Estevan Mercury 20221005 12-24

By David Willberg

Anthony Cafik brings not only compassion and understanding to his role as a senior addictions counsellor at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan, but he also understands the challenges of battling addictions.

Cafik has been working in Estevan for about a year, and helping those with addictions for about 18 years, first in the private sector in British Columbia and then in Estevan. He spent 13 years at the Edgewood Treatment Centre on Vancouver Island, and moved on to Cedar’s at Cobble Hill, also in B.C., which has had a close association with St. Joe’s treatment facility.

Before he was a counsellor, Cafik worked in high technology and managed teams throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe. And he had his own battle with addictions.

“Over time I asked for help, and I decided to enter religious life from there,” said Cafik. “It was a bit of a change, but I felt like I was more caring for people suffering of addiction, and I found connection that I hadn’t experienced before, and it was different from the world of being successful in business.”

Alcohol and drugs filled a void that he was feeling when he was successful in business.

At one point, he spent several years at a seminary and thought about entering the priesthood, but the Catholic Church thought it would be better for him to be trained as a counsellor in addictions. When faced with the decision to be ordained, he found that his desire was to support those fighting their own battle with addictions.

“Edgewood really saw that I had a real gift for working with those with addictions with compas-

sion and empathy, and they had taught me the skills, so that’s where I chose my career path,” he said.

Cafik said he has always seen the need for universal care for those with addictions. Someone shouldn’t receive less treatment just because they can’t afford a private centre.

When Cafik saw Estevan wanted to partner with Cedar’s and bring that level of care to the public sector, he viewed it as a perfect opportunity.

The addictions treatment has been very busy, and after just a year, expanded to 32 beds with a waiting list. They are building a team in Estevan and they are bringing on some new counsellors, he said.

“I don’t know of anyone, really, who’s doing what’s done here at St. Joseph’s,” he said. “We have our own wing in the hospital that was expanded a few months ago. We’re a con-

tained unit, and it’s just really neat to have what I would say is recovery-oriented systems of care.”

Patients have access to various services available at the hospital.

Cafik views addiction as a disease, and it is listed as such in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Addiction also has symptoms.

Those who suffer from addictions find themselves in a situation in which once they start, they can’t stop, he said. So it’s important that they not start. Often, he said, they keep it quiet from families and friends because they feel shame.

The brain produces a natural pleasure chemical called dopamine, he said, but an addict doesn’t receive that chemical because the dopamine has been replaced. When the addict stops using, the body crashes and the addict suffers from anxiety, depression and insomnia.

“One thing in treating addiction, you have to be aware of that, and so does the patient. Sometimes an addiction can be hidden and nobody’s talking about it.”

Someone might go to their doctor with insomnia or social anxiety of depression and not talk about their addiction, and then they’re prescribed medication to fix the problem. The physician doesn’t know what’s happening.

“Proper treatment will last longer than 28 or 30 days, because you have to respect the body’s ability to start generating dopamine, its own chemicals, so that you’re balanced,

and that’s why we use a multi-disciplinary team with doctors and others to deal with this,” said Cafik.

It’s often not enough to throw someone with addiction into a centre for 28 days and hope they do well once they’re released.

“What we do is we want to set them up for success, so having supports, proper continuing care. We line them up with any doctors they need, proper medications that are appropriate and are not addictive, because sometimes addiction masks the initial mental health issue,” he said.

St. Joseph’s also teams up with external resources and supports like sober living. Once someone is released, they might not have a home to go to, or they might be returning to an abusive spouse.

“St. Joseph’s, and it’s great, has transitional living, and then we’ll also bridge that with different sober living programs. We make sure their environment is supportive for recovery. St. Joseph’s is looking at the whole picture,

because we actually want people to get well, fully.”

Success is having the program and the right team, he said. One of the main things is the community built within St. Joseph’s makes people feel comfortable, regardless of where they’re coming from.

“Addiction isn’t biased. It isn’t racist. It doesn’t care,” he said.

People have experienced the care here at St. Joseph’s, and when they’ve struggled, they have come back, he said. They want to connect with what they found in the centre, whether that be in recovery meetings or other services, and “that really says what St. Joseph’s is about,” he said.

The time he has spent in Estevan has been very enjoyable, and he is proud that St. Joseph’s is meeting the need locally and around the province. And Cafik asks people to support it, whether they say it or it’s in their hearts, because that will help make the centre a success.

Mental

St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan has been home to an addictions treatment centre for approximately two years. File photo

Anthony Cafik is a senior addictions counsellor at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan. Photo courtesy of Anthony Cafik

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Envision Counselling and Support Centre keeps providing support to residents of all ages in southeast Saskatchewan.

Laura Melle, assistant executive director with Envision, said they don’t see any ups and downs in demand for their services and are steadily busy helping the population. COVID-19 and associated restrictions created one kind of stress for people, but after restrictions were lifted they still saw a great need for counselling services.

“It seems that we go from one thing into another thing,” Melle said. “We’re supporting a lot of different individuals and families on a variety

of different issues ... And we always want people to know that if you are struggling, you don’t have to struggle alone, there is support.”

Envision has offices in Estevan, Weyburn, Carlyle and Oxbow, and they do their best to help anyone in need of counselling and support services in the broad southeast region. Their counselling programs are offered in person, over the phone and over video calls, so that clients could choose which option best serves their needs and is the most comfortable for them.

Envision provides counselling and support in all kinds of difficult situations including family and relationship counselling and breakdowns,

parenting issues, violence intervention and more.

“We work with all ages, five and up. We have one program for children exposed to violence based out of Estevan. We have family programs [in which we work with] families and individually,” Melle said.

“And then we also have a program that we started in the midst of COVID called Bridging the Distance. It’s a program that we’re able to provide with funding through the Community Initiatives Fund, and it is for the population 55 and older that are struggling with grief and loss and anxiety and depression and those types of things.”

Bridging the Distance allows Envision to offer support

to older people who wouldn’t fit into their other programs, and just like their other support services, it’s seen a lot of use during the pandemic.

“I think that’s really important for people to know that even if you don’t have intimate partner violence or a family breakdown situation, there’s still support for you,” Melle said.

Another valuable support program is Rapid Access Counselling. It’s offered in person out of the Salvation Army in Estevan on Mondays and Wednesdays. It is a free, immediate, accessible form of brief counselling. People can access same-day services without having to wait. Services are provided by qualified counsellors, and

they also help people connect to the community and health services they might need.

