Estevan Mercury 20230621

Great gift ideasfor that

Great Teacher!

Learning more about EDS.

Diversified Services opened their doors to the community.

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Graduation day was filled with celebrations for the ECS Class of 2023

Off they go.

Southeast College celebrates its Estevan 2023 graduates and scholarship recipients.

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ConGRADulations!

Stoughton Central School wishes farewell to the class of 2023.

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By David Willberg

Grade 12 students at the Estevan Comprehensive School moved into the next phase of their lives Saturday with ceremonies and activities that brought the community together to celebrate.

The spotlight was on the 155 grads throughout the day, with festivities at Affinity Place, the Estevan Court House and throughout the city.

the tribute to the parents.

Schmidt noted the tribute was for any adult who helped the youths get to where they are today. Hollingshead added that it was a celebration for parents as well.

“Kate and I are only up here because of the people who pushed us to do more than we thought we could,” said Hollingshead. “You have constantly stood by our sides, even in moments we can’t remember.”

“You always encouraged us to follow our dreams, even when they seemed so farfetched and impossible,” said Schmidt. “You supported us in any way you can by being a coach, cheering us on or providing us with the tools to be whatever we can be.”

Tremendous moment. Estevan hockey player makes history winning the Stanley Cup. Details on

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The ceremony was held at Affinity Place. Graduates, donning their caps and gowns, entered Affinity Place during the processional. Family and friends cheered them on as the grads passed by.

Jesse Gibson performed

O Canada and Barrett Fleck delivered the land acknowledgement. Fleck noted he is of Métis descent and he is in the process of learning more about his ancestry and traditions.

Latest from agriculture.

Check our monthly Agri News special for updates.

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He has been accepted into the First Nations University of Canada, where he will study secondary education, majoring in Indigenous studies, with hopes of becoming a teacher.

“My hope is to be able to pass this knowledge on to the many students I will teach in the years to come,” said Fleck.

Kersey Hollingshead and Kate Schmidt supplied

Even when they were tired and sick, parents put the kids’ needs before their own.

ECS student representative council co-presidents Jayla Memory and Conner Piche paid tribute to the teachers and the other staff members who support the students on a daily basis.

“It’s the life lessons we have learned through our connections with our teach-

ers that stick with us the longest,” said Memory. “A great teacher is one that makes a connection with their students outside of strictly school work.”

Students at ECS have had countless teachers who have made a positive impact.

Among Piche’s tributes was for Lindsay Collins, who is retiring following a 33-year career as a math teacher.

Piche had a busy afternoon, as he was also the valedictorian. It was noted that he had a 99.4 per cent average in Grade 12, from

the start of the school year through the second semester mid-terms, and he balanced academics and extracurricular activities with a part-time job at Blackbeard’s Restaurant and his own photography business.

He spoke of kindergarten and Grade 8 graduations, and how they wondered at that time what Grade 12 grad would be like.

“It felt like it would never come,” said Piche. “But now that we’re here, the time flew 10 times faster than ever imaginable.”

The grads gather for the annual photo in front of the Estevan

Court House. Photos by David Willberg

The grad parade saw students dress in their finest clothes to the delight of large crowds that gathered.

By Jayne Foster of SaskToday.ca

As friends wonder how former Estevan resident Afroza Begum was murdered in her native country of Bangladesh, SaskToday. ca has gained credible information that the man described as the husband, who fled after her death, is a resident of Saskatchewan who was out of touch with his former employers for some time.

Ashraful Alam has been a resident of Battleford for about three years. Prior to that he worked in Buffalo Narrows. Most recently, he was the chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Town of Battleford, but has been fired from his position.

The whereabouts of Alam were unknown, however news reports from

While they’re eager to begin the next chapter of their lives, he said they would likely want to make the last few years linger a little longer.

After recognizing parents and teachers, Piche focused on his fellow grads and all they have accomplished.

“Over the last few years, I have come to realize we are some pretty amazing people,” said Piche.

This year’s grads are some of the hardest-working people Piche knows. Most of them have at least one job. They have spent hours filling out scholarship applications, and they have dedicated time to sports and arts.

“We have more [things] than ever to balance on our shoulders, and we managed

Bangladesh indicate the deceased woman’s husband had fled back to Canada.

The Saskatchewan RCMP has told SaskToday. ca they are looking into the matter. Generally speaking, they said, Saskatchewan RCMP assists other law enforcement agencies with their investigations, including locating wanted individuals, upon request.

Open-source research indicates Alam married Nicole Hiemstra of Edmonton on May 26, 2018, in Edmonton, and that the couple has a residential address in that city as well as in the town of Battleford.

News stories say Begum had been buried at the home of her husband’s family, and her body was uncovered May 31 after she was reported missing by her brother May 28.

