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Fair and rodeo to take place at the same time, dates are now booked News for kiddos.

Early Years Family Resource Centre re-opens at new location.

PAGE A3

What’s ahead.

Downtown revitalization project progresses.

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Local pride.

Paracyclist Shaw named top Saskatchewan female athlete.

PAGE A12

Money Matters.

Be penny wise with this financial special.

PAGE A17

Estevan Exhibition Association announced they are planning on bringing in Energy City Ex, which will see fair and rodeo happening at the same time in June. File photos

By Ana Bykhovskaia Estevan Exhibition Association (EEA) announced their plans for the 2022 Energy City Ex. Just as they wanted before the pandemic, they are planning to host the fair and rodeo at the same time over four days in June.

The Energy City Ex is scheduled for June 9-12, with Midway occurring over all four days, and the

KCRA Rodeo coming to town on the weekend, which is the later days of the event.

"Back in 2020, we were hoping to get the fair and rodeo back together. And of course, we couldn't do that. So that is our plan here to get the fair in the rodeo back together," said Stacey Holtz, the EEA board member.

The KCRA Rodeo Circuit was the one to bring the rodeo to Estevan

in 2021, which turned out to be very popular with the community. This year, they will once again bring a more-family oriented event to Energy City. But this time it will be also complemented with the fair.

Holtz said that they've been discussing the plans for the 2022 season for a while now.

"Since last summer, it's been tentative, and we've been continuing to work on it all throughout the pan-

demic. Last year, of course, we could only have the rodeo, as the Midway wasn't travelling around, which was unfortunate," Holtz said.

"But this has always been in the back of our mind that we still wanted to do this, get the fair and the rodeo back together. So here we are, and as long as everything goes well with the restrictions, it should go on."

The Mercury will have more details as they become available.

Biggest farm auction sets new benchmark for land prices for southeast Saskatchewan

By Ana Bykhovskaia The Hanson Farm family's unreserved land and equipment online sale on Jan. 25-26 became the biggest farm auction worldwide in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers history.

On top of that, the event, which was followed by thousands of people all across Canada and abroad, set a new land price benchmark for the southeast.

Brandon Basler, the agriculture territory manager for southeast Saskatchewan with Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, said the auction brought in a few

good surprises.

"The Hanson Family Farm auction was a tremendous success. We knew it was going to be big, but we are proud to say it was the largest farm auction in Ritchie Brothers' history. So setting the record there. And we're just happy that the Hanson family trusted us to put on this monumental event," Basler said in the interview with the Mercury.

"One thing that was definitely of note is how this land sold. It blew out of the water, (set a new) watermark for land prices in the area," said Basler.

"We knew it was great

land, and it came from a great family and there was a lot of interest. But definitely when the dust settled, there was some pretty remarkable results and it set a new watermark for farmland in the area for sure."

The large majority of Hansons' farmland sold for over $400,000 a quarter, and Basler said "as far as I know, it is completely uncharted territory, as there was a lot of numbers that started with fours and some that even started with five."

Kirby Hanson said their family was happy about the results and had a big A2 » HANSONS

ends February 28, 2022

The Hanson's home quarter with two houses by Highway 18, not far from Torquay, was purchased by another local farmer. Photo courtesy of Ritchie Bros.

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"It was exciting the last couple of days. The results at the end of the bidding were very, very good, we are happy with the results," said Kirby in the phone interview with the Mercury the day after the sale closed.

He added that his father, Lorne Hanson, who dedicated most of his life to farming, was watching the auction from Arizona with his friends, and was happy with the results as well.

W hile the auction marked the retirement of the three generations of Hansons from farming, it also surprisingly resulted in high activity and consequently growth for other local farmers. Basler said about 95 per cent of the land was sold locally. There was some interest from big investors from outside of the area, as well from other provinces, but things went a different way.

"I feel that we had literally hundreds of phone calls from you name it, all across Canada and investors. There was a tonne of interest. There was interest from people from all over, from larger operations from outside of the southeast or outside of Saskatchewan," Basler shared.

"But I guess one interesting result from the sale is that the majority, the good majority actually stayed with local farmers. I think off the top of my head, over 95 per cent of the land was bought by local southeast Saskatchewan farmers from the area," Basler said.

Kirby also noted that in the weeks ahead of the auction he probably "talked to every farmer in Canada."

Interest was coming from

Three generations of now-retired Hansons farmers are, from left, Lorne, Kirby and Connor Hanson. Photo submitted by Christine Hanson-Daae Manitoba, Alberta, B.C., all over the U.S. as well as other parts of Saskatchewan, but the neighbours ended up buying most of the land.

"The neighbours wanted it more, and it turned out good," Kirby said. "I'm glad they got it."

The equipment sale also went great, and that was somewhat expected.

"The equipment sold excellent as well. I think anybody that's involved in agriculture would know there's a bit of a supply and demand issue and good quality used equipment is hard to come by right now, from the new staff to newer used equipment … and there's a huge demand for it. So with Hansons having a lot of late-model equipment, it brought a premium for sure," Basler noted.

While online timed auctions are something widely used by auctioneers these days, this particular sale highlighted some of the new

tendencies.

"One thing with our timed the auction format, it was open five days early. So there was some early bidding activity on a lot of parcels.

But what we've come to learn from our customers and the people that use our website and the timed doctrine is a lot of people wait till the last minute to get their bids in.

Things started closing at 10 a.m. And every time somebody bid, it extended the time.

And it extended with people still bidding for over three hours," Basler pointed out.

The hopper bins that are a big part of the home quarter setup were sold separately, so the Torquay area will see some changes to the landmark at some point.

Basler thanked the family for having the Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers conduct the sale.

"On behalf of Ritchie Brothers, we just thank the Hanson family, Kirby, Lorne

and Charlene for putting their trust in us to conduct this auction. It was certainly uncharted territories for us and across the board, as it was the largest farm auction ever conducted by Ritchie Brothers anywhere in the world. We appreciate them trusting us to help them with their retirement and couldn't be happier with how things went," Basler said.

Kirby noted that they as well had a positive experience with the auction.

"It was very professionally run. There wasn't one hiccup along the way. They know how to do it and everything just fell into place. Very, very good auctioneer company.

We had bids from all over the world and everyone was watching, it seemed like," Kirby said.

The Estevan Mercury and Sasktoday.ca will have more details and totals of the auction once they become available.

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New Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre is open to the public in ECS building

By Ana Bykhovskaia A day before opening its doors to the public, the new Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre (EEYFRC) held an official ceremony, marking the beginning of a new era for Estevan families.

The ribbon was cut on Monday in the presence of the board members, representatives of the South East Cornerstone Public School Division (SECPSD), the City of Estevan, Estevan Chamber of Commerce, United Way Estevan and community leaders working with children.

The expansion of the previous Estevan Family Resource Centre and the following move to a new permanent location at the Estevan Comprehensive School became possible after last April, when the Government of Saskatchewan announced funding through the Canada-Saskatchewan early learning and childcare agreement for the creation of a new early years family resource centre in Estevan to offer a range of drop-in and scheduled programming for all families

with young children aged zero to five.

Michelle Walsh, who is a long-standing family centre board member and also a part of the community planning centre, opened the ceremony, thanking everyone for coming and for years of consistent support, which allowed the original Estevan Family Resource Centre (EFRC) to keep going.

"As a current United Way member agency, we have received support from this community for many years to be able to offer our programs and services. We want to give a special thanks to everyone for their support, including our numerous grants and donations from the local business community.

We'd not be where we are today without that continued support and support in the past.

“And a huge thank you to our new provincial funding from the minister of education and our new partnership. We've been able to move into this new space. And this funding will lead to stability with our programming and our local services within this community," Walsh said.

Jacquie Gibbs, co-ordinator of early learning with SECPSD, left, and Michelle Walsh made speeches during the grand opening.

From left, EEYFRC board member Haley Ingham, Susan Colbow, co-ordinator of early learning with SECPSD Jacquie Gibbs, EEYFRC board member Michelle Walsh, SECPSD director of education Lynn Little, new EEYFRC executive director Sara Saigeon and EEYFRC board member Shane Bucsis partook in the grand opening of the new Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre.

Susan Colbow said a few words on behalf of Estevan MLA and Saskatchewan Minister of Social Services Lori Carr, as well as on behalf of Minister of Education Dustin Duncan, who were unable to make it to the ceremony.

"Early years family resource centres across Saskatchewan are contributing to positive brain development and the building blocks necessary for children to succeed in the classrooms.They're also providing parents of preschool-aged children with a wide variety of government and communitybased supports and services at a single location, a single welcoming space where they could go to easily access reliable supports, services, programs and information to assist them in raising and educating their

Carnduff couple wins big on the Extra Dennis and Deborah Fowler of Carnduff got a big surprise when they checked their Western Max and Extra ticket on the Lotto Spot app.

The couple won $100,000 on the Dec. 10 Extra draw.

“I must have scanned the ticket 15-20 times,” said Deborah. “We kept checking it over and over again – we were shocked."

The Fowlers said they initially thought they had won $100, but soon grasped it was much more.

“We thought the screen said $100, but then we realized there were too many zeroes for it to just be $100,” said Deborah. “We are very excited.”

The winning couple said they haven’t decided what

Dennis and Deborah Fowler won $100,000 on an Extra draw. Photo courtesy of Saskatchewan Lotteries they’ll do with their windfall yet, but they have a couple of ideas to get them started.

“We’re going to pay some bills and prepare ourselves for retirement,” said Dennis.

“Eventually we would like to do some travelling, maybe to the Caribbean.”

The Fowlers purchased their winning ticket from This N’ That C-Store & Eatery with Motel, located on Highway 18 in Carnduff. They won their $100,000 Extra prize by matching the last six digits of the winning Extra number 6682306.

little ones," Colbow said.

She added that even during the pandemic, the centres kept supporting their patrons through all means available.

"Our government recognizes the importance of investing in opportunities to provide families with positive early learning experiences to grow their parenting knowledge. Through the CanadaSaskatchewan early learning and childcare agreement, we have contributed over $980,000 towards the establishment of the centers,” said Colbow.

“So if you're a parent of a young child who needs resources to help support your child's development in the early years family resource centre is here to help you. If you need information about how to support a child's development or have questions about how to access services for your child, then the centre will help.

“And if you're looking for opportunities to enhance your child's physical, social, emotional or language skills, then look no further than an early family resource centre.

This new centre will offer those supports and much more," Colbow added.

Walsh noted that the EEYFRC's goals remain to maintain the community-based facility that is accessible and all-inclusive to young families, link families to existing community programs and resources, to collaborate and co-ordinate the ongoing development of more programming that meets the needs of family and children, and to enhance playful positive interaction and growth between parents and children in a safe space. The newly established community planning table will be helping guide the EEYFRC in the four pillars of the early years family resource centres, as set out by the Ministry of Education in

Saskatchewan.

Jacquie Gibbs, co-ordinator of early learning with SECPSD, has been working with the family centre to help with transitioning into the new space and helping them to meet those four pillars.

