The Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association and Irrigation Crop Diversification Corp. formally agree to join forces
Irrigation Saskatchewan is now the lead irrigation organization in the province following the successful amalgamation of two provincial organizations.
Talks to join Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association (SIPA) and Irrigation Crop Diversification Corp. (ICDC) into one entity have been ongoing for years. A joint executive working committee was formed in March 2022 and both organizations voted unanimously to start amalgamation proceedings following the 2022 annual general meeting last December.
Jillian Brown, executive director of SIPA, said taking two organizations that mean so much to the irrigation community in Saskatchewan and seeing them successfully join has been amazing to watch.
“It really is great to see both these guys go through the process and being successful and taking the next step to being a bigger and stronger and better organization together.”
The ratifying vote for the Irrigation Saskatchewan bylaws and amalgamation mechanics took place following the Irrigation Saskatchewan conference and the SIPA AGM on Dec. 6.
Both bodies have been working as normal in the lead up to the amalgamation but will now combine resources and mandates with separate research and policy branches.
ICDC has assumed ownership of SIPA’s assets and liabilities as per the approved bylaws to operate under the Irrigation Saskatchewan banner and while SIPA will no longer formally exist, the governance of the organization has those SIPA representatives.
Brown said the new group intends to use a one member, one vote system so members have a voice within the organization.
“We represent not just irrigation districts, but private irrigators. So opening that up to really engage individual members, one member, one vote puts the onus on us to show our value to each and every individual member.”
Only two members voted against the amalgamation because of issues with the combined fees.
Irrigation Saskatchewan fees will now be $1.75 per acre, combining the previous 60 cents per acre fee for SIPA members and $1.15 per acre for ICDC members into one rate. Some members saw that as a concern, said Brown.
“There’s a small portion of people who belong to one organization or the other as opposed to both organizations,” she said. “So that would see an increase in their fees…. That was the problem, is that it was going to see, for them, an effective increase.”
Brown’s position has been funded through a grant with three years remaining on the funding so there will be no levy increase to support staffing changes.
Taking the two boards to create one strong one has been an exciting process, said Brown. Four members were chosen from each board with the ninth member elected by both boards.
Jeff Ewen, the former chair of the ICDC board, was the elected member of Irrigation Saskatchewan.
ICDC is recognized for its economic strength and research, while SIPA has worked closely with irrigators and has a strong following.
There was plenty of overlap when it came to meetings, issues and board representation, said Ewen, so combining the organizations was a logical step.
“It makes sense to work under one arm. We have similar initiatives, similar interests, have the same members, there’s a lot of sense to do it. And then hopefully, on the operation side, we are more efficient as well.”
Irrigation Saskatchewan represents irrigators from across the province. Two hundred people from across the irrigation community, including members from Alberta, attended the conference in Saskatoon the first week in December, the largest group they’ve ever hosted, said Ewen.
