Estevan Mercury 20230614

Congratulations grads! Saluting the Estevan Comprehensive School’s Class of 2023. Find the insert in this week’s Mercury

Former Estevan resident murdered in Bangladesh; husband is on the run

By David Willberg

New leader.

St. Joseph’s Hospital welcomes a new executive director. Learn more on PAGE A3

A woman who resided in Estevan was murdered earlier this spring in her home country of Bangladesh.

Reports indicate that Afroza Begum had been buried at the home of her husband’s family, and her body was uncovered May 31. Her husband’s father, brother and sister-in-law were remanded into custody for the killing, while her husband’s aunt was ordered to jail.

Begum’s husband had not been immediately arrested and was on the run from police; it’s believed he fled to Canada.

classmates,” said Burden. “She was a really nice person to her friends. I remember every time she would see me, she would tell me how good I looked and how nice it was to see me. And she would always have a smile on her face.”

Begum also tried to look her best. Burden once worked at a couple of clothing stores in the Estevan Market Mall and Begum would shop there even before they were classmates and friends.

Sports and colours. Estevan police hosts another Max-Fun Colour Run. Check it out on PAGE A8

Hayley Burden attended the college’s Estevan campus with Begum, and said they knew each other pretty well from the adult basic education (ABE) program at the college’s Estevan campus. They were in classes together for the 2021-22 school year and graduated last June.

“We did hang out and go to activities with other

“I remember we went mini-golfing with a couple of classmates, and while most of us were in jeans and sneakers and stuff, she was in this nice outfit with some nice shoes,” Burden recalled, adding that when they went to SkyPark in Regina for go-karting, Begum was also well-dressed with a nice shirt on.

Begum also took classes through the essential skills program offered at the college.

Despite the friendship that formed, Begum and Burden had lost touch.

Burden recalled that Begum eventually stopped posting on Facebook.

“I didn’t really talk to her much, unfortunately,” said Burden. “You kind of think you have all of the time in the world, but you don’t.”

Begum was very excited to graduate the ABE program at the college. Burden said she was always in an upbeat mood, but on graduation day Begum

was so bright and proud.

Her children were in attendance and they were so pleased for her as well.

A friend of Burden’s texted her about Begum’s death. The friend sent Burden a link to one of the articles that appeared online.

Begum was reportedly 40 at the time of her death. She had a son Antu and a daughter Onnesa from a previous marriage.

“She talked so highly of her children, all the time,” said Burden. “She was so proud of them. I remember she would talk about how her son was in college, I believe it was something to do with medicine. But she was very proud of him for that,” said Burden.

Begum also spoke of how well her daughter was doing in her studies at the Estevan Comprehensive School.

About 10,000 people went through the gate of the four-day Energy City Ex.

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Three days of rodeo action. Find the Energy City Ex KCRA results on PAGE A10

The Estevan Exhibition Association (EEA) hosted its biggest event in many years with the Energy City Ex.

From June 8-11, the EEA invited the community to enjoy four days of the midway by Westcoast Amusements, three days of KCRA rodeo, the King of the Prairies Open Steer and Heifer Jackpot, hosted by Benson 4-H Beef Club, a cabaret with music by the Johner Brothers and Boys, as well as a kids’ rodeo, rodeo queen competition and much more. The days were filled with smiles, laughter and happiness.

“I am exhilarated and stunned at the same time. Beyond shocked. I’m overwhelmed by the community support of our four-day event,” Ross said.

The EEA, which organizes the Energy City Ex, is a non-profit organization run solely by volunteers. There are 25 directors, support staff and honorary members who organized the four days of the Energy City Ex this year, and they had over 200 volunteers helping them to ensure everything runs as smoothly as it’s ever been.

Good to have it back. Speedway Tougher than Dirt tour makes a return.

Details on PAGE A11

About 10,000 people passed through the gates in one capacity or another and took the opportunity to enjoy the entertainment offered at the exhibition grounds. EEA president Crystal Ross said they were overwhelmed with the support and success of the event.

While they only had preliminary numbers at the time of the interview, it was already obvious that they were above the previous year’s results, which made them feel confident about fair and rodeo plans for next year.

“The support from the community is overwhelming. And it gives us the opportunity to bring an even bigger 2024 En-

ergy City Ex than 2023.

The association is thrilled about the turnout. It exceeded our expectations,” Ross said. Not only were the outcomes great, but the feedback from participants and guests, volunteers and the

community, has been very positive as well.

“We’ve had so many compliments about the grounds, about it being the best fair in years. We’ve had compliments from the midway themselves about our entire community …

because our community is so welcoming and friendly,” Ross shared. “When you put that all in the big picture, we have a lot to offer. And the community just opened its arms and gave us a big hug this weekend.”

Afroza Begum, left, a former Estevan resident, was murdered in Bangladesh. Among those pictured with her is her friend Hayley Burden. Photo courtesy of Hayley Burden

Kathy Sernick and Rhonda Cossette stopped at Estevan’s Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild’s big quilt exhibition. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

RM of Estevan Reeve

Jason LeBlanc was among many people who took their compliments about the fair and rodeo to Facebook.

“At one time it was all an agricultural society and a huge community event with horse races, tractor pulls, several breeds of cattle, gardening, crafts, junior high marching bands, midway, tug-o-wars, ball games, rodeo and 4-H with the help of the Rotary Club. Community setup and community cleanup,” LeBlanc wrote, explaining how and why the event then got gradually reshaped and turned into several separate smaller activities until recently.

“It’s absolutely awesome to see community involvement again. Putting several events back on at the same time. A very clean and impressive midway, a packed community rodeo and cattle show. Community-involved gate guards and school parents and teachers stepping in for security. Plus, countless volunteers to prepare the grounds, run the gardens and put on the cabaret with the Johner Brothers.

“For $15 adult at the gate, it’s very impressive in these troubled times to get a community together and have so many things to enjoy. Hats off to everyone involved. It’s not easy to build for the next generation, please step in and get involved. Estevan has lots to be proud of.”

This year, three young cowgirls competed for the title of the Rodeo Queen

by participating in different disciplines, including horsemanship, speeches, 50/50 sales and personality and appearance. Through their engagement, they all also became a tremendous help to the EEA board.

“We’ve worked with these girls for the last month and a half. I cannot believe how the changes have come about, how these girls have matured. They put in a lot of [effort] and time. And they always did it with a smile,” said Rhonda Gillespie, who organized the Rodeo Queen contest along with Valerie Paulson, Jessica Klarholm and Stacey Holtz.

“Miss Rodeo Estevan … is a role model to all young ladies. She is an ambassador of the EEA, the City of Estevan as well as the rodeo community with an extreme emphasis on volunteering within the community,” said Holtz.

The 2022 Rodeo Queen, Rykelle Holinaty, forwarded the title and the crown to the 2023 Energy City Ex Rodeo Queen Jesa Colliness. Meadow Skuce came in second and became the first princess, who is to take over the responsibilities of the queen if the queen is not available. And Seriah Potoma took third place.

“We need to recognize the amount of work and commitment that has gone into this. These girls have put in so much work and their dedication is absolutely insane,” Holinaty said. “Holding the title of Rodeo Queen is more

than just its name. With it comes commitment of not only holding the utmost respect for yourself, but your community and the exhibition association that you are working with. Rodeo queen is a representation of everything that is being held this weekend and more.”

Throughout all four days, the Estevan’s Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild hosted a quilt show at the Exhibition Hall, displaying some of their great works along with pieces done by members of the Weyburn Crocus Quilting Guild. Quilts displayed different techniques, patterns, styles and talents of southeast quilters. Elaine from Manor, who stopped by to check out the quilt exhibition said the works were absolutely beautiful. As a quilter herself, she could see how complex the items were and spent a lot of time examining the details.

The guild also had some of their charity quilts on display. They’ve donated to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, the United Way Estevan, Home Care Estevan and the Jim Pattison’s Children Hospital, and are currently working on 12 quilts to go to Ronald McDonald House for cancer patients to use and take home when they are discharged. This is the first time they are making quilts for sick kids in the Saskatoon facility.

Angela Denys, the longarm quilter, does most of the quilting for the guild and she donates all her work for charity quilts.

“It’s just nice to be able to share your craft with the community,” Denys said, noting that charity pieces open opportunities to use imagination and try things out, too.

The 2023 Energy City Ex wrapped up Sunday afternoon. West Coast Amusement left Estevan around 1 a.m. on Monday, and the cleanup of the grounds was nearing completion Monday afternoon.

“The phenomenal 25

people that are involved with this association are remarkable with how we can set up, host and clean up after events have left the city,” Ross said. “I don’t know how to express my gratitude for what has been accomplished in the last four days. And if you drive through the grounds right now, you would never know they were here.

“Our little association is exhausted but exhilarated at the same time and excited about 2024.

“[And we want to express] just a tremendous, huge amount of gratitude to where we live, where we call home because the support is just beyond measure. And a huge, huge thank you to the association members that were here, to the community, to the sponsors that make this place go around, to the countless volunteer hours, they are priceless, and to West Coast Amusements for bringing an awesome midway back to our association,” Ross concluded.

Estevan crews called to a pair of fires on Monday

Monday morning brought the sound of fire sirens in Estevan as crews headed out to the southeast area of the city to an apartment complex.

The report of a fire on a balcony came in at about 9:40 a.m. on June 12. Crews responded and found that there was a small fire, which they quickly extinguished.

Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies said firefighters made sure there was no fire extension into the building.

No injuries were reported.

Minor damage occurred to the exterior area and no damage happened on the

inside. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The same day at around 4 p.m., fire crews responded to a grass fire occurring southwest of Estevan. Upon arrival, they found an area of pastureland that was on fire. It took crews about 2 1/2 hours to get it under control, fully extinguish and set a wet perimeter. There were no reports of injuries or damage to the property.

Davies said the cause is still under investigation, but it might have been a controlled burn that got away.

The fire spread over about three acres of land.

In other recent news from the Estevan fire department, on June 7 at about 2 p.m. crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision south of the city. Incident command responded and determined there were no injuries and very minor damage, so the firefighters’ assistance was not required.

On June 8 just before 11 a.m., fire crews were advised of a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm activation in a business on the west side of the city. Incident command responded, investigated the scene and confirmed that there were CO readings in the office portion of the building. SaskEnergy was requested to the scene to assist with the investigation.

“There were some issues that were found to be causing the CO, so the building was turned back over to the owner to have

those issues rectified,” Davies explained.

Just before 6 p.m. the same day, firefighters were dispatched to a grass fire northwest of the city along Highway 39. Upon arrival, they found a small area of grass burning in the ditch.

The person who reported the fire had most of it under control, so crews ensured that the fire was fully extinguished and returned to the station.

The next call for service came in at about 8 p.m. when crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision on the south side of the city. There were no injuries and minor damage.

Firefighters assisted Estevan Police Service with the cleanup.

On June 9 at about 9:30 p.m. crews responded to a commercial fire alarm. It was quickly determined to be cooking-related, so no assistance was required.

Firefighters were also involved in several community events last week.

On June 7 they partook in St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s Radiothon for Life at the hospital grounds.

On June 8, crews joined the SMILE Services parade, kicking off the Energy City Ex. They also did two spray-downs at the St. Mary’s and Pleasantdale Schools’ track and field days on June 9. The same day a crew was on standby at the Estevan Motor Speedway for the race night.

The Estevan Fire Rescue Service members were at the scene of a grass fire Monday.

The 2022 Rodeo Queen Rykelle Holinaty forwarded the crown to the newly elected 2023 Rodeo Queen Jesa Colliness. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

The Energy City Ex’s midway had a variety of rides to thrill the crowd.

Photo by David Willberg

Livi Cote was among the entrants in this year’s kids’ rodeo.

Photo by David Willberg

St. Joseph’s Hospital’s new executive director brings lots of experience

By David Willberg

St. Joseph’s Hospital has its new executive director.

Candace Kopec was hired for the job last month, replacing Greg Hoffort, who had been in the role from the summer of 2011 until April 30 of this year.

Kopec said she has found the hospital to be really welcoming.

“There is an incredible team here,” said Kopec. “The staff is dedicated. They welcomed me in but so did the community. The support from the community is incredible here in Estevan.”

She cited the success of the Radiothon for Life fundraiser for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, held on June 7, as an example of the community support for the hospital.

That event raised nearly $97,000.