"When we took a stroll through many, many months ago, before the renovation had have taken place, I just couldn't imagine what this space could become. And it's just so bright and welcoming now. I want to extend a thank you to South East Cornerstone facilities and technology teams for their attention to detail," Gibbs said.

"We are really well poised to turn this centre into that onestop-shop for families."

The current outgoing executive director of the centre Jennifer Dunn was unable to be at the ceremony. She will soon be relocating from the community, and Sara Saigeon said a few words as the centre's incoming executive director.

"This month has been very exciting, watching everything moved from the old centre to the new centre, unpacking this new centre. It really feels very welcoming. And I'm really excited for the public to be able to come and see this new centre starting February 1. Thank you to everyone who helped us with the move and getting ready for this day," Saigeon said.

The new EEYFRC has many zones for different types of children's play and development. There is a special trough sink for the early water exploration, adjustable chairs and tables for different activities, an organized kitchen, where kids can have a snack, a smart board for programming, a library and much more. The drop-in and play area is thought through and split into separate zones, where patrons of different ages can indulge in various more or less intense activities.

"If grocery shopping is your passion in life, you can grocery shop. There is construction zones, as well as some bigger play structures," noted Melanie Young, instructional coach for early learning with SECPSD. "And there are things for gross motor development as well.

“We also have a visiting office. So if there's another professional coming in, they can meet with the family in there.

There are also some different things that the family centre gives out, like diapers, formula and things like that … There is a range of toys.

“Some things are made for our little friends that come to visit and some obviously are for much bigger kids. And the little walkway area in between has an opportunity for some building.

So there are some blocks as well as magnetic blocks and foam and things like that. And there's a train station as well as a little library and puzzle space."

The funding provided by the provincial and federal governments focuses on children ages zero-five, but the Estevan family centre has traditionally been supporting families with kids of all ages, and they plan on continuing with that using other funding.

For now, the EEYFRC will be open during weekdays, but they are currently hiring more staff and are communicating with the North Battleford family centre to potentially bring in evening and weekend program offerings. Gibbs also underlined that the provincialfederal funding is what will allow them to have the stability in the operation and have the needed personnel to expand their hours on regular basis, which wasn't possible before.

The EEYFRC is located at the ECS on the southwest corner. The entrance is labelled Entrance 10.

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EDITORIAL

Volume 116 Issue 36 Contact us: (306) 634-2654 68 Souris Avenue N. Estevan, SK S4A 2M3 www.estevanmercury.ca @Estevan_Mercury facebook.com/EstevanMercury

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We’re still really safe down here Each year, when we receive the crime statistics from the Estevan Police Service or the crime severity index data from Statistics Canada, it makes for an interesting read.

It should also cause us to reflect on how safe we feel in our community.

And we should feel safe here.

The figures for the EPS in 2021 show a slight reduction in call volumes, from 8,947 in 2020 to 8,648 last year – a reduction of 299 calls and infractions, or nearly one a day. The total for 2021 was still above the five-year average by about 300 – again, about one a day.

It should be noted that calls for service is a broad number. It’s not just Criminal Code violations and drug busts; it can be traffic tickets, collisions, welfare checks, domestic disturbances, reports of scams, false alarms, noise complaints and other incidents. And, of course, the police will receive nuisance calls throughout the year.

But at 8,600-plus calls over 365 days, it shows the local police remained fairly busy, even though pandemic-related restrictions were fairly onerous for the first five months of the year.

Estevan has done fairly well on the crime severity index the past few years, most notably in 2017, when it reached its lowest point since

the number was first tracked in 1998. But with a homicide charge on last year’s crime numbers, and the impact of such a charge on the rating for a community of this size, expect the city to be relatively high when the full report is released later this year.

A lower number of infractions for the EPS shouldn’t mean we should feel safer, just like a higher CSI value means we aren’t as safe.

They can be good for those looking for reinforcement of their beliefs. If you aren’t worried about crime, or you think the number of officers with the EPS should be trimmed, then you’ll point to lower call volumes. If you’re nervous about crime, then a higher CSI rating will likely grab your attention.

But of greatest importance is how safe we feel in our own community.

Do you feel comfortable walking in Estevan when it’s dark outside? Are you looking over your shoulder when you’re walking?

Our CSI rating might be higher than Toronto or Vancouver, but again, that reflects the impact one or two incidents can have on a smaller community using Stats Canada’s weighted system.

Where would you feel safer walking on your own at 10 p.m.? Estevan or Toronto?

Yes, the days of us being able to leave the

door to our homes and our garages unlocked are over. And we should be locking our vehicle doors at night, too. That’s to protect ourselves and our property.

For many of us, it’s hard to fathom there was a time when we didn’t lock our doors at night, especially in rural communities.

We’re blessed to have the police officers that are currently in Estevan. The majority of them are hard-working, dedicated and well-trained individuals who have the best interests of the community in mind. Some of them have been here for a long time, and have raised their families here.

They work in one of the most risky, demanding and essential professions on the planet.

And if we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t feel as safe as we should.

That’s not just the Estevan Police Service; that also goes for the RCMP members in the Estevan detachment and in other southeast communities.

Yes, there are troublesome officers who give police officers a bad name, but they are in the minority. A vast minority.

You won’t hear many calls to defund the police coming from southeast Saskatchewan.

And it’s part of the reason we should feel safe here.

What’s happening at the RussianUkrainian border?

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To tell you the truth, I have no idea.

It’s probably not the best way to start an opinion piece, but that does tell how little I understand the current Russian government. It’s pretty obvious that Russia is accumulating military powers alongside the border, and Ukraine is calling for the allies to be ready. But why is Russia doing what it’s doing? That’s where I get frustrated.

Back in 2014, when so-called polite green people appeared in the Crimea peninsula, just like now people around me were asking what was going on. I was trying to analyze the situation, but never in my life could I imagine that the story would move the way it did.

So when those green aliens first arrived there and the talks about the referendum started, I thought, “Well, it is true that a big percentage of the population in Crimea is Russian or RussianUkrainian but with pro-Russian attitudes.”

The Russian-supervised referendum occurred and when Crimea announced its independence I was pretty shocked, but not completely.

I thought, “Well, there are countries where a condensed minority living in a particular area got together, banked on their differences from the rest of the country and got out, thinking they’d be better off on their own, like Kosovo.” So Crimea will be independent, it’s not that it was a completely independent decision, but it happened and that wasn’t the worst case, I was thinking then.

Since the Soviet times, Russia had its big fleet based in Crimea, which the Ukrainian government was trying to move a few times, and in the back of my mind, I thought that one way or the other, sooner or later Russia will do something to resolve it. So the creation of a pro-Russian quasi-state was something that made sense to me if you look from the Russian perspective.

I thought it was the end of the story. And even when the Russian government announced

Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About… that the people of Crimea reached out to them asking to become a part of the Russian Federation, I was absolutely sure that no, that’s never going to happen. In my opinion, it was crazy on all fronts. Leaving aside the human rights and political etiquette of the 21st century, I couldn’t see why the Russian bear would want to swallow this subsidized region, which came with endless economic sanctions and political conflicts. Well, the world knows what happened.

So, this time I’m not trying to guess what’s going to happen.

Now that I see more and more of my Ukrainian friends having the Ukrainian flag on their social media pictures, as I read more analytics, news articles and posts about what’s happening over there and what potentially can happen, I kind of feel the same way as I did back in 2014.

I just don’t want to believe it.

Many analysts agree that there is a potential war ripening along the border, but this war, if it is to happen, is stupidity, nonsense and absurdity, which is happening through a fault of two players – Russia and the U.S. None of the talks between Russia and the U.S. over the last how many years resulted in anything. And while the world has been pretty careful when it comes to Russian affairs, the West hasn’t been taking Russia as a serious global player, which doesn’t suit President Vladimir Putin. So is it a Russian way to attract Washington’s attention?

The other day I read a joke that Putin lined

the tanks at the Ukrainian border into saying “Joe, call me. Vlad.” Metaphorically, it seems that it’s exactly what is happening.

The Russian demand to guarantee that Ukraine will never become part of NATO, which would pretty much mean that Ukraine would remain a Russian area of influence, was rejected.

According to the conflict spiral model, conflict escalation assumes that each reaction is more severe and intense than the action that precedes it. Does it mean that war against Ukraine or occupation of some territories will be the next move? I don’t think so (but again, it might be just me being naïve).

Analytics say that neither of the two countries is actually ready for any real military action.

While the Russian army is historically bigger, and a lot of money goes into it, the moods and the economy are not there. Ukraine did improve their troops and structure since 2014, however, its weapons are still mainly outdated.

However, as little as anybody wants to see any military action anywhere in the world, there’s a lot of talk about it. Will it happen? I don’t know, but if anything happens, I can see a lot of changes coming to both of the countries and the global situation. Unfortunately, I assume that the need to give the West a more intense response will keep Russia going, troops will keep accumulating along the Ukrainian border, and as Meduza’s reporter, Konstantin Gaaze put it, Russia will eventually create a really expensive anti-NATO diaper, and the situation will remain unstable, just burning billions of, first of all, rubles, but also dollars, as any conflict escalation assumes the rise in action on both sides.

But I sincerely hope that the ongoing fistshaking will find its way out and will eventually de-escalate, as if it doesn’t, there will be no winners in this absurdity.

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David Willberg Willberg’s World

A rare sight

Don’t judge based on the worst examples The Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa late last week, with thousands of truckers and others from across the country converging in the nation’s capital to stage a massive protest.

It started with truckers voicing opposition to the vaccine requirements that are now in place for them to cross the CanadaU.S. border, but it has morphed into much more than that. And it’s attracted some people whose presence is problematic.

It’s been relatively peaceful. Ottawa police have investigated some incidents, but not as many as some feared. Most of the truckers and their supporters have been in Ottawa, had a good time, and the atmosphere was relatively festive.

Most of the protestors in Ottawa are good people voicing their grievance with the government. It should be noted that many of them have been vaccinated against COVID. But they think it should be up to individuals to make the decision.

They don’t see the harm in truckers being unvaccinated, since most truckers come into contact with so few people when doing their jobs, regardless of whether they’re travelling in Canada or to the U.S. That’s not to say there haven’t been issues during the protest.

We’ve seen some pretty reprehensible actions. There’s been a Canadian flag with swastikas on it.

We’ve seen trucks parked on the National War Memorial, protesters dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the desecration of a statue of Terry Fox – arguably our greatest citizen.

It’s hard to believe that those responsible couldn’t grasp the harm they would do to the credibility of the protests.

And yes, there are those involved with the convoy who have some rather appalling views of the world, ranging from white supremacy to overthrowing the government.

We’ve seen a few of the protestors harass a shelter in Ottawa, and some of them thought it would be a good ideas to create a scene in malls.

But in a crowd of thousands, maybe tens of thousands, they are in the minority. A distinct minority. And you have to wonder how many are truckers, and how many are those who latched on to this cause.

Some say they’ll remain until all the pandemic restrictions are lifted in Canada, but that’s an unrealistic claim.

