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Man charged in Laverdiere murder gets two years less a day
Winter Finery
Pleads guilty to unlawful confinement By Lisa Joy
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / News-Optimist
An Edmonton man charged in the death of Tiki Laverdiere has pleaded guilty to kidnapping with intent to unlawfully confine. Thirty-three-year-old Charles St. Savard – one of 10 people charged in Laverdiere’s murder – entered the guilty plea in North Battleford Provincial Court Jan. 11 via CCTV. Crown prosecutor Charlotte Morden and defense Tim Nolin entered a joint submission. A charge of first-degree murder against St. Savard, was withdrawn in October.Crown prosecutor Charlotte Morden and defense Tim Nolin entered a joint submission. Morden asked the court
for a sentence of 24 to 33 months imprisonment. Nolin asked the court for two years less a day. Judge Kevin Hill sentenced St. Savard to 14 months plus 20 days. With credit for the nine months and nine days he has served in remand, St. Savard’s sentence equals two years less one day. St. Savard was ordered to submit a DNA sample and was given a lifetime prohibition on owning firearms. Laverdiere, 25, from Edmonton, was reported missing to Battlefords RCMP on May 12, 2019. She was in Saskatchewan April 27, 2019, to attend the funeral of Tristen Cook-Buckle, 20, on Thunderchild First Nation. RCMP found Laverdiere’s body in a rural area near North Battleford on July 11, 2019.
Over a one-year span, police arrested 10 people in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Others arrested included Nicole Cook, Soaring Eagle Whitstone, Shayla Orthner, Danita Thomas, Jesse Sangster, Nikita Sandra Cook, Samuel Takakenew, Brent Checkosis and Mavis Takakenew. In May 2019 Mavis Takakenew and Brent Checkosis pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and were sentenced to 18 months and seven years respectively. The charges against the seven remaining co-accused haven’t been proven in court. There is a ban on publication on the sentencing hearings for St. Savard, Checkosis and Mavis Takakenew until the trials of all the co-accused are finished.
Mild temperatures have seen landscapes dressed in heavy hoar frost fashion recently. This scene was captured near Turtleford. Photo by Louise Lundberg
Public health order extended to Jan. 29 By John Cairns Staff Reporter
At their COVID-19 update on Tuesday, it was confirmed by the province that they are extending their current public health order until Jan. 29. This extends by two weeks the order that took effect Dec. 17, which was set to expire Jan. 15. Included in the order are the following: Private, indoor gath-
erings are still limited to immediate household members only. The outdoor gatherings are limited to up to 10 people only, provided physical distancing can be maintained. All public health orders for licensed establishments, sports, fitness and dance; places of worship, and mandatory masking remain in place, and nonessential interprovincial travel is being discouraged.
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Premier Moe noted that prior to Christmas these measures had started to have a positive effect in lowering their case numbers. But since Christmas and New Years they were seeing case numbers rise again. “That’s why these restrictions are being extended an additional two weeks.” The Chief Medical Health Officer will review the order closer to Jan. 29 Continued on Page 2
Page 2 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
Major house fire in N.B.
Public health order extended to Jan. 29 Continued from Page 1 at which time it could be extended or revised again. There was also an update of the vaccine rollout. As of Jan. 12, 9,880 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were reported as having been administered in Saskatchewan, with 903 of these doses administered on Jan. 11. Moe said things will be done slightly differently going forward to speed up the vaccine administration. They are now administering all the doses of Pfizer vaccine they receive as soon as they receive them. As for Moderna, the first batch had been sent to rural and remote areas, but the next shipment of 5,400 will be sent to 50 communities in the southeast and east, which will allow it to be administered quickly. Finally, guidance has changed from Pfizer that allows the vaccines to be moved and administered at secondary locations, such as to long term care facilities. “We do have to pick up the pace of vaccinations and we will,” Moe said. “These three changes will allow our health care workers to get more Saskatchewan residents vaccinated more quickly in the days and weeks ahead.” Saskatchewan is due to receive 190,000 vaccines by the end of the first quarter. Moe said they would like to access more vaccines and acknowledged the announcement by the federal government that they
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have procured an additional 20 million doses from Pfizer. Moe said those might not come in the first quarter, but may arrive sometime in the spring. The province’s chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab expressed his condolences about the 49 Saskatchewan residents who have passed away since Jan. 1. “This number is far too high, and it is directly the result of a high community transmission rate.” Dr. Shahab expressed confidence that continuing the same measures for another two weeks would work, noting the same orders brought down numbers in mid-December before the holidays and Christmas break. He noted since then testing numbers have come up and case numbers rising as well. But Dr. Shahab also noted there were gatherings that happened that resulted in transmissions between households. While most public places are complying with guidelines, warning letters have been sent to several bars where business owners and patrons are not complying with guidelines. “There is mingling among tables that is resulting in outbreaks,” said Dr. Shahab. He called for a return to the cautious behaviours seen before. “We have to recognize that unless all of us pull together, COVID-19 comes back with a vengeance, that’s what we are seeing right now.”
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North Battleford Fire Department is reporting there was major damage
to a residence Jan. 8, where they were called to extinguish a fire. The department spent
three hours at 792-100th Street, with the call coming in at 8.02 p.m. Three units with 12
personnel responded. There were no injuries. The fire is under investigation at this time.
Alberta man charged by N.B. RCMP with drug trafficking trying to get bail By Lisa Joy
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / News-Optimist
An Alberta man remains remanded in custody in Saskatchewan after he was arrested in December and charged with trafficking drugs.
Lowen Diehl, 36, from Penhold and Edmonton, appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court Dec. 16 and Jan. 5 and is trying to get released on bail. A show cause hearing is now scheduled for Jan. 15. North Battleford RCMP arrested Diehl on Dec. 7
after they received a report from a concerned citizen about an erratic driver. Police located the SUV on Highway 16 and arrested Diehl. When police searched the SUV they found a large amount of Canadian currency, about 15 kg of
methamphetamine, about one kg of cocaine, a small amount of fentanyl and one kg of an unidentified substance. Police say the methamphetamine equals about 150,000 individual doses and the cocaine equals about 1,000 individual doses.
Alleged Westside gang member in custody By Lisa Joy
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / News-Optimist
A bail hearing for an alleged Westside Outlaws street gang member was adjourned in Lloydminster Provincial Court Jan. 11. North Battleford resident Tonia Cantel, 22, has been held in custody since her arrest on Nov. 20, 2020. She is charged with theft of a vehicle, numerous firearms-related offences, endangering the safety of
the public, and flight from police. Cantel, and four others, allegedly took RCMP on a 150-kilometre, two-hour chase from Lashburn to north of Paradise Hill. Her co-accused include Juanita Wahpistikwan, 21, from Big Island Cree Nation, Kyle Lajimodiere from Cold Lake, Alta., and two young offenders who can’t be named in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. A search of the stolen
vehicle the five were in resulted in the seizure of a sawed-off modified rifle, ammunition, a machete, a BB pistol and several knives. Police also located gang paraphernalia including a red paisley bandana. RCMP say the five are members of Westside Outlaws street gang. The charges against the five haven’t been proven in court. Cantel’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 21. Lajimodiere is
scheduled to appear on Jan. 26 to speak to his matter. Wahpistikwan has a show cause hearing on Jan. 21 in Lloydminster Provincial Court. If you are associated with a gang and want to leave it, contact STR8 UP in northern Saskatchewan at 306-763-3001, STR8 UP in central Saskatchewan at 306-244-1771, or Regina Treaty Status Indian Services in southern Saskatchewan at 306-522-7494 to get assistance.
Barnhart joins list of travelling leaders By Becky Zimmer
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Battlefords News-Optimist
The leader of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan is coming under fire as news broke last week of a recent trip to Hawaii. Mayor of Saltcoats and Municipalities of Saskatchewan president, Gordon Barnhart, is now facing scrutiny from both within the organization and from across the province as more and more provincial figureheads are being reported for international travel during the pandemic. Mayor Rodger Hayward, Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s VicePresident of Towns, said in a press release on behalf of Municipalities of Saskatchewan that the board is disappointed in Barnhart’s decision.
“As municipal leaders, we have a duty to lead by example and keep our communities safe by following public health measures and recommendations ...We strongly believe that everyone should be doing their part to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.” They do not know Barnhart’s itinerary, he said later in a phone interview, and they are not aware of when he left for Hawaii or when he will return but the Municipalities of Saskatchewan are hoping that Barnhart reaches out to them soon to discuss his side of the issue. “It’s very hard for us to speak on his behalf for him on a situation like this. So we really need him to reach out and talk to people. There’s a lot of questions that I, and we as a board, just can’t answer.” The board scheduled an emergency meeting Jan.
8 to discuss the repercussions of Barnhart’s travel and nothing can be done until Barnhart contacts the board. “It caught a few of us off guard and we are disappointed by [Barnhart’s] decision. And it does put our organization in a in a bad light right now and we don’t want that.” Recommendations have come out from Health Canada and the province suggesting a reduction in travel to contain the spread of the virus since the start of the pandemic. Health Canada advisors suggested that all residents, “avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice to limit the spread of COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself, your family and those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in our communities is to choose to stay in Canada.”
According to the provincial COVID-19 website, “the best way to protect yourself, your family, and those most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in our communities is to choose to stay in Canada. Contact your airline or tour operator to determine options for cancelling or postponing your trip.” Municipalities of Saskatchewan have ongoingly supported provincial and federal regulations and shared information with panels and workshops with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, including panels with Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, being provided for their members throughout the pandemic. The most recent of these workshops was a virtual town hall with the Saskatchewan Health Authority on Dec. 9.
ATTENTION NORTHWEST SASKATCHEWAN! We are gathering information and advertising for our 2021 Edition Circle The Northwest. Business owners this is your chance to be included. Do you have an interesting story? Call Valorie Higgs 306•441•5665 or email valoriehiggs@sasktel.net Deadline for submissions Wednesday March 26, 2021
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The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 3
Colby Cave memorial proposed for N.B. By John Cairns Staff Reporter
Ways to commemorate the life of a well-known local NHL hockey player was up for discussion at North Battleford city council Monday evening. Before council was a proposal to honour the memory of Colby Cave, the former Edmonton Oiler and Boston Bruins hockey player who died April 11 of last year at the age of 25 from a brain bleed. The proposal before council came from Mallory Simmonds, representing the Colby Cave Memorial Planning Committee. In correspondence to the city, Simmonds reported that the committee is in the “planning stages of honouring this young man and his hockey history in our community, with hopes to announce our plans on the one year anniversary of
his death.” Her correspondence noted Cave was born and raised in the Battlefords and played minor hockey in the community, including with the under-18 AAA Battlefords Stars. Simmonds noted Cave had not only put the Battlefords on the map as a hockey player, but also “left behind a legacy of being a respectful, coachable, hard working teammate.” Some members of the Battlefords Minor Hockey Association along with Cave’s parents and local sponsors Innovation Credit Union and Access Communications have started planning on how he should be honoured. Among the ideas the BMHA board has approved include: (1) Creation of the Colby Cave award to be presented every spring to players from each hockey division who showcase
coachability, teamwork, sportsmanship, work ethic and respect. (2) Launch of the Colby Cave Memorial Spring Hockey Camp, which would run during the Easter school break and be available to all players from the area. (3) Finally, the renaming of the roundabout in front of the Civic Centre along with the hanging the banners with images of Cave’s jerseys worn over the years, as well as a physical monument. It was that third item that requires the approval of council to go forward. The committee is proposing the roundabout and access road be renamed “Colby Cave Way,” with “Memorial Way” a second choice. The idea is for the banners to be added to light posts on a less permanent basis. As for the monument,
North Battleford city council discussed the Colby Cave Memorial Planning Committee’s proposal Monday evening. Screenshot by John Cairns
the suggestion is to put it up somewhere within the roundabout. Ideas for a monument include a statue of Cave, or covering one of his hockey sticks in bronze and having a plaque put up there. Also a consideration is, if a new arena is built, whether the
memorial could be relocated to that venue once it is built. In remarks at council Monday, Councillor Kelli Hawtin noted there was “a lot of things to consider here,” including how this works with the existing street naming policies and
bylaws. The consensus that quickly emerged at the meeting was that council discuss the issue at length at a future planning committee meeting, which would include looking into the current street naming policy.
City Hall has plenty of grant money available By John Cairns Staff Reporter
There is still plenty of Sask Lotteries money available for North Battleford if any groups are interested. Councillor Kelli Hawtin noted the Sask
Lotteries Community Grants Adjudication Committee met this past week for the final meeting of their granting year. She said they have $106,000 in funding from Sask Lotteries available for the granting year that runs until April.