“The amount of people who came out to support our facility – so we could make improvements, so we could provide better care for the community – is definitely felt throughout our facility,” said Kopec.

She brings a quarter century of health-care experience to the job. She started as a dietician in Weyburn, and in 2012 she started working out of scope in a management role. She was a primary

health-care manager, focusing on chronic disease, for eight years.

When the Saskatchewan Health Authority was formed, anyone who was out of scope had to apply into a different position.

“I came to Estevan as the primary health-care manager,” said Kopec.

In the past year, she worked as a primary health-care director, responsible for all of the facilities in the southeast corner of the province.

When she was the primary health-care manager, her office was at St. Joseph’s. She was responsible for home care, public health, therapies, chronic disease and the vaccine clinics, which meant she took the lead on rolling out the vaccine program and the COVID-19 testing site.

She told the hospital’s staff that she always felt like she was part of their team when she worked in Estevan.

“Working in Estevan, we’ve always worked together really, really well,” said Kopec. “It’s just an incredible team here. Dedicated staff. It’s a wonderful facility with the programs and the services that we can provide to the community. I really wanted to be part of that.”

It’s important that St. Joe’s provides programs

and services as close as possible to people, she noted, and the hospital “has done a wonderful job in ... that.”

Her knowledge of the staff and the building have helped her with the transition. She is familiar with the priorities they are working on. Kopec worked with some of the staff when she was based out of St. Joe’s, as some hospital employees might have also worked in home care or public health.

“I might not know all of the answers right now, but I know who to go to, to really help me as I’m on this learning curve,” she said.

St. Joseph’s board chairman Don Kindopp said he was impressed with the experience Kopec had in clinical areas with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

“She is a very mature individual with a lot of experience. She brings with her all of her contacts with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and her relationships with these people, so I think that would be beneficial to St. Joseph’s Hospital,” Kindopp said. The hospital received four applications for the position. One was local and the others, including

Kopec were considered to be out of town.

Kindopp is pleased with the work she has done.

“I met her on one occasion and had a very fruitful discussion and shared a lot of common goals and purposes for St. Joseph’s Hospital, so I’m sure she will fit in very well. She has the nature of an individual who wants to listen and hear your point of view on what’s going on and what improvements can be made within the hospital. I don’t think she comes with any pre-set ideas that she’s going to make any great changes, but she will listen to and observe what’s going on in the hospital,” said Kindopp.

Kindopp noted that he and another member of the St. Joseph’s board, Kevin Daoust, were part of the selection committee. The others were part of Emmanuel Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

In the short term, Kopec said it will be really important to get to know the staff and physicians to provide them with support. She also wants to get to know the hospital’s council and learn more about the community’s needs, so St. Joe’s can strengthen the health-care system and make it available for those who need it.

She expects she will also

have to increase her understanding of the Catholic health-care system because it’s new to her.

Kopec said a recurring theme that she has heard has been the vision of St. Joseph’s Hospital as a welcoming, healing place.

“It’s really important for me to make sure that when people walk through our door, they feel welcomed into here. It’s our vision and it’s what’s important to me,” said Kopec.

Recruitment and retention of staff will be part of her role, too. In her past roles, staff recruitment has been particularly challenging.

“Recruitment is one piece of it, but retention of staff is also equally important, so staff … need to know what an incredible job they do in being part of the team so we can keep them in these roles.”

Kopec will also be the executive director for the Radville Marian Health Centre, which is also operated by Emmanuel Health. She will be in the town at least once every couple of weeks.

She said the situation she finds herself in with the two hospitals is similar to her old role in which she was responsible for a number of facilities, and she’ll have a schedule for how much time she spends based on need.

Dialysis nurses initiate first local Kidney Walk

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Estevan nurses introduced what they hope will become a new tradition, helping their patients and colleagues.

On Friday evening, dialysis nurses Jennifer Juneau, Amanda Kienlen, Gail Torgunrud, Kelsey Barlow and Anita Messner, along with their supporters, gathered on Fourth Street for Estevan’s first Kidney Walk. Another dialysis nurse, Cassidy Sinclair, who signed the group up, couldn’t make it to the walk.

With flags and banners calling for support for the Kidney Walk, the group walked from the Orpheum Theatre down to Thunder City Power and Leisure, attracting attention to the cause and advocating for people struggling with kidney disease.

Juneau explained that the Kidney Walk is a national event organized by the Kidney Foundation of Canada. It’s meant to raise awareness and funds for kidney disease and the transplant program. It’s become more popular in recent years as it also helps

the kidney community to connect and to celebrate their many wins, such as when someone receives a transplant.

She added that this year, they decided as a nursing unit to join the walk to help raise money and raise awareness of kidney disease.

“Our dialysis unit here is currently full, and we have people coming from in town as well as over an hour drive away to receive treatment up to three times a week. It’s not an easy life to live and any advancements that are made to help make that life easier are welcome,” Juneau said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital has nine chairs for dialysis, and they do two runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so they assist about 18 patients. The unit started off with six chairs and then was expanded to nine, serving Estevan and people from the surrounding communities.

Many dialysis patients need the procedure three times a week, and the treatment takes three to five hours. So having it available locally helps at least save on travel time and expenses.

“This is an amazing service we can offer our community as people needing dialysis were driving to Regina prior,” Juneau said.

“We [decided to organize the walk to] spread awareness for kidney disease and support our friends and patients by raising money for the foundation.”

The Estevan team originally hoped to reach $1,000. As of the time of the walk, they were able to raise $1,700 with the help of donations from their families, friends and patients and the donations kept coming.

Provincially the goal was $55,000 and they have achieved over $60,000 so far.

“Saskatchewan has always been known as a generous and helping province and it certainly shows,” Juneau said.

Nationally the goal this year is over $2 million, with $504,000 achieved so far.

The funds raised are used for education and awareness for the public and patients, for kidney research, as well as to provide financial assistance for children’s

camps and short-term patient assistance.

Juneau also noted that the Kidney Walk helps raise awareness about the serious need for kidney transplants and organ donations in general.

The team and the foundation are still accepting

donations for the cause. The donations can be forwarded to one of the local nurses or made online at kidneywalk. ca. If people wish to support the local team’s efforts, their page is called the Estevan Renal Nursing Unit, or they can just enter their donation at the website.

“We are certainly open for more donations,” Juneau said. “And I believe tax receipts are issued for donations over $20.”

If you want to learn more about kidney disease, check the Kidney Foundation of Canada and Kidney Walk websites for resources.

Candace Kopec has enjoyed her work as the new executive director of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Photo courtesy of Candace Kopec

Estevan dialysis nurses Amanda Kienlen, Gail Torgunrud, Jennifer Juneau, Kelsey Barlow and Anita Messner (missing is Cassidy Sinclair) and their supporters organized the first Kidney Walk in Estevan on Friday.

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EDITORIAL

The city continues to make progress, but work remains

It’s one of the most important documents that Estevan city council receives each year.

Council went over the audited financial statements at Monday night’s meeting. Each year, this document paints a picture of the progress, or lack thereof, that Estevan has made when it comes to money.

There will always be complaints about how a municipality, or any other level of government, rakes in taxes and manages those dollars. Give people a chance to look at the books in greater detail, and they’ll no doubt find areas that raise questions marks and spending they think is wasteful. They’ll want to know why so much money is being spent in certain areas.

This is one of those documents that maybe won’t get a lot of attention from the public unless it’s doom and gloom, or unless there is something else truly noteworthy. Number crunchers enjoy it, but you shouldn’t have to be an accountant to breeze through it or care.

The number the city likes to toss around each year is net debt – the excess of total liabilities over all assets. According to the document, as of Dec. 31 of last year, that number was a shade under $12 million, compared to $16.77 million at the end of 2021.

Most people will look at long-term debt ($13.5 million last year), and long-term debt

does account for the bulk of nearly $23.8 million in liabilities for the city.

This document also gives a look at the city’s revenues, the taxes receivable, the amount of cash it currently has, the expenses for each department, and even the wages for the mayor and the six council members for the past 12 months.

It was noted earlier this year when council approved $2 million in long-term debt (while continuing to pay down $4 million in debt) that the city’s goal is to pay down its debt by 2030. With the looming economic uncertainty facing our community, this is a commendable objective. Whether it’s attainable isn’t known.

While the city can plan for the future, including capital needs, something unforeseen could come up in the next few years that would scuttle the financial goals.

Still, the lower the debt the better. The debt expense could be spent to improve residents’ quality of life, such as sports and recreation, or it could be used for road repairs. Or the future council could lower taxes and make us more competitive in attracting businesses to Estevan.

The city should promote the work it’s done on the finances every chance it gets.

Just a decade ago, the long-term debt and the net debt were a big problem. A net debt

of under $12 million would have seemed like an impossibility.

Since 2017, when property taxes soared for multiple reasons, including one that was completely beyond the city’s control, the city has managed to keep tax increases to a minimum or to non-existent levels. That was particularly impressive this year, when other municipalities had to approve considerable property tax increases to keep pace with inflation. The city held the line on the municipal share of property taxes.

Council won’t be able to pull off zero per cent property tax increases forever, but they deserve credit for not having an increase this year, especially from those who think any property tax increase (or utility rate hike) shouldn’t happen.

It would also be nice to get a blast from the past and have the accounts appear in the agenda of every council meeting. This document was part of the agenda 20 years ago, and it showed in detail how much is being spent and where it is being spent.

But when you take a look at the audited financial statements of 10 years ago, and compare them with those of today, you can see the improvements that the city and council have made when it comes to balancing the books.

Definitely, a weekend to remember

What a weekend it was!

It was actually one of my two favourites in Estevan.

I really enjoy the grad weekend in Estevan (which is coming up by the way), simply because it’s filled with concentrated happiness. Take the number of graduating students, multiply it by 10 relatives cheering for each on average, and add the number of staff at ECS, and that will give you the estimate for how many people are directly involved in this blast of positivity every year.

It also adds many beautiful colours and lots of classiness to Estevan’s streets thanks to the community cheering for the graduates, the gorgeous students themselves and the parade, a new and fun tradition thanks to the pandemic.

(Even though Estevan did become brighter thanks to the recent effort of the Estevan Arts Council, I still feel there is room for much more colour, which grad day provides).

But while the ECS grad weekend gives the entire community a reason to cheer, it doesn’t get everyone actively involved. Most people, like me, just enjoy observing the parade and grads appearing here and there for pictures in their beautiful outfits, looking happy and excited.

The fair and rodeo weekend, on the other hand, is the weekend that has something for everyone. The four-day big bash, which made a return as a joint event last year and is to continue in this format for at least a few more years, is the time when I get friends from out of town to come down and share the excitement with Estevan and me. And I’m not the only one.

The four days of the fair and rodeo attract many people from surrounding communities and further. Estevan becomes a destination for people from as far west as the Alberta border and as far east as Manitoba, and I bet, some American families are making their way here to feel our energy, too.

This year the Estevan Exhibition Association really outdid themselves. Those were four days filled with action of all kinds. The traditional parade kicked it off, followed by

Ana Bykhovskaia

Twenty Lines About…

the sweet Kids’ Rodeo, which gives a nice and promising look into the future of what we are to see happening at a higher level at our grounds, along with other arenas in Canada and internationally in the years to come.

All four days also offered the guests a chance to enjoy a magnificent quilt show, thanks to the local Heart and Hands Quilt Guild and their unbelievable talents. The rodeo started on a Friday this year and lasted for three days instead of two, attracting more competitors, providing more opportunities for them and thus offering more entertainment for the crowd.

Saturday was loaded. It saw another tradition return. The Benson 4-H Beef Club brought back the ag component, hosting the open steer and heifer jackpot. Guests could also showcase their talents at the organized open stage. The 2023 Rodeo Queen was crowned at the grounds. And there were many other opportunities for young and grown-ups alike. And the day wrapped up with a great fun show by the Johner Brothers.

And of course, all four days saw the rides going with thousands of people enjoying the thrill of the fair coming to town.

Not only was there a lot of things to do and enjoy, what I personally really appreciate about the entire big and very complicated event was thought through. There were many little things like a live feed to the rodeo in the indoor arena so people could stay out of the sun, there were people movers, regular road waterings, increased accessibility, organized baby changing stations and many more details, which turned a good community-wide event into an absolutely perfect one, in my opinion.