“It’s comforting to know that they can reach out and talk to someone when they need to instead of booking an appointment for two weeks from now,” Melle noted.

The program is also available in person in Weyburn and Oxbow on other days.

People can call Envision at 306-637-4004 or go to www. counsellingconnectsask.ca to find appointment availability at the three locations. If anyone needs support on other days or doesn’t want to have an in-person meeting, the above website allows finding counsellors from anywhere in the province, who will provide help virtually on any day.

Envision is also providing workshops. Their latest series is done in partnership with the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre at their location at the ECS and is focused on families There are still three meetings remaining in this series, with the Oct. 6 workshop dedicated to stress; Oct. 13 exploring self-care; and Oct. 20 dedicated to boundaries and self-esteem. Workshops start at 6 p.m. and in-house childcare is provided. These workshops became possible with the support of the William Sinclair Memorial Fund.

All of Envision’s community programs are free to the public. For more information see their website at www.envisioncounsellingcentre.com.

Mental health awareness supper and fundraiser

By Gord Paulley

For the second straight year, Dustin Boutin and Tyler Matthewson have organized a mental health awareness supper and fundraiser. It is being held Nov. 5 at the Carlyle Memorial Hall.

The 2021 inaugural event raised $33,000 with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association. A total of 145 people attended the supper last year with Jody Veroba as the guest speaker.

This year’s speaker is Carlyle resident Morgan Wasylyk. She and Ty Currie are getting married next year and Kitt is their four-year old son. Wasylyk is selfemployed as a mental health coach and is looking forward to participating.

“I couldn’t be more honoured to be speaking at this far-reaching and impactful event. As a mental health coach, someone who has had her share of struggle, and advocate for holistic wellness, I know firsthand how impor-

tant it is for us all to come together, support one another, but most importantly, make the most of our lives.

“This, of course, includes finding comfort, healing and learning on a mind, body and soul level. I’m thrilled, and naturally a little nervous, to share my story but I hope it will ‘land’ with whoever needs it most. Thank you so much to Tyler and Dustin for involving me in this noble cause.”

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Merit Ford,

the Queen of Hearts Beauty Lounge and Carlyle Home Hardware. Rylan and Cindy Weir of Manor are catering the supper.

Matthewson is expecting another great evening of conversation and bringing mental awareness out in the open.

“It was a great fundraiser for mental health in 2021 and we expect it to be bigger and better this year. We are capping our numbers at 150 so we urge you to get your tickets today.”

Canadian Mental Health Association offers programs for youths

The Canadian Mental Health Association has a variety of programs, including one for youths.

BounceBack is a free skillbuilding program from the CMHA Saskatchewan division designed to help youths ages 15 and older to manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.

“It’s common to feel low, stressed out, worried, depressed, irritable, angry or nothing at all,” states the CMHA website. “With the right tools and practice, you can reclaim your mental health. You have the power to make positive changes, and we are here to help.

With BounceBack, people

will have access to a trained coach and skill-building workbooks that can be selected to fit your needs.

It is estimated that 10-20 per cent of Canadian youths are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

For youth coping with mild

to moderate depression and/ or anxiety, BounceBack coaching offers low-intensity, highly accessible telephone-guided, cognitive behavioural selfdirected with written workbooks. The duration of the program is approximately two to three months and a maximum of six guided sessions.

Healthy emotional and so-

cial development lay the foundation for mental health and resilience in childhood and throughout life.

Working Together for Change: A 10-year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Saskatchewan is a report that strongly recommends a focus on prevention and early intervention as it is

important to provide youths with the tools and skillset to navigate their own experiences of mental health to live happier and healthier lives.

Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80 per cent of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.

World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10, is an annual opportunity to raise awareness about mental health issues and take steps to improve your well-being. One important part of strengthening your mental health is learning how to better identify and understand your emotions.

Dustin Boutin, Morgan Wasylyk and Tyler Matthewson are looking forward to the second annual mental health awareness supper. Photo courtesy of Facebook page

Estevan Police

The Estevan Police Service recently found its new bylaw enforcement officer.

Anna Volmer was sworn in and started the new position with the EPS on Sept. 26, following the departure of previous bylaw officer Morgan Prentice.

“Today we got to say thank you and wish our bylaw officer, special constable Morgan Prentice, a fond farewell as she moves on to new opportunities. Thank you for your service to the City of Estevan,” said EPS on its social media on Sept. 28.

Volmer, who hails from Germany, has been calling Es-

tevan home for 15 years. She said it feels great to start with the EPS and she was “super excited” about the new opportunities.

“I have no background in working for the police but I am looking forward to a new career path with new challenges and opportunities, as well as looking forward to educating the public about current bylaws and helping in keeping the city and its residents well,” Volmer said.

She saw the EPS job posting and thought it could be a great fit for her, so she put in her application. She said the process was pretty intense

with a lot of questions she had to answer. She had to demonstrate good judgement and good communication skills, as well as good observation and problem-solving skills.

Volmer moved to Estevan when Energy City had a lot of job vacancies. So Volmer chose to try to help fill the void.

“I came here for work. And this is where I stayed. I love this town. And I’m happy here. This is where I want to stay,” Volmer said, adding that ever since she moved to Estevan from Germany, she’s never lived anywhere else in Canada.

She used to have her pho-

tography business, which, unfortunately, didn’t make it through the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that she also had several jobs in graphic design, including working for the Estevan Mercury at one time. And while law enforcement is completely new for her, she believes the job will be a good fit.

“I always look for more possibilities and new opportunities and challenges. I’m pretty versatile. I adapt well and fast. So for me, this is very exciting and I’m looking forward to my new opportunities and challenges with the police,” Volmer said.

United Way continues to need bid items for telethon

The bid items continue to be a vital part of the United Way Estevan’s telethon.

Dozens of homemade items will be available for peo-

ple to purchase through a silent auction at the telethon on Oct. 14 and 15 at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch. Michelle Beaulieu, who is the

chairperson of the bid and raffle committee, said they have received a lot of really nice donations this year, and they have a couple of new donors.

“The items are absolutely gorgeous,” said Beaulieu. “There’s a lot of hard work that people have put into these handmade items. We’re very happy with the quality of items that we have, and we’re very thankful to all of our donors. They have put a lot of hard work into these pieces.”

There is great variety this year, too, she said, with pictures, home décor items, stuffed animals, tables, gift certificates for homemade food and photography, and much more.

They don’t have as many items as last year, when they had 134, which was by far the most ever, but Beaulieu said they still have some great donations.

The items they have received are on display at Murray GM, and will remain there until just before the telethon. People can view them now, and they will garner lots of attention during a kick-off lunch Oct. 12 at the dealership.

“I encourage everyone to go take a look at them, and we will be adding more as they come in,” said Beaulieu.

Having the items on display at Murray GM gives them a little more advance exposure, she said.

For the third straight year, the United Way will also post their bid items on a Facebook page several days before the telethon. People can view them starting on Oct. 10 and bidding will start two days later.

Last year the bid items raised nearly $12,000.

“Our board supports a lot of community projects, and so having the bid items and all these donations, every penny counts,” said Beaulieu. “So, it’s a big part of our fundraising that we do for the telethon.”

If someone wants to submit something, they can contact Beaulieu at 306-458-7960 to arrange a pickup. She hopes to have all of the items by Oct. 10.

The weather was to blame

The Estevan Car Club couldn’t resist having another show and shine get-together last Friday. Even though they were

season with

to

of

places

the unbelievably nice weather the Estevan area experienced in late September motivated them to put another call out for antique car owners.

vehicles were brought out

could enjoy another

new bylaw

In her new job, she will be responsible for investigating and taking action on complaints, enforcing parking and property bylaws, doing property inspections, taking care of strays and animals at large and more.

Volmer will be the sole bylaw officer for Estevan.

“It’s a lot [of work], but I’m looking forward to that. Actually, I like to keep busy. And the more people know about the bylaws, the better,” Volmer said.

“I love working with and for the people. And I hope to be of good service for the city and its residents.”

Jaxon C.

Mason G.

am thankful for my Mommy and Daddy.

Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Special Const. Anna Volmer is Estevan’s new bylaw officer. Photo courtesy of Anna Volmer

legion adds a bar to their

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Royal Canadian Legion Estevan branch No. 60 celebrated the grand opening of its newest addition to the building.

Thursday afternoon, branch president Jim (Frosty) Forrest and treasurer Leonard Grube were joined by Estevan MLA Lori Carr to open the non-profit’s new bar, located at the legion hall. The project was completed largely thanks to the provincial government’s support for the veterans.

“Each year our provincial government has been setting aside a million and a half dollars for veteran service organizations for this purpose, to improve their facilities, help keep them viable, so we’re still here to do work in the community,” Forrest said.

“Supporting the legions across the province is very important. The individuals that started these organizations are people that served our country and have served our province. They’ve built the foundation of what we have today. So to give back to them is a super easy decision,” said Carr on behalf of the provincial government.

“Personally, it’s really high

on my priority list because I can see directly what they do in our communities, being a member of the legion also.

And I value the partnership that we have with them as a community, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.”

Last year provincial funding helped the local legion improve accessibility to their hall, funding the construction of a wheelchair-accessible ramp and other modifications to make the hall more usable for people with disabilities.

“We have the annual funding,” Carr said. “Last year, we had the opportunity to help them with the front entrance for accessibility. And now this year, we have the opportunity to help them with [the bar]. It truly is something that the legion prioritizes, something that was high on their list.”

Forrest added that the bar has been on their mind for over 11 years, but they felt that using their general fund money for it would take away from other important initiatives in the community – something they didn’t want to do. With the provincial support, the project became a reality, and the improvement

will have a great impact on the legion and the community alike.

“Prior to this, if you came to an event here and you wanted to get a drink, you had to walk into the next hall. And you know people don’t do that when they’re at a concert or something,” Forrest said. “This certainly improved that, and it improves the looks of the place, as we got our front entryway [renovated] as part of that whole project. And we’re looking forward to it being a great sales tool when we’re renting the hall for various events.”

The legion applied for

Entries accepted for YouthBiz competition

School is back in session and that means the 2022 YouthBiz contest is now open.

YouthBiz is a business competition designed for Grade 6-12 students in the Community Futures (CF) Sunrise area.

The contest promotes entrepreneurship and financial literacy, and this year YouthBiz has pivoted to focus on digital skill building.

Since it was started by CF Sunrise in 2007, over 2,825 students from southeast Saskatchewan have competed for more than $30,000 in prize money.

To enter YouthBiz, students simply come up a business idea, write about it following along with questions in the YouthBiz Guide, and submit their entry to CF Sunrise on or before the contest deadline of Nov. 17.

Students and teachers have already contacted CF Sunrise to arrange for school workshops and contest resource material.

“We’re excited to have teachers and young people contact our office to find out how they can get involved in YouthBiz,” said Verna O’Neill of CF Sunrise. “YouthBiz and youth entrepreneurship is thriving in the southeast Saskatchewan region.”

More information on this

the provincial grant and in less than a month they were approved for just under $30,000. They proceeded with the project almost immediately, and in another month most of the construction was completed.

The project ended up costing just over $31,000. Not only were they able to build a bar and redo the hall entrance, but they also changed the lighting, which altogether made this part of the 1970s building look more modern. There are a few minor things that are still to be completed and then the legion wants to put up some pictures relevant to veterans.

“The legion has been a huge part of this community for years and years. And they have a facility unlike several others within the province. We’re very fortunate to have them here. And … they truly do give back to the community, so by having this bar right on their main hall is an opportunity to make more money to put back into those organizations that they help fund,” Carr said.

The bar will be open for appropriate legion events and for private gatherings if

people renting the hall want it. Proceeds from the bar will help the non-profit organization with its expenses and will help them support others in the community and the local veterans.

“We have expenses here that are paid for by our events, so it’s going to make that easier because this is going to make some profits, there’s no doubt about that. So in that sense, it’ll help free up money too, that we can use to help out in the community,” Forrest said.

“The legion’s a big part of

this community. We actually put a fair amount of funding out to the nursing home, Creighton Lodge, long-term care, the addictions centre, SMILE Services. We always make a donation to STARS Ambulance. I’m not sure what it was this year [for community support], I think last year was close to $80,000.”

The legion dedicates all money raised through their poppy campaign to veteran affairs, and while their other fundraising efforts support a broader range of community organizations, they always keep veterans in mind.

“When we do our donations out of our general fund, always in the back of our mind is that there are veterans in the nursing home; there are veterans in Creighton Lodge, there are veterans in long-term care. Certainly, a lot of our veterans have a need for addiction counselling. Veterans’ issues are always a consideration even with our general fund, and of course with our poppy campaign. The number one reason there’s a legion is to support veterans and their families,” Forrest said.

