is Wednesday, May 26! On May 26, Henders Drugs will donate 10% of their front store sales to the Radiothon!
PAGE A3
M-F: 9-9 • SAT: 9-5 SUN & HOLIDAYS: 12-4
ESTEVAN *some exceptions apply
Come for a walk. The town of Lampman established a new community path.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
ECS graduates will get to parade through the city on their milestone day He’s back. Estevan’s favourite sculptor is out working in the area again. PAGE A5
Planning for the summer. Souris Valley Theatre to hold camps. PAGE A6
Last year’s Estevan grad cruise night attracted attention from across the province, but it seems that this year’s bubble parade may outdo the first initiative. File photo
By Ana Bykhovskaia
The value of speech and hearing. Business owner shares story. PAGE A11
Celebrating first achievements. Mary’s Little Lamb graduation special. PAGE A15 - 16
2021 RANGER
Estevan Comprehensive School Grade 12 students might not have a traditional graduation ceremony again this year, but what a group of parents taking the initiative has planned for them sounds great, too. The ongoing pandemic still restricts all large crowd events, however, when it comes to graduation ceremonies, it seems that the restrictions only push the creativity and imagination further to ensure that such a big day gets properly celebrated. This year a group of Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) parents, in consultation with the students, decided to host a bubble parade that will start at 7 p.m. on June 19. Stacey Wempe, who is a part of the parent group organizing the event, said they already received approval from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and are now getting the route and other details clarified and approved by the City of Estevan. “What we did is we gave (graduates) two choices. We head to Woodlawn where they could sit and have a drive-by, I mean be at Woodlawn for a couple of hours and have people drive by you, or the parade. The students voted on the parade,” Wempe
told the Mercury. Both parents and students liked last year’s cruise night concept. The only con to it was that the 2020 graduates didn’t get to showcase their tuxedos and dresses. So this year grads opted for a different format. “It’s called a bubble parade,” Wempe said. “(Grads) are going to go in groups of eight or 10. We’re going to be decorating floats. So we are getting trailers for each group, and we’re going to be decorating them. And we’re going to have the parade route.” There won’t be one common theme to the parade, but each float will have its own style. With 166 students graduating this year, there will be about 20 decorated floats. “People are donating their trailers and trucks, and then we’re just decorating them,” Wempe said, adding that A Loving Touch Florist agreed to help parents with decorating the floats. Students will also get to participate in decorating and will have fun in their bubbles. The parade is the parents’ initiative, and they hope that residents and businesses will join them in trying to make this day special for the kids by decorating their storefronts and houses and also coming out to see the procession.
“It ’ll be good for them. It ’s something to make them feel special because Grade 12 is a milestone. So we thought, ‘Well, okay, what can we do that is acceptable?’ And I really liked this idea,” Wempe said. “Last year businesses decorated their windows. So I know, for our business, we’re going to decorate the windows and put a sign out to make it really special for them,” Wempe said. Throughout the grad day, Affinity Place will have two touchless photo booths, cleaned on regular basis, and four spots decorated for students to take pictures there as well. Also, in memory of Wempe’s family members, they will give each graduate a $50 gift voucher to a local business. “To honour the Graduates of 2021, I wanted to give them a special gift of $50 to spend locally in our community. The voucher is in memory of my parents Mel and Margaret Grimes and my brother Clinton Grimes. The grads have always had a special place in our heart. We are very blessed to be in a community, which supports Bring Your Kids to Work Day and the hiring of teenagers, allowing many of our local businesses to watch them flourish. The local community businesses have supported their events for
many years. Because of this support I encourage the grads to support the many businesses in our community,” said Wempe. People can also get lawn signs for the graduates. The deadline to order those is June 4 and the contact is Linda Gudmundson at linda@dynamicsignsinc.ca. Besides, people can upload grads’ pictures to the website. There are logos that can be used to print and decorate store fronts or windows. All details about the upcoming event can be found at estevanclassof2021.com or Grad 2021 Estevan Graduates’ Parent Facebook page. A Zoom call was held May 25 to work out more details, and those who missed it or have any further question can reach out to the group of parents organizing the event at admin@estevanclassof2021.com or call Wempe at 306-421-9923. The organizers are accepting donations. All further information can be found at the website. They are also in need of 15 trailers. If anyone can help out the contact is Tanya Gervais at tbachorcik@hotmail.com. Make sure to check future editions of the Mercury for the route and other details about the grad bubble parade and other grad activities.
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Estevan remains the host of the 2022 Centennial Cup By David Willberg After more than a year of speculation, it’s official: the 2022 Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship, presented by Tim Hortons, is staying in Estevan. Hockey Canada announced May 18 that the Estevan Bruins would indeed be the host team for the fiveteam showcase. The previous two editions of the national tournament had been cancelled. The first one, in 2020, was slated to be held in Portage La Prairie, Man. The second, for 2021, was scheduled to happen in Penticton, B.C. Greg Hoffort and Cory Prokop, the co-chairs of the 2022 tournament committee, said they were confident, and it’s a relief that they know and they can finally start planning. “You don’t want to put a whole lot of planning and structure in place in case it doesn’t go through, and so I think the fact that they’ve confirmed now gives us … (the chance) to get the organizational structure in place, and get down to some serious planning,” Hoffort told the Mercury. Prokop added they didn’t want to spend too much time planning, have the event taken away and then start planning for a different year. “It’s more of a relief from
the standpoint that we can now get going with the planning because it’s now a year away, and we have a lot of work to go,” said Hoffort. Estevan initially submitted a bid to host the 2021 tournament, and made it to a three-team short-list with Penticton and Salmon Arm, B.C. Estevan and Penticton finished in a dead heat for 2021, so Penticton was granted the 2021 event and Estevan was awarded the 2022 tournament. With the cancellations of nationals in 2020 and 2021, there was discussion whether Hockey Canada would push everything back a year or two, or if Estevan would host in 2022 and then Hockey Canada would decide future years. Penticton still wanted to host in 2022, but Hoffort said Portage was out for next year. “ We sent them some supporting documents as to why we thought it was still appropriate (for Estevan to host), and the significant city and community support that we had, and so we re-fortified our bid a little bit to say keep us on ’22,” said Hoffort. Prokop praised Hoffort for keeping the lines of communication open with Hockey Canada, so that they knew Estevan was still keen to host the tournament. Hoffort pointed out there was more lobbying dur-
The Estevan Bruins were awarded the Centennial Cup for 2022 back in 2019. Now Hockey Canada has confirmed the Bruins will remain the host. File photo ing the initial selection process for the 2021 tournament, than for this time around. “We kept them knowing the whole time as we were waiting, to make sure we were going to keep our spot. We worked with them, let them know that we hadn’t lost any interest, that the community support and the team and everything else was being built for 2022,” said Hoffort.
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The 2022 tournament will be held from May 20-29. The process will now begin of piecing together the committee for next year’s tournament. There have been meetings with key players, such as the co-chairs, city representatives, Bruins president George Sereggela and head coach/general manager Jason Tatarnic, but much of the work begins now.
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Estevan Food Bank The Estevan Salvation Army’s Food Bank has been meeting the needs of people in the area for decades. It’s always been a much-needed and highly valued service in the Estevan area. Those services, though, are sought-after now as much as they’ve ever been. Ronza Reynard, the director of ministry for the Salvation Army, said lots of new people are accessing the food bank this year. “We’re probably up six or eight people a month,” said Reynard. “That’s a big increase to have that many new people every month accessing the food bank.” The jump in the number of clients is to be expected, she said, and Reynard predicted that the demand will likely always be on the rise. The summer months often put a little more pressure on families. “Kids, when they’re at home more, they’re snacking a little more, so I think food costs and food bills go up in the summer for families. I would anticipate that we’re going to see that continue to increase on a regular basis.” If somebody needs the support of the food bank, they can call the Salvation Army at 306-634-2074 and speak with JaneAnne Ireland, the community services worker for the Salvation Army. They will book an appointment, have a meeting and then the Salvation Army will help the client with food.
another 75 pounds. If they get a really large family, they add more to the hamper. “We do have a few families that access it that are a little larger than a family of three or four,” said Reynard. Also factored into the contents would be the person’s dietary needs, such if they’re diabetic or have to avoid gluten. “We try our best to work with each client as an individual to see what it is that will help sustain that family for that time,” said Reynard. The Salvation Army couldn’t offer a program like the food bank without the support of the community. They love it when people bring in anything. “We will accept any donations of food that people want to bring us. There’s not like one item that I could say ‘Oh, we’re just super low,’ because if we’re low on that item, we’ll just go out and get it.” People are encouraged that if they’re out shopping, to pick up a few extra things for the food bank. If someone does want to pick up something specific, they can call Ireland, who will explain what the Salvation Army needs. Someone will show up with a cash donation, or a business will call to say they had a company-wide food drive. The Salvation Army can accept produce as long as it is bagged after being taken from the ground. “We can’t take it once you’ve pickled it, or cut it and froze it, or any of that kind of stuff.” The Southern Plains Co-op has been a great supporter, Reynard said, as they sell $5 and $10 bags that customers can purchase to help the food bank. Those bags help stock the shelves.
Reynard has been with the Salvation Army in Estevan for 10 years. She has seen the increase in demand since that time.
“They’re going to be pre-packaged hampers that we’ve made up,” said Reynard. “Then we are also able to put in some meats, milk and potatoes, and that kind of stuff into the hamper, so there is some fresh stuff in there.”
“I think of my first year in 2011 to now, the difference for demand is much higher, and the generosity and the support of the community just keeps matching it.”
For a one or two people, it’s about 55 pounds of food, not including fresh foods. If it’s a family of four or five, then it’s
If anybody wants to do a food drive, or if they have an idea to do something different, they can contact the Salvation Army.
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to be very competitive at the tournament. It makes for an interesting time,” Tatarnic said. But the tournament doesn’t make as much of a difference as one might think when it comes to recruiting, said Tatarnic, who helped build the Chilliwack Chiefs team that won the tournament as the host team in 2018. “Some players they’re quite excited about the national championship. They want to play in that tournament, so they want to come. Other players, it’s not a big deal to them,” said Tatarnic. Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig said the tournament will be a great event for the Bruins organization and for the community as a whole. “Our local businesses will benefit, especially the hotels and restaurants,” said Ludwig. “Any time we hold an event like this, people come away saying ‘Wow! What a great community.’” He expects the local hospitality sector will make the city proud with their efforts to welcome so many people to the city. Ludwig said the City of Estevan didn’t lobby Hockey Canada about keeping the tournament here, because they didn’t want to pester the organization, and the mayor thought Estevan’s initial bid was excellent. The tournament will be a chance to showcase Estevan’s arena, amenities, volunteers and more to people from across Canada. “We’re always the envy of all communities of like size, with the fact that we can pull above our weight, we can punch above our weight when it comes to volunteers. We have the best, we believe, volunteers in Western Canada, and we’ve proven it time and time again.”
At Christmas time, the co-op’s staff puts together all of the food bank’s Christmas hampers. Then the ministry just has to hand them out to recipients.
The amount of food provided will depend on the size of the family.
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“We have the top levels of the committee in place right now, and the different directors and the committee heads who will be taking on significant roles in the lower levels of the flow chart will be formulated in the next week or two,” said Prokop. The City of Estevan has stepped forward with a total of $150,000 over two years in support for the tournament. That will cover much of the sponsorship needs for the tournament. Prokop said they don’t have to focus on going out to the business community, looking for sponsorship dollars. Instead they can focus on selling ticket sales and packages for the week of hockey. Hoffort pointed out the committee will employ some of the successes of the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Estevan, separating the work out among the different committees, and then coming together periodically to provide updates. “There will be different people put in charge of many different and small segments of the event. They’ll each have their committee members,” said Hoffort. It resulted in tremendous attention to detail with the 2016 Games, Hoffort said. Hockey Canada’s announcement also allows Tatarnic to move forward with building the team that will be the host entry for the tournament. Tatarnic said he is pleased that Estevan will remain the host. The club has 17 players eligible to return from the shortened 2020-21 campaign. They’re eager to come back and get a full season in with the Bruins. “ We want to remain loyal to those players, but at the same time, they have to prove that they are players who can ensure we’re going
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Lampman has a new walking path Lampman residents and town guests are to benefit from a beautiful new walking path. The Town of Lampman has set up a trail, which starts at the west entrance of the town near the flower bed and ends up at the Elm Lawn Cemetery south of town. The route was staked for easy access. The markings will guide walkers through different routes for changing weather conditions and lengths to accommodate everyone. Town administrator Dena Scott said that the project was in the planning stage several years ago, but never came to be until now. "It was brought back up because some of our new council members felt this would be a great addition to our community," explained Scott. The whole route is six kilometres. The shorter options are about three kilometres. The walk crosses the swale on the north side of Lampman and the town plans on eventually adding a bridge there. To ensure trail safety and esthetics, town council members cleaned out the trees and cut the grass in the park for a greater experience with a scenic walk. As time progresses the hope is to develop the path even further. "The committee is hoping, at some point, to possibly put up signs with historical information about Lampman and the surrounding district along the path," Scott said. There will be rest areas along the route with garbage cans for walkers' use to keep the pathway clean. "The rest areas will eventually have benches set up along the path and a picnic area with a picnic table," Scott noted. The town council has formed a committee to look after the walking path. "We have established a committee consisting of Jay Jones, Daryle Runge and Randy Fleck from town council to get things started, but we are looking for community vol-
The walking path offers shorter and longer routes for those who want to enjoy outdoor activity close to home in Lampman. Photo submitted unteers to help out with ideas and suggestions to make this project a success," says a RM of Browning and Town of Lampman Facebook post. Scott added that the town council's committee is taking care of the walking path now. But they hope that volunteers will soon join the committee to help with upkeep and provide suggestions and ideas on how to improve what they are in the process of establishing. Council also noted that the newly set path has been used by ATVs and dirt bike riders, which is worrisome as it may affect the quality of the path for runners and walkers. "We ask that you please refrain from going on the path (on ATVs and dirt bikes). It is bringing up stones and making it difficult to walk on," says the post. "The Town of Lampman is looking into something for the ATVs and dirt bikes to utilize, so stay tuned for that." Further plans for the path are
currently in discussion. The project may potentially turn into a yearround activity space suitable for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. However, no decisions have yet been made. "Community interest and volunteer help will most likely determine whether it will be a year-round project. If there is interest in utilizing this path for activities such as snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, the committee would look into ways of accommodating this," Scott said. In the meantime, the committee is asking the community to take an active role and reach out to the town office at 306-487-2462 or to any of the committee members with any comments or suggestions. "Being a small community, we are always looking for ways of helping keep our citizens engaged and interested in the community by providing them with different options and opportunities to get out and enjoy our town," Scott said.