The reports say Begum’s

flawlessly. I can’t wait to see our futures shaped by all of the amazing people sitting right in front of us.”

One day, he hopes the grads will be able to catch up on what has happened in their lives and hear great stories of successes and accomplishments.

Piche has been accepted into the University of Saskatchewan and hopes to one day become a dentist. Earlier this year, he was announced as the recipient of a $30,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship, one of the few in the province.

Teacher Tammy Podovinnikoff introduced Piche. She recalled that even as a 14-year-old in Grade 9, he was dependable and responsible beyond his years.

husband had not been immediately arrested and was believed to have returned to Canada. Local police

are reported in the Bangladesh press as suspecting her husband of the killing, however Alam’s father,

brother and sister-in-law were all taken into custody.

Begum’s brother told the press his sister, sister-

in-law and niece had come to Bangladesh about three months ago and that they were all Canadian citizens.

Battleford town council issued a statement earlier this month that Alam had been let go from his position as CAO as of June 9, due to an extended unapproved absence. Council said Town Hall has to have a certified CAO on staff in order to move ahead with council business, and in the best interest of the community “...the decision was required sooner than later to not delay summer projects and funding.”

Council was of the understanding that he had gone to the United Arab Emirates to attend to a family emergency, however he had attended meetings virtually for a time after he left, with the last of those being on April 10.

– ECS valedictorian

“Over the past four years, it has been my pleasure to watch him grow and mature into an even better version of himself,” said Podovinnikoff

ECS principal Nathan Johnson was the master of ceremonies, and he addressed the students as well.

Johnson noted the challenges the students faced during the past four years, with the strange end to their Grade 9 year in 2020, and the uncertainty and adjustments in subsequent years.

“Be proud of yourselves,” said Johnson. “Making it to this point is a wonderful accomplishment. Today is a very special day for all those involved.”

Amid the excitement, Johnson asked the grads to remember those who

couldn’t be there for the ceremony and those who have had a positive impact.

On grad day, they’re looking ahead to what’s next while acknowledging their past successes and challenges.

“The fact that you are graduating shows that you have overcome these challenges and are ready for life after high school,” said Johnson.

Many of the students will enter post-secondary studies, while others will go directly to the workforce.

Johnson praised the leaders in the Class of 2023, as students have been leaders in clubs, the SRC, sports and academics.

“In so many ways, you have made our school a better place. In a short amount

of time, you have put your mark on ECS with your many contributions. Because of this, ECS is better for you having been there,” said Johnson.

Once the speeches were finished, the presentation of diplomas began. The future plans for each student were read out to the crowd.

After the ceremony, the students, now showing off their finest clothes, gathered for the annual grad photo at the Estevan Court House, and for photos with friends and family.

A grad parade happened in the evening. It started at the Power Dodge Curling Centre parking lot and travelled north on Souris

Charges laid after incident in Carnduff

A Redvers man is facing numerous charges following an incident in Carnduff on June 14.

The Carnduff RCMP received a report at about 4 p.m. that day of an armed individual on Spencer Street.

Officers immediately responded and, according to the Saskatchewan RCMP, they determined a man threatened a woman. The

victim did not report physical injuries to police. The RCMP says investigation determined the incident was targeted in nature, and the man was arrested without incident on Spencer Street.

Officers located a knife while arresting him. According to the RCMP, they subsequently located and seized two firearms during the investigation, with the assistance of Saskatchewan

OF THE TRADE

RCMP Police Dog Services.

Dustin Matheson, a 37-year-old man from Redvers, is charged with:

•Two counts of possessing a weapon contrary to a court order;

•One count of possession of a restricted or prohibited weapon without a licence or registration;

•Two counts of careless use of a firearm;

•Three counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;

•One count of mischief under $5,000;

•One count of possession of break-in instruments; and

•One count of uttering threats.

All charges are under the Criminal Code.

Matheson appeared in Estevan Provincial Court on June 15. He was slated

to be back in court on June 20 in Weyburn. (Update on that appearance was not available at press time).

The charges were not immediately proven in court.

Avenue North, east on King Street and north on Kensington Avenue. Then it passed through the ECS parking lot, headed south on Spruce Drive, west on King Street and south on Souris before ending at the curling club parking lot.

Large crowds gathered along the parade route to see the grads in their stylish attire and to cheer for the grads as they passed by. The grads, meanwhile, waved to the crowd and cheered and shouted while the trucks blew their horns. For additional photos of the ceremony and the parade, check out our provincial news hub at sasktoday. ca.

The public was asked to avoid Spencer Street for several hours and to expect to see an increased police presence following the incident.

Correction

In the June 14 edition of the Mercury, an article ran on the murder of former Estevan resident Afroza Begum in Bangladesh. In the photo that ran with the story, the woman on the left was identified as Begum. Begum is actually the woman in red, second from the right. The Mercury apologizes for any inconvenience this might have caused.

