Tisdale, Melfort among communities to receive provincial airport funding

Bradshaw represented the province on behalf of Highways Minister Lori Carr. He told northeastNOW the funding means a lot for many smaller airports.

“We have a lot of aerial applicators here plus we have the (STARS) Air Ambulance service that works out of here, plus we have other businesspeople that fly in and out of Tisdale,” Bradshaw explained. “This runway improvement is really going to help.”

Tisdale is receiving $250,000 toward the re-surfacing of their runway. Bradshaw said this funding comes on the heels of CAP funding for work on the apron at the Tisdale Airport a few years ago.

“Helping out our community airports is something that the Government of Saskatchewan is very proud to do.”

Bradshaw said funding for airports helps communities province-wide, and adds a growing economy needs good transportation.

Tisdale Mayor Al Jellicoe said in a news release the community and region appreciate the funding toward the airport.

Tisdale Mayor Al Jellicoe was pleased the town received CAP funding for airport repairs. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

“The investment will help ensure our paved runway can continue to meet the needs of various aircrafts that provide key services to east-central Saskatchewan, such as air ambulances for health care, aerial applicators for the agricultural industry, along with other commuter and private users of the facility.”

Melfort will receive $112,500 for taxiway paving, and City Manager Adam Homes told northeastNOW the funding is much appreciated.

“Right now, for the majority, we don’t even have pavement (on the taxiway, so this is going to be great for our operators,” said Homes. “It’s an upgrade from a gravel taxiway to a paved, hard surface, so obviously much better for the airplanes.”

Homes said the project will now go out to tender, and the city looks forward to getting the project done by October. He hopes a paved taxiway will help lure new hangar owners and operators to the airport.

Each project is funded through the CAP program on a 50/50 cost-sharing basis between the recipient and the provincial government to a maximum $275,000.

The funded projects for 2024-25 are:

RM of Eldon No. 471, Maidstone Airport crack sealing and paving, $29,450
Town of La Ronge, Apron 4 and 5 edge lighting, $75,000
Town of Leader, airport crack sealing and repairs, $30,570
Village of Lucky Lake, airport runway rehabilitation, $60,750
City of Melfort, airport taxiway paving, $112,500
City of Moose Jaw, Apron II and Taxiway C engineering and earthworks Phase 1 and 2, $120,000
City of North Battleford, security/wildlife fencing, $50,000
City of Prince Albert, YPA airfield cameras, $33,000
City of Swift Current, airfield electrical, $13,000
Town of Tisdale, Phase I re-surface runway, $250,000
City of Weyburn, airport revitalization, $89,000
City of Yorkton, airport signage, $26,000

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK

by Cam Lee

Tisdale, Melfort among communities to receive provincial airport funding

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