Many of the restrictions are provincial jurisdiction, not federal. It’ll be up to the provinces to lift those restrictions. Saskatchewan has likely been the most permissive of any province over the last six months. While other regions have been cutting down on capacity limits and issuing a myriad of other public health orders, our restrictions have been vaccine passports for some gatherings and businesses, and a public, indoor masking requirement.

Others restrictions have been enacted by private businesses, who had their legislation in place long before any province.

And the mandate for non-vaccinated truckers is both a Canadian and a U.S. issue. It’s unlikely Canada would lift its restrictions without being in lock step with the U.S. In the first few months of the pandemic, truckers gained hero status in Canada. Those who didn’t appreciate the trucking industry before found a new-found level of admiration for them.

While we were in lockdowns, they were out doing their job. They were delivering the goods and the services that we needed to sustain ourselves, even if many of those goods were in short supply.

While many of us worked from home, they were still out on the road, spending time away from their families.

Truckers are every bit of an essential service now as they were in March and April of 2020.

With all of the supply chain issues gripping our economy, we don’t need to be making it more difficult to get goods across the border. We can’t afford any additional delays in getting products across the border.

We’re seeing that there’s a lot of support for truckers across the country, through the rallies that have been happening. And it hasn’t just been a bunch of yahoos at these events, either.

I get that there are people opposed to the convoy and the protest in Ottawa, although my guess is a lot of that opposition is due to some of those associated with the event, rather than the protests themselves.

I support truckers. Most of them are good, honest men and women looking to make a living while doing honest work, and doing it well.

And in the end, they’re essential to our country.

Heliana de Souza-Wagner captured this photo of a great grey owl in Hitchcock on Thursday.

The bird was sitting on a lower branch of a tree at the town’s dugout. They're commonly found in the northern boreal forest. She said her son Allan spotted the beautiful owl while walking their dog Jasper and came home to tell her, knowing this would be a rare opportunity. Then de Souza-Wagner phoned her friend Chuck Chow and he was there promptly to take pictures.

DeRosier sworn in to police board The newest member of the Estevan board of police commissioners has been sworn in.

Roberta DeRosier took her oath prior to the Jan. 26 meeting. She was acclaimed to the board, along with Bernadette Wright, to a two-year term as a member at large late last year.

Wright has been part of the board for several years.

The other members are Mayor Roy Ludwig and Councillors Shelly Veroba and Lindsay Clark. Veroba and Clark are in their second year on the board, while Ludwig has been on the board since becoming mayor in 2012.

• • • The board also received the year-end numbers for bylaw enforcement.

The document shows that Special Constables Josie Palmer and Monica Prentice handled 1,408 occurrences in 2021. Unkempt property inspections (724) accounted for the majority of the activity,

Roberta DeRosier was sworn in as a member at large for the Estevan board of police commissioners. followed by parking violations at 240 and animal calls at 176.

Sixty occurrences were listed as other, and 51 were for the taxi bylaw.

December was a comparatively quiet month for the officers with 51 total items, led by 18 parking violations, 12 animal calls and 12 taxi bylaw

occurrences.

In 2020, the bylaw officers had 1,172 occurrences, with unkempt property inspections (591) once again leading the way.

• • • Councillor Shelly Veroba wanted to know about the procedure when calling for

bylaw after hours. People can contact the police station, and it will be forwarded to the bylaw officers.

Lowen said they’re hoping to have a direct line for the bylaw officers that people can call.

For more on the meeting, please see page A18.

Charges laid in child porn case Charges have been laid in a child pornography investigation in Estevan.

Members of the Estevan Police Service patrol division, criminal investigation division and the Saskatchewan Integrated Child Exploitation Unit have concluded

an investigation into possession of child pornography by an Estevan resident.

As a result of the investigation, Trevor Curtis, 52, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography under 0the Criminal Code.

Curtis made his first appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Jan. 27 and was subsequently released with conditions.

He will make his next appearance in court on Feb. 7 to speak to the matter.

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Midale students showcase their abilities Students at the Midale Central School showcased their acting skills earlier this month, as the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) came to the school for a performance of Hansel and Gretel.

Twenty-two students from Grades 2-10 were part of the production Jan. 14.

Tammy Mercer, who teaches Grades 4 and 5 at the school, said the representatives of the children’s theatre arrived on Jan. 9.

The cast was selected on Jan. 10 following auditions, and rehearsals began that night. She estimates they dedicated about 20 hours of rehearsal time. They had a lot of fun, and the MCT members were very well organized.

“We had ideas at the

beginning of the week of how we wanted the performance to go,” said Mercer. “Of course, with COVID, nothing ever goes as planned.”

The initial plan was to have a live audience for the performance, but they had to switch to a virtual production.

It was still a great experience, Mercer said.

“The parents were so excited. They loved it. It was such a good opportunity. The kids felt really good about themselves. We as a school were just so excited to have that opportunity for the students.”

There were a few people in the gym to provide audience feedback, but it wasn’t opened up to parents or the community.

A recording of Hansel

and Gretel will be provided to the kids as a keepsake.

It has Mercer excited to try to find opportunities for drama for the kids in the future.

Mercer noted this was the first Canadian residency for the children’s theatre since COVID-19 hit in March 2020. The MCT has held performances in many Canadian locations in the past.

“We were scheduled to do a different performance with a different crew, but just the requirements with crossing the border and everything else, at the last minute we had to switch plays and switch which crew was coming up.”

The MCT representatives were “amazing” to work with, Mercer said.

Students from the Midale Central School performed Hansel and Gretel through the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Photo courtesy of Midale Central School’s Facebook page “They are so professional.

They are so fun. They are so ‘Go with the flow, we’ll do what makes it work.’They were absolutely fantastic. It was such a fantastic experience for

the kids, staff and community alike,” said Mercer.

She noted that the school and the community came together, with staff ensuring everything worked

and they could overcome obstacles that came up. The town was fantastic with their support as well, with parents preparing rehearsal meals for the kids.

Deadline approaching to enter music festival The Estevan and District Music Festival is gearing up for the 2022 edition.

Registrations for the festival opened on Jan. 7 and will close on Feb. 4. They can be found online at www.emfd.musicfestivalsuite.com.

This year’s festival is slated

to start in late March, with piano from March 27-31; vocal, musical theatre and spoken word from April 3-6; and band, strings and instrumentals on April 6 and 7.

Dates are tentative as they depend on the number of entries.

The festival syllabus can be

found at www.smfa.ca.

In an email to the Mercury, it was noted there have been a few changes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The festival is to be an in-person event with a few exceptions. The Saskatchewan Music Festival Association

requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for each participant 12 years of age and older.

Due to this change, virtual submissions for bands and choirs will be allowed. Vocal and instrumental solos and duets will be

performed live.

Those going to provincials or Western Canadians must have proof of vaccination as those will be held at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, which allows only vaccinated people to enter their venues.

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Residents discuss ideas for downtown revitalization Ideas for the future appearance and amenities in downtown Estevan were discussed at a meeting Jan. 26 at the Nicholson Centre.

A couple dozen people gathered to share their thoughts, which is part of Phase 2 for the revitalization project. The session started with a presentation by George Harris Collaborative – the consulting agency for the downtown revitalization efforts.

Harris shared the findings of an open house, christened Locals Know, in November.

“Our goal is to, potentially help to ensure growth of the town but also to ensure this town is stable and sustainable,” said Harris.

They have looked at the physical nature of downtown, which he said is bordered by 13th Avenue to the west, the CP Rail tracks to the north, Souris Avenue South to the east and Second Street to the south. All roads in Estevan lead to downtown.

Objectives include transforming downtown into a pedestrian-oriented area, designing more memorable spaces for people to come, making it a place where people want to remain, creating a well-connected open space system that brings people to and from downtown in a safe manner, reconnecting downtown to natural and urban settings, and reviving downtown in a creative way to connect people.

Their team looked at the comfort of pedestrians, the density of downtown, the frontage of businesses, and buildings with architectural value, including retail stores,

the Orpheum Theatre and more. Some buildings have two-story units or canopies, an occupied attic size and multiple doors for access.

Others have mixed use with commercial space on the ground floor and an upstairs residential suite.

Pedestrians have been a point of emphasis for the Harris group.

“We’re looking at some of the different things that would draw a pedestrian and what a pedestrian would be interested in. We created a diagram that we will use to think about nodes of activity, the circles or the nodes of interest that will draw people or enable people to move through this landscape.

We’re trying to encourage people to get out of move around here.”

It’s important to create safe streets where people can walk, not just at night with good lighting, but at crosswalks.

Parks, such as the Garden Park on Fourth, would be a big addition. A larger park could accommodate a concert, skating rink or playground.

Also a priority would be events in the downtown area that are exciting and will draw people regularly and at different times of the year.

“This is something we’re seeing in urban design and park design all over. It’s not enough to build a place. Municipalities are conducting activities in there. They’re having food truck days. Parks will put on yoga in the park.”

It helps that Affinity Place is so close to the downtown area, he said.

About 90 responses

have been received for the downtown revitalization survey, with 60 coming from November’s meeting and 30 online surveys.

People thought there weren’t enough trees, parks and open spaces downtown, but they thought streets were well-maintained. Visitors feel safe when walking alone on the sidewalks, rather than alleys or when crossing the street. Traffic feels to be on the fast side, Harris said.

A lack of parking keeps people from being downtown.

The people in attendance at the gathering were then divided into separate groups to get their input into the future of downtown Estevan. They shared what they would like to see downtown in terms of shopping opportunities, restaurants, coffee shops and more, and other amenities that could be added, such as parks and parking lots.

Also discussed was reducing the number of lanes of traffic on Fourth Street,

People who attended a downtown revitalization meeting in Estevan on Jan. 26 had their chance to plot out their vision for the area. and adding angled parking, to make it more pedestrian friendly.

A three-dimensional design of how the 1100-block of Fourth Street could look with changes was supplied.

Harris said he was pleased with the meeting and the ideas that were brought forward.

“The people that came out were super engaged and very interested. Our team, the consultants, got some

filed in March.

The city also announced that the business improvement district, along with additional funding from the city, secured the lots previously occupied by Kal Tire, located at Fifth Street and 13th Avenue. The city and BID are awaiting recommendations from the George Harris team before making any further decisions on how to implement changes to the downtown core.

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really great ideas. It really helped us understand the feelings and how the city people think,” said Harris.

He found people are thinking in a progressive fashion.

“They’re thinking about best practices in urban design,” said Harris.

There is an interest in reducing the number of lanes of traffic that he described as progressive but bold.

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CAPP projects investment will rise in 2022 The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) is forecasting a 22 per cent increase in natural gas and oil investment in 2022.

Capital spending in the sector is expected to grow by $6.0 billion to reach $32.8 billion, compared to an estimated total investment of $26.9 billion in 2021. (All figures in Canadian dollars).

The expected growth in spending for 2022 would mark the second straight year of significant increases in investment as Canadian producers look to capitalize on stronger commodity prices due to rapidly growing global demand for natural gas and oil.

Conventional oil and natural gas capital investment for 2022 is forecast

at $21.2 billion, up from an estimated $18.1 billion last year, while growth in oil sands investment is expected to increase 33 per cent to $11.6 billion compared to $8.7 billion last year.