‘We are some pretty amazing people’

Former Estevan resident Afroza Begum was recently murdered in Bangladesh, and her husband Ashraful Alam is the prime suspect.

Photo via online Bangladesh Posts English

The grads were well dressed for this year’s parade.

Conner Piche gave this year’s valedictorian address.

Estevan Diversified Services invited the community to its open house and lunch

By Ana Bykhovskaia Estevan Diversified

Services was able to complete several important renovations, both at their centre on Sixth Street and in their supportive apartment living program.

On June 15, they invited the community to join them for lunch and tour their main facility.

“This community has been amazing to us here at Estevan Diversified Services, and people are always surprised at what we do here, so we thought why not invite everyone and show you what we do,” said executive director Trisha Salmers.

“In addition to all of our regular programs that we do

here, we have been working on a number of projects to make life easier and better here at EDS. One being a strategic plan that outlines a few of our commitments, such as growth and innovation, programs and services, and community.”

With the help of their big supporter – United Way Estevan – EDS recently was able to renovate the women’s washroom and courtyard area. The agency also fixed up the laundry room and has done a number of renovations in its supportive apartment living program. Salmers noted that they have fully renovated a number of suites, installed new flooring in the common area and completed

several other much-needed updates.

The open house tours took guests around the work and recreation facilities at EDS. Guests had a chance to visit the paper and cardboard shredding depot, activity centre, woodshop and resource area. While the EDS participants also work at the SARCAN bottle and can recycling depot, the tour didn’t go in there due to the facility’s activity level.

In the paper depot, participants shred paper and cardboard coming from local businesses and individuals. There are usually six people working there during the day, including a direct support professional, who supervises confiden-

tial shredding and ensures safety. In this program, EDS participants experience problem-solving, decisionmaking, working independently or as team players, and using various equipment. They have various styles of shredders and are encouraged to do every job. They also do some stretching, as the work assumes a lot of sitting and standing.

Processed paper and cardboard are put into special balers and come out in 1,500 and 900-pound blocks that are regularly taken to Regina to be recycled. To have their papers confidentially processed, people can call EDS at 306-634-5575 to arrange for service.

In the activity centre, participants enjoy various crafts and activities throughout the day. The staff goes by the client’s individual needs and tries to find activities that

fit every person the best. In the adjacent courtyard, they are growing vegetables and flowers. Some participants enjoy gardening, while others prefer different activities like colouring, cutting paper, making collages and other crafts.

The staff involves everyone in different aspects of what they are doing throughout the day, gearing towards what each person is capable of doing, and they also dedicate some time to exercising.

The woodshop has some participants building picnic tables, while others are creating boxes for automotive parts. They take orders for various woodwork projects, and under supervision, participants work on projects of different complexities

The resource room is a space to work on each participant’s current individual

New teepee now stands at Sacred Heart

By David Willberg

The efforts of teachers, staff and students at Sacred Heart School/École Sacré Coeur to further reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples resulted in the addition of a teepee at the school’s grounds.

Michella Prokop, who is the kindergarten teacher at Sacred Heart, said they recently erected the teepee during a school assembly.

“It’s a 14-foot teepee, and we got it from a place in Manitoba called Cree Star Gifts. So, it is Indigenous-made from within the community,” said Prokop.

Lyndon Linklater, who is the knowledge keeper for the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, erected the teepee with some student volunteers. He did a smudge on the teepee and shared a little bit of information with the students about how a teepee is made and how Indigenous people lived in it.

“He informed the stu-

dents about the different words that can be used, so teepee is actually the Cree word for a home,” said Prokop.

He also explained what it means in other languages. Breakout sessions occurred the rest of the day. Linklater had about 130 students in each group and shared more detailed information about the teepee.

“He told us about how the poles on the teepee each have a meaning, so each teepee represents one of the essential teachings, whether it’s honesty, humility, kindness or things of that nature. “He also explained how each … First Nation tribe, places the door facing a direction of their changing,” said Prokop.

Sacred Heart placed theirs facing south because Prokop said new life comes up from the south for Linklater’s people.

He explained to the students about rock, grass and animal spirits, and how they would thank the Cre-

ator for these different elements of nature.

“We really have noticed, especially with our younger students, they’ve repeated some of that. They’ve been making books about their spirit animal and what their spirit is good at,” said Prokop.

A couple of older students told Linklater they were also Indigenous, but they weren’t sure which nation they belonged to. They went home to talk to their parents.

Two days before, the school’s teachers had a professional development day on land near Roche Percee. They hiked and used sideby-side vehicles to reach teepee rings in the area.

They also did a smudge with Linklater. That afternoon, they returned to the school and worked with Linklater on some authentic birch-bark baskets.

