After a two year absence,  the 2022 SUMA convention and Tradeshow will be gathering in person inside of Regina this week.

The convention kicked off on Sunday at the Queensbury Convention Centre.

Interim President Randi Goulden noted that it will be nice for representatives from the province’s cities, towns, villages, resort villages and northern municipalities to meet face to face after a two year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recovery from the pandemic will be one the key topics during the week according to Goulden.

She also added there will plenty of other of items to discuss. “Talking about some of our challenges that we have, whether it’s infrastructure, public safety, the issues of mental health and addictions.”

Another key item for the SUMA convention will happen on Tuesday with the election of new SUMA President. The role became vacant since February when former Rodger Hayward stepped down from the position in February.

Goulden has served as Interim President since that time and has put her name forward for the President vacancy. She was first elected to Yorkton City Council in 1997. She has served as East Central Regional Director with SUMA for nearly 20 years, and has been on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board of Directors for 14 years. This is the second time Goulden has served as interim President, with the first time coming in 2016.

One of the reasons she believes that she’s a perfect candidate for the position is because of her relationships with all levels of government. “This type of work I’ve been doing for the past 20 years has established me as someone that enjoys collaborating and co-operating and building really good relationships.”

The keynote address will be delivered by Don Iveson, the former mayor of Edmonton and former chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big City Mayor’s Caucus.

Other events set for the convention include the Premier’s Address and the President’s Address.

The SUMA Convention wraps up on Wednesday.