And it wasn’t just for the fair and rodeo that made this weekend so memorable. We also had ball games, show and shines, the Li-

ons’ golf tournament and the Estevan Police Association colour run on top of all other non-organized activities Estevan gets to enjoy in the summer, happening throughout the community all weekend long. So, I felt that people of any age and interest could find something that would get them excited this weekend.

I know I was overloaded with positive vibes after attending most of the events listed above. And those were not only the vibes of satisfaction of seeing and doing something fun, but also the sense of fulfillment where I felt like being a part of a happy community. And also, the sense of fascination.

I talked about this phenomenon many times, but I don’t think I’d ever get tired of focusing on it. And the name of that phenomenon is volunteers. None of the events that rocked Estevan last week would be possible without this mind-blowing community, that donates time, skills and talents to making it better for everyone.

The EEA board, which is volunteers too, is unbelievably wonderful, and so are the people who signed up for the shifts to make the fair and rodeo wheels turn. And so are people participating in car shows, volunteering their time with local service clubs, donating their knowledge to coaching local teams, and many others who are involved in Estevan’s active and busy life.

If all these people would be paid, like they are at say, the Calgary Stampede, Estevan would never have anything – too small of a community to afford to bring events and pay everyone to make it work. But try telling our story to big city people. I bet they’d be shocked.

There are many meanings to the Energy City, and I often feel that the energy sector takes the No. 1 place in this list. But the longer I live here, the more I’m convinced that “Energy” in the city’s nickname also stands for the inner light, strength, power and generosity that so many people here carry inside them.

Thank you, Estevan volunteers, for your energy and this great weekend!

Grad really is a community celebration

David Willberg Willberg’s World

After I moved to Estevan in September 2000, it didn’t take me long to realize just how important grad celebrations are to a smaller community.

I’d looked through old editions of Lifestyles, and I saw the 2000 Estevan Comprehensive School grad special. All of these photos of the Class of the New Millennium, sponsored by local businesses.

I covered grad for the first time in June 2001. The old Civic Auditorium was nicely decorated and packed with family members and friends eager to witness the ceremony.

The grads were dressed in their finest clothes. Some found different ways to arrive at the event, whether it be a limousine or a horse-and-buggy tandem. And once it was finished, they all gathered at the school for the annual chem-free after-grad, when they played games of chance at a mock casino in an effort to win play money that could be used to purchase real prizes, items that no doubt would prove helpful in the future.

The merchandise was supplied by local businesses, which again reflected the community support for the grads.

I also remember that it was an insufferably hot day in Estevan for Grad 2001, likely north of 30 C. The Civic didn’t have air conditioning. And this was when grad still stretched on for hours. It might have gone three hours from the time of the entry to the end of the presentation of diplomas. After a break, when a meal was served, you had a grand march and a dance. Thankfully, the Comp. has done a great job of trimming the ceremony over the years, and the event is now more efficient and I would say enjoyable.

The significance of grad and support from so many are a similar refrain in other small communities that still have a high school. Grad is a big deal. Yes, the day is about the kids who are wrapping up their Grade 12 studies, it’s about parents and family members who have been there throughout the process, it’s about teachers and staff who guided them, and it’s about having this celebration with friends.

But those in smaller communities also often feel a sense of pride when graduation day comes along, perhaps a reflection of the old adage “it takes a village to raise a child”. The village wants to celebrate.

I find grad at ECS and elsewhere to be very different from my graduation. My alma mater, Langley Secondary School, was one of several high schools in Langley City and Township. Our graduation was nice, but it was the day for the grads, parents and the school. With so many schools in the area, you weren’t going to have the larger community as a whole coming together like you do here.

We had our ceremony, took pictures with our friends and then went on our way. There were some parties leading up to grad. If you were part of a group, you had a celebration. And then there was a grad banquet and an all-night party after we wrote our exams.

One of the local papers published a special insert with our photos, but they included all Langley schools.

But I didn’t feel the community being there for the grads like I do here, which should be expected. It’s one of the big differences between living in a big city with lots of schools and living in a small city with one high school, or a smaller community with just one school.

This year’s grads have been through a lot. Their Grade 9 year was cut short due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were back in the classroom for Grade 10, but it was very different from normal, thanks to restrictions that changed how everything happened, from classes to attendance, extracurricular activities to sports, clubs to lunch.

This year and the latter part of Grade 11 were closer to normal.

And the community support has grown. In 2020, when there wasn’t a ceremony, there was the ECS grad cruise, when the kids rolled through town in vehicles to the delight of those who gathered. The following year, it was modified to the grad parade, which appears to now be a tradition.

The parade is not only that extra chance for the grads to be together on grad night, but for the community to salute the kids.

Hopefully, grad is everything they imagined it would be, and a time to remember for all the right reasons.

Council gives first reading to fireworks bylaw

Estevan is moving closer to having fireworks sold in the community.

Estevan city council gave first reading to a bylaw to allow for commercial businesses to sell what the document calls consumer, low-hazard fireworks. The current bylaw does not allow for fireworks to be sold.

As per the bylaw, a business will be able to sell or offer low-hazard fireworks if they have obtained a fireworks sale permit from the federal Department of Natural Resources, and if the vendor is 18 years of age or older. Fireworks still can’t be lit within city limits.

High-hazard fireworks, flying lanterns and/or pyrotechnics still won’t be available in the city.

Coun. Shelly Veroba pointed out there are other communities that allow fireworks to be sold, and she believes it is a great move for the local business community.

“I think we need to do some education just to make sure people are aware where they can set them off,” said Veroba.

Councillor Lindsay

Clark – who is currently the deputy mayor and chaired the meeting while Mayor Roy Ludwig is on holidays – wanted to know if businesses would have a list of rules for what they can’t do.

Second and third readings will be needed before the bylaw is approved.

Council also received the audited financial statements during the meeting.

Sheila Filion with Vitrus Group went over the comprehensive statistical package with council via Zoom.

The statements show the city has continued to see a decline in the two areas it pays the closest attention.

The net debt – which is the excess of liabilities over assets – is down to more than $11.96 million, as of Dec. 31, 2022, compared to more than $16.77 million the previous year.

Assets for the city were at $11.83 million, while liabilities were nearly $23.8 million.

And the city’s longterm debt was at slightly more than $13.54 million, compared to $17.23 million the previous year.

In terms of assets, the city had $4.23 million in

cash, down slightly from $4.93 million the previous year, although $2.97 million is classified as restricted cash. Nonrestricted money was at $1.26 million, compared to $171,208 at the end of 2021. Taxes receivable were down slightly from $1.95 million to $1.91 million.

The city had $33.67 million in revenues, with the bulk of that money coming from taxes and other unconditional revenue at $20.98 million, fees and charges ($11.88 million) and conditional grants (nearly $1.47 million).

Expenses came in at $34.27 million, led by recreation and cultural services ($7.40 million), general government services ($7.09 million), protective services ($6.85 million), transportation services ($6.07 million) and utility services ($3.144 million).

Before other capital contributions, the city had a deficit of $603,696, but provincial and federal capital grants and contributions were at $6.33 million, leaving the city with a surplus of more than $5.72 million for last year.

Filion congratulated council and management for the strong financial numbers seen in 2022. Clark thanked city treasurer Trudy Firth and city manager Jeff Ward for their continued efforts on the city’s financial picture.

Ward said the city achieved its financial goals for 2022 when it comes to long-term and net debt.

“Last year was another one where we managed to get through and complete all of our capital projects without having to do a term loan,” said Ward. “As council is aware, we just did one [a loan] for this year, but that’s the first one this [present] council has had to do.”

Efficient management of resources, along with applying for additional grants, has allowed the city to reduce its net debt continuously over the past 10 years, Ward said.

“I think we’re in a much better financial position now than we were then and with the strategy that the management team and council have moving forward, we can continue to look at results like this in the future.”

Lots of new engines at T&T Rods

Tony and Tim Gervais once again opened their creative yard north of Estevan along Highway 47 to the community. The family invited the public to come enjoy the 20th annual T&T Rods Show and Shine on Saturday. Well over 100 participants registered to have their vehicles showcased. Drivers were coming from all over the southeast and elsewhere in Saskatchewan, as well as from Manitoba and the U.S. The latest event saw many first-timers, as well as long-term participants, and a lot of beautiful vehicles of any age, model and style. The Outram-Madigan 4-H Club ran the canteen for the day, and the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan sold raffle tickets for their Resto Mod Raffle for a 1970 Dodge Charger RT. The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation was at the event as well. Motor blowups and burnouts also happened during the day. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

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Fundraiser for St. Joe’s exceeds $100,000

By David Willberg

People from the Estevan area were once again very generous with their support for an important fundraiser.

A total of $100,179 was raised through this year’s Radiothon for Life for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation on June 7. The event was held outdoors near the entrance to the hospital’s long-term care unit.

“It was a great, great success,” said executive director Lori Gervais. “We had people around all day.”

The fundraiser opened at 7 a.m. and continued until 7 p.m. The total started at $10,000 thanks to a donation announced earlier in the year by Whitecap Resources. Support rolled in throughout the day. Other

people sent in contributions through the mail prior to the event.

“We had lots of online donations, as well as all of our power hour sponsors,” said Gervais. “We have different businesses supporting us each hour through the day, whether it’s in trade for services or they do give us a donation. The majority of our income is from the day, so we never know going in how much money is going to be raised.”

Apex Distribution came through with $20,000 in the final hours of the fundraiser.

Golden West Radio’s three local stations, Sun 102.3 FM, Rock 106 and CJ 1150, had interviews with staff and patients during the day.

A bouncy castle, courtesy of the Estevan Eye Clinic, was on site for kids to enjoy throughout the day, and a barbecued lunch was served by the Southern Plains Co-op. The co-op allowed the foundation to use their equipment and supplies at the end of the day as well.

“We had staff step up here, and a lot of the management was around outside,” said Gervais. “We had volunteer barbecuers, and I think it was a great plan.”

The barbecue supper was new for this year, and Gervais expects it will continue in future years. Approximately 275 people were served at each meal, and she said $3,000 to $4,000 was raised during the meals. The Estevan Market Mall provided e-bikes for a raffle.

James Jones hired as ECS’s new principal

The Estevan Comprehensive School has hired its new principal.

The school announced Sunday night on its Facebook page that it had hired James Jones for the role, replacing Nathan Johnson, who is stepping down after three years in the role.

Jones began teaching at ECS in 2013 and instructed English language arts, social studies, history and psychology, and later served as a learning support teacher.

In 2017, he moved into a coaching role with the South East Cornerstone Public School Division, and worked as an English language arts instructional coach with the south and east-area schools.

Jones returned to ECS in 2020 and joined the administration team as a viceprincipal.

“While working as viceprincipal and being actively

involved in our community, I try to prioritize developing relationships with students, parents and the school community,” said Jones. “I’m excited to build on existing relationships and develop new relationships in our community to help support students and ensure that ECS serves the needs of our students and community.”

Jones is the father of two children and his wife Kendra is a teacher at Westview

School. He noted they are originally from Peterborough, Ont., but have come to love southeast Saskatchewan.

Johnson will become the new superintendent of human resources for the South East Cornerstone Public School Division, effective Aug. 1.

“ECS is an incredible school with amazing opportunities for students, and I want to further develop and support the rich academic and extracurricular programming offered at our school,” said Jones. “We have a great team here at ECS and I am excited to continue working with an amazing group of educators and students.

“Together, we will continue to work on ensuring that ECS is a safe and inclusive learning environment, while providing positive learning experiences for our students.”

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This year marked the first time they have started at 7 a.m. In previous editions, they started an hour earlier, which meant an early start to the day for the foundation. They weren’t particularly busy from 6-7 a.m., either.

“It gave us more time

in the morning to get set up, but that extra hour at the end of the day, I think was an important one. The bouncy castles in the park were a big hit with the kids, and I think we had a lot of people around at the end of the day, which traditionally we don’t, because at the end of the day, it’s petered out with people coming to donate.”

The messages from the interviews were strong, she said. Sponsors, donors and staff explained why they wanted to support local health care.

Proceeds from this year’s fundraiser will go to emergency department upgrades. The staff in the emergency room has a list of equipment that it says needs to be improved.

Lions golf tournament supports CNIB

The Estevan Lions Club hosted its 28th annual golf tournament, with proceeds split between CNIB and the Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs.