The teepee is located in the junior garden. If people want to go in and take a peek at it, they can. The students have been able to go in as a group with their

classmates and sit down for a while.

“We just made it available to the students for their recesses and on weekends. It’s been a huge hit,” said Prokop.

Last year saw dancers and drummers from the group Miyopimatsiwin come to Sacred Heart to perform and share their culture, and Prokop said this felt like a good time to add a teepee. They have an iron teepee in their yard already, and they wanted to have a more authentic one in place.

The new teepee will be up all of the time, and Linklater spoke to the kids about how it belongs to them and it’s up to the students to maintain it.

“We’ve seen kids there in the evening and after school, but they’ve really been taking good care of it,” said Prokop.

It is movable, but it has been secured to the ground.

Prokop said the school has already noticed the difference it has made for students.

needs. Every participant gets one-on-one time with staff. Some like doing research, others prefer to listen to music, and some want to count and work on some of their skills or develop their own projects. There are computers and other resources available to participants in this area.

EDS, along with Lemon Wedge Marketing, have recently created a series of videos that outline all of their programs, which can be found on the EDS Facebook page.

EDS is a centre that provides various programs, employment and living opportunities to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in Estevan and the surrounding area. For more information on the organization and its programs, visit their website at www.edsinc.org.

Diversi

The facility tours took guests over to the paper shredding depot where Estevan Diversified Services participants process used paper and cardboard.

Sacred Heart students helped Lyndon Linklater with installing the new teepee on the school’s grounds.

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EDITORIAL

Calls for added transparency are always appreciated

The timing for a new report by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) was a little ironic from a local perspective.

Three days after the City of Estevan released its audited financial statements for 2022 – which were discussed in last week’s Mercury – the Canadian Taxpayers Federation published a document releasing the audited financial statements for Saskatchewan municipalities for 2020 and 2021.

The report not only has the audited financial statements for all Saskatchewan municipalities for those two years, but it showed how these municipalities compare in one particular area – total municipal expenses per capita.

In the case of Estevan, it was fourth-highest among the 14 Saskatchewan small cities at $2,932 per person in 2021. The Energy City’s ranking will no doubt be a source of discussion and frustration for some in the community who want lower property taxes and utility rates.

It should be noted that this was the year in which Estevan completed the integrated sidewalk and pathway system that has received much praise from people in the community. Even if the money that the provincial and federal governments provided Estevan isn’t factored into the CTF’s findings, without this money, the pathways project wouldn’t have proceeded. The city had to contribute a considerable amount of its own money to make it happen.

But these reports always make for an interesting read. The audited financial state-

ments for the City of Estevan are reported each year, and the results can be found with a simple Google search. But it is intriguing to see how Estevan shapes up. And it’s good to have someone tally up the numbers to find out how much the average person spends each year.

Years ago, another lobby group, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, would deliver its property tax gap document. It was a must-read for many. And it certainly grabbed council’s attention.

Some years Estevan did very well in the report. Other years it did not. It depended on whether the gap between residential and property taxes was a priority for council.

If Estevan was near the top, council touted the document. If Estevan was close to the bottom, council looked for holes in the findings.

But the property tax gap was also a fairly complex formula. This one from the CTF is not. Take the expenses, divide it by the population, and see how communities stack up.

There are things you would like to know, such as whether federal and provincial grants are factored in, because those will have an impact on the outcome regardless.

With all of the documents posted in one section, it allows people to see how municipalities compare on such fronts as net debt, long-term debt and annual surpluses.

There are some things to note with this report.

One, we’re talking about audited financial

statements for 2021, not 2022. You’re dealing with numbers that are nearly 18 months old. A lot has changed since then. And while you’re not likely going to see a big shift, a municipality might move up or down two or three spots in a year. (Estevan city council has held the line on the municipal portion of property tax the past couple of years, while other communities need a sizable property tax increase due to the impacts of inflation).

Next, the CTF is critical of the provincial government for not posting the audited financial statements of municipalities, which the government said it would. We’re not sure how hard it would be to do this, but it would be rather time-consuming.

If the province ever does post these documents, then it will be interesting to see if the CTF continues to release these numbers.

It’s also been difficult for the CTF to get these numbers. They had to go through the Freedom of Information Act to secure them. And it’s never a good look when somebody says they had to go through that process to get the data they need.

As we said last week, the city and city council have done a good job over the past decade of improving the city’s fiscal position. At the same time, more work could always be done.

The more transparent municipalities and other governments are, the more informed the public will be, and the more likely people will be to give credit where it is due for finances.

Saskatchewan is the land of hard workers, but balance is important, too

It’s been a tough few days lately.

My brother-in-law had a stroke recently and is still in the hospital with a long recovery journey ahead of him.

