(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Technology

‘You just want to know who is out there’: local R.M. to field test new app

Nov 12, 2019 | 1:48 PM

A new app which was designed to help address concerns related to trespassing and illegal hunting, is a step in the right direction according to the reeve for the rural municipality (R.M.) of Shellbrook.

The SaskLander app will be field tested in the R.M. for one year. Doug Oleksyn, who plans to participate himself, explained to paNOW he thought technology could provide an easy means to connecting hunters with land owners.

“Up until this point it’s been, you know, somebody driving into the yard or obtaining a phone number and phoning them. I think [this app] just takes it one step further,” he said.

The app, which was developed by a Regina-based company, follows the amendments made to the Trespass to Property Act earlier this year. Under those changes, individuals now must get permission from rural land owners before going on their property. While he agrees with the overall concept of the app, Oleksyn said he also thinks the developers have some stuff to work through.

“Some stuff they haven’t thought about like for instance Clubroot. Say with quadding and mudding, you know that’s a concern,” he said.

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Oleksyn explained from what he’s been told, the app will include a colour-coded map. Areas where hunting is prohibited could be red, while areas which could be accessed for hunting or ATV riding, could be yellow or blue.

“[The developers] were even talking about using location on cellphones to inform you when you are close to a boundary,” he said.

After developing the app, Western Heritage did a 16-week residency with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and Innovation Saskatchewan.That allowed the company to work through potential challenges that may come up. The government has said it aims to have the pilot project wrapped up before the end of 2020.

“Really at the end of the day you just want to know who is out there,” Oleksyn said.

— with files from 650 CKOM

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell