Estevan Mercury 20230531

Celebrating the industry. Community support pours in during Mining Week. Special section is

PAGES A8-12

Dance Electric

Impressive recognition. Local woman receives a provincial volleyball award.

Details on PAGE A13

Senior Living. Find the latest stories and news in our special on PAGE A17

By David Willberg

It’s coming.

Learn more about this year’s Estevan OTS golf tournament on PAGE A18

The replacement for the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home is expected to be much bigger than the committee initially planned.

Members of the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home committee met May 24 with representatives of the provincial government, including representatives of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Saskatchewan Builds and Procurement. At the time, the province provided details of the updated needs assessment.

Great year.

Walk for CF raises awareness and about life-threatening disease. More on PAGE A19

“The needs assessment looked at current and future demographics of the community surrounding Estevan, and it also went further and looked at some of the clinical needs of our clients,” said Kindopp.

It studied the bariatric needs of residents, respite and care needs, and even the adult day program at the hospital.

The document identified a future need for 59 additional long-term care beds for the Estevan area. This is expected to bring the total number of beds in the community to 167 from the current 108.

Don Kindopp, who is the chairman of the new nursing home committee, said it was a very positive gathering, and he was pleased and “somewhat surprised” at the document’s findings.

“There was an addition of looking at or being aware of possible future spaces that we might need, and in my mind, that means taking in the diversity of our community and what needs we would have in terms of beds and structures to meet those diverse needs,” said Kindopp.

Kindopp said the committee expected there would have to be a discussion on keeping the number of beds in the community at a stable level, between a new nursing home and the hospital’s long-term care facility, so the committee was “pleasantly surprised” with the

findings of the needs assessment.

Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who is the minister for SaskBuilds and Procurement, said the need for the additional 59 beds stems from an aging population.

“We do need to build for the needs of our community and surrounding area, and one of the things that they look at is the demographic of age, and the people that are turning 75 and older in the next few years is really, really high, and I think I would attribute that to the baby boomers,” said Carr. Carr pointed out the

needs analysis usually comes in pretty close to what the final number of beds would be.

There are several other long-term care facilities in the region as well. If the local need isn’t as high in the future, and they have some facilities that have reached their life expectancy, then they will have more longterm care residents from outside of the community living in Estevan.

The MLA said the facility will cost more because of its greater size. The community will still be responsible for 20 per cent of the costs.

But she stressed the facility wouldn’t be delayed while fundraising occurs in the community for the additional cost.

“There’s nothing saying the fundraising campaign can’t still be happening while construction is taking place,” said Carr.

The new nursing home committee has about $8.8 million available for the construction of a new nursing home, Kindopp said.

The vast majority of the funds came in during the Hearthstone Community Campaign fundraising initiative that ran from the spring of 2011 to early 2015.

It was tasked with raising $8 million, or 20 per cent of the projected $40 million cost of a new nursing home. Hearthstone reached its goal in less than four years and the campaign was wound down.

Since early 2015, some donations have continued to roll in for the new nursing home.

Estevan’s dance community celebrated the Drewitz School of Dance’s 40 years in business on Saturday with two sold-out recitals. Aubrie Jorgensen, Paige Van Ry Broek, Norah Graham, Brinley Wilson, Emma Grobbink and Ferriday Ciepliski, alongside many other talented dancers, were a part of beautiful and energizing performances during very special Ruby Reflections shows. For more on the dance school’s annual Spotlight on Stars see Page A3.

Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

By David Willberg

Hockey fans in the Estevan area had the opportunity to listen to a pair of legendary athletes during the Estevan Bruins’ annual Sportsman’s Dinner Thursday night at the Power Dodge Curling Centre.

Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Doug Gilmour and Paul Coffey spoke to a crowd of nearly 400 people. Many of them were wearing Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys with Gilmour’s No. 93, or Edmonton Oilers jerseys with Coffey’s No. 7.

Gilmour and Coffey were teammates with Team Canada’s victorious entry in the 1987 Canada Cup. Gilmour won the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and had his best seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1990s.

Coffey won the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984, 1985 and 1987, and with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. He also won the Canada Cup in 1984, 1987 and 1991.

The duo took time to chat with fans and sign autographs throughout the night. They also participated in a hotstove session with master of ceremonies Rob Mahon, who is the Bruins’ former play-byplay commentator and now handles the same role for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League.

The two legends shared stories from their hockey careers and of the unique people they met through the game.

During interviews with the Mercury, Gilmour and Coffey both marvelled at the community, the people and the support shown for the Bruins. They also praised Affinity Place, which they toured before the start of the banquet.

“It [Affinity Place] is nicer than some of the junior A rinks back in Ontario,” said Gilmour. “You guys have to be very proud and it’s amazing. Walking around there, walking in the dressing room, for a town of this size, it has to be a dream for some young kids to come here to play.”

He noted the connection between the Estevan Bruins and the NHL’s Boston Bruins, and how Boston used to have a training camp in Gilmour’s hometown of Kingston, Ont., each year.

Gilmour said he does a lot of speaking engagements and hot-stove sessions in which people will ask questions and look forward to stories.

“We flew into Regina, and I hadn’t been to Regina since my draft year (in 1982), when I was drafted to St. Louis. Our training camp was in Regina,” said Gilmour.

He’s surprised at how many people still remember him. While the highlight of his career was winning the Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989, people remember him the most for his performance during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ run to the Western Conference Final in 1993 and 1994.

Gilmour noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when networks were un-

able to run live hockey, they aired classic games instead, with some games from the Leafs runs.

He sat down and watched Game 6 of the 1993 Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings, when officials missed a high-sticking call by Wayne Gretzky on Gilmour.

“I watched it, and I was almost frustrated at the TV. I was getting emotions back and I don’t need that,” he said, taking off his glasses to show the scar he still has on his nose. “It’s been overwhelming, and we didn’t get to the finals, but we had some good runs.”

There are a lot of people who still remember him for his 3 1/2 seasons with the Flames, too.

Coffey was excited to be in Estevan for the first time.

“I’ve heard a lot about this place, I’ve heard a lot about the community involvement and how great the people are, and so far it’s good,” said Coffey. “Glen Gulutzan, one of our coaches in Edmonton, is a Saskatchewan boy and he speaks very highly of Estevan, what it does for junior hockey and the kids, which is great.”

He echoed Gilmour’s statement about Affinity Place, saying that all the Bruins need is for a player to see the rink during the recruitment process. He finds that people mostly remember him for the championships with the Oilers. He played in a lot of great cities and had a lot of great teammates, but the championships stand out.

He noted that Edmonton Oilers’ teammates Leon Dra-

isaitl and Connor McDavid each had at least 60 points on the power play this year, the first to do it since Coffey and Mario Lemieux in 1988-89 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I didn’t know that. You don’t know it until these young guys come out and start doing things.”

The championships stand out the most to Coffey as well.

“They’re all equal. The first one was cool because you didn’t know what to expect. The one in Pittsburgh was great because nobody expected that. And it’s always nice to see great players become champions. I became one, we all became one together in Edmonton, and then seeing Mario lift his first Cup up … was pretty cool.”

But he also remembers the

1984 Canada Cup semifinal against the Soviet Union and making a play to break up a two-on-one, which led to the winning goal moments later.

Coffey said it’s always a lot of fun to do public appearances, talk about the game, meet people and share stories of those he met in the past.

“I’ve been to a lot of small towns in Saskatchewan, and it’s pretty cool,” said Coffey.

It was noted by Mahon that Coffey and Gilmour once fought in an NHL game. The dust-up was brought to Mahon’s attention by local hockey fan Boston Tait.

The two were also teammates and even neighbours with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1998-99.

A live auction generated more than $28,000 for the Bruins’ coffers. Gilmour brought a signed Toronto Maple Leafs jersey that fetched $3,700; the other person involved in the bidding agreed to pay the same amount for a second Gilmour jersey.

A similar situation played out with Coffey, as his jerseys sold for $3,400 each.

But the top-selling item on the night was the opportunity to drive Coffey and Gilmour back to the Regina International Airport on Friday morning and listen to the two icons share stories. It was purchased by Trevor Dutka for $4,100.

A number of other auction items were available during the night. There was also a 50-50 draw and a silent auction.

Business case the next step for new nursing home

“The project will go ahead, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure that we meet any obligations that are placed upon us,” said Kindopp.

Carr reasoned that the previous fundraising took place with the hope that Estevan would be getting a new nursing home. The provincial government announced two years ago that it would proceed with a new nursing home in Estevan, and committed $1 million to the project this year. She believes the recent progress should help attract new donors.

A date for the start of construction could be announced in the next year or two, she said.

“The committee will have the opportunity to have a say as to what the facility looks like, such as with common areas. One of the questions that was asked was whether there would be rooms for couples, because some people can’t stay home alone.”

Carr said there would be rooms designed for couples.

The next step is a business case that will be developed to validate the number

of beds, based on the cost estimates and other parameters. It will also determine the location of the facility. Kindopp said they are looking at two options. One is a site located on the hospital grounds, and the other is across Sister Roddy Road from the hospital.

“They have to do geotechnical and traffic studies and all of that kind of stuff,” said Carr. “Is there enough parking? Is there

enough space if we put it at the hospital, because, of course, the facility that we’re talking about here is much larger than the original, envisioned facility that was being thought about at one point in time.”

The business case will finalize the number of beds and will determine the number of floors, too.

Kindopp said the committee will wait for the business case to be completed

before resuming fundraising initiatives.

“It would make sense to me that because we’re adding more beds … the cost would go up,” said Kindopp. “It’s been some time since we raised our money, and inflation and construction costs … probably have risen, and we’ll have to look at what the needs will be or what we’d need to do to meet the costs.”

Carr pointed out the new

nursing home would require a lot of staff to care for the residents, and the number of employees will be even greater for an expanded facility. The business case is expected to be completed in the fall. Kindopp said the two sides are expected to meet again in a few months. Once the business case is completed, some pre-design will occur on the longawaited facility.

Estevan woman killed in collision in North Dakota

One person from Estevan is dead and another was seriously injured following a collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck Sunday in North Dakota.

According to the North Dakota State Highway Patrol, the two people were travelling east on Highway

5 about 10 kilometres east of Fortuna when their motorcycle was struck by a Ford F150 pick-up truck, which was travelling south on Divide County Road 2. The F150 struck the motorcycle after it reportedly failed to yield.

The driver and passenger of the motorcycle were

wearing helmets. They were thrown from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. They were transported by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital in Crosby, and then transferred to Trinity Health in Minot, where the woman died from injuries sustained in the crash.

According to the highway patrol, the driver of the Ford, a 25-year-old man from Williston, was not injured in the crash. The incident remains under the investigation by the highway patrol, and charges against the pickup truck driver are pending.

Paul Coffey, left, and Doug Gilmour were the guest speakers at the Estevan Bruins’ Sportsman’s Dinner on Thursday night.

Ruby Reflections dance recital – a culmination of the past year and many before

By Ana Bykhovskaia

“These past 40 years have been a reflection of all the children who have danced their way across the stage and into the hearts of many, especially mine,” says Lorie-Gay

Drewitz-Gallaway

The Estevan Drewitz School of Dance, its director and teacher Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway, staff, volunteers, students and their families celebrated 40 years of the art of dance in the community with a beautiful recital filled with elegance, harmony, preciseness, as well as colours, music and energy.

Two Spotlight on Stars recitals that took the stage at the Estevan Comprehensive School’s cafetorium were sold out well before the Saturday performances, with people looking for spare tickets ahead of the concerts.

Drewitz-Gallaway said it was very busy but wonderful to prepare and then perform, celebrating their milestone.

“It meant so much to me, there were so many people that came, it was so overwhelming and emotional. And the children were on their best and loved getting out there in front of the audience,” Drewitz-Gallaway shared. “It was a wonderful showing and a great crowd. They were so encouraging to the children every time they

performed, the grads danced well, as everybody did.”

One of the highlights was two students who were a part of the very first Drewitz School of Dance recital 40 years ago – one of whom now runs her own studio – who came back and spoke on stage. Drewitz-Gallaway said it was great to hear from them as it brought back all the memories of the first year.

“When I first moved here, there was no professional dance studio, so everybody was the same level, they’re all beginners. And now to see what has come out of that

[is wonderful], and the support from the community and the people, the parents, the students,” Drewitz-Gallaway shared.

Many local people who graduated throughout these 40 years came for the recital. Many of them now have kids or grandkids dancing as well.

“When you just think about the steps, the journey from the beginning and where we’ve got now, it’s pretty exciting.”

