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Taking flight

Sky is the limit. Local man brings old planes back to life. PAGE A3

Advancing frontier. More cannabis retail opportunities are considered PAGE A7

A large number of Canada geese could be found near the Boundary Dam Power Station on Monday morning. Some of the birds took off as this photo was taken, creating an impressive sight. Photo by Emily Tarnes

SOS. North West Mounted Police building curators are asking for help. PAGE A9

Game over. Big Six Hockey League makes a decision. PAGE A13

Habitat for Humanity moves forward with next build in the Estevan area By David Willberg The Habitat for Humanity Estevan chapter is moving forward with its third build in the community, and it has received a big boost already towards its fundraisng. Doug Barnstable, who chairs the local committee, said an anonymous person in the community has stepped forward with a generous donation – a vacant lot located at 1011 Hillcrest Drive that can be used for the Estevan chapter’s third home in Estevan. Construction will be able to start as soon as the local committee has their funds in place. “We’re hoping to start building around mid-2022, so we’re looking at fundrais-

ing primarily for this year, and early into next year,” said Barnstable. The donation gives them a head start. Typically the committee would have to pay at least $80,000 for one lot. “One the things that we’ve experienced on the last two builds is on each time, there has been a major donor who haw shown up with the amount of $50,000, which has helped immensely as far as getting the total funds in place.” The donated lot won’t require the local chapter to have an attached garage like the previous ones. Architectural controls required a minimum of a single-car garage on the other homes. Barnstable said the total

The local Habitat for Humanity chapter celebrated the key ceremony for its second build last August, and they’re now moving forward with their third build. File photo. cost for one new home is about $307,000, including the lot

and the construction costs. The donation of the land allows

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Estevan young woman wins big on a lottery in Alberta that helps great causes By David Willberg Michaella Matthies’ decision to spend $20 on some tickets for an Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation’s (EOCF) 50-50 draw proved to be the best $20 she has ever spent. Matthies had her number drawn and won the $322,945 jackpot prize for the foundation’s 50-50 draw during a game on Jan. 26. “Things like this don’t happen to me,” Matthies told the Mercury. “I was in shock, completely. And I definitely had to compare the numbers multiple times. There was three of us comparing the numbers, over and over.” They knew that they had the right numbers, and the realization they had won was stunning. Matthies is currently residing in Alberta while she attends the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, so she was eligible to purchase tickets. “I found out bright and

early at 8 a.m. (on Jan. 27),” said Matthies. “My dad (Mark) called me bright and early. He was the one who saw it first. We both had the numbers on our phones, and so he called me.” Since there’s a one-hour difference between Estevan and Edmonton, the phone call woke her up. Then he broke the news to her that one of the 60 tickets she purchased for $20 was drawn. “I hopped out of bed, and I went to my computer desk, and that’s when all of us started comparing the numbers,” said Matthies. Matthies plans to share the money with her family, and to pay off student loans that she needed to attend college. She is currently in the second and final year of a program to become a court reporter. “I plan to save some, probably invest some. I definitely need a new vehicle down the line, so that’s, in the future, a possibility.” Her career as a court reporter will have a pretty big cost

early on, so it’s a relief to have the winnings. Once the Edmonton Oilers are able to have fans present once again, she looks forward to taking in some games. Matthies started purchasing tickets through the 50-50 last fall during the Stanley Cup playoffs, when Edmonton was the site of the Stanley Cup playoffs bubble. She thought it was a good idea to be able to purchase tickets online, so she bought tickets a few times. The bonus, of course, is the money raised through the 50-50 sales will go to a great cause, helping projects in the Edmonton area. “I have always been a skeptic of 50-50s and lotteries in general, but my dad’s advice is always you can’t win if you don’t play, so I took his advice on that day and I’m glad I did.” Matthies has been receiving congratulations from people she hasn’t talked to in a while, so it’s nice to have community support and so many people who are happy

From right, Michaella Mathies with her boyfriend Kolby Dyck, her mother Lynn Matthies and her father Mark Matthies. Michaella Matthies, who is studying in Alberta, recently won big on a 50-50 draw in that province. Photo submitted for her and her family. Hockey has always been a big part of Matthies’ life as well. Fittingly enough, she is a lifelong fan of the Oilers,

and her parents are big Oilers fans, too. And she was a star in the Estevan Minor Hockey Association’s female hockey programs for nearly 10 years.

She hasn’t been able to keep playing while she’s been at NAIT, but she still straps on her skates from time to time, and she still misses playing.

Fundraisers are planned for Estevan’s Habitat chapter « A1 off that amount, and they also have some in-kind commitments already. “We’re hopeful that the total amount that we would have to raise funds for is

somewhere in the neighbourhood of $180,000 to $200,000 in cash and gifts in kind,” said Barnstable. The process of selecting a partner family is also expected

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to begin some time early next year as well. A couple of fundraisers are happening as well. The first is the Meaning of Home Writing Contest for local school students and for home-schooled students in Grades 4-6. “It’s focused mostly on online applications this time around. In the past we had some applications that were sent in as a group, and then a couple schools used the online option.” It started Jan. 4 and contest entries will close Feb. 19. Winners will be announced in the spring. Students explain what home means to them for a chance to direct a $30,000 grant to a local Habitat for Humanity build. Sagen will donate $10 for each local entry to the Estevan chapter. The local Habitat chapter will also be the beneficiary of The Black Grasshopper Pub’s Pizza with a Purpose on Feb. 8. Five dollars from the sale of every 10-inch, three-topping pizza will go to the chapter. The committee has been

reaching out to people who have supported them in the past, and they are looking at other options for fundraising. Previously they have hosted cash calendar draws and poker tournaments, which Barnstable said are not compatible with COVID restrictions. Instead, they’re looking at online options such as 5050 draws. Barnstable said they’re also trying to attract additional volunteers with the organization, getting people involved with committees or helping out with the construction side. “We’ve done a review of all of the people that we had on our contact list, and we’re still looking for people who might be interested in being co-chairs of committees or on committees, just to try to spread some more of the responsibilities around a little bit, so we can count on people to be involved in all of the areas that we have to do, such as fundraising and volunteer coordination during the build,” said Barnstable. The Estevan chapter needs to have the home con-

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structed by the end of 2022, as per the terms of its affiliate status with Habitat for Humanity Regina. It’s why they’re pushing the fundraising now so that they have 80 per cent of the needed support in place by the end of the year. COVID-19 has had an impact on all of the chapters outside of Regina, and there have been discussions on what can be done for them. Costs such as lumber and other materials have gone up. Barnstable and vice-chair Calven Johnson appeared before Estevan city council at the Jan. 25 meeting to ask for financial support and to provide an update on the local committee efforts. Council ultimately tabled the request after discussing several options for support, including a $10,000 donation, which

could be spread out over two years, waiving permit fees or waiving the municipal portion of property taxes. The first two homes in Estevan were constructed in the Solid Rock subdivision in northeast Estevan. The most recent home was finished last year and a key ceremony occurred in August. The homeowners, Chris Lewis and Holly Boreski and their four children, have enjoyed the residence. “It’s been a real change for them and their lifestyle, and they have thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Barnstable. “It was a lot of work for them. Obviously they put time in on the construction side. They’re a busy family as it was, but obviously they’re quite happy and pleased with the home they’re in.”

Service disruption at Arcola Health Centre extended The Saskatchewan Health Authority has announced the temporary disruption to emergency and acute care services at the Arcola Health Centre has been extended until further notice. In a news release issued by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Thursday afternoon, it was noted the decision was made due to active COVID-19 activity in the area and required realignment of health services to support patient care. Lab and x-ray services at both facilities are not affected by this disruption. The disruption in Arcola started on Jan. 15 and was scheduled to come to an end on Jan. 30. At the time, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said the service disruption was due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the Weyburn area. Weyburn’s hospital re-

turned to normal operations last week and is able to admit COVID and non-COVID acute care patients again. But that didn’t result in services being restored in Arcola. In the event of an emergency call 911. Residents in the Arcola are may visit the emergency department in Estevan, Redvers, Kipling or Weyburn. Non-urgent health related questions can be directed to the provincial HealthLine by calling 8-1-1. A service disruption at the Radville Marian Health Centre’s emergency room is also going to continue. The SHA says it is working to reopen the emergency department at Arcola Health Centre and Radville Marian Health Centre, as well as inpatient admissions at Arcola, as soon as possible. At this time, they are not able to confirm a date.

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Estevan family is giving 1940s planes a second life and a job By Ana Bykhovskaia Small and vigilant little planes are lining up at Scott and Laura Piper's private airport by Estevan in the morning to head out to fulfill their daily duty – pipeline inspection. These certified airplanes, originally built by Piper Aircraft during the second half of the 1940s, received their second life at Blue Sky Air. The company, founded in 1982 by Laura's parents Nat and Joyce Ooms, specializes in aerial pipeline control. Their commercial fleet consists of resurrected old planes, some of which were completely rebuilt right in the yard. "This one is built with better steel now. It's lighter, but they are still made to the standard," said Scott Piper, pointing at one of their planes as they were getting ready to take off on a regular busy workday. The sky and planes are often romanticized, but for Piper it is more of a job. He said that for most pilots working for them, flying actually was a dream, but for him, it was a bit different. "I always liked airplanes and I wanted to get into it. I wanted to be a private pilot and just be able to fly. I never had dreams about being a commercial pilot," Piper said. "When I met my wife, she was already flying and working for her dad. And he was looking for someone to buy the business, and it was an opportunity for us to have a business of our own and a business where we could be at home." Previous to that Piper was working in pipeline and oilfield construction, which meant being away from home all the time, and the family business was a much better fit and a great opportunity for them. The Pipers graduated from the Stevenson Campus Aviation and Aerospace Southport of Winnipeg's

Red River College in Portage la Prairie with the aircraft maintenance licence, which allows them to cut the expenses when it comes to upkeeping and also rebuilding the planes. "The maintenance side gives us a competitive advantage because we look after our own planes. If a plane breaks down this morning, we have two mechanics here all the time. Where if we didn't, then we would have to take a different plane or cancel flights, and we'd have to bring mechanics in," Piper said. While Pipers are the main mechanics, hired pilots also help them to maintain the equipment, as inspections are done every 100 hours. Each plane they have tells a different story. Some of the aircraft the company has were originally in a good shape. Other times the planes required a full overhaul. While some planes Blue Sky Air bought were already rebuilt, others took a lot of Pipers' hours to put together. One such plane is currently under construction in the shop. It will become the newest addition to the fleet, and the hope is to complete the project this summer. "This is the 1947 Piper PA-12 (Super Cruiser). It's the same make and model as (the other planes in the fleet). "The Piper in the late 80s or early 90s sold the type certificate for this aircraft to a guy that lives in Vernon, B.C. Piper was having financial trouble, so they sold off some of these old planes to the same guy. And he was going to start building these as new airplanes again and ran into financial trouble. But in the interim, he was getting this company going. He was certified to build airframes." Blue Sky Air bought the plane in the late 80s. It had a serial number

Blue Sky Air fleet consists of PA-12 planes built in the 1940s.

This 1947 Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser is planned to be completed in the summer.

Scott Piper has been rebuilding and servicing plane for about 20 years. but at that time by no means was it flyable as pretty much all it had was the rebuilt frame. Since then the company has been slowly putting things together and buying parts to one day have it up in the air again. With most parts coming from the U.S., fluctuations in Canadian currency, along with the recent challenges caused by COVID-19 resulted in some delays. However, step by step the progress was happening and the plane is getting closer to completion. "This is the type certificate for this aircraft; it tells us a lot of the details. We can go through here and find what the deflection is on all the control surfaces, things like

that … And a lot of it is common aircraft knowledge. I've worked on these for 20 some years, some of it was taught in school, some of it is lost art that we are trying to keep up," said Piper, explaining the plane overhaul process. Now as the other airplane is getting older, the company wants to have this project completed to have a reliable aircraft to be able to take the other one off work for repairs. And the plane is finally getting close to the final stages. "We can probably have this built in about six months," Piper said. "Right now we are mocking up the dash … And we are in the A5 » THE

The crew is mocking the cabin before installing the equipment.

Blue Sky Air with their hangars, shops and private airport, is located about 15 kilometres north of Estevan. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

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It’s an idea that started out quietly, but has been gradually gaining momentum. Now, it appears it’s going ahead, and with support from the community. Nobody should be in doubt whether the Estevan Public Youth Centre (EPYC) would be a great idea, if it’s done right. It’s something that has been lacking in our community for a long time, and has proven to be a success in similarsized communities, such as Swift Current. Meetings have been happening for close to two years. They have a board in place with people from several different sectors in the community. Those on the board are parents and grandparents who can talk to young family members, and those kids’ friends, about what they would like to see. And last week Estevan city council committed $20,000 towards the initiative. So far it’s all good news. They’ve also said they want to have programming starting this summer. It might seem like putting the cart before the horse, since they don’t have a facility yet, but they want to have ditial programming. It’s hard to say whether such programming will appeal to youths, but at least today’s young people are used to virtual programs. They’ve

grown up with it. And they’re more likely to accept it than adults. Of course, other similar concepts have been tried in Estevan, and have had varying degrees of success, but ultimately haven’t been sustained for the long-term. Usually, they’ve been connected to the idea of a hang-out. The youth centre for Estevan would be much more than just a hang-out. We’ve seen churches try it before, but this needs to move further than just a faith-based component. That being said, it’s certainly great to see representatives of local churches on the board, because they have a lot to contribute with ideas and experience. The EPYC is going to have measures in place for kids who come and show signs of impairment by drugs or alcohol. The ability to corral such behaviour will go a long ways in determining the success of the program, once they do find a home, because this has to be a place where kids feel safe and adults are comfortable sending their kids. And, as was noted at last week’s council meeting, this youth centre isn’t just a place where kids come to play dodgeball. As we continue to rethink Estevan, as we place a greater emphasis on it as a place to live,

and as we continue to see a greater emphasis on retaining our residents, a facility like this becomes even more important. It’s vital to have it for families, not just if they’re looking to come here, but once they arrive. Those who are looking to bring the youth centre to Estevan obviously picked a tough time to deliver such a service to the community. It’s not going to be easy to open during or right after a pandemic, not just because of the difficulties of offering programming outside of the virtual realm, but the challenges associated with fundraising and finding a permanent home. We can see the need for such a facility in the Estevan area. Based on the reaction we’ve heard, the community sees the need for such a program as well. Those involved with the EPYC will have a tough time not only trying to get it started now, but proving the nay-sayers wrong. The CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) crowd can be tough to win over, even once EPYC is up and running and providing its valuable service. With the amount of time that has gone into planning, and the people who are involved, those are certainly steps in the right direction.