The new Lampman walking path starts at the west entrance and ends up at the Elm Lawn Cemetery. Photo submitted
Estevan Humane Society to host virtual Dr. Howard Dog Jog The 10th annual Dr. Neil Howard Dog Jog is a go. With all the restrictions in mind, the Estevan Humane Society opted for the virtual format for their big annual fundraiser, but they are sure it will be as entertaining as it's always been. "That's our first attempt (at a virtual dog jog), last year we just cancelled. So this year, we're giving it a go," said shelter manager Michaela Pho. Participating dog lovers and shelter supporters will have until June 4 to fill and submit pledge sheets, which can be picked up and dropped off at the humane society, as well as to collect pledges. From June 4-6, jog participants are invited to come out to the Woodlawn Regional Park’s free access area to go through a designated route for fun, but also for a chance to win a great prize. "On June 4, we'll have our dog jog route that we would typically have set up for the day of the event, we'll have it set up down at Woodlawn by the dog park. It'll be set up until June 6, which is the
The Dr. Neil Howard Dog Jog will take place in a virtual format this year, where participants can follow the route on a designated day but at any time. Photo submitted technical date for the event. So people can go down at their own leisure and take a walk on the trail there,” Pho said. “Along the way, we have a little trick stops, so it's a little bit more interactive for people. They can try and trick out with their dog. Whoever does the
most tricks and is the most successful will be entered to win a separate prize," Pho said. The winner will receive a summer fun trick dog workshop, courtesy of All Creatures Training and Boarding. Those who want to be entered for the special prize will need to
either post or email pictures and videos of their pets doing the tricks. "At the event, each stop will have an info sheet on what the trick is that needs to be performed, and then where to send everything to get entered for the prize," Pho explained.
Those who collect the most pledges to support the shelter will see some great surprises coming their way as well. The shelter has teamed up with local businesses and came up with a list of prizes for pledge collectors of different ages. "We have four different age categories. Usually, we only have three, but this year, we lucked out and got the fourth," Pho said. Pledge collectors ages six and under can win an outdoor movie projector and screen, donated by the Howard family. Ages seven to 11 is a second age category and the winner will take home a Lenovo tablet donated by DMS. The third age category is 12-15. The prize in this category is a Bluetooth speaker and headphones from Brandsource, along with Estevan Bruins merchandise. The final new category is for anyone 16 and up. They can be entered to win a Google kit that comes with a nest hub and thermostat, supplied by Signal Direct. "Whoever collects the most pledges in each category
is the winner of each of these categories," Pho said. The pledge forms are currently available at estevanhumanesociety.ca. Pho said that with the new format they don't really know what to expect from the event, but hope that the community will find it entertaining and will step forward to support the no-kill shelter. "The support so far with the other events that we've had has been on par and above," Pho said. Money raised will help with upkeep of the shelter and its inhabitants. "Our biggest expense here is medical costs. Unexpected and routine. And then animal care supplies like food and treats and stuff like that, and medications, unexpected medical trips. That's the main thing," Pho said. The humane society is currently at capacity for cats with many newborn kittens being brought in. So they accept cats only on an emergency basis. They also have several dogs available for adoption.
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Grads won't be forgotten this year We all know how tough the COVID-19 pandemic has been on kids due to the lost opportunities they have suffered in the past 14 months. It’s been particularly tough on high school graduates, who haven’t been able to enjoy the commencement ceremony they so richly earned. Granted, there are worse things that have happened in the past 14 months than the cancellation of a high school ceremony, but the loss of grad is still sad. They spent years looking forward to having that one last send-off with their pals all together, and a large portion of the community in attendance. And make no mistake, high school grad is a big deal in small communities. In those towns, villages and small cities where there is just one high school, it’s a community event that brings people together. We actually did a pretty good job to come up with ways to salute our grads last year. It seems like every community in the southeast that has a high school created banners with smiling grads that were placed in boulevards or hung from lampposts. Perhaps the coolest concept was in Estevan last June with the grad cruise. Not only did the kids get to don nice clothes for the ceremony, but they drove through the streets of Estevan, often in antique vehicles. The bonus was that all of the businesses along the parade route and in downtown Estevan
had signs in their windows congratulating the graduates. Other communities in the southeast had drive-by graduation ceremonies in which the people of the community could drive by the graduates and wave and honk their horns to salute the Class of 2020. As the summer progressed, some form of a grad ceremony could take place, although restrictions prevented most schools from having all the kids attend a ceremony at once, taking away some of the lustre of the celebration. There was a groundswell of support for graduates everywhere last year to ensure that they would have something fond to remember their final year of high school. We’re now entering grad season once again. Last year, we hoped that the Class of 2020 would be the only pandemic grad class. That’s not going to be the case. At least we could make plans for this year. Last year there wasn’t really that opportunity to prepare, because the pandemic hit three months before grad, and it was tough to make plans when we were locked down for two months. This year, there has been the time to prepare for something that doesn’t involve the big cap and gown grad celebration. The Class of 2021 deserves our support and our love as much as the Class of 2020. We’re seeing things happening. You’re go-
ing to see banners hanging in communities once again. We’re going to see a bubble parade occur in Estevan this year. Hopefully lots of people watch the parade from the streets of Estevan, while respecting social distancing regulations, of course. You can expect the business community to be there for the grads as well. We’re sure that there will be great things happening in other communities as well. There’s also an element of the unknown this year, with the strong possibility of the province government easing restrictions for large crowds, starting in the summer. A lot of people might be frustrated if large gatherings are allowed later in the summer, after grad season. At the same time, it’s hard to make plans when we don’t know how many people will be allowed. If you’re involved with something for long enough, eventually you’ll age out or graduate. Perhaps you move on from youth sports, dance, junior hockey, a youth organization, post-secondary education, or an adult organization. But high school is one that is particularly meaningful for so many. Perhaps it’s because so many of us can identify with grad. Perhaps it’s because it’s such a key transition point in our lives. Hopefully, the Class of 2021 will be the last pandemic-era grad. And hopefully we’ll be there for this year’s grads, just like we were last year.
Is there a way for the newspapers to make it to the other side of this century? 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.
Let's talk newspapers again. This column was inspired by articles by Edmund Lee and Nicholas Kulish, published in one of the Sunday Business editions of the New Your Times, brought to my attention by Gerry Fichtemann. (Thank you!) The question the authors were trying to answer was who is going to save the newspapers. They offered some answers, but I was still left with some doubts. Indeed, the newspaper world, once prestigious and prosperous, is now in a pretty deep crisis. Newspapers are trying to stay above water in the world of information diarrhea, and I tell you, it's not easy for anyone. On a different scale, we all are trying to keep a foot in both worlds, catering to those fewer and fewer who prefer the print, and those drawing information from the global web. The New York Times is exploring the cases of big players of the newspapers world, focusing on the phenomenon of the Wall Street Journal, which unlike many, many others, is still making a lot of money, and other successful and less successful print medias purchased by billionaires. However, small community newspapers are not only going through the same storm but are indeed in the same boat, all trying to survive. The first part of this storm is created by the fast-changing information field. It is changing so much, that traditionally slower print media are not only having hard times to catch up, but are also to a point, lost as to which direction they should take to keep their integrity and remain interesting for the readership. How should the printed news look in the 21st century? Should papers follow social media trends more, quickly echoing everything happening in the virtual community? Or should they mostly ignore the fast come-fast go online buzz, sticking to traditional analytics and deeper reporting?
Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About… Papers are criticized for preferring to stand aback from big movements that arise in the virtual world. As phenomenons like #metoo, the social justice movement that rocked the world in the aftermath of George Floyd's death and many others quickly spill into real life, papers already seem far behind in reporting on the trends. Even the fast-changing COVID-19 reality often seemed to be too fast for papers to stay ahead. Serious papers are traditionally viewed as the source of the most tried-and-true news, while the online media space sometimes reminds me of a tornado. Things often change so quickly, that no print can compete with the online capacities. And while the online presence of the print media, in theory, allows for a more robust coverage, in reality for many publications the offline system of work still dominates, leaving the digital world secondary. Another part of the storm is the monetary side of journalism. It is a business, but every year it's getting harder and harder for papers to compete with the open, free online info ocean. According to the mentioned above Lee, many of those publications that bought into the "information wants to be free" idea, learned firsthand that it wasn't the best business strategy. Digital development forced many newspapers to give up on the subscription system and find other sources of income to rely on. If that transition didn't happen fast enough, they folded. Some gave up on the subscription online but kept it for print. The Wall Street Journal kept the subscription system everywhere and kept making money, however, according to Lee's data, that
somewhat paralyzed their development and kept them from innovating further. Hundreds of papers are folding every year in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere. Like in any other field there is no one right strategy. The Mercury became free of charge nine years ago, and as time was going by we've been pushing more and more for establishing and growing our digital presence. While we've been pretty successful in this journey, I often feel that we ended up with two different readerships. They overlap a bit, but in general, it's two different cohorts of people seeking different product from their news source. We appreciate and respect both, but as we are trying to be relevant for both, which would help us stay above water, we often find ourselves trapped between the need to work online-style – jump on every little spark and publish instantly, and the traditions of the offline-format with more in-depth, long reads and wider coverage of the bigger picture. Besides, the interests of those two groups differ. Papers are doing their best to retain existing readers, and are also striving to attract the new age and social reader groups. If we don't, then like any other business, we collapse. But unlike any other business, it won't be because of lack of demand for the product we deliver. The demand for actual and fact-based information and news is higher than ever before. So despite the traditional market tendencies, papers close because for many it becomes almost impossible to find the new format, in which what we serve remains relevant to readers, who are used to free information, and we also stay financially profitable. I still don't have a firm answer as to how I see the very long-term future of the papers, but one thing I know – we are in a transition stage, and what comes next will be different from anything we've seen before.