Battleford approves Concern for Youth funding for 2021 By John Cairns Staff Reporter
The Town of Battleford has given its approval to funding to Concern for Youth for 2021. The town has approved $8,000, which was what was previously allocated in their budget for 2021. That amount is smaller than what Concern for Youth had hoped. Their executive director Dani Williams appeared before town council Monday on the virtual Teams platform to make the request.
Her request had been for $10,000, which covered 80 per cent to supplememt their staff with a coordinated youth engagement coordinator position, with the rest to support their mentorship program. The suggestion from council is that the remaining $2,000 could be made up through applying to the town’s community grant program. In the end council voted in favour of the $8,000 grant, with council expressing their support for the work Concern for Youth is doing.
If that money is not granted, the remaining amount gets sent back to Sask Lotteries for the next funding year. Because of the lack of events in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “we’ve had a serious decline in applications,”
said Hawtin. Out of the $106,000, they still have $60,000 remaining to be allocated in North Battleford as well as a little bit of money for the RM of North Battleford. Even though last week was their final scheduled meeting, the city’s Sask
Lotteries Community Grants Adjudication Committee has agreed to meet again in March to go through any more applications from nonprofits. Hawtin is encouraging interested non-profits to apply. “We could really use
N.B. building permits end year on upswing By John Cairns Staff Reporter
Final numbers are in for building permits in North Battleford, with the city ending the year on a nota-
ble upswing in December. The month saw seven permits issued for $601,600, up from four permits for $53,000 in Dec. 2019. The numbers capped off
a strong year, with 2020 values exceeding the 2019 total several months ago. Overall, the city reported a grand total of 97 permits for $24,115,528, up from 86 permits for $10,995,300
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As expected the Town of Battleford has given its approval to accepting the SGI Provincial Traffic Safety Funding grant. This is to install the advance-warning system along Highway 4 in Battleford. The grant was for $72,300 towards the town’s “Prepare to Stop
When Flashing Installation Project,” where “prepare to stop” lights are to be installed between the intersections of 22nd Street/ Highway 40 and 29th Street on Highway 4. Two identical flashinglight signs will be placed on the road. Any additional costs beyond the $72,300 for the project would be borne by the town, according to the town’s chief ad-
ministrative officer, Ash Alam. If there is a significant cost variance the town could still reject the funding, noted Mayor Ames Leslie. The province had previously announced the funding for Battleford in late December. Mayor Leslie noted the town had been working on obtaining funding for the project for the last five years, and that
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they had approached highways for the last number of years about the issue. Finally, the SGI funding opportunity became available. Councillor Doug Laing noted that members of council had been asked about warning signs often, added he hoped the signs would be put up “sooner rather than later.”
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some people applying for these funds,” Hawtin said. The grant application and all the information is available on the city’s website. Groups can also use the funding for COVID-19 expenses for physical distancing and so on.
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Letter
Amazing things in 2020
The commentaries offered on this editorial page are intended to provide thought-provoking material for our readers. Contributors’ articles, cartoons or letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any Regional News-Optimist staff.
Dear Editor Regarding “Our Ugly Pandemic Year of 2020 - A Year for the Trash Can,” News-Optimist Jan. 7, 2021, I would have expected a more positive perspective from the “Optimist,” as this seems to be quite the contradiction, since it’s not hard to see the amazing things that have happened this year. I work in mental health with people who suffer from chronic mental illness. In all of my career, I have never seen so many people so calm and at peace, in the face of so much chaos surrounding them. They cannot have visitors, are not able to do many of the activities they could before and are primarily stuck on the unit. I can’t quite put my finger on why they are so settled. They don’t complain and are generally happy, in spite of the challenges we face daily. They inspire me every single day. All I know is, when you look for good, beauty and positivity, it is everywhere. In no way am I trying to minimize how challenging this year has been, not only for myself, but for many other people, and I have the utmost compassion for you. When you look for the sun set, you see beauty. When you don’t, it’s just a regular day. We need to adjust our perception from problem based to hope based, and it is up to you. In addition to the virus; so too is positive energy extremely contagious. Tiare Aubryn Fenrich North Battleford
Letter
We’ll get through this
T H E B AT T L E F O R D S
Dear Editor Thank you for your continued commitment to delivering our local news. As much as your article, “Our ugly pandemic year of 2020 – A year for the trash can,” shared some tough reminders about what our community went through this year, I think that it’s important to look at the other side of our story. I will be one of the first to say that, if given a choice at the beginning of 2020, I would have opted for a “normal” year. I would rather not have seen my daughter, on her birthday (March 16), trudging through the snowy school grounds of Battleford Central School with a garbage bag full of her school supplies to begin a long 3.5 months of learning from home. I would have loved to cheer our NBCHS Vikings female basketball team to another (possible) gold medal at Hoopla. I would have loved to continue my job as an exercise therapist, leading dozens of great seniors in exercise programming each week. I would have loved to host family after family in my home for meals. But 2020 didn’t go like that. 2020 was tough, but I’m choosing to be grateful that it went the way it did: We were able to stop hustling around to the many (over)-commitments that we’ve been a part of for too many years Those of us in the health care field or many other industries are working in many new ways. It’s hard, but
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we have amazing people working around us who aren’t willing to give up. We’ve learned a lot and have made friendships that will last well beyond this year. We’ve been forced to get outside in order to be with our loved ones. My children and I have especially appreciated the many memories made with my mom (their Nana), as we have canoed, hiked, skied, and biked in order to visit with each other. And I was brought to tears seeing my dad lace up his skates after being sidelined for six or so years with a bad hip. He smiled like a kid while he circled his grandchildren on the outdoor rink at my sister’s farm. We never would have done any of this in a “normal year.” While many of us are “zoom-fatigued,” we have connected in different, sometimes deeper ways as we get a glimpse of each other’s homes and families. We can all laugh at the meetings we’ve been in where our children yell “I’m HUNGRY!”, or better yet, “MOM! CAN YOU WIPE MY BUM?” The resilience of our teachers and school staff has been amazing. Pajama-party zoom calls, awards day videos, walk-through graduations, teaching kids how to tolerate masks for a whole day, you name it, they’ve done it. And to all the daycares and early childhood staff out there: you are true superheroes. You have kept serving our young families without skipping a beat. I am beyond grateful.
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2020 was one for the record books, for bad and for good. But I would never, ever, want to erase the memories of this year from the deep and sacred places in my heart. Maybe the circumstances of 2020 were dumptsterlike. But I’d like to say that I’d rather be in a dumpster with the many amazing people of the Battlefords than anywhere else in the world. Cheers guys. We’ll get through this. Wendy Verity Battleford
Bouquet A big shout out to Willie and the City of North Battleford Parks and Rec staff for doing such an amazing job at grooming the cross-country ski trails and walking paths around the city. In particular, the trails at Finlayson Island were groomed to Olympic level standards over the past few weeks. Thanks for helping to shorten this long, covid winter. It’s awesome to see so many people make use of the islands. Doug Sylvester Biathlon Saskatchewan Provincial Coach Gordon Brewerton Senior Group Publisher
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Rise and Fall By R.H. Wood
North Battleford
What is transpiring in America at this time is simply beyond imagining. The name “Trump” so epitomized success that it was simply being enfranchised. Now his empire has all the elements of a developing wasteland. In Britain if you examine products, including some exported to Canada, you may find the discreet and very desirable insignia that states ”By Royal Appointment” meaning that her gracious majesty’s
The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 5
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household has granted the seal of approval to the product. The equivalent in America was the “Trump” name. This privilege is
somewhat less graciously denied to Harry and Meghan. In this country the closest equivalent I can come up with is CAA recommended – how about “Justin’s Choice” or “Trudeau Tried and Tested” (T.T.T.). It is so sad to witness someone fall from grace privately or publicly, whether from self-inflicted errors or otherwise, and for this fate to befall the president of America is unbelievable. This President has never been accepted by the opposing party and now after four years the hounds have been released led by someone described as being 100 per cent
hydrochloric acid. The world can only watch and see what the words democracy, clemency, compassion, understanding, forgiveness and self-healing mean while America is in the throes of Covid and political turmoil. The rise and fall of empires is part of history – today we are seeing it live, or, as enlightened people would say, “in real time.” I know that some are rejoicing that another prophecy is seemingly coming to fulfillment. Surely most others would wish that this nightmare had never overtaken our nearest neighbours.
Letter
Sacred music a rarity in a secular dominated world Dear Editor I am not much of a big box store shopper, but six days after Remembrance Day 2020 I went into one to look for a certain item. Well, well. “Joy to the World” was blasting over the sound system. The Lord is come? I couldn’t find the item. I left. No joy to the cash register from me. Christmas morning 2019, I walked into the kitchen and turned on the radio to a CBC Saskatchewan station. What did I hear? “Here Comes the Sun.” Yes, sun. With all due respect to the musical talent of The Beatles, I nevertheless turned off the radio. About the second week of Advent 2020, I heard a radio announcer say, “If you’re tired of Christmas music ...” What Christmas music? All I’d heard were so-called country and western with performers using a redneck Texan language. “Mah wahf and ah ain’t gunna see each other nomo and it’s all ona count uf you.” I ask you, what real Canadian cowboy talks like that? I’ve known quite a few of them and the favourite music of the toughest
one I’ve ever known was classics and opera. So, there! Thank goodness for radio station CJRB Winnipeg for glorious music; my musical featherbed, all the time. I doubt there’s much sacred Christmas music written anymore. The sentimental ones started in the 1940s, such as “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” then the goofy ones like “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and so on. I suppose “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is a modern sacred song, but I draw the line at “Little Drummer Boy.” It seemed to be on every radio station. Nowhere has the idea of Christmas been revamped more than in the United States. Under Puritan rule, Christmas was banned. Next it became an excuse for gluttony and drunkenness and people locked their homes and stores against unruly mobs Somehow, a poem by Clement Moore, the son of an Anglican bishop, helped to change that. He did not write about Jesus nor Mary, but he produced
“The Night Before Christmas.” He turned famous historical future Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, into Santa Claus, the jolly old (large) elf and he’s been with us ever since, complete with flying reindeer. And it wasn’t long before he was commercialized. One of the first times was those huge cardboard Santa Claus figures drinking Coca Cola, now collectors’ items. And so Christmas Day has changed. It is now called, by the media, the holiday season. I thought that was in July, when the children were out of school and families would go away for a holiday. So, no longer a holy day, as it once was so long ago, but a holiday. Actually, to the Christian church, Boxing Day is a holy day, observing the life and death of the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, who was battered to death with stones for daring to believe in Christianity. At one time here, people would go to skate on the open rink at the schoolhouse on Boxing Day and perhaps call on a neighbour. Then there was the Boxing Day dance in Waseca. There were still
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many farm residents and young people would come home for Christmas, so the dance was a huge reunion. Now no one wants to see the neighbours and a certain number of people go away for Christmas. Besides, who dances anymore? And Boxing Day? It’s Sale Day; buy, buy, buy. As Stompin’ Tom says, we must go, and: “Save a lot of money spending money we don’t got.” I forgive Tom his double negative. He was fun and he put them there for a reason. So, Christmas morning 2020 I didn’t expect much. But I wonder if our national broadcaster had received complaints, because I had a musical feast. No “Drummer Boy,” but Handel’s “Messiah,” starting with the tenor solo, “Comfort Ye My People.”
As I sat there in my own “bubble” enjoying an English Christmas breakfast, I soaked it up. I happened to be standing at the kitchen sink when the Hallelujah Chorus was sung so I was already on my feet to observe the custom started by King George II. This Christmas Day production included the Easter section of “Messiah,” which includes the solo my mother was often
invited to sing in church, “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.” In the 1990s I was the soprano soloist for a production of Messiah in North Battleford, conducted by Sheila (Pratt) Osborn (oh, the talented Pratts). My sister Eileen was in the chorus, which came from far and wide. If the other soloists are still with us, happy New Year to you. Continued on Page 7
Randy Weekes
MLA Biggar-Sask Valley Constituency randyweekes.mla@accesscomm.ca Toll free number 1-877-948-4880
RE
1541 - 100th Street, North Battleford • 306-445-5555
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Weekend Sales Team Donna Ray 306-441-9173
Archie Robinson 306-441-3455
Page 6 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
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Cairns on Cinema
A look back at the worst year in movie box office history By John Cairns Staff Reporter
Welcome to my annual box office year in review column. Disclaimer: this column features scenes of violence and coarse language, most of it coming from cursing studio executives. Viewer discretion advised. I have done a lot of “year in review” writeups lately looking back at the awful year 2020, and while the subject matter has differed the general content has remained the same. They all talked about how COVID-19 upended the year in general and caused changes in the way society functions. The motion picture industry was disrupted more than most, due to attendance restrictions and outright shutdowns of cinemas for long periods of time. We saw wide releases delayed for months at a time. We saw movies released directly to digital. We saw more outdoor screenings at drive-ins. None of that made up for the revenue that was lost to the industry. Motion picture shoots were also disrupted everywhere, with projects planned for releases 2021, 2022 and beyond seeing their dates pushed back. In short, it has been chaos.