Is the pandemic to make us reconsider patents and intellectual property rights?

Published weekly by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, 68 Souris Avenue N., Estevan, SK S4A 2M3. The Estevan Mercury is owned and operated by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc. Advertising rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice. Conditions of editorial and advertising content: The Estevan Mercury attempts to be accurate in Editorial and Advertising content; however, no guarantee is given or implied. The Estevan Mercury reserves the right to revise or reject any or all editorial and advertising content as the newspaper’s principals see fit. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an advertisement, and is not responsible for errors in advertisements except for the space occupied by such errors. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for manuscripts, photographs, negatives and other related material that may be submitted for possible publication. All of the Estevan Mercury’s content is protected by Canadian Copyright laws. Reviews and similar mention of material in this newspaper is granted on the provision that The Estevan Mercury receives credit. Otherwise, any reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Advertisers purchase space and circulation only. Rights to any advertisement produced by The Estevan Mercury, including artwork, typography, photos, etc., remain the property of this newspaper. Advertisements or parts thereof may not be reproduced or assigned without the consent of the publisher.

Now that a number of pharmaceutical companies have found what seems to be a potential long-term or at least some kind of a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new problem has arisen – distribution. Many people questioned the logistic of the distribution well before the vaccines were found, but as it wasn't an acute problem at that time, I don't think it was efficiently addressed. Last week I partook in a large open webinar on COVID-19 vaccination. It was organized for journalists from all over the world by the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas in partnership with UNESCO and the World Health Organization and funding from the European Union. In many senses, it was an eye-opener. Some participating experts brought up their concerns about inefficient vaccine delivery in some countries like France, with tens of thousands of doses administered a day where potentially hundreds if not millions could have been delivered, as they do have the supplies or capacities to produce such quantities. At the same time, a participant from Latin America pointed out that most countries on the continent hardly received any doses from suppliers, and with just a few thousand doses delivered the speed of immunization is out of the question so far. Canada is still in its second month of COVID-19 vaccination, but the concern of potential vaccine shortages has been making headlines for a few weeks now. And that's a developed country that actually has resources to secure the needed amount of vaccine. A lot of other important questions were brought up and are to be answered sooner or later. Acute issues, such as logistics, production, distribution, communication with the population, the information on vaccines themselves and skepticism about vaccination as a process, are more or less pronounced in different countries, yet exist

Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About… everywhere.There was one particular idea pointed out by Yves Sciama, a French science journalist, that caught my attention. He switched the focus to intellectual property (definitely not the first one that comes to mind, right? I'll explain in a moment.) The chaotic situation with the vaccine delivery is something that was expected. A while ago I thought that whoever would come up with the vaccine would have to be wiser than Solomon to find the perfect solution as to the best and smartest way to distribute the dosages across the world. Unfortunately, we are not perfect, so are our solutions, especially when there are so many variables. Profits, patriotism in a sense of putting own population first, political atmosphere, future outcomes of any decision, all these and other factors affect the choices different countries make trying to control the vaccine distribution. But there is one thing that is in the essence of the problem – currently, the vaccine is limited. There are only that many doses available every day. And even with new companies announcing their successes in the development and approval of new product, we are way, way too far from having enough vaccine to sufficiently immunize the world population. We can't get out of the pandemic one country at a time. So, we need to make sure that we are marching in step. But for that, we need to be able to produce way more vaccine than we are. There is progress in this area, but we still don't know how long the vaccine will last and when or if we'll need to reimmunize. If we do, then the production capacity becomes totally vital.

So here is the question that stumped me. Is it possible in the current unprecedented situation to change the intellectual property rights system we are living in for the sake of all people and to share the existing proven formulas to save time on research and thus save potentially thousands or millions of lives? On the one hand, the existing system has been helping the creators, be it companies or individuals, to be rewarded for their work for years. On the other hand, this change would allow pharmaceutical giants to co-operate and probably get way further than where they all are individually. However, in that co-operation, some of them will lose, while others will gain. Besides, the precedent may destroy the system, leaving many inventors, especially of smaller scale, vulnerable and discouraged from further progress. To me, the idea of taking something from those who have it and sharing it with everybody else also brings up bad associations, as it mimics one of the main postulates that brought Bolsheviks to power in 1917 and soon led to a disastrous civil war. And the memories of the aftermath of the fierce and forced implementation of that idea are worrisome. However, the situation with the vaccine is very different.The position we are in now suggests that unless we find a way to speed up the process, we may soon see something ugly happening, as the burnout from "temporary lockdowns" of different scales across the world along with economic instability is heating up the atmosphere better than any kind of gases. (And the Doomsday Clock, the symbol representing the likelihood of a man-made global catastrophe, is 100 seconds from midnight, as close as they've ever been). So can the change in the patent system improve the situation? I'd say, yes. Is it possible? Not so sure, but it is something to think about.

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David Willberg Willberg’s World

Once upon a time, in an nearby apartment When I bought a condo back in 2013, one of the reasons I cited was that “13 years in Estevan’s rental market was long enough.” Granted, most of my experiences weren’t bad. The first few years I lived here were fine. I had a quiet little basement suite in southwest Estevan, and granted, by the time I moved out in 2007, after nearly seven years, I had outgrown it and needed a change. But my rent had increased about $100 a month in seven years, the landlord was reasonable and more than understanding with the fact that I was essentially a bum at that point in my life, and he didn’t jack up the rent in late 2005 and early 2006 when the economy boomed and rental properties became scarce. From 2007 to 2013, there were multiple times in which Estevan had a rental vacancy of zero. Other times, the vacancy rate was under three per cent. If a property was available, either it just came on the market, or something was seriously wrong. I believe Estevan, at one time, also had the highest average rent in the country, ahead of Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and other communities you would associate with high rent costs. I’m sure there were some rental properties that weren’t included in those CMHC reports over the years, but trying to find a good, available rental property in Estevan was like trying to find a Pauly Shore movie among a list of Oscar nominations. You’d often see people offering a room for hundreds of dollars a month. Not an apartment or even a bachelor suite. A room. The lack of available housing became the biggest impediment to growth in Estevan. The ironic part is that in 2013, the year before the oil price crash, the building permit report for Estevan showed there were permits for nearly 200 housing units issued. We finally had the construction levels we needed, and within a year, the boom was done. Needless to say, when the opportunity to escape the rental market arrived and I could purchase a nice, 28-year-old condo, I jumped at it. (Please note: I’m not looking to sell my condo). Had I known that the price of oil would plunge a year later, and that zero per cent rental vacancy would eclipse 20 per cent before too long, I might not have been too keen to purchase. But I’m still happy with my decision. The CMHC rental market report is no longer the big deal for Estevan that it used to be. Sure, there are people who still take an interest in it, but people don’t talk about it like we used to. Once we started hovering around 20-25 per cent vacancy, the general public found other topics to discuss. Estevan has the highest rental vacancy rate in the province. The average rent in Estevan is now sixth in Saskatchewan. People will say it’s still too high, and maybe the market reflects that, but it is worth noting that our rent is now below the provincial average. If you’re a rental property owner, or in real estate, banking or economic development, or if you’re a renter, you’re going to still find this report very interesting. If you’re a numbers-obsessed person like me, you might take a good look at it. But the average citizen likely have more pressing things to worry about, like trying to stay sane during a pandemic. The rental market is likely one of the aspects of our region most affected by the boom and bust nature of our economy. When the price of oil was above $100 per barrel, the landlords were thrilled. But it became a renters’ market in a hurry. If we do get another oil boom, the 26 per cent vacancy rate that CMHC reported for October will be very low again. The key is finding that middle ground in which landlords can make money from their properties, since they aren’t operating a charity, renters can have a comfortable place to live without being house-poor or gouged, and people can come to Estevan and find a nice place to live that they can call home, whether it be for the short-term or long-term. Thirteen years in Estevan’s rental market was enough for me. Actually, 13 months in the rental market in 2007 and 2008 would have been enough for anyone. It’s not so bad now, but I’m glad to be a homeowner.

We are forgetting the problems of drug addiction during COVID The editor: With the focus on the extreme impact that COVID-19 has had on society, I feel that we are forgetting the problems of drug addiction. My family has been impacted by addiction for close to 15 years and the author S.E.K. describes what it is like to be a mother so much better than I ever could, through her poem I am the Mother. Saskatchewan had 379 drug overdose deaths in 2020. Did you know that is more than twice as many due to Covid-19? We need to address this! Seven years ago my son passed

away while struggling with the cunning, baffling, powerful disease of “addiction” or as I would rather have it referred to SUD (substance use disorder). No autopsy was performed; the coroner’s report listed “undetermined causes” as manner of death. This means he is not even counted in the statistics. Jeff was more than his disease: he had dreams and goals, which were beyond his reach once his addiction took hold of him. Society (as in medical doctors) contributed to this disease when prescribing addictive painkillers after a serious car accident. Sadly, once addiction took con-

« A3 process of rigging everything. All the flight controls, we are getting them set so that they work the way they are going to when the plane is finished because once we put the skin on it's harder to do the rigging." Piper added that he has a network of people from all over North America who are into similar projects and are a great help out if he runs into trouble with rebuilding, or even building planes, which is also happening in their yard but in a separate facility. Piper pointed out that the certification process is what makes a big difference between building and rebuilding planes. The other aircraft, which was started by Nat Ooms and is currently in works in another shop, is a kit plane. Unlike the rebuilt Piper PA-12, this one can never be used for commercial needs. "That's a completely different (project). We keep it in a different building because the certification is far apart," Piper said. It will be a four-seat fast and efficient RV-10 plane. "This is strictly a fun plane. These fly 170-175 miles an hour. Much more efficient than certified planes, because homebuilders are allowed to use new technology, and certified airplanes can't use new technology as easily. It's hard to bring in new technology because of the certification process," explained Piper, adding that while some materials can be improved in the rebuilding process, all equipment has to remain the same as the original. Blue Sky Air is located about 15 kilometres north of Estevan. Every morning seven days a week small Piper Super Cruisers head out to do the pipeline inspections over southeast Saskatchewan. Piper said that fortunately the company is staying busy, and has enough work to keep four hired pilots and two owners occupied.

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Editor’s note: Ms. Green has obtained the permission of S.E.K. to have the letter to the editor published. Due to space constraints, it is unable to run in this publication, however, you can read it in full on www.estevanmercury.ca.

The 1947 plane is planned to be finished in summer 2021

Every morning little planes take off to do pipeline inspections.

This homebuilt kit plane was started by Nat Ooms and his friend.

Once completed this homebuilt plane will fly 170-175 miles an hour.

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trol, there was little or no help available to fight his battle. I am grateful that there have been some positive steps taken since then in combating addiction, however, we need to do more. The stigma still remains. Esther Green Swift Current

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Former Estevan resident receives SK Arts grant Former Estevan resident Michael Dawson has received a $3,000 Independent Artists grant from SK Arts to write and arrange songs for a new album. The money will also be used to conceptualize accompanying videos, design, visuals and photos related to the release and live performance. “I truly can’t say enough great things about SK Arts. It’s truly such an integral of the fabric of our province,” Dawson told the Mercury. This album will be a solo effort for Dawson, who has been a member of the independent pop group Library Voices for more than a decade. Five members of Library Voices are former Estevan residents. He described his music as instrumental and ambient. “I’m very much collecting and manipulating beautiful little scraps of sounds and … then repurposing them into new songs. Sometimes that means building lush synthesizer pads that sound like the soundtrack to a movie, but just as often it means I’m literally sitting

Former Estevan resident Mike Dawson is looking forward to the release of an upcoming solo album. Photo by Nathan Beausoleil with scissors and scotch tape, splicing little pieces of cassette tapes together into loops.” The album is expected to be released this fall. Towards the end of summer Dawson expects he’ll be sharing some excerpts, along with videos. It will be released on vinyl

and be available on all streaming services. This will be his second solo album. His first release, the selftitled Michael Scott Dawson, was released in October. It took about two years to complete, and was influenced by Estevan on a few

tracks. The album cover was actually a photo he took driving from Estevan to Regina. “A couple of evenings I dragged my mother along as I drove out to fields around the city and made recordings of birds and nature, that I’ve been incorporating into new compositions.” Dawson still expects that Library Voices will regroup at some point and record another album, but for the last few years everyone had been busy with other personal, professional and creative endeavors. “They’re all still my closest friends in the world and rarely does a day go by that I don’t speak with at least one member, so I’m confident things will line up at some point. I’m lucky to be part of a group with such great people who are far more talented than I am, but it’s felt so rewarding to work on music alone that hones in on my own tastes, interests, and personality,” Dawson said. Independent Artists grants support Saskatchewan artists to pursue their creative work and

careers by funding creative, professional development or research projects and the performance of artistic works. These grants support the ongoing development of artistic practice in Saskatchewan. At the most recent grant deadlines, SK Arts awarded funding to 90 individuals and organizations, totaling almost $800,000. SK Arts funding supports a variety of initiatives, including organizations that provide ongoing programs in the arts, the creative work of professional artists, community art projects and the engagement of professional artists to work in schools with students and teachers. Established in 1948, SK Arts is the oldest public arts funder in North America and second oldest in the world after the Arts Council of Great Britain. It provides grants, programs and services to individuals and groups whose activities have an impact on the arts in Saskatchewan and ensure that opportunities exist for Saskatchewan residents to experience all art forms. For more information, visit www.sk-arts.ca.