Tayla

Reagen H.

am thankful for my Grandma and fishing with Uncle Carter.

Royal Canadian Legion Estevan branch president Jim (Frosty) Forrest, treasurer Leonard Grube and Estevan MLA Lori Carr met to mark the grand opening of the new bar at the legion hall in Estevan. The construction was made possible largely due to financial support from the provincial government.

youth business competition is featured online at www.cfsask.ca/sunrise. Contact CF

Sunrise for entry information and contest details by emailing youthbiz@sasktel.net.

• There are several ways to donate! Donations are accepted through our website: www.unitedwayestevan.com, through e-transfer to etransfer@unitedwayestevan.com, by phone during the telethon, and in person at the telethon!

DONATING HOW TO WATCH

• Live Stream on our website: www.unitedwayestevan.com!

• AccessNow TV (formerly Access 7).

AUDIENCE BID ITEMS

• We’d love to have you as part of our live audience!

We are so excited to once again be able to connect with the entire community of Estevan and invite everyone to come to the Legion Hall to participate. The Telethon will run from 8:00AM on Oct. 14th to 5:00PM on Oct. 15th.

• United Way 2022 Bid Items will go live on Facebook on October 10th.

• At Telethon, the Bid Line can be called to place bids and bidding will also continue online while the telethon is happening.

• Bid items will be frequently shown on TV and the Live Stream throughout the telethon.

ENTERTAINMENT

• We are so excited that almost all of our entertainment will be live at Legion Hall this year! Make sure you check out next week’s Estevan Mercury for the list of entertainers!

If you have any other questions, contact our office, 306.634.7375 or send a message to our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages!

Flashback –Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1967

Hillside Squirts emerged champions in the 1967 season of the Estevan Girls Softball Association playoffs, the second year the league was in operation.

At the windup banquet they were presented with the Knights of Columbus trophy. The team was coached by Helen Callfas and Viola Leptick (back row, left to right).

Middle row, from left, are Charlotte Dukart, Brenda Leptick, Sandra Callfas, Donna Coulter, Barbara Hall, Barbara Selstead, Debbie Heidinger, Nedra Rivard and Heather Mehler

Front row, Linda Glasser, Donna McKersie, Yvette Daniels and Helen Emkeit

SPORTS

Bruins end slump with wins over Weyburn

By David Willberg

The hectic early-season schedule continued for the Estevan Bruins last week, as the club had to play four games in a six-day stretch.

It started with the annual SJHL Showcase in Warman, where Estevan lost 5-4 to the Humboldt Broncos on Sept. 27 and 3-1 to the Nipawin Hawks the following afternoon.

Logan Ziegler, Mitch Kohner, Matthew Ronn and Alex Von Sprecken had the goals for Estevan. Ziegler and Ronn notched their first goals in the SJHL, while Kohner was playing his first game of the season.

Von Sprecken’s goal with 8:52 to play in the third period gave the Bruins a 4-3 advantage, but Davian Weigel scored with 87 seconds remaining in the third to tie the game, and Cage Newans’ second of the game with 15 seconds to play was the winner.

Alec Saretzky and Samuel Marburg also scored for Humboldt.

Cam Hrdlicka stopped 33 of 38 shots he faced for Estevan. Tristan Boileau made 20 saves for the Broncos.

“I thought we had a really good game against Humboldt and deserved a better fate. We just made two costly mistakes at the end that cost us the game,” said head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic.

The scouts he talked to thought it was the best game of the Showcase.

Defenceman Matthew Ronn said the Bruins showed what they were capable of against Humboldt.

“I thought we played well and with 1:30 to go, we let it slip away from us,” said Ronn.

Cody Davis had the Bruins’ lone goal against Nipawin. Reese Malkewich, Carson Dobson and Maguire Ratzlaff scored for Nipawin. The Hawks had 10 power plays in the first two periods, including four twoman advantages, while the Bruins had one.

Estevan

Hrdlicka stopped 36 of the 39 shots he faced for Estevan. Nolan McDowell made 32 saves on 33 shots for Nipawin.

“You could see our legs were pretty fatigued, and then we just got hammered with penalties in the second and the first [periods], and when you’re tired already, killing penalties doesn’t help your cause. I was proud of our guys how they played against Nipawin, actually,” said Tatarnic.

The Bruins ended a fourgame losing streak Friday night with a 3-2 victory over the Weyburn Red Wings at Affinity Place.

“I thought we were making smart decisions with the puck, and being smart in the offensive zone with managing the puck and doing a better job in the defensive zone,” said Tatarnic. “I just thought overall we were just smarter.”

Ronn opened the scoring with a goal 5:06 into frame and added his second of the game less than two minutes

Bearcats

later. Bruin forward Cody Davis had a chance to make it a 3-0 lead, but hit the post.

“It felt pretty good to open things up after two big losses in the showcase,” said Ronn.

Tatarnic said he knew Ronn had some offensive ability, and the Bruins give their defencemen the green light to get involved offensively.

Weyburn’s Jackson Hassman scored midway through the first, and Matthew Reidy tied the game late in the frame with a goal in tight.

The Bruins’ Jagjeevan Phangura scored what proved to be the game winner midway through the second period at the end of a Bruins’ two-man advantage.

Weyburn thought they tied the game late in the second period, but the tally was waved off because the puck was redirected with a high stick.

Bruins’ captain Kade Runke hit the post on one of the Bruin penalty kills.

“We took a few penalties and we got some younger guys who have to learn you can’t take those kills. Give credit to our penalty killers and to Cam. I thought Cam was very good for us to help us get the win.”

Ronn thought the Bruins were motivated after the Bruins lost 9-2 in Weyburn on Sept. 24.

“I thought we were all pretty frustrated with what happened in Weyburn, so we were all making sure we needed a big win here to get things back on the right track,” said Ronn.

Weyburn hit a post of their own just before the end of the game.

Hrdlicka finished with 36 saves on the night for the Bruins. Dazza Mitchell stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced for Weyburn.

Each team scored once in the second, with Hassman tallying for Weyburn at the 1:58 mark of the frame, and Ziegler replying for the Bruins midway through the period.

Ty Mason – the son of former Estevan Bruin Willy Mason – tied the game 64 seconds into the third period. It remained a 2-2 contest until Forrest’s goal. He took the puck out from along the boards, skated into the middle of the ice and fired a puck past Red Wings’ goaltender Boston Gelowitz.