Instead of focusing on that, I will be turning my attention in this column to all the gory details about the box office bottom line for 2020. Based on the numbers for the whole year that are listed at Box Office Mojo, here are the top five domestic box office grosses for movies released in 2020: Bad Boys for Life (Sony) $206,305,244 1917 (Universal) $159,227,640 Sonic the Hedgehog (Paramount) $159,227,644 Birds of Prey (Warner Bros) $84,158,461 Dolittle (Universal) $77,047,065 It’s pretty obvious what these films have in common: they were all released prior to March, the month when the whole world went to heck. Bad Boys for Life and Dolittle were released Jan. 17. 1917 went into wide release Jan. 10. Birds of Prey was released Feb. 7. Sonic the Hedgehog was released Feb. 14. You have to keep in mind that the JanuaryFebruary period is typically not a big time for new blockbuster releases, yet due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control it produced all the top grosses for 2020. And to give you an idea of how truly bad a year it truly
was — the haul for Bad Boys for Life would barely make it a Top Ten movie in most years. The last couple years or so, it would not have made the Top Ten at all. Compare it to the top grossing movie of 2019, Avengers: Endgame, which made a domestic haul of over $858 million dollars. $206 million is a gigantic drop off for a Number One movie. Having said all that, even if this was a normal year this was still a good performance for Bad Boys for Life. Their haul now looks positively earth-shattering compared to movies released the rest of the year. The top post-pandemicshutdown movie was Tenet, released Sept. 3, with a haul of $57,929,000. Their domestic haul was considered disappointing at the time, but in retrospect it is remarkable this movie did as well as it did. Tenet was supposed to be the movie that led Hollywood out of the pandemic, but the pandemic had other ideas. In the end, it was the international markets that bailed Tenet out: its worldwide haul was ultimately up to $362 million. As for Wonder Woman 1984, its domestic box office haul so far is over
$28 million, but it is also expected to take in a significant amount through its digital release. Had times been normal, this movie would surely have challenged for the box office title and made hundreds of millions of dollars. Some further details to share about the carnage at the box office in 2020. I saw a piece in the Hollywood Reporter which reported that the domestic box office gross in 2020 was $2.3 billion, down over 80 per cent. The gross in 2019 had been $11.4 billion. Yikes! The global box office was also absolutely dog ugly, with an overall haul between $11.5 and $12 billion, for a drop of 70 per cent. In fact, most of the major markets around the world, including France and the UK, were reporting drops in excess of 70 per cent. That same Hollywood Reporter story noted that for the first time in history, China had topped the North American market to become the top domestic movie-going market in the world, at $2.7 billion compared to $2.3 billion. This is a big story. From what I gather, what actually happened is that the Chinese market returned to “normal” conditions
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around August, while North America and other parts of the world were still struggling to re-open and contending with attendance restrictions. Then in the fall, the “second wave” hit and the lockdowns hit the cinemas again in North America. Here is one more fact that absolutely blew my mind: the global No. 1 movie for 2020 was not a Hollywood production. It was a Chinese one: The Eight Hundred, which has hauled in $460 million. By contrast, Bad Boys for Life grossed $426 million globally. I have seen it all now. Going into 2021 things continue to be in a state of flux for the foreseeable future. I expect the overall box office carnage to continue for the first half of the year, and when things get back to normal depends entirely on how fast the vaccine rollout is. I do think the international box office will be better than the North American box office for the first half of 2021. Europe, though, will still be terrible. The United States, terrible. Canada, terrible. Having said that, I am optimistic things will finally get back to normal everywhere during the second half of 2021, once ev-
eryone has figured out how to deliver the vaccines to millions upon millions of people. I don’t expect any movies to be setting box office records for a while, but I do think a full recovery will happen at some point. There are several major releases planned for 2021 including the oft-delayed No Time to Die (James Bond) scheduled for April 2, the oft-delayed Marvel’s Black Widow on May 7, Godzilla vs. Kong on May 21, F9 (Fast and Furious) on May 28, and Top Gun: Maverick on July 2. Whether these release dates go as scheduled is an open question. My guess is that the studios will be looking closely at how the pandemic is doing and make decisions on release dates based on that. To my eyes, given the current lockdown situation, April and May looks to be too soon for these blockbuster releases and it might make good business sense if these are delayed to late summer or the fall. Surely by then, things will be better. Things cannot get any worse, can it? That’s about all I want to say about the 2020 box office and what might happen in 2021. Normal times cannot resume fast enough, as far as I am concerned.
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The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 7
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Centenarian Keeping in Touch During a Pandemic
of the Battlefords MARKETING YOUR PROPERTY TO THE WORLD
1391 - 100th Street. North Battleford, SK
(306) 446-8800
Each Office Independently Owned & Operated
www.remaxbattlefords.com
Kayla Petersen
Wally Lorenz
Brett Payne
Owner / Broker
Owner / Branch Manager
Owner / REALTOR®
Shawna Schira-Kroeker
Dorothy Lehman
REALTOR®
Marlene Kotchorek
Shane Murdoch
REALTOR®
Nicole Lovell
Owner/ REALTOR®
REALTOR®/Assoc. Broker
REALTOR®
Randall Cote
REALTOR®/Assoc. Broker
2 18th Street, #201, Battleford
The family of a centenarian residing at River Heights Lodge in North Battleford says he may not get to see them in person, but he is staying safe and doing well and speaks with them on the phone several times a day for short chats. On June 12, 2020, a cloudy, warm but very windy day, 16 nieces, nephews and one cousin appeared on the lawn of River Heights Lodge, North Battleford, with balloons, cake and a sign poster wishing Willie Neale a Happy 100th Birthday. On the inside he had his individual angel food cake and was joined by his friends Linda Ulmer and Jackie Alm, a cousin, and Keisha, a masked care worker. One by one we wished him well by phone. The speaker phone was on and Willie had his amplifier/ headset on to listen with. The decorated cake held up by June (daughter) and the sign made by Colleen Smith, a niece, and held by another niece, Margaret Parkinson, a picture was taken with his son Terry talking to him. All that can be seen of Willie is his shoes. Another picture of him was taken with Keisha. The party continued with serving of the cake and the drinks they brought from home and chairs of their own. Social distancing was observed. Photos submitted
Letter
Interested in selling? Call Marlene today! 306-446-8800 MARLENE KOTCHOREK
KAYLA PETERSEN
RM of Battle River Acreage 1499 sq. ft. 4 3
manicured yard site that needs to be seen to be appreciated and a 1499 sqft bungalow with a double attached garage. The home has an open floor plan throughout the kitchen, dining, living room area. On the main there is laundry with a half bath, three bedrooms, full bath and 3 pc ensuite off master bedroom, hardwood flooring in the living room and hallway. Garden doors off the dining area takes you on to a deck with a screened in gazebo that overlooks the back yard with its mature trees, and many, many flowers. The basement is finished with a small kitchen, a very large family area, one-bedroom, full bath and storage room. This home has had many updates in the last 3-4 years including flooring, windows, appliances, two sump pumps, submersible pump in water well. 2019 the natural gas line was installed and connected to a new forced air furnace. Included are the fridge, stove, BI-dishwasher, 2 TV receivers and four counter stools, (not included are the washer, dryer, up-right and chest freezer and fridge in basement). The yard has underground sprinklers, a garden area, many flower and shrub beds, two sheds and a single detached garage in the front yard.
MLS®SK827077
$489,900
RM of Rosemount Acreage 1,240 sq. ft.
4
MLS®SK800299
Christmas comes but once a year and played sacred music for several days. So, how shall Christmas evolve again? I’ve often said we might as well call it All You Can Spend, All Ye Can Eat Day. I recall the days of Christmas concerts in small towns and one-room schoolhouses, where there was often more talent than is publicly touted today. There was indeed Christ in many of the items, but with pressure from minority groups, Christ was removed from Christmas
concerts. Oh, they never could have done so in those small villages or one-room schoolhouses, but they are all gone. In those days, children and adults could sing all the verses of Christmas carols by heart. There are new traditions, however, which aim to feature the Christmas spirit and teach us. Take the Grinch, for example. What do we learn from reading the Grinch story? Don’t wear tight shoes. Christine Pike Waseca
1,276 sq. ft.
4
$149,900
MLS®SK828902
$99,000
2180 Douglas Avenue, North Battleford 1,346 sq. ft.
$209,900
Take a look at this two acre lake front lot located at Swan Lake south west of Prongue Sask. Swan Lake is 3 miles south and half a mile west of Prongua. This lake is in a secluded area surrounded by hills with amazing scenery. This lot has many developed spruce trees and is well sheltered. Power is nearby. Call today for more info.
SHANE MURDOCH
$75,000
MLS®SK838307
Gorgeous view of Jackfish and Murray Lake from these prime lots in Scenic Ridge Estates, Cochin, SK. Just imagine building your dream home or vacation property on this prestigious lot in a new development. Water, power and natural gas to property included in price.
SHANE MURDOCH
$35,900
MLS®SK818498
1862 99th Street, North Battleford 971 sq. ft. 4 2
2
Affordable, newly renovated family home in the town of Glaslyn. Situated on a 50X125 lot this 4BD, 1.5BA home is move in ready with extensive upgrades and renos over the last year some including, shingles, flooring, paint and trim, exterior doors, some windows, HE nat gas furnace, hot water tank, kitchen cabinets, counter tops, appliances, and full bathroom renovations. With main floor laundry as well as wheelchair assessible this home suitable for all categories of buyers whether its for your family, retirement, revenue property or a first-time home buyer this property will certainly fit your needs. Comes with all appliances and is available for immediate possession. Please call for more information. Glaslyn is conveniently located only 45 min to North Battleford, 10 min to Little Loon, and 30 min to Turtle Lake.
SHAWNA SCHIRA-KROEKER
MLS®SK837811
Lot 4 Thomas Drive, Cochin
1
Check out this 20 acre acreage half hour south of Battleford on the outskirts of Cando. Cando offers a K-12 school. This home is 1240 square feet with 4 bedrooms on two levels. The upper level has two bedrooms. The main level has two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, and a 4 piece bath. The basement is ready for development. The furnace is about 5 years old and some of the windows have been replaced. Outside there is a barn and a covered vehicle shed. There is a fenced area for horses and a good supply of water.
SHANE MURDOCH
1
RM of Battle River Land
Acreage with about 20 acres (just being subdivided) west on highway #40 within minutes of Battleford SK.Having a
WALLY LORENZ
2
Located in Battleford , this second level condo is move in ready! Open concept living, 2 bedrooms and a 4pc bath as well as in suite laundry. All appliances will remain. There is a large balcony with southern exposure, 2 storage areas and a natural gas bbq hook up. This unit includes a stall in the exterior heated garage. Condo complex also features a common area, exercise room and elevator. Don’t wait! Book a showing today!
132 1st Street E, Glaslyn
Sacred music a rarity Continued from Page 5 Back, to 2020; “Messiah” was followed by Queen Elizabeth’s thoughtful message. But Boxing Day from our national broadcaster? Well, Jesus’s birthday was celebrated on the 25th but forgotten on the 26th. It was back to Ma Wahf and Ah. Oh, I like country music. I admire Dolly Parton, but why do Canadians not want to sound like Canadians? Ian Tyson managed to do so, as did Wilf Carter. But two or three private radio stations realized
764 sq. ft.
2
Here is a very well cared for bungalow on the West Side. This home has a total of 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. On the main floor it has a large kitchen with abundance of oak cabinets and a good sized living room with a bay window. The basement is completely finished with an extra large rec room/games area. Very nice laundry area with its own sink and counter area. Basement has all been recently up-dated including the 3 piece bath. It has a completely fenced in private back yard. If that is not enough it also has a large 24x26 garage with lots of built in cupboards and counter tops. The garage is fully insulated and has a natural gas heater and 220 wiring. There is also an extra driveway for parking in the front. Take a close look at this one before it is to late.
