Show your Rider Pride! SHOP ESTEVAN DAY JULY 17, 2021.
Shop Estevan. A flyer for a local shopping day can be found inside.
DIY Paint by Number, Roughrider picture.
HENDERS DRUGS 1220 - 4th Street, Estevan
306-634-3666 Open July 1 - 12:00 - 4:00
ESTEVAN MERCURY
.CA
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021
The end of public health restrictions was applauded by many in Estevan SOS! Estevan Humane Society needs to see some adoptions soon. PAGE A3
Black Tuesday and love. Sask. author releases new book about Estevan. PAGE A6
Tokyo awaits. Midale athlete chosen for Paralympic Games. PAGE A10
Agri News. A look at the Rotary 4-H Regional Show and Sale. PAGE A14 ALL-NEW 2021
BRONCO SPORT
By Ana Bykhovskaia and David Willberg It was a day that so many in the Estevan area had been waiting for: the end of public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions were lifted on Sunday, 16 months after the first measures were put in place. And the difference was noticeable already, with people able to gather in large groups in both public and private settings, and no longer having to wear masks. The City of Estevan has had varying degrees of restrictions since last March on its facilities, but they went back to normal on Sunday, which was great, said Mayor Roy Ludwig. Barriers that were used to direct people have been removed. “It might take a day or two for everyone to be cognisant of the fact that all of these restrictions will be over. It might take a day or two of adjustment,” Ludwig told the Mercury. “I’m sure very quickly everything will go back to normal.” Ludwig lauded the city staff for the great work they have done at adjusting to the changes in restrictions. They adapted through the requirements for additional cleanliness, and adjusted when they needed to after facilities were closed or when measures were amended. “They rose to the occasion with the restrictions when they came in. They did what was necessary. They took all of the recommendations
From left, Leander Billesberger, Isabella Billesberger, Xander Thomas and Brooke Wilson were eager to be enjoying time together at the Dennis Moore Centennial Park on Monday. that the province put forward. They adhered to them.” And while the city has had a few instances in which people didn’t think they needed to wear masks, most people did a good job of handling the restrictions. Restrictions and masks were needed, and he’s sure people will enjoy their regained freedoms. Estevan city council had a scheduled meeting on July 12, and Ludwig was looking forward to a mask-free meeting. The Estevan Market Mall decided not to put much emphasis on the end of restrictions in Saskatch-
ewan, since many of their tenants have head offices in other provinces and may have different regulations for their employees. Besides, they respect that many people may still choose to stick to the health measures that were in place before due to their personal circumstances, and the mall is the place where community happens, as their motto states, so they do their best to be inclusive for everyone. “Everything we do has been solid and trying to keep up pace,” said Martin Blair, managing director of First Aberdeen Properties Ltd., which owns the Estevan Market
Mall. “As mall owners, we are just facilitating.” Blair said that while they just went back to normal on July 11, the pandemic hit retailers hard and they were happy to see the restrictions coming to an end. “A lot of people would not have bought online, so a lot of sales went away. But I think what some people have learned over this, I know I have, is that you really start to appreciate the social aspects of actually being a local purchaser. Actually going into the store and shopping, and looking at things, and actually buying some A2 » LOCAL
Street dance will celebrate the end of restrictions Estevan area residents are going to have the chance to mark the end of COVID-19 restrictions in style. The Estevan Downtown Business Association (EDBA) will host a Lockdown End Party street dance in the Tower Café parking lot and the 1100-block of Fourth Street on July 17, starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and will be available on July 12 at Henders Drugs. Fogdog and El Guitaro will be the entertainment. Event spokesperson Josh LeBlanc said he hopes everyone will go to the Estevan Motor Speedway’s race program that night, and then come to the party. “It’s time for the community to get back together,” said LeBlanc. “We wanted to be one of the first ones out
of the gate.” The EDBA didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes in terms of hosting the street dance, in case they were looking to host a similar event, but when the association found out there wouldn’t be something happening, they forged ahead with their plans. “Everything has come together within the last two weeks,” said LeBlanc. The last of the provincial public health orders were lifted on July 11, allowing this event and others to happen. Organizers had to work within timeframes that worked for sound companies, stage companies and bands. LeBlanc said he has been bombarded with phone calls from people asking if they could volunteer, purchase tickets or sponsor the event.
“The community has a real appetite to get together again. It’s going to be one of the first regular events that we’ve been able to have. We’re super excited that the kickoff event can happen downtown, and it can be the street dance that was super popular.” The stage will be set up in front of the Estevan Salvation Army and the dance area will be there. Beer gardens will be set up in the Tower Café parking lot. Both El Guitaro and Fogdog were part of the street dance that was part of the Rafferty Rumble two years ago. LeBlanc noted they talked with other bands, but a lot of them haven’t performed together or practised regularly in the past 16 months, and didn’t feel like they were at a level to start
performing again. Tickets are scheduled to be available at the gate, but people are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance, because organizers won’t be saving a specific number of tickets for the walk-up crowd. They could sell out in advance. LeBlanc said they are hoping to attract 1,750-2,000 people. Any proceeds from the event will be directed to the EDBA for programming and other events in the future. “We really, really hope to see the community come out and support the event, and it would be good to see everyone out and doing what the community has always done best, and that’s have a good time and raise a little bit of money,” said LeBlanc.
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