Weyburn pressed late, and Bruins’ goaltender Cam Hrdlicka had to make a sprawling save with 30 seconds to play. Then Davis scored into an empty net with two seconds remaining.

Hrdlicka had 29 saves for the Bruins in the victory. Gelowitz made 37 saves in Weyburn’s net.

New teams and a new league debuted at Affinity Place on Saturday after-

The Estevan IG Wealth Management U13 AA Bearcats faced the Saskatoon Comet Hurricanes in the first-ever game for the new U13 AA female division of the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League. Saskatoon won the game 9-1.  Ruby Graf had the lone goal for the Bearcats, a tally that came 4:33 into the third period and left Estevan down 4-1. Saskatoon scored five times in the next eight minutes.

Isla Hutchison of Saskatoon scored the division’s first goal 10:38 into the first period.

It was a close game early on, as Saskatoon had leads of 1-0 through the first period and 3-0 after two.

Hutchison finished with four goals for Saskatoon. Presley Oleksyn had two goals, and Annie Furguson, Zoe Bigoraj and Anna Wardell also scored.

Baya Summers stopped 40 of the 49 shots she faced for Estevan, including 17 of 18 shots in the first period. Avery Peace was the goalie for Saskatoon.

Prior to the game, the players for the Bearcats were introduced to the fans. Brad Durr, the former female director for the Estevan Minor Hockey Association and one of the people who played a key role in bringing the U13 AA female program to Estevan, dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff

Estevan’s next games will be Oct. 15 at 5:45 p.m. against the Prince Albert Foxes and the following day at 10:30 a.m. against

The Red Wings had four straight power plays in the third, and the final six man advantages of the game, but couldn’t convert. Bruins’ goaltender Cam Hrdlicka topped all 14 shots he faced in the final frame, including several great saves while Estevan was short-handed.

Finally, the Bruins doubled up Weyburn 4-2 in a Sunday game at Affinity Place. Evan Forrest scored the winning goal with 1:57 to play in the third period.

Estevan opened the scoring with 2:41 to play in the first period on a goal by Tyler Guy.

Estevan was slated to be back on the ice Tuesday night in Wilcox against the Notre Dame Hounds. (Results not available at press time). Then they will host the Nipawin Hawks on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., and visit the Melfort Mustangs the following night.

Cody Davis (9) zips past a Weyburn defender during the Estevan Bruins 3-2 victory over the Weyburn Red Wings on Friday night.

Estevan,

the Northeast Aces. Both games will be played at the Power Dodge Arena.

Brad Durr, middle, dropped the puck for the ceremonial opening faceoff for Chelsey Madsen (8) of Estevan and Avery Moore (17) of Saskatoon.

drive of

The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team played what Mark Schottt regarded as their best game of the season Saturday in a 15-13 road loss against the Moose Jaw Vanier Vikings.

Estevan jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a touchdown by JT Schrader. Vanier scored before the first half was out and then added another early in the second half, and also had a single on a missed field goal.

Estevan scored again in the fourth quarter on a long touchdown run by Truman Ciepliski, but couldn’t complete the twopoint convert or recover an onside kick.

“The team played well,” said Schott. “The offence struggled a little bit in the first half, but when we had to ramp it up in the second half when we were trailing, we were able to connect on some big plays.”

Schott noted Ciepliski started the season at defensive back, but shifted to receiver for the game and played great.

Defensively they had numerous tackles for losses, recovered a couple of fumbles and had three interceptions.

Brody Bembridge had a “phenomenal” game at line-

backer, Schott said, with an interception, a couple of sacks and tackles for losses.

Up next for the Elecs will be a game at the Swift Current Colts on Oct. 6.

Minor football teams, meanwhile, are nearing or at the end of their respective seasons.

The Estevan Kinette Club Viragos notched their first touchdown of the season, but lost 70-6 to the Moosomin Little Generals on Oct. 1 at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Athletic Park.

Coach Mark Tribiger said the offence moved the ball well and was rewarded when Morgan Hase scored on a 60-yard running play.

“We were moving the ball and we were getting first downs,” said Tribiger. “We put up points, so that’s a bonus.”

It was a relief for the offence to get a touchdown.

The defence wasn’t as strong as in the first two games of the season, but they did all right, he said. The unit was led by Amanda March once again, as she was in on many of the Viragos’ tackles, while Maya Smith made an interception and had a few knockdowns.

“It was a pretty fun game to play. We get along great with Moosomin, the coaching staffs do. The players are always pretty good to get along.”

The Viragos will play their final game of the regular season Oct. 8 at the Melville Vipers. The winner of that game will advance to the playoffs.

The Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate U12 Chargers scored 144 points in two games last week.

The Chargers romped to a 96-50 victory over the Weyburn Ravens Sept. 27 at Woodlawn, in what might have been the highest-scoring game ever in the Moose

Jaw Minor Football League’s U12 division.

“I had a couple of guys who have been involved in football in Estevan for a long time saying ‘I don’t think I’ve seen 95 up on our scoreboard,’ and ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen [more than] 145 combined points by anybody,’” said coach Matt Schell.

Weyburn led 14-0 at one point early in the game, but Estevan recovered and led 5237 at half-time.

Defensive coach James Haagsman spoke to the defensive players at half time and inspired the players to be better, Schell said.

And Schell thought offen-

sive line coach Ryan Eggan had a great game plan for Weyburn.

Waylon Mantei had six touchdowns for Estevan in the game. TJ Thompson had four, Carter Workman had three and Elizabeth Bergen had one after shifting from the offensive line.

Ryder Mantei also scored.

Defensively, Nash Faber had another excellent game, Schell said.

Five days later, the Chargers beat the Assiniboia Rockets 48-2. Schell noted the Chargers’ defence didn’t allow any points, as the Rockets’ score came on a safety in the fourth quarter.

Waylon Mantei and Thompson had three touchdowns. Jackson Kennedy earned his first score of the season and Bergen also had a major.

Schell noted they had their back-ups in for most of the game.

The Chargers (4-1) will finish second in the league and will face the Ravens Oct. 7 in Weyburn in their final game of the regular season.

Also on Sept. 27, the Estevan Lions Club U14 Oilers dropped a 27-0 decision to the Weyburn Ravens.

Coach Paul Duncan said the offence was able to move the ball more than in the previous games. The defence only allowed one touchdown in the second half.