Estevan’s rental vacancy rate remains the highest in the province; average rent below average Estevan continues to have the highest rental vacancy rate in the province, even though the average cost of rent dropped in 2020. According to the 2020 report from the Canada

Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Estevan’s rate was at 26.5 per cent, up from 25.8 per cent the previous year. CMHC tabulated the numbers in October of last

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year and released the data on Thursday. Vacancy rates for bachelor suites in Estevan were down, from 52.5 per cent in 2019 to 43.2 per cent in 2020, while one-bedroom apart-

CLUES DOWN 1. Italian Lake 2. Cuckoos 3. Sound unit 4. Doctors’ group 5. The cutting part of a drill 6. A team’s best hurler 7. Couches 8. Muslim ruler 9. Round globular seed 10. A way to confine 11. Men wear it 12. Chinese province 14. Soup cracker 17. Expression of disappointment 18. West Chadic languages 20. Midway between south and southwest 23. An opal 24. Main artery 25. Junior’s father 26. Sierra Leone dialect 29. Cyrillic letter 30. Native American tribe 31. Passes 32. Most unnatural 35. Insecticide 36. Blatted 38. Actress Fox 40. Actresses Kate and Rooney 41. Outside 42. The habitat of wild animals 43. Days falling in the middle of the month 44. Radioactivity unit 45. Certified public accountant 46. Swiss river 47. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)

ments dropped from 23.1 per cent to 18.1 per cent. But two-bedroom apartment vacancies increased from 27 to 31.3 per cent, and three-bedroom apartments soared from 18.3 to 29.2 per cent. The average rent in Estevan was down from $901 per month in 2019 to $852 a month in 2020. Among the 10 Saskatchewan communities surveyed, Estevan was sixth for average rent. The average rent for bachelor suites was $455, compared with $489 in 2019. Rent also

decreased for one-bedroom units from $790 to $767 and two-bedroom units from $970 to $914, but it increased for three-bedroom residences from $1,037 to $1,115. The average rent for the 10 Saskatchewan communities surveyed was $1,037 a month, compared to $1,004 in 2019. There were 592 total rental units in Estevan in 2020, compared with 636 the previous year. The number of bachelor suites remained the same at 14. One-bedroom units

were almost identical, sliding from 224 to 222, and three-bedroom units dropped slightly from 33 to 31. But the number of two-bedroom apartments dropped from 365 to 325. Estevan’s rental market was, at one time, one of the hottest in the country, with a zero per cent vacancy rate and rent that exceeded those of some of Canada’s largest cities. But since the price of oil plunged in mid-2014, the vacancy rate has soared while the cost of rent has gradually declined.

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SaskPower continues to occupy test facility SaskPower continues to be the occupant of the carbon capture test facility (CCTF) at the Shand Power Station. The test facility opened to much fanfare in June 2015, as it was one of only three such facilities in the world at the time. Companies were invited to come to the facility to work on their carbon capture technologies for an extended period of time. A couple of companies have occupied the test facility since it opened, and when nobody is in there, SaskPower gets to work on their technologies. In an email to the Mercury, Joel Cherry, a media relations and issues management consultant with SaskPower, said the Crown corporation has been using the facility for testing to make improvements for carbon capture and storage (CCS) since 2018, and plans

to continue the current work through at least mid-2021. “We are working to understand the root causes of, and find solutions to, amine degradation issues with CCS technology at the test facility,” Cherry said. Specifics of the research and results are commercially sensitive, and so cannot be shared, he said. There have been only very minor modifications to the facility since it opened. T h e CC T F f ac i l i t y would be available for a perspective tenant following completion of the current work, though they do not have any lined up. The International CCS Knowledge Centre in Regina is still actively pursuing a new client for the building. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for tours to occur, whereas previously SaskPower had potential clients from around the world visit the facility.

SaskPower continues to occupy the carbon capture test facility at the Shand Power Station.

Estevan could soon have a second cannabis retailer A second cannabis retailer could soon be open in Estevan. Estevan city council gave first reading at an open meeting Jan. 25 to an amendment to the city’s cannabis control bylaw. The amendment, if given final approval, would allow cannabis retailers to be located on Sixth Street from 13th Avenue to Souris Avenue South, and on Souris Avenue South from Sixth Street to Fourth Street. In a report to council, the city’s land development services division wrote that the city recently received an inquiry regarding a possible cannabis retail store, to be located in the 1100-block of Sixth Street, on the truck route and near the downtown area. When the cannabis retail bylaw was first established by the city in 2018, stores were limited to com-

mercial areas within arterial roads: Kensington Avenue, King Street, Fourth Street and a portion of 13th Avenue. The affected portion of Sixth Street is similar to those roads for traffic, the report from land development said. The bylaw also says retailers could be no closer than 200 metres from a school, which would not be an issue for this application. The store has to be clearly visible from the roadway and it has to be conformant with the city’s character and appearance requirements. In a letter to council, Police Chief Paul Ladouceur said the purpose of the initial location restrictions was for the city to proceed carefully for initial legalization and to allow time to review local impacts of cannabis retail. The current retailer, Fire

and F lower Cannabis, is located in a strip mall off of Kensington Avenue. “The current retail store has not caused any concern for police and has not impacted police operations in any significant way,” said Ladouceur, who does not foresee any concerns relating to this location of a second retail outlet. He pointed out this application is from Moonlit Cannabis, which has a location in Carlyle. Ladouceur suggested the bylaw remain as is, with an addition such as “any other locations deemed appropriate by council on a case-by-case basis.” Councillor Shelly Veroba suggested that it’s important to have cannabis shops that are visible, but she echoed Ladouceur’s statement that the current shop hasn’t caused any problems

in more than two years. Councillor Travis Frank added council spent a lot of time discussing possible locations for cannabis retailers. He believes the Sixth Street location fits for a location, but he also questioned whether council wants to always discuss locations if they’re off the truck route.

The bylaw will be discussed again at the Feb. 22 meeting, giving the public a chance to provide feedback. It will need second and third reading before being approved. Estevan was allotted two cannabis retail permits back in 2018, but the Estevan board of police commission-

ers and Estevan city council decided to allow just one retailer, citing a cautious approach to having a cannabis store in the community. The provincial government has since opened up the process, allowing for more retailers in larger centres, and for smaller communities to have a retailer.

DOING BUSINESS IN ESTEVAN

How Southeast Business Startup Helped the Polish Kitchen

Since opening in April 2019, the Polish Kitchen and owner Aleksandra Szlapacka have been serving lunch and selling a variety of homemade pierogis and cabbage rolls at their flagship store on Kensington Ave. In that short time, the business has expanded into catering and is now selling product in over 10 stores. Recently in January, the Polish Kitchen opened their new manufacturing facility on 6th St. in Estevan. The pandemic forced Alex and her team to transition the business to a retail partner model, selling in a growing number of stores across the province. The need for a dedicated manufacturing facility was realized during the fall months as more orders and new retailers started to come in. With a lot of hard work and help from Southeast Business Startup Manager Jeff Taylor, Szlapacka was able to turn the idea of a manufacturing facility into a reality. “When we started in the Kensington store, we never planned to be mass producing our products and we just didn’t have enough space to fit everything. That’s when I realized that I would need to rent a new space to accommodate the production” Aleksandra said of her expansion. “I was looking for business programs and grants when I came across Jeff at Southeast Business Startup. He has been very helpful and provided a lot of

knowledge and resources to help with the business plan, grant applications and accounting.” Szlapacka also praised the benefit of having these programs available for free as cost would have in hibited her from accessing the support. Southeast Business Startup is available to local business owners and entrepreneurs and Manager, Jeff Taylor says this is a great example of how the centre’s free services can be used “I was able to help with their transition into a corporation and assist with the required CRA paperwork and accounting transition. I also worked with Economic Development Board Member and Southern Plains Co-op Manager, Brian Enns to help connect Aleksandra with more potential retail partners to help sell the product.” The Polish Kitchen, known for their traditional handmade pierogis and cabbage rolls, now distributes product for sale in stores in Estevan, Oxbow, Carlyle, Weyburn and Regina as well as their standalone store at 421A Kensington Ave. The Kensington location also sells lunchevery day. The Polish Kitchen now employs a staff of 7 people, and Aleksandra continues to meet with stores and restaurant food suppliers to explore new partnership opportunities forher products.

To learn more about how Southeast Business Startup could help you, or to contact Jeff, visit: www.southeastbusinessstartup.ca

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Directional drillers now part of CAODC Seeking to broaden its membership and voice, the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) announced on Jan. 26 the introduction of a new directional drilling division. There are seven directional drilling companies who have signed up for the new division. They include Cathedral Energy Services, Clear Directional Drilling Solutions Ltd., Compass Directional Services Ltd., Ensign Directional, Millennium Directional Drilling Services Ltd., Optimax Drilling Solutions Inc. and Precision Directional Services. Directional drilling provided a step-change in the oil and gas industry, allowing those companies to adopt what is known as “horizontal drilling,” as opposed to vertical drilling. Since the advent of the petroleum industry, wells were drilled straight down, but that meant that the well itself could only reach a small portion of the typically flat, pancake-like reservoir deep underground. Directional drilling turns the drillbit in a targeted manner so that a well that starts vertically will make a 90-degree turn and then run horizontally, sometimes for several kilometres, greatly increasing contact

with the producing formation. The horizontal drilling revolution, which took hold in the 1990s, has become so commonplace that nearly all wells drilled today are directionally drilled horizontal wells. For the CAODC, the new directional drilling division is the first new division for the association since offshore members were introduced in 1980. This addition is part of a plan to expand the CAODC to represent a broader portion of the industry, beyond its traditional membership of drilling rig, service rig and offshore rig operators. The organization said in a release the directional division “is the first of several anticipated new divisions comprised of leaders in energy services; companies and people who understand the importance of addressing the challenges facing the Canadian oil and gas industry in the most effective way possible.” Speaking from Calgary by video conference, CAODC president and CEO Mark Scholz was joined by Optimax Drilling Solutions president and CEO Danny Sullivan, chief financial officer Peggy Sullivan and chief operating officer Jas Pawa. Optimax has a base in Estevan and is currently doing extensive work in southeast Saskatchewan. They ’ve also worked on the western side of the

province in the past. Scholz said, “We've seen the ups and downs of the industry, and we've been there for our members to help them navigate through the good times and the bad. 2020 was an incredibly unusual year, and our association saw this as an opportunity to really give back to the industry and create other opportunities of collaboration outside of the land drilling or the drilling and service rig space.” They conducted a campaign called Leadership for Energy, designed to talk to elements of the oilfield service sector which are complementary to drilling and service rigs. In December, it became clear that a number of directional drillers were interested. There are three key pieces, he said. The first is to establish greater collaboration. The second is to expand the CAODC’s influence with key stakeholders, not only in industry, but within government, to raise issues of importance. “Thirdly, we really see this as the beginning of many new divisions within CAODC, and over the coming months, we’re going to be engaging other sectors, but also clearly ensuring our directional drilling industry continues to attract more players to the space, particularly from Saskatchewan,” Scholz said. The association will still

be disciplined and focused on specific sectors, and add meaningful value to them. Pawa said, “We’re looking at it as more of our segment, not necessarily the drilling rigs or service side participation.” He noted there will be a separate secretarial board for directional drilling issues. “The directional drilling industry as a whole has not really participated in a sort of a collective voice on the issues that it faces,” Pawa said. As directional drilling has become the norm over his 35 years in the business, Pawa said, “People have not seen, or recognize the efficiency that directional drilling is brought to the market.” He added: “When you look at the amount of production that comes out of one horizontal well, versus having to drill 20 or 30 directional wells or vertical wells in the path, that efficiency has not really been at the forefront of how Canadians have advanced the oil and gas production side of it.” “When you look at Canadians, and Saskatchewan, with the work we're doing down there., we are probably the one of the best, if not the best environmentally socially responsible oil industries in the world. And I think that, to have a collective voice under a larger umbrella like the CAODC goes a long way to getting that message out

In its first update to the 2021 Canadian Oilfield Services Activity Forecast, released Thursday, the Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC) has revised the number of wells drilled

(rig released) across Canada for 2021 to 3,350 wells. This is an increase of 750 wells which would be a considered a modest amount based on historical activity, but is 29 per cent over PSAC’s original 2021

forecast released last October. The updated forecast is based on a stronger commodity price outlook for 2021, with PSAC now expecting average crude oil prices 19 per cent stronger at US$50/barrel

(WTI), natural gas prices of C$2.60/thousand cubic feet (AECO) and the Canadian dollar slightly stronger, averaging US$0.79. Recent announcements by Canadian oil and gas com-

By Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Directional drillers have now joined the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors. File photo there,” Pawa said. Peggy Sullivan said, “We all know that foreign media, over the last few years, has really given us a hard time, with respect to our industry. So, I think it’s time for all of us to come together and bring this forward, in the good light, that we do shine in our industry. “We do some really good things here.” Danny Sullivan said, “Silence is consent, from our perspective, if we’re not fighting back and saying, ‘Okay, that’s not accurate. Let’s dispel the rumor and deal in facts.’ “We’ve probably done a substandard job, as an industry, of telling, of celebrating our accolades as an industry.” He pointed out that we are now doing 10- to 20-well pads (wells drilled side-by-side on a

single location), whereas even 15 years ago, that might have required 60 or 70 drill locations. The result is dramatically less land disturbed to get the same volume of hydrocarbons. That means much less disruption of habitat. Danny Sullivan said, “We're not doing a great job as an industry, of celebrating the fact that we've actually gone and done this, with technology, because years ago you would have to drill all vertical wells to access those pools of gas or oil. Now with directional drilling and extended reach drilling technologies, we can do that from a single location and avoid having to disrupt five or six dozen other locations that would otherwise would have been necessary, if technology has evolved to the where it is today.”

panies of their 2021 investment levels show an additional $3.36 billion to $27.3 billion. Although these levels are still lower than the $35.2 billion invested in 2019 and modest compared to the $81 billion spent in 2014, it is an encouraging sign for the oilfield services (OFS) sector that PSAC represents. Activity levels in the first half of 2021 are only expected to account for 47 per cent of the year’s total versus 64 per cent last year before the full impact of blockades, project cancellations and COVID-19 was felt. PSAC believes that the second half of 2021 will see increased

activity year-over-year. On a provincial basis for 2021, PSAC estimates 1,632 wells to be drilled in Alberta and 1,189 wells for Saskatchewan, representing year-overyear increases of 184 and 111 wells, respectively. At 90 wells, drilling activity in Manitoba is expected to increase modestly from 83 in 2020, whilst activity in British Columbia is projected to increase from 367 wells in 2020 to 420 wells in 2021. At 19 wells for 2021, activity in Eastern Canada is expected to increase nominally from its 2020 figure of 16 wells.