While CAPP says this is great news for the struggling Canadian economy, within the context of total global investment Canada is continuing to lose market share to other jurisdictions. In 2014, CAPP said Canada was viewed as a top tier international investment jurisdiction for resource development and attracted $81 billion or more than 10 per cent of total global upstream natural gas and oil investment.

International energy research firm Wood Mackenzie is forecasting global spending on upstream

natural gas and oil production will reach $525 billion in 2022. Based on that forecast Canada has fallen to just six per cent of total market share, a four per centage point drop which represents over $21 billion in potential investment.

In 2022, producers in Saskatchewan expect to invest $2.7 billion in the province, a 16 per cent increase over 2021.

Saskatchewan’s 2021 upstream investment was forecast to reach $2.8 billion but updated estimates show producers spent $2.3 billion last year, a shortfall of approximately $500 million.

Increasing municipal costs in some rural jurisdictions have significantly raised concerns which are

likely contributing to a slowing of investment in the province.

“Canada’s natural gas and oil industry is continuing its path towards recovery,” said CAPP president and CEO Tim McMillan. “The growth in upstream investment will support jobs across the country and provide a positive boost to Canada’s economic recovery. Improving commodity prices and increased investment in natural gas and oil production will also deliver billions more dollars of much-needed government revenues to support Canadians as we work our way through the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”

“Rapid demand growth for oil and natural gas globally and strengthening commodity prices mean there

is opportunity for Canada’s industry for decades to come. To ensure a true recovery takes hold in Canada, government at all levels along with the industry must work together to create an environment where the natural gas and oil industry can thrive and attract investment back to Canada.”

“Demand for oil and natural gas is expected to rise and remain strong for decades. Every barrel of oil and molecule of natural gas not produced in Canada will be produced by other countries that likely do not match our high environmental and social standards. As one of the most innovative and responsible energy producers in the world, Canada needs to take on a larger role in meeting the growing global demand for energy.”

Estevan fire department partakes in campaign aimed at firefighters’ cancer prevention Feser also provided an update on the EFRS’s role in the provincial initiative aimed at minimizing and preventing the risks of developing cancer among firefighters.

“We’re one of 15 fire departments throughout the province that approximately two years ago started to take a look at firefighter cancer in the workplace and preventive measures that we can put in place to lessen the degree and exposure of firefighters to these carcinogens,” Feser said.

On Monday morning, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB), Jim Burneka with Firefighters Cancer Consultants, the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs, the Saskatchewan Volunteer Firefighters Association and representatives of Regina, Prince Albert, Estevan and a few other fire departments released the results of their work in this area.

“There’s a series of videos that were developed in order to hopefully educate fire departments and firefighters, not only in our province but across Canada and North America, to successfully put into place initiatives to prevent the amount of exposure to carcinogens that are known in the workplace,” said Feser.

“Some of them are decontamination of the firefighters, proper laundering of turnout gear, secondary turnout gear that’s available for the firefighters so that way they can put that in service right away, right down to exhaust management systems from the diesel exhaust or total exhaust management systems to put in place for the apparatus floor, particular blocking hoods, anything that we could possibly do to try to lessen the exposure of firefighters and hopefully diminish the number of cancers that are being caused to firefighters within the province.”

The Estevan fire department shared the practices that they’ve already implemented to make it safer for local firefighters in those videos to help educate other departments.

“We are proud to say that we partook in a lot of these videos. We have been very forward and proactive in

our preventive measures, as we do have a lot of these things that have been put into place into the new fire station here over the last couple of years,” Feser said.

The EFRS shared their experience with proper gear extracting, which is a special clothes washer that is designed to extract all the carcinogens from the turnover gear, which they’ve had put into service for about two years. They also have an entire exhaust management system that the City of Estevan was on board with right away when it was pitched by the EFRS. “It was a fairly costly endeavour. However, our most valuable resource and asset is the firefighters themselves, so we need to protect them,” Feser said. “We can’t thank the city council and the city manager enough to really have the foresight and believe in the vision that we’re seeing now.”

Estevan fire department also has a complete secondary turnout gear for all firefighters, as well as all of the particular blocking technologies.

“I think that the City of

Estevan has done great steps and strides here to make sure that we’re offering the highest level of protection to our staff,” Feser said.

The videos sharing information about steps to protect firefighters are uploaded to WCB’s worksafesask.ca and

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“We’re trying to make it as available as possible. So

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He added that some of the recommended measures are very cost-prohibitive, especially for smaller fire departments, and they will be looking into accessing some

provincial and federal funding to help make it work.

But other measures such as wet and dry decontamination on-site assume some regular thorough cleaning procedures that should be implemented to minimize firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens.

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Convoy to Ottawa Carievale’s Ken Hilton, a driver at Fast Trucking, has joined the convoy to Ottawa in Brandon, Man, a week ago and is currently in the capital. On the weekend, his semi was parked close to downtown, and he joins other protesters, partaking in rally against COVID-related public health measures. Photo submitted

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Carievale man part of the convoy to Ottawa

By Ana Bykhovskaia Many truckers arrived in Ottawa and surrounding areas as a part of the Freedom Convoy this past weekend.

The movement that was originally planned to urge the federal government to drop their vaccination mandates for cross-border, essential workers like truck drivers quickly grew into a larger protest against all COVID-related public health regulations.

The convoy left Western Canada on Jan. 24 and was picking up participants and gaining support while going east.

Carievale resident Ken Hilton, a driver with Fast Trucking, along with his neighbour Riley Carpenter and his sister Tierra joined the procession in Brandon, Man., on Jan. 24.

He made it to Ottawa with a Fast Trucking semi Saturday late afternoon and said the whole experience has been "pretty awesome."

"The downtown core is packed with vehicles and semis. The police have a lot of streets blocked off with heavy equipment. And there is, I don't know, thousands of trucks at the city right now, you can't even get in here," said Hilton in an interview with the Mercury on Sunday.

He said the estimates he heard were about 1,200 semis and 6,000 passenger vehicles from Western Canada partaking in protests in Ottawa as of Sunday. Monday morning Hilton also added that he was hearing reports that thousands of trucks were blocked outside the city and locked down in Quebec, and only a very small per cent made it to downtown.

"Everybody is cheering and peacefully protesting, people have given speeches,"

Hilton said, describing what's been happening around him.

As of Monday morning, police haven't reported any physical violence at the ongoing rally in Ottawa.

Hilton said that Sunday morning there was a ceremony at the War Memorial to show respect for the memorial and the fallen soldiers, for which truckers bought a lot of flowers to place them at the site, which was spray-painted during the rally.

"There are people here that are trying to make us fail.

But hopefully, we can send a good message," Hilton said.

At the time of the interview, Hilton's truck was parked on Slater Street, a few blocks from Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa.

However, on Saturday he and other protesters got trapped further away from downtown, where the vehicles stayed until Sunday morning. Protesters walked to the parliament in the evening to join the demonstrations.

"This morning, the police were kind of slacking and they opened up a gap. And a bunch of us lined up and pushed through the gap. They couldn't stop us all. They eventually got it back off again, but 100 of us this morning made it closer to downtown," Hilton said. "There's still lots of room down here, but the city and the police have it all blocked off.

It's hard to move."

When Hilton first heard of a potential convoy heading to Ottawa, he thought of joining right away, but while the anti-mandate message was something he wanted to stand for, it still wasn't an easy decision as he would have to leave family behind. He wrote a draft of a message to his boss, Dennis Day, the owner of Fast Trucking, but then he

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took two more days to think it through before he actually sent it.

"We were on a rig move, and I was sitting there waiting to get loaded and thought, I'm gonna send it to him. And I sent it to him. And he's like, 'Oh, you want to go?' I was like, 'Yeah, that'd be great,'" Hilton recalled.

"It's just been too overwhelming with all the overreach that our government has.

And I don't like sending my kids to school wearing masks.

It'd sure be nice if they could grow up in the country that we grew up in," Hilton said, explaining his motivation to join the movement.

"And I didn't want to get the vaccine. I'm not going to say that I was forced, because no one forced me to, but I chose to take it to continue my job. And I don't feel that was right. We have the freedom of choice in this country. People fought for our freedom. The government shouldn't be able to decide what we do with our bodies," Hilton added.

"I thought it was a very good thought. So I told him if he wanted to go, he could go ahead and we'd supply him with everything to stay there for a month or two months, we'll pay him to stay there until something happens, something changes," Day said.

"He's there for himself and for everybody that works with Fast Trucking and for Fast Trucking," Day noted.

Day added he wanted to see someone from his company joining the convoy to deliver the message to the government, but it wasn't something he could ask for, as people would have to leave their families. So he was glad to support Hilton in his decision.

"It's two years of these mandates, telling people to get a vaccine when it isn't proven. And a lot of us got the vaccine because we had to get the vaccine to live our life or even to work," Day said. "We are supposed to be a free country. We've got the

vaccine, and you're still getting COVID. I'm one of them. I'm double vaccinated, and I still got COVID three weeks ago.

"And the other big reason why (I supported Hilton's decision to join the convoy) is we're already short in supplies in Canada, whether it's food or groceries, or parts … We're already short truck drivers in Canada, in the U.S., and if we lose more ... How come for two … years truckers were essential, and they could go back and forth. And now two years later, they want to change it. That's not right either," Day said.

Day picked up Hilton's expenses, but Hilton said that they will be filling up the forms needed to reclaim the money raised through the GoFundMe campaign to cover the convoy fuel costs.

Just like many other protesters, Hilton said he plans on staying for as long as it's needed for the government to hear their concerns.

"I feel like most of the people are planning on staying here as long as they can.

Obviously, everybody can't stay forever. But hopefully, we can stay long enough for the government to realize there's something going on in this country, and they need to address it," Hilton said. "I'd like to probably stay two weeks or more, but we'll see what happens. It'd be nice to go home early obviously, I have family and work to go back to, but I got a go-ahead and stay as long as it takes from the boss," Hilton said.

While they were driving to Ottawa, there were a lot of people supporting the convoy along its route.

"A big thanks to all the supporters along the highway there. In every town we went through, there were people on both sides, from the west side of town all the way to the east side of town. Every major intersection or set of lights all the way along the No. 1 Highway, down Highway 17. There are so many people at all the overpasses. It's just

Ken Hilton of Carievale, who works for Fast Trucking, joined the convoy to Ottawa, meeting them in Brandon. Photo submitted by Ken Hilton

Riley Carpenter and his sister Tierra of Carievale also joined the convoy protesting against vaccination mandates. Photo submitted by Ken Hilton unbelievable to see all the support … People offering food and windshield washer fluid and money, just everything," Hilton shared.

Hilton also gave a shoutout to Prairie Boys Spray Foam, whose employee is partaking in the convoy alongside him.

DID YOU THANK A TRUCKER TODAY? www.bbaxtertransport.ca 306-634-3616

WE SUPPORT THE FREEDOM CONVOY 2022 102 Perkins St, Estevan, SK (306) 634-3553

Serving SE Sask. www.gencoasphalt.ca • (306) 634-8001

Thank you to the hard-working truckers who keep our economy strong.

Lori Carr ESTEVAN

Estevan Constituency Office 306.634.7311 loricarrmla@sasktel.net saskparty.com/carr

www.SASKTODAY.ca

February 2, 2022 A11

Large crowd gathers in Estevan for freedom rally

By David Willberg A large crowd gathered in front of the Estevan Court House on Saturday afternoon for a freedom rally to show support for truck drivers, and to voice opposition to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The demonstration was held at the same time in which thousands of people were gathering in Ottawa as part of the Freedom Rally truck convoy.

The Estevan rally saw people line Fourth Street in front of the Court House. Many of them toted signs. Some of them expressed their support for truckers and all that the big-riggers have done for Canadians since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Others had signs that called for the end of vaccine passports, public masking measures and other existing restrictions.

Many of them carried Canadian flags.

After opening with O Canada and a prayer, there were speeches from a few in attendance, including Jay Riedel and Emily Gillies. Riedel thanked everyone for turning out to support the fight for freedom.

Riedel, who noted he’s been among those publicly fighting the carbon tax since

December 2018, said he believed they would only attract the public when people are directly affected.

“In light of what’s happening right now in Canada and around the world, people are affected and we’ve had enough,” he said.

Currently the mayor of Roche Percee, he questioned why other elected officials in the Estevan area were not present.

He also said Canadians are tired of restrictions, government overreach, mask mandates and being told not to have large family gatherings.

“Parents and grandparents are tired of being unable to watch their kids play hockey, or take in their child’s events,” said Riedel.

And small business owners have seen their enterprises, which they spent a lifetime building, fall apart because of restrictions. The mental health of far too many people in the community has suffered.

Riedel noted that the trucking community pegs the number of trucks that currently can’t cross the border at around 38,000, creating further strain for the supply chain.

He called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden to remove the vaccination mandate against

the trucking industry.

“These truckers have been heroes. They selflessly drove through the pandemic, keeping the supply chain going.”

Riedel then led people in a chant of “freedom.”

Gillies hoped that people have seen the lineups of people on frozen highways and overpasses who waited to watch the convoys pass by on its way to Ottawa.

“Have you felt the positivity? Have you felt the joy?

Have you felt the unity? Yeah!” said Gillies. “Has it brought a team to your eyes? Because it has to me.”

She hopes the crowd has heard the stories of people who have been negatively impacted because they refused to don a mask or take what she called “an experimental shot.”

Riedel noted that Premier Scott Moe voiced his support for the truckers, and that the premier would lift the proof of vaccination requirement before too long. But then Riedel said it’s too late.

Many passing motorists supportively honked their horns at the demonstrators.

Once the speeches were completed, many of those in attendance participated in a convoy from Estevan to North Portal and back.

Protestors lined Fourth Street in front of the Court House during the rally in Estevan on Saturday.

Many people attended the rally on Saturday in Estevan.

People from Estevan attended rally in Regina Rallies were held in communities across Canada on Saturday in support of the Freedom Convoy to Ottawa, including a large one in Regina.

Trucks travelled from

throughout the province and ended up at the Saskatchewan legislature, where a crowd greeted them. Cloe Legault, a Grade 12 student at the Estevan Comprehensive School, was

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among the people from the Estevan area present, toting a Canadian flag and a sign that said “Canadian Heroes” with a drawing of a semi-trailer unit.

“I support the truckers.

I think what they’re doing is really important for Canada as a whole, and it’s now inspired other countries as well,” she said.

She believes the work that truckers are doing is really important. Lots of parents and children were in attendance and brought signs. It was good to see everyone come together.

Not only was she surprised with the number of people present, but she didn’t expect to see

so many young people.

“There was definitely a lot more people than I initially thought. I thought lots of them would be in the convoy going through town. Just around me alone, there was probably about a thousand people, and we were just standing on the street, not by the legislative building,” said Legault.

Some of the young people were holding signs as well, and others held heart balloons to support the truckers.

Those who weren’t at the legislature were lining streets of the Queen City to support the truckers.

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Cloe Legault showed her support for truckers at the rally in Regina

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Bruins scored 17 times in weekend romps over Melville

By David Willberg The Estevan Bruins appear to be regaining their offensive punch.

The Black and Gold scored 17 times in a home and home with the Melville Millionaires on the weekend, drubbing the Mills 8-2 Saturday night in Melville and 9-3 Sunday in Estevan.

The Bruins trailed Melville 2-1 midway through the first period on Saturday, but had a 4-2 advantage by the end of the opening frame, and then pulled away. Olivier Pouliot had two goals and two assists, and Cody Davis also scored twice. Nolan Jones, Mikol Sartor, Keagon Little and Mark Rumsey also scored.

Sunday’s game was tied at 3-3 in the second after Melville scored twice in 14 seconds, but the Bruins notched three goals before the period was out, and added three more in the third.

Zach Burfoot and Eric Houk each had two goals for Estevan, and Rumsey added three assists. Alex Von Sprecken, Eric Pearce, Caelan Fitzpatrick, Kade Runke and

Little also scored.

Sunday’s game was also The Brick Teddy Bear Toss night. Just like the promotion before Christmas, fans tossed stuffed animals onto the ice after Burfoot scored the Bruins first goal of the night. The bears were rounded up and will be donated to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

Previous games saw the Bruins double up the Weyburn Red Wings 4-2 last Wednesday but lose 4-3 in a shootout to the Yorkton Terriers the following night.

Both games were at Affinity Place and were make-up dates from contests that had to be rescheduled.

Mitch Kohner, Houk, Runke and Little had the Bruins’ goals against Weyburn.

Kohner’s goal was his first in the SJHL. Davis, Fitzpatrick and Rumsey had the goals against Yorkton. The goals for Fitzpatrick and Rumsey came 22 seconds apart in the second period when the teams were playing four-on-four.

Cam Hrdlicka was in goal for all four games. He

Bruin forward Cody Davis leans into a shot during Sunday’s game against Melville. made 24 saves against Weyburn, 38 against Yorkton, and 27 and 23 in the respective games against Melville. Boston Bilous, the team’s No. 1 netminder, has been sidelined with an injury.

Playing four games in five nights was challenging, said Hrdlicka, as he hasn’t had a stretch like that since he was at the U15 level, but he said he has been taking care of his body and doing the necessary stretching.

“I do the right things off the ice to make sure I’m prepared for each game,” said Hrdlicka, whose record now stand at 13-1-1.

“I think I’ve had some good stretches,” he added later.

“Definitely some stretches in certain periods where I think I’ve fallen off a bit, and let in a few goals that maybe I want back, but the team has stayed strong in front of me and allowed me to get back into the game when I needed to.”

Head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic said Hrdlicka has played great for them all season, and they have confidence in him against anyone.

“He’s a good goaltender and he deserves the success he’s been having.”

Tatarnic was pleased to see Burfoot scored twice on Sunday.

“I think he’s been playing really well and he’s been putting up some good numbers.

It’ll make it tough for us as coaches with lineup decisions if he keeps going that way.”

Tatarnic believes the team is starting to regain the form it had before the Christmas break. The club had a couple of lengthy breaks, one due to the Christmas break and the other due to COVID protocols.

“We addressed a couple of things in Melville during the game, and I thought we got better as the game went on. Same with tonight (at home), I thought we had a little lapse there when they tied it, but you have to stay composed and not panic and just focus on the task at hand.

I thought they did a good job of that.”

Playing four games in five nights also helps with conditioning.

“It’s a good indicator for us as coaches to see who has the drive and is willing to go the extra mile.”

The Bruins (31-7-1-3) will host the Nipawin Hawks on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. and the Flin Flon Bombers on Feb. 4 at 7:30. Then they will visit the Terriers on Feb. 5.

Shaw named top Sask. female athlete of the year Midale's Keely Shaw has added to her list of athletic accolades.

Shaw, who now resides in Saskatoon, was named Saskatchewan Sport's Female Athlete of the Year Thursday night during a virtual ceremony. She was nominated by the Saskatchewan Cycling Association.

She won bronze in the women’s C4 3,000-metre individual pursuit, recording a time of three minutes, 48.342 seconds in what was her first-ever event at the Paralympics.

Shaw edged Australia’s Meg Lemon in the bronze race at the velodrome.

She also finished fourth in the time trial with a time of 42 minutes, 11.09 seconds, and 13th in the road race.

Her medal was the first for a Canadian at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Also on Thursday, the Team Sask. 15U girls' water polo squad was named Team of the Year. Among the members of that team is Oxbow's Rachel Tober.

They won the 15U National Water Polo Championship, after they recovered from a four-goal deficit in the final five minutes of the championship game.

Viewers and supporters gathered virtually Thursday night to celebrate the finalists and recipients of the 2021 Saskatchewan Sport Awards.

The annual awards program honours the achievements and dedication of S askatchewan’s amateur

sport community. This year, the program returned with a full slate of award categories after an altered program was presented for the 2020 awards.

In the excellence awards, 18 individuals were announced as finalists in six different categories, including Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Youth Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year and Team of the Year.

The recognition awards honoured seven deserving recipients with the Coach a n d Vo l u n t e e r D e d i c ation Awards, as well as the new Inspire through Sport Award.

“On behalf of S ask Sport and its membership, I would like to congratulate

all of the Saskatchewan Sport Awards finalists and recipients,” said Lance Dudar, volunteer chair of Sask Sport, during the program.

“Tonight, we are honoured to celebrate outstanding amateur athletes, teams, coaches and volunteers from across Saskatchewan. These individuals lead by example daily to show everyone that sport, truly, is more than a game. “ The dedication and perseverance each award finalist and recipient shares make them great ambassadors for both sport and this province. The stories and accomplishments on display throughout this awards program have made me proud to be from Saskatchewan and part of the sport community.”

Midale’s Keely Shaw has been named Saskatchewan’s Female Athlete of the Year by Sask Sport. File photo

Carnduff gets two convincing wins in the Big Six The Carnduff Red Devils scored 21 times in two games on the weekend in the Big Six Hockey League.

Carnduff defeated the Carlyle Cougars 10-4 on Friday and the Wawota Flyers 11-4 on Sunday.

Carlyle led Carnduff 2-1 after the first period, but Carnduff scored six times in the second. Matthew Audette had a hat trick and Nico Anderson scored twice. Mark Moriarty, Justin Hollinger, Trevor Geiger, Ty Stovin and Justin Smith had the other goals.

Cooper Fox, Jon Gaudet, Billy Greenwood and Derek Fleck scored for Carlyle.

Landon Audet was the Carlyle goalie. Carnduff ’s goalie was not available.

In Sunday’s game, Geiger had three goals in the first period and finished with four in the night, to go

with four assists. Dominic Turner, Kody Martin and Smith each had two goals, and Stovin scored once and added five assists.

Shane Marsh was the Carnduff goaltender.

Ty Kotylak had two goals for Wawota. Taylor Ernst and Brandon Munro were the other Wawota scorers.

Zach Lees was the starting goalie for Wawota.

Also on Friday, the Midale Mustangs blanked the Wawota Flyers 3-0 in a battle between two teams vying for the eighth and final playoff spot, the Redvers Rockets doubled up the Oxbow Huskies 4-2 and the Moosomin Rangers beat the Bienfait Coalers 5-2.

Devon Johnson, Kendall Oliver and Brady Bjorndal scored for Midale against Wawota. Talen King

earned the shutout in goal.

Kyle Steinke was the goalie for Wawota.

Preston Kopeck scored twice for Redvers against Oxbow. Drew Hoff and Ausstin Dufresne had the other Redvers goals.

Cody Matthewson was the Redvers goalie.

Jordan Cooney and Liam Rutten were the Oxbow scorers, and Cody Levesque in goal for Oxbow.

Anthony Radkey scored three times for Moosomin against Bienfait, and Jevon Schwean and Bud Holloway also scored.

Daniel Wanner and Dallas Kickley had Bienfait’s goals.

Levi Horn was in goal for Moosomin, while Ethan Veroba was the Coalers’ netminder.

Oxbow upset Yellow Grass 8-5 in the lone game on Saturday. Derek

Cooney had two goals and four assists, and Jordan Cooney also scored twice for the Huskies. Blake Brooks, Kelby Widenmaier, Liam Rutten and Brycen Odgers had the other goals.

Z ac h Douglas and L uke Niemegeers each had two goals for Yellow Grass. Dylan Frey was the other scorer.

Levesque (Oxbow) and Terrick Wilderman (Yellow Grass) were in net.

The Coalers are scheduled to visit the Cougars and the Rockets are slated to be at the Red Devils on Tuesday.

Three games are slated for Friday: Oxbow at Bienfait, Yellow Grass at Moosomin and Carnduff at Carlyle. Wawota will visit Yellow Grass and Carnduff is at Bienfait on Saturday. Those games start at 8 p.m.

Oxbow will visit Wawota on

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Two games were played in provincials on Saturday. Moosomin defeated Wynyard 3-1 in Game 2 of their best of three senior C south quarter-final series to tie the matchup at 1-1. Game 3 will be Feb. 5 in Moosomin at 8 p.m.

Anthony Radkey, Monty Driver and Jacob Pillar scored in the first period for Moosomin. Kyler Beckett was the goalie.

Davidson defeated Redvers 5-4 in double overtime in Game 1 of their best-of-three senior C south quarterfinal. Game 2 will be Feb. 5 in Davidson, and Game 3, if necessary, would be Feb. 6, also in Davidson.

Remy Lamotte scored twice for Redvers. Kevin Mann and Daylin Smallchild had the Rockets’ other goals.

Cody Matthewson was in goal.

118 Souris Ave. N., Estevan

306-634-3696 www.senchuk.com

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February 2, 2022 A13

Estevan Minor Hockey hosts U13 house tournament The Estevan Minor Hockey Association hosted its annual U13 house tournament on the weekend.

Twelve teams participated, including four Estevan house league teams.

The Weyburn Legion Wings defeated the Weyburn Kinsmen Wings 9-3 in the A-side final of the tournament.

The Estevan Murray GM Royals beat the Yorkton Medicine Shoppe Terriers 7-5 in the bronze medal game.

In the B event, the

Este van P TW Panthers edged the Estevan Tarpon Storm 9-8 in the B-side final to take fifth place, and the Estevan Tower Wolves trounced the Prairie Storm Thunder 9-2 for seventh overall.

The Royals went 2-0 in the round robin, beating the Prairie Storm Thunder 8-1 and the Strasbourg Maroons 8-0. They lost 7-4 to the Legion Wings in the semifinal round, putting them in the bronze medal game.

The Panthers opened with a 5-4 loss to the Wey-

Gedak rink qualifies for Tankard The Brent Gedak rink is returning to the SaskTel Tankard provincial men’s curling championship.

Gedak, who hails from Estevan, won all four games that he played, including the A final, at the last chance bonspiel Jan. 21-23 in Saskatoon.

Other members of the team are third Jason Ackerman, second Derek Owens and lead Curtis Horwath.

The Gedak rink opened with a 7-5 win in nine ends over Jaedon Miller, a game that Gedak led 7-3 after picking up three in the seventh end.

Then he defeated Ben Gamble 8-3 in six ends.

The Gedak rink trailed 3-0 through two ends, but took over with five in the third and then pulled away.

The third game was a 7-6 win over Daymond Bernath, a game that Gedak led 5-1 through four ends.

Benrnath scored one in nine and stole one in 10 to make it interesting.

The A final saw Gedak beat Joshua Heidt 8-6. Heidt scored three in the ninth end to lead 6-5, but Gedak responded with three of his own in the 10th.

Another local team, comprised of fourth Tye Olson, third Allan Walter, second Tyler Corbin and lead

Mark Walter, went 3-3 at the competition, bowing out in the C event.

They opened with an 11-2 win over Brad Heidt in five ends, keyed by five in the fourth end and three in the fifth. Then they lost 9-5 in nine ends to Bernath.

In the B event, the Olson rink scored two in the 10th to defeat the Anthony Neufeld rink 7-6, and won 9-4 in nine ends over Gamble. Olson had four in five and three in seven to pull away.

Olson dropped a 7-6 decision to the Steve Howard rink. The local entry stole four in the ninth end to lead 6-3, but then Howard scored four in 10.

Their final game was a 6-4 loss to Brett Behm.

Behm scored two in the 10th for the winning points.

Another local curler, Kris Keating, was on the Howard rink. They went 4-3 at the event. In addition to the win over Olson, they defeated Shawn Joyce 8-1, Samuel Wills 5-1 and Gamble 11-7. Their losses were 8-3 to Josh Heidt, 5-2 to Bernath and 9-1 to Michael Carss.

A total of five teams qualified for provincials from the last chance event. The Tankard will be Feb. 9-13 in Whitewood.

burn Kinsmen Wings, but recovered to beat the Yorkton Pathway Supply Terriers 10-7. Then they defeated the Wolves 6-1 in their semifinal game to reach the B final.

The Tarpon Storm lost 13-7 to the Legion Wings, but then blanked the Prairie Storm Lightning 7-0. They knocked off the PS Thunder 10-3 to advance to the B final.

And the Wolves lost 6-5 to the Medicine Shoppe Terriers before recovering to beat the Southey Marlins 4-3.

The Estevan PTW Panthers and the Estevan Tarpon Storm met in the tournament’s B final.

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Speedway sets its schedule for this year The Estevan Motor Speedway has established a tentative schedule for 2022, and much like the past two years, it boasts several doubleheaders.

For the second straight year, the season will open with an Enduro race on May 7. The first regular programs of the season will be May 13 and 14.

There will also be points races on June 3, 4 and 17, July 1, 2, 22 and 23, and Aug. 12, 13, 26 and 27.

The Aug. 12 and 13 programs will feature late models, while the Aug. 26 and 27 races will be track championship nights.

Each of the points nights will include IMCA modifieds, stock cars, sport mods and hobby stocks, along

with the slingshot developmental program.

President Brad Pierson said they went with mostly doubleheaders because of the ongoing restrictions for crossing the Canada-U.S. border, and the doubleheaders have succeeded in attracting Canadian drivers to the track.

A fall race is pencilled in for Sept. 10, and the year-end endure will be Sept. 17. The fall race would give the track one more program for the season, because people aren’t ready to have the season end in August.

“It could be a weekend that just brings a lot of cars in,” said Pierson.

Estevan is not scheduled to be

part of the Dakota Classic Modified Tour for the third consecutive year. Pierson said the modified tour organizers want to come back to Estevan, but it would be too difficult for everyone if the current border restrictions are still in place.

“Basically it’s protecting them more than us,” said Pierson. “There is the ability, if something changes with our border restriction, to be back on the schedule.”

It’s the speedway’s favourite event of the year, and a big draw for fans, so it’s disappointing if the tour doesn’t return this year.

The late models will likely be their biggest attraction of the year.

Last year’s kids’ night was a hit as

well, and they want to do more with it this year to attract more families.

The speedway once again faced challenges with the schedule. They didn’t want to have a program during the Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship, slated for May 20-29. And they don’t want to have an event competing with the Estevan Exhibition Association’s Energy City Ex, or the graduation night at the Estevan Comprehensive School.

“We have a couple more nights on the schedule this year,” said Pierson.

The track had to reschedule a couple race nights last year, but they didn’t cancel any programs due

to weather.

The speedway is also looking to bring in the IMCA sport compact class for a weekend. There is interest in getting them on the schedule, but they would need enough cars to be committed. And they are working hard to try to land a monster truck show for early August, as they have a few dates in August that would work.

“It’s huge money to bring them in, but I think we can make it work financially and still have some upside for the speedway,” said Pierson.

A monster truck show would be big, but it would also be well done, he said, and it could bring people from all over.

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 Position:

Zoning Consultation has been released to the public, if you have any concerns please contact Land Development at City Hall.

COURT OFFICER CAREER OPPORTUNITY

BYLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Organization: Estevan Police Service

Hours of Work:

Full Time / Monday to Friday

Job Term: Permanent Full Time

Wage:

$24 per hour 2 - year Temporary Full Time Position

Salary: $32.04 - $36.94 Per Hour ($66,643.20 - $ 76,835.20) The Estevan Police Service (EPS) is seeking a qualified person to manage court case files, prosecute provincial statutes and municipal bylaws, provide liaison services with the courts, and monitor the progress of files through the court system.

Applicants must possess the following requirements:

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Post secondary education and/or experience in a related field to justice, criminal law, law enforcement, and/or the legal system.

• Possess a valid driver’s license.

• Pass a Police Security Clearance and background check.

Enforce City of Estevan Bylaws Property Maintenance Inspections Parking Enforcement Animal Control

Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of policies, procedures, and legislation related to court proceedings, administration, and documentation to coordinate activities at court and ensure appropriate preparation and completion of all required court documents and information.

Respond to Bylaw complaints and public inquiries Issue Bylaw Offence Notices Maintain a daily report management system

Knowledge of relevant sections of legislation, provincial offenses, and municipal bylaws to coordinate court proceedings prepare briefs and other court documents.

Applicant must possess the following requirements: Pass a Police Security Clearance check Valid driver’s license Computer skills

Knowledge of court processes, procedures, operations, and scheduling to coordinate and monitor court proceedings.

Knowledge of application software programs to prepare, update and maintain court-related records.

Excellent interpersonal communication skills

Organizational skills to coordinate and track all arrangements and documentation pertaining to EPS case files being processed in court.

Ability to work independently and efficiently with accuracy Comprehend and work within the justice system

Exceptional interpersonal, oral & written communication skills.

Previous experience/education related to Criminal Justice, Policing, Bylaw Enforcement, etc., would be an asset. Training provided.

Applications are available on our website at www.estevanpolice.ca or the Estevan Police Service. Return completed applications including a current resume to:

Ability to problem-solve and coordinate to provide direction, resolve issues and make decisions.

Applications are available on our website at www.estevanpolice.ca or the Estevan Police Service.

Return completed application package including a current resume to: Sheila Chartrand Estevan Police Service 301-11th Ave. Estevan, Sask.

S4A 1C7 Email: schartrand@estevanpolice.ca

Sheila Chartrand Estevan Police Service 301-11th Ave. Estevan, Sask.

S4A 1C7 No phone calls. Only successful candidates will be contacted. The closing date for applications is February 28, 2022.

No phone calls. Only successful candidates will be contacted. The closing date for applications is February 14, 2022.

Request for an Expression of Interest – Satellite Food Vendor Services.

The City of Estevan is exploring local interest from qualified vendors to supply and serve consumable food items during select events at Affinity Place. There are two spaces available for set up on the concourse level, each measuring approximately 4 meters by 4 meters. Vendors must be fully self-contained, set up within an hour of a scheduled event and take down within an hour of event ending. If this expression of interest results in more than two qualified vendors,a lottery system will determine the occupancy for the two available spaces. These are not areas to prepare food, rather these are designated spaces to set up a distribution and serving of your products prepared off site. Standard 20-amp electrical outlets are available but no water. The Compensation to the City will be 10% of your gross sales. Preference will be given to foods that will not compete with existing products or services.

Interested vendors must include reference to / compliance with: • Workers’ compensation coverage and in good standing • Liability insurance • Food Safe certificates • Public Health inspector permits and applicable inspection • Valid City of Estevan Business License • Products intended to serve For further information, please contact Rod March, City of Estevan at 306-634-1816.

Please help keep our sidewalks safe so all citizens can enjoy a safe passage while walking Traffic Bylaw 2016-1963 Depositing Substances 53. (1) No person shall deposit any natural substances on any highway, public sidewalk, boulevard or ditch within the City of Estevan (3) The occupier of property in the City of Estevan shall remove any snow, ice or other obstruction from the public sidewalk adjacent to such property within twenty-four (24) hours of the time such snow, ice or other obstruction appears on such public sidewalk. * In the event that this subsection is not complied with, the City may remove such snow, ice or other obstructions at the expense of such occupants or owner, and in the event of the non-payment of such expense, such expense may be charges against the property as a special assessment to be recovered in like manner as and with the taxes.

PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED ZONING BYLAW The City of Estevan is pleased to release a draft Zoning Bylaw for public consultation. This is the companion regulatory document that is tied to the City’s Official Community Plan. The City will now enter into a consultation phase with stakeholders and other interested parties on the content of the draft bylaw until February 18, 2022.

Due to provincial and local restrictions, the Land Development Services will not be hosting a town hall format consultation. Instead, the following options are available to arrange for consultations: • In-person meetings on an individual basis either at City Hall or an off-site location, • Group meetings hosted by the group at a non-City owned location, • Zoom meetings, and • Phone consultations.

Please participate in this important consultation process. Meetings or in-person discussions may be booked through Land Development Services: landdevelopment@estevan.ca or phone 306-421-4483.

The draft document may be viewed at City Hall during regular office hours or viewed online at www.estevan.ca.

Richard Neufeld, Manager, Land Development Services

CLASSIFIEDS A15

| Wednesday, February 2, 2022 | www.SASKTODAY.ca

Predators win in Midale

Obituaries James McAllister 1958 - 2022 James (Jim) McAllister passed away peacefully at the St. Joseph’s Special Care Home, Estevan, Sask. on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at the age of 63.

Jim will be lovingly remembered by his siblings: Dale (Maddy) McAllister, Berva (Garry) Mamchur, Verna Cook, Pat (Les) Tessier, Lynn (Peter) Gigian and Trudy (Don) McEwen, as well as many nieces, nephews and

cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Gilbert and Jennie (Hansen) McAllister and his brother-in-law Don Cook.

Jim worked at Auto Electric Service for 35 years. Camping with family, golfing with his brothers-in-law and hiking with Don in B.C. were some of the things he enjoyed in his younger years.

A graveside service to honour Jim will be held at a later date.

Those wishing to pay tribute to James via a donation in his memory may do so directly to the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of South Saskatchewan, Box 37115, Regina, Sask., S4S 7K3, or online at sbhac.ca.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Jim’s family Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

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God has you in his keeping, We have you in our hearts.

Lovingly remembered and missed by Jim and Family

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Career OppOrtunities FOR SALE - Leask Community Hardware Store Fully stocked 5371 sq. ft. hardware store, built in 1985, located in a farming community with a population of approx.

400, with two Hutterite colonies and two First Nations close by. Includes two garages in town. Photos available upon request. Open to bids, 5% deposit required with a certified cheque. All bids must be submitted by February 10, 2022.

Highest bid not necessarily accepted. For more info, contact Warren 306-466-6535 or Lorna 306-466-9189.

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The Estevan U11 Predators took the gold medal in the Midale U11 tournament recently. Estevan opened the tournament with three straight victories over Weyburn teams, winning 9-3, 14-2 and 11-2. The final was against another Estevan team, the Vipers. The Predators prevailed 6-5 in a back and forth contest.

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A16 February 2, 2022

www.SASKTODAY.ca

Firefighters respond to collision with injuries Estevan firefighters helped with the response to a collision and responded to fire alarms and a hotel elevator issue last week.

On Jan. 24, at about 12.30 p.m., fire crews were called to a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Thirteenth Avenue and Eighth Street.

“When we did arrive on scene, we found that there were injured drivers while fluids leaking with airbag deployment on both vehicles,” said Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser.

“Crews assisted with traffic control, assisted with patient care, and then miti-

gated and isolated the leaks from both vehicles and vehicles to avoid any other accidental deployment of airbag systems.”

EMS transported one driver to hospital via ground ambulance for further assessments of injuries.

The other driver was treated and released on scene.

The vehicles sustained significant damage, and fire crews assisted the towing company.

Then the scene was turned back over to the Estevan Police Service to continue to investigate the cause of the collision.

The next call for service

came in at about 9 p.m. on Jan. 25. Firefighters were alerted by a commercial fire alarm that was going off in a multi-apartment building in northeast Estevan.

“Crews arrived on scene to find that it was a fourstory condominium complex, however, the fire alarm system was still intact and there was a local smoke alarm in one suite itself that was going off. So we continued to investigate to find that the cause of the alarm was cooking-related but isolated to that suite alone. We assisted the tenants in resetting the smoke alarm system for their suite,” Feser said.

On Jan. 26 at about 5:30 a.m., another commercial fire alarm went off in the northeast area of the city. Once crews arrived on scene, they found fire alarm system was indicating that a sprinkler system was active.

“Upon investigation with the maintenance staff, we found that an exterior sprinkler head had burst likely due to the cold weather. There were no emergency situations that were occurring. We assisted with isolating branch lines to the system and turned the scene back over to the maintenance staff to repair the sprinkler head and return the system

back to normal,” Feser said.

Firefighters received a call for service on Sunday at about 8:30 p.m.

A call for an elevator rescue came from a hotel in northeast Estevan. The elevator was trapped on the second level, and it was originally unknown if there was anyone inside.

Crews arrived at the scene to find that the elevator was still inactive. They successfully provided an elevator rescue to the main floor and opened up the doors. Fortunately, there was nobody trapped inside the elevator. The elevator was then returned to normal service

and the scene was turned back over to the hotel staff.

"Just a gentle reminder, now as it often happens on the weekends, there's lots of hockey teams or whatnot (staying in hotels). Just talk to the children there to make sure that they're not playing with the elevator buttons when you're staying at hotel occupancies," said Feser.

"If you find yourself trapped in an elevator, you need to use the onboard system in the elevator cart itself or use your cell phone if you do have it with you.

Immediately call 911 and the fire department will be dispatched to your aid."

Exhibition invites community for a Valentine’s supper The Estevan Exhibition Association (EEA) is hosting a Valentine's Evening fundraiser on Feb. 12.

Stacey Holtz, an EEA board member organizing the fundraiser, said everything is set for a festive evening, which will include a four-course supper and live entertainment.

"We are going to be featuring local musician Jacquie Walbaum, as well as debuting a very young artist, his name

is Daylin Ashworth. He's from Estevan," Holtz said.

Walbaum, who hails from Forget, is a highly regarded teacher and performer in southeast Saskatchewan.

Newly minted with her bachelor of education, she combines her adept musicianship with deep pedagogical knowledge.

Her innovative approach to music combines traditional along with fun modern music.

Walbaum performs with

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her husband Aaron as Wooltree Grove. The duo is passionate about lyrics and tight harmonies. Walbaum as a solo act is described as a folk/indie style of music that speaks to your soul.

She is also a former Estevan Idol (now Estevan Sings) winner.

Ashworth is in Grade 10 at the Estevan Comprehensive School and says that music is his passion. He's been playing the guitar for almost three years and recently started playing piano and singing.

He adds that he hopes that people feel uplifted when he

plays his music.

Eddie Websters is to cater the supper, which will offer a choice of an appetizer, stuffed mushrooms, tomato and basil bruschetta or mixed green salad, a choice of entrée – brie and cranberry stuffed chicken or a duck breast; and a special Valentine's dessert.

The cash bar will be available throughout the night.

The EEA is a non-forprofit organization, and the fundraiser will help them with current expenses, Holtz said.

"We basically run our operating costs on fundraising events throughout the year. Of

course, our biggest fundraisers are the fair and rodeo. And this is just another way that we can maintain our grounds and maintain all of our buildings by running these fundraising events," Holtz explained.

The event will take place at the Estevan Exhibition Hall. The doors open at 6 p.m., and Holtz said they expect it to go until about 9-9.30 p.m.

"For Valentine's evening, we are really wanting to get the community involved. We know this is a scary time with COVID, but we hope this can be a positive experience and a safe atmosphere that people

can get out within the community and have a good time and support a good cause," Holtz said.

Tickets are $75 per person, or $550 for a table of eight. If a company purchases a table, they will receive a tax receipt.

For tickets, call or text Holtz at 306-421-2262 or message the Estevan Exhibition Association through their Facebook page. The deadline is Feb. 6.

A negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination is required as set by the provincial health regulations.

In�it��on for Expressions of Interest Allison Park Store is a successful resort store which has been opera�ng since 1969. It is located within Moose Mountain Provincial Park beside the Village of Kenosee Lake in south-east Saskatchewan. The store consists of a 4000 square foot building with decks and covered sea�ng area and all equipment to run a grocery and general store and ice cream shop plus the possibility of expanding the fast food por�on of the business. Located nearby in the park are cabins, campsites as well as a golf course, boat launch, miniature golf, riding stables, restaurant and many other ac�vi�es.

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JOB POSTING:

Manager of Support Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital

JOB DETAILS:

A full-time opportunity exists for Manager of Support Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Estevan. The holder of this position is accountable for ensuring the program goals are met for the departments they are responsible for, and that the delivery of these services is consistent with policies, standards, legal requirements, philosophy and mission of St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

KEY POSITION DUTIES:

The Manager of Support Services will be accountable for the planning, organization, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of position duties and responsibilities including but not limited to: • Hiring of staff • Performance reviews • Direct staff supervision • Ensuring policies and procedures are developed and implemented • Budget review and assessment • Project management • Working with the management team to achieve organization goals

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• Degree or diploma in management program and/ or equivalent combination of education and experience suitable to the employer.