Caleb Crossman entered the game at quarterback after Corbin Barker was injured and made some good plays. Hugh Ross and Lennox Hodgens made good catches, Duncan said.

Once again the team lost several players due to injury, so some had to play both offence and defence.

“It’s just building blocks for the team that we have. Two-thirds of our team, it’s their first year with regards to the … U14 age group, so it’s a steep hill to climb, but they continue to press as it goes through.”

The Oilers (0-5) will visit the Moose Jaw Raiders on Oct. 7. Duncan hopes they can have a full lineup for the first time this season.

The Estevan Power Dodge U10 Cudas had their final jamboree of the season on Sunday in Moose Jaw. The jamborees saw teams from Estevan, Weyburn and Moose Jaw play in mini games.

Two U18 AA teams begin season; Bears also in action

A couple of AA teams in the Estevan Minor Hockey Association began their respective seasons on the weekend.

The Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins picked up three of a possible four points during their weekend games in Yorkton. Estevan lost 3-2 in overtime on Saturday but recovered to win 6-5 the following afternoon.

Carter Beck had both

goals for Estevan in Saturday’s game.

Yorkton scored the winning goal on a power play midway through the extra frame.

Ty Fehrenbach made 38 saves in the loss.

As for the next game, the Bruins scored three times in a 10-minute span of the third period for the win. Jordan Marcotte and Tayson Dietze each scored twice for Estevan,

and Turner Knockaert and Ryder Miller also scored.

Keagan Carley stopped 32 shots for Estevan.

Estevan will host the Melville Millionaires on Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. and Oct. 9 at 12:15 p.m. Both games will be played at Affinity Place.

•••

The Estevan TS&M U15 AA Bruins dropped their first two games of the season.

Up first was a 6-3 loss to

the Saskatoon Bandits on Saturday. Saskatoon led 3-0 at one point, but Estevan fought back and trailed 3-2 and 4-3 before the Bandits pulled away.

Tucker Laurent, Kail Hilstrom and Tristan Brownridge had the Estevan goals.

Jaxon Kuchinka stopped 31 of the shots he faced.

Estevan then lost 12-4 to the Humboldt Broncos on Sunday.

Austin Sawatsky, Reese Copeland, Milbrandt and Brownridge had the Estevan goals.

Quinton Sliva made 47 saves in the game.

The Bruins will visit the North West Stars on Oct. 8 and the Saskatoon Stallions the following day.

•••

The Estevan Steelhaus U18 AAA Bears dropped a 6-0 decision to the Regina Pat

Canadians on Sept. 27. Regina scored twice in each period, including the final goal with three seconds remaining.

Kaden Perron made 25 saves for Estevan.

The Bears were slated to host the Notre Dame Hounds on Tuesday night. (Results were not available at press time). Then they will host the Swift Current Legionnaires on Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Jayren Schulz (12) and Brody Bembridge (30) of the ECS Elecs defence close in on a Moose Jaw opponent. Photo by Pat Ford

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Glen Moroz

August 18, 1945-September 21, 2022

Age 77 years Glen Moroz of Bienfait, Saskatchewan, was born at Bienfait Hospital. He was the third son of John and Dora Moroz. He had two older brothers, Edward (Ed) and Harry and a younger brother, Gary (Gunner).

Glen attended Black Diamond School at the M&S Mine site in his early years when the family lived at the Briquette Plant housing across the road. The family moved into Bienfait in 1954 and then to the farm south of Bienfait in 1955 and the

boys were bussed to school in town. Glen attended Bienfait School from Grade 4-8 when he decided to leave school. He said a teacher used to say that he was just there to keep warm and take up space. Glen was a great athlete and track star. He held records for racing at Bienfait School. Glen moved with his parents and Gary to Bienfait in 1970. He remained in the home until his passing.

Growing up, Glen enjoyed farm life, especially his horse, Rocky. The family enjoyed many Christmases at the farm with aunts, uncles, and cousins. The boys enjoyed hockey in the winter and swimming in the summer in the pits near the farm. Glen loved his vehicles and preferred them to be white in colour. He especially loved his 1968 Dodge two-door hard top with a 383 bored out to a 440. He loved the sound of a powerful engine.

Glen’s first job was with Olson Well Service. He later worked for Graham Construction and helped with the building of the Derrick Motor Hotel. He also worked at Home Co. (now known as SRI Homes) building trailers. This is where he got the nickname the “The Man of Beef” because he would tell the workers to lay down the beef when they pounded the nails. Glen began work at the coal mines in 1972. He worked as a drag-line oiler, drag-line operator and material handler during his time there until 1994. He enjoyed joking with his co-workers and the endless nicknames they had for each other.

In his younger days, Glen enjoyed trips to Las Vegas, Hawaii California, Calgary and the Black Hills. He made one trip to Calgary on his Kawasaki motorcycle.

Glen regularly attended the Roman Catholic Church in Bienfait or Estevan, as long as his health permitted. Glen was not ashamed of his faith and proudly wore his graphic t-shirts and ball caps boldly proclaiming Bible verses and statements of faith.

After retirement Glen loved to go to Estevan to visit people. He loved to tease his nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He made frequent visits to the nursing home when he visited his mother and many other people. Glen loved to walk a lot and would stop to visit various business owners in Estevan and Bienfait. He had a great memory for names.

Those who knew Glen, knew just how big his heart was and that it was made of pure gold. Glen loved to laugh, loved his family, loved people, loved animals and loved God. Glen received loving care in his later years from his niece Dawna and her husband Kelly, who made him a part of their family and helped him remain in his own home.

Glen was predeceased by his parents, John and Dora Moroz. He is survived by his brothers Ed (Sandy), Harry (Linda), Gary (Judy) all of Estevan and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews and great great nieces and nephews.

A prayer service was held on Tuesday, September 27 at the Hall Funeral Services chapel with Glen’s nephew, Rev. Todd Moroz officiating. A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church in Bienfait on Wednesday, September 28 with Rev. Sathiadas Antony officiating. A private family interment was held at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, Estevan, following the funeral luncheon, with Rev. Todd Moroz presiding.