PSAC releases updated drilling forecast

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February 3, 2021 A9

Building preserving history needs preservation itself By Ana Bykhovskaia The Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) Museum, the heritage building located on Fourth Street by the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM), needs help. The NWMP museum bears a collection of artifacts and preserves the history of the region. Besides, the post, built in Georgian Revival architectural style, is an artifact in itself. The Wood End Northwest Mounted Police Post was built in 1883 and used as one of a series of outposts along the Canada-U.S. border until 1897. Time and weather gave no quarter to the oldest NWMP post in Saskatchewan. "It's in need of some repairs to the exterior," said Amber Andersen, the curatordirector of the EAGM, who made a presentation on the issue during the latest city council meeting on Jan. 25. "This is the original barracks that was used on the track west." The paint on the designated heritage institute is starting to come off and the wood is breaking down. The EAGM turned to the city for assistance with the renovations. Besides, they are looking into grant avenues and sponsorship opportunities to get it redone. "It's needed in order to keep the building in good repair," Andersen said. She went on to explain that the renovations they are looking into will be more than simple repainting. The

wood is starting to rot, and because it's a historic building, for replacement they have to try and find materials that are as close to the original in terms of age as possible. Any construction company can do it, but they will need to get the proper wood. "It will be a bit more difficult than a modern building,"

said Andersen. The building is the city property and the EAGM takes care of it. A few years ago they were able to get a grant that allowed them to fix the roof. The interiors of the building also have been constantly maintained and are in good shape. Now their focus is on the siding.

While repairs are the main concern, the NWMP museum also had good news to announce. Outside of the regular collection of artifacts, the museum regularly displays temporary exhibitions, and the new one is coming up next summer. Their intern Chantel Schultz is currently working away, interviewing

and collecting oral histories from local Indigenous elder and residential school survivor Bud McArthur. "We are doing a new display on his history, some of it is tied to the Northwest Mounted Police. And we are also doing familial history on his family," Andersen said. The NWMP museum

is seasonal, and once it opens the exhibitions there share the space with the permanent collection. The artifacts are put in special cases for protection, and the museum staff is doing their best to preserve those pieces. The new exhibition is slated to open in the 2021 season.

Estevan city council will have more meetings in open in 2021, according to the meeting schedule that was passed at the Jan. 25 meeting. The schedule calls for 23 meetings this year, with 21 regular meetings and two budget meetings. One of those budget meetings, for the 2021 financial plan, was held in January. There is also a meeting scheduled for November to discuss the 2022 document. There will be one regular meeting in each of January, February and July, and two meetings the other nine months. Council met once a month in 2020, and there were a couple of special meetings. It was decided they would meet twice a month this year to help with the adjustment for the four

new city councillors. • • • Council approved two memberships for 2021. One is for the Municipalities of Saskatchewan (MoS), formerly the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association. The city will pay $554.98 for each of its seven voting delegates in MoS, for a total of $3,684.86, and .60 per capita for the city’s 11,483 residents, for $6,669.80. Total membership is $11,313.39. Council also approved its membership for the Hudson Bay Route Association for 2021 for $300. Mayor Roy Ludwig noted the association is looking at options for shipping oil and grain to Hudson’s Bay. The city has supported the route association previously. • • • The City of Estevan’s

budget document for 2021 is now available on the city’s website. A meeting was held on Jan. 11, when each of the department heads explained their needs for this year. People can view the document and provide feedback, and then council will give the budget final approval on Feb. 22. • • • The visitor information centre and the information desk at the Estevan Leisure Centre have received a number of requests to use the Shop Estevan Bucks for such services as facility passes, or even to pay for utilities and taxes. The Shop Estevan bucks were introduced last year to promote spending at participating retail and hospitality businesses. The city is not accepting Shop Estevan Bucks at

this point. “I think the intention of those bucks was to help local businesses to give people reason to shop at those businesses,” said Councillor Travis Frank. Councillor Kirsten Walliser wanted to know if merchandise from local businesses was available at the Visitor Information Centre. She argued those items could be a suitable use for Shop Estevan Bucks. Council lor Rebecc a Foord added that Shop Estevan Bucks shouldn’t be used at the concession or for concert tickets once those services resume. She believes there could be logistical challenges if the Shop Estevan Bucks are accepted for some items but not others. Council ultimately tabled the motion, as they wanted to see what the Shop

Estevan committee thinks before making any decisions. • • • The list of land in arrears shows that more than $1.2 million in property taxes were in arrears at the end of 2020. The previous year, the owing list was more than $737,000. City manager Jeff Ward noted there are some larger amounts this year, including $145,000, $139,000 and $216,000. • • • Building activity was up in Estevan in 2020. There were 53 permits worth $3.9 million issued last year, compared with 32 permits worth $1.9 million in 2019. There was one singlefamily permit in 2020, two commercial permits, one industrial permit, one institutional permit, five garage permits and 43 miscellaneous permits.

W hile miscellaneous permits accounted for the bulk of the activity, with a total of $2 million, the one institutional permit was for $1.5 million for the expansion of the police station. • • • During the inquiries portion of the meeting, Councillor Shelly Veroba asked about train whistle cessation. S he has been asked by a couple of people whether trains can be asked to stop blowing their whistles, especially during the evening. Mayor Roy Ludwig said he has spoken with a regional representative for CP Rail, who told the mayor the city would have to take out an insurance policy to cover off liabilities in case a train were to strike somebody. The cost of the insurance is not yet known.

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Otherworldly Abundance and Wound Care – new exhibitions opening at Estevan art gallery Two new exhibitions opened at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) on Friday. These exhibitions featuring on Saskatchewan and one Ontario artists will run from Jan. 29 – April 4. Other worldly Abundance by Zoë Schneider is being showcased in Gallery 1. Zoë Schneider holds an MFA from the University of Saskatchewan (2018), and a BFA from the Alberta University of the Arts, formerly ACAD (2009) and is based in Regina. Working in sculpture and installation to critically examine the complexity of fat identity, Schneider considers topics including the expanding body, the body under restriction and surveillance, obsession in diet culture, the medical industry and the fat body, inherited food values, and societal confusion around food.

Other worldly Abundance is an immersive exhibition that reorients concepts of fatness, the grotesque and extraterrestrial worlds. Imagery of carbohydrates, like bread and potato chips, complicate ideas of fatness, food, and the modern-day understanding of the word grotesque by situating the viewer inside an abundance of nourishment. Micro and macro worlds echo each other, inviting the viewer into a pastel hued world of Candyland meets gingerbread house. The other exhibition, Wound Care by Cindy Stelmackowich, is displayed in Gallery 2. Born in Melville in 1967, Cindy Stelmackowich studied both art and science at the University of Saskatchewan due to her interest in both disciplines and their inter-connections. She moved to Ottawa to do a master’s

degree and continues to live there and teach courses at Carleton University. Stelmackowich completed a PhD in the history of art and science in New York state and has conducted research in medical and science archives across Europe. Her work as a researcher, writer and curator compliments her artistic pursuits. Her artworks are in a number of municipal, university and national art collections, including the Canada Council Art Bank. The artist thanked the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa for their funding support. “My art practice has centered on long-standing concerns related to the human body as a site of fragility, mortality and memory. This exhibition has been inspired by my growing collection of old medical books, mannequins and anatomical artifacts.

In her art pieces Cindy Stelmackowich uses medical equipment and materials and explores human body and its wounds. “Af ter study ing the bright colors on the edges of pages in old medical books, I began working from the observation that the interior of the body was evident in both the outside of the books as well as inside. I wet and reformed these red, pink and yellow colored pages into new medical paper sculptures. “In each distinct piece I experimented with the pages to create intricate cross-

sections of flesh; sculpting, stacking and entangling the paper forms, juxtaposing flesh-like colors. Informed by our human relationship to health and wound care, I then tended to these dissected, bruised and scraped sculptural bodily parts: they have been bandaged, braced and held in place by plaster casts, muscle tape and metal medical splints. “This exhibition sug-

gests we can connect looking inward as a way to expand our perception of the world and the humanity that is around us,”- says Cindy Stelmackowich in her artist statement. Due to COVID gathering restrictions, there was be no public reception for these exhibitions, but the EAGM is free to visit and is open to the public Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and closed for lunch from 12-1 p.m.

Time to grab a slice with the first-ever Pizza Month in Estevan ai161159359513_Estevan Mercury ad.pdf 1 on 2021-01-25 10:53:20 AM of fatness and uses different Zoe Schneider exhibition focuses the concept images of carbs.

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Tour ism Este van is building on culinary experiences for the community with the addition of a new initiative, Culinary Months. Four times throughout the year, restaurants in the community will be competing for different categories. The first event Pizza Month runs all of February, bringing innovative and traditional pizzas to many local restaurants and eateries. Eight unique pizzas, 28 days to try them all. Rebecca Westling, destination marketing and communications consultant for

the City of Estevan, said: “Culinary tourism is about the unique, authentic experience of restaurants in our city. We have amazing chefs that create items we all love; now is the time to try something new and show these restaurants our support.” The program kicked off Feb. 1. Participants will purchase a $15 featured item from participating restaurants where they will be given a ballot code to vote for their favourite. There are three categories to choose from: best crust, best overall and most unique.

At month’s end, one random voter will be chosen to win a $500 gift certificate to Shop Estevan, and the three winning restaurants in each category will win $200 dollars to donate to their charity of choice. The Pizza Month participating restaurants are Domino’s Pizza, Fired Up Grill, Humpty’s Family Restaurant, Michael’s Coffee Shop & Bakery, Pinocchio Pizza, Red Swan Pizza, The Black Grasshopper and the Tower Café Full program details can be found online at www.estevan.ca

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Little historians explore old trucks The Souris Valley Museum has started a new program called Little Historians. On Saturdays, they invite families with children of 2-4 years old to come to the museum and learn different aspects of local history. Kids also get to do some thematical crafts. “It ’s a fun little activity for families to come out, get out of their homes and (have fun) in a safe environment, learn together and have some family time,” said museum’s executive director Mark Veneziano. Last Saturday the guests had a chance to tour the museum’s old truck collection, learn about how people used to get around in the past and then children

participated in a craft. Veneziano added that while the program is designed for younger children, if families have older kids they are welcome to bring them along. Onl y a limited amount of people can participate in the program at the same time due to health regulations, but there are many different themes and activities to choose from in the weeks to come. The program is running from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays in January, February and March. The full schedule of the museum’s programming can be found at sourisvalleymuseum. com and on their Facebook page. To register call 306-634-5543.

The Darian family partook in the Little Historian program at the museum. Photo submitted

Zack Jocelyn part of exhibit in Regina gallery A talented young artist from Estevan is among those whose artwork is currently on display at the University of Regina (U of R). Zack Jocelyn is part of the introspective, virtual exhibition named Self, which opened Jan. 18 and will continue until Feb. 12 at The Fifth Parallel Gallery. Jocelyn, a third-year visual arts student at the U of R, has contributed five well-sized acrylic paintings that have the theme of himself and trying to rediscover who he is. “They’re very hard to explain immediately. They range from my personal experiences. I came out of a toxic … friendship a few years ago. I basically found myself down in the dumps, so I made these artworks to help pull myself out of the dumps somewhat,” said Jocelyn. The submissions turned out great. People have connected to the works, even though he admits they are strange and weird. Acrylic painting, drawing and printmaking are his preferred artistic mediums. Most of the people who are part of the show are individuals that Jocelyn has connected with previously, and he’s been getting to know the others he didn’t know. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s an online exhibit, and people will have to go to the gallery’s Facebook or

Instragram accounts to see a recorded tour, photographs and more. Jocelyn noted the Fifth Parallel is a student-run gallery. “Every once in a while, they try to get shows going for students involved, and I just heard about it, because being an arts student myself, it was very easy to get into that,” said Jocelyn. This is not the first time that Jocelyn has had his work in an exhibition. When he was 13 years old and in high school, he was part of the Adjudicated Art Show organized by the Estevan Arts Council. It gave him a good experience of what it was like to be in a gallery setting. “It introduced me to how to talk about my art in front of other people,” said Jocelyn. “It started to introduce me to other people.” In a video posted to the Fifth Parallel’s YouTube page, he said the work that got his submissions going was the self-depictions of his blessings and his sins. When he started it, he was taking a step back and looking at things that he had done that were hurting him at the time. Another work can be taken as pro-religion or anti-religion, or even both, depending on which way the viewer decides to take it. “I really like the perspective and the perfection of all this, but I really want to destroy it, too,” he said. “So

One of Zack Jocelyn’s works on display at the University of Regina’s Fifth Parallel Gallery. Photo courtesy of Zack Jocelyn these flat shapes and the cubes are always being challenged by some weird, ideological situation.” He has found new things about himself, and he doesn’t know where it’s going, and that’s why this is an

ongoing series. Information for the exhibition says Self is an introspective exhibition inspired by the ideas of self-reflection and inner monologues. It also features the works of Holly

Aubichon, Tenille Bryan, Michelle Markatos, Yvonne Niegas, William Stoudt and Sabine Wecker. For a video of Jocelyn’s exhibition from the Fifth Parralel Gallery, please visit www.estevanmercury.ca.