Eighty-four golfers partook in this year’s event, and a lot of them have been supporting the cause throughout the history of the tournament. As part of the round, all

players had to make one blindfolded tee shot. Estevan’s Lyle Dukart was at the hole with his guide dog Quebec. He received it through the CNIB almost a year ago and said his smart four-legged friend has been great in keeping him “out of trouble” and safe when getting around the community.

While CNIB supports

people with visual disabilities, the Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs helps cover the significant expenses of raising any kind of service dog. One of their dogs was given to a person with autism from Gainsborough, and another went to Carlyle to assist a person with visual impairment, said the local club member.

Jackie McGillicky, left, and Gail Hilstrom were among the volunteers at this year’s Radiothon for Life.

James Jones

Jeremy MacKenzie took his blindfolded shot, supervised by his teammate Donna Reiger, CNIB representative Nanette Ermel and Estevan’s Lyle Dukart, who said his service dog Quebec that he received last year from CNIB has significantly improved his life.

Ron Wanner was a Legend in

southeast oilpatch and the business

as a whole

Woodlawn Golf Course

By David Willberg

Ron Wanner is being remembered for his work ethic and his lengthy career in the southeast oilpatch.

Wanner died on May 31 at St. Joseph’s Hospital at the age of 81.

He was one of the charter members of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s Nick and Verna Morsky Business Hall of Fame in 2011, and was enshrined as a Southeast Saskatchewan Legend during the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show in 2017.

Wanner began working for British American Oil in 1962 and later Gulf Oil, but decided to go into business for himself, forming a partnership with Ron Stregger on a business venture. In 1972, Wanner established Viking Surplus Oilfield Equipment. He was selling treaters at a time when nobody else was.

According to his induction bio for the Southeast Saskatchewan Legends, Viking Surplus got into machining, rebuilding pump unit parts, drill pipe, tubing, casing and more.

Wanner expanded his business portfolio in 1985 with Venture Well Services and moved into the

production end of the oil industry with T-Bird Oil, which was later sold to Crescent Point Energy Corp. In 2010 Venture Well Servicing’s five rigs were sold to Certified Energy Services.

Warren Waldegger started working for Wanner with the Viking group of companies in 1999. He described Wanner as a hard worker who also enjoyed having a good time, a man who took care of his employees and supported the community.

By 2001, Waldegger was working for T-Bird Oil. After T-Bird was sold, he started working for Fire Sky Energy, and continued to work for the Wanner family until Fire Sky’s sale in 2021.

“Ron and I were a pretty good mix. He was fast forward on everything, and I guess I was a little more of a risk manager,” recalled Waldegger. “When we put our heads together, we were a pretty strong duo. He had no fear. It was always about the next adventure and the next opportunity.

“There was really no downside. He just always wanted to do more and thought he could fill in the gaps out there if there was one.”

When Waldegger started, they had machine, welding, repair and paint shops, plus a supply store, crew trucks and service rigs.

“They had new and used pumpjack repairs and sales, they had new and used pressure vessels, repair and supplies. There was a lot going on there,” said Waldegger.

Wanner’s son Cory gave

Waldegger a tour of the operation when Waldegger first started. When asked what he thought about all the services and activity, an overwhelmed Waldegger could only think about an empty space in the Venture shop.

“It wasn’t long before that space was being used for something,” said Waldegger.

The family has had a lot

of long-time employees, and others who went on to bigger and better things.

“His group of companies was definitely a training ground for the oilpatch. I think the oilpatch is going to really miss that. His was one of the first shops you would see as you were driving into Estevan, so there was lots of kids from Manitoba and out east who would drive into Estevan, pull into his place, and they would be working the next day or even that afternoon.”

In 2009, Wanner bought Waldegger a car in honour of Waldegger’s 10th anniversary with the company, as a way of saying thanks for building up T-Bird’s reputation.

“It just shows his generosity,” said Waldegger. “He also did that … for one of his long-term employees that was working for Viking Surplus as well.”

Wanner was also known to provide some cash to an employee who was experiencing some hard times, Waldegger said.

The Wanner family’s generosity extended to the community with donations to St. Joseph’s Hospital. When Waldegger was on the committee to build a new clubhouse and restaurant at the TS&M

20 years ago, or when Waldegger was part of the organizing committee for the 2016 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup hockey tournament, Wanner was there to support both initiatives.

“As we know in this community when an entrepreneur … steps up in a big way, a lot of the others follow suit. So, it really helped us kick off that clubhouse project,” said Waldegger.

A staff and contractor charity golf tournament became a very successful event, raising money for such causes as SMILE Services.

“It was a pretty important thing in Ron’s life to have SMILE in this community, so we definitely wanted to support those guys because they were supporting the Wanner family,” said Waldegger.

Wanner is survived by his wife of 60 years Dorothy, their three children –Debbie (Greg) Henders, Kelly (Susan) Wanner and Cory (Cecilia) Wanner –and 13 grandchildren.

A prayers service was held at Hall Funeral Services on June 5, and a funeral mass was June 6 at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.

Estevan tops in practical skills at competition

The members of the mine rescue team from the Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan mine had a great showing at the Saskatchewan Mining Association’s mine rescue competition.

The event was held June 3 at the World Trade Centre at Prairieland

Park in Saskatoon, and served as a conclusion for Saskatchewan Mining Week.

Participating in the surface mining competition, Estevan entry was first in practical skills and the runner-up for first aid.

Competing team members were Derek Choma, Tanner Weger-Brandow, Brandon Schopp, Austin Dovell and Lonnie Rooks, along with vice-captain Tyler Ursu, captain Jessica Klarholm, coaches Cory Gibson and Travis Olver, and supervisor Guy Hiltz,

who is the safety manager at the Estevan mine.

Mosaic Belle Plaine was the overall winner for the surface mining competition, while K+S Potash Canada Bethune was the runner-up. Underground and surface rescue teams displayed their skills in seven separate events, including firefighting, first aid, proficiency skills, practical skills, bench technician, surface rope rescue, and simulated surface and underground mine problems.

May we suggest placing your ad in color!

Who says color doesn’t call attention to your advertisement? It just did.

Ron Wanner was a big part of Estevan’s business community. Photo courtesy of the Wanner family

Participating in the Emergency Response Mine Rescue Skills Competition were, from left, Derek Choma, Tanner Weger-Brandow, Brandon Schopp, Austin Dovell, vice-captain Tyler Ursu, captain Jessica Klarholm, and Lonnie Rooks. Missing are coaches Cory Gibson and Travis Olver, and safety manager Guy Hiltz. File photo

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Estevan Police Association and volunteers made sure there was no colourless spot on any participants of the Max-Fun Colour 5K Run/Walk Sunday morning.

The entertaining community activity took place at Woodlawn Regional Park, with start and finish points at the Fresh Air Fitness grounds.

Sgt. Kevin Reed, who is the president of the EPA, welcomed the participants, noting that the main point of this not-timed event was to have fun.

Over 70 people registered for the event. Before heading out, all runners and walkers were invited for a fun, quick warm-up at the soccer field, which wrapped up with a first colour blast. The route took participants to the dog park, through Woodlawn’s trails and back to Fresh Air Fitness, where there was cold water and freshly-made hotdogs waiting for them.

Volunteers sprayed the runners and walkers with dyes at the stations along the route, so that they were all covered with colours by the time they made it to the finish line.

Reed said they were excited about how the day turned out.

“I’m pretty excited about today, we had more registrations than last time. And then we had some more people show up. And each

time we host it, we’ll learn a little bit more,” said Reed.

The EPA hosted the first annual Max-Fun Colour Run in 2019, and at that time, the start/finish point was at the dog park. Reed noted that the Fresh Air Fitness area was more convenient for the event with more facilities like bathrooms and a sound system available.

The event was also a fundraiser, and the EPA has yet to decide on the beneficiary. However, they have a few causes they support on a regular basis.

“We do some annual things every year with some of our fundraising money. So

we give a $500 bursary to one of the students at the Comp. that’s going into social justice. We’ve done that for decades, every year,” Reed said. “The last three years, we’ve donated money to facilitate the youth curling league at the curling rink, and we continue doing that. And then when people send a request to us, we present it to our association, and there’s a vote and then we hand the money out that way.”

Last time the EPA gave all the money to the South East Saskatchewan Search and Rescue (SESKSAR).

A nicely organized and smoothly-run fun half-day event took about half a year

and quite a few people to put together, Reed said. “On the committee, there were probably 10 of us, police officers. And then, of course, we all drag our families in to help and assist. So today there are probably 25-30 volunteers over and above from the police service. And then there are nine or 10 Kingston Midstream volunteers doing one of the colour stations. And then there were a couple other colour stations that people came in and volunteered to man. And we had one student from the Comp. put their volunteer hours down too,” Reed said.

He added that when they started the event, the plan was to run it annually to add an organized run for the community between the Coal Country Run in May and Run the Course in October, both organized by Fresh Air Fitness. The pandemic nixed those plans, but now the EPA hopes to get back on track and keep bringing the activity back.

“It’s an opportunity for us as members to get out in the community. A lot of us are physically active anyway. And this is a way for us to actually be out with the other physically-active people in the community,” Reed explained.

“And it’s a walk or run thing, so it’s a way to get people that maybe are a bit timid out. They can start with a colour walk/run. It’s a little more fun than timed events so they can come and do the 5K, experience that and then maybe they’ll do the full Coal Country Run in a timed event or go around the province and do some that way.”

Reed also thanked Peggy Rohatyn and Debby Knight with Fresh Air Fitness for their assistance, advice and volunteering, as well as Kingston Midstream for their volunteers and support, and other sponsors that made the event possible.

Army cadets wrap up season with sunset ceremony

The No. 2901 Estevan (Elks) PPCLI Army Cadet Corps handed out a number of awards, highlighted by a couple of special presentations, during their annual sunset ceremony on June 6

The service began with the cadets and members of the Pipes and Drums Band parading in front of the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, with family members and friends watching from along Fourth Street.

After the band played a few selections, and Commanding Officer Craig Bird addressed the cadets and the crowd, the presentation of awards began.

Cadet Warrant Officer

Jessica Slager was presented with a Legion Medal of Excellence. Bird noted that a limited number of medals are awarded to each cadet organization, so the level of

proficiency among recipients has to be high.

“The recipients must have reached an all-around excellent and outstanding level of performance for at least two years. This cadet must be a model cadet and beyond reproach in all aspects,” said Bird.

He added that he knows Slager will wear it with distinction based on the way it was earned, and the legion hopes the medal will provide incentive for other cadets to improve their standing and strive for a similar recognition.

Also, former cadet Graeson Nelson, who has aged out of the program, was presented with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal by Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who said the medal would go to somebody who has served their community and province with honour, pride and dignity.

Only a select few cadets in Canada earned such a medal, Bird said. The commanding officer noted that he wanted to present the medal at the cadets’ annual ceremonial review earlier this year, but Nelson couldn’t attend due to schooling in Saskatoon.

Other medals handed out were:

Lance Corporal and Green Star: Acadia McCord-Southcott, Liam Tyler and Kale Marsdin;

Corporal and Red Star: Sofiya Vlezko, Kale Marsdin and Radburn Alfonso; Warrant Officer: Oleh Sych, Jessica Slager and Levi Hollingshead; Silver Star: Kale Marsdin and Andrei Balbuena; Gold Star: Akara Reeves; Master Cadet: Levi Hollingshead; National Star of Excellence: Oleh Sych and Jessica Slager;

Army Cadet Service Medal: Jessica Slager.

Members of the Pipes and Drums band were also saluted during the evening.

Bird noted the sunset ceremony is a tradition in the army to mark the end

of the day. The local cadets hold it to reflect the end of their season. Among the traditions of a sunset service to be incorporated into the Estevan ceremony was the lowering of the Canadian flag.

Once the ceremony was finished, the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion presented cheques for $6,000 to the cadets and $2,000 to the Estevan PPCLI Pipes and Drums Band.

Southeast sets the pace for land sale

The Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown petroleum and natural gas public offering, held on June 6, has raised $9,380,670 for the province.

Of the 100 parcels posted for this sale, 88 parcels received acceptable bids. These bids covered 19,094.52 hect-

ares, an average of $491.28 per hectare.

The southeast region generated the most interest, bringing in a little more than $4 million for 52 leases totalling 5,294.367 hectares, or $756.30 per hectare. All 52 leases available in the southeast were gobbled up.

The highest bid in this area was $458,054 for a 259.795-hectare lease located eight kilometres north of Oxbow, adjacent to the Alameda East Frobisher Oil Pool. ROK Resources Inc. was the successful bidder.