Those of you who read my column may have noticed that even though they are my only family in Canada, I don’t talk about my in-laws a lot. It’s definitely not because they are not deserving, they sure are, but I feel that we are more private and old-fashioned in the sense of opening up our lives (I guess, both they and I were all born and raised well before it became popular to share everything you think and do with the world).

But if I’d ever share anything about my inlaws, any story about them would start in the same manner – they all are incredibly hard workers. My husband is one of five siblings, and every one of them has a strong work ethic. Part of it was due to the way they were raised, and another part was to due to the need, as they all had to pave their own ways.

Children of two Polish immigrants, whose home country was destroyed by the Second World War and who had nothing when they came to Canada. If they wanted to have a good life, these kids didn’t have much choice except for working hard. And they did. They did all they could, took any (legal) opportunity life threw at them, worked since their young years and were never afraid of any work, early mornings through late nights, shifts, endless weeks, while still caring about what they did and people they worked with.

Outside working other jobs, they ended up growing the farm their father started, and put all they know and all they have into it.

Ana Bykhovskaia

Twenty Lines

About…

I’ve been a part of this family for close to 10 years now, but they keep astounding me. Throughout the years my family to a point became my role models when it comes to work.

While this story remains an inspiration for me as an outsider, for many of you, born and raised in Saskatchewan, that’s a pretty traditional family tale. This province got a lot of its immigrant population within the last 100-130 years. Most pioneers and generations of immigrants after them also came with nothing, seeking greener pastures and a new life. They all had to work as hard and maybe even harder than my family and taught that to their children.

I believe the challenges people had to overcome here – where there hardly was even any wood to build houses when some of the first immigrants moved in – made those who built this province tougher and led to growth and success, which the region goes by these days.

Saskatchewan and Canada, in general, are built by friendly, kind and gentle people, but still warriors, those who challenged nature and all odds to have the life they wanted –“the true North strong and free”, right?

So my brother-in-law’s health issues came in as an even bigger shock because when you

are used to a person’s strength, you never foresee anything like that. Not only was it a shock, but it also came as a warning. My in-laws’ hard work ethic taught me many lessons and made me a better person, but being in close proximity to them also helped me better understand the importance of life balance. There is an old saying in Russian, which literally goes “there is time for work and an hour for fun”, which is equivalent to “work done, have your fun”. And even though work is absolutely important from all fronts, there is still a need for that hour of fun, rest and rejoicing.

Just to mix in a bit of statistics, Japan is leading the world in sudden deaths among people of all ages due to overwork, which includes heart failures, strokes and suicide. They even have a term for that – karoshi –which literally means overwork death. We are not there yet (and hopefully never will be), but I believe North America is not that far behind.

The World Health Organization has been alarming for a while that long work hours can be deadly, and COVID worsened the situation with many people switching to working from home and struggling to disconnect. My family situation is the opposite. Like many farmers, we are struggling to disconnect from the land and its needs. But no matter what it is, it’s vital to rest. Literally vital.

We are not going to be here forever, and it’s important to spare a moment to enjoy what life has for us, which can and will extend our days here.

Hard work and talent help dreams happen

David Willberg Willberg’s World

Back in 2009, a young hockey player named Brayden grabbed my attention.

He was a defenceman on the Estevan atom AA hockey team. There were a few really talented young hockey players on that team. Cole Fonstad, a forward a year younger than Brayden who would one day be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, was a standout for the atom AAs.

Brayden was a smooth-skating defenceman, typically the fastest player on the ice. He’d use the skating ability to his advantage in the defensive zone.

I even once had a photo of him in Lifestyles, playing shinny with a friend on the outdoor rink at the Rusty Duce Play Park just before Christmas in 2009.

I watched as Brayden progressed through the minor hockey ranks. In 2014, he went to play U18 AAA hockey in Moose Jaw, and in 2015, he had a few games for the Estevan Bruins, even though he was five years younger than many of his teammates and opponents.

In 2019, he captained the Prince Albert Raiders to a Western Hockey League championship, a team that also included Fonstad.

Brayden would go on to play in the American Hockey League and eventually make his NHL debut with the Vegas Golden Knights. Last Tuesday, he won a Stanley Cup with Vegas, becoming the first player born, raised and developed in Estevan to win the Stanley Cup.

Brayden, as you might have guessed, is Brayden Pachal, whose years of hard work paid off when he fulfilled the dream of every Canadian kid who has played hockey by winning the Stanley Cup. His role wasn’t significant – he played just one postseason game in the first round – but it was tough to crack that defence.

Regardless, he was still on the ice after the Knights won, and people across Canada watched him hoist the Stanley Cup while wearing his No. 94 jersey.

One of the joys of watching sports in a smaller community is the opportunity to watch these players from an early age and the progress they make. You get to say “Yeah, I remember him when he was a star at the U11 or even the U9 level.”