Many things have changed throughout these years. From dance to music players and the music itself, and from costumes to decorations, all of those different components have evolved.

“Dance has evolved. In the beginning, the exam systems had hardly gotten going in Saskatchewan, and then all of a sudden, it progressed, and we’re taking it to the university level. It started so much as a performing art, and it was like that for many years. And then dance became very athletic and many other aspects came into it. There is a lot of acrobatics now, and there are a lot of different things that have come through out of ballet like contemporary and lyrical,” Drewitz-Gallaway said.

“In the beginning, we just had ballet, tap, jazz and Highland, because those were the basics. And that is still the basic foundation of training

children. But a lot has come out of that.”

The first classes were accompanied by music records, and now it comes out of cell phones. The first recitals’ backdrops were hand painted on wooden surfaces, while now the beautiful decorations are created on the computer and printed. All those changes have also been affecting the study process.

“Technology has changed, and when technology changes, children change. So, teaching children is very different,” Drewitz-Gallaway said. “In the beginning, everybody chose one or two things like ballet, tap, or tap and jazz. They worked at those two things and probably didn’t take anything extra. And nowadays, parents want their children to experience a lot of things in life: dance full time, compete and participate in sports and different events, do arts and crafts, everything.”

But Drewitz-Gallaway said there are also some constants that the studio carried throughout the years.

“Some things have not changed at this studio. There was always TLC [tender loving care], a passion for dance and it is still a performing art, it is something special,” Drewitz-Gallaway said.

While celebrating the studio’s constants, the Ruby Reflections recital also highlighted some of the beautiful moments from the past years through music and costumes.

“Some of the music that I used was actually in my very first show,” Drewitz-Gallaway said.

“And believe it or not, some of the costumes from 40 years ago are back in style, again.”

The recital night was also a farewell for Drewitz School of Dance assistant teacher Hunter Hildebrand, who’s been with the school since being a tiny tot, through graduation and then teaching, and who is now moving to New Brunswick.

Drewitz-Gallaway thanked everyone who made this celebration a big success.

“I could not put this show on without the help of staff, volunteers, parents and the community and of course, the students,” Drewitz-Gallaway said. “Dance has evolved greatly over 40 years, but once you have performed on the stage, you have a special connection like no other with this art. The special friends

and dance family you develop over the years are with you forever.”

Drewitz School of Dance will now have a bit of a break with a few events throughout the summer before starting another new and busy season.

For more pictures from the recital please visit our provincial news hub at

SaskToday.ca.

Graduating the Drewitz School of Dance in 2023 were, back row, from left, Logan Hase, Kate Schmidt, Alyssa Saccary, Alecia Wiebe, Brooklynn Sullivan and Madison Schulz. Front row, Jersey Long, Shayla Gill and Halle Adams, as well as Hailey Taylor, whose picture is on the right. Group photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia and individual photo by David Rosenbaum

Drewitz School of Dance teacher and director Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway, left, and assistant teacher Hunter Hildebrand, for whom it was the last recital in her role as she will soon be moving away. Photo courtesy of Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway

Claire Kwochka, Rylee Gallaway and Brea Benning performed a sentimental and beautiful Princess Dreams dance. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

A solo performance, The Edge of the Glory, by graduating Halle Adams

From left, Makenna Sullivan, Logan Hase, Payton Sernick, Emma Morhart, Sydney Lainton and Alecia Wiebe were part of a bright performance.

From left, Scarlett Mercer, Josie Hurren, Mercedes Irwin, Layla Kitz and Peyton Irwin were part of an inspiring ballet performance.

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EDITORIAL

A bigger nursing home leaves questions to be answered

In recent months, local residents have been questioning why an updated needs assessment was needed for the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home.

After all, a similar document was completed a few years ago. Why did we need another one? Most people would ask to get the facility built so that those who need that level of care can move into it sooner.

Well, the needs assessment has been completed, and the government can no doubt claim the necessity for the new document after these findings were released last week.

It shows a need for 167 long-term care beds in Estevan through the new regional nursing home and the long-term care area at St. Joseph’s Hospital, 59 more than the current level of 108. That amounts to an increase of more than 50 per cent.

It’s a significant development when you consider that the expectation has long been that the number of beds would remain roughly the same. We always expected we were going to get this wonderful, state-ofthe-art facility that would provide a level of care that people deserve, but it was going to have roughly the same number of residents as the current Estevan Regional Nursing Home.

A much larger facility almost certainly needs a much greater cost. You likely won’t

add another 59 beds to a long-term care facility without having to spend a lot more money.

And since the community is going to have to cover 20 per cent of the cost of the project, it means that the new nursing home committee is going to have to generate more cash.

There are still some unanswered questions with this project, such as where it would be located and how it would be designed. Those questions are to come through an upcoming business study. We also don’t know when construction will begin, although it seems like we are inching closer to shovels finally being in the ground.

Since the Hearthstone Community Campaign reached its fundraising goal eight years ago, the waiting game has been incredibly difficult for the nursing home’s current and former residents and their families.

We know the community wants this facility. They proved that when they raised the requisite $8 million – which represented 20 per cent of the initially-forecasted cost of the facility – in less than four years through Hearthstone.

Now they’re going to be asked to step forward with support again, although Estevan MLA Lori Carr – who is also the minister responsible for SaskBuilds and Procurement – says it won’t delay the start of construction if the new nursing home

committee doesn’t have the requisite 20 per cent of the new estimated cost.

But we have to remember that the vast majority of the fundraising for Hearthstone occurred during the economic boom years, when the price of oil was typically above US$100 per barrel. The oil-price crash didn’t occur until just a few months before Hearthstone wrapped up.

While the support for a new nursing home remains high, the economic climate of the community has changed. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now due to the pending demise of conventional coal-fired power generation at the end of the decade. Some of the stalwart businesses in the community have closed in the past eight years. And the committee will have to go back to a lot of people who donated once before.

We’re confident that despite the challenges, Estevan will step up and support this much larger project. That’s what we do. We see the need for something in our community, and we step up. We help those in need.

It would be unrealistic to expect the government to go against the findings of the needs assessment after it paid good money for the document.

It’s also unrealistic to expect the government to eat the expense associated with the added costs of a new nursing home, although that would certainly be the best-case scenario.

It’s not personal identity, but is Estevan’s

Once I heard from a friend that coal and coal mining were part of local people’s identity, so big of a role the industry played in the formation of the Estevan area and so much it meant to so many people of different generations.

There are pieces of evidence that coal has been used for over 2,000 years, of course not at the industrial scale we have today, but our ancestors have known about its characteristics and benefits for a while and used it for their needs as fuel and later in manufacturing.

Coal has been mined in Saskatchewan ever since the 1850s when early pioneers would dig it to use as a source of heat in the plain and treeless Prairies. So, coal has had a great value in this area for longer than this country has officially existed.

Settlers in the Estevan area were also aware of the local deposits and started extracting coal and using it even before the turn of the 20th century. (To this day the remains of those old small mines can be found around Estevan).

The practical value of coal has shifted since the days of pioneers, as in Canada it’s mainly used to generate electricity nowadays, as well as in metallurgical applications such as steel production. The emotional value of it for the community probably only grew since the development of this industry and other energy sectors allowed Estevan to become the way most of us living here today know it – a successful and prosperous city. Even though I don’t think a field, job or industry can be a part of an individual’s identity (just in the sense of terms and the

Ana Bykhovskaia

Twenty Lines

About…

meaning of the concept), coal definitely comes close and historically was one of the main identifying factors of the Energy City. It’s hard to overestimate the role coal mining plays in people’s lives here (and to be fair anywhere else where mining is a thing).

Not only does it create well-paying jobs at the mines and in coal-fired power generation, which allows for a decent lifestyle for hundreds of people and their families, but it also generates a spin-off environment around itself, which stimulates the growth and development of the communities, making them more vibrant and thriving.

Mines often become local economic mainstays, and then infrastructure grows around them. Of course, the Estevan area also has oil and is an agrarian region, but who knows if we would have ever made it as a city if it wasn’t for layers of coal underneath us.

Even before I learned anything about the local coal mining industry, whenever the topic was brought up, the first thing that would come to my mind was pride.

I’m not even sure where I picked it up, as I grew up far away from any valuable deposits and didn’t know much about resources industries outside of what they teach in geography. But somehow I knew that there was a lot of pride in being involved in coal mining.

Thanks to many knowledgeable and experienced people I met here, I learned a lot about miners’ work, the industry development as well as the birth and subsequent growth of the union. And every person in the industry I talked to was indeed sincerely proud and excited about the work they do and the field they work in. You must agree, it’s not something you see too often, especially if we are talking hard, mostly shift work that’s dangerous in nature.

And that pride associated with coal mining also appeared to be contagious, as even though I’ve never been connected to the industry, I, too, was touched by that lifting feeling of being a part of something big and valuable.

Even throughout the last century, coal mining anywhere in the world has seen many changes. More changes are coming both locally and in many other places (so far it still seems that not everywhere).

Frank Smart, one of the Tale that is Told contributors, said that “Coal is synonymous with Estevan”. And it’s indeed so to this day. Even those people that came here recently, quickly learn about Big Lou and other big guys working hard and slowly walking around the area. (They are hard to miss). We then learn about the history of the 1931 strike, Lignite Louie, coal-power generation and carbon capture and other important pieces.

And while coal is not a part of the people’s identity, it’s definitely part of the local history, which affected the culture and shaped the community throughout the years. And it’s a strong industry worth celebrating, hopefully, for many years to come.

Hero worship?

Who said that?

David Willberg Willberg’s World

There’s an old adage that says you should never meet your heroes. People say you won’t hold them in the same regard afterwards.

I met one of mine recently. I wasn’t disappointed.

The Estevan Bruins held their annual Sportsman’s Dinner last Thursday night at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. Keynote speakers were Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Paul Coffey and Doug Gilmour.

I was pretty giddy when I saw who the Bruins were bringing in for this year’s dinner. I developed a real admiration for Gilmour thanks to his competitiveness and clutch performances. But Coffey was the big one for me.

When I was a seven-year-old kid living in Fort St. John, B.C., Paul Coffey was my favourite hockey player. I’d him on the list with Matt Dunigan when Dunigan was starring for the Edmonton Eskimos, professional wrestling icon André the Giant and cartoon superhero Optimus Prime. Living in northeast B.C., the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames were the closest teams. And they were the league’s powerhouse teams. There were years in which the Oilers and the Flames were the top two teams in the league.

The Vancouver Canucks? They were tucked away in the southwest corner of the province, a good two-day drive away. And they were not a powerhouse.

I wasn’t the only one at school who identified as an Oiler fan. Other kids would list Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri or Glenn Anderson as their favourites. The goalies might cite Grant Fuhr or Andy Moog. Not me. It was Coffey. The way he skated up the ice with the puck was nothing short of scintillating. (Note: seven-year-old me would not have described it as scintillating. But I have no doubt I would have tried to use a big word that I would have mispronounced).

In October of 1986, my family decided to head to Edmonton for the weekend for my eighth birthday. Fun times were had at the West Edmonton Mall. And dad took me to my first NHL game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Detroit Red Wings. I still have the program. And Thursday night, I strayed from professionalism and had Coffey sign that keepsake.

That 1986-87 season was the last time that the Oilers had the core of their team together. Coffey and Moog were gone the next season. Gretzky was dealt in the summer of 1988.

Also, in September 1987, dad was transferred to B.C.’s Lower Mainland. I committed myself to a lifetime of playoff heartbreak and rejection by becoming a Vancouver Canucks fan. The following year, in 1988, the Canucks drafted a lanky 18-year-old from Medicine Hat named Trevor Linden, and I had a new favourite player. He’s still my hockey hero. It saddens me that Linden never won a Stanly Cup, but that’s what happens when you spend most of your career as a Canuck.

(Of course, I always have a soft spot for the local products, too, guys like Brenden Morrow, Tanner Jeannot, Brayden Pachal and a list that seems to get longer each year).

It was a pretty big thrill to sit down for a few minutes and talk to Coffey, the guy who was my first favourite player, the guy who created so much excitement for me and many others I knew living up north in the 1980s.

He was fairly soft spoken. Didn’t have a big, booming voice. But he took the time to sign every autograph from every fan present, to talk to people, to get their names.

And he told stories. Lots of stories. Some of them wouldn’t be suitable for print. At times, the language was a little coarse, but I’ve heard worse from other guest speakers at sports celebrity dinners. And besides, when you come to one of these events, you expect to hear some occasional profanities.