BRETT PAYNE
MLS®SK836242
$217,900
307 Strange Street, Cut Knife
2
2,096 sq. ft.
MLS®SK810533 $289,000
MLS®SK827906
6
DOROTHY LEHMAN 306-441-7782
NICOLE LOVELL 306-753-7337
2 18th Street #408, Battleford
411 1st Street W, Wilkie
1,096 sq. ft. MLS®SK824042
2
2
$339,000
DOROTHY LEHMAN 306-441-7782
1,152 sq. ft.
3
$168,000
4
2
MLS®SK830345 $86,000
NICOLE LOVELL 306-753-7337
Page 8 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
NBCHS goes off-campus Staff
New case at JPII Staff Light of Christ Catholic School Division is reporting that there has been another case of COVID-19 reported at John Paul II Collegiate High School. They report than on Jan. 10, officials from Saskatchewan Health Au-
thority informed them of a positive COVID-19 case in an individual at the high school. They are working with Public Health to inform parents and caregivers, and the SHA is conducting contact tracing. No further details are being shared to protect the privacy of the individual.
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With five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in individuals in North Battleford Comprehensive High School since Jan. 8, Living Sky School Division has decided to implement offcampus learning for the high school’s students. In a release on Facebook, Living Sky states, “Due to higher number of individuals either self-monitoring
or self-isolating due to COVID exposure, the decision has been made, in consultation with the Regional Medical Health Officer, to move North Battleford Comprehensive High School to level 4 effective Wednesday, Jan.13. Level 4 restrictions will be in place until Friday, Jan. 22.” Under the Safe Schools Plan, level 4 is a transition to alternative learning opportunities. This means
that NBCHS students will be engaging in full-time compulsory off-campus learning, says the school division. Regular curriculum will continue to be taught during this time away from school. Classroom teachers were contacting their students with the details of their individual learning plans. Meanwhile, Living Sky has stated a case of CO-
VID-19 has also been diagnosed in an individual in Maymont Central School and an individual in Lawrence Elementary School in North Battleford. Any individuals who were in close contact have been notified by Public Health with directions. Following the division’s health and safety protocols, the schools have received a deep cleaning/ sanitizing and were open as of Jan. 12.
Outbreaks in northwest include NBCHS, Positive case at BUH, Porta Bella’s, radio station
St. Mary School Staff On Jan. 9, officials from the Saskatchewan Health Authority informed Light of Christ Catholic Schools Division of a positive COVID-19 case in an individual at St. Mary School in North Battleford. “We are working with Public Health to inform parents and caregivers, and the SHA is conducting contact tracing,” said a statement released by LCCSD. To protect the privacy of this individual, the division is not able to share or discuss details. “Our thoughts and prayers are with this member of our school community, and we hope they are doing well,” said the release.
The province’s report of active cases among children and youth for the week of Dec. 28, 2020 – Jan. 3, 2021 totals 559, with 23 of those in the Battlefords. The province’s report of COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan schools for Dec. 23, 2020 – Jan. 6, 2021 totals 24.
Staff
The province’s website is reporting a number of outbreaks of COVID-19 involving local area businesses and locations, including North Battleford Comprehensive High School, declared on Jan. 11. Here is a rundown of the other outbreaks declared in January: Edam: Edam Enriched Manor, a retirement home, on Jan. 5. Marsden: Prairie Diner, a restaurant, on Jan. 9. North Battleford: Battlefords Union Hospital medical unit, Jan. 10. Porta Bella Restaurant and downstairs Bar and Grill,
Jan. 6. CJNB radio, Jan. 5. The following outbreaks were declared in November and December and are still ongoing according to Sask. Health Authority. Battleford: Battleford District Care Centre, Dec. 24. North Battleford: River Heights Lodge, Nov. 12 St. Walburg: St. Walburg Health Complex, Dec. 27 St. Walburg School, Dec. 19 St. Walburg Inn beverage room, Dec. 18 Wilkie: Wilkie and District Health Centre, Dec. 12.
NDP again asking for COVID modelling and thinking about ‘circuit breaker’ By Brian Zinchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Estevan Mercury
As Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 numbers have risen to new heights, New Democratic Party Leader
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Ryan Meili renewed calls on the government to increase transparency, and take further action. In particular, Meili wants the provincial government to release previously withheld weekly COVID-19 modelling data and “to commit to open and transparent information on hospitalizations, testing, and vaccine delivery,” according to the press release. “This isn’t going well. We need to be honest about that,” Meili said, speaking to reporters in the Legislature on Jan. 12. He made the announcement a few hours before the province announced that current public health orders put in place on Dec. 17, 2020, will remain in effect until Jan. 29. Meili said, “It seems almost unthinkable that we would be in this situation today, 10 months after the first case, arrived in Saskatchewan, and having learned so much, having been able to watch other jurisdictions act differently. All that we’ve gone through, all that Saskatchewan people sacrificed to keep each other, and themselves, safe. People are tired. I’m tired. People are sad, and they’re frustrated; frustrated of being asked to continue sacrificing, without a clear sense from this government, where it is we’re going. “We need a commitment from this government that they’re going to stop hiding information from the people of Sask-
atchewan. COVID-19 isn’t like their budget numbers that they can just play a shell game with,” said Meili. “This is people’s livelihoods and their actual lives. People are dying. They have a duty to be open and honest.” Meili reiterated points he has been making for months now, in particular, that a “circuit breaker” would have made a difference in November. “We called for smaller classroom sizes, and a targeted, short-term circuit breaker to avoid being in this situation. If we had taken those actions in November, you’d be telling a very different story, today, in January. This government’s failure to take the right actions at the right time has led us to where we are today. And unfortunately, it appears, things will get worse before they get better.” Meili said “The data isn’t being made available, and we’re not getting the full story.” He said governments “try to paint a rosy picture.” “It’s never honest, but in a time like this, a time of crisis, it’s not just deceitful, it’s dangerous. Trying to pretend we’ve done a perfect job, that we wouldn’t change that trend doesn’t just lose people’s support, it gets in the way of us doing better.” “That’s why I’m calling on Scott Moe, and his government, to invite Saskatchewan people in and reminding that we were, we
are always here to help.” Meili said modelling updates should be released regularly. He also said the public should know what the trigger points are, in cases per day and rates of transmissions, that would result in further restrictions. “What are the next level of restrictions, if things get worse? Where do we go next?” he posed. He pointed to the spread in long-term care, corrections and large workplaces. Asked about the circuit breaker suggestion, Meili responded, “You know, I think the circuit breaker still remains a very real option and a reasonable approach. But again, unless we have that full information and honest description of what’s really going on, it’s hard for that circuit breaker to be as intelligent as it should be.” He pointed to the recent “super spreader” situation with Saskatoon bar Crackers, which had the Ministry of Health on Jan. 11 warning people who may have attended that bar over several days over the New Year to now self-isolate. “We still have bars open. Is that something we are going to continue to keep bars open, and wind up closing schools? We need to hear from this government that they’re going to take the right steps,” Meili said. He said that it is clear that the current measures are not working. Adjusted for population, Saskatchewan’s daily case counts
are comparable to recordbreaking numbers of new cases in Ontario and Quebec, jurisdictions which are taking extreme measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. “We need clear information and clear thresholds for what happens depending on what the data shows,” said Meili. “What happens when we reach 500 cases a day? What happens if it goes higher? Half measures and hope is not a plan, it’s a recipe for failure.” In addition to the lack of transparency around COVID-19 data modelling, the government has also changed the way hospitalization numbers have been reported and the way tests are counted with no explanation, according to the NDP release. Additionally, Meili called for regular communication on the impact of COVID-19 on health services such as surgery cancellations, cancer treatment, etc. The NDP would like to see detailed inspections of all outbreaks in long-term care settings, with a commitment to report publicly on those inspections and take action on their findings. The NDP also called for detailed information on vaccination efforts, both in terms of geography and which cohorts are to receive the vaccine in what order, despite daily government press releases providing this information.
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The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 9
Pandemic proves fertile ground for ultimate crib hand Staff
To avid, or even casual, cribbage players, the 29 hand is something of a holy grail. It’s the highest possible score for a cribbage hand, and is made up of three fives and a Jack, with the cut card being of the same suit as the Jack. Wikipedia says the odds of getting a perfect 29 hand starting with a sixcard hand are 1 in 216,580, while the odds after discarding from a five-card hand are 1 in 649,740. Del and Bernice Rossette of Battleford have been playing a lot of crib to pass the time during the days of the pandemic, and for them the 1 in 216,580 happened. Bernice found herself with a hand with three fives and a Jack of clubs. That got the couple excited to see what would happen with the cut card, which is the starter card turned up from cutting the deck. Bernice directed him to cut low in the deck, which is where she intuited the elusive card might be. And there it was – a five of clubs. For people who know crib, it’s a rare and exciting thing to experience, says Bernice, so she had to let the News-Optimist know as many people would find it interesting to know someone local had actually
had a 29 hand. She wonders if anyone else has had the experience.
Bernice and Del and Rossette of Battleford and Bernice’s one-in-216,580-odds 29-point cribbage hand. Photos submitted
Saskatoon resident buys $100,000 ticket in N.B. Submitted Saskatoon’s Terry Semchyshen is basking in a $100,000 windfall after the EXTRA on his LOTTO MAX ticket for the Dec.11 draw matched the last six digits of the winning number – 3881582. Semchyshen picked up his winning ticket at the Terry Semchyshen picked up a $100,000 winning ticket at the Discovery Co-op at 607 Carlton Trail in North Battleford. Photo submitted
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Discovery Co-op at 607 Carlton Trail in North Battleford and didn’t discover his win until a few days after the draw using a ticket checker in another store closer to home. “I couldn’t believe it!” laughed Semchyshen as he recalled scanning the ticket several times, certain what he was seeing was a mis-
take. He finally passed the ticket over to the cashier to verify it on their terminal and had it confirmed – he was about to be $100,000 richer. Semchyshen doesn’t have any specific plans for the money yet, other than to pay off some bills. “Right now, I’m just happy I won,” he said.
Page Thursday, March 23, 2017 Page 2 10- The - TheBattlefords, Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
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Tips for a healthy brain Did you know that the best way to reduce your risk of developing a cognitive disease is to lead a healthy lifestyle? Since January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, now is an ideal time to adopt or reinforce behaviours that keep your brain healthy. Here are some recommendations provided by the Alzheimer Society of Canada: • Challenge yourself. Learn a new language or take on a task like writing with your non-dominant hand. • Play games. There are brain-boosting benefits to solving crosswords, playing chess and completing puzzles. • Talk to people. Engage in conversations about current events, books, music, sports and more. • Eat a balanced diet. Make sure to follow the recommen-
dations in Canada’s Food Guide. • Exercise regularly. Keep in mind that it’s easier to stay motivated if you choose activities you enjoy. • Reduce your stress. Explore a variety of strategies such as speaking with a psychologist, meditating, journaling and practising yoga. • Prioritize sleep. Get seven to nine hours of rest every night and avoid looking at screens before you go to bed. • Protect your head. Wear a helmet when cycling or skiing, and consider adapting your home to reduce the risk of falls. • Quit unhealthy habits. Regularly consuming alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs can negatively impact your brain health. • Manage chronic illnesses. Dia-
betes increases your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, so make sure to manage your condition closely under the supervision of your doctor. • Volunteer. Giving back to your community can help prevent depression, reduce loneliness and increase self-esteem. For more tips on how to keep your brain healthy, visit alzheimer.ca.
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Regional News-Optimist The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 11
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The benefits of crossword puzzles Crossword puzzles are one of the most popular pastimes in the world. Crosswords are square grids made up of whiteand black-shaded squares. The goal is to fill in all of the letters to form words and phrases that work both vertically and horizontally. Historians are uncertain about who created the world’s first crossword puzzle, although it is believed to be something that originated in the 19th or early 20th century. Arthur Wynne, a journalist from Liverpool, England, published a word-cross puzzle
in the New York World that had many of the features of the modern game, and the crossword is frequently attributed to Wynne. Even though crossword puzzles have been entertaining and helping people pass the time for more than 100 years, the benefits of crosswords go beyond boredom-busting. Various studies have shown the positive effects crossword puzzles can have on
a person’s brain and capacity to learn. • Improve vocabulary: Crossword puzzles introduce players to new words. And players may learn some interesting facts about various subjects sim-
ply by filling in crosswords correctly. • Strengthens memory: The more frequently participants engage with word puzzles, the better they can perform tasks that measure attention, reasoning and memory, according to a study from the University of Exeter Medical School and Kings College London. The study found people who play crosswords have brain function equivalent to those 10 years younger
than their actual age. • Improve socialization: Crossword puzzles can help you connect socially with others who also play crossword puzzles. Solving a puzzle together as a group is a fine way to connect and meet new people. • Help relieve stress: Crossword puzzles can engage the brain and mind, helping direct attention away from stressful situations. Crosswords also provide a way to relax and unwind. • May help prevent brain diseases: According to the Alzheimer research-
ers, keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build reserves of brain cells and connections. In addition, those who keep their minds active may have lower amounts of a protein that forms beta amyloid plaques attributed to Alzheimer’s disease. Crossword puzzles can fill empty hours with an entertaining and educational activity. However, there are many other benefits to doing crossword puzzles that may surprise even the most ardent puzzle enthusiasts.
