Released on October 28, 2013
Government of Saskatchewan Expands Successful Saskatchewanderer Program
For the last three summers, one lucky student has journeyed across Saskatchewan, experiencing everything from kiteboarding to stand-up paddleboarding, from Saskatchewan Fashion Week to the Ness Creek music festival. Past wanderers have canoed northern Saskatchewan rivers and ridden horses through Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. One past wanderer met The Sheepdogs.
The Ministries of Parks, Culture and Sport, Agriculture, Economy and Tourism Saskatchewan announced today that the government wants the next Saskatchewanderer to travel the province all year long to discover not only what makes Saskatchewan a great place to play in the summertime, but what makes the province a great place to live, work and play all year round. This expanded Saskatchewanderer position is a pilot project and is a partnership between the three ministries and the Crown corporation.
The Saskatchewanderer will shoot and edit YouTube video blogs, write blogs for the Wanderer’s website, and upload content to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the enhanced mandate in mind.
“Saskatchewan is growing,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. “Our population is the highest it has ever been and our economy is thriving. That’s why it’s the perfect time to have the Saskatchewanderer, a well-recognized provincial ambassador, show off Saskatchewan to not only potential visitors, but potential residents. People are choosing to do more than visit Saskatchewan; they’re choosing to stay.”
“Agriculture is an important piece of Saskatchewan’s identity and key to our continued growth,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said. “It provides opportunities for young people in many different careers, many not traditionally associated with agriculture. Being a part of the Saskatchewanderer program is an opportunity for the agriculture industry to be seen for what it really is - a progressive, vibrant industry. It also allows us to tell the complete Saskatchewan story, that this is a province of opportunity with a great quality of life.”
“Tourism Saskatchewan is excited to be a part of this very successful program,” Tourism Saskatchewan CEO Pat Fiacco said. “As a partnership between our organization and the Ministries of the Economy, Agriculture and Parks, Culture and Sport, the leadership and resources are in place for this program to have a greater impact and bring profile to Saskatchewan in a way that is entertaining, innovative and captures the interest of people seeking new opportunities and adventures. The Saskatchewanderer is a terrific ambassador for our province. Again, we are pleased to contribute to this initiative that showcases Saskatchewan’s remarkable character, spirit, quality of life and all there is to see and do.”
Interested candidates can apply at www.saskatchewanderer.ca. Applications open November 4 at noon and close December 2 at noon. Interviews will take place in December. The successful candidate will start wandering in January 2014.
Bennett Dunlop Ford and CAA Saskatchewan have sponsored the Saskatchewanderer since its inception in 2011 and will continue to sponsor the expanded project.
Past Saskatchewanderers include Andrew Konoff (2011), Jeff Stock (2012) and Caitlin Taylor (2013).
To view Caitlin’s final highlight video, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWcaXZFLeqc.
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For more information, contact:
Jennifer Johnson
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0619
Email: jennifer.johnson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-529-5805
Tiffany Stephenson
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4031
Email: tiffany.stephenson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-3851