The following story was developed for inclusion in the resource booklet A Self Help Guide for Intercommunity Co-operation in Sport and Recreation.

Gladmar, Minton and Lake Alma are three villages located "as the crow flies" about an hour south west of Weyburn. All have typical facilities for communities their size, including seniors centres, ball diamonds and community halls. In addition Minton has an outdoor swimming pool, an artificial ice curling rink and an elementary school, Gladmar has a natural ice curling rink and high school complete with gymnasium, and Lake Alma has a recreation complex housing a natural ice skating rink, and an elementary school.

In the mid 1980s Gladmar considered renovating their curling rink and putting in artificial ice; a costly project for a small community. "In the end, we decided we didn't need a rink any more" said Shirley Gruber, a member of the local recreation board. "There were already good rinks in Lake Alma and Minton."

In 1985 a bowling alley was built in Gladmar. Gruber summed it up best when she said, "After it was built, the bowling alley just seemed to break the ice. People from Lake Alma and Minton started using and supporting the facility, with no concern about it being located here. In small communities, you just have to share."

That spirit of co-operation extends to other activities. Minton and Gladmar boast the only active drama club in the area; people from both communities participate. "There are good stages in both communities, so the club puts on a play in both", Gruber said, "first at the Elks hall in Minton, then at the School in Gladmar:

A source of community pride is the annual fall fair in Minton. It takes months of planning, involving people from the Minton and Gladmar recreation boards. The end result is a local fair displaying some of the finest arts and crafts, and produce found anywhere in the province.

During the summer months the swimming pool in Minton is a beehive of activity. A complete aquatic program is offered. The Elks Club in Minton cost shares the operation of the pool with the Minton Village Council. Joyce Axten, Village Administrator in Minton spoke of the importance of this support; "The viability of a facility like this in a community this size would be questionable, were it not for the support received from the Elks Club," Axten said. The Elks Club's membership is made up of residents of Minton and Gladmar.

The communities keep in constant touch to co-ordinate activities to help one another. When the roof on the skating rink in Lake Alma collapsed last year, everyone got together and held a major fundraiser. People from the entire district came out to show their support. $54,000 was raised enough to fix the roof.

The Saskatchewan tradition of cooperation has allowed these three communities to take advantage of the best each has to offer and enrich the lives of all residents.

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