The City of Humboldt claimed one of the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards at a luncheon in Regina on May 13.
The Humboldt Heritage Values project won the Heritage Conservation Leadership award.
The Saskatchewan Municipal awards highlight municipal achievement in the province, celebrating the best and brightest of Saskatchewan communities who are trend leaders in projects using innovation and enterprise.
Humboldt's Heritage Values project was launched in early 2010, and was meant to identify the heritage values that the people of Humboldt hold in order to develop key themes for heritage in the city.
From the values and themes, actual heritage resources in the community were identified - basically, what buildings or sites, or aspects of life in Humboldt the community wants to preserve and protect.
A survey was completed, a series of workshops were held and a number of personal interviews were conducted.
As a result, several heritage issues were identified by the museum board during their strategic planning process.
Among the issues identified in the analysis was the need for a plan for overall heritage and cultural development for the city. The first step was to develop a heritage policy, which was approved as part of the city's official community plan.
Jennifer Hoesgen, curator of the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery, who led the project, stated that the award really belongs to the entire city.
"It really is a great recognition for the entire community," she said.
It was through the efforts of many volunteers that this project was put together, she noted.
The workshops that the public was asked to participate in were not easy, she added.
"It was a process to engage the community," she said. "We're really excited about the people who committed time and energy to this project."
Humboldt was up against the Town of Gravelbourg and their Renaissance Gaiety Theatre Project for the award.
An independent selection committee including Senator Pamela Wallin; Bob Linner, former city manager for Regina and Prince Albert; Regina Leader Post political columnist Murray Mandryk; Holly Hetherington, Senior Partner, Executive Source; and Jim Angus, administrator of the RM of Harris No.146 have reviewed the finalists' achievements and selected award recipients in each of the categories.
Winners in the other categories included:
Municipal Innovation and Service Excellence: Village of Hazlet - Wind Powered Rink Complex
Regional Leadership and Partnerships: Towns of Rosthern, Hague, Duck Lake, Waldheim, RMs of Waldheim, Duck Lake, Rosthern, and Laird, and Villages of Hepburn and Laird - Doctor/Medical Professionals' Residence
Community Development Leadership: Town of Kindersley - Kindersley Youth Council
Environmental Stewardship: Town of Dundurn, RM of Dundurn, and Resort Villages of Thode and Shields - Joint sanitary sewer system.