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David Willberg Willberg’s World
A great day for Estevan – Part II
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Popular wood sculptor is back at it again By Ana Bykhovskaia
Darren Jones – the man who created popular local monuments like the Estevan Soldiers' Tree and Forever in It might not have had the same impact that the initial an- the Clouds, along with tributes to local nouncement of the Centennial Cup had in December 2019, but sports and industries and a number of it was still an important and exciting news release nonetheless. gorgeous private projects – is paying a Hockey Canada revealed on May 18 that Estevan would visit again. indeed host the 2022 Centennial Cup national junior A hockey Jones came to Estevan last week, championship, presented by Tim Hortons. and right away he got busy with existThose who thought that it was a given that Estevan would ing and new creations. The Mercury still get the tournament in 2022 were taking things for granted. spoke to the artist about his plans for Penticton, B.C., which was supposed to host nationals in 2021, the near future. thought they should become the hosts in 2022. He already has several projects to After all, they didn’t get to host the tournament in 2021 work on, but is open to more during his through no fault of their own. time here. And Portage La Prairie, Man., never had their chance to host Jones started off working on Lester the 2020 tournament, either, thanks to a pandemic. Hinzman's sculpture of a contemporary But if the Bruins didn’t host the tournament in 2022, then veteran, which he first started carving another team would have been punished for something that wasn’t during his previous visit to Estevan their fault. last fall. Of course, I’ll say that Hockey Canada made the right call, "I will have it finished, carved out. but the good folks in Penticton will say that Hockey Canada erred. And as soon as I have a break comes the Regardless, the focus for Estevan finally shifts from securing airbrushing," Jones said. the tournament to putting on a great show for the community "I need to bring everything into and the country. perspective now and detail. It's all in We know that Estevan has the ability to host great events the detail. His expression, everything that bring the community together while providing a showcase will change so much. That's just bulk. I for the community. We saw it during the 2016 Western Canada needed to get a shape. And that's why Cup – easily the best of the five editions of the Western Canada I left it like that. Now he'll be slimmed Cup that were held. down. But I want the emotion. That's We saw it during the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games, really important to get that patriotic, which, I’ll argue, was the best Games ever in Saskatchewan. (Of hurting kind of emotion I need to prescourse, my frame of reference is rather limited). ent. He's also getting kindness from a And we see it whenever Estevan hosts a provincial champion- young fellow he's just given books to, ship or any other marquee event. so that's really where my drive is there." We’re great hosts. It’s a testament to our volunteers, our busiJones said that he always tries to ness community, our venues and the way in which we get behind carve most of the details, so as time these events. goes and paint fades away his sculptures And the Centennial Cup will be no different. remain solid. It’s going to be a boon for our hospitality sector. Coming "One thing about airbrushing is out of the pandemic, events that draw people to communities are you can put in things but they disappear going to be a real asset. Those who come to Estevan are going to whenever the paint is gone. And I really leave raving about our hotels, our restaurants, our businesses and want when it comes to my sculptures the people who work there. that once even the paint goes, the markThey’re going to talk about how wonderful our people are. ings are still there, somebody can come Hopefully the only thing they won’t be happy about is the result by in the future and actually repaint it," when they play the Estevan Bruins. Jones explained. And, of course they’re going to leave talking about what a Once the veteran monument is first-rate facility we have in Affinity Place, and what a first-rate done, Jones plans on working on Forcommunity we have. ever in the Clouds that was relocated This event is going to inject a lot of money into our local to Hinzman's yard from the Estevan economy. Regional Airport. The artist will sand Ever since Affinity Place opened in 2011, the Centennial it down and refurbish the monument. Cup has been viewed as the pinnacle for events we could have. "It just needs to be sharpened up. Sure, we’ve had other big events, such as the Western Canada And of course, any cracks should be Cup. And there are other high-profile sporting events we could fixed," Jones said. host, including the World Junior A Hockey Challenge and some He added that the monument aged showcase curling functions. really well, partially because he used But the Centennial Cup has been the one that many have been focused on. Their status as the host team puts pressure on the Estevan Bruins to ice a team that can contend for and win a national championship. We’re guaranteed to have a Bruins team at nationals for the first time since 1999. But it won’t be just good enough for the Bruins to make it as the host team and then bow out after the round-robin or in the semifinal; the expectation is there for the Bruins to play in the national final game. The Estevan Mercury was recogImagine how much fun Affinity Place would be for that game. nized on a number of fronts at the SasYes, there will be the questions of whether or not a Centen- katchewan Weekly Newspaper Awards, nial Cup will happen in 2022, or if it will become a casualty of the which were announced during a virtual COVID-19 pandemic, much like the 2020 and the 2021 tourna- ceremony on May 17. ments before it. In the General Excellence Awards, I’m confident there will be a tournament next year, that we’ll the Mercury was entered in Class C, be able to have full capacity for the games and the associated events, with newspapers that have a circulaand that this tournament will bring people to our community from tion of 2,000-6,499. It took home top across Canada and even the U.S. spot for the best editorial page, with It’ll be the showcase of us that it should be. the judges providing praise for the So let’s make this the best Centennial Cup that’s ever been general comment and the appearance held. After all, doing things better than anyone when we’re given of the page. the chance is what we do here. The Mercury also finished second
Darren Jones has a few projects to work on in Estevan and area this spring and summer. Photo submitted a piece of Douglas fir from Porcupine Hills that's over 450 years old and is not afraid of weather and time. "The maintenance on this will be very, very low," Jones said. He also set up a tent, so rain or shine, he is able to keep working on some of the smaller projects in the yard, which he already started during the Victoria Day long weekend. On top of main projects, Jones will make a wooden propeller for the war-time plane that Hinzman and a group of his friends recovered from a field in the area last fall. The detail will be carved out of a tree that was growing through the plain wreck for years. Jones will also be busy with several private orders that the community may see later on in one of the local businesses. He said he is also open to new projects and ideas. If anyone would like
to decorate a business, yard or house with a unique personal sculpture, they can text Jones at 403-783-0726. "I love telling a story. I tell the story through sculpture. That's why it's so much fun carving for people. They have a tree in their yard that's outgrowing or even a stump and they want to personalize their yard for who they are. I'm able to give them what they want," Jones said. Jones's current plan is to stay in Estevan for three weeks, then go back to Alberta for a little break, and then come back again for one outstanding project he is to do for a local entrepreneur. He said it will be something really exciting for him, for his customer, and also for the entire community. However, it was too early to release any details. So keep an eye on the Mercury's upcoming editions for information and updates about the project.
Mercury recognized at the recent SWNA awards in the best overall newspaper competition, receiving a score of 861 out of 1,000 possible points. The paper received perfect scores for its community news, local features, sports and classified advertising, and also received high marks for its photography, advertising content, advertising design and overall presentation. Mercury editor David Willberg was a finalist in two categories. He was second for the best recreation story for his article on former Estevan resident Bert Ter Hart, who spent 267 days at
sea in 2019 and 2020 on a solo journey of the world. He became the first person from North America, and just the fifth person ever, to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation around the world via the five great capes, using only celestial navigation. Willberg also finished third in the Best Health/Healthcare Story category for his article on the experiences of Estevan resident Katie Bell, a nurse who worked at a busy hospital in Boston early during the COVID-19 pandemic last spring.
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Souris Valley Theatre is to offer a rich acting camp program for youths this summer By Ana Bykhovskaia Summer is just around the corner, which means that the Souris Valley Theatre board is getting ready for the season. They still won't be able to have a traditional theatre season due to pandemic restrictions, but after a one-year break, they are bringing back their summer camps. "We're really excited this year to be returning our summer theatre camp to the Souris Valley Theater," said theatre board president Robert Godfrey. Last year, due to the pandemic, the Souris Valley Theatre wasn't able to have either a theatre season or camps. This time with restrictions easing up, the board was able to go ahead with the camps. "This year, while we won't be having our traditional theatre entertainment, we are excited to be having our theatre camp back, and to be having the youth out learning from theatre professionals and learning from theatre students more about professional acting and professional theatre in all forms, including the work behind the scenes, backstage, costuming, design, lighting, and all of those pieces of the theatre experience we have
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After a one-year break due to the pandemic, the Souris Valley Theatre is happy to offer four acting camps this summer. File photo we're going to be offering an Improv camp. This is for ages six to 16," said Godfrey. "We had a lot of people ask for this type of programming in the past. And so we were really excited that we could bring that this year." He added that when the board was planning the new season, they specifically focused on something they could offer to their students, while also keeping in mind their families. And they decided that it was a great time to introduce the long-planned improvization program. "We figured what better
them learn in our program," Godfrey said. The theatre will have four camps this summer, which is one more than they've had in the past. The Act I camp will take place July 5-9 and it is for children ages six to eight. The Act II camp is slated for July 12-16 and is designed for kids ages nine to 12. The Act III camp is going to have participants ages 1016 and will take place on July 19-30. Aug. 3-6 will see a new addition to the Souris Valley Theatre camp program. "What we have as a new offering this year, which we haven't had in the past, is
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Maureen Ulrich," Godfrey said. "She has played a huge role in the success of the Souris Valley Theatre. She is a past-president of the theatre. And we're excited to be working with her, as we have for all of the years of our theatre camps since inception, on the actual play that we'll be working on this year. And she provides a lot of help to our instructors, in helping them put together the show and giving them a lot of that knowledge as well." The registration for the summer camps will be opening soon. For the latest updates and for a link to the registration form, check the Souris Valley Theatre's social media pages. "We are doing online registration. So it's very easy. You'll just follow the link and find the online registration form that will ask for the information about your child. And once you're finished, submit that, and we'll have a link to all of your information. And we'll send a confirmation back just to let you know that we've received it and confirming the date that will have your child with us. So it's a really easy process," Godfrey explained. The theatre puts the safety of their performers and patrons first. Like other theatres across Canada, the Souris Valley Theatre won't have professional programming for the second consecutive year due to COVID-19,
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time to bring in some more programming and provide opportunities for families to have that avenue to do something this summer. And that was really important to our board, when we were making the decision whether or not to have camps, we put a lot of consideration into making sure that we can provide something for both our students and their families so that they have something exciting to do, something to look forward to this summer, and something that they could do, have a lot of fun and get to learn something that we think is really awesome," Godfrey said. The board is wrapping up the hiring process for the camp instructors. The instructors will start right away with developing a program and planning for all four camps. "Typically when we do hire, we always get students that are in university to lead these courses. We're looking for people that have some type of connection to theatre and dramatic art performances. And we're excited because we have had some people that check those boxes, and we're looking forward to having those people in place," Godfrey shared. Local play writer and author Maureen Ulrich of Lampman will once again be helping with drama camps. "We're really excited once again to be working alongside the local author,
but Godfrey said that this mandated break allowed them to do a lot of work in the theatre. "We are very busy this summer. We'll be taking on a number of capital improvements and working on bringing our facility into tip-top shape for 2022," Godfrey said. He added that they're working with theatre consultants to help them further define what their programming will look like in the future. They also want to make sure that when they do return after two years off, they have incredible, better than ever shows, as Godfrey put it, for everyone to see and that their facility is in the best shape. "We're working on improvements that will enhance the entire performance and also how comfortable people are in the show. While we're not having our regular programming, we want to focus on growing and getting better, and ensuring that our program can be successful for many years to come … And when we return, I can only guarantee to everyone that it'll be not just as good, but it'll be better than what we've had in the beginning," Godfrey promised. He encouraged anyone who has any ideas or things that they're looking for from the Souris Valley Theatre, to reach out to the board. "There's a lot of interest from our board to have our community's input on these changes. And also if anyone is looking to help our theatre in more ways, we're always looking for new board members and fresh perspectives to come on our board and help us make these decisions and put on the programming when we return," Godfrey said. He also thanked the community for the support the theatre has been receiving throughout the years. "Just a big thank you to everyone who has supported our theatre in the past and supports us through this year. And we can't wait to get back to performing once again in 2022."
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Parent group seeks removal of masks in schools A couple of parents backed by a cadre of about four dozen online supporters made an impassioned plea to the South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s board members to eliminate the current mask mandate. The mandate was initiated when it was decided it was reasonably safe to send students back to classrooms this past September, as long as a number of health and safety protocols were being adhered to for their protection. In fact, the first of two presenters to the board on May 19, Jenn Deglau, referred to the medical styled masking as “ inhumane,” while reciting from a series of articles that stipulated there was little evidence of the mask routines actually working and that “kids as super spreaders of the virus, is a myth.” Masks, she insisted, are generally ineffective since
COVID virus particles are so small they can easily transfer through a typical mask. Deglau questioned why it was logical to allow children to take the masks off to eat or engage in some settings, but they had to be worn in the classrooms. She asked if the school division had communicated with public health officials and also asked how children could be expected to learn as they develop fuzziness and dizziness through the course of the school day. “My son’s mask is wet at the end of the day. It’s a horrible mask mandate and who will say enough is enough?” Deglau said there are extreme sides being taken in the masking mandate but felt “the truth is found in the middle,” and she doesn’t want to see children undergoing unnecessary anxiety, depression or eating disorders. “How many kids are
suffering in silence?” she asked. With summer weather now upon them, she said she feared such things as heat exhaustion and the fear mongering had to stop. “ Pa r e n t s h a v e h a d enough,” she said. She referred to the mechanics of the body that requires cooling down properly after exercising in heat and questioned the validity of wearing masks in an outdoor situation. “At some point we have to use common sense. Masks come off when siblings play together for an example. Masks were never a viable solution but rather a social manipulation, and I do not consent to my children wearing masks and we need data from the school division and public health,” she said, regarding mask mandates. Emily Gillies was the second presenter on the same topic and said she agreed
with Deglau’s appeal and added there were certain pressures being applied when it came to the mandate. She said hand sanitizers are not included in the public health orders and are viewed as a mere deterrent to healthy use for children. She said it could be considered child abuse since children return from school with raw and blistered hands. S he also noted that communication from schools and teachers should not be expressions of their personal opinions but rather neutral statements since personal statements come with great influence when it comes to teachers. There is a subconscious bias to be aware of, she said. Staff members needed to remain neutral and parents receive enough information through the media. She added that teachers needed to rescind any statements they made regarding per-
sonal opinions on the masking mandate. The policy in general, brought forth by administration and staff to enact the current policy, is in contravention of international statutes, Gillies said, including United Nations bioethics rulings and the International Health Organization along with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She said the school division held a lot of power and said she understood some employees of the division may be in agreement with the group she was representing, but they feared to speak up fearing job security. “I have heard the response that ‘I have to do this to keep my job,’” she said. “Maybe put your need of a salary on hold and check in as a parent or a person,” she added. “You have university training on children’s health and safety so ask yourself, should you person-
ally be upholding or enforcing policies you believe are wrong?” Gillies concluded by saying “parents want an end to this mandate. I hope you hear our voice to make change in the school division.” In response, chairwoman Audrey Trombley stated the board would call an incamera session to deliberate the request and added that the entire issue of masks in schools has taken Cornerstone “into unchartered waters,” and there was a desire by all to “come out on the other side of the pandemic safely.” All parties were wishing for and expecting a return to normalcy in the not too distant future, she said. Following the presentation, the board issued a statement that a response to the parent delegation would be forthcoming within the next couple of weeks.
New EPS officer has enjoyed time in Estevan The newest addition to the Estevan Police Service (EPS) has enjoyed her time in the community thus far. Const. Katelynn Ruthven, speaking at the May 20 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners, said she has been getting to know the community, and has found the experience to be great. She applied to be part of the EPS, and then went through the provincial police college. Acting EPS Chief Warren Morrical said Ruthven likely had the strangest police college experience out of anyone he knows, thanks to the modified duration. “ They truncated it a month prior to the normal schedule,” said Morrical. “They had a whole bunch of stuff they had to get done in a short period of time.” Students in the college had to approach it like a bubble, with classmates, several instructors and others coming together in a small unit. With less time at police college, there’s a greater onus on field training for Ruthven. Const. Michelle Beaulieu will be responsible for the field training. “Katelynn was above expectations when it comes to her positive attitude and interactions with her colleagues, and I can suggest to you that academically she is consistently at or above her class average in all aspects. In her last block, in the last month or so she was in class, she scored above expectation or superior in effective communications, professionalism, ethics and integrity,” said Morrical.
