Every December, I like to take a look back and reflect on things that happened or I did in the past year. I find it helps me to appreciate and be thankful as well as keep things in perspective. So in honor of some reflection here goes my top 10 SWWA moments of the year. 1 Trying to keep a hat on during the golf tournament 2 while avoiding a sun/windburn Don Webb in the tapping workshop saying he is just going to sit and listen while Jordan teaches. 7 10 3 4 5 6 The Pipeline going fully digital with apps for both Android and IOS The 2018 Calendar, and all those amazing photos you sent in or had us take for you. The <strong>2017</strong> tradeshow – had a fantastic time learning and networking with all who attended. Attending the Keynote Speaker, Darby Allen, it was such an emotional and riveting talk. I am not ashamed to admit the tears were there. Bruce Davidson, talking about the after effects of Walkerton and his sharing of the emotional and physical toll on his own family. How he really made it plain that training and education is the best tool an operator can have in their arsenal. 8 9 KELLY’S CORNER It is post conference; I am sitting at my kitchen table looking out at the crisp morning and just appreciating the beauty of a Saskatchewan frosty day. Every year, the year seems to go by so fast, maybe it is a sign of aging or just what happens, who knows all I know is it was fast. Did you see how many people were present for the 80’s band at the annual banquet? If you weren’t there you missed out I have never had so much fun - Everybody Weng Chung tonight! Luke Lockhart putting his blond rocker wig on Aaron Erickson, Kevin Dyck, Alex McGregor, and Jordan Webb And the top 10 winner and most shocking thing ever witnessed by myself - Tim Cox wearing a gold spandex onsie - #speechless Once again the photo booth was a huge hit, Thank you Delco Water for the memories that I will have a copy of forever. Muh hah ha Thank you to all of the sponsors of the conference, you make this event a huge success every year by partnering with us. Thank you to all the presenters who worked to make the sessions interesting and informative, you all did a fantastic job! To all of you who attended and participated in all that was offered, I hope you had a fantastic time networking and learning. The hydrant and beverage basket raffles were a huge success and I know you all enjoy beating each other out on the silent auction items – someone is still crying over losing the Star Wars waffle maker. We raised a phenomenal amount with the raffles and the 50/50 tickets at the banquet. The 50/50 was the largest it has ever been. Thank you to Tom Cameron for donating half of the winnings. Our new WaterAid project is Mali in West Africa, and it is off to a great start. We all know the importance of water and sanitation and we are giving a child and the families of the projects we support new life when you support our fundraising initiatives. So from the bottom of my heart thank you. 2018 is going to bring even more amazing opportunities for networking and training; I hope you will take advantage of the courses we work so hard to offer to you. So until next year, have a wonderful holiday season filled with the joy and peace that comes from this special time of year, embrace those you love, live each day as if it was your last taking nothing for granted, and have a blessed Merry Christmas and Safe and Happy New Year. SWWA SWWA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE post-conference <strong>2017</strong> SWWA EXECUTIVE___________________ TIM COX ~ PRESIDENT City of Swift Current Work: 306-778-2725 Fax: 306-778-1634 Email: t.cox@swiftcurrent.ca KELLY KISH ~ PAST-PRESIDENT Town of Kipling Work: 306-736-8805 Fax: 306-736-2396 Email: glokel@sasktel.net RYNETTE MOORE-GUILLAUME ~ VICE PRESIDENT SaskWater Work: 306-694-3941 Fax: 306-694-3207 Email: rynette.moore@saskwater.com KARLIS VAN CAESEELE~ TREASURER Town of Langenburg Work: 306-743-2219 Fax: 306-743-2453 Email: karlisvc@sasktel.net CORY MCMAHON ~ SECRETARY Town of Biggar Work: 306-948-5136 Fax: 306-948-5136 Email: corden@sasktel.net DIRECTORS_________________________ SUSAN DOBROWNEY City of Saskatoon Work: 306-975-2534 Fax: 306-975-7906 Email: susan.dobrowney@saskatoon.ca BLAINE CROWLEY Town of Nipawin Work: 306-862-9866 Fax: 306-862-3076 Email: b.crowley@nipawin.com LUKE LOCKHART Town of Outlook Phone: 306-860-7575 email: townofoutlookwater@hotmail.ca REPRESENTATIVES________________ GOVERNMENT KELLY NEUERT Water Security Agency Work: 306-787-7911 Email: kelly.neuert@wsask.ca SUPPLIERS WADE SHUTKO ClearTech Email: wshutko@cleartech.ca Happy holidays to one and all. I’d like to personally thank all of the attendees of the <strong>2017</strong> conference for another successful year. There were a couple of hiccups (there always are) but everyone took it in stride and made lemonade when given lemons. Thanks to all of our suppliers who set up shop at the Tradeshow and a special thanks our Gold, Silver, and Conference sponsors. Without your support, this event can’t happen and we don’t have the networking opportunities that we do, job well done. We had new presenters this year for our workshops and technical sessions, of which we had lots of positive feedback. We hope to continue to provide different material as well as the old favorites to keep our members up to date with the latest tech and the best solutions to industry issues. In all the years I’ve been attending the conference, I have never witnessed a response to our keynote speaker as I did this year. We’ve had great speakers in the past, and I certainly don’t want to take anything away from what they provided to our delegation. This year, Darby Allen not only kept the attendees interested and focused, but brought out all kinds of emotions from us in his recount of the Fort McMurray fires of 2016. During his account of the disaster, not only could you hear a pin drop, but many audience members were wiping away tears. On Friday, Bruce Davidson updated us on the status of Walkerton, Ontario, and how the town has coped over the past 16 years. The onslaught of emotions continued as Mr. Davidson explained how those most affected were dealing with the fallout even today. I had several delegates tell me, while although they loved the speeches, it was too hard to choke back the tears and we should keep future keynotes on the lighter side!! It’s too hard on the emotions! Congrats to our two Operators of the Year, Wes Niebrugge, from the town of Bruno, and Allen Hettrick, from Rosetown as this years’ recipients. After the awards banquet, the 80’s tribute band, ‘Dangerous Cheese’ got everyone on the dancefloor for a second straight year. Props to those guys for bringing back the best decade of music in the history of mankind. So to everyone in the SWWA, thanks for a great November, looking forward to the holiday season and a fabulous start to 2018! Stay safe, keep the taps running and the wastewater running downhill! Merry Christmas. Tim Cox