The highest dollar-perhectare bid received in the

southeast, and for this offering as a whole, at $9,172.44 per hectare, is for a 32.31-hectare lease in the southeast region, 32 kilometres northeast of Midale. It was awarded to Surge Energy Inc., and is prospective for oil in the Frobisher Beds of the Madison Group and the Bakken Formation.

The Kindersley area also saw considerable interest, bringing in more than $3.65 million for 10 leases totalling 6,544.90 hectares. A total of 15 leases totalling 10,166.044 hectares were posted.

Accepted bids in the Lloydminster area brought in more than $1.72 million for 26 leases totalling 7,255.24 hectares, or $237.80 per hectare. There were 33 leases encompassing 9,266.473 hectares that were available.

The highest bonus bid and highest dollars per hectare received on a lease in this area was $230,411, or $945.77 per hectare. This 243.623-hectare lease is located three kilometres east of Lloydminster, adjacent to the Aberfeldy South Sparky Sand Oil Pool and the Aberfeldy GP Sand Oil Pool. The successful bidder was Millennium Land (333) Ltd.

A big colour blast wrapped up the warm-up and signified the beginning of the Max-Fun Colour 5K Run/Walk.

Estevan legion president Jim (Frosty) Forrest, left, presented a Legion Medal of Excellence to Cadet Warrant Officer Jessica Slager

They love a parade

Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football participated in the SMILE Services Estevan Parade, which kicked off this year’s edition of the Energy City Ex. The parade started at Westview School, and then snaked its way through southwest and central Estevan until it reached the exhibition grounds. Large crowds gathered along the parade route, with the largest numbers located at the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Fourth Street and the 800-block of 13th Avenue. Some participants had floats, while others rode in vehicles or had horse-and-rider tandems. Children eagerly waited for candy to be tossed their way. For more photos of the event, please check out our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.

Estevan’s grad will be a day of celebrations

The Estevan Comprehensive School’s Class of 2023 will have the opportunity to celebrate all of their years of hard work during the school’s graduation ceremony on June 17 at Affinity Place.

A total of 154 young people are eligible to participate in the ceremony. Each student will be called up onto the stage, accept their diploma, turn the tassel on their grad cap and step into the next phase of their lives.

The ceremony will start with the processional of the grads into Affinity Place at 2 p.m. Once they are seated, the speeches will begin, with principal Nathan Johnson and valedictorian Conner Piche among those scheduled to address the crowd.

Vice-principal Brian Wright noted Piche had an average of 99 per cent this school year through the second-semester midterms. Plans are coming together well. The decorating committee has been working inside Affinity Place to ensure it will be beautiful.

There will not be a theme for this year, as Wright noted they did away with that last year, while Affinity Place will be decorated in the school’s colours of red, white and blue.

“As of last year, we are

no longer doing different colours every year, because we are trying to make it more affordable for everyone by reusing decorations year after year,” he said.

Wright noted the school printed an additional 200 tickets for this year because they ran out. That will mark the end of ticket sales, because they have reached their capacity of 2,000 tickets available.

He also expects the new scoreclock at Affinity Place will be ready for grad, making it the first community event in which the video panels will be used. Wright hopes photos of the kids could be on the scoreboard during the presentation of diplomas.

Wright said the school has done a good job over the years of reducing the length of the ceremony.

“Grad is a very important day for ECS. It’s a way that we recognize the achievements of all those kids. It’s also a way of letting the community show their support for those kids.”

Once the ceremony is finished, the students will convene at the Estevan Court House for the annual grad photo, which is one of the highlights of the day.

The parents’ committee, meanwhile, is organizing the third annual grad parade. The graduates will

gather at the Power Dodge Curling Centre’s parking lot and will be on 12 truckand-trailer tandems. Each of the trucks and trailers will have signs with the kids’ names so people can see who is riding, and it will be up to the kids to decide if the trailers will be decorated.

The parade will travel north on Souris Avenue

North, east on King Street and north on Kensington Avenue. Then it will pass through the ECS parking lot, head south on Spruce Drive, west on King Street and south on Souris Avenue North.

Deanna Tarnes with the parents’ committee said they allowed the kids to vote on bringing back the traditional grand march

and dance, which was part of the celebrations until 2019, or having the parade. The majority of the kids wanted the parade, she said.

“The parade is fun,” said Tarnes. “They like it because of the community involvement … and they get to show off their dresses and suits.”

Tarnes said she has seen

School safety patrollers gather for a dance

For the first time since 2019, students who are part of the school safety patrol program in Estevan were able to gather for a dance put on by the Estevan Police Service.

The event was held May

31 at the Beefeater Plaza. Participating schools were Spruce Ridge, Pleasantdale, Westview, Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s, with about 150 patrollers present. Each school also had a chaperone present for their students.

Const. Katelynn Ruthven and Const. Cole Hoover were there to recognize and make sure that things ran smoothly. They also spent time refilling soft drinks for the patrollers.

“It was great to see all of

the patrollers who were able to attend,” said Sgt. Braden Lonsberry with the Estevan Police Service. “All of the patrollers seemed to enjoy the evening dancing, eating pizza and drinking pop.”

Lonsberry went on to say

it is an honour to be able to organize this dance, as these students work very hard to keep all of the students in Estevan safe when walking or biking home from school.

“They are out in all kinds of weather and take their re-

the parades in the past and has been impressed with how they went and the support from the community. “I think it’s cool that [other] kids can go and see the parade, and then they are excited for when they get to be in the parade, which is why I think this tradition will continue,” she said.

sponsibilities very seriously,” Lonsberry said. Lonsberry noted Jeff Pierson donated the use of the plaza and the soft drinks, Dave Elliott was the DJ and the Lions Club paid for the pizza for the patrollers.

Photo by David Willberg

The route for this year’s ECS Grad Parade. Image courtesy of the ECS parents’ committee

SPORTS

A10

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Energy City Ex kicked off the 2023 KCRA season with three days filled with rodeo action.

Dozens of competitors had multiple chances to showcase their skills and talent in bareback, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, steer wrestling and bull riding, as well as different levels of breakaway, steer riding, team roping and barrel racing.

The event attracted many spectators and provided Estevan with great entertainment.

“On behalf of the Energy City Ex. rodeo committee, we would like to thank everyone for coming and helping us kick off the 2023 KCRA season,” said Rhonda Gillespie in a post on the KCRA Facebook page. “We would also like to thank everyone for your help in and out of the arena, everyone that jumped in and helped when you could help the slack and performance run very smooth, and your help with cleanup afterwards was unreal.

“Thank you and see you in 2024,” Gillespie wrote.

Estevan Exhibition Association president Crystal Ross said the KCRA “loved our grounds, loved our community” and will be back next year.

“It’s just a great rodeo,” Ross added.

Only unofficial results were in at the Mercury press time, and they are as follows.

On day one of the Energy City Ex Estevan Rodeo, in junior girls’ barrel racing, Kaci Storle was first in 17.01 seconds. In ladies barrel racing, Lisa Madge was first in 16.51 seconds. Austin Thiele scored 73 and won the bull riding. In peewee steer riding, Sawyer Cieckiewicz had 70 points to win. In junior breakaway, Blake Hedin was first in 5.0 seconds. In junior steer riding, Tucker Danberg finished first with a score of 73. In junior team roping, Lily Francis was first with a time of 9.9 seconds. In peewee team roping, Denym Mcphee was first with a time of 8.6 seconds. And in pewee barrel racing, Sydney Koolen finished first in 17.25 seconds.

In team roping, Jace Schellenberg and Kode McConnel were the winners with a time of 18.6 for two catches. In ladies breakaway, Lara Bierbach came in first with two catches done within 5.4 seconds. Cody Christman won steer wrestling on the first night with a time of 4.9. Matt Pick took home the tie down roping trophy with a time of 9.8. Casey Bear won the bareback with a score of 62, and there were no qualifying rides in saddle bronc.

On the second day, in peewee barrel racing, Lexi Cote came in first with a time of

16.9. Casey Bear won bareback with a score of 71, and Dane Pearson won saddle bronc with 69 points. Tim Highmoor won tie-down roping with a time of 13.2, and Fred Thue came in first in steer wrestling with a time of 9.7.

In team roping, Jace Schellenberg and Rudy Schellenberg were the winners with a time of 18.0 for two catches.

Molly Maynard was the winner in junior barrel racing with a time of 16.34, as well as in junior steer riding with a score of 68. In ladies barrel racing, Delaney Mcphee was first with a time of 16.23, and Piper Bigney of Carnduff came in first in junior breakaway with a time of 3.0.

Dane Pearson won bull riding on the second day with a score of 82. Korbin Cross claimed the first spot in junior team roping with a time of 8.9, and Sawyer Cieckiewicz won peewee steer riding with a score of 69. Shasta Hanna came in first in ladies’ breakaway within 6.9 seconds for two catches. Lexi Cote was first in peewee barrel racing with s time of 16.9 seconds.

On the third day of the rodeo action, in team roping, Travis Peterson and Ryan Dunn were first with 15.72 seconds for two catches. Meg Sparrow won in ladies’ breakaway with 5.5 seconds. Piper Bigney came in first in junior breakaway with a time of 3.4. Corbin McCuaig was first in junior team roping with a time of 8.2 seconds.

Shelbie Lockie won ladies’ breakaway with 6.0 seconds for two catches. Lexi Cote captured the championship in peewee barrels with a time

Piper Bigney of Carnduff partook in ladies’ breakaway Saturday afternoon.

Fred Thue of Lumsden won the steer wrestling competition Saturday.

of 16.79. Angie Cross won ladies’ barrel racing in 16.12 seconds, and Harlyn Krasko claimed the first spot in junior barrels with a time of 16.47. Denym Mcphee once again won peewee team roping with a time of 17.1, which included a five-second penalty. Shana Froshaug came in first in ladies’ breakaway with

a time of 3.2. And Leland Robertson was first in junior steer riding with 69 points.

Dane Pearson was the third-day champion in bull riding with a score of 77.

Ryan Beierbach was first in tie-down roping with a time of 11.5. Cody Christman won steer wrestling in 17.3 seconds. There were no quali-

fying performances in saddle bronc. And Casey Bear won his third-in-a-row bareback prize with 62 points. These results are preliminary and not official. For more information on the results and standings, visit the KCRA Facebook page and their website at kcrarodeo.com.

The Estevan Comprehensive School applauded its athletes Thursday night during the annual athletics awards program in the school’s cafetorium. Students were recognized for their efforts and achievements with senior, junior and freshman Elecs’ sports teams. Members of the ECS senior boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams were presented with banners for winning the SaskMilk Sportsmanship Awards at their respective 5A provincial tournaments earlier this year. For a full list of award recipients, you can visit our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.

Don’t Cuss! Call US 306-634-7101 601 - 5th St. • Estevan, SK PRESENTS YOUR COMMUNITY “WHERE COMMUNITY HAPPENS” 400 King Street 306.634.2444 306 634 2444 Promote your Fundraiser/ Event courtesy of the Estevan Market Mall. Email details to cjones@estevanmercury.ca Co-operators • Dollarama • Eclipse • Global Golf Plus • Marks • Nutters • Peavey Mart Pet Valu • SaskTel • Sobeys • SportChek • Studio C Fitness • The Brick • The Source Tim Horton's • Warehouse One SOURIS VALLEY MUSUEM Garage Sale Friday, June 16 @ 10am to 7pm Saturday, June 17 @ 10am to 5pm Souris Valley Museum is having their annual garage sale fundraiser! Come out to find some treasures! Watch for balloons and garage sale signs along 2082 Highway #39 West (beside Redhead Equipment). SWIS & TRANSITIONS ESTEVAN Father's Day Mini-Golf Friday, June 16, 5:00-7:00 @ Hidden Valley Mini Golf Exciting news for all our SWIS families.... Father's Day is in the air so please join us to celebrate all our "dads"! Registration is required. Kindly call Ms. Aimee at 306-637-4920 for some details and to reserve your spot. MAKE MUSIC WITH FRIENDS Monday, June 19, 2023 - 1:00-4:00 St. John the Baptist Parish Hall Do you play a musical instrument and like meeting interesting people? Do you like to get together and play along with others? Enjoy a spontaneous musical collaboration of a Jam Session. (306) 421-7538 for further information ESTEVAN FARMERS MARKET Saturdays @ 8:30am to 1:00pm Estevan Market Mall Parking Lot Come check out local vendors like: Prairie Toons Orchard & Bakery, Harvest Gold Market Garden, Auntie M's Garden Market, Just Bread, Box H Farms, Dunbar Greenhouses, Timber Dog Treats, Creations by Corrina, Tupperware and so much more. There is something for everyone! ESTEVAN DIVERSIFIED SERVICES Barbecue Open House Thursday, June 15 - 11am to 2pm Come join Estevan Diversified Services for burgers and hot dogs, great company and a chance to tour our facility, see our newly renovated areas, meet our participants and learn about our programs.