• • • The EPS handled 752 calls for service and incidents last month, up from 494 in April 2020. In the first four months of the year, they had 2,791 calls, compared to 2,686 through April 30, 2020. As far as the crime statistics are concerned for the first four months of the year, the EPS had 37 crimes against the person, compared to 63 in 2020; 70 crimes against property versus 118 the previous year; 17 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) charges, down from 23 in 2020; one charge under the Cannabis Act versus none in 2020; and 37 Criminal Code traffic violations, down from 41 a year earlier. As for April itself, the number of crimes against the person dropped from 23 in 2020 to 12 in 2021, crimes against property dropped from 23 to 17, CDSA charges slid from seven to four, but Criminal Code traffic charges increased from nine to 15. Morrical noted that two of the three trafficking charges were for the same person in different incidents. The latter trafficking charge stemmed from an incident on Isabelle Street in which a vehicle collided with several parked vehicles. The number of charges for impairment by drug increased from three in April 2020 to six last month, which Morrical said is due to an improved ability to detect those under the influence of certain drugs. • • • The EPS received 16 calls for possible COV-
ID-related infractions last month, with one resulting in a charge. So far this year, they have received 54 calls, with five charges under the Public Health Act for failing to wear a mask in a public place as required and one charge for holding a gathering in a residence. • • • Special Constable Morgan Prentice, who is the bylaw enforcement officer, handled 134 occurrences last
month. Unkempt properties accounted for the largest share of activity with 58 inspections. She also had 24 parking violations and 16 animal calls. • • • Mayor Roy Ludwig, who chairs the police board, said one resident would like to see speed humps installed on Thorn Crescent and Grundeen Crescent. Both roads are very narrow, with space for just one vehicle
to get through if there is a vehicle parked on each side of the route. Speed humps are already in place on Wellock Road.
The other concern raised was people who speed on back alleys on Princess Street. The speed limit on back alleys in Estevan is 20 kiloemtres per hour.
City of Estevan Office of the Mayor Phone: (306) 634-1802 Fax: (306) 634-9790
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PROCLAMATION United Way Estevan Day of Caring
L-R: Mayor Roy Ludwig, Sheila Guenther (Executive Director, United Way Estevan), Danny Ewen (President, United Way Estevan) WHEREAS
United Way Estevan strives to positively impact the quality of life in our community through giving and
WHEREAS teams of
United Way Estevan’s Day of Caring organizes volunteers to make significant positive impact in our community, assisting local individuals and non-profit agencies to complete projects in the spirit of caring.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED: “1, Roy Ludwig, Mayor of the City of Estevan in the Province of Saskatchewan do hereby proclaim May 26th, 2021 as United Way Estevan Day of Caring: and urge all citizens of Estevan to recognize and support the goals and objectives of United Way Estevan.
Roy Ludwig, Mayor
Estevan Innovation Council Vision: To be a community where people, families, work, live and play using advanced technology, while enjoying the rural lifestyle.
Mission: To inspire, support and sustain the innovation eco-system of Estevan. To create a future of economic diversity, opportunity, attraction and growth for our community.
Values: Curiosity:
Innovation begins with curiosity. We try. We learn. We grow. We try again. Collaboration: We encourage openness, diversity, and sharing. We are welcoming. Communication: We believe in engaging our community and sharing. Connection: We believe in the power of partnerships, networks, and community. DOING BUSINESS IN ESTEVAN
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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
A Message From The Mayor Swimming Lessons Registration is opening June 1st, please sign up on line, by phone or in person. Lessons will be starting July 4, 2021.
Pursuant to subsection 187 (1) of The Cities Act, notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the City of Estevan for the year of 2021, has been prepared and is open to inspection April 21, 2021 to June 21, 2021.
Notice of Assessment
The Assessment Roll can be viewed on our website www.estevan.ca, as well assessment information can also be obtained by calling 306-634-1811. Please note due to the current situation regarding COVID-19 the assessment roll will not be available for viewing at City Hall at this time. Any person having an interest in any property who wishes to appeal the assessment of that property to the Board of Revision is required to file a notice of appeal in writing to: The Secretary of the Board of Revision, 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0W7 on or before the 21st day of June, 2021. Dated this 21st day of April, 2021 Trina Sieben Tax Assessor
2021 Storm and Sanitary sewer main jetting Beginning Monday, June 14, 2021 and continuing to Friday, August 27, 2021, the Public Works Service Division will be carrying out a Domestic Sewer Main Flushing/Jetting Program between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the occasional carry over to 6:00 p.m. During the periods of jetting, residents are advised to securely cap basement floor drains. 2021 Program Area will encompass all streets North of 6th Street, and East of Souris Ave within City limits including: Hwy 47 Service Road Drader Street Princess Street Edward Street Albert Street Isabelle Street Eva Street Henry Street George Street King Street Smith Street Souris Avenue Victoria Avenue Alexandra Avenue Arthur Avenue Dufferin Avenue
TAKE A
LEAD
IN GOOD PET OWNERSHIP
Remember not everyone loves Buster.
ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE - 2021
SCHEDULE SPIN
6:10 am - 6:50 am *NOT ON MAY 24
SPIN
9:10 am - 9:50 am
SPIN
10:10 am - 10:50 am
GRIT
9:10 am - 9:50 am *NOT ON MAY 24
EASY STRETCH
10:10 am - 10:50 am
Sunday
Tuesday
Wednesday
GRIT
SPIN
6:10 am - 6:50 am
6:10 am - 6:50 am
SPIN
CORE BARRE ABOVE
9:10 am - 9:50 am
SPIN
9:10 am - 10:15 am
10:15 am - 10:55 am
*NOT ON MAY 24
CORE BARRE ABOVE
10:30 am - 11:10 am
Thursday
SPIN
6:10 am - 6:50 am
SPIN
9:10 am - 9:50 am
SPIN
10:15 am - 10:55 am
Friday
PROGRAM RENTALS
GRIT
GRIT
9:10 am - 9:50 am
SPIN
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
SSES NO CLA 4TH MAY 2
*NOT ON MAY 24
FAMILY SWIM
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
PUBLIC SWIM
3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
PROGRAM RENTALS
SPIN
5:30 pm - 6:10 pm
SPIN
RED CROSS LESSONS
5:30 pm - 6:10 pm
SPIN
LANE SWIM
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm * 1pm START NO MAY 24
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm * ONLY MAY 24
SURF & SWIM 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm * NO MAY 24
PROGRAM RENTALS
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
6:00 am - 10:00 pm
LANE SWIM
LANE SWIM
6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am
AIS
6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am
AIS
6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am
AIS
9:00 am - 9:45 am
9:00 am - 9:45 am
PRESCHOOL LESSONS
SURF & SWIM
PRESCHOOL LESSONS
SURF & SWIM
LANE SWIM
LANE SWIM
LANE SWIM 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
10:00 am - 11:00 am
LANE SWIM 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
AIS
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Saturday
PROGRAM RENTALS
10:00 am - 11:00 am
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
1:00 pm - 1:45 p m
SURF & SWIM SURF & SWIM
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
AIS
1:00 pm - 1:45 p m 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
SURF & SWIM SURF & SWIM
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
LANE SWIM 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
PUBLIC SWIM
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
DEEP WATER POWER 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm
5:30 pm - 6:10 pm
OPEN
6:00 am - 9:00 pm
OPEN
6:00 am - 10:00 pm
OPEN
6:00 am - 9:00 pm
OPEN
6:00 am - 9:00 pm
OPEN
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Must be 16 years of age to participate in fitness classes and have a completed Par-Q Questionnaire prior to participating in classes. The questionnaire lets our fitness instructors determine abilities and needs of each participant.
PLEASE NOTE - Due to the pandemic-related protocols fitness registration has moved to a PRE-Registration process. Users must pre-register online or by calling the
PROGRAM RENTALS
PROGRAM RENTALS
PROGRAM RENTALS
PROGRAM RENTALS
RED CROSS LESSONS
RED CROSS LESSONS
RED CROSS LESSONS
RED CROSS LESSONS
LANE SWIM
LANE SWIM
LANE SWIM
PUBLIC SWIM
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
LANE SWIM 9:00 pm - 9:45 pm * NO MAY 24
WEIGHT ROOM OPEN
LANE SWIM
9:00 am - 9:45 am
PUBLIC SWIM
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
SPIN
6:30 pm - 7:10 pm
OPEN
Friday
EVENING
*NOT ON MAY 24
5:10 pm - 6:10 pm
AIS
Thursday
9:00 am - 9:45 am
11:00 am - 11:45 am
LANE SWIM
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm
8:00 pm - 8:45 pm
6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am
Wednesday
AFTERNOON
SPIN
SPIN / CORE
LANE SWIM
AIS
9:10 am - 9:50 am
EASY STRETCH
AFTERNOON / EVENING
6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am * NO MAY 24
Tuesday
9:00 am - 9:45 am * NO MAY 24
10:10 am - 10:50 am
GRIT
Monday
LANE SWIM
Saturday
6:10 am - 6:50 am
11:10 am - 11:50 am
DEEP WATER POWER
AQUATIC SCHEDULE
ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE - 2021
EFFECTIVE - May 10 - June 27, 2021
EFFECTIVE - May 10 - June 30, 2021 Monday
Brooks Road Clasky Drive Abbott Bay Frehlick Bay Symons Bay Rooney Road Ross Court Wahba Court Seregella Place Sillers Street Matchett Bay Kensington Avenue Nesbitt Drive Bourquin Road
www.estevan.ca
FITNESS Sunday
Bannatyne Avenue Pine Avenue Poplar Bay Spruce Drive Phillips Place Garner Place Edward Place Garrish Place Maple Bay Willow Bay Yardley Place Hastings Place Milne Crescent Holmgren Bay Petterson Drive Heritage Drive
Don’t see what you are looking for? Do you have an idea for something we should try? Please contact the Program Manager at 306-634-1880. We would love to hear your ideas!
8:15 pm - 9:00 pm
?
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
9:00 pm - 9:45 pm
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
8:15 pm - 9:00 pm
Schedule Subject to Change. Please visit www.estevan.ca for updates on closures and cancellations. Proper footwear and exercise wear is required to participate. Please note during school breaks, (Teachers convention, Spring Break and Christmas Break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and arena schedules may vary. Please visit our live schedules at www.estevan.ca
PROGRAM RENTALS
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
WIBIT PUBLIC SWIM 7:15 pm - 8:45 pm
ENERGY A9
• Gasoline • Diesel • Bulk Fuel • Propane • Fuel Tanks & Pumps • Lubricants & Grease • Lubrication Storage & Equipment Solutions • DEF • Solvent www.girardbulk.ca • (306) 637-4370
| Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | estevanmercury.ca
College partners with Sask. Heavy Construction on student awards for new equipment program Students enrolled in the heavy equipment operator (HEO) program through Southeast College will now have an additional funding opportunity available to them. Southeast College has partnered with the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) to provide scholarships directed at students enrolled in the HEO program. The Southeast College is currently offering three intake cohorts of the HEO program with four cohorts planned in each of 2022 and 2023. Each cohort is 12 weeks in length, with the first six weeks spent in classroom and the last six weeks spent in a field experience environment. Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship during the first six weeks of their program, and the successful recipient
will receive their scholarship during the ninth week of their program. The scholarship is valued at $2,000 and will be presented to one student in each intake cohort. Awarding of the scholarship will be based on factors including academic achievement and student financial need. Southeast College scholarships and bursaries are made possible by donations from community organizations, businesses and individuals, as well as various fundraising events such as the college’s Swing for Scholarships Golf Tournaments, which is slated to happen at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course on June 24. Eligible funds are matched by the Ministry of Advanced Education through the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship (SIOS) program.
The Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association has shown its support for the Southeast College’s heavy equipment operator program. Photo submitted
Public works crews kept busy with clean-up campaign Employees with the public works division with the City of Estevan have been busy with the traditional spring activities, and were recently part of the Operation Clean Sweep Clean-up Campaign. Norm Mack, the manager of roads and drainage for public works, said the city had an early spring this year,
allowing the city to get the street sweepers out. “That enabled us to get crack filling sooner and patching,” said Mack. “Right now, we have all of our lane lines painted, yellows and whites.” Crews recently finished painting in parking lots. “The painting is continuous all summer,” said Mack. “We’ll be doing crosswalks and
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curbs. Also, we just completed dust control for the spring season.” Due to the lack of precipitation in the Estevan area, the city needed to fast-track the dust control. Typically it would be completed at the end of May, but they decided to do it in early May instead. “That settled the dust on the gravel roads throughout the city,” said Mack. City employees were part of Operation Clean Sweep in mid-May. They could be seen picking up garbage at the city’s entrances and industrial areas on May 10, and then they cleaned up garbage from the greenspaces the following day. Yard refuse was picked up from properties in north Estevan on May 12 and south Estevan the following day. A free landfill weekend was held from May 14-16 for Estevan residents. Mack said they picked up “truckloads and truckloads and truckloads” of garbage. Also on the public works’ task list are the asphalt patches
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When the reconstruction of Fourth Street from Kensington Avenue to Souris Avenue South occurs, the public works crews will be busy, especially with the water main replacement project in the 800 and 900 blocks of Fourth Street – hauling clay, backfilling and getting the street back in shape so it can be paved once again. The city was so dry earlier this month and moisture was needed to help with the appearance of greenspaces and people’s yards, and to reduce dust.