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Big Six Hockey League season has been cancelled By David Willberg The restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have forced one of the most popular leagues in southeast Saskatchewan to cancel the rest of its season. The Big Six Hockey League officially called off the rest of its season on Jan. 27. President Rae Wright spoke to all of the teams, and he received unanimous support for pulling the plug on the season. Most teams were relieved with the decision, he said. “We have to abide by government regulations to do with COVID, and playing hockey isn’t one of their big priorities,” said Wright. The league’s nine teams had been placed in two divisions. The Bienfait Coalers, Midale Mustangs, ArcolaKisbey Combines and Yellow Grass Wheat Kings were in one group. The Carlyle Cougars, Redvers Rockets, Carnduff Red Devils, Wawota Flyers and Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings were in the other. Teams could only play in their division for the first few weeks of the season. The Big Six started the 2020-21 campaign in early November, as it normally would. Teams played anywhere from two to five games in the few weeks of league play. While there was a tal-

ent disparity between the top teams and the lower teams, once the season did start, Wright thought fans were treated to some pretty good hockey. “There were four top teams and four bottom teams, and one kind of in the middle. When the top teams played, there was really good hockey,” said Wright. He enjoyed an earlyseason game between the Carnduff Red Devils and the Redvers Rockets – the two teams that were slated to play in the 2020 league final until last season came to a screeching halt due to spring COVID restrictions. The 2020-21 season was halted on Nov. 27 when the Saskatchewan Health Authority paused games for team sports due to COVID. Big Six players also couldn’t practise to keep their skills sharp. There weren’t any COVID outbreaks associated with Big Six games or teams. When the provincial government announced on Jan. 26 that it was extending the ban on games until Feb. 19, Wright said that was the final blow for the 2020-21 season, but they knew for some time that the season would likely have to be cancelled. The league is usually in the second round of the playoffs by Feb. 19. “With the players not

The Big Six Hockey League has been forced to cancel the rest of its 2020-21 season. Photo courtesy of the Carlyle Observer even allowed to practise, most of them haven’t skated for 2 1/2 months. It’s tough to come back and go straight into the playoffs.” Players were concerned about contracting the virus while playing, and then becoming sick or having to miss two weeks of work while in quarantine. “It’s a tough call for players to ask them to come and play and not make any money

playing, and risk losing two weeks work,” said Wright. Also, many communities are looking to turn off their ice plants soon and having natural ice for the rest of the winter. “Without having any revenue, basically, for most of the winter, they want to look at cutting their power bills for the rest of the winter,” said Wright. The Big Six only had games scheduled for 2020-

21 until Dec. 17. The league planned to alter its divisions after Christmas, with the top half of the league in one bubble and the bottom half in the other bubble. The system would have continued into the playoffs. Wright said the league and its teams are in good shape financially. He has been told the Saskatchewan Hockey Association will decide at the end of February how it will

determine refunds for team registrations. He expects the Big Six will be back on the ice for the start of next season in the fall, as long as the pandemic restrictions have eased. The cancellation of the season also likely spells the end of Wright’s tenure as president. He has held the role for six seasons, and he expects someone new will hold the role next year.

Strippers tournament cancelled for the second straight year The largest recreation hockey tournament in Saskatchewan isn’t going to be happening for the second straight year. The Estevan Strippers hockey club announced last week that it was forced to call off its annual Molson Spring Bust Tournament, which attracts 40 men’s and women’s teams to Estevan every April for five days of games. “With all of the lockdown restrictions, we can’t even play over-30 hockey,” said Steve Godfrey, one of the organizers of the tournament. “Trying to plan a 40-team tournament on the possibility that we might be able to (have it), we just couldn’t.” The Strippers had to cancel last year’s tournament after COVID-19 hit Saskatchewan just weeks before the tournament was set to start. Multiple teams who haven’t been in the tournament before contacted the Strippers in the hope they might be able to participate this year. “We had lots of interest and lots of support, but in the end, everyone understood why we couldn’t,” said Godfrey. “Everybody said they’re in for next year when we make that work.” The final blow for this year’s competition came last

Tuesday, when the provincial government announced that it was extending current restrictions to Feb. 19. Those measures prevent teams from playing games, and limit the number of people allowed in an arena to 30. “If they would have started pulling back the restrictions, then we might be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel, where the second week of April, we could possibly run the tournament,” said Godfrey. Since they have so many teams coming from out of town, Godfrey said they wanted to give the players lots of advanced notice about a cancellation. “Everybody’s looking at their schedules and looking at their holidays, and we’d had enough requests and things for everybody wanting to arrange hotels that we didn’t want to leave a decision to the last minute,” said Godfrey. More than 20 of the 40 teams come from outside of Estevan for the tournament each year, which means lots of people are staying at hotels and eating at restaurants. Tournament organizers also have to make arrangements with referees and the suppliers of food and refreshments.

If the tournament did proceed, Godfrey said he doubts the Strippers could

have had the cabarets and socials, which raise thousands of dollars for community

projects each year. He is still hopeful the Strippers and other teams

can be back on the ice this season, but he doubts it will happen.

Youth programs will continue at curling club; adult leagues finished The Estevan Curling Club (ECC) board of directors has decided to end the 2020-21 curling season for adult leagues, but to continue with the U18 programs. The ECC board believes the latest extension for the Saskatchewan Health Authority restrictions has made

the viability of restarting league play unrealistic. The current restrictions preventing games and leagues for team sports will end Feb. 19. All team skips will be contacted by mid-February as to the refund policy. The curling club asks for patience during this process.

“We appreciate you – our members, sponsors and the community – for supporting curling. Thank you for your understanding during … this very trying season,” the curling club said on its Facebook page. The Co-op Kids curling program, which is for children in kindergarten to Grade 5,

came to an end on Jan. 24. But the curling club’s programs for youths in Grades 6 and up will continue until at least mid-February. An estimated 25 to 30 kids are still involved with the program, and there will be kids on the ice two or three days each week.

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All downhill Mya Farr was excited to slide down the hill in the Westview subdivision on Saturday afternoon. She was among the young people who capitalized on the beautiful weather to get outdoors and enjoy some activities. Photo by David Willberg

A lot of hair was cut to help other people For the second time, Nevaeh Wakely has had her long, flowing hair cut in an effort to help children. The hair cut occurred last month at the Empire Salon and Studio. This is the second time that Nevaeh has used her long hair to help others. The first was in 2017, when she assisted Pantene Beautiful Lengths, but that program has been discontinued. Nevaeh and her family looked into other organizations who would accept human hair, and found Wigs for Kids Canada, which has been operating for over 30 years. Nevaeh’s mother Brenda noted W igs for Kids

Canada requires a minimum of 12 inches in hair length for a donation. Nevaeh's was 16 inches long. The longer the hair, the better, but the hair must be clean, dry, not permed, with no permanent hair dye and no dreadlocks. It takes approximately 10 to 12 ponytails to make a wig. Brenda Wakely noted a wig can cost about $1,800 for the recipient. Wigs for Kids provides hair replacement systems at no cost to the children or their families. Nevaeh likes that her hair can be used for other people rather than just throwing it out. Her hair grows fast and it is thick and

strong so doesn't break easily. “ We were concerned that there weren't places that still accepted human hair for donation as demand has gone down with synthetic products becoming used,” Brenda said. “ The children benefiting from wigs suffer from many illnesses or accidents that cause not just temporary loss like chemotherapy or radiation but in some cases permanent hair loss such as burns, alopecia, trichotillomania and others. “We have experienced cancer in our own family so we see this easy type of support as something that Nevaeh feels really good about.” If you are considering cutting your hair, contact the company you choose to verify they accept donations because there is always a need, Brenda said.

Nevaeh Wakely before she had her hair cut recently. Photo by Brenda Wakely.

Nevaeh Wakely after the hair cut was finished. Photo by Brenda Wakely.

Estevan’s Legion receives federal grant The Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch has received a grant of $15,605 from the federal government. This money is to help veterans’ organizations that are suffering financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Estevan branch will be using these funds to help ensure they are able to continue

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the work they do for veterans. The legion says it is grateful for this assistance and grateful for the work of Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen on behalf of veterans across the country. “I am extremely pleased with the money that the Royal Canadian Legion has received, not just here in Es-

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tevan, but across the country. This investment helps to support our local veterans and allows the legion to continue to provide much needed services within the community,” said Kitchen. “During this time of uncertainty and isolation, it is essential to bolster support services for our veterans in

any way we can. I applaud the Legion for their work in this regard and I will continue to advocate for further funding in the future. Other legions in the riding that received funding are Bienfait, Carlyle, Lampman, Stoughton-Tecumseh, Kipling, Weyburn, Grenfell, Moosomin and Whitewood.

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Former Carnduff resident earns recognition Submitted by Glenn and Pauline Verity Andrej Verity of Carnduff has been named Charles Sturt University Alumnus of the Year for Service to the Community in the university’s inaugural Distinguished Alumni Awards. The awards acknowledge alumni who embody the university’s ethos “yindyamarra winhanganha,” a Wiradjuri phrase that means “the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in.” Verity graduated from the Australian university in 2010 with a master of information technology (with distinction) in the Charles Sturt School of Computing and Mathematics, and is currently a disaster responder and information management officer at the United Nations. He grew up in Carnduff, where he went to school and played hockey. He was the valedictorian of his graduating class in 1994. Then he completed his first degree, a bachelor of commerce, with computational science major, at the University of Saskatchewan. Having previously lived in New York (twice), Switzerland, North Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines and Canada, Verity, with his wife and two children, ages 12 and 15, recently moved to The Hague, Netherlands, where he leads the Digital Service team within the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA). “My team provides technical management to about 20 humanitarian websites, including reliefweb.int, the most visited humanitarian site, and infrastructure support to approximately 40 sites,” Verity said.

“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to both identify and implement strategic and operational choices that benefit the organization, often by reducing the capacity required for an activity such that those resources can be used for more important, more strategic, or more relevant work for the organization’s unique mandate. “I want people, teams and the organization to maximize their resources on things that make UN-OCHA unique and impactful, not on things that can be easily outsourced, digitized or automated.” Verity is fortunate to be able to identify several moments throughout his career that reaffirmed “that’s why I do this” and he could see the difference he was making. “Examples include leveraging my technical and information management skills to respond to major international disasters, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Pakistan floods, the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Super Typhoon Yolanda) in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, and the 2015 Nepal earthquake,” he said. “Or it could be setting up the shared digital services team that has ushered in best user and design practices, security controls, significant efficiencies, etc., or it could be introducing a new solution – like strattic. com – which has allowed us to largely stop worrying about WordPress security problems. “Co-founding the Digital Humanitarian Network is also a career highlight, which, though we have been winding it down over the past couple years, was quite revolutionary when it was set up and enabled digitally skilled people from around the world to help (more traditional) organizations in disaster response.”

Carnduff’s Andrej Verity, who studied a master’s degree online with Charles Sturt University has been recognized as an outstanding alumnus of the university. Photo submitted Verity said he was motivated to start studying again and chose Charles Sturt because he was looking to advance his strategic understanding and use of information technology and information management. “I wanted a master’s program that would recognize my past education and experience,” he said. “And I wanted it to challenge me mentally; to enable me to better question my assumptions; and help me understand how to

leverage my knowledge, skills and interests in such a way as to move my employer forward in the most strategic ways possible. “My master’s really helped me think more strategically about information management and information technology, as well as to step back and look at an organizational view, not just a specific project. It also pushed me to become even more analytical and better appreciate sourcing and citing high quality work.”

Fire crews responded to accident, structure fire and other calls over the past few days

CROSSWORD ANSWER

Firefighters were called to an accident scene, responded to a reported structure fire and several fire alarms throughout the week. On Jan. 21 at about 9 a.m. fire crews were called out to a vehicle collision, which occurred at the intersection of Fourth Street and Second Avenue. The report stated there were minor injuries and fluid leaks. Firefighters assisted the Estevan Police Service with traffic control. EMS treated and released drivers of both vehicles on scene. One of the vehicles suffered significant damage, and firefighters had to isolate and de-energize it and address the fluid leaks. Then the scene was turned over to the city police for further investigation. More calls for the fire department came in on Jan. 27. Just after 9 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire that was potentially occurring in a house on Fourth Street. Fire Chief Dale Feser said that once on scene, firefighters were able to talk to 911 callers, who saw an off flow was coming out of a

vertical venting of the water heater furnace. "No initial signs of fire picked up. The homeowner was out of town, but we were able to contact the homeowner and gain access into the home and verify that no fire was indeed occurring at this location, so the home was re-secured," Feser said. After the thorough investigation, with no signs of any kind of emergency occurring, firefighters assumed that what the 911 callers saw was the sunrise reflected in the steam coming out of the vent and mimicking fire. The next call came in at about 6:30 p.m. the same day. Firefighters were dispatched to the northwest part of Estevan, where a fire alarm went off in a private house. It turned out to be a cookingrelated incident. "There was some minor smoke that still remained (in the building), but not enough to work ventilation efforts by Estevan Fire Rescue staff. The homeowner actually forgot their password at the time, which could have avoided the unnecessar y dispatch of the fire department," Feser said.

He reminded the public to keep their passwords safe, but handy to prevent any unnecessary calls for the emergency services. Jan. 28 also saw fire crews out in the community on several occasions. At about 7 a.m. a fire alarm went off on the east-central side of Estevan. Crews gained access into the commercial building, but there were no signs of a fire occurring. It turned out that the pressure in the water sprinkler system was low, which was the cause of the alarm. "It's not uncommon with larger buildings that have larger and more elaborate fire suppression systems and fire alarm systems. Every once in a while we do see faulty detection devices there," Feser said. As soon as the crews

returned to the station after clearing this call, a report of a residential fire alarm occurring in a private house in the south-central part of Estevan came in. Once again there were no signs of fire, and further conversation with the homeowner gave a better understanding of the situation. "It was discovered that the grandchildren accidentally tripped the system. There was a fire logo on their monitor system. The young grandchild was trying to turn on the fireplace, and he thought that it was the button to turn on the fireplace. "No harm, no foul. This was an accident, but just a gentle reminder to talk to all family members and educate small children on things to touch and not to touch in a home," Feser added.

Village of Torquay

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Torquay for the year 2021 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from Monday-Thursday 9:00am-12pm, 1pm-5pm, Friday 9am-12pm: February 5, 2021-April 6, 2021. A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalites Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. Any person who wishes to appeal against his/her assessment is required to file his/her notice of appeal with: The Assessor, Village of Torquay, Box 6, Torquay, SK S0C 2L0, by April 6, 2021. Dated this 3rd day of February, 2021. Thera Deschner, Assessor

On Jan. 30 at about 2 p.m., fire crews responded to the report of a commercial fire alarm that went off in the southcentral part of Estevan in a multi-storey, multifamily occupancy. Upon fire crews' arrival, all people living in the facility gathered at the designated spot. "It was very nice to see that ever ybody obser ved the fire alarm protocol procedures for this building because our first priority is life safety. We need to make sure that everybody is accounted for. Once that is accomplished, we can turn our attention to the actual emergency," Feser said. The fire alarm panel was showing that the first-floor smoke detection device was

going off in the northeast stairwell. The quick checkup showed that somebody has been vacuum cleaning in that area and a dust bag broke, spreading dust, which was mimicking the smoke. "We easily downgraded the situation and found that it was a safe environment, so we let everybody return to their suites safely," Feser said. Firefighters reset the fire alarm panel and all systems returned to normal. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service also held their regular training on Jan. 26. Some of the new team members going for certification took some in-house instructions on fire life safety training initiatives.

