Saskatchewan Regional Park Association, Saskatoon, SK

The origin of your Association could be traced to an exchange of letters between Mr. Leo Piché, then Secretary of Thomson Lake Regional Park Authority, to myself as Supervisor of the Regional Park program suggesting the formation of an Association of Park Authorities. Mr. Piché’s letter was followed by a suggestion that an initial meeting be held in Regina to further explore the possibility of the formation of an Association of Saskatchewan Regional Parks.
The February 28, 1962, meeting was chaired by Leo Piché of Gravelbourgh. Those present included a delegation of six from Thomson Lake Regional Park, Dr. Mainprize, Moosomin, Canwood and Shamrock Regional Parks. As I recall, there were eleven Regional Park Representatives at the meeting representing four established Regional Parks and two persons who were interested in joining once their pending applications were approved as Regional Parks.
The first meeting or Convention of your established Regional Park Association was again held in Regina October 20, 1962 at the Saskatchewan Hotel. The topics discussed at the meeting proved to be timely and were the subject of concern for future years and of concern today. Mr. Leo Piché was selected to the President’s position. Mr. George Molberg of the Dr. Mainprize Regional Park was elected as a Director, and the first Secretary of the Association.
In reviewing the SRPA’s history, I could not help but notice the real contribution of many people, who served the Association as well as their own Park Authority. Their service was usually gratis and often at a considerable personal expense of time and dollars. The list of people would be a long one, which space will not permit. It is those people who served your Association who made it all possible. Over the years the majority of Executives and Delegates saw the Association as an effective liaison with Provincial and Municipal Governments, as well as the member Park Authorities