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deal of money in maintenance on streets. The pothole situation wasn’t terrible this year.” The sidewalk renewal program will resume this year as well, and contractors are busy replacing crumbling sidewalks in the worst-off areas. Most of them are in southeast Estevan this year. The city has $125,000 for sidewalk renewal in its budget. “It’s pieces and sections throughout the city that have crumbled. Some of these sidewalks are probably 70-80 years old,” he said.
GRAIN STORAGE & FARM EQUIPMENT
CRANES & TRUCKING
All types of hoisting-tip heights to 350’ 15 – 245 Ton Mobile & R.T. Cranes 27 – 45 Ton Pickers 15 Ton Carrydeck - 3.2 Ton Mini Crawler Tractor Trailer Units Pile Drivers, Telehandler Office Trailer Rentals Manbaskets & Concrete Buckets
in areas affected by water main repairs the past few months. Cement and paving contractors have been out. “Any gravel patches that you see throughout the city will be paved in time, but we got a good jump on it, so quite a few have been completed already with repairing sidewalks and pavement that had been dug up for water and sewer breaks.” Between 30 and 40 patches will be completed this year. It’s similar to a normal year, he said, despite the rash of water breaks that occurred during the extremely cold temperatures in mid-February. The roads held up well during the winter months. There was below average snowfall this year, so the city didn’t have to spend much on snow removal. When it did, the streets were cleared using city staff and without requiring overtime. “If you keep that moisture and snow off the streets, from melting down into the cracks, you save yourself a great
07A323 Mosaic......................... Potash.........................5-16-19-32 11D220 Mosaic......................... Potash.........................12-9-19-32 146034 Horizon Drilling...... Allied Energy.......................7-17-6-14
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186377 Stampede Drilling....... Astra Oil..........................13-36-4-6 179894 Precision Drilling... Crescent Point.......................4-28-7-5 178381 Stampede Drilling....... Astra Oil............................5-16-6-7 146034 Horizon Drilling...... Allied Energy.......................7-17-6-14 171757 Horizon Drilling...... Allied Energy.........................5-1-6-14
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You Bend ‘Em, We Mend ‘Em Lance Mack & Yansey Hagel
1010 6th Street, Estevan Phone: 306-634-6060
A10 May 26, 2021
www.estevanmercury.ca
Government announces funding for rural roads
CLUES ACROSS 1. “Be back later” 4. Zhou dynasty state 7. Mineral 8. __ and gagged 10. One of Lebron’s former sidekicks 12. Ivory Coast village 13. Caffeinated beverage 14. Without armies 16. Intention 17. Sulfuric and citric are two 19. Supplement with difficulty 20. & & & 21. George and Weezie 25. Liquefied petroleum gas 26. Immortal act 27. Ancient Greek sophist 29. Aids digestion 30. Comedy routine 31. Actress Thurman 32. Adult beverage 39. Amounts of time 41. An awkward stupid person 42. __ Walker, “The Color Purple” 43. Covers babies’ chests 44. Parts per billion (abbr.) 45. Ottoman military title 46. More skilled 48. Natives to New Mexico 49. Indigent 50. Illuminated 51. Very fast airplane 52. Devoid of cordiality
CLUES DOWN 1. Comedian Goldthwait 2. Worn by women 3. “Naked Gun” actor Nielsen 4. Processes fatty acids 5. Mortals 6. Not invited 8. Show__: entertainment 9. Darkens 11. Pilgrimage 14. Danish krone 15. Savior 18. Midway between south and east 19. Electroencephalograph 20. Henry’s wife Boleyn 22. Hairstyle 23. Frames per second 24. Sinclair novel 27. Basics 28. A person’s life story 29. Luxury automaker 31. Ultrahigh frequency 32. Island and antelope are two 33. Taxi 34. Farm state 35. Fence part 36. Rwandan capital 37. Onomatopoeic 38. In a state of turbulence 39. Abba __, Israeli politician 40. Flowering plants 44. Inquire too closely 47. Sun up in New York
A $37 million partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan and the rural municipalities (RMs) of Souris Valley, Lake Alma, Surprise Valley and Laurier has resulted in upgrades to Highways 18 and 28. As part of the agreement, the highways are being upgraded from thin membrane surface to granularstrengthened asphalt concrete, which will make them safer, smoother and more durable before repaving is needed. "This $37 million investment is a great step in growing our rural infrastructure and partnerships with rural municipalities," Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said. "I would like to thank the partnership committee for the work they have done with the ministry on this project, as this will increase safety for motorists, create jobs and contribute to our province's economic recovery." In 2020-21, the Ministry of Highways entered into six other partnerships with rural municipalities. Partnership investments support local economies by building transportation assets that last, setting the stage for continued growth once the pandemic is over. These collaborations address shared challenges and allocate limited resources more effectively, making communities better places to live and work. The work is being done in three phases: • Phase one saw work on the Highway 35 junction to Lake Alma, which was completed in 2020; • Phase two will see work on Highway 18 from Lake Alma to Highway 6, with expected completion by late fall of 2021; and • Phase three will see work done on Highway 28 from Lake Alma to Radville and is expected to be completed by fall 2022. These phases will see more than 95 kilometres of highway improved by the end
Highway 18 west of Oungre was resurfaced, thanks to a partnership between four rural municipalities and the provincial government. File photo of next year. The four RMs are all making significant financial contributions to the project and working with the ministry through the planning cycle. The RM partners are expected to contribute $7.4 million and include in-kind contributions such as providing aggregate material and waiving haul road costs. "Our RMs have worked very hard to plan for this project, bring it to the ministry's attention and make it a reality," said Glen Walkeden, the RM of Souris Valley Reeve and the partnership committee chairman. "This upgrade is a big expenditure for our municipalities and we appreciate the ministry's willingness to work with us to improve these highways that are so important to our region. “This highway project
has not only made the municipal representatives from our four RMs more aware of what can be done by working together, but also the ratepayers realize the importance of this as well. After eight years of working toward this goal, it's nice to know that once these three projects are completed, all people travelling on these highways will be able to do so more safely. “Emergency vehicles will have a better response time while travelling on these highways, which is very important to rural communities such as ours." Motorists are reminded to exercise caution when dr iving in constr uction zones. Please follow posted speed limits and be aware of workers present. Drivers are also advised to consider alternate routes to reduce the impact of potential delays. 21054MM1 21055MM0
BUSINESS Certificate Program The Business Certificate Program at Southeast College provides a wellrounded foundation in core business concepts including accounting, finance, management, computers, marketing, human resources, and more. This one year certificate program offers students a number of opportunities upon completion. Students may choose to enter the workforce with their completed certificate, they may choose to continue with entry into a second year diploma discipline of their choice at a Saskatchewan Polytechnic Campus, or they may choose to transfer their certificate to the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina or other post secondary institutions.
Admission Requirements
Grade 12 or successful completion of three (3) courses of at least 3 credit units each from this Business certificate program or the Business diploma (Year 1) program. English Language Requirement Apply for
Fall 2021 Program Information
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Location: Weyburn Program Dates: September 7, 2021 – April 29, 2022 Tuition: $4050 (Estimated tuition price based on 2020, subject to change without notice) Materials: $1800 (Estimated prices, subject to change without notice)
NEW! Southeast College is awarding an Entrance Award of $700 to each student in our Fall 2021 Business Certificate program. Click here for more info. For more detailed information, please call our toll free registration line at 1-866-999-7372 or email registration@southeastcollege.org
2105 2105
SENIOR LIVING A11 | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | estevanmercury.ca
Dunlop Hearing helping people take care of their ears Landon Woodruff is a big believer in the importance of hearing for people’s quality of life. And he knows from experience – he has had hearing loss since he was a baby. Woodruff is the owner of Dunlop Hearing, which has locations in Estevan and Weyburn. The Estevan location is at 1175 Nicholson Road, across from St. Joseph’s Hospital. His parents found out about his hearing loss when he was a baby, when they were building a home, and he didn’t wake up during the construction. “I very quickly got tested, and found out that I had some hearing loss, and ended up going through the process of getting put into a habilitation hospital when I was very young,” said Woodruff, who is a certified hearing practitioner. When he was 2 1/2 years old, he went to a school to learn sign language and how to speak properly. He has had hearing aids his entire life. Woodruff purchased Dunlop Hearing in 2015. “I ended up getting in touch with the people that were running this business back in 2012, and they met me at a conference, a hearing aid launch conference. I was partnered up with them, and they were impressed with how quickly I was dealing with the software and learning the hearing aids,” he said. They offered him the business, but the timing wasn’t right. A few months later, they approached him, and he agreed to purchase it. Woodruff moved from Edmonton to Estevan to take over the company. “I have a lot of passion for what I do because of my personal history with hearing loss and a hearing handicap, essentially, and I just like
to try to get people to the same kind of level of satisfaction with their hearing aids that I’ve been able to experience and enjoy.” Moving to Estevan has been a terrific experience. He gets along well with patients, and he likes to be involved in the community or to take in events happening in Estevan. Woodruff believes it’s beneficial to be coming from a position of experience. “Anything that I have found that I’m going through in my life, whether it be trials or struggles or anything like that, if I can talk to somebody who knows and who’s been there and who’s dealt with that, it makes a huge difference for me personally,” he said. “When I’m dealing with those people and they find out they have that hearing loss, it’s almost like that extra layer of trust and security where they think ‘Okay, he gets what I’m going through. He understands what I’m dealing with.’” Dunlop Hearing is a fullservice hearing clinic offering a wide variety of services to fit hearing needs. Whether a client needs a hearing test, has a doctor’s referral or is looking to be fitted with customized hearing solutions, they meet people’s needs. Most of the clients that he deals with are those who have hearing loss from noise exposure and work history, or due to aging. He believes those 65 and up account for 75-80 per cent of the clientele. “I do have some younger folks who are probably about the same age as me, plus or minus 10 years, that I deal with, but for the most part, it’s 65 and up,” said Woodruff. As for work-induced hearing loss, there are people in the area who work at the mines, in con-
struction and with various trades, and they’re the ones that Woodruff wants to see look after their hearing. They can provide custom and electronic hearing protection as opposed to conventional ear plugs. May is Speech and Hearing Month. Dunlop Hearing has done things in the past during the month, mostly related to advertising. He believes it’s important to let people know that if they have hearing loss, they should get it checked out and treated sooner rather than later. “It’s going to be a lot easier for your brain to adjust to hearing aids the younger you are,” said Woodruff. Clients are typically very appreciative of the efforts of Woodruff and the staff. If there are issues, he tries to alleviate those concerns. He won’t sell a hearing aid or another product he doesn’t believe in, and the ones he sells are those he wears or has personal or professional experience with. “I’ve had a lot of people come back and say ‘I was a little hesitant about the hearing aids, but you put these ones on me, and holy cow, what a difference it’s made in my life, what a difference it’s made in how I’m hearing things,’” said Woodruff. The technology for hearing aids has come a long ways since he purchased the company. Five years ago, hearing aids were just breaking into the Bluetooth market, with aids connecting to phones. “Previous to that, there were all these accessories that you’d have to get in order to MacGyver things to make them work, but now it’s so seamless the things that you can do,” said Woodruff. There’s one hearing aid in which if you double tap it, it will open Siri, Alexa or a similar program. The user can talk to the app to
Dunlop Hearing is located on Nicholson Road in west Estevan. Photo submitted
Your Ears Deserve An Audiologist
Locally owned & operated
Hearing Tests Hearing Aids Ear Wax Removal Hearing Aid Repairs
Industrial Testing Hearing Protection Batteries
#5 - 418 Kensington Avenue, Estevan, SK (Across from Walmart) Jacquie Mvula M.S., R. Aud. (306) 636-EARS (3277) ∙ www.suncountryhearing.com Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 4:00 • Walk-Ins & Same-Day Appointments Welcome
OrlOwski law Office PrOfessiOnal cOrP. Stephen J. Orlowski, B.Ed., LL.B.
Ready to help you with their expertise for all your legal needs 1215 - 5th Street, Estevan Phone: 306-634-3353 • Fax: 306-634-7714 • orlowski.law@sasktel.net Branch offices at:
Arcola - Arcola Agencies Bldg. Wednesday A.M. Phone: 306-455-2277
Redvers - Carlsen Bldg. Wednesday P.M. Phone: 306-452-3377
Carnduff - Carnduff Agencies Bldg. Thursday P.M. Phone: 306-482-4077
Landon Woodruff with Dunlop Hearing is a hearing aid practitioner who looks forward to seeing the clients at Dunlop Hearing. Photo submitted call or text somebody, or play music. Other hearing aids have accelerometers in them so that if a person falls while wearing the aid, it will detect the fall and call somebody. “There are so many different technological advances in hearing aids that can make a difference in people’s lives,” said Woodruff. Woodruff compares it to cell phones, where people now have their phone, whereas they used to have a CD player, phone, camera,
calculator and other devices. Makers of hearing aids are trying to find things to integrate into their devices so they’re more user friendly and more advantageous for those using them. He urges people to have hearing protection when around loud noises, or when they know they’ll be in noisy situations. “God only gave us one set of ears, and the replacement equipment is never as good as the original piece of equipment,” said Woodruff.
