Saskatchewanderer to be year-round position

After three years showcasing Saskatchewan’s greatest summertime attractions, the province’s next Saskatchewanderer will face a decidedly different challenge — marketing the unforgiving chill of a Saskatchewan winter.

“I think sometimes we’re our own worst enemy, because we complain about (winter),” said Pat Fiacco, CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan.

“I can tell you this. There are people out there that have never experienced winter that would love the opportunity.”

The next Saskatchewanderer will be tasked with showing those people exactly what they’re missing when the position is filled this December.

And for the first time ever, the Saskatchewanderer will explore the province for an entire year.

“A lot of times there’s a stereotype of Saskatchewan that we’re simply this flat, bald prairie that grows wheat,” said Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty.

“Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Not only does Saskatchewan have a vibrant tourism industry and growing economy, it’s also overflowing with quality jobs, Doherty said.

It was with this in mind that the province decided to expand the role of the Saskatchewanderer — not only in duration, but in scope as well.

“We want to let the world know ... that we are in demand for skilled labour and labourers, and people that want to find good paying jobs,” Doherty said.

The new, temporary position will be funded from the budgets of three government ministries — Parks, Culture and Sport, Agriculture and Economy — to the tune of $120,000.

“If we’re seeing a return on that investment, I could see it becoming a full-time position,” Doherty said.

The Saskatchewanderer will earn between $55,000 and $60,000.

Since its inception in 2011, the Saskatchewanderer program has helped boost the province’s reputation online, Doherty said.

“We’ve seen an increasing number of people interacting via social media,” he said.

“We can engage people from around the world so they can see what’s happening here in Saskatchewan, not just from a tourism perspective but from what’s happening in our economy here.”

Interested candidates can apply for the position at www.saskatchewanderer.ca between Nov. 4 at noon and Dec. 2 at noon.