Page 12 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
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The Government of Saskatchewan has extended the application deadline for the Re-Open Saskatchewan Training Subsidy from December 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021. This program operates as a temporary training subsidy to assist businesses with financial support to train employees as they adjust to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information visit www.saskatchewan.ca/training-subsidy. Hon. Scott Moe, Premier
MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook scottmoe.mla@sasktel.net 306-747-3422
Ryan Domotor
Jeremy Cockrill
MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford domotor.mla@sasktel.net 306-893-2619
MLA for The Battlefords office@jeremycockrill.ca 306-445-5195
Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show cancelled, next one won’t be held until in 2022 2021_News Optimist Ad_RSTS.indd 1
By Brian Zinchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Estevan Mercury
The COVID-19 pandemic has cancelled yet another major trade show in Saskatchewan, this time affecting one of the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show. After hosting numerous bi-annual heavy oil shows dating back to the 1980’s in Lloydminster AB/SK, the board of directors of the Lloydminster 0.T.S. Heavy Oil Show has taken into consideration the current restrictions on public events and made the difficult decision to return to
its regular date rotation of Sept. 14 and 15, 2022. The show, which had initially been scheduled for September, 2020, was punted one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it looks like that cycle will be skipped entirely, meaning there will be four years between the last show, in 2018, and the next, in 2022. John Stanyer, chairman of the 2022 Lloydminster Oilfield Technical Society Heavy Oil Show, said in a release, “We had been really hopeful that we would be able to host the rescheduled show in 2021 and
gather our industry experts together. With so much uncertainty around what restrictions will still be in place and with an abundance of concern for the wellbeing of our exhibitors and our community we are not able to proceed with the rescheduled show in 2021. We really look forward to catching up with you in 2022.” The LHOS is the world premier showcase of leading-edge technology and innovation in Heavy Oil development and production. The Lloydminster area has a reputation for creating and enhancing
1/11/2021 11:09:50 AM
recovery of heavy oil. The LHOS is a world-class show with exhibitors and attendees from around the world and always is an event not to be missed. The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show, seen here in 2018, will see four years pass before the next edition of the show. The 2020 edition was initially delayed a year, but has now been cancelled entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. File photo by Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Saskatchewan’s top 10 oil producers By Brian Zinchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Estevan Mercury
Husky Energy, which was acquired by Cenovus Energy, had been Saskatchewan’s top oil producer for the first 11 months of 2020. According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Resources, from January to November, 2020, Husky
produced 31.7 million barrels of oil. It has been the dominant player in northwest Saskatchewan. That will now revert to Cenovus, as of Jan. 1, when the deal closed. Crescent Point Energy Corp. came in second, at 27.7 million barrels. Crescent Point is the leading player in southeast and southwest Saskatchewan, and an
active driller in west central Saskatchewan. Whitecap Resources Inc. was third at 15.8 million barrels. Whitecap is active in southeast and southwest Saskatchewan. Teine Energy Ltd. came in fourth at 9.2 million barrels. Teine is the leading driller in west central Saskatchewan. Baytex Energy Ltd. is also active in west
central and northwest Saskatchewan. It came in fifth at 8.3 million barrels. Serafina Energy Ltd.’s operations are centred in the Meota area, north of North Battleford. Despite being so tightly focused, they still came in at sixth with 6.1 million barrels. Canadian Natural Resources Limited, one of Canada’s largest oil producers, is active in
northwest and southeast Saskatchewan. It had 5.8 million barrels for seventh place, despite doing minimal drilling for the past several years. Vermillion Energy Inc. has operations around the world. In Saskatchewan, their focus is in the southeast. They came in at eighth with 5.5 million barrels. In recent days, Whitecap
closed its acquisition of Torc Oil & Gas Ltd., as well as NAL Resources. Torc came in at 5.3 million barrels for ninth place, while NAL did not place. Both Torc and NAL had operations in southeast Saskatchewan. In tenth spot, IPC Canada Ltd. produced 3.3 million barrels. They are active in northwest Saskatchewan.
Quiet December at the Maidstone seniors’ centre By Dorothy Schwartz Correspondent
There were no activities at the Maidstone Drop In Centre in December, but the Christmas lights, on a timer, were lit up every evening. The Christmas early bird sale prize at Maidstone Pharmacy was won
D
rop in Centre
by Dorothy Schwartz ($75 gift card), Joyce Grosenick ($50) and Keith Paton ($25).
Communities in Bloom volunteers have decorated Memorial Park and the lamp standards to beautify downtown Maidstone. A lighted tree located in front of the arena comes on every evening. The residential lighting contest, sponsored and organized by the Maidstone Chamber of Commerce,
was won by Chris and Connie Wilterhalt who won $250. The business decorating contest was won by Maidstone Pharmacy. Staff will be treated to a dinner out. The Town of Maidstone sponsored a colouring contest for different age groups. Gift card prizes were supplied by the Town.
Winners were (in order of first, second third) : PreK to Grade 3 - Lexa Weston, Lexie Andruik, Logan Hoffman; Grades 4-6 Bella Young, Addison Young, Kale Makin; above Grade 6 - Brielle Weston, Anastasia Otteson and Preema Nathan. Christmas 2020 will be remembered by some as
being different; some with good memories, some with disappointment. It was most difficult for seniors living in facilities under lockdown. On the upside, the weatherman has smiled on us all of November, December and half of January. Look ahead to the light at the end of the tunnel.
New Year’s Resolutions 1. Start my Journey towards Better Hearing! Step #1 - Call Battleford's Hearing at (306) 445-5700 Step #2 - Book my Hearing test! 2. Book a hearing test for that certain someone you think maybe needs one too!
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The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 13
Second Front
Pandemic effect – business losing less money closed than open Editor’s note – This story comes to us by way of local professional photographer Averil Hall who, through her lenses, see stories needing to be told. A long time contributor to the News-Optimist, Hall facilitated the publication of this story.
By Helena Long
Freelance Reporter
Although current public health restrictions would allow Glennda Ilett to open the doors to she-NANIGANS, she has decided it is simply not feasible. In fact, she said, she is losing less money by staying closed than she would by opening. Staying closed does not mean money is not going out the door, but she-NANIGANS only opened Feb. 13, 2020, a month before the first lockdown. With no income in 2019, the business does not qualify for any government aid. she-NANIGANS is described on its Facebook page as a “live entertainment boutique venue featuring Saskatchewan sourced spirits, craft beer, fresh farm to table foods, sustainability, welcoming hospitality.” It is located in the former Ukrainian hall at 792 - 108th Street in North Battleford. Ilett bought the building in December, 2019, and immediately started on the extensive renovations needed to bring everything up to code. She said contractors were hauling out their equipment at the same time staff was setting up for their first event last February. All three events held before the March, 2020, lockdown had “tremendous community support,” said Ilett, with a sellout in
February. The food is chosen and created by chef Kelly Waters to complement each specific live event. For example, old-time music might call for a menu selection of stews and roasts. What doesn’t change is the commitment to local sustainability, with beverages and foods purchased locally as much as possible, and always freshly prepared. As is common with many new businesses, Ilett has not yet taken a salary. Any profit over and above expenses is “put into furthering the building and warm ambiance esthetics.” What is unusual, however is that Ilett is not the only one not taking a salary of any kind. Right from the start, Waters has volunteered her time and expertise in a desire to see this unique venue succeed. When she-NANIGANS re-opened its doors after the lockdown, Aug. 14, 2020, for a live concert with Jeffery Straker – his first since the pandemic began – menu items included walleye fish cakes, vegetable fritters and clayoven baked Petrofka Orchard Doukhobor bread. For that event, and others continuing into the fall, all COVID-19 protocols were followed, including physical distancing. Throughout the late summer and fall months, she-NANIGANS remained open. Although, technically, the official capacity
Glennda Ilett and “volunteers” at she-NANIGANS, an entertainment venue located in the former Ukrainian hall at 792 - 108th Street in North Battleford. Photos by Averil Hall
is 130, the requirements to have 10 feet between tables and each table limited to four persons meant the most who could attend an event was 24. Despite that, she-NANIGANS continued to operate. However, the tighter public health rules brought in by the provincial government in mid-December made it impossible to keep going. With revenue coming solely from food and beverage sales, the prohibition on food and beverage service during performances and the requirement for both customers and per-
formers to be masked, forced Ilett to lay off employees and close the doors. No opportunity to generate even a little income from the small crowds meant no chance to even limit losses, let alone break even or turn a profit. Prior to Christmas, she-NANIGANS hosted a Christmas bazaar and a Paint Nite. Despite the limited attendance necessitat-
ed by distancing requirements, Ilett was thrilled the Paint Nite broke even. No revenue was realized from the bazaar as, despite her personal circumstances, Ilett wanted to support the community by offering local artisans the opportunity to sell their crafts. Ilett said she-NANIGANS is a “passion project” for both herself and Waters, so they are both
determined to re-open as soon as regulations permit. In the meantime, she is thankful for her property management business which continues to pay the bills, not only for her household, but to keep the dream alive – the dream of a unique entertainment venue featuring fresh, locally sourced food and drinks and varied live entertainment.
Glennda Ilett and the interior of she-NANIGANS. It was a bang up start – then came COVID. But there’s no giving up on a passion. Photos by Averil Hall
Page 14 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
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OBITUARIES Grant: Marie Joyce (Cooper) Grant passed peacefully on December 13, 2020, at the age of 94, at Lady Minto Hospital in Edam. Marie was born on New Years Day, 1926. to Charles and Susan Cooper, she had 7 siblings. In 1947 she married Dave Grant, and with strength, courage and commitment they farmed together for the next 69 years until Dave’s passing in 2017. Mom devoted her life to family, raised 3 daughters, several grandkids, and a few “strays”, she always said “everybody needs a home” and she proved it by welcoming anybody into her home for as long as they wanted to stay, she packed school lunches for 60 years ! Mom loved to curl, bowl, play bingo, and scrapbook. She always wanted to be a nurse, she never achieved that goal, but she certainly did a lot of “nursing people” in her lifetime. Marie was a very creative person, and made wonderful costumes and birthday parties, and always had a cup of tea ready. Marie is survived by her daughters Lois and Debra, Grandchildren - Jodi Grant, Kelly Macdonald, Nikki (Chad) Macmaloff, Darci Preston, Tyler Preston, John (Apryl) Grant, Mark (Kim) Mcfarlane, Corey Mcfarlane, Debbie (Rylea) Eggeson, 9 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Dave, daughter Doreen, granddaughter Casey. Marie was laid to rest at the family plot in Edam Cemetery on December 16, special thanks to Joyce Wall for presiding over the service and to the staff at Lady Minto for exceptional care. __________________________________________________ Elizabeth Bellanger 1938 - 2020 Our Mom was a person of few words but when she smiled at you, it was a smile that made you feel like you were her whole world…Mom was born Feb 27, 1938 to Jacob and Olga Tetz, who lived on a farm 10 miles southwest of Turtleford. She was one of 5 children and grew up as a farm girl…attending Cordelia School, a country school about 5 miles from their farm. We have been told by many of her age how lovely she was…and of course still was still this day…of course our Dad, Andy Bellanger, was well aware of this and soon he and Mom were married in June, 1956. Mom might have been considered a shy person but she must have had some “bounce” in her to agree to be married to Dad. Mom and Dad purchased and settled on what was known as the Saunders farm, and we were many of the extended Bellanger families who farmed in the Horse Hill area. Mom and Dad had a mixed farming operation and Herford cattle were a major part of their farming. Dad may have wanted boys but he got very lucky and had three girls; Claudette 1957, Louise 1959, and Carol 1971. Mom was an avid gardener, canner, baker, seamstress and needlework, and we cannot recall a meal without excellent homemade bread and salad. Mom and Dad loved adventure and went on many fishing trips, camping and traveling both in and out of Canada. Mom was a born artist and oil painting was her method of choice…indeed her paintings are on display in many homes today… Mom passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 due to complications with lung cancer. Our Mom was a beautiful dedicated mother and wife and very loved by family and friends…however life can offer it’s challenges …but in the end our Mom surpassed her challenges…she is a beloved and treasured mother, grandmother, sister, and friend and we honour her and we will miss her…she was our mother. Sadly missed by her three daughters: Claudette McGuire, Louise Roach (Darryl Roach), her grandchildren Cassie Jullion (Brett Jullion) and great grandchildren Bentley and Vienna; Brody Roach (Janessa) and great grandson Briggs Roach; Carol Poole and grandchildren Tayla Poole (Kirk) and Trayton Poole (Presli), and many other family members. Elizabeth Bellanger’s funeral service will be held Friday, January 15, 2021 at the Christ the King Catholic Church Edam, Sask at 2:00pm, and will be attended by family and invitation only, as per Covid regulations. This will be through McCaw Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers please consider donating toward the upkeep and operation of the Edam Handi-Van, a transport that keeps our seniors mobile and able to complete appointments and visits. Our Mom loved the excursions this vehicle provided to fun locations for those residents in Edam who had no other form of transportation. The Handi-Van relies on volunteers and local support to continue its’ service. Donations can be mailed to Edam Handi-Van, Box 381, Edam, SK S0M 0V0. __________________________________________________
BRUBACHER: It is with sadness the family of Ralph Thomas Brubacher, resident of Battleford, SK, announce his passing Thursday, January 7, 2021. Left to cherish his memory: his beloved wife Margaret, their children and grandchildren: Ken Brubacher; Keith (Brandy) Brubacher, grandchildren: Isaac and Levi; Shannon (Matt) McIntyre, grandchildren: David Larsen and Shantel Larsen; sister-inlaw, Joyce Brubacher; relatives, friends and neighbors. A Celebration Of Life Service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to the Canadian Diabetes Association, PO Box 26331, STN BRM B, Toronto, ON M7Y 4R1 or to the Alzheimer Society Of Saskatchewan, 301-2550-12th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3X1. Condolences can be sent to www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Arrangements have been entrusted to Robert MacKay of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium (306-446-4200).
