Resort Subdivision of Whelan Bay
Financial Information
Last Updated November 13, 2025
The District
The District is a single incorporated municipality in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. The District can be thought of like a ‘northern RM’ where the District includes all of the area in northern Saskatchewan excluding towns, northern villages and northern hamlets and designated park land. The communities within the District include:
Northern Municipal Services
Northern Municipal Services (NMS) holds the unique responsibility to act as the local government authority for the District. The District is governed by the Minister of Government Relations who acts as council for the District as a municipality. NMS consults local cabin owners’ associations (COA) annually on expenditures.
NMS receives municipal service requests from residents on a regular basis. Additionally, any resident is welcome to bring forward ideas for improving their community by contacting our office. Please see the Comment and Feedback submission below.
Expenditures
Municipal expenses must be paid by NMS, not the COA, for services such as road maintenance, snow removal and recreation programming like Canada Day fireworks and supplies. The COA, as an independent, registered non-profit organization can collect membership fees and donations for COA expenses in accordance with its bylaws. The COA may not use municipal assets or municipally funded services to collect fees or donations.
Garage
The garage site is leased by the COA and located on park land. The COA has expressed their commitment to retaining the lease. The COA will now be responsible for insuring and maintaining the garage.
SGI advised the GMC flat-deck truck needs to be registered and licensed. A driver list will need to be provided so the municipality’s liability insurance coverage can be extended to any driver. Until it is registered there is no insurance coverage on this vehicle or for any driver.
Gravel/Sand Pit
The lease for the gravel pit near Whelan Bay was held by NMS since 2018 when the COA chose to assign the lease to NMS. At the time the COA had accrued over $3,000 in outstanding unpaid lease fees. No fees for material were collected by NMS as fee collection is not allowed by the Ministry of Environment for non-commercial gravel/sand pits. The sand/gravel pit did not contain suitable material for road maintenance or other municipal.
There are private gravel pits in the Whelan Bay area where residents can arrange to purchase gravel and sand for personal use. As required by the terms of the lease, NMS reclaimed the gravel/sand pit at a municipal cost of approximately $10,000 and applied to the Ministry of Environment to surrender the lease. The site is now closed and no further material will be available from this site.
Cesspit/Sewage Disposal
Wastewater disposal is regulated in Saskatchewan by the Water Security Agency (WSA). Over the last couple of years we have seen progress in wastewater haulers applying for the appropriate permits from WSA and providing data on the volumes being disposed of in the cesspit. We have been notified that the current facility at Whelan Bay is not compliant with provincial regulations.
NMS is committed to planning for long-term solutions for sewage disposal for the resort subdivision and the region in cooperation with Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport and WSA. NMS engaged an engineering consultant to provide a feasibility study regarding sewage disposal. NMS will continue to move this project forward over the next five years.
Garbage Bin Site
NMS has supplied bins for household waste, recycling and larger non-household items. The site attendant(s) are employees of the District. NMS advertised and hired a site attendant last year based on a recommendation from the COA.
The garbage disposal service is intended for residential use only. Local tax revenues pay for the Greenland Waste bin rental, service and site attendant wages and benefits. No monies are collected by NMS for any disposal items at this site and no permission has been given to do so by third parties. Any misuse of these services (disposing of hazardous products, metals or other unallowed products or collecting of fees) may result in the removal of the service.
Public Dock and Boat Launch
Unfortunately, the wind damaged the municipal dock this summer and it is unrepairable. We will be looking at options for a product that is more durable. We look forward to having a new public dock available in spring 2026.
If you would like to contact Northern Municipal Services, please fill out the Comments and Feedback form below.
The District is a single incorporated municipality in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. The District can be thought of like a ‘northern RM’ where the District includes all of the area in northern Saskatchewan excluding towns, northern villages and northern hamlets and designated park land. The communities within the District include:
- 11 northern settlements
- 14 resort subdivisions
- 10 northern subdivisions, and
- upwards of 8,000 leases
Northern Municipal Services
Northern Municipal Services (NMS) holds the unique responsibility to act as the local government authority for the District. The District is governed by the Minister of Government Relations who acts as council for the District as a municipality. NMS consults local cabin owners’ associations (COA) annually on expenditures.
NMS receives municipal service requests from residents on a regular basis. Additionally, any resident is welcome to bring forward ideas for improving their community by contacting our office. Please see the Comment and Feedback submission below.
Expenditures
Municipal expenses must be paid by NMS, not the COA, for services such as road maintenance, snow removal and recreation programming like Canada Day fireworks and supplies. The COA, as an independent, registered non-profit organization can collect membership fees and donations for COA expenses in accordance with its bylaws. The COA may not use municipal assets or municipally funded services to collect fees or donations.
Garage
The garage site is leased by the COA and located on park land. The COA has expressed their commitment to retaining the lease. The COA will now be responsible for insuring and maintaining the garage.
SGI advised the GMC flat-deck truck needs to be registered and licensed. A driver list will need to be provided so the municipality’s liability insurance coverage can be extended to any driver. Until it is registered there is no insurance coverage on this vehicle or for any driver.
Gravel/Sand Pit
The lease for the gravel pit near Whelan Bay was held by NMS since 2018 when the COA chose to assign the lease to NMS. At the time the COA had accrued over $3,000 in outstanding unpaid lease fees. No fees for material were collected by NMS as fee collection is not allowed by the Ministry of Environment for non-commercial gravel/sand pits. The sand/gravel pit did not contain suitable material for road maintenance or other municipal.
There are private gravel pits in the Whelan Bay area where residents can arrange to purchase gravel and sand for personal use. As required by the terms of the lease, NMS reclaimed the gravel/sand pit at a municipal cost of approximately $10,000 and applied to the Ministry of Environment to surrender the lease. The site is now closed and no further material will be available from this site.
Cesspit/Sewage Disposal
Wastewater disposal is regulated in Saskatchewan by the Water Security Agency (WSA). Over the last couple of years we have seen progress in wastewater haulers applying for the appropriate permits from WSA and providing data on the volumes being disposed of in the cesspit. We have been notified that the current facility at Whelan Bay is not compliant with provincial regulations.
NMS is committed to planning for long-term solutions for sewage disposal for the resort subdivision and the region in cooperation with Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport and WSA. NMS engaged an engineering consultant to provide a feasibility study regarding sewage disposal. NMS will continue to move this project forward over the next five years.
Garbage Bin Site
NMS has supplied bins for household waste, recycling and larger non-household items. The site attendant(s) are employees of the District. NMS advertised and hired a site attendant last year based on a recommendation from the COA.
The garbage disposal service is intended for residential use only. Local tax revenues pay for the Greenland Waste bin rental, service and site attendant wages and benefits. No monies are collected by NMS for any disposal items at this site and no permission has been given to do so by third parties. Any misuse of these services (disposing of hazardous products, metals or other unallowed products or collecting of fees) may result in the removal of the service.
Public Dock and Boat Launch
Unfortunately, the wind damaged the municipal dock this summer and it is unrepairable. We will be looking at options for a product that is more durable. We look forward to having a new public dock available in spring 2026.
If you would like to contact Northern Municipal Services, please fill out the Comments and Feedback form below.