Glen’s family would like to thank everyone for their expressions of sympathy through cards, phone calls, visits, gift cards, flowers, baking and meals and through donations to Broken Arrow Youth Ranch and the Humane Society in Glen’s honour. Thanks to everyone who attended the services to support the family and remember Glen. Special thanks to the Home Care staff who provided loving care for Glen this past year and a half and to Shannon for her comfort and support on the day of Glen’s passing. Thanks to Glen’s nurses, Sharon, Christine, and Carol for their amazing care for Glen for many years. Thank you to the doctors and staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Estevan EMS staff who assisted Glen on his final day. Thank you to Father Antony and Todd Moroz for your words of comfort and hope through the prayer and funeral services. Thank you to Bill Mann and the St. Monica’s choir for your part in the funeral mass. Thank you to the Bienfait Legion ladies for the funeral lunch. Special thank you to Deb Heidinger, Victor Frank and the staff of Hall Funeral Services for your professional and personal care for the family during this time of loss. Glen’s family will be forever grateful to his niece Dawna and her husband Kelly (Schlamp) and their family for their loving devotion and care for Glen.

Glen’s life can be summed up in this verse: Oh I say the measure of a man Is not how tall you stand How wealthy or intelligent you are ‘Cause I found out the measure of a man God knows and understands.

For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart And what’s in your heart defines

The measure of a man.

Chorus from “Measure of a Man” by 4Him

Marie Knight (nee Blondeau)

We honour the life of our cherished and beloved Mother, Marie Knight, who passed in her 101st year, lovingly surrounded by her “girls”, on Thursday, September 15, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario.

Dedicated to family, Marie lived life on her own terms. Any room she walked into lit up and when there was laughter, she was in the centre of it.

A proud Metis veteran and the last elder of the historic, Blondeau family that spans the province of Ontario, Western Canada and the USA, Marie will be deeply missed by 4 daughters, Phyllis Bayley, Valerie Inksetter, Leslie Stanley (David), Lindsay Knight (Lloyd Woods) and so many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-greatgreat grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends of our family who have been touched by Marie over her extraordinary lifetime.

We take great comfort in knowing that Marie is reunited with our father, Kenneth John, whom she called her oldest friend; her mother and father, Virginia and Jean Louis; her sister Clare; her brothers Johnny and Bert; and her best friends Laura and Eli Daigle.

Marie was the oak tree of our family, and her legacy of love and strength will be cherished and sustained. Our mother’s beautiful smile and calm energy invited you to sit with her and allow the stress of the world to fall away.

Thank you to the incredible staff at Lanark Heights Long Term Care for their loving support of mom this last year of her life You became part of our family and grieve with us.

A celebration of Marie’s life will follow and be announced. Thank you to all who have reached out with blessings and love for our family. We are most grateful for your kindness. Kaawapamitin ni-maamaa-ipan

Visit www.henrywalser.com to view Marie’s memorial.

Eileen Mae Rosner 1932 - 2022

Eileen Rosner passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan, SK at the age of 90 years.

Eileen will be lovingly missed by her children Elaine (Ken) McDonald, Barry (Donna) Rosner, Debby Rosner, Susan Rosner and Jerry Rosner. Fond memories will remain with grandsons, Cory (Anne Marie) Rosner and Kelly Rosner and sons Kohen and Kade; grandsons of the heart, Chris (Niki) McDonald and son Miles and Jarod (Renee Eastland) McDonald and son Jonathon. Eileen also leaves behind her precious fur babies, Kobie and Lexie.

Eileen was predeceased by her husband Edward Rosner; parents, Ernest and Minnie Littlejohn; siblings, Elmer, Carolyn Lorraine, Doris, Mildred and Wilfred as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

At Eileen’s request, there will be no Funeral Service.

Those so wishing may make donations in memory of Eileen to the Estevan Humane Society, Box 1095, Estevan, SK S4A 2H7.

Thank you to St. Joseph’s Hospital Unit A for your compassion and kindness while our mother was a palliative patient.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Eileen’s familyDeb Heidinger, Funeral Director.

Walter Avery 1936 - 2022

Walter George Avery, late of Estevan, SK passed away with his daughter Janet at his side on Monday, August 29, 2022 at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, Estevan, SK at the age of 86 years.

Walter was born on August 16, 1936 in Marquis, SK. to Percival and E. Pauline (Kellington) Avery.

Walter married Doreen Mary Louise Spicer, daughter of Albert and Rita (McLaren) Spicer on July 1, 1956 in Moose Jaw. Walt and Doreen celebrated 65 years of marriage before her passing on September 9, 2021.

As a young man Walter was an accomplished vocalist, singing tenor and winning numerous competitions, an all-round athlete especially enjoying softball (where he met his future wife) and an eldest son in a loving family. Following ten years of married life in Moose Jaw, Doreen, Walt and family moved to Saskatoon for four years then to Estevan in the fall of 1969. Walter was employed by Saskatchewan Power for over 30 years.

Throughout his lifetime he loved completing home projects, watching the Blue Jays play baseball and curling with friends. He was proud of the life he created with Doreen and their children. They enjoyed traveling and camping, attending Major League Baseball games, cruising the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and spending time with grandchildren.

He was a 50-year member of St. Paul’s United Church, assisting with projects and greeting the membership on Sunday mornings. Through his involvement in The Elks of Canada, Estevan No. 113, he enjoyed friendship and leadership, including an opportunity to serve as the Exalted Ruler.

Walter is best described as competent, curious, industrious, and kind. His sense of humor and love for his great grandchildren were his hallmarks. He embraced the age of technology and constantly used it to his advantage, enjoying online banking, Face Timing, and recording sporting events to be watched at his convenience.

Walter was predeceased by his wife Doreen; son Kelly and infant daughter Ronda; his parents; brother Keith; and brothers in-law, Gary Spicer and Roy Spicer.

Walter will be deeply missed by daughters, Janet Keating of Red Deer, AB and Glenda (Michael) Seipp of Clancy, MT, and daughter in-law Arlette Avery of Estevan. Precious memories will remain with his brother Ken; sister Marlene Jackman; sister-in-law Joan Avery; six grandchildren: Talon Avery, Barrett Avery, Brodie (Jenny) Keating, Regan (Anila Khan) Seipp, Britta (Joe) Steffens, Katrina (Frankie) Lewington and six great-grandchildren: Vincent, Naomi and Autumn Keating, Ella, Ida and (soon to be) Joseph Steffens, William Lewington, as well as his in-laws, Morris and Sandy Spicer, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Walter’s family is very grateful for the care and kindness that he received from his many caregivers throughout the last six months. We offer a special thank you to the staff of the Estevan Regional Nursing Home for their friendship and willingness to accompany him during his final days. Our expression of gratitude is heartfelt and unending.

On behalf of Walter, thank you for helping the Avery Family make Estevan their home for 53 years.

