Former Humboldt Mayor Malcolm Eaton was recently in Colombia sharing his experiences as a community leader of a centre with heavy mining interests.

The work was part of Eaton's involvement with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, an organization he has been on the executive of since his days as Humboldt's mayor.

Overall the entourage which included a community leader from the Caribou region of British Colombia that also has heavy mining ties.

"They were very interested in our experience working in the community, planning for growth, working regionally, how we work with the provincial government and things like that," Eaton explained upon his return from the South American country.

Eaton said they met with representatives from about 60 Colombian communities. He says their largest focus is how can they work together, something Eaton relates to the Mid-Sask Municipal Alliance they developed in east-central Saskatchewan.

"This bringing the communities together at a meeting like this is a new thing for them. They are trying to have a stronger voice with both their provincial and national governments."

The main purpose of the excursion was to share their knowledge but Eaton did learn some things that can be brought back to Humboldt and passed on to the current regime. That was the Colombian's focus on their parks and recreation facilities.

"People really use them there," he stressed. "It certainly drew attention in our case to the work we were doing in the 'Our Humboldt' planning to how important public spaces are downtown, the cultural spaces, the heritage spaces as well as the parks and recreation spaces."

Eaton will provide council with a report in the future to pass along the knowledge he obtained. FCM has another event coming up at the end of March that he has an open invite to attend, he is leaning towards taking part hoping for another once in a life time experience.

"It's a good feeling to be able to go to other communities and feel like you are helping and contributing and I certainly enjoyed that aspect and wouldn't mind doing it again."

You can hear more from Eaton below who spoke with Bolt FM's Clark Stork.