A new Hub to promote local businesses, attract investment, and showcase the Indigenous culture of southwest Saskatchewan

A gift shop cashier hands a paper bag to a smiling customer

Community Futures Southwest has long been committed to supporting small businesses, entrepreneurship, and community economic development in Saskatchewan. With the help of PrairiesCan, they recently achieved a major milestone—transforming a former tourism information center along Highway 1, just east of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, into the Southwest Saskatchewan Tourism and Investment Attraction Hub. This innovative project unites 13 communities from across the region, creating a shared space to promote local businesses, attract investment, and showcase the rich culture and events of southwest Saskatchewan.

Through the Rural Opportunities Fund, PrairiesCan provided a $300,000 contribution, which was crucial in getting the Hub off the ground and setting it on the path toward self-sufficiency. This funding enabled the Hub to hire a full-time project manager, who played a pivotal role in overseeing daily operations, promoting the Hub via marketing activities, and coordinating with the 13 participating communities to grow its impact. The funds also enabled Community Futures Southwest to reach out to the surrounding communities to create more regional collaboration, ensuring that the Hub became a shared asset and relieving the financial burden off any one individual community.

Kara Thompson, General Manager of Community Futures Southwest, credits PrairiesCan with making this transformation possible: “Without the financial support from PrairiesCan, the project would not have been realized. We can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to build a place that will help us grow Southwest Saskatchewan as a region.”

A Hub for business, tourism, and Indigenous culture

The Southwest Saskatchewan Tourism and Investment Attraction Hub has already generated meaningful economic benefits for the region, including three part-time and two full-time positions for operating the facility. On average, the Hub sees over 100 visitors each day, providing substantial exposure for local entrepreneurs and small businesses selling their products, promoting regional events, and distributing valuable information about Southwest Saskatchewan to tourists passing through. Additionally, the Hub has successfully promoted Indigenous cultures, showcasing Indigenous-made products and events from the region.

Beyond the immediate impacts, the project also introduced an innovative approach to economic development in the region, bringing together 13 communities, from Cypress Hills to Swift Current, and from Leader down to Frontier on the Montana border.

A sustainable future

The long-term goal for the Hub is to become a self-sustaining business owned and operated by the 13 communities involved. A steering committee has been established to track key growth metrics, such as new businesses, new residents, and participation by specific groups such as women and youth in business. The project also plans to introduce a kiosk that links all communities, enabling travelers to access information about the region’s offerings and attractions, both online and in-person.

PrairiesCan’s investment in the Southwest Saskatchewan Tourism and Investment Attraction Hub has laid the foundation for long-term growth and collaboration along the Highway 1 corridor from the Saskatchewan/Alberta border to Swift Current.

By bringing together communities, creating jobs, and providing a space to promote small businesses and local culture, this initiative is helping to shape the future of Southwest Saskatchewan. With continued collaboration and innovation, the Hub will support the region’s economic resilience and ensure that Southwest Saskatchewan continues to thrive in the years to come.

A new Hub to promote local businesses and tourism in southwest Saskatchewan (length: 5:41 minutes)

Transcript: A new Hub to promote local businesses and tourism in southwest Saskatchewan

[Music]

[Video starts with a few clips showing the exterior building of the Southwest Saskatchewan Visitor Centre]

[Video transitions to indoor shots of the Centre. A woman is shown picking up a brochure and passing it to a set of hands.]

[A woman (Kristine Scheller) is standing in the Centre, talking to the camera]

Kristine Scheller: My name is Kristine Scheller. I’m the project manager for the southwest Saskatchewan Tourism and investment attraction hub, which is being hosted here in the southwest Saskatchewan Visitor Center, which is located just north of Maple Creek along the Trans-Canada highway.

[Video transitions to an illustrated map of Southwest Saskatchewan, with a red location marker pointing to a spot on the map near Maple Creek. Text on screen: “The Hub”]

[Video transitions back to Kristine on camera]

Kristine: This project brings together ten partners from various stakeholders, including municipalities, business organizations, and government agencies, establishing an economic development coalition within the region.

[Video transitions to a pan of various logos of businesses and organizations on a wall in the Centre]

[Various clips of the exterior and interior of the Centre is shown. Tee shirts and hoodies are hanging on a rack.]

[Video transitions to a woman (Jenn Biensch) sitting and talking to the camera]

Text on screen: Jenn Biensch. Economic Development Officer. Abbey, Saskatchewan

Jenn Biensch: The Southwest Saskatchewan Tourism and Investment Attraction Hub is a brick and mortar and online regional collaboration project between communities in the southwest.

[Video transitions to shots of the interior of the Centre]

[Lindsay Alliban is shown on screen, talking directly to the camera]

Lindsay Alliban: To promote our entire region in one location and online, and to drive more visitors, new residents, and business owners to our entire region.

Text on screen: Lindsay Alliban. Economic Development Officer. Gull Lake, Saskatchewan.