A Memorial Service for Walter will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s United Church, Estevan, SK with Sandy Dalziel officiating. The interment will be at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens immediately following the service.

Those so wishing may make donations in memory of Walter to a charity of their choice.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Walter’s familyYvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Estevan fire department had a busy week, but fortunately there were no major incidents.

On Sept. 28 at about 6:30 p.m., firefighters responded to a vehicle fire on the northeast side of the city. Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies was the first one to arrive on scene. A passerby had stopped and used a fire extinguisher, which knocked most of the

re

fire out, Davies said.

“Our crews continued to respond. We ensured that the fire was indeed extinguished. The vehicle suffered minor damage to the engine compartment area.

It was turned back over to the owner to get it back home,” Davies said, adding that the owner lived down the street and was planning on towing the damaged vehicle home.

ghters respond to car

No injuries were sustained as a result of the incident. It seemed that a mechanical issue appeared to be the cause of the fire, Davies said.

The next day at about 1:30 p.m., fire crews were alerted to the eastern part of Estevan, where occupants noticed light smoke and an electrical burning smell in the house.

Crews investigated and found an

appliance that had caused the issue.

“Very little minor damage to that place. And we were fortunate enough to be able to catch something before it got too carried away,” Davies noted.

The next call for service came in shortly after that, just around 4 p.m. Firefighters were called to a two-vehicle collision on the east side of the city.

“We responded. It was fairly minor in nature, with minor to no injuries. EPS and EMS were already on scene dealing with the drivers. Our assistance was not required, so we returned to the station,” Davies said.

On Sept. 30 at about 4:30 p.m., crews responded to a residential fire alarm call coming from the west

re

side of Estevan. It was determined that the alarm was false in nature and their assistance was not required.

Another residential fire alarm went off on Oct. 1 at about 11:30 a.m. in north Estevan. It was found to be a cooking-related incident, and no action on behalf of firefighters was needed.

Thanksgiving in real time

Tim Pippus of the Estevan Church of Christ

Thanksgiving weekend means that many of us will spend time together with family and friends, eat a lot of food and think about what we are thankful for in our lives.

Unfortunately, after that, most will go back to their normal routines and leave thankfulness behind.

What would happen if thanksgiving was part of our everyday life, rather than something we focused on a few times per year? Where would we even start?

According to Philippians 1:18-26, the apostle Paul remained joyful and thankful, even while imprisoned for his faith, by holding onto three important practices.

First, he remembered the power of prayer. We

sometimes discount prayer and treat it as a mere formality. We may pray, but we really do not believe that it will do much. Paul, on the other hand, says: “I know that through your prayers… what has happened will turn out for my deliverance” (verse 19).

Rather than fretting, worrying, and making up stories about what might happen, Paul put his energy towards asking for God’s guidance.

Second, Paul focused on “…the help given by the Spirit of Christ Jesus” (verse 19). Too often we believe in a God who worked in the past, or one who may do something in the future, but we are not as convinced that he is doing anything now. Paul believed that God was working in his life, even if his specific circumstances did not make sense to him at the time.

Lastly, Paul chose to look for the good. Realizing that he might be released from jail and be able to keep teaching, or that he might be put to death and get to go home to be with God, he responded, “What shall I choose? I do not know!” (verse 22). He can see the good in either option because he has trained himself to look for the good no matter what happens.

When I remember that I am not alone, that God is at work, and that he has plans for me that I do not yet see or understand, then I can be thankful and say with Paul, “I can do all things through him that gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Estevan city council has approved the tender for a warmup and storage building to be constructed at the Westview subdivision’s park.

B & S Construction was awarded the tender for $168,930 plus tax at the Sept. 26 meeting. All three bids came over the estimated budget of $130,000 for the project.

“We appreciate there are increases to labour/materials, and issues with supply chains resulting in overall more expensive projects. It is not expected that prices will drop in the foreseeable future,” wrote Rod March, the city’s manager of parks and facilities, in a report to council.

March said it will be a modern structure to accommodate year-round recreational opportunities in the area. This building is part of the pathway project initiated last year.

“The intent is to develop the Westview area into a year-round recreational

area and this building will be the hub of the objectives,” he said.

March noted the city has received lots of concerns over the years because the present building is small and in a dilapidated state.

“This new building will house a storage room.

We’re going to turn the old pool into a community garden,” said March.

It will also have washrooms and serve as a warmup shack for people using the outdoor rink during the winter.

es

Councillor Kirsten Walliser – who was also the deputy mayor and meeting chair Sept. 26, as Mayor Roy Ludwig was on vacation – wanted to know about timelines. March said he hopes the building will be finished by December.

“We have some really good volunteers down there who help flood that outdoor rink, so I think they will be pretty excited to have it all in place this year,” March said.

Also during the meeting, council gave its blessing for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation to have a reduced rental rate for the upcoming Festival of Trees.

In a letter to council, executive director Lori Gervais said the foundation is “thrilled” to be able to have an in-person gala this year. There has been an agreement for the past five years in which the foundation pays a discounted rate of $3,750 for set-up and takedown, along with rental of the arena floor.

The festival has been a

for

popular event and is anticipated in the community, Gervais said, and it is their largest fundraiser of the year.

The Festival of Trees will be Nov. 26 and 27.

One building permit worth $30,000 was issued in August, bringing the total for this year to 33 permits worth more than $5.3 million. The one August permit was for a garage.

In the first eight months of last year, there were 30 permits issued worth a little more than $1.8 million.

City manager Jeff Ward lauded the Affinity Place staff, the volunteers and everyone else who helped make the Sept. 24 Dallas Smith-Kelly Prescott concert possible at Affinity Place. The concert was Estevan’s reward after the city won the Sirius/XM Music Towns contest earlier this year.

He noted it was great to have a live concert back at the venue for the first time in nearly three years, and it was a good kick start to what they want to do moving forward at Affinity.

IT WORKS:

Amora G. I am thankful for all my friends.

Fox K. I am thankful for for my dad playing Monster Trucks with me.

Taking a pro-life stand

Thessa Espina, left, and Lois Reetz carried the international pro-life flag during the Life Chain organized by Pro-Life Estevan and Area on Sunday afternoon. Pro-life supporters gathered in front of the Estevan Court House with signs that expressed pro-life views. Many passing motorists honked their horns to express their support. The event was one of a number of Life Chain events held across Canada on Sunday.

Courtesy

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Photo by David Willberg