When I watched Brayden play minor hockey in Estevan, did I think “Yeah, this guy is going to be in the NHL one day, and be seen on international TV lifting the Stanley Cup?” I’ll be honest, no. I thought he’d play the game at a high level. Maybe he’d play minor pro hockey in North America, or spend years playing in Europe. With his skating, he’d certainly be a fit on the bigger North American ice.

Sometimes, you see a player at a young age, and you think “he has a real shot at making it.” I’d like to think if I was here in 1994-95, watching Carlyle’s Brenden Morrow put up 117 goals in 60 games while playing bantam hockey in Estevan, I’d think he had the potential to be an NHLer. (Even Morrow needed to work hard tirelessly to get better after leaving the southeast for the Western Hockey League).

When I was covering sports for Weyburn This Week for a couple years, you could tell Derrick Pouliot had a bright future. He hasn’t had the career some thought he’d have, but he still won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2016.

Sometimes the player who looks like a can’t-miss kid at 13 or 14 plateaus early and doesn’t make it to the NHL. And sometimes it’s the player who isn’t on anyone’s radar as a future NHLer at 13 or 14 who makes it. Players progress and peak at different times.

Brayden Pachal wasn’t ranked on lists when he was eligible for the NHL draft for the first time in 2017. He wound up signing as a free agent with Vegas in 2019. He never stopped working hard.

Tanner Jeannot of Oxbow played AA hockey in Estevan for his first season at the U18 level and scored one goal in the Western Hockey League when he was eligible for the NHL draft for the first time in 2015. Not exactly a resumé that screams future 20-goal scorer in the NHL.

But he never stopped working hard, never stopped trying to improve.

Stories like these are a testament to what can happen when people have the right combination of ability, work ethic and commitment. They didn’t give up on their dream when the opportunity wasn’t there initially.

In the case of Brayden Pachal, now he’s done what so many have dreamed of.

Unique collection of Andrew King’s prints on display at the EAGM

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, and to mark the big date, they are showcasing a selection of works by famed entrepreneur and artist Andrew King.

Andrew King: The Travelling Circus exhibition is on display in Gallery 1 from June 9 through Aug. 25. The public is invited to stop by and enjoy the works of the man who made a significant contribution to Canadian print history.

“The EAGM opened its doors in 1978, so it’s our 45th anniversary and to help commemorate that, we have an Andrew King collection showcase,” said Karly Garnier, the EAGM’s education, outreach and programming co-ordinator. “Andrew King makes up the bulk of our permanent collection and he has that special tie to Estevan.

“He was owner of the Mercury, he worked here and his King Show Print business was here for a time. So, we just wanted to take the opportunity to showcase his work. We thought it was appropriate for our 45th anniversary.”

Garnier noted that they’ve really combed through the collection and found some unique political and other advertising prints that are a little bit separate from more well-known circus printing. The exhibition displays a selection of those and other prints as well as some corresponding woodblocks that show the process of how printing would have been done with the three colors.

“We were able to dig out some never-seen-before prints and did a little collage of those,” Garnier said. “It’s just always nice to highlight someone who’s such a big part of our permanent collection and the history and Este-

To celebrate its 45th anniversary, the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum is showcasing selected works from its permanent collection of Andrew King’s prints. The exhibition is on display in Gallery 1 from June 9-Aug. 25.

van. He was such a pioneer in printmaking and even though we’ve shown the works before, it’s always nice to see it again, see it in a different light and just get to revisit it.”

The EAGM has the largest collection of King’s works, including hundreds of his blocks, many original prints as well as secondedition prints, most of which were donated by the Derksen family.

Born in Winnipeg on Oct. 23, 1885, King started in the newspaper business by apprenticing at The Souris Plaindealer in Souris, Man., according to the exhibition information booklet. His pursuit of weekly newspapers would lead him to purchase the Rouleau Enterprise in 1909. While in Rouleau, King launched into the lucrative world of show prints in the early 1910s, opening Enterprise Show Printing out of the newspaper’s offices.

King relocated to Estevan in 1944 after the sale of the Enterprise businesses and the subsequent purchase of the Estevan Mercury. The show-print business continued under the

new name of King Show Print, until King’s retirement and the sale of Estevan businesses to a British company.

King was married for 58 years to Mable, they had five children together. King died in Wilber, Neb., in November 1981 at the age of 96.

King has been hailed as “a major figure in Western Canadian and North American printing history,” as D. Lochhead put it in the preface to King’s Pen, Paper & Printing Ink, 1970. He’s remembered for his striking three-colour circus show prints from the first half of the 20th century.

While Gallery 1 is dedicated to King’s collection, Gallery 2 will turn into a summer maker space. The public is invited to classes and workshops that will be happening throughout the summer, where they can come and experiment with different printmaking techniques, in homage to King.

