SUMA
SUMA
S9:E08 SUMA Ex-Officio Board Member, UMAAS President Barry Elliott
S9:E08 SUMA Ex-Officio Board Member, UMAAS President Barry Elliott
S9:E08 SUMA Ex-Officio Board Member, UMAAS President Barry Elliott
Monday 15th December 2025
Explore Barry Elliott's journey in municipal leadership and his insights on collaboration between UMAAS and SUMA.
28 minutes
Inspiring
Informative
Hopeful
Supportive
Engaging
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SUMA
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Relationships & Community
Community & Support Networks
Sobriety Toolkit
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Get the buttons here!Barry Elliott: A Journey in Municipal Leadership
Episode Overview
- Barry Elliott shares his journey from small-town upbringing to a key role in municipal leadership.
- Collaboration between UMAAS and SUMA is crucial for addressing recruitment challenges.
- A best practices manual is being developed to standardise approaches across municipalities.
- Successful collaborations, like joint emergency management planning, highlight collective efforts.
- Training opportunities and youth engagement are key to the future of municipal administration.
"Those individuals who are working on their behalf around the elected tables as appointed officials are doing it because they care about the communities they're working in."
What drives someone to dedicate their life to municipal administration? Barry Elliott, the President of the Urban Municipalities Administrators Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS) and CAO for the town of Maple Creek, shares his journey from a small-town upbringing to a pivotal role in shaping Saskatchewan's urban governance. Barry's story is one of dedication and collaboration, influenced by his parents' public service careers in law enforcement and healthcare.
His path through nine municipalities across four provinces highlights a career rich in experience and commitment. In this episode, Barry discusses the new governance structure adopted by SUMA, which includes a seven-member board and 34 representatives. He emphasises the importance of collaboration between UMAAS and SUMA, particularly in addressing challenges like recruitment and retention of qualified staff. Barry also touches on the need for a best practices manual to standardise approaches across municipalities.
Listeners will gain insights into the advocacy work UMAAS does, as Barry explains how issues are brought to the SUMA board for discussion. He also highlights successful collaborations, such as the joint emergency management planning group in Maple Creek, showcasing the power of collective effort in municipal governance. Barry's optimism about the future of municipal administration is infectious, as he discusses training opportunities and potential programs to engage youth in municipal careers.
His closing thoughts remind us of the noble nature of public service and the commitment of those working tirelessly for their communities. Curious about how collaboration shapes municipal governance? Dive into this engaging episode with Barry Elliott and explore the future of Saskatchewan's urban municipalities.