Dunlop Hearing has a variety of hearing aids, such as these Resound One rechargeable hearing aids in the charger case.
Trinity Tower has been proudly serving the community of Estevan by providing a friendly, senior living community for over 30 years!
Trinity Tower
Senior Living Community
Now Available: • Two bedroom and one bedroom and den life lease with guaranteed buy-back • Government subsidized rentals
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HENDERS DRUGS 1220 4th Street, Estevan 306-634-3666 Mon. - Fri. 9am-9pm Sat. 9am-6pm Sun. & Holidays 12pm-4pm
A12 May 26, 2021
www.estevanmercury.ca
304 ABBOTT BAY, ESTEVAN
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3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 941 sqft
4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1217 sqft
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103 306 PETTERSON DRIVE, ESTEVAN
106 306 PERKINS STREET, ESTEVAN
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310 ANTRIM STREET, NORTH PORTAL
410 ALDRIDGE STREET, BIENFAIT
520 1ST STREET, NORTH PORTAL
3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms 1058 sqft
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209 3RD AVENUE E, LAMPMAN
106 TORBAY STREET, TORQUAY
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3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1152 sqft
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102 ABBOTT AVENUE, NORTH PORTAL
510 EISENHOWER STREET, MIDALE
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A14 May 26, 2021
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STEM festival at St. Mary’s a chance to learn St. Mary’s School celebrated the recent Catholic Education Week by having a festival for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for their students. Agnes Garrioch, who is the Grade 8 teacher and technology integration coach at St. Mary’s, said the festival highlighted STEM programming at the school. “Every class had a different learning pathway that revolved around STEM,” said Garrioch. “Attached to that storybook, students asked some sort of problem, or had some sort of challenge. Through that challenge or question that was asked, they had a maker or innovative experience, and they went through the engineering design process.” From there they had a coding or robotics extension. “Every class did that, so there was a variety of different themes. Some were focused on bio-making or bio-mimicry.” Students completed the following projects: • Pre-kindergarten: Used code-a-pillars to travel through a city, while learning about structures of the world. • Kindergarten: Experimented by building houses out of straw, Lego and wood, and saw which house could withstand the huffs and puffs of a wolf. They also used
towels using cabbage. In a typical science fair, Garrioch said the students only show the product at the end to the school community. But for the STEM festival, they posted thinking, experience and pathways on SeeSaw, which is the learning journal used by every classroom. “Families were able to have a peak inside the students’ learning for throughout this whole week,” said Garrioch. Students are developing their six Cs of deep learning: critical thinking, communication skills, character, citizenship, collaboration and creativity through the activities in the festival. “They loved it, and it was great to highlight our STEM education that we do throughout the year at St. Mary’s,” said Garrioch. The students had so much fun, and they’re definitely developing strong capacity in coding or robotics, the more STEM education we have at St. Mary’s.” This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week was Nurturing Learning. St. Mary’s also had a Colours of Hope Day, in which students wrote messages of hope with sidewalk chalk all over their playground. They also had prayers every day, a livestreamed liturgy and they created a story walk in their school yard. Students made rosaries, and they continued with their virtual pal program that connects students with residents of Creighton Lodge.
Students from St. Mary’s School in Estevan worked on STEM projects to celebrate Catholic Education Week. Photo submitted 3-D doodler pens to design a building. • Grade 1: Had a STEM scavenger hunt while remote learning. They also created an obstacle course for their families to go through, and built and tested a Mars helicopter. • Grade 1/2: Learned about volcanoes, and actually created their own. They explored code-n-go mice to discuss how sometimes emo-
tions can feel like a volcano. Inspiration came from the book My Mouth is like a Volcano by Julia Cook. • Grade 2: Designed their own toy, and used coden-go mice with different platforms. • Grade 3: Learned how to use color codes to create a parade route for their Ozobots, and then held the parade. • Grades 3/4: Learned
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about constellations, color coded a path for their constellation, and then modelled a constellation with toothpicks and marshmallows. • Grade 4: L earned about bio-mimicr y and architectural design. They were inspired by animals and plants and designed a structure. • Grade 5: Built a bird's nest to catch an egg. They also used Scratch to make a character fly. • Grade 6: Used Edison robots, along with the Edcreate packs to design any of the following: the EdPrinter, EdCrane, EdRoboCla, Ed-
Digger or the EdTank. • Grade 7: Designed a railway crossing signal using Arduinos. • Grades 7/8: Used the micro bit to start creating a smart garden. They designed a soil moisture sensor with the micro bit, nails, and alligator clips. Students created code using Make Code. The micro bit provides a number code reading, or a sad or happy face to identify whether or not the plant needs to be watered or not. • Grade 8: Designed their own contactless delivery Sphero robot. They also used bio-making to tie-dye
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Taeghen Hack hopes to make a return appearance at NCAA water polo nationals Taeghen Hack hopes her first experience at the NCAA women’s water polo national championships won’t be her last. Hack, who spent years playing for the Estevan Sharks water polo program, is a first-year player with the Salem University Tigers program in Salem, West Virginia. They reached the national tournament for the first time in program history this year, but dropped a 9-8 decision to the Marist College Red Foxes. It was a play-in game, so the loss ended the Tigers season. Marist went on to lose to the eventual national champions, the University of Southern California Trojans, in the quarter-final round. Nationals were held May 14-16 at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The sting of losing to Marist didn’t sour the experience for Hack. “Seeing the entire setup, how professional it was, it was something I had never experienced before, even just playing at NCL (National
Taeghen Hack, front row, second from right, and her Salem University Tigers teammates were recently at the NCAA women’s water polo nationals. Photo submitted Championship League) back home, I had never experienced something like this before,” said Hack. The game against Marist was a nail-biter, as the Red Foxes scored the winner with six seconds remaining. The Red Foxes jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Tigers fought back. The
lead changed hands several times, and the Tigers had an 8-7 advantage at one point. “Only 10 teams get to go to this tournament out of the entire country, and to be one of them is an accomplishment, especially since the team has never gone there before,” said Hack. They played well, but
Hack sensed that Marist was a little hungrier. “I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of everything that we’ve done throughout the season, and also at NCAAs, I think it was really good for everyone to experience that, and we can only learn from this,” said Hack. Salem University quali-
fied by winning their conference. Hack thought she played well at nationals. The tournament was held in an outdoor pool, which was a first for her. The experience of being at nationals should give the Tigers a boost moving forward. “I think it’s going to give us a pretty good base of what we need to do to improve. Going into it, we only had three weeks to train before going to NCAAs, so I think even just experiencing this, and seeing all these amazing teams there and getting to see them play really shows the level that we need to step up to if we want to go to NCAAs and if we want to push further at NCAAs,” said Hack. The Tigers program has been working for the past three years to get to the NCAA level, and the fact that they advanced reflects how much work they put into it, and how far they can go. “For me as a player, I think that being there, seeing everything, seeing how different people play, it ’s
given me more knowledge as to what I need to do to get better,” said Hack. When she watched the final between the Trojans and UCLA, she saw how strong the athletes are. The Tigers were flown back home the day after the loss to the Red Foxes, but Hack watched the games online. Spectators were allowed to attend for the final. Every member of the Tigers squad is eligible to return next season. The team’s captain, who is a senior, has decided to return to complete her masters’ degree. “It’s going to help a lot,” said Hack. “It’s really nice to not lose any players and to be bringing in a lot of players as well. We can really grow our team and see everybody’s skills and where everybody fits in.” Hack hopes that they return to nationals next year, and the subsequent years, so that next year’s freshmen players can get the same experience she did. “I would love to keep going there and getting our name really out there and on the map,” said Hack.
Speedway preparing to open the 2021 season The Estevan Motor Speedway (EMS) is looking forward to the green flag waving on its 2021 season. The track will host its season opening program on Sunday night, starting at 6 p.m. The five classes that compete regularly – the slingshots, along with the IMCA modifieds, stock cars, sport mods and hobby stocks – will entertain fans that night. The speedway will be able to have 150 spectators present in its grandstand. People can also watch from inside their vehicles behind a fence in the paid parking area at the southwest corner of the track. Track president Aaron Turnbull said the speedway is looking forward to the upcoming season, and the drivers are excited to be back on the track. “It’s a long winter, so pretty much every year, I would think everybody’s pretty eager to get back out there,” said Turnbull. The track will be unable to attract drivers from the U.S. due to the ongoing closure of the Canada-U.S. border to non-essential traffic, and it’s also
going to be tough to have Manitoba drivers present. Manitoba currently has a 14-day quarantine in place for those who enter the province for nonessential reasons. A number of Manitoba drivers competed at the speedway for the first time last season. After the May 30 program, the remaining races will be doubleheaders on Fridays and Saturdays: June 11-12, July 2-3 and 16-17, and Aug. 6-7 and 27-28. Turnbull hopes they will be able to get drivers from elsewhere in the province. “The vast majority of our Saskatchewan drivers are from within a one-hour radius of here, but there is definitely the odd one that comes from a little further than that,” said Turnbull. He expects there will be an increase in local drivers this season, especially for the slingshots. “It’s really taken off,” he said. “There’s quite a few new ones. Some of them have replaced drivers that we
had last year in that class who have mostly stepped up into other classes.” The slingshot class is an entry level class with the intent of getting drivers into full-sized cars. Anywhere from 15-18 slingshot drivers are expected to compete each night. “That’s a good sign of things to come for the future of the speedway and racing in general,” said Turnbull. If the Canada-U.S. border does reopen, Turnbull said they could get more drivers from Williston, N.D. He’s also hopeful that the speedway will be able to have more than 150 fans present in their grandstand before the end of the season. Fans who do attend a race program will need to keep some things in mind. There will be food trucks operating on site, and the speedway likely won’t have a concession for the second straight year. “Last year we were doing that at the last minute, and it was a bit of a scramble, and this year we knew right from the hop that we weren’t
The Estevan Motor Speedway will host its season opener on May 30. File photo going to be opening our concession. We were going to be relying on food trucks again.” The food trucks that were present last season had excellent food. “We don’t really have any plans of opening the concession. That would be something that we wouldn’t want to rush into it, and it’s a lot to prepare. We would probably just plan
to open that back up in 2022.” The speedway has already had a number of events, including a work bee on May 1, the first-ever spring Enduro on May 8, and the test and tune practice session on May 15. The speedway also has some new board members this year, and they, like everyone else, are eager to see the season begin.
Pierson memorial tournament sold out quickly It didn’t take long for the inaugural Jay Pierson Memorial Golf Tournament to fill up. The tournament, organized by the Estevan Police Association (EPA), will be held on Aug. 7 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. Const. Jeremy Taman, who is among the organizers, said the tournament sold out in under 24 hours. “The response from the community and the other emergency services agencies has been phe-
nomenal, and we’re very impressed by the outreach and the support we have received,” said Taman. He admits the EPA was surprised with how quickly the 144 slots available were gobbled up. “That really does speak volumes about what he meant to the community and the type of person that he was, and the fact that the memorial is a dedication to him,” said Taman. Proceeds from the tournament will be directed to support those
with post-traumatic stress disorder, which Pierson was diagnosed with. He died of natural causes in March at the age of 49. Taman believes it was a natural to support PTSD. A specific organization has not been chosen to receive the tournament’s proceeds. “There are a lot that we can choose from, and that is something that will be decided closer to the date, and once we tally up how much we raise for the charity itself.”
While the tournament will have a lot of police officers, as well as other first responders, there will also be people from the community who really wanted to support the cause. The EPA has held golf tournaments in the past to raise funds for various organizations in the community. There will be a shotgun start at 1 p.m. the day of the tournament. A supper will be served as golfers come in at the end of their
round, but the way in which the supper is served will be dependent on where COVID-19 restrictions are at in early August. The team with the lowest score at the end of the Texas scramble tournament will be recognized, but Taman said the focus will be on fun. A wait list for the tournament has been started, with quite a few names on it already. If something is to change, the organizers will contact them.
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A16 May 26, 2021
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Mary’s Little Lamb’s Preschool 2021 Grad Mary’s Little Lambs celebrates pre-school grads Mary’s Little Lambs pre-school has been able to place the finishing touches on its 2020-21 year. The school’s spring concert and graduation ceremony was held on May 13. Owner Mary Lawrence said it was held outdoors and it was a perfect day for the event. Students performed a number of songs, like Five Little Speckled Frogs, Pitter Patter
Raindrops and Stegosaurus. These are songs that instructor Patty Ksenych has taught children throughout the year. “The kids did really awesome. Some of them sang extremely loud, which was great,” said Lawrence.“And then after that, we brought them back and lined them up, and Patty called them out one at a time and presented them with their diploma and put their little gradu-
Mary’s Little Lambs pre-school has been a part of the community for more than 25 years. Photo submitted
ation hat on them, so that the parents could take pictures.” A small drink was served for each of the kids. Their year-end picnic, with Freezies and watermelon, happened on May 18 and 19. Last year’s ceremony was moved online due to the COVID-19 restrictions, so Lawrence was happy it could happen this year while following all of the current restrictions. Mary’s Little Lambs had 11 children in its Wednesday class for three-year-olds. They also had 14 four-year-olds in their Tuesday and Thursday morning session, and another 13 four-year-olds in their Tuesday and Thursday afternoon class. The 2020-21 season has been a challenge with trying to adhere to restrictions and guidelines while still providing a fun environment for the kids. They completed a lot of changes to their facility, such as installing Plexiglas dividers on tables, limiting children to four per table, packing away any shared toys, and purchasing little individual toy boxes for the children and filling them with an assortment of toys. Then with having to disinfect everything between classes, a lot of cleaning occurred, but then they purchased a disinfecting fogger which made the job much easier. Ksenych made each child’s birthday spe-
Students from Mary’s Little Lambs pre-school performed during their four-year-old graduation ceremony on May 13. Photo submitted cial with a treat bag and a birthday certificate. For safety reasons, Mary’s Little Lambs pre-school opted to go with show and tell via pictures texted by parents, rather than having children bring in items. The students did well to adapt to mask regulations, Lawrence said.