The best prize of the night in the live auction came when Trevor Dutka spent $4,100 to drive Coffey and Gilmour to the Regina Airport the following day. That would have been a fun drive. The stories would have been stellar. I would have taken a few detours and taken them to Regina via Moose Jaw. Regardless, the dinner was a great night. And proof you can still meet your heroes.

A simple spoken line grabbed some attention

The editor:

Okay, I have tried to rid myself of the one-liner I heard a few months ago, and I haven’t shaken it off yet, so I’m invading a page of the Mercury to do a little remembrance bit. So please forgive me, because this “thing” happened some time ago.

In fact, it was the first game of that weekend girls’ basketball Shoot for a Cure tournament in Estevan. Spring had not yet sprung, but it was certainly sending good vibes.

At the last minute, I decided to attend the opening game between the Estevan Elecs and Weyburn Eagles.

I hadn’t missed the bit of controversy that surfaced regarding the cancelled McLeod Series and some criticism that had been lev-

elled at ECS, and so I was a bit curious about spectator behaviour as well as players’ and supporters’ attitudes.

I sat for a while in the well-populated Weyburn supporter section and then wandered over to take a seat in the lower level of a growing Estevan sector.

The game was tightly contested with a few exchanges of the lead in a game that Weyburn eventually won by one point.

But that’s not my point.

As the game worked toward conclusion and the gymnasium rocked with a bit of bedlam, a few players from another team (remaining nameless) wandered into the gymnasium to catch the action.

A couple of these girls found a perch just below the area where I was seated and I had the opportunity to

watch and accidentally overhear some conversation.

Two girls in front of me turned and checked out the spectator numbers and noise level. They then watched and heard the Elec cheerleaders do a well co-ordinated stunt, followed by a tightly rehearsed and choreographed cheer that earned them the attention of the crowd that responded with applause during a brief time out.

Then more noise, more basketball action, another huge cheerleading stunt.

One of the girls turned to her teammate and said, over the noise, and with more than a little awe in her voice, “Wow, I wish our school had sprit like this!”

Simple line, singular voice, but it made me smile and think, well, ECS, things can’t be so bad after all. Sometimes we may need to

have someone with a neutral stance inform us of what we’re doing and sometimes the assessment may be pretty okay.

Things are never going to be perfect at ECS or at the leisure centre, Affinity Place, Estevan Motor Speedway, Woodlawn Regional Park, art gallery and museums, or downtown or at the Market Mall, but this is what we have and it seems at least a few visitors may see the things we have become accustomed to ignoring while they are right in front of us.

Let’s just enjoy Estevan and what we can bring to the party. A little imperfection once in awhile can’t hurt us. It seems we have a lot of spirit. That’s a good thing isn’t it?

Air cadets continue to fundraise for building needs

The No. 30 WylieMitchell Air Cadets Squadron has been able to complete some work on its roof, but there is more work that will have to be done in the future.

The cadets had encountered problems with a leaky roof, so they had it sealed. The repairs, which cost more than $50,000, are expected to last 12 years, according to Christina Farquhar, who is in charge of the cadets’ sponsoring committee.

Farquhar said every time it rained, or when the snow melted, the roof would leak, leading to puddles on the floor in the main hall. It was a problem for not only the cadets during their weekly sessions, but when events took place in the hall.

“The floor would have to be dried up,” said Farquhar.

The cadets have not encountered any issues with the roof since the sealant work was completed.

Farquhar noted the work depleted all of their funds in the hall account, so they have no extra money for other repairs that are needed. They want to replenish their building fund, so they can complete needed maintenance projects.

Farquhar said they had an estimate completed on a

roof replacement that came in at $500,000 in today’s dollars.

“Are we going to be able to replace it in a dozen years? Probably not, but we need to do something that’s going to last more than a dozen years,” said Farquhar.

The work needed right now includes typical maintenance and upkeep, updated signs and more.

“To polish the floor in the hall, that’s $10,000,” said Farquhar, noting they would like to complete that task, but it’s not in their budget.

The hall is in good shape right now, she said, and the

air cadets aren’t going anywhere.

The air cadets held a Mother’s Day trade show at the hall on May 6, with numerous vendors offering products for people to choose from. The event raised more than $3,000 after expenses. In addition to the trade show booths, the cadets sold 50-50 tickets, and lunch and snacks were served to the public.

The cadets will have a Christmas fundraiser later this year.

“Last December – and it went over really well – we had a Santa Claus [visit], so we had pictures with San-

ta,” said Farquhar. “We’ll have that again. That was really popular. The cadets sold some treats, and there was a craft show like there was recently.”

Farquhar said the hall is an important venue for the community. Since it is on exhibition grounds, the Estevan Exhibition Association uses it during the fair. It’s also used for a number of different events throughout the year like weddings and fundraisers. During the Scotties-Tankard provincial curling championships earlier this year, it was the site of a concession, games and cabarets.

Meet Betsy, a two-year-old Labrador Retriever mix. After two litters, she’s finally getting the chance to experience life as a puppy herself. Betsy has been an incredible mom, but now it’s her turn to kick back, relax, and embrace her inner puppy spirit! She’s discovered a newfound love for toys and playing with other doggos at the shelter. Her sweet and friendly nature steals the hearts of everyone who meets her. Betsy is well- behaved and knows the sit command. She walks well on a leash, and gets along with dogs, cats, and older kids. She’s the perfect fit for any family looking to add joy to their lives!

goofball. My favourite things to do is playing fetch and tug of war. I’m also a big fan of the snow! The staff at the shelter say I’m a good learner, and will thrive with someone who can help me reach my full potential. With proper introduction I could get along with dogs or cats. I’m a happy, healthy boy and can’t

Meet Gibby! This adorable guy is always ready for cuddles and enjoys being held close. You’ll instantly fall in love with his sweet purrs and affectionate nature. Gibby adores toys of all kinds. Feather wands, balls, and even crinkly objects are sure to bring out his inner kitten. He’ll keep you entertained for hours with his joyful antics and curious spirit. If you’re looking for a furry friend to brighten up your life, Gibby might just be the perfect match for you!

Betsy Gibby

A Mother’s Day trade show was held at the Wylie-Mitchell Hall in Estevan on May 6.

Garage sale at the legion

Royal Canadian Legion Branch No 60, Estevan, ran a garage sale on Saturday. Anything from books and cookware to hockey gear and clothes was available at the most budget-friendly prices one would find these days. Dan Chouinard stopped by the Legion Hall to check out the offerings. Items were donated by the community, and funds raised will help the legion and local organizations it supports.

Role of early education highlighted at meeting

The results are in and there is no longer any debate regarding the value of early learning programs.

As one of the key delivery people involved in the early learning programs, Jacqueline Gibbs, the program’s co-ordinator can even provide financial/ numerical examples to solidify the argument.

“For every dollar spent in early years, there is an evaluation of a $1.50 to $2.80 in return,” she told board members during her presentation at their May 24 open meeting in the South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s head office in Weyburn.

It’s just easier to make necessary changes in early life, she explained and “we have targets for every demographic.”

Cheri Haberstock, principal of Spruce Ridge School in Estevan and Spruce Ridge teacher Trea-

sure Ross, joined Gibbs to give illustrations of successes they met with home visitations.

Gibbs explained that the 16-member early learning teams are able to spread quality learning experiences, so that recipients in smaller communities are not at a disadvantage.

She noted how the home visits often lead to success while providing additional information for the educators and program delivery systems.

Gibbs also spoke about the progress being witnessed in the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre located within the Estevan Comprehensive School facility.

“These are not drop your child and leave programs,” she said.

The early learning practitioner added that speech and language pathology work can start as early as

age three for a recipient child and there is no waitlist. That sometimes leads to a big load, added Keith Keating, the division’s director of education, but the effort is well worth it.

Early learning contributes to the deepening of relationships with parents and community, said Gibbs “and this is a big one.”

“Improving transitions into traditional school settings is done by decolonizing spaces and sharing knowledge tools and skills between schools and families so that students are safe, confident and successful through their entire educational journey,” she said.

That journey can begin shortly after a child is born, right to the age of five, when the youngster is prepared to enter the structured school system and to move ahead smoothly.

The mobile early learning summer tour led by

Jenn Sedor out of the Carlyle area reached 22 communities in the southeast region and that included a summer Fun Kit that host organizations can borrow along with 400 Tales for Tots kits that were issued to public health nurses to give out during their 18-month check-ups. The Impact events hosted by community service clubs involved 350 families and each one took home a kit of books and learning materials along with parental information as “another touch point,” said Gibbs.

A chart illustrating the growth of attendance and programming at the Family Resource Centre for Estevan and area, was also a feature of the Gibbs report, who also touched briefly on the oncoming federally supported $10 per day daycare programming.

“Not all centres can access professional development. We want to support them so they can get licensing and can arrange things so they don’t lose any money,” Gibbs said. Pre-Kindergarten pro-

gramming was also addressed and she said parents are being urged to participate in pre-school styled programming.

Ross and Haberstock then spoke on their successful ventures into family visitations that included 14 families of Spruce Ridge students after regular school hours.

The two related how they were welcomed in all instances and were introduced to other family members, pets, recreation rooms and often treats or meals while even learning about family dynamics, which will enhance the overall learning experiences for the child. Ross and Haberstock said they hoped to expand the program next year after starting with six visits last fall followed by five within the winter and early spring months.

“The parents loved it. I was just a ride along for Treasure,” said Haberstock with a laugh, “I kept the dogs and other kids busy so she could talk with the students and parents.”

Gibbs then added, “Families learn that teachers care. They can develop strong relationships and that makes a tight, positive relationship possible.”

“We never did feel unwanted in a home,” Ross said as the trio neared the conclusion of the presentation that had brought the board members vital information regarding growth in the early learning programming, outreach and the offerings of the Family Resource Centre.

Gibbs also added a few facts and figures regarding growth of the French Immersion programs at Assiniboia Park Elementary School in Weyburn and Pleasantdale School in Estevan where it will be expanded to include Kindergarten to Grade 4 next school year. She also spoke briefly about the engagement of instructional coaches where play and exploration become powerful teaching strategies, even in later grades, before wrapping up the extensive but attention-grabbing report.

Estevan & Carlyle

College receives added eligibility for grants

The Southeast College has announced that it has been granted full institutional eligibility for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

In a news release, the college said it now has approval from the federal government to actively pursue grants for applied research.

“One of our primary goals at Southeast College is to enhance our service to the region and industry partners through applied research,” said college president and CEO Dr. Vicky Roy.

This “significant achievement” in grant eligibility status was the result of what the college called a “rigorous” application process and adherence to compliance requirements.

Jody Holzmiller, vicepresident of professional training and continuing studies, spearheaded this

initiative for the college. She emphasized the access thid grants to substantial funding resources and partnership opportunities with industries and other postsecondary institutions.

Darcy Nolte, vice-president of innovation and strategic development and the leader of the newlyestablished Centre for Sustainable Innovation, acknowledged the crucial role of research in creating new knowledge and applications, nurturing skilled human resources, facilitating student involvement and fostering peer review.

Nolte affirmed that the full institutional eligibility status ensures that funded applied research will meet the highest standards of excellence.

With the attainment of this milestone, Southeast College eagerly anticipates forging partnerships in applied research and gaining access to additional grants for their programs, collaborative research endeavours with partners, and other

post-secondary institutions.

“This is a significant milestone for a rural college in our region, and we are eager to witness further advancements in the field of applied

research. Acquiring tri-agency institutional eligibility funding signifies a great deal for our college and the southeast region, firmly placing us on the funding and applied research map,” said Roy.

Estevan family centre distributes postpartum wellness boxes

The Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre is currently distributing postpartum wellness boxes. The boxes are free for any new mothers who need them and contain a lot of useful resources and materials.

“With the help of generous community we have created postpartum wellness boxes,” the centre said in an email.

“The purpose of these boxes is to provide mothers with comfort, connection and care. And to assist them in their unique journey.

“The new moms must come visit us here at the EEYFRC to collect their box. Any local mom with a baby of eight weeks or under is eligible for one.

“The boxes are jam-packed with resources, coupons, gift cards and small gifts.”

Postpartum wellness boxes will be available as long as quantities last.

Shriners bringing dirt bike stunt show to Estevan

For the first time since 2016, the Wa-Wa Temple Southeast Shrine Club is bringing entertainment to Estevan.

Global FMX will perform on June 3 at 1 and 5 p.m. at Affinity Place. Gene Davis with the Shrine Club said the performers do flips and jumps on dirt bikes to the delight of the crowd.