VILLAGE OF TORQUAY PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the Village of Torquay intends to make amendments to the previously adopted Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 19-03 (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw No. 19-04 under The Planning and Development Act, 2007. Intent The proposed revisions to the OCP and Zoning Bylaw were made to address deficiencies identified during the Ministry of Government Relations review. In particular, the revisions ensure the OCP policies comply with Provincial legislation regarding drainage and development within flood-prone areas, as well as the requirement for dedicated lands to be used for future school sites. The development application procedures in the Zoning Bylaw were also refined to provide additional clarity while new regulations were added for Dwelling Groups and Solar Collectors. The overall purpose of the Bylaws is to establish a policy and regulatory framework for guiding land use as well as future economic, social, and cultural development in the Village. Affected Land All land within the Village of Torquay boundaries. The OCP also includes inter-municipal policies for guiding growth on lands immediately surrounding the Village in the RM of Cambria. Public Inspection Any person may inspect the bylaws at the Village office during regular office hours Monday to Thursday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Friday from 9:00am to noon. Virtual Public Hearing Council will hold a virtual public hearingon March 10, 2021 at 7:30pm to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaws. Please contact the Village Administrator to register and receive the link for the virtual meeting. Arrangements can be made to call into the meeting if you are not able to participate virtually. Council will also consider written comments received before or at the hearing. Issued in the Village of Torquay this 3rd day of February, 2021. Thera Deschner, Village Administrator

A16 February 3, 2021

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Local youths to benefit from A&W Local young people will benefit through a national fundraiser by A&W and Mealshare. A national social enterprise looking to help end youth hunger, Mealshare has announced a new, ongoing national partnership with A&W Canada. For every Mealshare item purchased at an A&W location, one simple healthy meal will be provided to a youth in need. The beneficiar y for Estevan will be Breakfast Clubs of Canada. The partnership has a goal of sharing 1,250,000 m e a l s p e r y e a r. A l l o f A&W ’s locations are participating, which means 1,000 locations stretching across the country. M e a l s a re p ro v i d e d through Mealshare’s network of 450 local charity partners across Can-

ada. Eight y per cent of Mealshare’s financial support stays in local communities where the Mealshare item was purchased, and 20 per cent goes internationally to Save the Children. On Mealshare Mondays, customers can order a Cheddar Bacon Unc le Burger combo and one meal will be provided to a youth in need through Mealshare. Any day of the week, customers can “Make it a Mealshare” by adding $1 to their order. When customers do this, one meal will be provided to a youth in need through Mealshare. Customers can participate in-restaurant, through drive-thru, or by using a mobile app. “A&W is an amazing organization and a leader in the industry through its many environmental and

social initiatives,” said Jeremy Bryant, co-founder of Mealshare. “The support of A&W restaurants will make a huge impact for Mealshare and all the youth we support across the entire country.” “Our national partnership with Mealshare will help us make a bigger difference with our operators and their teams across the country. Local franchisees from coast to coast are excited to be a part of this program because they ’ve seen first-hand the needs in their communities and how these programs can provide immediate benefit and support,” said Susan Senecal, chief executive officer at A&W Canada. “No child should ever go hungry, especially in a country like Canada, so we’re thrilled that we can be a part of this initiative.”

Fire department is asking the public to never use barbecues inside buildings Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser is addressing the public, following a social media post that caused a strong reaction in the community. The post came a few weeks ago, and the Estevan Fire Rescue Service (EFRS) had to make sure people have a clear understanding of the entire picture. "There was a post on social media that was rather concerning. And this relates back to when we had the wind storm and there were some power outages," Feser said. "An individual has tak-

en some pictures and noted that they brought a barbecue inside the home and started it up, trying to stay warm." Not only did that person do it, but many others commented on the post saying that it was a good idea and taking note of that for the future. "No, this is not a great idea for a number of reasons. Number 1 is that you're bringing an explosive gas cylinder inside your house. This is definitely not a good idea. "Number two is that neither barbecues nor fire

tables are designed to be used inside the home, as they will let off the gas and will fill your home with carbon monoxide gas, causing poisoning or death.” Feser asked the public to never use or even bring any outside fire-related appliances inside the house. Instead, people should consider using special wood fireplaces, go to a neighbour's place, or acquire a back-up generator. "Please, please, please, do not bring these types of units inside the house trying to heat your home," Feser said.

Present

Theft of snowmobiles in Oxbow under investigation The Carnduff RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance with a recent theft and some suspicious activity. In a message on the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network, issued Jan. 30, the RCMP says it received a report the previous day of a significant theft of a trailer and two snowmobiles from a residential yard located in the town of Oxbow. The victim of this crime was not sure when the theft occurred, but that it certainly was between Jan. 23 and 29. The trailer was described as a homebuilt structure bearing Saskatchewan licence plate 448 LGS. The snowmobiles were described as a white Polaris RMK 600 bearing Saskatchewan licence plate 358 MD, and a yellow honeycomb Ski-Doo Renegade bearing Saskatchewan licence plate 359 MD. It is also critical that prospective recreational vehicle buyers remain vigilant of deals that are seemingly "too good to be true.” On another front, the detachment says it has also been dispatched reports of suspicious activity in the northwest quadrant of the RM of Mount Pleasant. The unwanted activity occurred at oil batteries and

unoccupied farm sites north of Glen Ewen. Fortunately, police investigation revealed minimal damage and no theft. This activity is not being characterized as a remarkable uptick in crime, but it's worth everyone's attention to remind those responsible that people are on the lookout. The Carnduff Detachment is encouraging residents of the rural municipalities to remain ever vigilant to help maintain the integrity of rural communities. The Estevan RCMP is also seeking assistance with a couple of incidents. Over the past two weeks, approximately 60 grey High Hog Fence sections have been stolen from various oilfield sites in the RM of Coalfields. Most of these oilfield sites are in the community pasture area near Highway 604 south of Highway 18 and north of North Portal. These fence sections are primarily used at oilfield sites to keep cattle away from dangerous equipment. The fence sections are valued at approximately $100 a piece. The Estevan RCMP is also investigating an attempted break-and-enter last week. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 26 at the RM of Cymri

shop in Midale. The alarm at the property was activated and the culprit(s) did not gain entry into the building. The Estevan RCMP would like to remind the public of the importance of reporting strange or suspicious behaviour, and of deterrents, such as extra lighting, alarms, deadbolts, locks, etc., that can be used to ensure your property is not an easy target for would-be thieves. The Carlyle RCMP is requesting the public's assistance in locating an ATV that was stolen on Jan. 23. A 2009 Polaris Sportsman 500 ran out of gas three kilometres south of Manor, and when the owner returned with fuel, the ATV was no longer there. The Polaris Sportsman is camo in color, has a twoup seat, and a snow plow on the front. “If you have any information on where this ATV might be, please contact the Carlyle RCMP at 306-4536707,” says the message distributed through the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network Monday afternoon. Please report suspicious persons, vehicles, and activity by calling your local RCMP detachment, by calling 310RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

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CLASSIFIEDS A17 | Wednesday, February 3, 2021 | estevanmercury.ca Obituaries

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Rachel Lavoie 1932 - 2021 Rachel Mary Lavoie passed away at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, Estevan, Sask. on Monday, January 25, 2021 at the age of 88. Rachel’s memory will be forever cherished by her loving family: son Dave (Heather) Lavoie and grandchildren: Michael Lavoie (Amanda Leontowicz); Leah (Michael) Ternes, Joey (Samantha) Lavoie, Parker Lavoie and Hayden Lavoie; daughter Bernice Zieglgansberger (Lee Dzuba) and grandchildren: Corey Zieglgansberger (April Douglas), Kevin Zieglgansberger (Brandy Zaharia), Eric Zieglgansberger and Kristen Blanchette (Kalvin Heath); son Gary (Shelly) Lavoie and grandchildren: Landon Lavoie (Kaitlin Batt), Jordan Lavoie, Cameron Lavoie and Renee Lavoie (Ryder Scholpp); son Ronald Lavoie and grandson Ryan, as well as numerous great grandchildren. Rachel is also survived by her siblings: Richard DeConinck, Christina DeConinck, Francis (George) Davis, Clara (Ernie) Oliver and Clifford (Jean) DeConinck, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Alphonse Lavoie; grandson Aaron Lavoie, and parents: Michel & Emma DeConinck. A private family Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Estevan, with Rev. Sathiadas Antony presiding. Interment followed in the Estevan City Cemetery. The Pallbearers were Corey Zieglgansberger, Eric Zieglgansberger, Michael Lavoie, Joey Lavoie, Parker Lavoie, Landon Lavoie and Jordan Lavoie. Those wishing to make donations in Rachel’s memory may do so directly to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home Auxiliary, 1921 Wellock Road, Estevan, Sask., S4A 2B5. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to the Lavoie family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

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Livestock Amber Dawn Wheeler 1982 – 2021 Amber Dawn Wheeler of Regina, SK and formerly of Bienfait, SK was tragically taken from us on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the age of 38 years. Amber will be forever missed by her son Levi Hirsch; father Terry Wheeler (Bev Petty); mother Shirley Cardinal (Greg Jackson); sister Terri-Anne (Dallas Krupka) and their daughters, Mischa and Aljena; brother Justin (Katelyn Kostiuk) and son Riley; brother Austin (Shiane Goodwin) and grandma Phyllis Wheeler. Amber was preceded in death by her grandfather Douglas Wheeler and infant brothers, Michael and Andrew. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Amber’s life will be held when it is once again safe to gather together as family and friends. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Amber’s family – Deb Heidinger, Funeral Director. Amber’s family would like to express their gratitude for the countless acts of kindness that they have received following the loss of their loved one. So many have helped ease the pain of this tragedy and it has all been greatly appreciated.

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Maverick is on the list of top baby names in 2020, but Goose didn’t make the cut By Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter It appears there are a lot of Top Gun fans who might have been really, really, disappointed when the sequel to the 1986 movie, which was supposed to come out last summer, was delayed due to COVID-19. That’s because a total of 37 families chose to name their son Maverick in 2020, coming in No. 8 in the Saskatchewan top 20 baby names of 2020. On Jan. 29, eHealth Saskatchewan announced

the top 20 baby names for 2020 for both boys and girls. These are preliminary lists created with live birth data up to Dec. 9. The agency is still completing the birth registrations from the remainder of December 2020. The final lists will be completed in March and released online. There’s going to be a lot of Liams and Olivias running around. Indeed, schools will soon be full of them, in many grades. Liam appears to be unstoppable, as the name was once again the most popular for baby boys for the 11th

year in a row. Olivia was the most popular name for baby girls for the sixth straight year. The eHealthS ask.ca website shows that Olivia bumped Emma off the top spot in 2014, after it had been in the top spot since at least 2010. But Emma didn’t drop far. The second most popular girl name in 2020 was Emma. The second most popular boy name was Jack. There were 63 baby boys named Liam in 2020, followed by Jack at 48, and Hudson, Noah and Oliver at 43 each.

Traffic stop leads to arrests The Estevan Police made a couple of arrests on Jan. 26 following a traffic stop. A 36-year-old man from Kisbey was issued a 120-day driving suspension and the vehicle he was operating was impounded for 30 days when he blew a warning level on an approved screening device. The man was also charged with driving while suspended under the Traffic Safety Act. A female passenger was issued a summary offence ticket under the Alcohol and Gaming Regulations Act. In other recent police news, officers attended to a

traffic collision on Jan. 25 in the 100-block of Fourth Street. One vehicle required towing from the scene. One driver was charged with driving with undue care and attention. No injuries occurred. Police received a report on Jan. 27 of a motor vehicle described as a failing to remain at the scene of an accident. The incident occurred in a local business parking lot. The matter is still under investigation. Members received a report of a suspicious person in the Pleasantdale area. Police attended and through investigation located the vehicle

and individuals responsible. The individuals had a legitimate reason for being in the area and no further action was taken. A 39-year-old woman was arrested out of a traffic stop on Jan. 30, as she was out past a curfew that was a condition of her release. She was charged and released. Several calls regarding the STARS Air Ambulance Lottery scam were reported. Police are reminding individuals to never provide personal information over the phone or internet, or to people whose identity you can’t verify.

Spring session of Legislature to start later, run shorter than usual By Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Shorter and later than usual. That’s how the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature is expected to play out this year. Premier Scott Moe announced on Jan. 28 that the government has written to the speaker, asking that the spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly commence on April 6, with the 202122 provincial budget to be tabled that day. The session will come a little more than a full year after the global COVID-19 pandemic hit, throwing people’s lives, the economy and government finances into chaos. “The new budget will be the main focus of the spring sitting,” Moe said. “It will be a budget designed to see Saskatchewan through the rest of the pandemic and then into a strong economic recovery as we get more of our population vaccinated and life returns to normal. “The budget will make important investments in health, education, infrastructure and our economic recovery, while at the same time continuing to work toward our commitment to balance the budget by 2024.” The spring sitting is expected to last eight weeks, concluding in late May. The opposition New Democratic Party pointed out that April 6 is several weeks later than is normal for the spring session to begin. In a release the same day, the NDP said the short session\ means less opportunity for public scrutiny of the government’s COVID-19 response and very little time to debate any legislation besides

the provincial budget. “Bringing MLAs back to work nearly a month late does a disservice to all the people of this province,” said NDP house leader Vicki Mowat in a release. “They are trying to use this terrible pandemic to ram through legislation with little debate, and at the same time avoid as many questions as possible on the failing COVID-19 response. Saskatchewan deserves better.” Mowat noted that with Phase 2 of the provincial vaccine rollout anticipated to begin in April, there should be an opportunity for legislative oversight before this phase begins. If the government insists on a shorter session, then the human services committee must be convened to scrutinize the pandemic response and the vaccine plan which currently has significant gaps and leaves many at-risk populations behind, the NDP said. “The Sask. Party had to be dragged kicking and screaming into an emergency session to discuss the pandemic in the summer and managed to get out of the very short fall session without introducing any new supports that would help people get through this pandemic,” said Mowat. “What is the point of delaying the start? Will they all be down in Arizona and Palm Springs? The people of Saskatchewan need help and they need answers.” The NDP also said that if the government refused to introduce a budget before April then the finance minister must release the third quarter financial report in advance of the budget. In recent years the Sask. Party has presented them together.