“We are going to be offering extra workshops and classes for people of all ages. And a lot of that will be focused around the art of printmaking,” Garnier

said. “We’re doing a variety of things. Ruth Langwieser, one of our staff members, was in here … doing ceramic wheel throwing, and she also did clay printing workshops. She’s going to be doing paper-making workshops, where people can come in and make their own paper and then work in the process of printing on that … So, our small gallery space will be almost like a little studio that will host pop-up workshops and classes.”

The North West Mounted Police Museum, located right by the EAGM, is open to the public throughout the summer as well. Thanks to Sarah Dacuycuy joining the EAGM as their summer student, they are able to also open on Saturdays. Summer hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturdasy from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with lunch break over the noon hour. Keep an eye on the EAGM Facebook or program page at eagm.ca for more information on their upcoming workshops, and also for the current hours of operation.

Alameda fishing derby is right around the corner

A catch-and-release jack-fishing tournament with a prize for the longest fish is coming up.

The 26th annual Alameda Fish Derby, sponsored by the Souris-Moose Creek Wildlife Federation, is to take place on Grant Devine Lake on June 24.

And there is still time to enter, says Skylar Antoniuk with the derby.

The event starts at 8 a.m. and will go until 4 p.m., followed by a roast beef supper served at the Alameda Rink at 5:30 p.m. The prize and cash presentations will follow.

Prizes are awarded to both adults and kids. The event will also see a loonie auction.

Also, there will be an online auction that will

run on the Alameda Recreation Board Group on Facebook. Funds raised through the event are to support the local rink operations.

Entry fees are $75 for adults and $35 for youth and can still be purchased by visiting Alameda Agencies, the Prairie Pride Credit Union’s Alameda branch, Krazy

Kanuck, Oxbow Agencies or call/text 306-4858676 to purchase via etransfer.

“We look forward to seeing you out on the lake. Not a fisherman, but want to join us for the roast beef supper? Tickets can be purchased for $20 by texting or calling 306-485-8676,” said Antoniuk.

told your stories and archived your history. Today we continue to be your best source for trusted news... delivering it to your home every Wednesday in our printed newspaper, and to your devices every day on our website, SASKTODAY.ca.

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Council awards tenders for leisure centre roof

Estevan city council discussed roof replacement work and HVAC units for the leisure centre’s roof during the June 12 meeting.

Action Roofing Ltd. was awarded a tender for $698,000 for the roof replacement. In a report, city engineer Kiflom Weldeab and facilities manager Dan Kroeker noted four tenders were submitted.

Action Roofing had the lowest bid, while the highest was for more than $2.1 million.

Coun. Shelly Veroba said she has dealt with Action Roofing in the past and found them to be competent, but voiced concern whether the $698,000 would cover all of the work due to the disparity between the four bids. Kroeker said it would.

The total area is 5,575 square metres.

Kroeker said timelines are a little unknown because the roof replacement work has to occur in concert with

the HVAC installation. The HVAC units sit on a “curb”, Kroeker said, and then the roofing membrane has to go up and over the curb. The supply chain of getting those rooftop units is the issue.

Kroeker said the work might not happen until next spring, but the funding has been extended to next year and the prices will hold.

The city also awarded the tender for the leisure centre rooftop HVAC unit system supply and installation to Mid-City Plumbing and Heating for $824,685. The city received funding.

City manager Jeff Ward said the project came in over budget. He said supply chain issues have affected some other capital projects, so at the next meeting in June, there will be an allocation change, and some of the capital projects are to be pushed to next year so all assigned works can happen this year.

Council denied a request from Dale Wetsch to have a portion of the city’s new master pathway system named after Rod March, who is the city’s former manager of parks, facilities and leisure services.

In his application, Wetsch said March was deserving because of March’s efforts to get federal and provincial funding for the construction

of the city-wide pathway and sidewalk system, which was largely completed in 2021. March also did other things for the city.

Coun. Travis Frank said it was a “very kind request”. But after further thought, he believes there isn’t a project in the city that isn’t due to the staff “It becomes hard to name things after specific

employees because I’m not sure if we would forget other amazing employees who have done hard work,” said Frank.

He suggested having a plaque somewhere to honour the city employees.

Veroba added Estevan has a lot of great employees who ensure the facilities are kept up to date.

Council denied the tenders for the new shower building in the Churchill Playpark due to incomplete tenders.

Two bids were received for the project. Kroeker said the company with the lower bid did not provide a bid bond or a surety with their tender.

•••

Council approved the Downtown Business Association’s request to place a portable sign on the boulevard between Third Street and the RBC parking lot to promote the association’s Night Markets. The first market of the season is June 29 and will occur weekly until September. There will be a 50 per cent reduction in fees for the sign for the year, from $150 to $75.