“They’re talented young guys,” said Davis. “It’s a fairly popular style of show. Dirt bikes will be roaring and they’ll be running around doing flips. They’ll actually be jumping a couple of pieces of equipment in the arena that they set up between ramps.”

This is the first time that FMX has been in Estevan to Davis’ knowledge.

Also, a kids’ show named Wet and Wild will be set up in the Estevan Leisure Centre’s courtyard, which Davis said will feature different fun activities for kids involving water. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. For a $10

wristband, Davis said children can enjoy a variety of activities.

A couple of food trucks have committed to be part of the event as well.

Every child 14 and under in the Estevan area is going to receive a free ticket to watch the Global FMX show, Davis said. The passes were to be distributed through the schools last week. Adults will have to pay $30.

A Kawasaki dirt bike will be raffled off, and there will be a 50-50 draw for each show.

Traditionally the Shrine Club brought a circus to Estevan, but Davis said they have had to look elsewhere for a fundraising show. Their last event was a circus that involved horses and acrobats in 2016.

Proceeds from the Global FMX show will go towards Shrine activities. They fund patient transportation to and from their hospital in Montreal, as well as the operations at the hospital.

“We have to raise a little more than $30 US per second, 365 days per year, to keep the hospitals running,” said Davis.

The hospitals are a service that the Shriners provide for specific needs of children ages 18 and under. They have helped those

with brittle bone disease, klepht lips, burns and more.

Davis said they are looking forward to having a community event once again.

“The whole club, we’re all looking forward to it,” said Davis. “We’ve been working hard for it for several months.”

Also, Southeast College has announced a renewed scholarship partnership with Vermilion Energy Inc.

Vermilion Energy has committed to a $9,000 contribution, spread out over

the next three years, to support the ongoing education of students.

The bursary recipients will be determined based on both financial need and community involvement. Preference will be given to students located within southeast Saskatchewan and pursuing an education in electrician, industrial mechanic or office administration fields.

“Vermilion is proud to be a financial supporter of the Southeast College scholarship fund. Our Vermilion Ways of Caring community investment program is helping to fulfill our purpose – to responsibly produce essential energy – by giving back to our community partners and contributing to healthy, resilient and sustainable communities,” said Shane Pollock, area superintendent for Vermilion Energy.

“Southeast College is grateful to Vermilion Energy for choosing to invest in Southeast College students,” said Kassandra Lawrenz, manager of college advancement. “It’s continued partnerships like this that are so valuable for our students as they are able to ease some of the financial pressures of pursuing a post-secondary education.”

Shane Pollock, left, area supervisor for Vermilion Energy, presented $9,000 recently to representatives from Southeast College to fund bursaries at the college over the next three years. Photo courtesy of Southeast College

Postpartum wellness boxes are packed and distributed for free by the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre and contain many useful items and a lot of information. Photo courtesy of the EEYFRC

SASKATCHEWAN MINING WEEK

MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2023

Estevan miner’s interest in drone technology results in a new company

By David Willberg

Rod Cullen has been employed with coal mining operations in the Estevan area since 2010. And he enjoys his work.

But Cullen has also found an interest in drones, and that has led him to start up Predator Inspections Ltd.

Cullen, who is a heavyequipment operator for Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC, started with the mines by working in the service bay for about a month, and then moved into heavy equipment.

“I got onto the draglines as an oiler, progressed up to an operator, had a couple of operating bids on a couple of different machines,” said Cullen.

He likes to be around the draglines. It is fun to operate them, he said, and he is intrigued to see how the gearing and components work. The people at the mines are great, too.

“I get to work with industrial mechanics, journeymen heavy-duty mechanics, welders and electricians. I get to see their trade and see how it fits with the dragline side of things,” said Cullen.

He became a miner after working in the oilpatch. He decided to shift careers due to the uncertainty of the oil industry. He had to plan for spring break-up each year and weather was also an issue in his former profession.

Cullen moved to Estevan in 2009 and didn’t know much about the mines, but was still encouraged to apply.

“The pay is good and the steady work schedule is good,” he said. “It keeps you busy. I get to run the dozer. All that equipment is just fun to work with.”

While the equipment is large, it’s enjoyable to see the finesse work that can be done with heavy equipment.

Cullen took a hiatus from the mines for a couple of years, but was granted his certifications when he returned to mining.

He already had his commercial pilot’s licence when he became a miner. And he started working with drones because the other traditional aircraft jobs didn’t appeal to him. Transport Canada also changed regulations for drone operations in 2019.

“With my … commercial aviation background, I studied up on the advanced [drone test], wrote the flight test and then it just seemed like it was a good segue with all of the sensors and capabilities of this drone in particular to adapt to farming, to oil and gas, to SaskPower inspections,” he said.

The primary drone he has covers so much area in less time, he said, and is more efficient.

Predator Inspections has two drones. One, the bigger unit, which Cullen called an enterprise drone, has multiple censors that can be used, and is one of the few of its kind in Saskatchewan or Western Canada.

They just added a second one with a photogrammetry censor to do two-di-

mensional maps and threedimensional models.

“That helps companies interact with their physical assets in the office on the computer,” Cullen said. “You can get measurements, you can get volume calculations. You don’t need to be out there measuring, climbing around the pumpjacks or the tanks to be measuring the lease.

“You can map it and model it, and it will give you elevation contour lines, some DSM – digital service models – so if you need to predict where a leak was most likely to happen, it will give you the elevation of the lease, so you know if you need more containment on a certain area, or want to add more soil or beef up your berms.”

He has performed some demonstrations with SaskPower to show the zoom capabilities of his primary drone, particularly with one of its censors. It’s 20 megapixels with a 23-times digital zoom.

“On a good day, you can see for … over a mile. If we’re within 50 feet or 100 feet of something, it’s really good resolution. You can see the cotter pins on bolts and stuff, and the one censor there’s actually four censors in one, so it’s got a thermal camera, it’s got a laser range finder, it’s got a wide 12-megapixel wide camera.”

Cullen noted the laser methane censor is the only one in Saskatchewan, and

was used to detect a gas leak that had been occurring in a natural gas line for three years. Operators had been sent out to check around and couldn’t detect the problem.

He was able to pinpoint where the leak was coming from. A survey stake had punctured the line.

The primary drone could also have applications in agriculture that could help agronomists do their job. And once regulations

change, it could create even more opportunities.

Cullen noted that when they had the idea for the business, they went to the Southeast Techhub to find out how to get it to the business stage. Techhub helped with searching for the name, making sure it wasn’t taken. And Jeff Taylor, the former head of Southeast Business Startup, was really good at helping them find out which programs they could apply for.

Brandy and Rod Cullen with the drone that is used for Rod Cullen’s business, Predator Inspections Ltd.

By David Willberg

People in the Estevan area know that coal mining is a valuable part of the region, providing direct employment for hundreds of people, not just at the mines, but through coal-fired power generation.

But the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local 7606 and the Westmorland Mining Holdings LLC also make a big difference in the region through the many causes they support.

Rick Dowhanuik, who is the president of UMWA Local 7606, said they donate thousands of dollars to different causes each year. The majority of funds come through union dues.

Most recently, the union purchased 11 benches and garbage cans that are located along the pathways in Estevan, along with a bench and a garbage can near the Bienfait branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The total cost was $24,050, he said.

Each bench has a small bronze plaque with the name of a member who died while still employed by the mines. The union found the names of 11 miners over the last 10 years.

UMWA has donated to the Salvation Army each year through the ministry’s Christmas campaign. The union has also contributed to the poppy campaigns at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan and Bienfait branches.

They have donated garbage and recycling resepticles located on the concourse of Affinity Place.

Health care is an important cause for the union.

They donated the chemotherapy chairs at St. Joseph’s Hospital so that patients would be more comfortable. They have donated

towards the construction of St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Hearthstone Community Campaign, which raised funds for St. Joseph’s Hospital.

In terms of sports, the union purchases an advertising board at Affinity Place to support the Estevan Bruins. They have donated to Estevan Minor Baseball and the Western Canada Baseball Championships that were held in Estevan last year. They have also supported a minor hockey tournament in Bienfait, female hockey in Estevan, archery in Macoun and the Estevan Mermaids artistic swimming club.

And they have contributed high-visibility toques each year to the local safety patrollers who can be found at crosswalks in the community during the school year.

“I know when I was a young parent, minor sports were expensive. They need all of the help you can give to minor sports to alleviate the costs for parents. There are lots of parents who can’t afford it. I know it’s more expensive than when my kids were young,” said Dowhanuik.

Perhaps their most highprofile donation each year is to the United Way Estevan’s telethon. The mine employees raise funds through voluntary payroll deductions and other efforts, and then the amount is matched by Westmoreland. Last year the effort raised $86,799.44 –the second-largest contributor to the telethon, trailing only SaskPower.

“We’re a non-profit organization, so we have funds that come in through our union dues, and we just feel that those funds are best allocated to organizations in the community,” said Dowhanuk. “People are in need, and if we’re in a position to

help them out, we sure like doing that.”

Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC has been an avid supporter of youth sports in the community and has purchased 4-H steers in the past.

The union’s social club will organize outings to the Bruins’ games and the Estevan Motor Speedway’s races twice a year, giving their members a chance to attend the games and support those organizations.

The club enjoys getting their name out in the community, so that people know that the union is doing good things. He recognizes there are some people in the community who aren’t fond of unions, so UMWA wants people to know there is good in what they do.

The membership is eager to be part of Local 7606’s

community support. Someone will make a motion at a meeting to contribute to an organization. They will debate it and then make a decision.

“It’s almost always 100 per cent in favour,” said Dowhanuik. Dowhanuik added it’s “a shame” that if governments get their way and coal min-

ing is shut down, a lot of these organizations will be hurting for donations, because the UMWA won’t be around any longer to support them.

The United Mine Workers of America Local 7606 contributed benches alongside Estevan’s pathways. Benches are dedicated to members who died while still employed by the mines. Photo by David Willberg

UMWA Local 7606 and Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC donate to the United Way Estevan each year. File photo

Estevan mine rescue team aims at top three

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Mine Rescue Team (MRT) at Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan Mine hopes their hard work will pay off when they face other MRTs in Saskatoon in early June.

Seven members of the Estevan team, as well as coaches and the safety manager, dedicated a good portion of May to practising and preparing for the 53rd annual Emergency Response Mine Rescue Skills Competition that will be held June 3 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon as a culmination of Saskatchewan Mining Week.

For three weeks, Derek Choma, Tanner WegerBrandow, Brandon Schopp, Austin Dovell, Lonnie Rooks and vice-captain Tyler Ursu, led by captain Jessica Klarholm, and guided by coaches Cory Gibson and Travis Olver, and supervised by safety manager Guy Hiltz, were giving it all they have, not only to ensure they bring home the trophies but also to perfect

their skills, reactions and teamwork to always perform to their best if a call for help ever comes. And after many hours of training, they were feeling well about the upcoming challenge.

“I’m looking forward to it; it’s going to be good,” said captain Klarholm.

Over and over again, members that are partaking in the competition practised various scenarios, debriefed and went again to ensure they shine at the competition.

With just a few days remaining until the team will head to Saskatoon, Klarholm said they have picked up the pace in comparison to the last year and were progressing well.

“We shook the rust off last year from being shut down during COVID. Now we have that extra year under our belts. So, it’ll be not as shocking as it was last year. I feel like we’re better prepared all around in our skills.”

At the competition, all teams will have to do a number of scenarios, including surface, practical, rope highangle and fire problems. They will also have to write an exam and do a gas test. Just like in real life, MRTs won’t know what kind of challenges they are to face. They have a list of minimum equipment they have to bring, and then they have to find the best and safest way to approach the situations.

“There is a lot that teams have to know,” said Olver.

According to one of the practice scenarios, the team had to get the “patient” out of a hazardous environment, up and over a structure in not more than 45 minutes.

then competing members have an intense three-week training regime right before.

All drills are relevant to reallife emergencies, and the annual competition serves as a showcase of the talented and committed people who work at Westmoreland’s Estevan mine and for other mining companies across the province, giving them even more motivation to excel.

tive, it helps us to be proficient in actual emergencies on our mine site. And also, we all have our personal reasons too. These skills are transferred to our everyday lives, so I think for most of us, that’s probably it. A few of our members are also in a fire department, so these skills transfer to their work as well,” Klarholm

The entire MRT at Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan Mine has 14 members, fully trained to help in case of a real emergency. The MRT practises once a month to maintain their skills, and

Klarholm said their practices have seen more consistency than last year.