SANDER: Fred R Sander October 12, 1932 – December 26, 2020 After a short battle with complications from Covid 19 our dad joined mom in Heaven. He passed away peacefully in his home at Poplar Courts in Wilkie on December 26, 2020 at the age of 88 years. Dad was the youngest of twelve children who farmed North East of Wilkie in the Spy Ridge District. He married Margaret Guran in 1956. Together, they lived and farmed on the original family farm, and enjoyed family and the many summers at the cabin in Cochin. Dad was also very active with the minor hockey teams in Wilkie. Dad was a special man with his quick wit and compassionate heart. His family was everything to him. He was devastated when mom passed away in 2002. For many years he lived alone in Battleford and cultivated new friends until he had to move to Bethany Assisted Living. He lived there until January 2018, at which time he moved to Poplar Courts. Fred leaves to cherish his memory his children Rick (Leanne), son Scott (Elise) and great grandchildren Thomas and Emmy, and daughter Anika; Wes (Janice) Sander and their three sons Jordan and great granddaughter Emma, Joshua and Matthew; Janet (Lyle) Sittler and their children Becky (Heizer) Marval and great grandchild Hazel, Jenna Sittler and great grandchild Dexter, and Trevor (Jenita) Sittler; Laurie (John) Irvine, and their children Brooklynn and Jace; and his sister Katherine (Adam) Gerein. He is predeceased by his loving wife Margaret and grandson Jesse Irvine, parents Anton and Agatha Sander, sisters and brother in laws Johanna (Ralph Kuntz), Lena (John) Houk, Agnes (Jacob) Houk, Elizabeth (Joe) Gerein and Agatha (Tony ) Koch, and brothers and sister in laws Bill (Selma) Sander, Wentley (Julia) Sander, Anton (Anne) Sander, Joe Sander and Steve (Frances) Sander. The family would like to thank Dr. Kemp and the caregivers who took care of our dad. Due to Covid 19 there will be a small family service held at the Wilkie Community Center Hall on December 31st at 10:30. The family would like to invite you to watch it through livestream. Please search Janet Sittler on Facebook. The family graciously requests that any donations to be directed to Bethany Enhanced Living in Wilkie. Arrangements are entrusted to Mike Gerein of Gerein Funeral Services.
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BACHMAN: It is with great sadness that the family of Kasper Bachman of Wilkie, SK announces his passing on January 3, 2021 at the age of 81. He passed away after a brief battle with COVID. Kasper leaves to cherish his memory; his children, Debbie (Dean) Garrett; Larry (Lancey) Bachman; grandchildren, Stephanie (Graham), Nicole. Kasper was predeceased by; his wife Dorothy. As per Kasper’s wishes he has been cremated; there will be no service planned at this time due to COVID Restrictions. Donations may be made to: Bethany Enhanced Living, Box 629, Wilkie, SK S0K 4W0 Gerein Funeral Service entrusted with arrangements. 1-306-948-2669; info@gereinfuneralservice.com. www.gereinfuneralservice.com
SMITH: It is with great sadness the friends of Kenneth “Smitty” Smith announce his passing on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at the age of 73 years. As per Smitty’s request no formal service will be held and Interment will be held at a later date at the Meota Cemetery and date and time will be announced. Smitty enjoyed going to auctions, buying and working on vehicles, but most of all visiting and having coffee with all of his friends. He will be missed greatly by all. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in memory of Kenneth Smith can be directed to Diabetes Canada 919B Albert Street Regina, SK S4R 2P6 or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation 1738 Quebec Ave #26, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9 Condolences can be left at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Trevor Watts of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.
RINDERO: Phyllis Christina Rindero passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, January 5th, 2021 from the Riverside Health Complex in Turtleford, Saskatchewan at the age of 92 years. Phyllis was born on the homestead at Salter, Saskatchewan on June 28th, 1928 to Jack and Mary Lane. Phyllis lived with her parents until the age of 19, when she married Maurice Rindero on June 28th, 1947. Together they had 4 children. Maurice’s work took them to several places over the years: Cando, Leslieville, Benalto, Arneson, Acadia Valley, Whitla, and Turtlelake area. Phyllis made many friends along the way, many whom she kept in contact for years. Left to remember and cherish Phyllis’ memories are her sons Eugene (Gaylene), Dale (Delphine), and Dwayne (Yvonne); as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Phyllis will meet again her husband Maurice Rindero; daughter Christina Rindero; and her parents Jack and Mary Lane. Funeral Services were held on Friday, January 8th, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. from the Chapel of Sallows & McDonald-Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home, North Battleford, with limited capacity due to current restrictions. Interment followed the service at Cando Cemetery, Cando, Saskatchewan. Memorial donations in Phyllis’ memory may be made to the Riverside Health Complex Recreation Fund, P.O. Box 10, Turtleford, Saskatchewan S0M 2Y0. Arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of Sallows & McDonald-Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home (306) 445.2418
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IN MEMORIAM Source: News Media Canada
In Memory
NORMA SHERMAN
MAY 27, 1943 - JANUARY 9, 2020 One year has passed since that sad day When the one we loved was called away. The year has brought many changes A pandemic hit in March Jarett and Sarah, Darley and Shelby celebrated marriages. New babies, Teagen and Emellia joined our families for us to love We know you had a hand in it from heaven up above Many a day her name is spoken, Many an hour she is in our thoughts, A link in our family chain is broken She has gone from our home But not from our hearts. Missing you with love, Gordon Sherman Barry Sylvia Sherman and families Rhonda, Steven Prescesky and families. FUNERAL SERVICES
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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 15
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
APARTMENTS/CONDOS FOR RENT
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
INTERESTED IN STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS? Battleford shop, steel framed, 75’x50’ - fenced 1.4 acres, two 14’ electric drive thru doors, hoist and compressor incl. Offices, two bathrooms, shower. Excellent repair welding and truck shop. Reduced $329,000. 306-446-4462 or 306441-5552
WANTED Saint Saviour’s Anglican Church, Lloydminster, Sask is seeking a PART-TIME RECTOR. Parish profile is on the ANiC website. Please forward your resume by email to Bishop Trevor Walters at walters34@shaw.ca. For further information contact: Carol Harbin at 306-821-2022 or email c.harbin@sasktel.net. Deadline for submissions January 15, 2021
HEALTH SERVICES
HIP/KNEE Replacement? Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $2,500 yearly tax credit and up to $50,000 Lump sum refund. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide! Providing assistance during Covid.
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
In the estate of Kenneth Victor Klassen, late of Glenbush, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased. All claims against the above estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before January 29, 2021. MENNONITE TRUST LTD., Executor PO Box 40 Waldheim, Saskatchewan S0K 4R0
CLASSIFIEDS SELL IT FASTER
306-445-7261
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Harsh Reality #1
IN THE ESTATE OF: Late Betty Sharron LaClare of Edam, Saskatchewan Passed away: December 22, 2020 All claims against the estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 29 day of January, 2021. MIGNEAULT LAW OFFICE Barristers & Solicitors 1391 - 101st Street, P.O. Box 520 North Battleford, Saskatchewan, S9A 2Y8 C/O Monte Migneault
LAND FOR SALE
FARMLAND WANTED I am currenlty PURCHASING single to large blocks of land. NO FEES OR COMMISISONS
Primrose Chateau Residents of Primrose Chateau continue living independently; doing the things they love, while we provide the support to make it possible. During this time of isolation being in a safe environment with full services such as meals and social activities is very important for your health and well being. Please call to discover how our home can become your home. Atria Retirement Canada Sandy 306-850-1499 www.primrosechateau.ca
FARM SERVICES
Saskatchewan born and raised, I know land, farming and farmland and can help you every step of the way. Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com ANNOUNCEMENTS
battlefords humane society Hi everyone, I’m Maestro!
Hi I’m Oscar!
I’m a pretty easy going guy. I’m not one of those crazy kittens who loves to get into trouble. If anything, I’m more of a hide n seek guy, I like to squeeze into enclosed or small spaces, brings me comfort, makes me feel all warm n safe, sorta like a hug, yknow?
This is my first Christmas and I spent it with all my friends here at the shelter I’m hoping next Christmas I might be able to spend it with you! I am a super sweet guy who loves to rub against the hoomans here.
THE WEST ALWAYS GETS A RAW DEAL The majority of votes are in the East – so that’s where every Party, Conservative or Liberal, will pander to if they want to stay in power. The Maverick Party is working to change that by sending MPs to Ottawa who will only support legislation that is good for the West and their constituents, and advocate for an independent Western Nation.
Want to learn more or volunteer?
Contact info@maverickparty.ca or go to maverickparty.ca
Call the Animal Shelter 306.446.2700 COMING EVENTS
Sharing Grief’s Journey From Mourning To Joy New Sessions start Monday, Jan 25, 2021 For more information and for pre-registration please call
Sue 306-441-5441 or Denise 306-441-3338
Eternal Memories
MEETINGS
Funeral Service and Crematorium
2691 - 98th St., North Battleford (306) 445-7570 24 hours
1332 - 100th St., North Battleford (306) 446-4200 24 hours
Trevor Watts - Owner/Director Robert Mackay - Director Vanessa Macnab - Apprentice Funeral Director Funerals | Burials | Cremation | Preplannig WE ARE LOCALLY AND FAMILY OWNED
Serving Families with Dignity, Respect & Compassion eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca
Battlefords and District Community Foundation
Annual General Meeting Monday, January 18, 2021 at noon. Please contact 306-441-2961 to register.
Page 16 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
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NOTICES / NOMINATIONS
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Notice of Call for Further Nominations
Kanaweyimik is an independent, non-political child welfare agency providing child welfare and family services to five First Nations. Moosomin, Mosquito, Red Pheasant, Saulteaux & Sweetgrass First Nations contract for services with Kanaweyimik.
(Municipal or School Division Elections) PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that a further call of nominations of candidates for the office(s) of: Councillor: Village of Maymont Number to be elected: 1 will be received by the undersigned on the 20th day of January, 2021 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Village of Maymont Office located at 112 Main Street and during regular business hours from Thursday January 14th, 2021 to Tuesday January 19, 2021 at the Village of Maymont Office located at 112 Main Street. Nomination forms and Public Disclosure Statements may be obtained at the following location: Maymont Village Office 112 Main Street Dated this 14th day of January, 2021. Denise Bernier Returning Officer Rural Municipality of Parkdale No. 498
PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Parkdale No. 498 intends to adopt Bylaw 01-21,a Bylaw to provide for the Sale of Dedicated Landsunder The Planning and Development Act, 2007. Intent: To sell the affected land at fair market value. Affected Land: Block R Plan AG3891 Ext 0
KANAWEYIMIK CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES INC.
