One thing that's always constant is change. Whether it be technologies, the way people access information, even new ideas in leisure services programming, everything is always changing.

This is why Leisure Services Director with the City of Weyburn, Andrew Crowe, attends events like the SUMA convention.

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) Convention was held in Regina recently, and it wrapped up Wednesday morning. Crowe said there was a large trade show there with more than 100 vendors who serve municipalities in particular.

"We were able to go and check out the new up and coming equipment or playground structures or different types of parks materials that are available to purchase," Crowe shared. "It's just a good way to go and check these new things out."

"We know there's some new and upcoming features coming down the way that might make our lives easier, either from an operations perspective or from future capital projects, whether it be a new style of playground to put in or environmentally friendly equipment, or materials like recycled rubber surfaceways and stuff like that are really taking off," he noted.

He said eventually, due to budgets being set for the current year, most of what they see this year becomes a project for next year or even the year after that.

"But it helps us dream a little bit to come up with our plans," Crowe commented. "You walk throughout the events centre and you get instant access to all types of information and salesmen from all of these different companies so it's kind of almost like a research project for us."

He said technologies are always changing.

"The way people access information is always changing, the way you reach your market is always changing, and even just the programming that people are coming up with, the new ideas, it's just cool to see," he added.

Read about Mayor Roy's SUMA experience HERE.