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Ksenych used to teach in a kindergarten class, so the preschool is set up like a kindergarten classroom. Ksenych uses a Kindergarten resources book to set up her curriculum with the daily worksheets, art, circle time chants, playtime and other activities, all based on monthly themes. She also incorporates the use of puppets to help the children learn. Ksenych also plays the guitar daily and teaches the children songs related to the monthly themes. The children are always excited about the new monthly theme, activities, songs, art and worksheets. She ensures the three-year-olds are ready to move up to the four-year-old class, and the four-year-olds are ready for kindergarten. “The kids are always so excited to come, and Patty makes the class so much fun for them, and learning how to be a good friend and meet new friends. It’s been great for them. They learn a lot during the preschool year. Patty spends a lot of time teaching them the things that they need to know when they do go into kindergarten.” Every November the children celebrate and learn about community helpers, and Mary’s Little Lambs have such an amazing community here in Estevan. People selflessly give of their
May 26, 2021 A17
time to support them in doing this. A police officer comes to teach the children about street safety, a firefighter talks about fire safety, and the protective services personnel always sound their siren and turn their flashing lights on for the children, which Lawrence said is a thrill. A librarian will talk about the Estevan Public Library and the joys of reading, a nurse brings a stethoscope so the children can hear their heart beat, a dental hygienist speaks regarding caring for their teeth and a karate instructor teaches the children some self-defence techniques. “Every one of these people are so amazing and good to our children, and the children are so very excited to see them, and by the time the presentation is finished the children are all wanting to share hugs with them,” said Lawrence. “We are not sure if these people from our community understand fully the impact they have on these young children, but because of them November is one of the most exciting months for our children.” A very special part of the program is the Memories to Treasure DVD that is prepared for each class. Ksenych takes many pictures through the year and Teresa Stovin puts these
The Mary’s Little Lambs pre-school has lots of learning throughout the year. Photo submitted pictures to music. Mary’s Little Lambs was pleased to be able to remain open throughout the year, with only a couple of interruptions. “Considering all of the challenges that we had to make, it turned out pretty good,” said Lawrence. “We learned some things that
we might incorporate into our program going forward as well.” The preschool has been running for over 25 years, and now they have a lot of returning families, with adults who were once students there now bringing in their own children to learn.
A18 May 26, 2021
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Firefighters called to an electrical hazard
Obituaries
Susan (Sue) BERGEN Sue passed away peacefully with her husband by her side after complications, from a fall at her care home, on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at the age of 69 years. She was predeceased by her parents Al and Jean Miller; and father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Eileen Bergen. Sue will be lovingly remembered by her husband Blair; son Wayne and his son Prestin; daughter Tammy (Jeremy) and their family Sophie, Trinity and Ryan; brother-in-law and sisters- in law Bernice (Bryan), Brian (Nancy) and Belinda (Don); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Thank you to the staff of the Regina General Hospital 5A and the Pasqua Hospital 3A for the wonderful care shown to Sue. A Private Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Sue may be made to Estevan Humane Society, Box 1095, 1 Jenson Road, Estevan, SK S4A 2H7 or the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, #225 - 1874 Scarth Street, Regina SK S4P 4B3. Family and friends are invited to view the online obituary and tributes page at www.reginafuneralhome.ca. Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery (306) 789-8850.
Douglas Gerard McLeod 1937 - 2021 Doug McLeod, late of Estevan, passed away peacefully on May 14th, 2021, at the Regina General Hospital with family by his side. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 52 years, Betty (nee Ast); daughter Trina; son Scott (Erin); brothers Donald (Mary Lou) and Ernest; sisters-in-law Sharon Mellin and Eileen King (Roch Durocher); brothers-in-law Allan (Yvette) Ast; Brian Ast; and Graham Taylor along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Mary; parents-in-law, Edward and Margaret Ast; brother John and his wife Joyce; and sisters-in-law Marilyn Taylor and Maria Schmidt. Doug will be lovingly remembered for his devotion to family and friends. He was a long-time resident of Estevan and always tried to support community programs and projects. Throughout life he enjoyed most sports and participated in hockey, curling, ball and golf. However, in recent years he preferred the relaxing sport of fishing from the dock. Doug was an active member of the Elks Club and looked forward to his “pool nights” with the guys until his hearing loss spoiled the fun. Even before retirement from Gulf Canada, Doug had a keen interest and love of antique furniture and refinished many treasures. He soon progressed to building various pieces of furniture himself for family, friends and the church. Cedar birdhouses were his final projects. Doug will forever be in our hearts and in our thoughts. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the health care nurses and doctors at St. Joseph’s and Regina General Hospitals for their compassionate and professional care of Doug. A private family interment service was held at the Estevan City Cemetery on May 19th with Rev. Randy Kleemola officiating. A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at a later date. Those wishing to make a donation in Doug’s memory may do so directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan or a charity of their choice. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to the McLeod family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.
Estevan fire crews were called to the northcentral area of the city May 18 night regarding an electrical hazard. The call came in at about 10:30 p.m. The report stated that an electrical hazard and smoke were occurring in a house. The family had safely exited the building before the firefighters’ arrival, and nobody was injured. “When talking with the homeowner, it was found that the toilet had overflowed and directly below the washroom was the furnace room. While they were trying to clean that up, they smelled a little bit of smoke and heard some popCareer OppOrtunities 1A TRUCK DRIVERS REQUIRED: Late model winch trucks and trailers; dump trucks and pups. Hauling heavy equipment, gravel, and camp shacks. Wage negotiable. Clean drivers abstract a must. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS REQUIRED:
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time. Firefighters ensured the smoke alarms in the house were working and turned the house over to the owner with advice to contact a plumber and get the furnace properly fixed. The Estevan area started receiving some moisture in recent days as well, which helped drop the fire danger index from extreme. “ We look forward to a little bit more moisture. We’re not worried right now with the crossover conditions. Again, the rule of thumb for crossover conditions is usually temperatures of 30 degrees, where the relative humidity of 30 per cent or lower with wind speed 30 kilometres an hour or higher. So we use the 30/30 rule when we’re looking at the danger indexing,” Feser said.
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Emilia M. Lalonde (nee Crumly) 1932 – 2021 Emilia Lalonde passed away on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan, SK at the age of 88 years. Emilia will be lovingly remembered by her children and their families: daughter Janice (Peter) Zaharia and grandchildren: Stacy Raymond and Kristen (Lyle) Raymond; son Tim (Louise) Lalonde and grandchildren: Deborah (Nick) Skoczylas, Sarah (Trevor) Marshall and Spencer (Jaime) Lalonde; son, Robert Lalonde (Cathy) and grandchildren: Dylan Fai, Dakota Tessier and Brittany Lalonde; daughter Marlys (Hywel) Phillips. Emilia will also be remembered by her brother Ed Crumly and sister-in-law Marie Crumly as well as 9 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Emilia was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Clara Crumly; husband Alsime Lalonde; 3 children, Collette Lalonde, Terry Lalonde and Denise Lalonde, as well as numerous family members. The Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Estevan, with Rev. Sathiadas Antony presiding. Interment took place at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens following the Mass. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to Creighton Lodge Activities Fund, 1028 Hillcrest Dr., Estevan, SK, S4A 1Y7 or the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation, 1176 Nicholson Road, Estevan, SK, S4A 0H3 in memory of Emilia. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Emilia’s family - Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director. Emilia’s family would like to send out a special “Thank you” to all the wonderful staff at Creighton Lodge, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Dr. Tsoi for all your compassion and care to our Mom. Also, to all her numerous nieces who helped her out. Your acts of kindness are appreciated. Thank you to everyone for all your calls, texts and support during this time. We are forever grateful. God Bless you all, Janice, Tim, Robert, Marlys and families
ping, an electrical popping sound. They went downstairs to investigate and found that electrical arcing was occurring from the furnace, that’s when they called 911,” said Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser. Fire crews entered the building with thermal imaging cameras to assess the situation. At the time there was no more electric arcing occurring, but the appliance was still supplied with power. There was quite a bit of water remaining in the room and on the furnace itself, but firefighters didn’t pick up any heat signatures. “We actually turned the power off to the furnace unit itself to ensure that there is no electrical current going through the appliance and no further hazard,” Feser said. There was no smoke remaining in the building at that
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Estevan RCMP seeks assistance with stolen vehicle The Estevan RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a stolen sports car. The stolen vehicle is described as a blue two-door 2008 Maserati, Gran Turismo model, with a black hood and Saskatchewan licence plate 707 LNX. This vehicle was last seen in Midale on May 18 at 6 p.m.
If you have information related to this advisory please call 310-RCMP for immediate response, or you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477. * * * Members of the Carnduff RCMP are investigating a suspicious vehicle complaint.
Notice to Creditors
In the estate of Robin Scott Salkeld, late of Estevan, Saskatchewan, deceased. All claims against the above estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 9th of June, 2021. Bridges & Company LLP 1329 Third Street Estevan, SK S4A 0S1 Solicitors for the Executors
Officers received a report of the vehicle maneuvering around businesses located on the north side of Highway 18 within the Carnduff town limits. The observations had been made by a concerned Carnduff citizen during the evening hours of May 17. The vehicle was described as a white and older model Chevrolet or GMC SUV with a sizeable aerial located mid-cabin of the vehicle. Investigators followed up with the affected businesses, and nothing was found to be out of the ordinary or disturbed. The RCMP says the concerned citizen who provided this information is to be commended for having done so and thereby setting a positive example of looking out for not
only themselves, but further being mindful of the integrity of their neighbouring homes and the businesses that serve the community. No piece of information is too small to report, and is critically necessary in uncovering what the Carnduff RCMP called the "bread crumbs" that police investigators use to carry on a sustained investigation. If you have information related to this advisory please call the Carnduff RCMP, 310-RCMP for immediate response, or you can call Crime Stoppers. * * * Members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS), the local Combined Traffic Services of Saskatchewan unit – which
includes the EPS and the Estevan RCMP – and representatives of the Estevan chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, participated in several high-visibility check stops throughout the city on May 21. Approximately 650 vehicles were checked. A Novice 1 driver was given a 60-day driver’s licence suspension after failing a roadside screening device test. The vehicle was also impounded for three days. Police also issued two tickets under the Cannabis Act and three tickets under the Traffic Safety Act. A traffic stop in central Estevan on May 20 resulted in a 39-year-old Estevan woman being arrested, charged and
TENDER
SOUTHERN PLAINS CO-OP
CALL FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Southern Plains Co-operative Ltd. invites nominations for the position of Director. The 3 year terms for the following directors have expired: Scott Kienlen • Frances Boutin • David Murray Nominees must meet the qualifications and requirements specified in the Co-op’s Bylaws. Details on the qualifications and requirements can be picked up at the Administration Office. Nominations must be submitted in writing, no later than to: The Nominating Committee Southern Plains Co-operative Ltd. 826 4th street, Estevan, Sask. S4A 0W1 Questions Can be directed to the Nominating Committee: James Lamton: 306-461-3411 • Darcy Calder: 306-461-7728 Rhonda Huish: 306-685-4702
PUBLIC NOTICE
PROPOSED XPLORNET 45 M TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY SELF SUPPORT INSTALLATION
PUBLIC NOTICE:
Tenders will be received by SaskPower for the sale of hay. The successful bidder will be required to cut, bale and remove bales by 2021 September 01. There will be one cutting only and it must be completed by 2021 August 15. Several parcels of land are included, mainly located southwest of Boundary Dam Power Station. Two lots are southeast of Boundary Dam Reservoir. Bids will be lump sum for each parcel. Prints showing the lot numbers and their extent are available from the guardhouse at Shand Power Station. For further details contact Neil Worsley at (306) 421-8042. Written tenders contained in a sealed envelope marked HAY TENDER on the outside will be received until 4:00 p.m., Thursday, June 17, 2021, c/o Neil Worsley, Shand Power Station, Box 1310, Estevan, S4A 2K9. Highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. Payment terms: Receipt by SaskPower of certified cheque within 5 working days of bid acceptance by SaskPower. Note 1. SaskPower does not guarantee any tendered hay to be free of noxious weeds or poisonous plants and is not responsible for any damage caused by insects or other wildlife. Note 2. The bidder shall ensure that they operate with due consideration for the condition of the property and not enter or run equipment if field conditions are such that damage to the land will occur (i.e. wet or soft field conditions). Note 3. Bales still on the ground after 2021 November 01 will be assessed a fee of 50¢ per bale per month, payable in advance.
Proposed Telecommunication facility: • 45m self support tower
• Location: within SW 30-02-10 W2M Surface Parcel #120551981 and to be accessed off HWY 18 North onto an existing RM road then East onto an existing driveway for the property.
CAREER
• The facility will be fenced and will include a locked shelter located at the base of the tower • The site will provide faster and reliable high speed internet and phone services in the area West of Outram. With respect to this matter, the public is invited to provide written comments by Monday June 21, 2021 to the contact information shown below. Please include a return address or contact information.