The following is a general description of a Supervisor position. Salary will be commensurate with experience, training and education. This is a fulltime, permanent position.
Located in Battleford, Saskatchewan, Kanaweyimik is an SUPERVISOR – PREVENTION independent, non-political Child and Family Services agency providing services to ve First Nations communities. Job Description
SERVICES
THERAPIST/COUNSELLOR POSITION 1.0 General Description
• The Supervisor isFull-Time directly responsible to the Executive Director of Kanaweyimik. • The Supervisor is responsible for supervising the Prevention Program and employees in prevention Kanaweyimik is offering a full-time therapist/counsellor position within a unique, exciting and newly established program. counselling program. We provide a multi-disciplinary, holistic, • The Supervisor will comply with provisions of the Kanaweyimik Personnel Manual as it exists from therapeutic treatment service to individuals and families who to time.violence and abuse. Our program uses havetime experienced both Western therapeutic and Aboriginal cultural perspectives. 2.0 Duties Related to Supervision Extensive training and ongoing clinical supervision will be • Provide direct supervision and guidance to all provided.
Prevention Program staff. Document supervision and direction given to Prevention Program staff. QUALIFICATIONS Provide direct supervision and monitor the Warrior Program. Document supervision and direction • •A Masters degree in a related eld or a Registered Psychologist in given Saskatchewan to the Warrior Program facilitators. • Experience providing individual, group and family therapy • 3.0 Knowledgeable and sensitive to Aboriginal issues with an Duties Related to Administration of the intergenerational abuse •understanding Carries out thedynamics intent ofand purpose of the Kanaweyimik Personnel Manual as it exists from time • Computer skills to time and may make recommendations for the revision/amendment of Personnel Manual as • Excellent verbal, written and time management skills required. • A clear criminal and child abuse records check • •A valid driver’s consistent licence Ensures application of the Personnel Manual, Administration Policy Manual, Family An immediate negotiable start date with very staff, competitive ServicesorAct and Standards by the Board of Directors and LAC’s. salary and benefts. • Ensure all reporting requirements are met for Prevention Program.
Due to the focus of the position being provide services to • Make recommendations onto policy, case management, financial and personnel matters as they First Nations individuals in an agency operated by member First relate to programs and services. Nations, preference will be given to those applicants for this • Authorize sick leave, annual leave, overtime, travel expenses and confirm work attendance for all position who are of aboriginal ancestry.
prevention staff;
Please forward detailed resumés by email to: tony@tonymartens.ca in all B.C. management meetings or• byAttend mail to: and 9621 -participate 161A Street, Surrey, V4N 2E8. Please address to the attention of Tony Martens, M.Sc., BSW, RCC, RSW.
4.0 Duties Related to Finance
as scheduled.
Deadline for in accepting applications March 31, 2014 at 5pm • Assist drafting annualisbudget for Prevention local time.
Program then submit to Executive Director by the end of January of each fiscal year. Contact person:prevention Tony Martens 604-583-6612. Onlythroughout successful • Monitor expenditures the year and ensure that the approved budget candidates who make short listReport will be any contacted. expenditures arethe followed. over expenditures to the Executive Director. Recruitment process to continue until a successful • Bring isany expenditure not in approved annual budget to the attention of the Executive Director for candidate selected. approval. • Approve requisitions for cheques from Prevention Program as per approved annual budget. • Identify and secure additional funding sources as needed.
5.0 Duties Related to Liaison • Represent Kanaweyimik as and when required at local, provincial and federal levels. • Initiate and maintain good working relationships with local, provincial and federal officials of other agencies and/or groups who are involved with the funding of Kanaweyimik. • Prepare and present information on Kanaweyimik programs and services to local, provincial and federal agencies, involved with First Nations. • Attend Inter-agency meetings in each of the five First Nation communities as scheduled. 6.0 Qualifications The qualifications of the Supervisor shall be determined in the absolute discretion of the Board of Directors depending upon the needs of Kanaweyimik Child & Family Services at the time. The following attributes are assets:
Reason The reason for the bylaw is to gain Ministerial approval to sell a municipal reserve site as requested by the recipient. Public Inspection Any person may inspect the bylaw and map at the R.M. of Parkdale No. 498 office, located at 171 Railway Avenue, Glaslyn, SK, during the hours of 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Copies will be available to the public at a cost, or by emailing the administrator at rm498@sasktel.net Public Hearing Council will hold a public hearing at 10:00am on Wednesday February 10, 2021 to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaw. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, written comments are encouraged, however, Council will consider all forms of comments received on or before February 10, 2021. If any person wishes to attend the meeting please contact the office at 306-342-2015. Issued by the Rural Municipality of Parkdale No. 498, this 14th day of January, 2021. Ashela McCullough Acting Administrator
• A University Degree from a School of Social Work and/or Business Administration or equivalent work experience and training in a related area with relevant courses or workshops in prevention services and administration. • Extensive working experience and proven ability to work in the social services area with families and children. • Extensive administrative and management experience. • Ability to organize, delegate, supervise and coordinate activities of staff members and complex programs. • Ability to formulate budgets, administer same and report on budgets. • Extensive working experience with First Nations people, with an understanding of the particular issues encountered by First Nations people. • Extensive working experience and a clear understanding of the dynamics of First Nations family systems; complexity of social problems encountered by First Nations families. • Extensive working experience with different levels of government associated with program and service delivery to First Nations including but not limited to local, First Nations, provincial and federal levels of government. • Must provide a clear criminal record check. • Must provide 3 professional references; and further agree to a global reference check. • Must have a valid drivers licence.
Application deadline is February 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm. Start date to be determined. Please forward resumes by fax, email or mail to: (306) 445-2533, “mailto:marleneb@kanaweyimik.com” Only successful applicants will be contacted for scheduled interviews. Recruitment process to continue until a successful candidate is selected. Kanaweyimik Child & Family Services, Inc. P.O. Box 1270 Battleford, Saskatchewan S0M 0E0 Attention: Marlene Bugler
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Meadow Lake Chrysler is looking for a hard working, motivated technician to join a fast growing Dealership in an area with huge earning potential. If you are looking for an amazing place to work in an area that offer an unlimited outdoor life style, this may be your place to live. We are a forward thinking, balanced work environment employer. We look to promote within and support our working partners to grow into a comfortable life… We offer a signing bonus, performance bonuses, top Wages with earning potential to exceed $40.00 per hour, comprehensive benefits package, flexibility and an amazing work environment. Chrysler experience is an asset, but FCA and OEM training provided at any level. Please send resume to: marilyn.walsh@wyantgroup.com
FARM SERVICES
Heavy Duty Mechanics required:
Integrity Post Frame Buildings SINCE 2008
Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More sales@ Integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678 www. integritybuilt.com FEED & SEED
Now accepting applications for the following:
Educational Assistant • Connaught Elementary School • Unity Public School Psychologist • Division Wide Teacher • North Battleford Comprehensive High School (science) Apply online prior to 12:00 noon, Monday, January 18, 2021 Details and link to online applications can be found on our website at www.lskysd.ca. All applications must be submitted online.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Late model, clean CAT, JD equip; winch, dump, gravel trucks, and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided Wage negotiable. Clean drivers abstract a must. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca
Round Bales: 250 gfd. Oats, 300 Wheat straw, 200 Oat straw. All net wrapped. Phone/Text 306291-9395 Langham, SK.
• SHORT LOG
TRUCK DRIVERS • CONTRACT OWNER/ OPERATOR LOG TRUCKS Required for an immediate start in the Kootenays. F/T year-round work. Please email resume and abstract:
CALL NOW • 306-445-7261 FOR THE BEST COVERAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
ben@bcland.com
• DOOR-TO-DOOR • CARRIER SERVICE
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NEWSPAPERS IS A SCHOOLING
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LIKE NO OTHER
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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 17
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news-optimist Serving the Battlefords since 1908
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
We’re hiring! If you are service minded, team driven, career focused and thrive in a digital world… Visit the careers page of www.innovationcu.ca
Page 18 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
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Hoar frost creates a winter wonderland By Lorna Pearson Correspondent
The hoar frost this weekend has been super, super. I love it so! The temperature has been great and those out fishing must have appreciated it, too. It is great snowmobiling weather and there is enough snow, so those folks are happy, too. I attended the Battleford Boutique last week and purchased 23 booklets that the Legion had printed with information about each of the veterans that were honoured this fall with banners along 22nd Street in Battleford. It is the first time my father, Gordon Shepherd, was part of their program. There were nearly 50 veterans honoured this past year, so most people would know a few locals written about in the booklet, which is available at the boutique for $5. The World Junior Hockey Championship was definitely a special event,
M
eota News
and loyal watchers loved every minute of the tournament. Canada came in second place, losing the last game the the United States. It was the only one they lost throughout the whole event, and is not to be ashamed of. They did so well in every other game. Congratulations go out to players, coaches and others. To handle the event with COVID-19 restrictions took a lot of planning and sacrificing by every one of those involved. Last year the Mexican workers came to work on the big farms in southern Alberta, by isolating for two weeks on arrival. This year they cannot leave their country to come north to work. Crops that need heavy manpower must be left out and substituted for
crops that can be handled by the farmers themselves. This will affect crops like pumpkins, onions and others. The cattle operations will survive because the corrals are set up with cameras to watch the herd and producers go out only if there are problems in the night. In a Bulb There is a Flower Submitted by Trudy Janssens
We likely have all heard the song with the words, “In the bulb there is a flower.” For me the words took on life when a friend gave me an amaryllis. That was 10 years ago and it still blooms every January. Recently a new friend gave me another amaryllis. This one had two flower stems. Within two weeks the flowers were so huge their weight could hardly be supported by their stems. It was interesting to read the card that came with this bulb. It described how to care for the flower
as it comes into bloom, but then it says to discard the bulb once the flower wilts. I suspect this advice is given to encourage you to buy another plant next fall. The friend who gave me the first bulb told me you could encourage many years of blooms from these bulbs. Here’s how it’s done. Once you get your bulb take care of it and enjoy the beautiful flower that it will give you. Make sure you keep the soil moist, but be careful not to overwater it. It will be the happiest in a south-facing window. Once it has finished blooming, cut back the stem that held the flower, but do not cut the leaves. Continue watering until spring. It won’t hurt to give it a little fertilizer. I save my potato peels and soak them in water. After sitting for a couple hours, throw out the peels and use the water for your plants. They love it. In the spring, take the bulb into a warm sunny spot in your garden and plant it directly into the soil. Make sure the soil has lots of organic matter and that there is good drainage. It also helps if it’s a bit sheltered from the wind. The leaves tend to get a
This beautiful amaryllis at the home of Leo and Trudy Janssens in Meota has four blooms and more coming. Photo submitted
bit wind blown throughout the summer but the bulb is gathering lots of strength to produce another flower. In the fall plant the amaryllis in a good-sized pot. The bulb likes to have the top quarter out of the soil. Cut the leaves off and place in a totally dark spot in your basement. Give it water but it’s best to just ignore it during this threeto four-month rest period. Sometimes it will begin to show signs of growth as early as November, but the longer it is dormant the better. Once the first leaves start to show, you should take it into a sunny warm spot in you house.
By the new year you will be rewarded with a beautiful crown of four flowers per stalk. If your bulbs are happy with the soil, moisture and conditions, they will produce new bulbs that can be split off from the mother bulb. They won’t necessarily bloom the first year but by having them mature in the garden over the summer they will be blooming by the second year. I’m now up to nine plants and five will be producing flowers this winter. As a retired photographer I have had a lot of fun photographing my amaryllis.