“We have a lot of stuff that we have to cover in an eight-hour day, it can be strenuous. And sometimes it’s hard to get everybody because we’re all on different shifts. But we do what we can to keep our skills sharp,” Klarholm said.

She noted that they try to gradually rotate members that are partaking in the competition every year because the three-week training course is great for getting all members up in their skills and most efficient if an emergency happens.

“[It’s important to be on the competing team because] from a work perspec-

CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE

is proven technology that advances using coal as an energy source to the forefront of today's power needs on a global scale. Boundary Dam Unit 3 was the first of its kind filling the gap between transitioning between renewable energy and reliable base load electricity.

It is proven, successful technology. We support carbon capture & storage.

explained.

The newest member of the team, Dovell, has partaken in just a few training sessions before going into the three-week practice blast. Klarholm has the most experience among the active participants with eight competitions, while coach Gibson has the most years of seniority overall.

Participating in the Emergency Response Mine Rescue Skills Competition this year will be the Mine Rescue Team at Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan Mine, consisting of, from left, Derek Choma, Tanner Weger-Brandow, Brandon Schopp, Austin Dovell, vice-captain Tyler Ursu, captain Jessica Klarholm, and Lonnie Rooks. Missing from the picture are coaches Cory Gibson and Travis Olver, and safety manager Guy Hiltz. Photo courtesy of Guy Hiltz

Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Captain Jessica Klarholm has participated in eight Emergency Response Mine Rescue Skills Competitions, and she said they aim to make it to the top three this year.

three,

grateful for the members’ efforts.

“Westmoreland as a whole wants to support our mine rescue and make

sure that if anything ever happens that we’re ready to go,” Hiltz said. “If we were to talk to our executives, our senior leadership

group and our managers, I think one of the things that makes them sleep easy at night, is knowing that people are here and

they [are sharp in their skills]. That being said, obviously, we are also always active in terms of safety all around.”

Saskatchewan Mining Week is May 28-June 3

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 28-June 3 as Mining Week in the province, a chance to celebrate the strength of the industry and the hard-working people who support it across the province.

“This is an exciting time for the Saskatchewan mining industry, coming off another year with record sales numbers and the launch of Securing the Future: Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy,” Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter said.

“For the third year in a

row, we rank in the top three globally as one of the best places for mining in terms of investment attractiveness, according to the Fraser Institute.”

Building on the momentum of the province’s critical minerals strategy, the theme for this year’s Saskatchewan Mining Week is Saskatchewan: A Growing Critical Minerals Hub. The province is home to 23 of the 31 critical minerals on Canada’s list.

Saskatchewan has an opportunity to contribute to meeting the global de-

mand for critical minerals including potash, uranium, helium, lithium, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements.

“This year’s theme showcases the critical role Saskatchewan mineral production has in the value chain of providing clean energy and global food security through our worldclass production of potash and uranium,” Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA) board chairman Nathaniel Huckabay said.

“Our near-term production of other critical minerals, like copper, lith-

ium and processing of rare earth elements that are essential for the transition to a greener, digital economy is putting Saskatchewan on the map as a growing critical minerals hub.”

Saskatchewan has long been a top global producer and exporter of potash and uranium and is now home to a growing helium sector and to the first-of-itskind, minerals-to-metals rare earth processing facility in North America.

Saskatchewan is a sustainable producer of minerals with a stable regulatory environment,

attractive incentives, and highly competitive tax systems that support exploration, mining, processing, and manufacturing.

Reiter and Huckabay, who is the general manager of Westmoreland Mining LLC’s Poplar River Mine, kicked off Mining Week Monday at the Saskatchewan Research Council. Events are planned around the province, including presentations on uranium and the nuclear energy market, sustainable mining, growing opportunities, critical minerals, and feeding the future.

“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Saskatchewan exploration and mining industry. The world needs what Saskatchewan has to offer,” said SMA president Pam Schwann. Saskatchewan’s mining industry is a major contributor to the provincial economy with a record value of mineral sales over $19.4 billion in 2022.

Mining Week will culminate with the 53rd Annual Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition on June 3 in Saskatoon.

Eighteen MRTs will take part in the competition this year, and the Estevan MRT is aiming at finishing in the top

with some members set to come in first. Hiltz said the Estevan mine management is very supportive of the MRT and

In preparation for the competition, the Mine Rescue Team at Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan Mine practised a confined space, high-angle rescue drill.

The team also had to ensure proper ventilation as they were lifting the “patient” as there was a gas present, according to the scenario.

A13

Brewers teams continue to thrive in league play

The Estevan U18 AA Brewers have now won 10 straight games to start the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League season.

The Brewers swept two weekend doubleheaders, defeating the Saskatoon A’s 4-3 and 2-1 on Saturday, and the Lumsden Cubs 5-4 in extra innings and 10-2 on Sunday.

In the first game against the A’s, the Brewers trailed 3-1 after five innings, but tied the game with two in the sixth and then won with a run in the seventh. Hayden Terrett had the game-winning base hit. Ty Hoste notched a hit and two runs batted in (RBIs).

Justin Linthicum started and went 4 1/3 innings, and Sam Bendickson didn’t allow a hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The Brewers scored in the second and third innings in the second game against the A’s. Tayson Dietze had a run and two hits for the Brewers.

Jayden Kuchinka went 6 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and striking out 12, and Jacob Mayer picked up the final out with a strikeout.

The Brewers were down 4-1 after five innings in the first game with the Cubs,

but scored twice in the sixth, then added one in the seventh and took the lead in the eighth. Mathias Fornwald scored on a passed ball for the winning run.

Axton Martin pitched

the first five innings. Then Mayer came on in relief and didn’t allow a baserunner in three innings.

The Brewers scored four in each of the first and seventh innings in the second win over Lumsden. Mayer

and Linthicum each had two runs, three hits and an RBI.

Tanyan Strudwick went the distance, allowing four hits and striking out four.

•••

The Estevan U15 AA

Brewers had a 2-1-1 mark on the weekend.

They opened with a 9-9 tie against the White Butte Broncos, a game the Brewers led 7-1 after the first inning. But they recovered to blank the Broncos 10-0 in the second game.

Sunday saw them play the Davidson Cardinals, losing 22-10 in the first game but recovering to win 15-5 in the second, leaving the Brewers with a 4-2-1 record in league play.

The Estevan U13 AA Brewers won two lopsided games on Sunday to improve their record to 5-1.

Estevan defeated the Swift Current 57s 18-8 and 22-8.

Earlier in the week, they dropped their first game of the season, a 15-12 decision against the Weyburn Beavers.

(Details on the U15 and U13 AA games were not available through GameChanger).

Estevan woman earns provincial volleyball honour

Shelan Proust has been recognized for her “countless” hours of dedication to the Estevan Extreme Volleyball Club over the past eight years.

Proust was one of the volunteers recognized with a Marlene Hoffman Volunteer Award by Sask. Volleyball on the weekend.

Proust initially started as a volunteer parent in 2015.

“This was really the true start of the club growing and Shelan just showed up, dug in and helped with whatever needed to be done, through managing her daughter’s team and attending board meetings,” stated her nomination.

In 2018, Proust took on the role of fundraising chairwoman and introduced various initiatives to assist the club with becoming financially stable. The goal was trying to keep volleyball cost-friendly so all athletes, regardless of financial background, could participate.

“Because Shelan couldn’t just do one job at a time,

she also head coached the 13UW [under-13 female] team in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons before also taking on the vice-president position in 2019,” the nomination stated.

In 2019, when the under-14 women’s team needed an assistant coach, Proust stepped up. And she stepped in as the U17 women’s assistant coach, too. This was while remaining the vice-president and fundraising committee chairwoman.

“Need anything done to make the club a success? Shelan literally signs up for it all as her passion for growing and sustaining the club was clear.”

The nomination noted that in 2020, she slowed down a bit, but remained the vice-president of the program. It was during this time that the club dealt with all of the rules and regulations associated with the pandemic.

“Shelan put in countless hours preparing documents, policies and protocols to

keep the athletes on the court safely,” the nomination stated. “The Extreme also moved to a new facil-

ity where Shelan helped to hand-paint the floor with the dimensions of a court, so athletes could have a

facility that was utilized by only our athletes.”

In the years following the pandemic restrictions, Proust took on the role of president of the club and under her guidance the number of athletes rose to 107 through the different age groups in the 2022-23 season.

“Shelan has spent significant time securing gyms, recruiting coaches, writing policies and navigating the always fun job of dealing with parents. Shelan has never stopped managing the teams her daughter plays on. Above and beyond is simply what Shelan does.”

The Estevan Extreme welcomed beach volleyball and summer camps in the past couple of years, and the Smashbal program has grown to the point where there is often a waitlist.

This past season, Proust ran weekly development sessions for Grade 7 and 8 students who had not previously participated in the club volleyball program.

The nomination form noted that just over 2,900

days have passed since Proust became involved with Estevan Extreme and she has been constantly researching grants, sending emails for clarification on something, taking calls from parents, meeting prospective coaches for coffee and sitting at a computer designing yet another poster for another new program.

Proust is also passionate about mental health in athletes and this year partnered with one of the 17U female athletes to have “Smash the Stigma, Mental Health Matters” on all of the warmup shirts for all age groups.

“This club has become her life and through her involvement, she has changed many lives and made Estevan Extreme Volleyball Club a household name in southeast Saskatchewan,” the nomination stated. “The athletes Shelan has coached are better for knowing her, and the coaches she has mentored will go on to continue to change lives with the insight they’ve gained from Shelan.”

Twins, A’s continue to impress in league play

The Southeast U18 AAA Twins continued their strong start to the regular season, going 3-1 during weekend games.

The Twins started with a 9-8, extra-inning win over the Saskatoon Cubs Saturday. The Twins trailed 6-0 in the third, but scored twice in the bottom of the third and five in the fourth to seize a 7-6 lead. Saskatoon scored two in the fifth, but the Twins replied with

one in the sixth to tie and added the winner in the eighth. Dax Brown singled in the winning run.

Callum Hollinger had three runs, four hits and two runs batted in (RBIs). Chase Himmelspach added three hits, a run and an RBI.

Kade Phillips and Conner Kerr each went four innings on the mound.

The next game was a 6-1 loss to the Cubs – the Twins’ first defeat in league

play this season. Hollinger scored the lone run.

Sam Mallory went four innings in relief, allowing just one run.

The Twins recovered to beat the Moose Jaw Canucks 10-6 and 12-0 on Sunday.

The Twins scored in bunches in the first game, with three in the first, four in the third and three in the sixth. Kerr had three RBIs in the victory.

Aiden Trimble went six innings in the victory.

The next game saw the Twins score seven in the fourth and invoke the mercy rule in 4 1/2 innings.

Dylan Frey had two hits and four RBIs, and he also scored once. Carter Beck scored three times.

Hollinger and Brown combined to allow two hits in five innings.

•••

The South East A’s U15 AAA team picked up a pair of lopsided victories on the

weekend, winning 16-7 and 14-1 over the Regina Wolfpack on Saturday.

The first game with Regina was 8-7 through three innings, but the A’s pulled away with five in the fourth.

Tyson Hardy, Reese Copeland and Luke Holman each had three RBIs. Hardy also scored four times and went three innings on the mound as they started. Jordan Frey didn’t allow a run in four innings of relief.

The A’s scored 11 times in the fifth inning to lead 14-1 and eventually force the mercy rule in the second game.

Caden Dorrance and Tristan Brownridge each had three RBIs for the A’s. Holman scored four times.

Brownridge allowed four hits in five innings.

A game slated for Sunday in Swift Current was postponed due to rain.

Jaxon Gabert of the U15 Brewers connects with a hit during Saturday’s game. Photo by David Willberg

Shelan Proust, pictured with her daughter Camryn Westling, has earned a provincial volleyball award. Photo courtesy of Shelan Proust

Motocross races thrill fans in Estevan

For the first time this year, the Trackside Motocross Association held races at its facility just east of Estevan.

A total of 102 riders entered between the different classes at the track. Top finishers in each event were:

•C Class: Matt Russell (first), Cyrus Ferrill (second), Nick Ginther (third), Travis Miller (fourth) and Kohl Langedahl (fifth).

•B Class: Deegan Ostendorf (first), Caden Fonstad (second), Grayson Pryde (third), Steve Butler (fourth) and Eric Mooney (fifth).

•A Class: Bryce Friess (first), Travis King (second), Brooks Milford (third), Cole Barnstable (fourth) and JJ Barnstable (fifth).

•Supermini: Leo Hickey (first), Eli Hickey (second), Royce Milford (third), Carter Yunick (fourth) and Falken Kantymir (fifth).