• Licensed and in good standing with professional association and/or regulatory body, if applicable St. Joseph’s Hospital of Estevan has been serving the community since 1938 and we offer a wide range of services to Estevan and surrounding area. http://stjosephsestevan.ca/ Please send your resume by February 4, 2022 to Mark Pettitt at mark.pettitt@saskhealthauthority.ca

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www.SASKTODAY.ca

February 2, 2022 A17

When the fog lifts from the coastline Although fog is a common occurrence to those of us living on the West Coast (perhaps the East Coast as well), these past several weeks we've been smothered in the grey stuff.

My normal view is of the Pacific Ocean, the east side of Vancouver Island and the islands in-between.

Lately, on many of those grey days, it's been impossible to see any of them.

After living here for nearly 20 years, I can visualize those features in my mind but what doesn't ever become normal is the sense of gloom and darkness accompanying fog. It's depressing.

All this has got me thinking of how important it is to see as well as experience. We all experience difficulties and during these two years of pandemic-based

Linda Wegner Words of Worth

emotional fog, we're dealing with a lot of things.

To begin with, there’s depression we’ve heard so

much about. For me, loneliness has occurred in a number of ways – some as seemingly inconsequential as not

being able to ride the bus, all the way to not being able to attend church in person. But forgive me, I’m not going to dwell on these things.

Last week we had the most wonderful and glorious of days. Early that morning, the sky lit up with sunrise shades of red, purple, and other colours I’m not even sure were in the blend; none the less, they were stunning.

All fog disappeared and

we delighted in blue skies, brilliant sunshine and some flowers in bloom. Although that glory only lasted a few hours, and by next morning the fog had rolled back in, it was enough to revive memories of what will be coming after winter.

Your life may be gloomfilled as you read this but remember: winter isn't forever; the sun and the Son are coming. Yippee!

Financial

A Special Supplement

PLANNING

Money Matters

The importance of having good credit A strong financial history benefits consumers in myriad ways.

Individuals with a history of paying their bills on time and avoiding significant consumer debt may be eligible for lower interest rates on big ticket items like homes and automobiles, potentially saving them tens of thousands of dollars over their lifetimes.

Though there are many ways to build a strong financial history, avoiding debt is always part of that equation. Credit scores are used to determine consumers' creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders and can affect eligibility for loans and the terms of those loans.

Understanding credit scores and how to build and maintain a good

credit rating can be vital to individuals' financial futures.

A credit score is a three-digit number between 300 and 850. The higher the number is, the better an individual's credit rating. The lower the number, the less creditworthy consumers become in the eyes of lenders.

What is the average credit score?

Credit scores in Canada range from 300 to 900, and the average score in Canada is around 650.

There's good news and bad news for Canadian consumers. The average rating in each country falls into the fair range. However, consumers should aspire for scores that are higher than the average in both

countries. A credit score above 720 is considered Excellent, and individuals with scores above 750 are in even better shape.

Such individuals may have access to financial products or be eligible for loan terms that people with lower scores are not privy to.

Making the most of those advantages can save consumers considerable sums of money over the course of their lifetimes and may help them build the type of generational wealth millions of people aspire to.

The best way to build and maintain a high credit score is to understand the factors that influence that score, such as payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit accounts and mix of

credit used Each of these categories are weighted, and none bears more significance than payment history.

Consumers who have demonstrated an ability to pay their bills on time and limit the amounts of debt they carry at any given moment are doing themselves a favour as they look to achieve and maintain a high credit rating.

It's important that consumers distinguish consumer debt from student loan debt. Though each type of debt will be reported to the three major credit bureaus, student loan debts that are paid on time each month are generally considered "good debt" because they demonstrate an individual's ability to make

installment payments on time over a significant length of time. That's what consumers will need to do if they hope to purchase a home in the future and finance it with a mortgage loan.

Unlike student loans being repaid in installments, consumer debts like credit card balances must be paid in full each month for consumers to avoid potentially hefty interest charges. Consumers who can't pay those balances in full each month are not demonstrating creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders, and that will have an adverse effect on their credit ratings.

Understanding credit and how to build and maintain a strong rating is vital to individuals' financial futures.

Four tips for preparing for tax season Tax season isn't something most people look forward to, particularly if they suspect they owe money.

However, a few tax prep tips can make the process of filing a return and, if necessary, paying back taxes as pain-free as possible.

1. Call your tax preparer early. If you use an accountant or another tax preparer, be sure to book the appointment as soon as possible because slots fill up quickly. You don't want to wait until the last minute and find there are no remaining appointments.

2. Establish a tax preparation folder.

Certain documents will arrive that will be needed to file your taxes, such as your T4.

When items arrive, stash them in your tax folder so you'll have all necessary paperwork at the ready.

3. Avoid tax scams. As tax season draws near, tax scammers target unsuspecting individuals. You may find that you receive calls or texts from those purporting to be with the Canada Revenue Agency.

However, financial experts say that such agencies will never call you on the phone.

Another scam is individuals advertising a bigger refund when you use their services.

This is not how tax laws work nor is it possible to get a return larger than what is owed.

4. Utilize tax software. If you're not using an accountant and have a relatively cut-and-dry financial situation, modern tax software can be an easy and inexpensive way to do your taxes. These sophisticated programs ask a series of detailed questions and the entire process can be completed in relatively little time.

It's almost time to get income taxes in order. Certain tips can make the process go more smoothly.

New Advisor in Estevan

future-forward investing

Achieve your goals with an RRSP

Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) are a great way to invest in your future.

While potentially lowering your annual tax bill, they offer compounded, tax-free growth on your savings. Here are five ways that an RRSP can add to your financial future:

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A better retirement

The sooner and more you save, up to your allowable amounts, the better. Because your money will compound, growing your nest egg bigger. When you convert your RRSP into retirement income, which is mandatory the year you turn 71, you can access that money at a potentially lower tax rate.

A lower tax bill

Contributions are tax deductible. You can also defer deductions for a greater tax break when your income is higher. To be clear, RRSPs offer “tax deferred” (not “tax-free”) savings, which means you don’t pay income tax on the funds until they’re withdrawn.*

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START Save for retirement.

A chance for more tax savings

If you’re the higher earner, contributions can be made in your spouse’s name, while you enjoy the tax deduction. The withdrawals will be taxed at your spouses marginal tax rate. This is known as “income splitting.”

A growing contribution limit

Begin saving when you begin earning income and filing a tax return.

Your contribution limit is adjusted annually, based on income and the accumulation of unused room. This lets you maximize savings and tax breaks throughout your earning years.

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Michele Yergens, B.Admin, CFP® Senior Financial Advisor Michele Yergens, B.Admin, CFP® Assante Capital Management Ltd. Senior Financial Advisor 1330-4th Street Assante Capital Management Ltd. Estevan, SK thS4A 0X2 1330-4 Street myergens@assante.com Estevan, SK S4A 0X2 306-634-9008 myergens@assante.com 306-634-9008

RRSPs can help at every stage of life

SAVE Increase contributions to lower your taxes, as income rises.

SUSTAIN Convert to an RRIF to withdraw income in retirement.

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* Unless related to the Home Buyer’s Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan, and if repaid via annual installments within the designated time frame. **In the province of Quebec, the authorized representatives are Financial Security Advisors who have been duly certified by the Autorité des marchés financiers. Segregated funds are administered by Co-operators Life Insurance Company. Mutual funds are offered through Co-operators Financial Investment Services Inc. to Canadian residents except those in Quebec and the territories. Co-operators Life Insurance Company and Co-operators Financial Investment Services Inc. are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, accuracy and security of the personal information that we collect, use, retain and disclose in the course of conducting our business. Please visit cooperators.ca/en/PublicPages/Privacy.aspx for more information. Co-operators® is a registered trademark of The Co-operators Group Limited. © 2021 Co-operators Life Insurance Company. W2016 (10/21)

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A18 February 2, 2022

www.SASKTODAY.ca

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Calls for service for EPS were down in 2021, but remained above the five-year average

By David Willberg The Estevan Police Service (EPS) saw a decrease in call volumes in 2021.

According to numbers supplied at the Jan. 26 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners, the EPS had 8,648 total calls for service last year, which is down 3.5 per cent from the 8,947 they had in 2020, but still above the five-year average of 8,350.8 occurrences.

The total includes Criminal Code violations, traffic infractions and a variety of calls that the EPS receives.

In terms of Criminal Code violations, the EPS responded to 115 crimes against the person, down from 150 the previous year; 273 crimes against property, a decrease from 353; and 123 Criminal Code Traffic violations, up slightly from 115 in 2020.

Thirty-two charges were under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), down from 51.

Assaults accounted for the bulk of the crimes against people at 76, followed by 30 sexual crimes and seven assaults causing bodily harm.

Crimes against property included 114 thefts under $5,000, 109 mischief/willful damage complaints, 23 break and enters to a residence and 14 thefts of a motor vehicle. The number of mischief/willful damage incidents plunged from 185 in 2020.

Criminal Code traffic violations included 89 impaired driving/exceeding .08 charges, 26 impaired by drug charges and eight dangerous driving/ other charges.

CDSA charges included 19 for possession, 11 for trafficking and two for production.

Police Chief Richard Lowen, who started with the EPS on Sept. 20 of last year, said most of the Criminal Code violations are trending down.

“Our violent crime is coming down and our crimes against property are also coming down,” said Lowen.

It’s a good sign that they were

close to the five-year average in overall calls.

“It’s not increasing dramatically.

I would expect fluctuations from year to year, but we’re very close to the five-year average, so that’s a very good sign for us,” said Lowen.

One category that did see an increase is impaired driving by drug, with 26, compared to 15 in 2020 and 12 for the five-year average. Lowen attributed it to the equipment accessible for testing and the training of officers.

“When we look back five years, we didn’t have the same awareness or the same level of training for officers for recognizing the signs of impairment,” he said.

Still, he would like to see zero impaired driving charges in the community.

Lowen said he wants to look at how Estevan is categorizing some of its calls, such as scam-related complaints, as the number of calls in the police numbers would be abnor-

mally high.

The biggest thing he has noticed since arriving in Estevan is the number of calls for well-being checks for mental health or concerns about safety, although he doesn’t have numbers. It’s a higher number than he would have expected.

Domestic violence would be the most common call for service in most communities, and wellness checks would be quite high, but it seems to be prevalent when he sees the reports for each day.

“I’m going to be looking at analyzing that a little more over the next few months to see what our numbers actually are, and if they’ve been going up in the last little while.

Mental health is a big priority for everybody in Canada right now, and that’s a good thing that we’re aware of it, but I have to look at why in a small community, there’s a great number of mental health calls,” said Lowen.

He noted the EPS is addressing it through the police and crisis team

Estevan Police Chief Richard Lowen. File photo (PACT), which was announced in the 2021 provincial budget.

Lowen is pleased the crime severity index has been quite low in Estevan for a number of years. It will likely be higher for 2021 because there was a charge for homicide in the city last June – the first in Estevan in seven years – but he hopes that the figure can return to previous levels, as that was something that attracted him to Estevan.

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