From the Pastor’s desk
First, pray for those in authority By Pastor David L. Walker Turtleford Baptist Church
Happy New Year. This can be a good year for you, in spite of all that is going on in the world around us. The key lies in the choices we make. If we will learn to find favour with God and realize sovereign rights are His, and there are no limits with the limitless one, that leaves us in a favourable position. Mary found favour with God, and the rest is history. We are to pray for those in authority. Whether or not one likes a prime minister, a president, a pastor, a police officer or even a teacher, it is our duty to uphold that one. We may not condone their actions all
21013jj0
Moved! sit Us at our New Larger Location
rs down from BMO and Across from Jeans N joggers
Street ttleford, Sk 000
ng 40 Years of Business in the Battlefords
the time, but we are to pray for them. I would encourage you to read Ezekiel chapter 13 . and pray for leaders. We had only six out to our Gather Gospel Music Hours in December. Three leaders, and three in the seats. But you know what? That is good, because the bright side is, it can’t
get much worse than that. We still had a great time singing and playing instruments. Sunday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. we will have another hymn sing. We hope to see you there, masks and all. Please remember that if you do not have a place where you feel comfortable worshiping God with fellow believers, or even if you feel that you need a rest (a change is as good as a rest), please drop in to our little place of worship at 314 - Railway Ave. in Turtleford. Service time is 11 a.m. Until next month, remember, when life gets too hard to stand, you can always kneel.
PRO-FILE TAX SERVICES Celebrating 40 Years of Service in the Battlefords
Come Visit Us at our New Larger Location Two doors down from BMO and Across from Jeans N Joggers
306-445-3000
1166 - 101st St., North Battleford
8 am - 8 pm MON-FRI • 9 am -5 pm SAT
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The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021 - Page 19
Find new truth beyond your traditions and beliefs It can be a challenge to become motivated about a new year. An old year like 2020 can continue to cause us indigestion. January always wobbles around on shaky legs trying to get a solid footing among all the unfinished problems left from the previous year. Ed, my old neighbour in Saskatchewan, like many others, is finding it hard to have much enthusiasm for this new year of ours. When I talked to Ed on New Year’s Day, I told him our curling might begin on Jan. 14 or it might not, depending on COVID-19 cases. Shutdowns and the cancellation of team sports will still be a challenge for
N
eighbourly Advice
According to Ed By Raymond Maher
www.accordingtoed.com
revraymaher@accesscomm.ca some of us in the first months of 2021. I told Ed, “No sense of whining about limitations. We will curl when we can in the coming year.” Ed felt I was uncharacteristically positive, and he was sure I’ll be complaining before this new year progresses far. Last year proved our
plans and traditions might go up in smoke through circumstances beyond our control. We like our comfortable truths and timehonoured traditions. Life can challenge our longheld beliefs and traditions. The opportunity to meet God personally may come at any time when we least expect it. What we know
is limited until God opens our understanding of the limits of our traditions and beliefs. God alone gives us the living waters to eternal life. The fourth chapter of John tells of a Samaritan woman who found a stranger, a Jew, at her village well when she went to draw water. The Jew, Jesus, asked her, “Will you give me a drink?” (Verse 7) The Samaritan woman answered, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (Verse 9) The woman was amazed at Jesus’s request because she was bound with the belief that Jews do not associate with Samaritans. The woman’s
respect for her people’s ideas prevented her from seeing Jesus as anything more than a Jew with an unheard-of request. She could not even see beyond Jesus as a Jew, to merely a thirsty man asking for a drink of water. Our beliefs and traditions hold us captive to how we react to others. As the woman at the well talked to Jesus, she was focused on how Jews were different from her people, the Samaritans. After Jesus spoke of her having five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband, the woman saw Jesus as a prophet. Her focus remained on worship traditions between Jews and Samari-
tans, whether they should worship on their mountain or at Jerusalem as the Jews do. The woman shared that the coming Messiah would explain everything to them. Jesus confessed to the woman that she was talking to the Messiah. She rushed into her city and gathered the people to come and see if Jesus was the Messiah. Many met Jesus and believed that he was indeed the Messiah, as he claimed. Our long-held beliefs and traditions must connect us with the living Christ who is worshipped neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem. “God is Spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
Worship Together Spend some quality family time together. Worship at the church of your choice. Our community has a number of churches and a variety of denominations for you & your family.
(RC) St. Joseph Calasanctius Parish 1942 - 98th Street, North Battleford, SK S9A 0N4
TerriTorial Drive alliance church
306-446-1695
PASTOR: Rev. Phinh Do
DAILY: Tues., Wed., Thurs. & Fri. - 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted WEEKEND MASS TIMES: Saturdays - 7:30 p.m. Sundays - 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
ANGLICAN PARISH Rev. Trevor Malyon
1401 - 98th Street, North Battleford, SK
St. Georges Anglican Church Battleford Sunday @ 5:00 p.m. St. Paul’s Anglican Church North Battleford Sunday @ 11:00 a.m. Battle River Parish YouTube channel CJNB Radio 1050 a.m. Sunday mornings 7:45-8:30 a.m. Contact: 306 445 4155 stpaulnb@sasktel.net
306-445-5901
Reverend George Yando Sunday Services 10:30 AM Everyone Welcome
PRE-REGISTER
Hope Mennonite Fellowship
Battlefords Grace Community Church
1291 - 109th Street, North Battleford
SUNDAY - 11:00 a.m. Worship Service
Pastor: Bill Hall
191 - 24th Street W., Battleford, Sk. 306-937-7575
WORSHIP SERVICES - 11 a.m. Sunday
Church Phone 306-445-4181
Everyone Welcome
Living Water Ministry
Sr. Pastor Brian Arcand Pastor Anand George Phone: 306-445-3803 Cell: 306-441-9385 Fax: 306-445-4385
All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Parish 902 - 108th Street, North Battleford
Divine Liturgy: Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Celebrant: Very Rev. Janko Kolosnjaji 306-664-2301 (Office) 306-244-2604 (Home)
Battleford United Church 52 - 4th Avenue West Battleford, SK
306-937-3177 Rev. Gayle Wensley
SUNDAY SERVICES 11:00 a.m.
Battlefords Cowboy Church Services 1st & 3rd Thursday of each Month
Battleford Legion Hall 7:00 p.m. PASTOR - Rick Martin
Third Avenue United Church
ROMAN CATHOLIC ST. VITAL’S
Sunday Worship Services at 10:30 am
Saturday Evening Mass - 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass - 10:30 a.m.
Rev. Dexter van Dyke
Pre-registration required to register at
306-445-8171
www.thirdavenueunitedchurchnb.ca Email: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net
Everyone Welcome
1371 - 103rd Street (Use East Door)
LIVING FAITH CHAPEL
1372 102nd St 306-445-3009
Phone 306-937-7340 PASTOR - Fr. Sebastian Kunnath
Phone: 306-285-3823 Contact: Don Retzlaff
Services: First & Third Sunday 10:30 a.m. Church & CE Wing: 306-893-2611 For booking the Wing: 306-893-4729
Sunday Services 10:30 am Various Weekly Programs Pastor Casey Sitter www.livingfaithchapel.ca
Battlefords Seventh-Day Adventist Church
11 - 18th Street, Battleford, SK
Maidstone/Paynton United Church of Canada
Sunday Evening Service 7:00 p.m. Bible Study Wednesday 7:30 p.m.
1702 - 106th Street, North Battleford
Come Join Us Sundays at 11:00 am Loving God Growing Together Serving Others Phone Church: 306-445-4818 Fax: 306-445-8895 Email: tbcnb@sasktel.net www.trinitybaptistchurch.ca
Pastor James Kwon
Corner 16th Ave. & 93rd Street, North Battleford
Phone 306-445-9096
Saturday Services Bible Study - 10:00 a.m. Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Page 20 - The Battlefords, Thursday, January 14, 2021
WHO DOES IT? Professional Directory
AGRICULTURE PARTS
ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR
Bob Frolek's
Ag Services • Solar • Residential Commercial • Maintenance
AGRA PARTS PLUS WRECKING
• Older Tractors • Combines • Swathers • Balers & Tillage • Other Ag Related Equipment
Look for the RIGHT business for the JOB DEADLINE FOR THURSDAY EDITION IS MONDAY BY 4:00 PM
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Derrick Shynkaruk General Contractor
• New Construction • Renovations
306-445-6769
3 miles N.W. on Hwy. 16, 2 1/2 miles west on Sunshine Road
CONSTRUCTION
ET YOUR Co-Jack Construction USINESS Established in 1996 Complete Building Renovations ROWING! Brad Pearson
Box 5 Medstead, SK S0M 1W0
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Owner co-jack@sasktel.net
Cell: 306-824-0184 Home: 306-342-2122
Kevin Ryhorchuk
306-441-8727
306.441.1980 306.445.3144
djshynkaruk@gmail.com
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
To Book FIND OUT HOW TO REACH Your Space Now Over 26,000 readers Jeff Schommer plus 99,152 306-481-4892 unique visitors online schommshandymanrenos@yahoo.com
a "To-Do" List? FORWeHave ONLY $39 Will Take Care /week of it!
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Events cancelled, but outlook not all gloom By Sherri Solomko Correspondent
Jan. 15 seems to be the magic date to learn how arena activities are able to proceed for the remainder of the season. Unity’s arena has included a number of time slots for eight-person hockey practices and reduced numbers for public skating. The Unity Skating Club has proceeded in the same manner. A big thank you to those who supported the museum fundraiser, as it helped add more than $4,000 to the museum’s budget. Those delightful gnomes were a big hit all over town. The annual Ducks Unlimited banquet was another COVID-19 casualty, as organizers announced they are unable to proceed under current restrictions, but are hopeful for a return in 2022. There likely will be a number of other events that normally take place in the
U
nity News
first quarter of a new year that will be affected. Don’t be discouraged, as its all part of the process and these events will be back. A year-end review from Unity Parks and Recreation Department holds many highlights. Even though recreation underwent multiple changes and guidelines to adjust to, this team worked to benefit as many as possible. Additional free time was used to build new indoor bleachers as well as some overdue repairs and maintenance at the arena. Painting in the arena included hallway lockers, lobby tables, outdoor bleachers and dressing rooms. The officials’ dressing room had a new
washroom completed as well as a much needed facelift. Parks cleanup included pruning, trimming and raking. Summer students were able to help with park equipment painting and other jobs. New bleachers were built at the ball diamonds. The regional park campground had campsites enlarged and a new selfpay station installed with plans to upgrade fire pits next summer. Pleasant View Cemetery also saw some trimming and clean up, replacement of section markers, garage re-sided and additional cement runners poured. Fundraising is still underway for the replacement of new welcome and map signs. The most exciting recreation news is seeing the exterior community centre renovations underway. Residents can expect to see a modern-look facility with
grey metal siding, new entrance and a new roof. Unity’s Economic Development Director also provided encouraging news from 2020 and heading into this new year. Several new businesses opened along with upgrades and renovation in some existing businesses. Homeowners, with the combined help of extra time on their hands and a government tax credit, have been upgrading interiors and exteriors of homes and properties. The resident physician program has been well received and will continue into 2021. North West Terminal has said that previously announced expansions plans are being evaluated for this year. Overall hope and optimism seem to be the theme for 2021. Here’s hoping this finds you all safe, healthy and socially distanced. Until next week ...
A partnership between the team at Nutrien Ag in Unity and Hollyhock’s Greenhouse combined to help raise $5,025 from a fertilizer fundraiser in 2020. Nutrien donated the proceeds from lawn fertilizer sold to benefit KidSport in Unity, which in turn helps local children be involved in sports programs. Photo submitted
Fireworks display a welcome pandemic diversion By Dorothy M. Mills Correspondent
Hello 2021 and goodbye to 2020. It will be a year we will all well remember and it will go down in history. The Battlefords were treated to some lovely fireworks on New Year’s Eve. They were bight and loud and lit up the sky in the King Hill area. A big thank you goes
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out to organizers for making it all possible. Roads close to the hill were full of vehicles full of people watching the spectacle. From our home in Battlefords West Place we were
able to enjoy the whole show. Light up the Village at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford had a good run. They would like to thank all those who took the time to drive through and make donations. The drive through ended Jan. 9. It is sad to hear they had a break-in on the grounds with damage done and articles stolen.
Sympathy goes out to the Smith family on the recent passing of Kenneth (Smitty) Smith of North Battleford. He passed away Dec. 20 at the age of 73. Those Were the Days at the WDM were his pride, as he drove an antique tractor in the parade of power for the past few years. Celebration of life will take place at the Meota Cemetery at a later date. We welcome new ten-
ants to Battlefords West Place. Among them is Joan Harrison on the second floor. One evening between Christmas and New Year she hosted a musical evening, playing her keyboard to entertain all on her floor. She set up in her doorway. Everyone on the floor came out of their doors and sat to listen to her play for an hour. She has done the same for those on higher floors. Thank
you, Joan. It was such a lovely break during COVID-19 restrictions. We all needed a change. COVID-19 continues to have the province in its grip. A vaccine is coming but it will take some time to reach everyone. Just take care. Wear your mask and follow the health rules. We all hope for the best in 2021. Time will tell.
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