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There were 69 baby girls named Olivia. There was a trend in the top four girls names – all ended in “a,” as Olivia was followed by Emma (45 babies), Amelia (43) and Sophia (39); Emily (37), in fifth spot, broke the trend. But the “a” ending comes in several more times with Ava, Isla, Aurora and Nora all making the top20 list. Some new names debuted on the top 20 lists. Bennett tied at number 17 on the list of boy names and Aurora debuted at number 12 on the list of girl names. The popularity of names comes and goes. Anyone born in the mid-1970s probably knows a lot of Jasons and Jennifers, neither

of which made the list for 2020. Several of the most popular baby boy names from 2019 did not reappear on the 2020 top 20 list, including Emmett, Logan, Ethan, Asher, Thomas and Jackson. This was also the first time in more than 10 years that the name Alexander did not make the list of top boy names. The baby girl names that did not carry over from 2019 were Chloe, Ella, Everly, Hannah, Brielle, Violet and Aria. As of Dec. 9, 2020, 12,044 live births were registered in Saskatchewan. The final count will be completed in March. The number of live births registered in 2019 was 14,668. This does

not include Saskatchewan mothers who gave birth outside of the province. If there is a COVID-19 baby boom, or bust, that will likely be reflected in the 2021 numbers, as COVID lockdowns took hold in mid-March. Forty weeks after the lockdowns were enacted falls about mid-December. As for Maverick, that name tied at number 19 on the boy’s list when it debuted in 2019 (the year the movie Top Gun: Maverick was supposed to originally be released). It saw a significant rise in popularity in 2020; it now sits in the eighth spot. Goose, however, appears to have not made it on the list. But there’s always 2021.

Farm family will be recognized in 2021 A decision has yet to be made on how the Estevan Farm Family of the Year Award will be presented, but it appears it will be handed out this year. It just won’t be at the traditional Farmers’ Appreciation Evening. Jackie Wall, the executive director for the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, said that with the restrictions that are currently in place, they can’t do a public event with hundreds of people in attendance like they normally would. But they are looking at an alternative. The recipient for the 2020 Farm Family of the Year

honour was selected before the Farmer’s Appreciation Evening for that year was called off due to COVID-19. The winner for 2020, which has not been disclosed, will carry over to this year. “We have been in contact with the Farm Family award winner. There’s a lot of different people that we need to make sure that we consult, but first and foremost is the farm family award winner.” Af ter meetings and feedback from the Farm Family, it appears the award will be presented this year through an alternate system. Another meeting will be held in February, and then Wall hopes they can come out with all

the details. Wall pointed out they need to contact all of the sponsors, and anyone who potentially wants to provide recognition. They have what they believe to be a good format in place, but they want to go over it with the farm family. Wall said the organizing committee wants to take this year to appreciate the farming community and to provide recognition. The Farmer’s Appreciation Evening is a project of the chamber and the Estevan Exhibition Association, and has a committee of different organizations and businesses involved with agriculture.

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101 Anniversary Bay Lot 1, Block C, Plan 79R54879 Residential Lot Size: 69.5 feet x 171 feet (Corner Lot) Property to be purchased in current condition and includes any contents currently on the property. To setup an appointment to view the property, please contact the Town Office at 306-482-3300. Appointments will only be made during regular business hours and for interested parties only. Tenders to be received by: Friday, March 5th at 4:00 p.m. Submission of tenders: Dropped off at 1312 Railway Avenue, mailed to Box 100, Carnduff, SK, S0C 0S0 or emailed to info@carnduff.ca Tenders to include: Price of tender being submitted, plan for the property including a timeline. Tender Note: Highest tender or any tender not necessarily accepted. Consideration will be given to the plan for the property.

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A19 | Wednesday, February 3, 2021 | estevanmercury.ca

Flashback – Wednesday, Feb. 1, 1989

Cheers Cheers to the person or persons who have been clearing the snow off all the sidewalks and on the corners of Poplar Bay. As well as, cheers to the ones who have helped their neighbours with their driveways. Cheers to the Estevan businesses that donated very generous gift bags for Christmas to seniors. It was so kind and much appreciated. Cheers to Kaitlyn at Walmart for going way above and beyond to help customers out. All employees at Walmart Estevan are great but she is top-notch. Cheers to the Estevan Strippers for all they have done in the community over the years. Hopefully next year they will be able to have their home tournament again, and the cabarets that are such a great time. Cheers to all of the people who were out enjoying the beautiful weather conditions on the weekend. It was an ideal opportunity for ice skating, tobogganing, snowboarding and crosscountry skiing. Cheers to the Souris Valley Museum for having a fun day of activities for kids on Saturday. It’s nice that they still have something to do.

Behind the masks we wear

Jeers Jeers to the motorist who moved to outer lane when passing a fire truck and firefighters on Fourth Street on Jan. 27, creating a hazardous situation. Jeers to the late start for the spring sitting of the Saskatchewan legislature, and for having a shorter spring sitting than normal. Perhaps we should have a longer sitting with all that’s going on. Jeers to the fact that the emergency and acute care services at the Arcola Health Centre have not been restored, even though the Weyburn General Hospital has returned to normal operations. Wasn’t Weyburn’s hospital the reason services were reduced in Arcola?

To submit a cheer or a jeer, please email it to dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca, or visit www.estevanmercury.ca.

 NEW ARRIVAL 

Michael & Jessica (nee Young) Grobbink would like to announce their new baby girl, Aubrey Anne Grobbink

jan.

Proud grandparents are Ron & Joan Grobbink, Marge Young and Rob Young & Kari Gellar. Proud sibling are Emma and Maddie.

2021

I’ve almost forgotten what an entire human face looks like and sometimes, in all honesty, I’m thankful for that. It’s not that the faces I was used to seeing, often on a daily basis, weren’t handsome or beautiful, it’s just that current health conditions demand that we don masks in order to provide a measure of safety to ourselves and to those around us. As foreign as it was and now, as common as it is, I have developed a genuine sense of appreciation for those who are not only obeying legal requirements but defending community protection.

DAUGHTER 8 lb 3 oz

Linda Wegner Words of Worth Also, I’ve been amused at some of the ingenious mask designs that portray wearers as animals, as grinning bigtoothed beasts and even, as wild and snarling “whatevers.” Though we recognize the purpose of masks during this pandemic, I have been thinking of how, too often, we wear masks of other kinds. These are not meant to protect us

KEEP YOUR RIDE IN

TIP-TOP SHAPE

HIGH MILEAGE CLUB

Aubrey Anne Grobbink

21th

Shown here are the junior and adult class winners in the fish category as the Estevan SWF held its annual trophy night at the end of January 1989. Juniors in the front are, from left, Sheldon Mitchell, Joshua Michel and Frankie John Fuchs. Back row, Allan Barabash, Willie Mitchell, Mark Michel and Jeff Mosley.

100,000KM+

from COVID but rather to protect us from ourselves. Here’s what Alex Gaskarth said: “Be real, because a mask only fools people on the outside. Pretending to be someone you're not takes a toll on the real you, and the real you is more important than anyone else.” In my musings, two

Ask us about

things jumped out at me: first, we are never hidden from God’s eyes and second, in calling out to Him not to hide His face from us, we find comfort and peace. “Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress!” Psalm 102:2 (Amplified) “God keeps an eye on His friends, His ears pick up every moan and groan.” Psalm 34:15 (The Message) Though there are many times in life when we can’t see or understand, there’s deep solace in knowing that He loves us unconditionally and He never pretends or wears a mask. Talk to our educated & professional team about the products that are right for you. We offer a full line of vitamins, supplements & nutrition support for a healthy and balanced lifestyles.

How to improve your immune system

You and your vehicle have seen a great deal of adventure! We want to make sure your vehicle is road ready for the next one, so that's why we are inviting you to the High Mileage Club!

If your vehicle mileage is over 100,000 KMs, you could be eligible for: • 100,000-139,999 KMs 10% OFF select Parts & Labour • 140,000-179,999 KMs 15% OFF select Parts & Labour • 180,000km + - 20% OFF select Parts & Labour This discount is not stackable with any other promotion and is not valid on Tire & Oil Changes. Offers valid to March 31st, 2021.

311 Kensington Ave. • 306.634.3661 • www.murrayestevan.com

Natural Factor Black Elderberry Natural Factors Black Elderberry helps relieve symptoms of colds & flus such as fever, cough, sore throat and mucous buildup and promotes detoxification of the kidneys, skin and mucous membranes. Estevan Market Mall 306.634.9577

kids speak What do you like doing when it’s really cold outside?

Jordyn Saunders

Age: 10 “I like sweating and making snowmen. I have a lot of clothes on when I make snowmen.”

Mason Schmidt

Age: 11 “I like playing hockey with my friends at the Torquay rink. I wear lots of equipment.”

421 King St #3, Estevan, SK I 306-634-3244

www.scotsburndental.com

A20 February 3, 2021

www.estevanmercury.ca

City Hall: 1102 4th Street 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1800 Leisure Office: 701 Souris Avenue 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1880

LIST OF LANDS IN ARREARS CITY OF ESTEVAN PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 C

201 201 201 201 201 201 201 201 201 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 203 203 203 203 203 203 203 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204 204