•50cc: Maddox Romich (first), Max Penna (second),

Kendyn Rekken (third) and Myles Robertson (fourth).

•Two-stroke: Randy Franke (first), Deegan Ostendorf (second), Leo Hickey (third), Caden Fonstad (fourth) and Grayson Pryde (fifth).

•65cc: Eli Hickey (first), Vinton Penna (second), Dexter Haus (third), Mason Fonstad (fourth) and Bentley Haus (fifth).

•Ladies: Kate Lees (first), Parker Russell (second), Lacey Barbour (third), Lucinda Milford (fourth) and Jasmine Tomolak (fifth).

•Vet (30-plus): Bryce Friess (first), Randy Franke (second), Steve Butler (third), Blair Fonstad (fourth) and Mick Ortman (fifth).

•85CC: Leo Hickey (first), Eli Hickey (second), Royce Milford (third), Evan Barbour (fourth) and Falkin Kantymir (fifth).

•Youth (14-29): Travis King (first), Brooks Milford (second), Kate Lees (third),

Dierks Milford (fourth) and Grayson Pryde (fifth). Trackside MX is part of the South Corner Racing

Circuit, which will offer seven points races this year between Carlyle, Alameda and Estevan, and a non-

points race in Souris, Man., on June 24. The circuit began its season on May 20 in Alam-

eda.

Local archers were on target for a fun weekend

The Estevan Archery Club had two great days of competition for a 3D shoot Saturday and Sunday at its outdoor range near the Boundary Dam Power Station. The club had shooters entered in different divisions, according to their age and what type of bow and additional equipment they use.

The top three finishers in each division were:

•Known 50: Theron Mattei (first), Craig Branton (second) and Hunter Chipley (third).

•Master 50: Ken Chipley (first), Theron Mattei (second) and Dana Hamilton (third).

•Unlimited: Craig Branton (first), Keith Hamilton (second) and Marlin Cogswell (third).

•Fixed pins: Paul Fladeland (first).

•Hunter: Keith Hamilton

(first), Cory Rucks (second) and Dana Duke (third).

•Traditional: Nicole Grass (first) and Stacey Gedak (second).

•Cadet: Nevada Sernick (first).

•Cub: Ryker Wall (first), Nevada Sernick (second) and Sophia Hall (third).

•Pre-cub: Harbyn Rucks (first), Nevaeh Duke (second) and Taigan Duke (third).

•Peewee: Fentyn Rucks (first), Kamdyn Rucks (second) and Tylan Lavoie (third).

More than 70 archers were entered during the two days of competition. It also served as a way to shake off the dust after the winter and get ready for archery hunting season.

Dana Duke said they had people of all ages competing in the event. Entrants had the option of shooting Saturday and/or Sunday.

They also had a number of people from outside of the community come to Estevan for the competition.

The course was nicely set

up, she said, and it was in really good shape. The winners are determined based off of total points after shooting both courses. Each course consists

of 20 targets, and the archers shoot one arrow at each target. Eleven points is the highest score that one can get on each target, followed by 10, eight and five, depending

Estevan Minor Football joins a new league

Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football (EMF) has found a new league to compete in for the 2023 season.

The organization has announced that it will leave the Moose Jaw Minor Football League and join the Parkland League, which has teams in Moosomin, Esterhazy, Fort Qu’Appelle and Melville.

EMF president Kevin

Mortenson said the Estevan Power Dodge U10 Cudas will likely be involved in jamboree-style games. He still has to talk to the other communities and decide the opportunities that will exist for the U10s. If they can’t reach a solution, Mortenson said they would follow what happens at the U10 level in Brandon, Man., when they draw names out of a hat and play

mini games, with each team having six players on the field at once.

“They would have new teammates every game, and they practise together during the week,” said Mortenson.

The Cudas are also looking for a new head coach for this season, he said. Anyone who is interested can call Mortenson at 306-4213377.

The Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate U12 Chargers, who won the Moose Jaw league title in 2021 and reached the final last year, will look to continue their success in the new

league. Teams have nine players on the field at once for U12.

Mortenson said there hasn’t been a championship in the Parkland league at the U12 and U14 levels, but they want to have a conference call to decide how they would structure a playoff and a title game.

As for the Estevan Lions Club U14 Oilers, they will have nine players on the field for games instead of the 12 they had to have in the Moose Jaw circuit.

Mortenson said the shift to nine-player football was a big factor in making the move.

“This will really help. Last year towards the end of the season, they were sitting around 18 active players, and that’s not including the ones that were injured,” said Mortenson.

Estevan was the only team that wanted to have nine-player football for the U14 division, he said, but the other teams said no because they had a sufficient talent pool.

Matt Schell will return as the head coach of the Chargers and Paul Duncan will continue to guide the Oilers.

As for the Estevan U18 Kinette Club Viragos, they’ll continue to play in the Prairie Girls Football League.

Saskatoon has joined the league for this season. Regina, Melville, Moosomin and Yorkton also have squads.

“We’ve had a pretty successful spring recruiting new players,” said Mortenson.

Practices will start around Aug. 15, and the regular season is slated to begin during the Labour Day long weekend.

on where the arrow strikes. A miss results in zero points. For more pictures from the event, please visit our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca

The decision by the EMF will not affect the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team, which will continue to play in the Moose Jaw High School Football League. Estevan is in with Weyburn, Yorkton, Swift Current and three teams from Moose Jaw. But Estevan won’t be in 12-player football until the high school level.

Meanwhile, three local football teams have been playing some spring football.

The U12 and U14 teams have combined into one, a U18 male team named the Boltz has been formed and the U18 Viragos are playing, too.

Each team was in Moosomin for exhibition games against the Generals on Sunday.

The three Estevan spring teams will host Moosomin next Sunday at the Dr. Dean Chow Field, with the U14 team at 11 a.m., the Viragos at 1 p.m. and the Boltz at 3 p.m.

Those three games will wrap up the spring season.

Hitchcock Town Wide Garage Sale

Concession and Bake Sale at the Hitchcock Community Centre Including Estate Sales!!

June 3rd, 2023

10AM-3PM

The next program in Estevan is slated for Sept. 27, which will wrap up the circuit’s season.

Among those competing at Saturday’s races were Travis King (577), Bryce Friess (237), Brooks Milford (69), JJ Barnstable (100), Cole Barnstable (299), Andrew Wilson (49) and Kate Lees (73). Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Dana and Naveah Duke, Tylan Lavoie, Stacey Gedak and Ryker Wall competed in a 3D archery event.

Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

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Fire crews assist with collisions

Estevan Fire Rescue Service members responded to a couple of collisions over the past 10 days.

On May 24 in the early afternoon, firefighters responded to a three-vehicle collision on the west side of Estevan. Minor injuries were reported.

The vehicles sustained minor damages, yet some had to be towed from the scene. Crews assisted with fluid spill clean-

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up and then returned to the station.

On May 19 at about 11 p.m., two vehicles couldn’t share the road at the intersection of Souris Avenue South and Sixth Street. Firefighters responded, but it was soon learned that the Estevan police had it under control and their assistance wasn’t required.

On May 28, at about 11 a.m., crews responded to a

commercial fire alarm that went off in central Estevan. Once on scene, they found out that the alarm was triggered by construction work underway in the building. They confirmed no emergency was happening, ensured the fire alarm panel was reset and everything was fine.

On May 19-20, crews were also on standby at the Estevan Motor Speedway races.

When the future looks scary

By Tim Pippus Estevan Church of Christ

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most loved and iconic structures in New York City, but it was not always that way.

Thank you to the Pasqua Hospital Doctors and staff at Unit 4B, and to the team in the Palliative Care Unit.

We are truly grateful for the love we felt from you all... from the visits at the Hospital and at our homes, the phone calls, texts, messages, flowers, cards and food.

Thank you also to those who donated in memory of Lorena to Regina Hospital Foundation and/or Palliative Care, Pasqua Hospital.

Thank you to Dustin Hall and Hall Funeral Service for the compassionate and professional help and thank you Dustin for the beautiful music at the service.

Thank you to those that travelled and attended Lorena’s service; thank you to St. John the Baptist parish, administration, Rev. Amada Canaveral, Connie Wheeler, mass assistants; Doris Trobert for the comforting music, and CWL for the lunch preparation, serving, clean-up.

Thank you to the readers: Pierre Courchaine and Denise Johner Bens; and to Chris Tarnes for presenting the Eulogy, and to those who submitted additional words/stories to share about Lorena.

Thank you, Karen and Rodney Miiller for opening your home for the gathering place.

Our lives will not be the same without Lorena, but you all have truly helped us through this time.

Thanks and love from:

Robert (Bob) Wolensky family, Kim, Dan, Parker, Cohen, Hadley, Kyle, Lori Marjorie Heidinger and family Marthe Wolensky and family

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contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

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HEALTH

When it was completed in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and many New Yorkers did not believe it was strong enough to survive. Many refused to go anywhere near it.

This fear reached its height six days after its grand opening when a lady fell down a set of stairs leading off the bridge. As she fell, she screamed and that scream caused someone on the bridge to panic and yell, “The bridge is collapsing!”

This started a stampede as everyone pushed toward the exits. People pushed, shoved and ran over one another, re-

sulting in 12 people dying in the ensuing chaos.

More than any other emotion, fear is dangerous and contagious. Fear-based thinking hinders progress, diminishes hope and discourages others. Fear causes us to flee even when there is no real threat. Pointing out all the potential problems and dangers sounds wise, but in the end, it does not help, because there is always something to fear.

Like the old arcade game Whack-a-Mole, as soon as you get one situation under control, another fear presents itself.

The solution, however, is not found in being braver, stronger or trying harder. If people could calm themselves down, they would. What we need is not a better effort, but a different focus.

OBITUARIES

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Jesus said: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-27). We may not know what is coming, but it is comforting to know that we are “kept by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5). The first step in facing an unknown future is to turn up your trust in God.

Douglas Gordon Winton

1952 - 2023

Douglas’ family sadly announces his sudden passing at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan, Sask. on May 13, 2023 at the age of 70.

Douglas will be forever loved and remembered by his family. He is survived by his wife Georgina; son Richard; daughter Denise (Trent); four grandchildren whom he loved very much: Colton, Drew, Taya, and Carson; his sisters: Diane (Stephen), Debby (Gary), Dayle, and Penny (Peter); his brother Paul (Kim); numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family, as well as his special friends: Blair Bergen, Wayne Biette, Bruce Frank, and many more. He is also survived by Georgina’s sisters: Florence and Liz, and brothers: Jim (Juanita), Bob (Donna), and John (Lauree).

He was predeceased by his parents, mother and father-in-law, three brothers-in-law and one nephew.

A Memorial Service for Douglas was held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services in Estevan with Sandy Dalziel officiating. A luncheon followed in the Taylorton Room at the Days Inn Estevan. Those wishing to pay tribute to Douglas via a donation in his memory may do so directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, online at https://www.heartandstroke.ca/.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to the Winton family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Franklin E. Dunford 1950 -2023

It is with broken hearts that we the family announce the sudden passing of Franklin “Frank” Dunford on Monday, May 23, 2023 in Estevan, SK at the age of 73 years.

Frank is lovingly remembered by his family: wife of 50 years Paulette (nee Scholpp); son Nathan (Barbara) Dunford (their children, Brittany (Brad) (child Blaze)) , Amber (Jeremy) (children, Kaelynn and Hadley), Jesse (Samantha) and Wyatt; son Curtis (Lori) Dunford (children, Connor, Athena (Bradly) (their child Kai), Victoria, Katrina and Alexander; brothers, David (Donna) Dunford and Loren (Bernadette) Dunford and Leon Gadd; sister Evelyn Dunford; brothers-in-law, Peter Ng and Mel Schoff as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and many special friends.

Frank was predeceased by his parents, Albert and Hildegard Dunford (nee Merchel) and siblings, Rhea Dunford, Delha Ng and Kim Schoff .

The Visitation was held on Friday, May 26, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and the Memorial Service was held on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. with Sandy Dalziel officiating. Both services were held at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, SK. A celebration of life followed at Days Inn-Taylorton Room. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Estevan Wildlife Federation Youth Camp, Box 105, Estevan, SK S4A 2A2 in memory of Frank.

Hall Funeral services in Estevan provided care to Frank’s family - Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Wanda Joyce Stang

1959 - 2023

Wanda Stang late of Estevan, SK received her Angel Wings on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at the age of 63 years.

