MOOSE JAW — River Street Promotions’ efforts to enhance mental health and well-being within the region have not gone unnoticed, as Prairie Â鶹´«Ã½AV School Division has thanked the organization with a colourful gift.
Four members of River Street Promotions (RSP) attended the division’s June board meeting, where trustees treated them to lunch and presented them with a painting from an Aboriginal artist from the Wood Mountain area and mugs with the PSSD logo.
River Street Promotions is known for organizing the and , both of which generate funds for youth mental health initiatives.
Ryan Boughen, director of education, said the lunch and painting were small tokens of appreciation for the “incredible work” the group does for Prairie Â鶹´«Ã½AV, Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and students and families.
“The work you do is just absolutely outstanding, and because of the work you do, we get to … do really neat, supportive things with our students to support their mental health and well-being,” he continued.
“And without your generosity and without you doing that work, these things wouldn’t be possible for us. So (it’s) a really, really special partnership that we highly value and (we) thank you so much for that work.”
Boughen also thanked learning superintendent Amanda Olson for promoting mental wellness opportunities throughout Prairie Â鶹´«Ã½AV and the relationship she has built with RSP, as well as Dustin Swanson, superintendent of school operations, for his efforts.
Jared Mathieson, co-founder of RSP, thanked the Prairie Â鶹´«Ã½AV board for the recognition and for supporting the group’s work. He explained that River Street Promotions began because several friends wanted to give back to the community and support youth mental health.
“We were a couple of guys sitting in Rosie’s one afternoon and thought of an idea and it just (kept) escalating and brainstorming,” he said. “But the biggest thing is it’s (Homestand Concert) a community event and it takes a community to pull it off.”
K+S Potash is one of the biggest sponsors of the summer event, while the Moose Jaw Co-op and Moose Jaw Ethanol Complex are big supporters of the winter concert, Robinson added. He also thanked other community businesses that support RSP’s efforts, including Henderson Insurance, Moose Jaw Toyota and the Moose Jaw Express.
“It’s a broader community effort, from the businesses that are in Moose Jaw and the surrounding area,” said member Shea Jameson. “It’s wonderful to see how it’s all come together over the last number of years. And thank you for buying into what we’ve been trying to do.”
Jameson also thanked Olson for working with the group, supporting its efforts and promoting the events throughout the region.
“It’s a privilege,” she said.
Giselle Wilson, PSSD’s board chairwoman, also thanked the group for its inspirational work and for partnering with the division.
The next Prairie Â鶹´«Ã½AV board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 3.
