Big North Battleford plans for upcoming events in 2023

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.ca

The City of North Battleford Parks and Recreation Department has some big plans for events happening in the city later this year.

Director of Parks and Recreation Cheryl DeNeire outlined some of the plans in remarks to the regular city council meeting on Monday night.

The first big event planned is for Canada Day, July 1. DeNeire said the plan is for a day full of activities on Canada Day going beyond just the fireworks. She noted community partners including the Western Development

Museum are looking to be involved.

“That will be a day with fireworks, activities, and pancake breakfast for brunch. And we’re excited. I think with the help of our partners that we’re working with, we’ll be able to come up with a nice lineup for the day.”

Another event is New Year’s Eve fireworks. DeNeire said that back during COVID-19 times the fireworks had to be deferred from July 1 to New Year’s Eve.

That “went over spectacularly well,” she said. So the plan is to expand on that and have a full day of activities on New Year’s Eve.

Finally, DeNeire said the City is bringing back the community barbeques.

These were community-building events that had been staged before as part of community safety initiatives, encouraging people to get to know their neighbours. DeNeire said they will be working in partnership with Protective Services and other community partners to bring back the events.

DeNeire would not confirm details on where the events will be but did say there would be at least two community barbeques, maybe three. She pledged there will be more details coming up shortly on that.

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.CA

There have been a few changes recently to the composition of North Battleford’s Community Safety Officers.

At the regular North Battleford council meeting on Monday, Director of Protective Services Lindsay Holm introduced some of the new CSOs and those shifting to new positions within the force. He noted Jerry Koliniak had taken on the role of unit commander, taking over from Alain Manibal.

“He started this position in 2022 and has brought forward a number of great initiatives that has helped the CSO program advance,” Holm said.

Holm also noted several new CSOs who had started with the program since 2022. He also noted the CSOsnow included an Indigenous member, Lyndsey Livingston, and he also introduced a new firefighter Misty Hulit, who is also Indigenous.

Holm also mentioned one notable departure: Barry Adams, who had been with the program since be- fore the change to Community Safety Officers, will be retiring.

He thanked Adams for his “dedicated service to this community. He does his job every day with great diligence and I think he has become one of the most reliable officers the city has had.”

Mayor David Gillan and members of council congratulated the CSOs, and said to Adams “I wish you and Gail the very best in the future — I hope that you travel the world and enjoy yourselves and relax because you’ve earned it.”