102200577 147471745 845.45 4 14 B4225 142578850 1,580.79 102200577 147464961 845.45 17 14 B4225 143100841 2,158.21 102200577 147471712 845.45 40 12 12538 149266480 2,919.63 102200577 147475121 845.45 23 19 12538 145901145 3,176.53 Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that 102200577 147465759 845.45 26 44 12538 109845018 2,510.26 unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and 102200577 147471688 845.45 3,4 54 12675 130948320, 2,169.99 title number described in the following list are fully paid before 102200577 147464590 845.45 130948831 the 5th day of April, 2021, an interest based on a tax lien will 102200577 147465715 845.45 5 53 12675 135293104 2,981.63 be registered against the land. 102200577 147470812 948.28 23 53 101124065 152557779 1,941.75 DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY 102200577 147463757 895.92 23 55 12675 132228884 2,714.39 Unit Lot Blk Plan Title Total Owing 102200577 147476122 845.45Save 2.5% in January 21 by 201pre-paying 66R24521your152736576 2021 Property 2,775.30 Taxes 102200577 147465399 845.45 13 208 83R14205 145630098 4,763.84 A 205 102200577 147465636 185.85 Taxes 845.45The City of Estevan a 2.5 % discount when you4,074.48 102200577 147476188 16 is offering 209 83R14205 142655126 12 200 102200577 147465401 910.69 pre-pay your property taxes in January. 102200577 147464871 929.98 22 216 101922960 139705083 5,001.75 11 200 102200577 147472195 843.60 Discounts are calculated based on previous years levy. 102200577 147463454 868.37 30 221 101922960 152355449 216,399.52 10 200 102200577 147472162 843.60 Please pay the 2020 levy amount to take advantage of this 102200577 147463825 868.37discount.29 102076196 143711366 2,595.90 9 200 102200577 147472139 843.60 Payments can be made in person at City Hall or on-line 102200577 147471363 868.37 3 501 101915456 152655453 139,307.66 8 200 102200577 147463803 843.60 through your personal on-line banking. Discounts will be calculated at time 102200577 147463465 868.37 N 504 102092273 144437407 24,196.55 7 200 102200577 147471352 843.60 payment is processed. 102200577 147465423 871.88 3 61 B4225 151047299 4,201.43 6 200 102200577 147465377 843.60 102200577 147463500 Please note:929.98 The discount is calculated of your taxes 8 on66the municipal M4929 portion 110357232 2,744.29 1 200 102200577 147471251 813.26 only. As per845.45 provincial directives the are no longer available on the 102200577 147470395 11 discounts 66 M4929 148520279 2,494.81 2 200 102200577 147471341 840.07 school portion of your property taxes. 102200577 147476155 845.45 16 66 M4929 110357399 2,375.58 3 200 102200577 147470373 845.45 102200577 147465232 845.45 20 67 M4929 152013169 2,233.18 4 200 102200577 147470463 845.45 102200577 147475996 894.13 21 67 101305729 110357748 4,228.94 5 200 102200577 147464916 929.98 102200577 147465366 835.35 13 68 M4929 151377879 3,008.12 13 200 102200577 147463847 877.59 102200577 147464804 835.24 11,12 306 80R43931 145241108, 33,672.82 14 200 102200577 147476278 877.59 Bylaw 835.24 Please help keep our sidewalks safe so all citizens 102200577 147463353 145241063 15 200 102200577 147476302 877.59 can enjoy a safe walk assage 102200577 147465355 835.24 13 306 80R43931 145241029 16,739.12 16 200 102200577 147465445 874.80 102200577 147470362 835.24 28 306 101858643 145241041 25,743.93 Bylaw 2016-1963 17 200 102200577 147464905 916.29 the City of Estevan shall 13,512.92 102200577 147464769 1,013.69The occupier of property A in 101259974 131629754 18 200 102200577 147470609 1,030.29 remove any snow, ice or other obstruction from the public 102200577 147465322 968.70 11 34 A1059 131629765 19 200 102200577 147471509 920.86 sidewalk adjacent to such property within twenty-four (24) hours of the time 102200577 147465276 968.70 12appears 34 on A1059 20 200 102200577 147463533 874.76 such snow, ice or other obstruction such public131629787 sidewalk. 102200577 147470351 968.70 13 34 A1059 131629798 21 200 102200577 147471565 845.45 102200577 147463780 968.70 16 32 AG4740 152385880 2,867.06 22 200 102200577 147465490 845.45 102200577 147470339 968.70 7 36 A1059 109737478 4,206.12 23 200 102200577 147465614 845.45 102200577 147463768 1,013.69 2 36 A1059 126802896 2,380.22 24 200 102200577 147464556 845.45 102200577 147472106 1,018.30 5 31 AG4740 109683580 4,029.08 25 200 102200577 147465782 840.73 102200577 147464736 968.70 9 26 M4929 151886403 3,684.90 26 200 102200577 147477358 920.86 102200577 147464725 968.70 5 26 M4929 150937757 3,904.51 27 200 102200577 147464679 1,069.86 102200577 147464714 968.70 3 92 C3929 151585814 1,641.48 28 200 102200577 147470878 1,003.62 102200577 147464703 968.70 12 28 M4929 144052309 1,858.96 29 200 102200577 147477437 874.76 102200577 147476100 968.70 1 90 C3929 137388280 2,677.34 30 200 102200577 147477426 821.54 102200577 147465210 968.70 1 93 C3929 147668451 1,917.47 31 200 102200577 147477415 821.54 102200577 147465209 968.70 5 307 86R17044 152761181 2,933.07 32 200 102200577 147475840 821.54 102200577 147464691 968.70 19 87 C3929 109967383 1,243.73 33 200 102200577 147470047 821.54 102200577 147476098 968.70 34 200 102200577 147472005 821.54 7 106 C3929 151251690 1,900.97 102200577 147470328 968.70 35 200 102200577 147465085 821.54 4 87 C3929 126438947 3,174.81 102200577 147476065 968.70 36 200 102200577 147469966 821.54 7 101 C3929 152484217 22,190.32 102200577 147462644 968.70 37 200 102200577 147475750 821.54 8 101 C3929 152484239 102200577 147470216 968.70 38 200 102200577 147464646 821.54 9 101 C3929 152484262 102200577 147476043 968.70 39 200 102200577 147475705 821.54 10 101 C3929 152484284 102200577 147470171 968.70 40 200 102200577 147471969 821.54 11 101 C3929 152484307 102200577 147476010 968.70 41 200 102200577 147470867 821.54 16 306 80R43931 145241120 1,504.13 102200577 147471307 1,018.30 42 200 102200577 147465063 821.54 8 304 84R29163 128116425 7,936.25 102200577 147464927 854.69 43 200 102200577 147477404 821.54 19 4 98SE09285 138560508 26,437.89 206 102200577 147464578 362.38 44 200 102200577 147477392 821.54 20 4 98SE09285 138560520 B 205 102200577 147464130 201.49 45 200 102200577 147477381 821.54 23 4 98SE09285 138560845 207 102200577 147477493 2,278.61 46 200 102200577 147463713 821.54 27 4 102019788 140339695 208 102200577 147475963 362.38 47 200 102200577 147471914 821.54 6,7 4 59A01748 138560463, 6,214.01 209 102200577 147472072 561.11 48 200 102200577 147463690 821.54 138560485 210 102200577 147470889 926.34 49 200 102200577 147475671 821.54 25 2 99SE16433 148972966 16,516.85 211 102200577 147465142 548.34 50 200 102200577 147475637 821.54 2 322 66R33594 116693736 9,853.21 212 102200577 147471150 551.07 51 200 102200577 147477370 821.54 C 60A01773 130285920 4,734.71 213 102200577 147465131 3,370.51 52 200 102200577 147470856 821.54 B 60A01773 138561059 19,843.64 214 102200577 147471206 2,453.14 53 200 102200577 147463678 821.54 E 59A01215 138561341 25,462.13 215 102200577 147464680 471.84 54 200 102200577 147465052 821.54 9 119 AL4893 144145605 2,793.76 216 102200577 147470148 471.03 55 200 102200577 147475615 821.54 10 119 AL4893 137428151 4,004.89 217 102200577 147470160 4,415.62 17 203 102200577 147465669 879.43 8 116 AL4893 143503635 2,136.93 6 166 98SE14701 138280215 4,302.80 16 203 102200577 147463623 845.45 22 85R14510 140692035 1,648.12 - 2021 ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE -39,381.35 2021 7 CENTRE 166 98SE14701 127402163 5,123.08 15 203 102200577 147470766 845.45ESTEVAN LEISURE 18 2 101909033 138560979 EFFECTIVE 22 135 88R41149 143685894 4,319.54 14 203 102200577 147477347 845.45 EFFECTIVE 18 2 89R21476 139069952 6,322.73 January - 88R41149 128045651 24 4 137 4,610.96 13 203 102200577 147464938 884.92 19 2 89R21476 139069963 6,613.89 January 4 - February 14, 2021 February3614, 2021 137 88R41149 142267271 3,507.13 12 203 102200577 147463915 845.45 Dated this 3rd day of February, 2021 19 133 84R49410 141126308 4,711.43 11 203 102200577 147465546 845.45 MONDAY THURSDAY SURF & SWIM 3:00 PM 3:45 PM A.I.S 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM MONDAY Trina Sieben, Tax Assessor 12 123 AL8667 144842070 4,142.93 102200577 845.45 SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM • 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am SPIN / CORE 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM LANE 10 SWIM 203 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM 147471576 FREE SWIM 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 14 BY 123 149460655 3,670.46 7:00 AM AM 102200577 147471554 9 - 7:45203 845.45 AQUA AWE 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM 9:10 am - 9:50 am • 10:15 am - 10:55 am *SPONSORED ESTEVANAL8667 AFTERNOON 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM GRIT 9:10 AM3,043.65 - 9:50 AM 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm LANE SWIM 12:15 845.45 PM - 1:00 PM LIONS CLUB 12 126 AM3427 149877286 * 8 203 102200577 147470610 AQUA AWE 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM EASY STRETCH 10:10 AM 10:50 AM AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am A.I.S 11:15 AM 12:00 PM B 8 64R04725 152514053 13,784.43 1 201 102200577 147472252 SURF & SWIM 3:00948.28 PM - 3:45 PM EVENING SPIN / CORE 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM POWER BLAST 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM 9:15 am - 10:00 am • 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm LANE SWIM 6:15 PM 7:00 PM PRIVATE BOOKING 2 26 76R51959 135320767 1,918.24 2 201 102200577 147476458 845.45 SPIN / CORE 5:00 PM 6:00 PM WEIGHT ROOM AFTERNOON *NOT JAN 15, 29 EVENING 15 26 76R51959 109965279 4,411.18 3 201 845.45 LANE SWIM 12:15 102200577 PM - 1:00 PM 147472263 WEIGHT ROOM OPEN 6:00 am - 9:00 pm 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM PRIVATE BOOKING The Council of the City of Estevan pursuant 1:15 PM PM 102200577 147463555 2 JAN 15, 29 81R37784 143560290 1,991.31 LANE SWIM 9:00 PM - 9:45 PM 4 - 2:00201 845.45 *NOT OPEN 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM FRIDAY SURF & SWIM 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM to the Cities Act that the Council of the City 11 81R37784 144489190 THURSDAY 5 BOOKING 201 102200577 147476492 845.45 PRIVATE SATURDAY TUESDAY 1,991.31 GRIT 6:10 am - 6:50 am LANE SWIM 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM of Estevan, gives notice of its intention to CLOSED 14 81R37784 144294194 1,991.31 SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM 9:10 am - 9:50 am EVENING 6 201 102200577 147465456 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM 845.45 PRIVATE BOOKING 9:10 AM 9:50 AM • 10:15 AM 10:55 AM AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 implement a bylaw to establish andam statutory 8:00 AM 8:45 AM AFTERNOON C 23 68R35838 128599790 3,651.69 7 201 102200577 845.45 LANE SWIM 9:00 PM - 9:45 PM 147471600 AQUA AWE 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM 5:30 PM - 6:10 PM • 6:30 PM - 7:10 PM EASYRegulate STRETCH 10:10 am - 10:50 am to LANE SWIM 12:1512PM - 1:00 PM authority to set Public Notice 10 AL1706 143559917 3,341.49 8 201 102200577 147470621 845.45 A.I.S 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM TUESDAY 5:00 PM 5:45 PM AQUA AWE 9:15 AM 10:00 AM WEIGHT ROOM SPIN / CORE 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM LANE SWIM 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM 147463870 change the zoning to accommodate cannabis 11 152639466 1,193.31 9 201 102200577 845.45 PUBLIC SWIM 1:15 PM82R21335 - 2:30 PM 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM OPEN 6:00 am - 9:00 pm 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM AFTERNOON AL1706 145168005 2,322.59 3:15 PM - 11 4:30 PM12 related businesses within the City of Estevan 10- 8:45201 WEIGHT ROOM 8:00 AM AM 102200577 147463892 LANE SWIM 12:15 845.45 PM - 1:00 PM SATURDAY EVENING11 AQUA11 AWE 9:15 - 10:00 AM 147472308 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM 845.45 20 I3279 113620047 3,127.76 OPEN 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM 201AM102200577 WEIGHT ROOM A.I.S 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM SURF & SWIM 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM FAMILY SWIM 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 3 7:15 31PM -AM666 133961722 102200577 WEDNESDAY2,548.46 am - 9:00the pm first reading On January 25, OPEN 20219:00 meeting SPIN /12 CORE 201 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 147471633 PRIVATE BOOKING845.45 PUBLIC SWIM 9:00 PM GRIT 6:10 am 6:50 am 9 16 M4929 109972480 3,245.46 13 201 102200577 147470632 845.45 AFTERNOON SUNDAY of this bylaw was passed and the final readings EVENING SATURDAY LANE SWIM 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM PRIVATE BOOKING AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am SPIN 9:10 am - 9:50 am 46 M4929 142277878 2,051.05 14- 2:00201 845.45 CLOSED 5 is expected to be on February 22, 2021. 1:15 PM PM 102200577 147471666 CORE BARRE ABOVE 9:10 am - 10:15 am FRIDAY 10:10 am 10:50 am 8 47 M4929 103985242 3,466.23 SURF 15 & SWIM 3:00 PM 3:45 PM 201 102200577 147470643 845.45 AFTERNOON LANE SWIM 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM FOAM ROLLER 10:30 am - 11:10 am PRIVATE BOOKING DEEP WATER POWER 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm LANE SWIM - 1:00 PM 15 12:1547PM 102152719 146281002 1,358.39 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM 845.45 16 201 102200577 147463577 POWER BLAST 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm The proposedWEIGHT BylawROOM 2021-2034 may be EVENING 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM 1 110 AK9705 104351273 17 BOOKING 201 102200577 147465467 SPIN 5:30 pm3,946.44 - 6:10 pm PRIVATE AQUA AWE 9:15 AM845.45 - 10:00 AM OPENperson 9:00 am - in 9:00the pm City Clerk’s inspected by any FAMILY SWIM 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM WEIGHT ROOM A.I.S 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM 51 M4929 140112133 4,017.07 18 201 102200577 147470665 946.51 PRIVATE 13 BOOKING TUESDAY Office, on the main level of City Hall, between SPIN / CORE 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM OPEN 6:00 am - 10:00 pm LANE 19 SWIM 201 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM 147470845 14 50 M4929 138026741 2,189.15 102200577 951.20 EVENING the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday. 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM AFTERNOON Mustbebe1616years yearsofofage age1,735.35 participate in in fitness fitness classes Must totoparticipate classes and andhave haveaacompleted completedPar-Q Par-QQuestionnaire Questionnaireprior priortotoparticipating participatingin inclasses. classes. 5 POWER 97 C1823 141608224 20- 8:45201 8:00 AM AM 102200577 147475569 LANE SWIM 12:15 845.45 PM - 1:00 PM DEEP WATER The questionnaire lets our fitness instructors determine abilities and needs of each participant. The questionnaire lets our fitness instructors determine abilities and needs of each participant. 8:00 PM - 8:45 PM 1:15 PM 2:00 PM AQUA21 AWE 9:15 AM 10:00 AM 1 101972673 142542783 2,120.59 201 102200577 147471891 845.45 Dated this 26th day of January, 2021. PLEASE NOTE2,927.49 - Due to the pandemic-related protocols fitness registration has moved to a PRE-Registration process. Users 10 63 M4929 142642751 22 201 102200577 147475547 845.45 Schedule Subject to Patrons Change.will Please visit upon arrival and asked a few questions PLEASE NOTE - Due to the pandemic-related protocols fitness registration has moved to a PRE-Registration process. Users mustare pre-register online Information Desk. be screened what you looking for? or by calling thewww.estevan.ca for updates on closures and 14 88R32717Don’t see 140424184 5,031.57 23 201 102200577 147470834 845.45 must pre-register online- or the Information Desk. Patrons willregistration be screenedhas upon arrivaltoand asked156 a few questions PLEASE NOTE Duebytocalling the pandemic-related protocols fitness moved a PRE-Registration as per the Operational Health and Safety Guidelines. Drop in is available for the between workout stations have an idea for Pilloud, City Clerk cancellations. Proper footwear andJudy exercise weight wear is room. Space as per theprocess. Operational and Safety Guidelines. in isthe available for theDesk. weightPatrons room.will Space stations Do you142416121 Cupon AL6848 4,319.66 UsersHealth must pre-register online or byDrop calling Information be between screened workout have either increased or a machine has been put into 'not in use.' Water fountains are not available. 24 201 102200577 147463645 845.45 required to participate. Please note during school something we should try? th have either increased or a amachine has been 'not in use.' Water not available. 1102and4 Street asked few questions as put per into the Operational Healthfountains and SafetyareGuidelines. Drop 2,3in is available 78 for 64R37567Please129648471, 25 arrival 201 and 102200577 147475222 845.45 breaks, (Teachers Spring Break contact the Program3,078.26 ScheduleConvention, Subject to Change. Please visit the weight room. Space between workout stations havetoeither increased or a machine has been put into 'not Don’t see what you are looking for? Estevan, www.estevan.ca for updates on closures and SK S4A 0W7 Schedule Subject Change. Please visit Christmas Break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and Arena Manager at 306-634-1880. 129648505 26what inyou 201 102200577 use.'areWater fountains available. Don’t see looking for? are not147470823 www.estevan.ca for845.45 updates on closures and Do you have an idea for cancellations. Proper footwear and exercise wear schedules may vary. Please visit our live schedules at is love to hear your 2,000.09 ideas! Do you have 7 74 AH4858We would 151201000 cancellations. Proper845.45 footwear and exercise wear is 27 an idea 201for102200577 147475165 www.estevan.ca something we should try? required to participate. Please note during school

A Message From The Mayor

Stay Safe and Keep Warm. Enjoy the winter, hopefully spring will arrive soon.

AQUATIC

FITNESS

SCHEDULE

Bylaw

something we should try? Please contact the Program Manager at 306-634-1880.

required to participate. Please note during school breaks, (Teachers Convention, Spring Break and Christmas Break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and Arena

Please contact the Program Manager at 306-634-1880. We would love to hear your ideas!

PUBLIC NOTICE

breaks, (Teachers Convention, Spring Break and Christmas Break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and Arena schedules may vary. Please visit our live schedules at