Maple Creek was recognized for heritage conservation leadership and economic development leadership at the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards (SMA) at Regina on May 11. "It is very gratifying when others notice and take a look at what we're doing and recognize that there's value," said Mark Caswell, town administrator.
"When council undertakes these initiatives they are not doing it because they are looking for recognition from other municipalities or from the province. They do it because it's the right thing to do for the community."
Caswell and Royce Pettyjohn, the town's Main Street Program co-ordinator, accepted the awards before hundreds of municipal representatives  and sponsors from across the province.
"I was completely surprised that we were nominated," said Pettyjohn. Heritage Saskatchewan made the initial nomination for the town to receive the awards.
"It was very nice that  Heritage Saskatchewan thought that we were doing well enough in those areas to put us forward," Pettyjohn said.
According to Caswell, the awards were an opportunity for the community to demonstrate that Maple Creek is truly a cutting-edge community with ideas and innovation.
“I think that right now Maple Creek is getting a great deal of attention as a result of all of the good work that's going on here," said Pettyjohn.
The awards can be seen as a step towards the town's vision of making Maple Creek into a hub for the Southwest.
"I think this helps  broaden the awareness of all the good things that are happening here in Maple Creek and why Maple Creek maybe should be on people's radar screens for a place to visit, invest or to relocate," said Pettyjohn.
Nominations for the 2012 awards closed on March 21. A SMA selection committee made up of several municipal partners deliberated and notified the finalists on April 23.
Finalists are judged in six categories – municipal innovation and service excellence, regional leadership and partnerships, economic development leadership, community life enrichment, environmental stewardship, and heritage conservation leadership.
Communities that demonstrate good use of strategies to improve the local economy and promote the long-term enrichment of the provincial economy are awarded the economic development leadership award.
Those that demonstrate a  stewardship of heritage or encourage heritage conservation are awarded the heritage conservation leadership award.
In heritage conservation leadership, Maple Creek was recognized for its efforts to rehabilitate historic buildings and the heritage district designated by town council. For economic development leadership, the town was recognized for the Main Street revitalization program and efforts in tourism development.
The awards are granted to communities that demonstrate good governance, effective management, consistent public engagement, innovation, significance, transferability, sustainability and capacity building.