. “The business survey is an important tool to help our office understand the challenges faced by businesses within our region,” said Christine Birch, regional economic development coordinator for CF Sunrise. “The insights gathered from the survey help inform our programming and
services, ensuring that we are effectively meeting the needs of business owners in our region. It is evident from the responses that workforce retention and recruitment is at the top of mind for many business owners,” she added. The survey results identified that 53 per cent of survey respondents are experiencing difficulty with employee recruitment, while at the same time, 30 per cent of respondents are having difficulty retaining employees. In addition, 62 per cent of businesses anticipate future employee recruitment and retention challenges in the next three to five years. In response to these findings, CF Sunrise is taking proactive steps to help address the identified needs of the business community. One such initiative involves the organization holding a series of workforce roundtables. Those who are interested in attending an upcoming roundtable should contact Birch at 306-8617013, or by email at ecdev@cfsunrise.ca.
Holy Family education director to retire, receives LEADS award By Greg Nikkel Gwen Keith, the education director for the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, will retire at the end of this school year after 11 years at the helm. The board was informed of her retirement at their board meeting on Wednesday evening, which will take effect as of Aug. 31. The Holy Family board accepted her resignation and thanked her for her years of service, and will initiate a recruiting process for a new education director. The board was also informed that recently Keith was presented with a Dis-
tinguished Service Award from LEADS at their annual conference. LEADS (the Saskatchewan League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents) is the professional organization for all senior educational administrators in Saskatchewan. The award recognizes an administrator who “has made a significant contribution to the education sector and to the LEADS organization. This individual has demonstrated strong leadership in one or more specific areas of focus within the sector.” In the nomination sent by senior staff at Holy
Family, it was noted Keith has spent over 50 years in education, including 27 years in CEO positions in rural, urban and northern settings, including at Holy Family since 2013. “While serving in these leadership capacities, Gwen has ensured that her passionate care in directing a ‘student first’ system is clearly evident. Whether with personalized messages to staff, or energyfilled visits to the schools and classrooms, everyone feels the passion she has for providing an atmosphere where children can not only grow and learn, but flourish in building relationships and becoming
community,” said the division’s nomination letter. Of her retirement, Keith said in an interview, “When I looked at my age, and my accomplishments, and I look at my family and where the school division is at, I decided it was time. It’s good to leave the school division at a high – it’s in really good shape.” In addition to these factors, Keith noted that board elections are coming up this fall, and the government will be enacting a new 10-year education plan. “With those kinds of changes coming, it’s time for someone else to take the reins. After serving for
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11 years, it’s time for me to close that chapter and move on to another chapter,” she said. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at Holy Family, she added. “It’s been a distinct pleasure to work with the Holy Family board and staff, and to be serving in the southeast and sharing some time with my counterparts at Cornerstone. We’ve got strong leadership and a good culture to leave behind.” One of the accomplishments she is proud of are the country-wide connections she was able to make on behalf of Holy Family to advance the 21st century learning that is a big part of
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the culture at Holy Family schools. She is also proud to have promoted Holy Family’s Catholic distinctiveness, with board chair Bruno Tuchscherer as chair for the provincial Catholic school boards association, and herself on the committee of senior administrators. “I also believe the front line is the bottom line, so really taking care of the schools is particularly important. I’ve been able to have close relationships with the principals, because the school looks like the principal, and I develop that connection with leadership.”
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