Wanda was greeted in Heaven by her father George Vicary; father-in-law Alphonse Stang; brothers-in-law Vic Eagles and Bob Swenson and sister-in-law Sandra Rohatyn.

She will be missed by her loving husband Mike Stang and their sons, Jeff (Lindsay) Stang, Joey (Chantelle) Stang, Jared (Marja) Stang and Jeremy (Carolyn) Stang. Precious memories will remain with grandchildren, Tristen, Tyson, Taylor, Tiana, Kaylee, Bentley, Bailey, Kalen (Caprice), Kyla and Kacee and great granddaughter Essin. Wanda is also survived by her mother Alma Vicary and her siblings, Elmer (Karen) Vicary, Milton (Denise) Vicary, Ted (Marlene) Vicary, Diane Swenson, Edna (Lawrence) Irwin, Audrey (Gordon) Thompson and Doreen Eagles (Al); mother-in-law Patricia Stang; sister-in-law Cheryl (Jim) Larter; brother-in-law Mel Rohatyn; dear friends, Lucille (Marlin) LeBlanc and Sharon Eagles as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A Visitation was held at Hall Funeral Services on Monday, May 15, 2023 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

A Celebration of Wanda’s Life was held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Estevan, SK with Rev. Adrian Kramer presiding. Interment took place at the Estevan City Cemetery. A luncheon was held in the church auditorium following the interment.

For the next 90 days, a video recording of the Celebration of Life will be available. Please visits Wanda’s tribute page at www.hallfuneralservices.ca for details.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Wanda via a donation in her memory may do so directly to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan (designate Allan Blair), 200-4545 Parliament Ave., Regina, SK S4W 0G3.

The family would like to express their gratitude to all of the Doctors, Nurses and Caregivers that were a part of Wanda/s journey.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Wanda’s family - Deb Heidinger, Funeral Director.

The Estevan Police Service was called to central Estevan to help deal with a trespasser.

The first call came in on May 28 from an apartment building. The EPS attended and the individual was found inside and refused to leave. Charges under the Trespass

Act were laid and the individual was released.

According to an EPS media release, later in the afternoon, the subject returned to the building and began causing a disturbance. Members were called back, at which time an arrest was made and

the individual was transported to the police station. Further charges have been laid including causing a disturbance under the Criminal Code and another charge of trespassing under the Trespass to Property Act. The 28-year-old Estevan

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST

Village of Frobisher

PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land description and title number described in the following list are fully paid before the 31st day of July, 2023 an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land. Dated this 31st day of May, 2023 Kate Halkyard—Administrator

individual was released by a justice with the appropriate conditions and is scheduled to make a court appearance on Aug. 14 in Estevan Provincial Court.

The same day, members attended to a central Estevan residence on the report of a domestic issue. With the assistance of the Police and Crisis Team, the matter was resolved without further incident.

Earlier last week, the EPS apprehended one person for impaired driving on May 24. A 32-year-old man from Texas was arrested and charged with impaired driving and driving while over .08. His driver’s licence was suspended, and his vehicle has been impounded for 30 days. He will appear in court in June to answer to the charges.

Police, along with Estevan EMS and the Estevan Fire Rescue Service, responded to a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Fourth Street. Minor injuries were reported, the EPS said, and two of the three vehicles had to be towed from the scene. The matter remains under investigation.

Police also attended to a residence in the downtown core May 25 to assist with retrieving property from a residence. Members were able

Notice of Preparation of Assessment Roll Rural Municipality of Coalfields No. 4

proposed; • clarify separation distances for manure application apply to single residences;

• remove outdated references to intensive livestock operation provincial permitting processes and align to The Statements of Provincial Interest Regulations; and

• correct a numbering error.

AFFECTED LAND the affected lands include all the lands within the Agricultural District.

PUBLIC INSPECTION Any person may inspect the bylaw at the RM of Cymri No. 36 office located in Midale during regular office hours from 8:30a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00p.m. to 4:30p.m. Monday to Friday excluding holidays. Copies of the bylaw will be made available at cost.

PUBLIC HEARING Council will hold a public hearing for the Zoning Bylaw Amendment on June 12th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the municipal office located at 234 Main Street in Midale, SK to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaw. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing or delivered to the undersigned at the municipal office before the hearing.

Issued at the RM of Cymri No. 36 this 31st day of May, 2023.

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Coalfields No. 4 for the year 2023 has been prepared and is open for inspection in the office of the assessor, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, from June 1st, 2023 to June 30th, 2023.

Any person wishing to discuss their Notice of Assessment or potential appeal with the assessor may do so in person at 423 Main Street, Bienfait, SK or via phone at 306-388-2323 Ext. 4.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her Notice of Appeal by the 30th of June, 2023 with: Liana Stepan, Secretary of the Board of Revision, c/o Western Municipal Consulting Ltd., PO Box 149, Meota, SK, S0M 1X0. The appeal must be accompanied by a cheque made payable to the R.M. of Coalfields No. 4, in the amount of $30 per $200,000 of assessment value to a maximum of $500.00, which will be returned if the appeal results in a change to the assessment.

Dated this 31st day of May, 2023

Holley Odgers Returning Officer

Six Estevan Beavers attended a swimming up ceremony at a Beaver meeting held May 16, 1977. The “swimming up” means that the Beavers were then eligible to enter Wolf Cubs. The six Beavers involved were, from left, Jeff Kaminski, Brian Burlinguette, David Morrison, David Hawkins, Drew Dutton and Albert Ranch. Scott Bill also swam up but was not present for the photo.

to mediate the situation and all parties obtained their respective items requested. No further police assistance was required.

Members were called to a disturbance at a local business. A man was upset and became quite volatile, causing staff to call the police. The subject of the complaint had left prior to the police arriving on scene. The matter remains under investigation.

Police also received a report of fraud that occurred several months ago. The incident is still being investigated.

Members received a report of an erratic driver in the downtown core. The vehicle description, licence plate number and last direction of travel were provided, however, police were not able to locate the vehicle. The matter remains under investigation.

A vehicle stop resulted in an impaired driving investigation being conducted on May 26. The driver of the vehicle provided two samples of breath, with results that were more than twice the legal limit. The driver was charged with impaired driving and

given a court date in July. The vehicle was also seized for 60 days.

The same day, members stopped a vehicle that was observed travelling more than twice the posted speed limit in the central part of the city. Several tickets were issued to the driver and the vehicle was impounded.

Police also received a report of a suspicious person in the 500-block of Second Street. Members attended but were unable to locate the individual. The public is reminded to lock their cars and remove any valuables from plain sight.

On May 27, police were called to a central Estevan parking lot on the report of dogs left unattended inside a vehicle with outside temperatures rising. The dogs were found to be fine with no concerns as there was proper ventilation, as well as food and water. The public is reminded that animals overheat very quickly when inside a vehicle on warm days. Always ensure there is proper ventilation along with plenty of water and food.

NOW HIRING Scraper/Heavy Equipment Operator

• Must be able to work well with other employees and customers.

• Good housekeeping is very important. We keep our equipment in good clean working condition.

• Operating equipment

• Service and maintenance

DUTIES: Wage negotiable. Drug use strictly prohibited.

Send resume with references

Email: consve@sasktel.net

Cell: 306-421-0203

Svein Bryeide Construction

SENIOR LIVING

A17

| Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca

Southeast woman has a business for seniors

A woman from southeast Saskatchewan is looking to provide care for seniors through her business.

Marnell Eagles is the owner of Senior Footcare by Marnell. She started the business nearly three years ago, but the number of clients was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that people are more comfortable with heading out and having visitors, the business has taken off

Eagles said she decided to start the business after working in long-term care for 30 years as a nurses’ aide and thoroughly enjoying being around seniors. The career change seemed to be a perfect fit.

“Just before my retirement, I took a class in senior’s foot care, and with some insightful tips from my instructor, and 30 years of great experience and working with seasoned,

highly-knowledgeable nurses and nurses aides, this transition to a new career all came together,” Eagles said. She believes the need is great in the region these days for more senior care, including foot care.

Eagles’ business involves in-home visits. The client doesn’t leave the comfort of their home or even their most comfortable chair when Eagles arrives.

“While always moving forward in this sector of

business, I see the increased need for seniors to be able to stay in their homes as long as possible,” she said.

Affordability and availability are currently the two biggest factors that she sees.

Eagles can provide soaking, massaging, and nail cutting and filing. Housekeeping services are available.

Assisted baths and showers or bed baths are available, too.

Eagles recently added bath and shower assistance for her clients, as they feel most comfortable in their homes.

While she is visiting her clients – either providing foot care or personal care services – Eagles also offers to check their vitals, blood pressure, oxygen levels, temperature and pulse. She finds it can still be difficult to access these health care needs.

Hill View Manor happenings for May

By Jeannette Betteridge

Welcome to a glimpse of what is happening in our home here at Hillview Manor.

We held a Mother’s Day tea on May 12 for our wonderful ladies. We had requested a letter from each family telling us what they thought was special about their mom. Every family sent us something.

We read the letters from each family member to their mother. The write-ups were then given to the moms as

special keepsakes. They were very appreciative of the gifts. Reading all the letters was very touching and definitely brought a tear to our eyes.

A beautiful thank you to the families for doing this. You made Mother’s Day a very special occasion with a sentimental journey for the moms.

Also, thank you to the community group that delivered roses to our home on the Friday before Mother’s Day. It was greatly appreciated.

The gardens are being

planted and the flowers will be in the flower boxes, adding beautiful colours to our yard.

Other activities for the month were daily Bingo, exercises three to four times per week to help us stay fit, card games, movies, crokinole, bowling, bean bag toss, Yahtzee and shuffleboard. Shared Read is a group activity we do a couple of times a week for anyone who might be visually impaired or maybe just wants to listen to the short stories that are read.

The last Friday of the month was loonie Bingo, followed by wine and cheese or fruit juice for anyone not wanting wine. Outings this month were to Walmart and Blackbeard’s for lunch.

We had three birthdays in May: Pat P. turned 91, Clara C. is 90 and Theresa D. marked her 94th birthday. Happy birthday to all. Entertainment this month included the Caragana Ramblers, Laurie Fornwald, Susan Shepard, Wilma and Val, and Keith and Gary.

In addition to the services she provides, Eagles has added respite care. If a family member who is taking care of a loved one at home needs a break, Eagles has staff who will provide that short-term relief.

Gift certificates for the business are available.

“I am very much a people person and absolutely love

meeting and visiting with seniors,” she said. “The stories and life experiences and how they navigated through their lives are amazing. To say they are resilient is an understatement.”

Seniors also need visiting time, and she said she enjoys every minute of her day giving back to seniors after all they have done for others.

Marnell Eagles is eager to help seniors. Photo sourced from Marnell Eagles’ Facebook page.

Estevan OTS 2023

The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society (OTS) is looking forward to the start of its biggest event of the year.

The OTS will host its annual Oilmen’s Golf Tournament from Friday to Sunday at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course.

A total of 289 golfers had signed up as of Monday morning, and registrations have been coming in daily.

The maximum number of golfers they can accommodate is 340.

The tournament will have 18-hole and 36-hole competitions. In the 18hole event, golfers will play their lone round on Friday or Saturday. Most golfers usually register for the 18hole competition.

Those in the 36-hole event will play a qualifying round on Friday or Saturday to determine which flight they are in. Then they will play their final round on Sunday. The scores from the 18 holes on Sunday will determine the flight winners and the tournament champion. The winner of the 36-hole event has to

come from the championship flight.

There will also be a steak supper Saturday at the Power Dodge Curling Centre.

Tee-off times will begin at

7 a.m. on Friday, said Estevan OTS president Tony Sernick, and most of their teeoff times that day are already booked. The expected start time on Saturday is 8:30 a.m.

“We try to get everybody out on Friday and then that way Saturday we can all get to the curling rink on time for supper,” said Sernick. The OTS is looking for-

ward to seeing a lot of golfers from outside of Estevan for the tournament. Many of them are from elsewhere in the southeast, but they will also have some golfers

from other parts of Saskatchewan, and there will be entrants from Calgary.

The tournament is good for the economy, as it brings people to the city, and it is beneficial for the golf course, too, with so many entered.

Sernick has talked to a lot of people who are looking forward to the tournament.

“We started on May 8 when we opened up registration. We always get a big flood of entries right away.

Everybody wants to get the best times. Since then they’ve been trickling in daily. And then we always expect lots of guys who don’t know what they’re doing workwise … so lots of guys just wait until the last week to sign up, just due to their work schedule,” said Sernick.

The tournament is also a great social event thanks to the number of golfers and the Saturday supper.