ECS presents athletic awards

Dane Pearson of McAuley, Man., won saddle bronc, getting 69 points and being the only qualifying cowboy of Saturday’s round.

Morgan Frail of Weyburn was a part of the bareback performance Saturday.

Sam Taypotat of Whitewood entered in tie-down roping on Saturday.

By David Willberg

Hobby stock and sport modified drivers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the northern mid-west U.S. were in Estevan on Friday night for the Estevan Motor Speedway’s stop on the Tougher than Dirt Tour.

The event attracted 93 racers in total, including 29 hobby stocks and 21 sport mods. Stock cars, slingshots and modifieds also raced on Friday, entertaining the crowd that gathered at the track.

The number of hobby stocks entered forced the speedway to have a B-main qualifier for the first time in four years. The top six finishers from each of the three hobby stock qualifying heats advanced directly to the feature, while the remaining 11 drivers went to the B main, with the top six finishers from that race moving onto the feature.

In the hobby stock final race, Bradon Bombardo of New Prague, Minn., held off Landon Runge of Lampman and Tanner Clough of Wallace, Neb., to win. Barbardo held the lead for most of the feature,

but was passed by Clough with a few laps remaining.

Clough held the lead for a few laps, but Bombardo regained it to win.

Runge was in contention throughout the feature, and made a charge late in the race by taking the track’s high line, but couldn’t pass Bombardo, who knew Runge was pressuring for the lead.

“I could hear him,” said Bombardo. “I heard him on the outside of me … and I

looked at the board [leaderboard] coming down the front stretch and realized there was a different car in second.”

The Minnesota driver is nicknamed Mr. Excitement, and once he reached victory lane, he jumped on the roof of his car to celebrate while wearing a unicorn mask.

Bombardo praised the facility after the race, saying everything about it was “incredible”.

Kyler Satran of Minot,

N.D., was fourth and Connor Hanson of Torquay was fifth. Eight southeast Saskatchewan drivers qualified for the 24-car feature.

Gabriel Deschamp of Bottineau, N.D., dominated to win the sport mod feature. The first half of the race was close, and a couple of cautions midway through the feature ensured the drivers would be close together.

Darren Medler of Minot held the lead early, with challenges coming from Deschamp and Lampman’s Leevi Runge.

But Deschamp pulled away after the final caution, and wound up winning by several seconds, with the biggest challenge being weaving through lapped traffic.

“I was able to find the traction, waited for my perfect time and it worked out great,” said Deschamp.

Medler was second, Runge was third and Brock

Beeter of Minot was fourth. Eight drivers from the southeast were in the feature.

The Tougher than Dirt Tour has six programs in six days, with five in North Dakota. The drivers with the most points in each division at the end are crowned the series champions. This year marked the first time since 2019 that Tougher than Dirt has been in Estevan.

As for the other classes on Friday, Kyle Scholpp of Lampman won his firstever stock car feature in Estevan, making a pass on the first lap of the feature to take top spot and never relinquishing the lead. Adam Goff of Minot proved to be the toughest challenger, as he was second for most of the race and finished in the runner-up position.

Chris Hortness of Estevan was third and Stefan Klym of Swift Current came in fourth.

Aaron Turnbull of Estevan won the modified feature in a thrilling duel with fellow Estevan driver Kody Scholpp in the final laps. Turnbull passed Manor’s Joey Galloway for the lead early on, while Scholpp mounted a challenge after he worked his way into second spot.

Turnbull nearly went off the track at one point while fending off Scholpp.

Travis Hagen of Williston, N.D., was third and Marcus Tomlinson of Turtle Lake, N.D., was fourth.

Brogan Wagner of Weyburn won the slingshot feature, his third win in four race programs this year. Sladen Pfeifer of Minot was second, Eli Turnbull of Estevan was third and Gunner Raynard of Lampman came in fourth.

The stock cars, modifieds and slingshots were racing for points in the championship standings.

Goff leads the stock car class with 152 points, one more than Hortness.

Scholpp is third with 147 and Joren Boyce of Minot is fourth with 146.

Hagen leads the modified standings with 146, two better than Scholpp. Isaiah Geisel of Torquay sits third with 141 and Steven Pfeifer of Minot is fourth with 140.

Sladen Pfeifer is tops in the slingshot class with 152 points, seven clear of Jack Ashworth of Weyburn. Wagner is third with 144, and Gunner Raynard and Hudson Mann are tied for fourth with 143.

The next program at the track will be a Canada Day event on July 1.

The Estevan U13 AA Brewers kept rolling on the weekend, going 4-0 with victories over the Moose Jaw Canucks and the Regina Expos. The first game against Moose Jaw was a 24-6 win in four innings. Spencer Skuce led the Brewers offensively with a home run.

The second game was a 15-4 victory. Kohen Brownridge had a strong showing on the mound, and the club played well defensively.

Sunday saw the Brewers win twice at home, beating the Expos 15-5 and 18-3.

Spencer Skuce started the first game on Sunday, while Kyson Dangstorp closed out the game.

Kale Kuchinka’s pitching carried the Brewers through six innings. Tayson Tangjerd came in for clean up duty for the seventh.

Strong hitting including a bomb by Jett Markoski and the rest of the Brew Crew added to just some of the day’s highlights.

With the wins, the Brewers are now 13-1. They will host the Regina White Sox on June 17 at 1 and 3 p.m., and the Regina Buffalos on June 18 at 1 and 4 p.m. in their final home games of the season.

•••

The Estevan U11 AA Brewers suffered their first loss of the season on the weekend, but still have a 14-1 record.

Estevan won two games at the Regina Buffalos on Saturday, 11-0 and 13-3. Ripyn Brown allowed just three hits and no runs in the first game. A six-run second inning gave the Brewers a big early lead, and the Brewers had seven stolen bases in the game.

In the second game, Nash Cameron went four innings on the mound, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out 11.

Brown led the offence by going 3-for-3.

Then they split games against the Balcarres Broncos at home on Sunday, winning 13-9 and losing 11-9. The games with Balcarres were the U11 Brewers final home games of the season.

The first game was tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the fourth when Hunter Nicholson had an RBI single. Brown hit a home run and drove in five runs.

Four players had multiple hits for the Brewers in the second game, and they finished with 13 in the contest.

•••

The Estevan U15 AA Brewers went 1-2 in recent days, winning 14-4 over the Regina Blue Jays on Thursday, but losing twice, 11-5 and 122, to the Lumsden Cubs on Saturday.

The game with the Jays was tied at 4-4 in the top of the fifth, but the Brewers pulled away, with the biggest blow being six runs in the

sixth. Chayse Zohner, Broden Henry, Logan Kolenz and Aidan Turner each had RBIs in the frame.

Turner led things on the mound, going three innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out two.

The Brewers stole 13 runs on the day.

In the first game with Lumsden, the contest was tied at 4-4 in the third inning.

Quintin Sliva and Kolenz managed multiple hits for the Brewers.

The Brewers held an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of

the second game. The sixth inning proved to be their undoing, as the Cubs scored six times.

Sliva allowed two runs on one hit in three innings.

Keith Daae had two hits for the Brewers, whose record now stands at 6-4-2.

•••

The Estevan U18 AA Brewers had a 2-2 tie Thursday against the Regina White Sox, and suffered their first two losses of the season, 4-2 and 9-5, against the White Butte Broncos on Sunday.

The Brewers scored both

of their runs in the first inning, with Tanyan Strudwick and Mathias Fornwald each getting a run batted in (RBI).

Jayden Kuchinka went six innings, giving up two runs, one earned, and striking out six.

Estevan was ahead 2-1 against the Broncos Sunday, but the Broncos tied it up with one in the fifth and won with two in the seventh. Kuchinka and Tallan Howie each had two hits for Estevan.

Sam Bendickson gave up four runs, but only one earned, in 6 1/3 innings of work.

In the second game, Strudwick hit a home run and had three RBIs for Estevan, who trailed 8-3 after three innings.

Ty Hoste allowed one unearned run in three innings of relief.

•••

The Southeast U15 AAA

As went 1-2 on the weekend, winning 6-4 at the White Butte Broncos on Friday, but losing 7-5 and 8-6 to

the East Central Dodgers on Saturday.

The As scored thrice in each of the first and third innings for all of the offence they would need Tyson Hardy had a run, two hits and three RBIs, while Caden Dorrance had two runs and three hits.

Tristan Brownridge allowed three runs and struck out four in six innings.

Dorrance didn’t get a hit in the first game against the Dodgers, but still had three RBIs, and Nathan Gardiner brought in two.

Hardy and Reese Copeland each went three innings on the mound.

In the second game, the A’s fell behind 5-0 in the first inning, but chipped away at the lead to make the game interesting. Gardiner finished with two RBIs, two hits and a run. Dorrance gave up eight runs, but only one was earned. Luke Holman didn’t surrender a baserunner in relief for the As, whose record is now 6-8.

Austin Kayton (61) battled for position with other hobby stock drivers.

Brian Kentner (66K) led Keenan Glasser (22) and other sport mods during a qualifying heat Friday night.

Payton Molstead of the U11 AA Brewers connects for a hit against Balcarres.

Benson 4-H hosts successful King of the Prairies Open Steer and Heifer Jackpot

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Benson 4-H Club hosted their first King of the Prairies Open Steer and Heifer Jackpot in conjunction with the Energy City Ex on June 10, bringing the fair and rodeo weekend one step closer to how it used to be back in the day.

Benson 4-H leader

Brandice Petterson said even though they initially hoped for more entries, their first event of this kind went well overall.

“We originally wanted more contestants, but I think after all, it was a good number for our first time putting it on, as we didn’t know what to expect. We really had never put on a show like this, so it was a new experience. And I think it went over well,” Petterson said.

As the Estevan Exhibition Association is working towards bringing more components of the traditional local fair and rodeo event back, they approached Benson 4-H to see if they’d be able to assist with some kind of agricultural show. The club saw it as a good opportunity to get involved, have their members be active and also raise some money for their achievement awards and prizes.

They had nine Benson 4-H members participating and the rest of the contestants were from other areas. The competition was open to all ages and places, and some people had to come a day earlier as they had five hours of travelling. There were 21 heifers and 22 steers entered this year. Petterson noted that other events were happening in the area like the Alameda 4-H Regional Show and Sale and more that prevented some potential participants from coming. But they hope to see more people joining the event in the years to come, as they did their best to have some attractive prizes and a highquality day.

“We tried to be able to do a decent payout to make it worth people coming on the show ... And I think we did well on the amount we fundraised for ourselves, too.

“We are going to send out a letter to our contestants, thank them for coming and [ask them for feedback]. Any activity can always use a little bit of tweaking to make it better. So, we are going to look at

that, and it went over well, so I think the club would probably do it again next year,” Petterson said.

Judge Levi Jackson of Sedley said the day showcased a lot of talent and there were some nice animals.

“It was a great show; the numbers were really good there. There wasn’t a whole bunch, but there was certainly enough to make a quality show. The calves were really good, steers and heifers, both. And the kids were even better,” Jackson said after the show.

“In showmanship, some of these kids are very good. It’s always a learning experience. It does matter where you place, but what really matters is what you take away from the day and what you can do to make subtle changes to improve, to maybe have little better champs the next time you’re out, especially in things like showmanship because that’s not the quality of the animal, that is just your own ability.

He added that he takes a lot of time talking with the kids about little things they can do and change. He’s judged major livestock shows in Denver, Fort Worth, Tex., and Louisville, Ind., and said even though it was mainly a junior show, there was a lot of potential.

“The quality of the kids was terrific. It was really good. So, they’ve obviously got some good parents, some good family support, that they come and do things like that,” Jackson said.

Eric Fettes claimed the most prizes on the day. His steer was named the grand champion getting the owner $1,000. L exus Zieglgansberger’s steer claimed the reserved champion title ($500).

