River Street Promotions has been announced as the 2022 Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce Group of the Year at an awards luncheon on Jan. 31 at the Heritage Inn.
JD Haughton was the event's MC. Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley spoke, praising the Group of the Year nominees for their service to the community. Scott Greenough, director of event co-sponsor CAE, Inc, and Ryan Hrechka, president of the Chamber of Commerce, also spoke.
River Street Promotions is a non-profit group that brings musical talent to Moose Jaw in order to raise money for youth mental wellness in south Saskatchewan, with their second annual Homestand '22 concert raising $100,000 last September.
That money is split into two parts, with $15,000 going to maintain and beautify the concert's venue, Ross Wells Ballpark, and $85,000 going to the River Street Promotions fund. The RSP fund is administered by Prairie South School Division and shared with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.
Numerous events and activities supporting youth mental wellness have been the result.
"It's an honour, thank you very much," said Andy Hamilton of RSP, who noted that he had no warning he would be giving the acceptance speech. "We have a really solid group of people ... who are all in it for the right reasons. And that is to benefit the youth of our communities in southern Saskatchewan and their mental health, and specifically to help youth before they get to a point of crisis."
The event's other nominees were:
- U15 A Moose Jaw Warriors
- Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw
- Square One Community Inc.
- Moose Jaw & District Seniors Association
The U15 A Moose Jaw Warriors were nominated for their efforts to make their sport more inclusive and open to newcomers to Canada. They were finalists for the 2022 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup. The team rented ice, supplied equipment, and gave their time to instruct dozens of newcomers curious about the game.
Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw is an organization devoted to establishing and expanding hospice care in the city. They have succeeded in partnering with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to create a hospice wing at Pioneer Lodge, fund-raised endlessly, and given their time and expertise to ease the final days of many. They hope to complete renovations at Pioneer Lodge this year.
Square One Community, Inc. is working towards the goal of a dedicated low-barrier women's shelter for Moose Jaw, along with a permanent warming shelter. They work with groups like John Howard Society and Riverside Mission to help the unhoused, and partnered with the City of Moose Jaw and almost every agency and charitable organization in it to create the Moose Jaw Cold Weather Strategy — a continually-updated list of resources for the unhoused.
The Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association is a community of individuals dedicated to making the lives of seniors active, fulfilling, and stimulating. They offer an inclusive and friendly environment that is the main social outlet for many, including activities such as shuffleboard, line dancing, pickleball, and more. They also put efforts toward charitable initiatives such as a collection drive for warm clothing for newcomers.