SITE LOCATION MAP
Further information may also be obtained through the following contact: Xplornet Communications Inc. (“Xplornet”) c/o Vertex Professional Services Ltd. 4240 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4E6 Phone: 403-229-3969 Toll Free: 1-844-7VERTEX (783-7839) Fax: 403-244-1202 Email: telcocommentsab@vertex.ca Innovation, Science and Economic Development Southern Saskatchewan District Office 1945 Hamilton Street, Room 600 Regina, SK S4P 2C7 Phone: 1-877-510-7875 Fax: 306-780-6506 Email: ic.spectrumregina-reginaspectre.ic@canada.ca RM of Cambria No. 006 217 Poole Street, Torquay, SK S0C 2L0 Phone: 306-923-2000 Fax: 306-923-2099 Email: rm.cambria@sasktel.net
later released for breaching the conditions of her release order, pertaining to her entrance into a licensed premise. Her licence was also suspended and vehicle impounded for three days following a roadside screening test for marijuana. A traffic stop in central Estevan on May 19 resulted in a 22-year-old Estevan woman having her novice two driver’s licence suspended for 60 days and vehicle impounded for three days following a roadside screening test for alcohol. A 34-year-old woman was arrested and charged following the report of a theft at a northeast Estevan retail outlet. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on June 12 at 9:30 a.m. As a result of a complaint and investigation of a female being hit by a vehicle in the Third Street area, a 22-year-old Estevan woman was charged May 17 with assault with weapon. The female was released for court in July with conditions. On May 16, members charged a 32-year-old woman, originally from Estevan, and now residing in Prince Albert, with theft of an automobile, theft under $5,000, uttering a forged document, failing to comply with a release order and failing to comply with a probation order. The woman was arrested with the assistance of the Prince Albert Police Service and was scheduled to appear in court May 17. The automobile was recovered by police as well. The EPS charged a 22-year-old woman from Saskatoon for driving while suspended on May 15. The traffic stop was at 13th Avenue and Eighth Street. Her vehicle was also seized and impounded for 30 days. The EPS charged a 48-year-old Estevan man April 14 for impaired driving and operating a vehicle over the legal limit. He was stopped in the area of Eighth Avenue and provided samples that were more than double the legal limit. He was charged and released to a sober person later on in the night.
Job Posting Job Title: Location: Closing Date:
Inventory/Warehouse/Fleet Coordinator (Temporary – 3 months) Estevan, SK May 30, 2021
Job Overview Reporting to the Manager, Supply Chain Management, the successful candidate will be responsible for the safe, efficient and productive operation of the warehouse, inventory, logistics and the day-to-day management of fleet assets. This is a temporary position that will start at 3 months with the possibility of extension. Position Responsibilities • Ensure accurate inventory control using the Azzier Inventory program, maintain inventory records and reconcile inventory discrepancies as required • Maintain records in accordance with Kingston Midstream’s established policies, procedures and audit guidelines • Identify and draft recommendations on inventory control tools, templates and processes • Review stock and determine availability for transfer between field locations prior to filling new product orders • Manage warehouse and associated laydown yard in a safe, efficient manner • Monitor shipping, receiving and distribution of all materials; expedite shipping and deliveries and vendor back orders • Act as the primary contact between both the logistics provider and end user • Maintain confidential data information, generate and distribute reports including GPS monitoring, personal km reporting and idle report generation and distribution • Manage company wide fleet management program including budgeting, forecasting and projections for the fleet, cleaning and assigning units, registration, inspection, maintenance and associated costs • Ensure general maintenance of pool vehicles including cleaning, changing or disabling batteries and arranging servicing • Implement and maintain a fleet management tracking log to manage all maintenance records including preventative, annual or semi-annual maintenance Skills and Qualifications • High school diploma or equivalent • Minimum of 5 years experience in warehouse and inventory management • Experience with fork lift, hoisting and rigging certification or the ability to be certified • Experience with inventory and procurement systems such as Azzier, Element and GFI is preferred • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications • Strong written and verbal communication • Safety and service oriented with strong interpersonal skills • Capable of lifting 50lbs and able to undertake manual work • Posses and maintain a class 5 driver’s license and a clean driver’s abstract We thank all interested candidates; however, only qualified candidates will be contacted, please submit your resume to Careers@kingstonmidstream.com
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May 26, 2021 A21
ECS and Sacred Heart return to in-person learning The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) returned to Level 2, in-person learning May 25 for the first time in nearly two months. In a letter, South East Cornerstone Public School Division director of education Lynn Little said all students, from Grades 9-12, would return to in-class learning. The school division reviewed the current trends and risk levels with the local medical health officer and determined that a return, following all safety guidelines and processes, was appropriate. Little noted several families have reached out to either the system or the school inquiring about the challenges of returning within the current health practice of identifying full classes as close contacts and then
subsequent self isolation. “ We understand that concern and will monitor the impact,” Little wrote. “We have received correspondence from several graduating students and their parents/guardians sharing concerns of returning to inclass learning and the possible impact on attending graduation ceremonies on June 19. “We have begun conversations with health and other jurisdictions to explore possible options to support students in mitigating the risks of exposure at school that may hinder the ability to participate in the event. There is time to study the trends and respond in a timely manner for the graduates, Little said. As ECS returns to in-class learning, the school division respectfully reminds students
that if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, please call the HealthLine at 811 and do not attend school. “Thank you to all who have informed us promptly when tested positive. An early report allows us to respond promptly and limit exposure. We have been reminded that medical grade disposable masks are the most effective. There are masks available at the school should students wish to use them.” Little said the school division does have some trepidation returning after the Victoria Day long weekend. They encourage students to continue to limit social exposure. “Perhaps if we are diligent for just a little while longer, we will get to a better place including celebrating our graduating class.”
The Estevan Comprehensive School has returned to Level 2, in-person learning. File photo ECS was previously at Level 2 learning on April 1 the final day before the annual Easter break. Since that time, the school has had a one-week break, and then alternated between Level 4 learning (all
students learning from home) and Level 3 learning (students alternating between learning from home and in-person learning). Also returning to Level 2, in-person learning is Sa-
cred Heart School/Ecole Sacre Coeur. The school, which is part of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, had been at Level 4 remote learning since May 3 due to a number of cases of COVID-19.
Communication and connection important for Cornerstone Its formal moniker is: System Goal No. 4, the division is to systematically build, strengthen and maintain twoway communication with internal and external stakeholders. Short form: Keep in touch. With that mandate in mind, two key personnel figures in the South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s (SECPSD) communication and connection system, delivered some key connectivity information to the board members attending an online version of their monthly general business session on May 19. Calli Cugnet, who is advancing the division’s social media presence, and Carolyn Thompson, executive assistant to the director of education/ CEO, made the presentation following an introduction to System Goal 4 by director of education Lynn Little.
Cugnet referred to the division’s social media outreach through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. She said all these platforms are used by SECPSD with Facebook getting the most engagement. “We started the school year with 816 followers of our page and have grown to 1,484 as of today. You find our page by searching South East Cornerstone Public School Division,” she said. The division’s Twitter account currently has 702 followers. Cugnet pointed out that since both Facebook and Twitter have options for followers to share, the division’s posts may end up reaching more people. She said she knows that a few Twitter posts have reached up to 2,000 readers and Facebook posts have reached as many as 12,000. Cugnet said she created an Instagram account for the
division in December 2020 and it currently has 294 followers. “For the most part, I try to post the same things (on each platform) so parents who only follow on one are all receiving the same information,” she said. LinkedIn is more engaged as an employment platform. “As soon as employees of the division joined LinkedIn and listed the division as a current or past workplace, the platform creates a business page. This was beneficial because I just started utilizing this platform this month and we already have 245 followers. Posts on LinkedIn will differ from the other three because it is more of a niche platform, focused around job openings and things that make it an attractive workplace.” She said the social media posts have highlighted items such as the French immersion program that is to start this
EB's Dining is a staple in Estevan with delicious food, huge portions and great staff. They needed a new menu that would keep their diners safe, and reduce their time sanitizing.
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lies Tab on the website and is dedicated to the partnership between home, school and community. “You’ll find links to videos, articles and information for parents and caregivers that connect academic learning with physical, social and emotional wellness,” Cugnet said. Within this site, there are links to the social media accounts, and kitchen table connections that is a video series created by the student services team. Thompson added to the report by noting how she connects with the provincial Ministry of Education through a special communication program on a bi-weekly basis. She said they are usually about a half-hour in duration and it brings school divisions and the ministry together to share information and ideas. She also noted she posts highlights from the board
meetings on the website along with a contracted media report of board sessions. In her summaries, Thompson said she fields a number of media requests that are usually forwarded to the people or departments that are responsible for various areas of expertise. Those queries usually request information on such things as curriculum and faculty decisions, classrooms, speed zones, enrolments, cell phone use, negotiations, return to school decisions, the upcoming French immersion projects or perhaps remote learning options. She said she has fielded 1,601 contact us emails this school year and they may be media requests or emails referring to parental concerns, forgotten passwords, transportation issues, board highlights or other news items. In all, being in touch is a big deal for Cornerstone.
SEX SELECTION AFFECTS MOSTLY GIRLS.
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fall, plus employment postings, treaty education information, staff efforts that call for additional recognition and other issues. Raylene Forseth, the mental health consultant, and Cugnet started a weekly social media campaign to bring awareness of issues around mental illness by offering simple strategies for families to use to optimize mental health. “We’ve been calling this campaign Mental Health Monday and use that title as a hashtag,” she added. A newsletter is the other medium used to directly share information with parents and caregivers. It is posted on the division’s website and email at the beginning of each month. It brings stories from the schools, retirement announcements, coming events and other important messages. The Cornerstone @ Home page is within the Fami-
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Pro-Life Estevan and Area, Inc. PO Box 1829, Stn. M, Estevan, SK S4A 2X8. • 306-461-4611 Pregnant? Call 1-800-842-7752 • Options Pregnancy 1-866-870-3344 • Birthright of Regina 1-800-550-4900 Sask Pro Life Association » www.saskprolife.com • Donations welcome via cheque, cash or auto-deposit.
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Flashback – Wednesday, May 23, 1992 Cheers Cheers to Dr. Allison Christie for the care she provides. In a two-week span, a local resident had to be taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital three times. As it turned out there was something wrong. Dr. Christie was the physician who took action. Cheers to all of the individuals and groups who have been out picking up garbage from our streets, highways, ditches, boulevards and entrances in the past few weeks. It helps the community and the surrounding area look better. Cheers to Sacred Heart School/École Sacré Coeur for being selected for the new Hockey Canada academy. It’s going to be a great program for the school and for the Estevan area. Cheers to the people participating in the Coal Country Run/Walk virtually this year, raising money for Fresh Air Fitness and getting outside and exercising. Cheers to the sports organizations that have been getting ready for the start of the upcoming season. At some point in the next month, team sports should be resuming, and our kids will be back on the fields, pitches and diamonds playing games. Cheers to the Bike and Brew that happens in Estevan twice a week. It’s another way that people are out exercising and having a good time.
Jeers Jeers to the Saskatchewan government for mandating that 70 per cent of the population must take a vaccination for a virus with a 99 per cent survival rate, in order to live our lives. Jeers to motorists who drive around at night with their headlights turned off. It’s dangerous and they’re an accident waiting to happen. To submit a cheer or a jeer, please email it to dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca, or visit www.estevanmercury.ca.
Don’t be this guy! Install underground sprinklers and timers, and never forget to water again!
These smiling faces are dancers in Estevan’s Drewitz School of Dance who won trophies at the 31st annual Moose Jaw Provincial Festival of Dance held May 1992. Trophy winners were, back row from left, Nadine Pilsner, Nicole Hase, Melanie Northeast and Suzanne Sauer. Front row, Erin Dubiel, Nicole Lisafeld, Carly Brown, Becky Wock, Ashley Pedersen, Jonell Taylor, Dana Wilmot and Miranda Hunter.
Love on the lid Although I’ve always been an outgoing person, during this past year I’ve gone out of my way to encourage everyone I meet. Mask-wearing has made the adventure even more interesting since I’m never quite sure who I’m talking to. Just recently I met a gentleman and, I assumed, his mother who was walking beside him, using canes. “Good morning,” I said, and then gave them a big smile. They were obviously surprised and asked if they knew me. “No,” I responded, “I figure that everyone needs a smile these days.” Thrilled at their response and their reassurance that they would pass along the greeting to someone else, I was thoroughly gratified. It’s wonderfully
Linda Wegner Words of Worth surprising what a bit of kindness can do. If you’ve read my articles for even a few weeks, you know that my morning routine includes negotiating my way through our local Tim Hortons drive-thru to pick up my morning cup of tea (and, I admit, the occasional cookie). Not only do I thoroughly enjoy my tea, I never tire of seeing the special messages written on the cup lid.
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Sometimes it just says “3 milk” while other times there’s a heart drawn and at other times my name appears beside the heart. Now do you wonder why the tea tastes so good? Without going into details, my husband’s health is deteriorating and it’s part of my own therapy to go for my regular walk, pick up my tea and then sit down by the ocean to enjoy them and it. Taking care of oneself is essential to caring for others. The Apostle Paul, imprisoned during the writing of his epistles, exhorted us to cast our cares upon Him and to give thanks in all things. During this time of COVID isolation, above all, let’s be sure to maintain our own spiritual health.
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If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Why are you looking forward to the long weekend? Carter Smelt
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Age: 9 “Time travel, so I could go back to 2018 or 2019, because I want COVID to be non-existent.”
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