Kate Webb won the overall heifer class and took home $1,000 for that, and Darnell Fornwald was awarded $500 for second place.

In Simmental heifer class, Jory LaBatte was first ($200), Zayne LaBatte was second ($100) and Cade Wright was third. In Hereford heifers, Lexi Connor was first ($200), Jesse Procyk was second ($100), followed by Rowyn Shier, Laine Petterson and Jayk Mitchell. In the Shorthorn heifer class, Darnell Fornwald was first ($200) and Peyton Adderly was second ($100).

In Angus heifers, Kate Webb came in first ($200), Eric Fettes was second ($100), followed Brylan Rasmuson, Matthew Howe, Rylan Fladeland, Everleigh Rasmuson, Lila Hale and Reyhan Machmer. In other breed heifer class, Emily Sebastian came in first ($200) and Delaney Sebastian was second ($100), followed by Dawson Fladeland, Jack Wright and Turner Petterson.

In the homegrown heifer class, Lexi O’Connor came in first ($250) and Emily Sebastian was second ($150).

In the lightweight steers, Eric Fettes came in first ($100) and Katie Kolenosky was second ($50), followed by Brayden Fladeland, James Pick, Haylie Petterson, Leighton Petterson and Turner Petterson. In the medium-weight steer class, Lexus Zieglgansberger was first ($100) and Darnell Fornwald was second ($50), followed by Rowyn Sheir, Peyton Adderly, Waylon Petterson, Anavay Pick and Madisyn Frischholtz.

In heavyweight steers, Eric Fettes was first ($100) and Katie Kolenosky was second ($50), followed by Kate Webb, Lila Hale, Lane Robinson, Braxton Shier and Laine Petterson. Eric Fettes also took home both prizes in homegrown steer class ($250 and $150).

In showmanship peewee class, Jack Wright was first ($150) and Braxton Shier was second ($75). In showmanship juniors, Katie Webb was first ($150) and Delainey Sebastian was second ($75). And in showmanship senior class, Emily Sebastian came in first ($150) and Jesse Procyk was second ($75).

Words are powerful

During the toast to the bride at a wedding this past weekend, a gentleman stood up and said, “When I was young, Rhonda looked after me. When I was a teenager, Rhonda looked after me. Even today, Rhonda continues to look after me. Here’s to Rhonda!”

Those simple words, delivered with heartfelt emotion, were the most memorable words of the night. They perfectly captured the spirit of the bride because everyone in that room had experienced her caring nature. We are inundated with so many meaningless words from social media and other sources that it is easy to forget that words can have a huge impact. I have a file folder that is stuffed full of notes, cards and letters of encouragement. I never look at them, but I have kept some of those pieces of paper for decades. The words mattered so much to me that I could not throw them away. Having received kind

Share with us a picture of a dad in your life that you want to celebrate this father's day. the picture can be sentimental, goofy, cornywhatever best portrays him as a dad!

pages of our

words has made me a committed card giver. I know that giving birthday and anniversary cards is sort of old-fashioned, but I believe there is value in recording your thoughts about those you love.

Sadly, my handwriting is so bad that it might be easier to translate Egyptian hieroglyphics than read the words I wrote, but most people usually figure out what I am trying to say.

This power of words is also what makes prayer important. God does not need us to inform him of our needs. He already knows our circumstances better than we do. However, prayer forces us to express our feelings in words. Searching for

the right expression and forming our thoughts ends up being a powerful tool in understanding ourselves and our relationship with God. Words are so powerful that God sometimes gave his people specific words to say so that we would remember his attitude toward us. The best example is the priestly blessing in Numbers 6 which says, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (verses 24-26). We have a God who wants to bless, be gracious and bring us peace. Those words are both powerful and worth remembering.

Braxton Shier is pictured here with his steer and judge Levi Jackson

Tim Pippus of the Estevan Church of Christ

The Angus heifer class saw the highest number of entries with eight contestants participating.

Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Delaney Sebastian, left, and Kate Webb had their calves showcased during the King of the Prairies Open Steer and Heifer Jackpot.

In Memory of Ryan MacMillan June 12,2001

Just when his days seemed brightest, Just when his hopes seemed best, God called him from amongst us, To his eternal rest. Sadly missed, but God know best. Your family

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A Thank you

The Dunford Family wishes to extend its deepest thanks and appreciation to all who’ve lent their support and sympathies during this difficult time. Your thoughts and prayers have been received with the kindness and thoughtfulness extended and have helped lift our spirits. In particular, Pauline would like to extend a deep and heartfelt thank you to the multitude of emergency service personnel that came to their assistance on the morning of May 22nd: the Estevan EMS and the paramedics that came to location as first responders, the ER staff and doctors of St. Joseph’s Hospital that provided such effort and care, the STARS responders that assisted during this time, Hall Funeral Services who provided such excellent service and assistance, and also to Sandy Dalziel who conducted the final rites. Thank you for such amazing service and assistance and we wish to extend our deepest gratitude.

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Margarette Elizabeth Harrison 1932-2023

Margarette Harrison, late of Estevan, SK passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Friday, June 2, 2023 at the age of 90 years.

Margarette was met in Heaven by her parents, Bill and Dorothy Fleming; brothers, George and Robert Fleming; sister-in-law Jean Fleming; niece Loraine Bishop; nephew Billy Fleming; parents-in-law Herb and Florence Harrison; brothers-in-law Bert Harrison and Robert MacGregor and sister-in-law Reta Germain. She will be missed by her loving husband of 62 years Larry Harrison and their children Ann Harrison and Don Harrison; brothers-in-law Floyd (Helen) Harrison and John Germain; sistersin-law Barbara MacGregor and Linda Harrison and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service was held on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan with Sandy Dalziel officiating. Interment took place at the Estevan City Cemetery. Lunch followed at the Fireside Room at the Days Inn. Those wishing to pay tribute to Margarette via a donation in her memory may do so directly to Stars Air Ambulance, 2640 Airport Rd., Regina, SK S4W 1A3 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, 1738 Quebec St., Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Margarette’s family - Deb Heidinger, Funeral Director.

Ronald Jacob Wanner 1942-2023

The family wishes to announce that Ron Wanner, late of Estevan, SK passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at the age of 81 years.

Ron is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Dorothy Wanner and their children - Debbie (Greg) Henders, Kelly (Susan) Wanner and Cory (Cecilia) Wanner; grandchildren - Lindsay (Chris), Brandon (Emily), Jamie (Scott), Priscilla, Daniel (Madison), Ethan, Clare, Morgan, Max, Addison, Morgan (McKenna), Taylor and Dustin. Ron leaves precious memories with his great grandchildren, Zach, Jack, Harry, Koa, Sophia, Haisley and Emma. He will be greatly missed by his siblings, Harvey (Coral) Wanner, Ken (Robin) Wanner, Eileen Head and brother-in-law Jim Barnstable as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents Jacob and Clara Wanner and parents-in-law Fred and Agnes Barnstable.

A Prayer Service was held at Hall Funeral Services on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. with Connie Wheeler officiating.

Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Estevan, SK with Rev. Amado Canaveral presiding. A time of lunch was held immediately following the service. Interment took place at Estevan City Cemetery.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Ron via a donation in his memory may do so to Smile Services, 1201 2nd Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0M1 or St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation (designate Long Term Care), 1176 Nicholson Rd., Estevan, SK S4A 0H3. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Ron’s family - Deb Heidinger, Funeral Director.

OBITUARIES

Doreen Christina Bachorcik (Dawson)

January 30, 1925 - May 26, 2023

Doreen Bachorcik, late of Weyburn and formerly of Estevan, SK passed away on Friday, May 26, 2023 at the Weyburn Special Care Home with family by her side. Doreen was born at Halbrite, SK to William Dawson (England) and Gladys Evans (Wales). At the age of 2 years Doreen lost her mother during a winter prairie blizzard. She grew up with her older sister Edna in a small home in Halbrite and attended most of her school years in that town, with the exception of grades 7 and 8 in rural Ontario near Sterling. She graduated from grade 12 in 1943, and from Moose Jaw Teacher’s College in 1945.

Doreen’s teaching career lasted for 40 years; her first school was Black Oak, south of Pangman, SK. In the fall of 1945, she started at McGregor School, south of Macoun. It was here that she met and married Paul on April 13, 1946.

Doreen’s long teaching career included Midale, Macoun, Madigan, Golden Heart and Immaculate Heart Junior High. In 1973 she started teaching Adult Education working for SK Community Colleges at the Estevan Campus until retirement in 1986. She was an exceptional and esteemed teacher. Paul and Doreen farmed together from 1946 to 1993. She continued to live on the farm until 2004 when she moved to Estevan.

Doreen was a member for 42 years of the Royal Canadian Legion Woman’s Auxiliary and in 1994 joined the #60 Estevan Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. In 2004, she was awarded a life membership. Doreen was active in the provincial Liberal party for 20 years and an active member of the Macoun and Estevan United Church for over 75 years. Doreen travelled extensively through Canada and the British Isles.

Doreen was a very loving, dedicated, and inspirational Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

Doreen’s memory will be forever cherished by her children, John (Theresa), Bonnie Bachorcik Proven, Patricia (Jim) Shaw, Kim Bachorcik and David Bachorcik as well as 15 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.

Doreen was predeceased by her husband Paul; son Graham; grandchildren Gregory and Anthony; and sister Edna.

The Public Graveside Service took place on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, Estevan, SK with Don Kindopp officiating.

If you so desire, donations in Doreen’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, 301-2550 12 Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3X1.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan cared for Doreen’s familyYvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Lawrence Arthur Irwin 1944-2023

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With great heartache the family wishes to announce that Lawrence Irwin, late of Estevan, SK passed away at St. Joseph’s Special Care Home on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the age of 78 years. Lawrence was greeted in Heaven by his parents Ina & Arthur Irwin; sisters, Merle & Sandra (brother-in-law Bill); father-in-law Fred Vicary; brothers-in-law, Vic Eagles, Bob Swenson; sister-in-law Wanda Stang; along with three nieces, Kandace Zimmerman, Brook Duckarmie, and Trina Mutrie.

Lawrence will be missed by his loving wife of 57 years Edna and their sons, Craig, Glen (Kylee) and Danny (Jodi). Cherished memories will remain with his grandchildren Jordan (Chrissy) Matthew, Dalton (Bree), Tamara, Taylor (Kevin), Taighen and Karson (Paris) and great grandchildren Kenley, Myia, and Adalynn.

Lawrence is also survived by his siblings, Arlene (Jim) and Henry (Deanna); mother-in-law Alma Vicary; brothers- in- law Elmer (Karen) Vicary, Milton (Denise) Vicary, Ted (Marlene) Vicary and Mike Stang; sisters-in-law Diane Swenson, Audrey (Gordan) Thompson and Doreen Eagles (Al) and numerous nieces and nephews. Lawrence will be missed by his daughters of the heart, Adele Irwin and Shawna Irwin; God children Kathy Adams, Jared Stang and Tenielle Vicary. Wonderful memories will remain with lifelong friends Ray, Karen, Wes, Tammy and Wyatt Morstad.

Thank you to the nursing and support staff at both the Lampman Healthcare centre and St. Joseph’s hospital palliative care unit. We are grateful for your compassion and care provided to Lawrence and our family.

A Visitation was held on Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, SK.

A Celebration of Lawrence’s Life was held Friday, June 2, 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 time of lunch was held in the church auditorium following the interment.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Lawrence via a donation in his memory may do so directly to Stars Air Ambulance, 2640 Airport Rd., Regina, SK S4W 1A3.

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

Leo Hector Saccary

1940-2023

With broken hearts the family wishes to announce that Leo Saccary, late of Estevan, SK passed away at Hillview Manor on Friday, June 2, 2023 at the age of 82 years.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Christina Saccary; brothers, Sheldon, Gerard and James and parentsin-law, Hugh and Barbara Reid.

Leo is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia and their sons, Allan (Mary-Lou), Kevin (Trina) and Shawn and grandchildren - Erica, Leo N (Jelaina), Mason, Alyssa, Ashton, Jaydon, Sef, Lilith and Xavier. He will be fondly remembered by his sisters, Mary Saccary and Rene Wall; brother Tim (Jeanette) Saccary and sisters-in-law Barbara Reid and Bernice Toon.