The OTS has been looking for some sponsors, but the hole-in-one sponsorships and close-approach prizes have been secured.

Drew Fenwick won the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society’s annual Oilmen’s Golf Tournament in 2022. File photo

WEDNESDAY,JUNE7TH FROM7AM- 7PM

Proceeds support

Emergency Department Upgrades!

Upgrades include facility improvements & medical equipment purchases.

TUNE IN!

Hear from our staff & patients Donate to a lifesaving cause Support the medical services we offer right here at home

COMMUNITY BBQ - JUNE 7TH 11AM - 1PM | 5-7PM

Presented by

Estevan walked to push it #FurtherForAll in fight against cystic fibrosis

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Estevan-area people came together on Sunday and joined hundreds of other communities across Canada to talk about cystic fibrosis (CF).

Walks to Make Cystic Fibrosis History were held to raise awareness and funds for further research and support for those diagnosed with this serious disease.

Estevan had 44 people participating. As of the day of the walk, they were able to raise over $12,000, and donations kept coming with the projected total being up to $14,000.

Estevan champion Liam McIntyre and his friends took an active part in fundraising this year and also led the crowd through the Woodlawn Regional Park trails for the walk. His mother, Kasey McIntyre, and other members of the family have been strong supporters of the cause for many years now.

Liam was diagnosed with CF early in life, starting with newborn screening, and was able to get a proper regimen at six years of age. His involvement with the walks for CF grew through the years and especially this year as he turned 14. He was able to officially join the fundraising committee and ran a city-wide lemonade stand event along with his friends ahead of the walk.

“He definitely showed interest in stepping up,” Kasey McIntyre said. She added that Liam’s diagnosis was hard for everyone, but through activism, she is also trying to show him the good he can do.

“I’m trying to teach him as a parent that we don’t always get what we want, and

our expectations of what we think it could be and should be may change all the time. But if you can do something, to make it a good experience, then it might not be so bad. I’m trying to give him power in his illness. Yes, you do have cystic fibrosis, you do have to do these things to take care of yourself, but at the same time, don’t let it be your whole life, don’t let it control you.”

CF is a genetic condition. People who have it have a faulty protein that affects the body’s cells, tissues and glands that make mucus and sweat, which causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract and other areas of the body.

McIntyre said symptoms vary as there are different types of CF and may include digestion problems, regular lung infections and further lung-related issues and more. She noted that one of the main signs is salty sweat, as its chemistry is different for people with CF who are not on any treatment.

“The sooner you get your diagnosis, the better it is, … then you can get on good vitamins, a good dietary plan, you have a team around you that helps you understand how to manage those things, and it is a lot of work,” McIntyre noted.

While there are currently different regimens for people with CF, which allow them to live longer and fuller lives, there are still people for whom the existing medications don’t work, so further research is needed. And even though Liam is living a normal life, for him and his family it’s important to keep the efforts up, so that everyone would have a way to deal with this lifethreatening disease.

This mindset resonates with this year’s theme, #FurtherForAll, which was discussed ahead of the walk at a brief opening ceremony.

“This year’s walk is focused on going #FurtherForAll, and by being here today you’ve already shown you are ready to do that, so thank you for that,” McIntyre said.

Estevan MLA Lori Carr and Estevan City Councillor Tony Sernick were guest speakers for the day, and Maureen Daoust read a letter forwarded by Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen, who was unable to attend.

Carr and Sernick praised numerous fundraising efforts put up by Liam’s family and friends along with other people this year.

“Congratulations to all of you for the hard work. And thank you so much to all of the volunteers, no matter what position you hold within the organization or if you’re here to walk and support, we can’t do it alone, and it all helps to make CF history,” Carr said.

“By being here today, you will make a difference in the lives of those affected by cystic fibrosis,” Sernick added.

In his letter, Kitchen remarked about the great work done by the organizing team and volunteers, and spoke about the focus of this year’s event.

“This year’s walk theme is #FurtherForAll, meaning people like yourselves have taken on a mission that until all receive the best medical breakthroughs to live longer, fuller lives, you will keep fighting for all,” Kitchen wrote. “When people gather to bring awareness to cystic fibrosis, we learn about healthcare challenges such as access to life-saving medicine, and ongoing issues that impact the CF world, such as funding to treat people in remote areas. I have no doubt that your message will continue to be heard and I too believe in going further for all.”

In her opening remarks, McIntyre also noted that it is the 19th anniversary of the national event, and over the years Canadians have raised over $41 million, which was used to help find medication and assist with access to it for many people like Liam. She thanked everyone involved, including donors, sponsors, partners, Kin Canada for being event champions and all the volunteers and committee members.

“Estevan has been such a supportive community with great sponsors, donors and partners … It means a lot to us. We started out as a team just attending a walk in Estevan about nine years ago and here we are heading it up. So I think that is how you take something negative and turn it positive,” McIntyre said.

There was also a raffle and a silent auction. An afterwalk lunch was sponsored by Cliffton’s No Frills.

23061DS0

SOUTHEAST COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT

Mandated through provincial legislation, Southeast College provides academic and skills training opportunities in response to regional and industry needs in the southeast corner of the province. Southeast College is proud to be the Trainer of Choice, serving approximately 8,000 learners and producing over 5,000 graduates students to learn where they live. We are looking for dynamic and like-minded people that will help contribute to our forward-thinking and innovative college going forward.

Southeast College is governed by a seven-person Board of Governors. Due to retirement, one position is currently vacant. The Board is looking for an expression of interest from individuals who might be willing to serve on our Board.

Whitewood, Indian Head, and surrounding areas including First Nations communities.

• Candidates will ideally have experience or interest in at least one of the following areas: Labour Relations, Legal, Financial, Risk Management, Operations/Technical, Business Management, Communications/Marketing, Previous leadership experience, Knowledge of current and emerging issues

Academic Sectors.

Diversity

• Southeast College recognizes diversity and therefore welcomes equal gender representation, representation from persons of Indigenous backgrounds, representation from visible minorities, representation from women in non-traditional roles, and representation from citizens with disabilities. An ideal governor will have an understanding of the needs of the southeast region, a commitment to post-secondary education and training, and the On average, a time commitment of two days per month is required

Send an email expressing your interest. A resume and cover letter should be submitted explaining your interest in this board position, summarizing your professional background, previous board experience if any, and why you

Please submit your submissions by June 23, 2023 by email. Southeast College Box 1565, Weyburn, SK S4H 0T1

For further information contact Dr. Roy at vroy@southeastcollege.org

Several families walked for their loved ones or people they know who were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

CF Walk organizer Kasey McIntyre was the MC for the event.

Estevan champion for cystic fibrosis Liam McIntyre, left, and his friends led the walk at Woodlawn Regional Park on Sunday.

This year in Estevan, 44 people joined the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History.

Estevan taekwon-do athletes win 15 medals

The Estevan TaeKwonDo Club attended an interprovincial tournament in Saskatoon earlier this month.

Nineteen members were involved, with 15 competitors and four instructors. The tournament consisted of teams from around Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Competitions were held in both sparring and patterns. Several senior black belts and masters were in attendance.

The calibre of competition was excellent, the club said in a press release, allowing Estevan athletes to display the skills they have been learning. The Estevan TaeKwon-Do team took home a total of 15 medals. Medallists were:

•Girls green stripe: Elaina Sliva, gold in patterns and silver in sparring, and Ella Brown, bronze in sparring;

•Boys yellow belt division: Theodore Burlasa, silver in patterns;

•Boys green belt division: Nathan Burlasa, gold in patterns and sparring,

and Luke Sliva, silver in sparring; •Boys green belt blue stripe: Logan Morrisette, silver in patterns, and Kyle Lubreo, gold in sparring;

•Men’s green belt: Rey Lubreo, gold in patterns, and Adam Jocelyn, silver in patterns and gold in sparring; •Ladies’ blue belt: Ma-

rina Troyo, bronze in sparring; and •Ladies’ black belt: Tine

Longney, bronze in patterns and bronze in sparring. Also competing were

Nate Biletsky, William Stead, James Salmansan and Simone Saigeon. Instructors were Wayne Brown, Don Dechief, Warren Morrical and Trinda Jocelyn.

The Estevan TaeKwonDo Club members who travelled to compete at this event had a strong showing and represented the club and Estevan well, the club said. The tournament in Saskatoon was the first competition they have attended since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Saskatchewan in 2020.

This was the last tournament of the season for the club. They conducted blackbelt testing on May 26, followed by coloured-belt testing the next day. Club members will resume training in early September.

Holy Family counsellors discuss mental health

By Sabrina Kraft of the Weyburn Review

The importance of mental health and making connections with students in the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division were presented by staff during a monthly board meeting May 23.

Three school counsellors and the behavioural consultant shared information on programs offered and the services that they are providing in Holy Family schools. School counsellors Becky Tuchscherer, Brooklyn Lund and Jasmine Lund spoke about the different tier supports offered throughout the school division.

“This year, with our counselling team, we tried a different approach with counselling supports in

the school. We split up our Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports,” explained Tuchscherer.

Tier 1 is classroom supports, where counsellors work with teachers to address students in the full classroom setting. Tier 2 is a small group of students working together with the school counsellor to build skills in a specific area. Tier 3 is individual one-on-one therapy.

In Tier 3 support, counsellors work with teachers and parents to develop a case plan to focus on a student’s individual need. Parent consent is required before a student enters Tier 3.

“By doing the preventative work in the classrooms and small groups, we can get the skills to the students without having them come

City Hall: 1102 4th Street

8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1800

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8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1880

onto our Tier 3 caseload,” added Tuchscherer.

The three Holy Family counsellors have the skills and training to work in all three tiers, and have a connection with each of the five schools in the division, so they are all familiar with all the students.

There are a number of programs that are offered in the school division to help address mental health with the students. The Signs of Suicide (SOS) program is offered to Grades 8 and 9 to address signs of depression and suicide in a meaningful way.

“This was the second year for our SOS program. The first year we offered the program in the spring, and feedback from teachers indicated that they wanted it offered early in the fall,

so we held the program in November this year and it worked very well,” said Tuchscherer.

“SOS is an evidencebased suicide prevention program that has demonstrated a 64 per cent reduction in self-reported suicide attempts. SOS teaches students about risks and how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and others, so they can ACT [acknowledge, care and tell].”

She noted the program is always presented with at least three adults in the classroom.

The results of the BSAD are sent back to the counsellors, in order to continue the support with a one-to-one consultation with the students.

Guidelines and ques-

tions are then provided to the teachers, so they can follow up with the students, and have conversations that make connections and assist in communication. From the SOS data, conversations were also completed with the school response to intervention team, to see if any other interventions were needed.

Other programs offered at Holy Family include a Bullying Awareness Week and a Mental Health Awareness Week.

Behaviour consultant

Claire Fingler spoke on the training necessary for her role in the school division, and the importance of staying in touch with EAs and teachers.

This is Fingler’s third year in the role.

“What drew me to this

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

position is that I have a love for working with children who have diverse needs and try to help them and their teachers,” said Fingler.

“This job was created in 2020, and it is a position that is similar to a counsellor, as it is referral based.

I am a member of the response to intervention team at the schools, so I attend meetings with the principals and learning facilitators. I also conduct assessments for the school division, and conduct formal and informal classroom observations so that I can work with the teachers and EAs to support classroom management.”

She said that her work is “slow and steady, and takes time”, but that is very important while working with students who have diverse needs.

We are excited to recognize Mining Week in Saskatchewan. We salute the mining community for their generosity and support of our community.

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN

McLeod Avenue

The City of Estevan is undertaking construction for the Watermain replacement. The affected area includes all of Mcleod Avenue.

Property access and parking restrictions are to occur. This work will commence June 5, 2023 and will take approximately eight (8) weeks to complete (subject to weather) City of Estevan will perform this work within the current Bylaw

Safety

Construction site could be dangerous. If you have children, please ask them to keep a safe distance from the site. We will take every precaution to ensure public safety, but we need your assistance to constrain the natural curiosity of younger children. Please DO NOT attempt to go close to areas affected.

Theft or Vandalism

If you see any act of vandalism, theft or anyone suspiciously tampering with equipment, signage or barricades, please contact 306-634-1800, or after hours call Police.

Questions and Concerns

The City of Estevan, Engineering Services apologize for any inconveniences that this work may cause.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience. If you have any question or concerns, please call at 634-1800 or approach the supervisor or foreman on site.

Members of the Estevan Taekwon-Do Club gather for a group photo after their impressive showing in Saskatoon.

Photo courtesy of Trinda Jocelyn