2022 Annual President Message
John Schachtel - Past President
Dear Fellow Professionals,
It was a busy year in 2022 within the Saskatchewan Funeral Services Association (SFSA) and our executive. We are pleased to have resolved a policy with the Ministry of Social Services and our SFSA. The policy took place retroactive to May 1 st, 2022 for an amount of $4,500 for each decedent approved by the Ministry. Interment fees will be billed on top of the agreed policy amount. Cremation fee, casket (cremation container), professional services, and regulatory fee are included. The Ministry has agreed to obtain the CPP death benefit for the decedent and pay the assigned funeral home the complete policy amount. I wish to Thank our SFSA Legislative Committee members Jeff Christiansen, Phil Fredette, and Marianne Turcotte for their outstanding time and efforts to successfully complete this six Year debate with the Ministry.
Our new board of directors at the conclusion of our May AGM consists of Kevin Gooding (Administrative Treasurer), Marc Blondeau (Vice President), Frank Vervalcke (Secretary), Tom Geiger, Marianne Turcotte and Raymond Bailey, as well as myself. Thank You to the outgoing members, Pierre Charpentier and Mark Muir for their years of service to our Association. It was voted and passed that we move from an owner’s membership to an individual membership for all licensees (past and present) and key people who make a difference at their locations across Saskatchewan. With this new membership roll out in January 2024, our intention is to create an open minded synergy of experience and energy (past and present) for the future well-being of this important and much needed profession.
Our Executive has scheduled a meeting for early in 2023 with Mr. Clive Weighill, Chief Coroner of Saskatchewan. We will discuss our concerns with funeral homes not getting paid for transfers when no autopsy has been authorized and a second Funeral Home has been chosen by the family. We hope to clear all concerns and questions in this meeting with Mr. Weighill.
Our SFSA AGM is set for Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Marriott Delta in Saskatoon with the Tradeshow on Thursday, May 11. The SFSA Texas Scramble Golf will be held at the Greenbryre Golf and Country on Wednesday, May 10, alongside the Non-Golf activity of Champetre County (Hay rides, corn maze, games and fun at the campfire) near St. Denis, SK. Our executive is very excited that we are gathering to celebrate this profession after missing the last three years.
I wish to lastly mention with gratitude the men and woman working at each location across Saskatchewan who has experienced hardship while working tirelessly to serve families in these difficult times. In the upcoming year we will be hiring a part time administrative support person for the SFSA. They would assist Kevin Gooding and our executive in communications and membership fee renewals. Further details will be announced at a later date.
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On behalf of myself, our SFSA Executive, and our Membership we wish each person across this great country a Very Peaceful and Memorable Christmas and Blessings all throughout 2023.
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Warm Regards,
John Schachtel
President
Saskatchewan Funeral Service Association
2023 Annual President Message
Trevor Watts - 2024 President
2023 was a full year for the Saskatchewan Funeral Services Association (SFSA). In March of this past year, board member Tom Geiger met with Chief Coroner Clive Weighill from the Coroner’s Department. Tom presented some issues on various scenarios and Clive’s reply brought clarity and cooperation. The meeting led to an approved letter of discussion between the two parties which was sent to members for review.
SFSA resolved a policy with the Ministry of Social Services and the policy became retroactive to May 1, 2022, for an amount of $4,500 for each decedent approved by the Ministry. The Ministry has agreed to obtain the CPP death benefit for the decedent and pay the assigned funeral home the complete policy amount. We wish to thank our SFSA Legislative Committee members Jeff Christiansen, Phil Fredette and Marianne Turcotte for their outstanding time and efforts to complete this six-year debate with the Ministry. Our Legislative Committee continues to have discussions with Clive Weighill, Chief Coroner of Saskatchewan on the matter of who is to be considered the proper authorized decision maker when the Coroner's Office calls the funeral home.
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This past May, we hosted a three-day event with a Texas Scramble Golf at Greenbryre Golf and Country, the annual SFSA trade show and President’s Reception and our Annual General Meeting which were held in conjunction with the Funeral and Cremation Services Council of Saskatchewan's (FCSCS) annual Spring Symposium at the Marriott Delta in Saskatoon. There were 44 golfers registered for golf and a number of the hole sponsors were on-site. Close to 90 attended the dinner reception that followed. The trade show had 20 suppliers exhibiting and close to 150 attending the event. Thanks to Kevin Gooding and Tom Geiger for their great efforts with these events.
In elections, Trevor Watts, Marianne Turcotte, Raymond Bailey, Marc Blondeau and Frank Vervalcke let their names stand for a three-year term, with Trevor Watts moving into the president's position. Kevin Gooding and John Schachtel let their names stand for a one-year term with Kevin continuing as secretary and John moving into the past president position.
For 2024, we will be hosting another three-day event and have booked golf at the golf event at Greenbryre Golf and Country on May 22, the trade show and AGM will be in from May 23-24 in conjunction with the FCSCS Spring Symposium being hosted at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre in Saskatoon.
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Since the AGM, the board of directors has been working diligently to amend our membership from an owners/managers group to an association with additional membership options including funeral home staff and supplier partners. We have sent our funeral homes and allied suppliers information on the new membership categories and fee structure for our January membership drive and renewals and we are looking forward to growing our membership base with this new structure.
The board has also put together several member benefits ranging from group cellular rates and access to legal representation that is well-versed with our provincial legislation. SFSA is creating a website and developing social media pages that will be launched in early 2024. We will also begin some advertising across the province with local area media outlets which will be focused on promoting the funeral service profession and the role we have within our communities.
SFSA is pleased to welcome Neysa Gee as our new administrator. Kevin will work with Neysa to assist her with the various duties as he transitions to depart in his role as secretary after his term is complete at our AGM in May.
I want to express my gratitude and thanks to our board of directors for all their hard work as they volunteer their time to this association and to all the funeral professionals in our province who serve families every day. On behalf of our SFSA board and membership, we wish our colleagues across the country a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
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Trevor Watts
President
Saskatchewan Funeral Service Association