A Celebration of Life was held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, Estevan, SK with The Rev. Deacon Barb Wright presiding. A luncheon was held in the church auditorium following the service.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Leo via a donation in his memory may do so directly to the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan Inc., 2550-12th Ave., Regina, SK S4P 3X1 or to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan (designate Allan Blair), 200-4545 Parliament Ave., Regina, SK S4W 0G3. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Leo’s family - Deb Heidinger, Funeral Director.

Two students arrested at the Comp. last week

The Estevan Police Service (EPS) arrested a 16-year-old male youth June 8 for assault with a weapon following an incident at the Estevan Comprehensive School.

Estevan Deputy Police Chief Murray Cowan said the youth was at the school and was in possession of a toy handgun. At some point, the youth brandished the gun in front of a teacher.

“The youth was not disgruntled in any way,” said Cowan.

Cowan described it as a “silly” action by the youth. The young person was arrested, taken to the police station and interviewed. He was charged for assault with a weapon for carrying, using or threatening to use a weapon or an imitation thereof.

Cowan said there was no risk to public safety. The youth was released to his parents, and the matter is being further investigated.

Police are also investigating a separate incident

that occurred at ECS. A 17-year-old youth has been charged with common assault under the Criminal Code.

The EPS says it remains committed to working with the schools to create a safe and secure environment.

Members attended to a two-vehicle collision in south-central Estevan on June 8. A northbound pick-up truck proceeded from a stop sign and collided with a westbound pick-up truck. The EPS said both drivers sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene by EMS. Both vehicles were towed due to damages sustained. The driver of the northbound truck was charged under the Traffic Safety Act for proceeding

from a stop sign before it was safe to do so.

The Estevan Police Service responded to 66 occurrences throughout the weekend of June 9-11.

A male on a motorcycle was observed travelling on Kensington Avenue North at 112 kilometres per hour in a 50 km/h speed zone. The motorcycle was impounded, and the driver received a $932 ticket for exceeding the posted speed limit.

Members also arrested a female who had active warrants with the Regina Police Service after she was stopped by police on Highway 39. She was released with the condition to attend court at a later date.

EPS received a 911 call from an intoxicated woman. She was eventually ar-

TENDER

Tenders will be received by SaskPower for the sale of hay. The successful bidder will be required to cut, bale, and remove bales by 2023 September 01. There will be one cutting only, and it must be completed by 2023 August 15.

Several parcels of land are included, mainly located southwest of Boundary Dam Power Station. Two lots are southeast of Boundary Dam Reservoir. Bids will be lump sum for each parcel. Prints showing the lot numbers and their extent are available from the guardhouse at Shand Power Station.

For further details contact Louise Schnare at (306) 637-4259.

Written tenders contained in a sealed envelope marked HAY TENDER on the outside will be received until 4:00 p.m., Thursday, June 22, 2023, c/o Louise Schnare, Shand Power Station, Box 1310, Estevan, S4A 2K9.

rested for public mischief for misuse of the 911 system and was lodged in cells until sober.

Members performed several curfew checks throughout the weekend.

Several reports of missing children at the Energy City Ex. were submitted. The children were all located a short time after the original reports.

Officers responded to a report of a young woman possibly being lured away from the fair by an older man. Members attended and spoke with the female, and learned that the man was a relative, which was confirmed through other family members. No further involvement by police was required.

A report was received of two headstones that were knocked over at the cemetery. Members attended and do not believe that the damage was intentional. The City of Estevan has been notified to reset the stones.

A man and woman who were on conditions of no contact were observed at the fair. The man was ar-

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rested and charged with breaching the conditions of his release.

A man attended the police station to report his vehicle had not been returned as scheduled. Members have been unable to locate the vehicle or suspect to date and the matter remains under investigation. Members also attended St. Joseph’s Hospital to assist staff with a patient and were able to mediate a resolution.

The Carlyle RCMP is investigating the theft of a black 2008 PJ trailer with Saskatchewan licence plate 847 GHY.

The trailer was stolen from the Swayze Concrete plant sometime between June 3 and 5.

The trailer contained two water pumps, a Chevrolet V8 on an engine stand, a large dog kennel that was disassembled and two new 50-foot rolls of chain-link fence.

If you have any information pertaining to this theft, please contact Const. Dani Zaya at the Carlyle RCMP at 306-453-6707.

23062DS0

23063GE0

Flashback –

June 17, 1992

The Estevan Junior High awards ceremony was held on June 8, 1992. Major award

Dog jog raises thousands for the humane society

Dogs and their owners could be seen out walking in southeast Estevan on June 4 as part of the Estevan Humane Society’s (EHS) annual Dr. Neil Howard Memorial Dog Jog.

About two dozen people registered for the event, and they walked from the humane society’s shelter to Fourth Avenue South and then returned. The route had to be trimmed due to a heat wave that gripped southeast Saskatchewan in early June.

Originally the participants were supposed to have a round-trip jaunt from the EHS’s building to the dog park at Woodlawn Regional Park.

The EHS also wrapped up

the activities associated with the fundraiser early.

The humane society sold taco in a bag for lunch to raise funds, and an inflatable playground was available for children to enjoy.

President Tayja Lakusta believes they still managed to raise about $6,000 for the shelter. She noted their top fundraisers brought in nearly $2,000 each.

“They did very well for themselves and we thanked them for that, and then we had our little zero to six-yearolds that got to raise some money, too,” said Lakusta.

Kasia Harding brought in $1,855 to lead the 12-15-year-old group. Tenley Mack was tops for the seven

to 11-year-olds with $1,400 raised. Sadie, Barrett and Lux Pennington brought in a combined $205 to be first among those six and under.

The amount of money raised doesn’t include a fundraiser that was held at Pet Valu the day before.

Lakusta expects the funds will go to veterinary bills. The humane society has had a high number of intakes, boosting the number of animals currently at the shelter.

“We have a lot of new intakes coming up that are ready and available,” she said.

The dog jog is one of their smaller fundraisers of the year from a fiscal perspective, but Lakusta said it’s always nice to get together with the commu-

nity, bring the animals together and have the kids involved.

“It’s a different kind of fundraiser for us, not focused so much on how

much we can raise. That’s a bonus, but it’s more community-based than some of the other ones might be.”

The humane society is

currently at capacity for dogs with nine or 10, and it has around 65 cats between those in foster homes and those at the shelter.

Riding a mechanical bull helped Frobisher’s museum

The Frobisher Thresherman’s committee raised money for some much-needed work at the village’s museum by hosting a mechanical bull fundraiser at the Frobisher legion hall on June 2.

Rod Cullen, who is part of the committee, said it was a great night, with a lot of people showing up. Those who tried riding the bull had a lot of fun, he said.

“The young guys really enjoyed it,” said Cullen, who noted nobody was injured, either.

The event attracted nearly 100 people for supper, and there was music and dancing in addition to the bull riding.

“There was always a lineup to get onto that bull,” said Cullen. “There was anywhere from four-year-olds on that bull right to adults on that bull. It was awesome there. The guy that was controlling the bull did an awesome job, depending on the age that got on the bull.”

Other people sat, watched and cheered for people they knew, he said.

All of the kids who partici-

pated received a coupon for an ice cream cone. Steven Ward remained on the bull for the longest amount of time, and

they also saluted those who had the best attire and took the best fall.

Cullen estimates the event raised close to $13,000 for the museum, which needs repairs to its roof and lighting. They would also like to paint the building and install new doors.

The museum is located on the east side of the village, in a Quonset where the committee stores old tractors, steam engines and threshing machines.

“We have a bunch of little

The Town of Lampman is accepting resumes for a qualified person to fulfill the full-time position of Administrator.

Reporting directly to Council, the Administrator provides recommendations and information to Council on a timely basis within the legislative requirements to ensure the policies, bylaws and directives of Council are carried out in a professional and timely manner.

Preference will be given to a candidate who possesses a minimum of a Standard Certificate in Local Government Authority and is eligible for membership within UMAAS. A combination of suitable qualifications, education and experience may be considered.

The successful applicant is preferred to possess the following qualifications:

• Extensive knowledge of accounting and payroll policies and procedures;

• Experience in a public sector workplace;

• Strong computer, communication, and organizational skills;

• Experience working with Munisoft software;

• Ability to motivate and lead a team of employees;

• Discretion with matters pertaining to confidentiality;

• Ability to organize and prioritize work, and meet strict deadlines while maintaining a high degree of accuracy;

• Ability to interpret policies, bylaws, and legislation appropriately when responding to situations or requests;

• Be bondable.

A competitive salary will be reflective of the individual’s relative experience and in line with the UMAAS Salary Guidelines, and pension & comprehensive benefit package through SUMA is available to the successful candidate.

Resumes may be sent to the mailing address or email address below and will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found:

Town of Lampman

Box 70 or email: lampman@sasktel.net

Lampman, Sask S0C 1N0

Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Any questions can be directed to the town office at (306) 487-2462.

articles from way back when that have been donated to the museum,” said Cullen. “We have a bunch of history from around Frobisher. We’ve got old pianos that are in there, and all the old tools that they used in the old days.”

It’s an interesting site, Cullen said, and if anyone wants to view the museum, he asks them to contact a member of the Frobisher Thresherman’s Reunion committee. The board members would open it up so people can view the

memorabilia and the old-time farming equipment. Thanks to the support shown for this event, Cullen said, they will look to make it annual.

Next on their summer schedule is the Thresherman’s Reunion on Aug. 13. There will be a parade through the streets of the community, a demonstration of the oldfashioned farming techniques, as well as a pancake breakfast, children’s activities and a supper.

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.

SK S4H 0T1

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

winners include, back row, from left, Christa Judd, Heather Prystay, Mike Cairns and Nicole Deren. Front row, Trevor Deichert, Austin Hector, Emily Witort and Rebecca Ehikhamen

People and their dogs enjoyed a stroll during the Dr. Neil Howard Memorial Dog Jog.

The mechanical bull was a popular attraction with young people. Photo courtesy of Rod Cullen

The Estevan Comprehensive School’s auto club hosted its annual John Dyck Show and Shine Friday in the school’s parking lot. Students and people from the community had their vehicles on display for the public to admire. Automobile artwork by Ang Boutin was available through a raffle. The show and shine is named after Dyck, who was a long-time teacher with the school’s automotives department.

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

With the 2023 graduation happening this week, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our grads a memorable graduation and all the very best in their future endeavours.

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 regulations and specifications.

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.

2023 Property Tax Notices

2023 Property Tax Notices were mailed out Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Please contact City Hall if you did not receive your property tax notice or need to update your mailing / contact information.

2023 Taxes are due: July 31, 2023

Penalties are accumulative, applied the 1st of each month starting August 1, 2023 as follows:

August .5%, September 1%, October 1.5%, November

2.5%, December 3.5%

Arrears Penalty of 10% will be added to all outstanding amounts on January 1, 2024

Payment Options:

• In person at City Hall, Open Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm

➢ Payments accepted by Cash, Cheque or Debit

• Mail to: 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0W7

• City Hall Drop Box – located at main entrance at City Hall. Cheques only please.

• Payment can also be made on-line / or at your financial institution.

• Pay via credit card through a third-party service provider called Plastiq.

Customers using this service will be charged a 2.5% service fee per transaction by the provider.

o To pay via Plastiq please visit their website at www.plastiq.com you will need a credit card as well as the 12 digit roll number (don’t include the decimal, but use all the numbers) that is found on the top right hand portion of your

Notice of Property Tax Levies

Interested in pre-paying your taxes monthly?

The City of Estevan offers (TIPPS) tax installment payment plan service. TIPPS allows property owners to pre-pay their property tax bill in 12 monthly installments making budgeting easier with no added fees or penalties. Monthly withdrawals are made on the first banking day of each month.

TIPPS applications forms are available at City Hall or by visiting our website at www.estevan.ca

The best time to start would be August 1, 2023 to prepay for

Contact City Hall 306-634-1800 for more information.

Area bounded by 6th Street on the North, Valley Street, 1st Street, and Westview Place on the South, Alice Road and Woodlawn Avenue on the West, and Souris Avenue on the East (includes Westview, Central, and downtown regions)

(2) Monday- Friday June 19-23 Area bounded by 6th street on the North, McDonald Road and Perkins Street on the South, Souris Avenue on the West, and Kensington Ave on the East (includes the Eastend, Bay Meadows, and Valley view regions, and Jubilee Place)

(3) Monday - Friday June 26-30

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.

Photo by David Willberg