••• Three building permits worth $70,000 were issued in May, bringing the total for the year to 12 permits worth $789,142. All three permits for May were classified as miscellaneous.

Estevan MLA fields questions from city council

Estevan MLA Lori Carr spent about 30 minutes addressing issues in the community and the region during an appearance at Estevan city council June 12.

Carr, who was a city councillor from 2003-2009 and 2012-2016, began by talking about surgical wait times. She noted the number of surgeries has increased, but there is still more work to trim the waitlist.

“We have the incentives in place for nurses and different designations that are hard to find in rural communities,” said Carr. “There’s an incentive that if they go to that community, they get a cash payout. They have to stay a certain amount of time, but it’s lucrative if they stay in rural communities.”

When question period began, Coun. Kirsten Walliser brought up the issue of $10 per day child care. Saskatchewan brought in the program faster than other areas, but people have told her the province skipped steps by not having the necessary training or adequate wages for childcare providers.

“There aren’t enough physical seats, so waitlists are over 1,000 in certain cities in this province, so even though people need child care, they’re being told it could be three to five years before a spot is available for their child,” Walliser said.

Carr replied that all parameters were courtesy of the federal government. The province wanted flexibility in the program so funding

would flow to the parents rather than the facilities, so she said it was disappointing when that didn’t happen.

The province has what Carr called “a pretty aggressive” call-out for individuals who want to open day cares. The training has been made easier for those who want to work in that type of environment.

Coun. Rebecca Foord asked if the government was looking to have foreign recruiting drives for social workers, similar to what has happened for health-care workers. She also suggested there could be an education push.

“I do believe a lot of problems would be solved if we actually had a lot more social workers in our province,” said

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.

Foord. “You hear it throughout all of Canada. We have a mental health crisis throughout the world right now.”

Carr said there are no plans at this time.

Coun. Travis Frank asked about the Saskatchewan Housing Authority and the city’s responsibility if there are financial losses. He would like to see the city once again have a seat at the table to provide for more collaboration.

Carr said council had a person on the Estevan Housing Authority board at one time. She said there’s nothing preventing a city councillor from sitting on the board, but Walliser countered that she had her name put forward for the authority by Mayor Roy Ludwig, but just before her first meeting, she was told being an elected official was an exclusion criteria, and she wouldn’t be allowed to attend.

Carr said she would look into the matter.

Coun. Shelly Veroba then

broached a couple of issues with Carr. One was mental health and addictions. During the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention in Toronto, the issue was discussed at length.

While Estevan doesn’t have a large homeless problem, Veroba believes it’s more than people realize. As for drug problems, she believes there needs to be a focus on treatment, including the addictions treatment centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Coun. Lindsay Clark wanted an update on the new nursing home. A needs assessment released last month showed Estevan needs 167 long-term care beds instead of the 108 currently in the city. A business case, to be completed later this year, will confirm the number of beds and the location of the building.

This will drive up the cost of the project and Estevan’s 20 per cent share, but it won’t delay the start of construction.

Walliser pointed out that working in a long-term care facility, she knows people want to keep their loved ones close to home.

“It is heartbreaking the number of members of our community that are spread across southeast Saskatchewan, waiting for a call, that a bed is available in their hometown.”

Coun. Tony Sernick thanked the provincial government for bringing some truth to the conversation regarding the energy sector, and he also lauded Premier Scott Moe for visiting Estevan last month. But he also criticized the premier for not meeting with city council. Others were also in the meeting. Carr countered the meeting had RM reeves, union leaders and council members.

She noted that when people have a concern with government services, they can call her office. If it’s something bigger, then the government will do case work to address the matter.

Taxpayers federation releases per-capita spending report

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released a new report Thursday that shows and compares per-capita spending by Saskatchewan municipalities.

The document includes audited financial statements for Saskatchewan municipalities. The CTF noted the provincial government has not published municipal financial statements after years of promises.

“Taxpayers pay the bills and we deserve to know how municipal politicians spend our money,” said CTF Prairie director Gage Haubrich. “Publishing financial statements for municipalities should be Transparency 101.”

According to the document, Estevan was fourth among Saskatchewan small

cities in per-capita spending for 2021. Total expenses came in at $31.16 million, or $2,932 per capita using the census figure of 10,629 residents.

Swift Current, by comparison, was first with per capita spending of $3,741 for its population of 16,750. For Saskatchewan’s two largest cities, Saskatoon spent $3,161 per person in 2021, compared to $2,761 for Regina.

The CTF notes municipalities are required by law to send their financial statements to the provincial government. The federation says in 2008, the government of Saskatchewan stopped publishing these statements online. In 2019, the CTF said the provincial government expected to have a new sys-

tem in place by 2021, but it hasn’t happened.

Provincial governments in Alberta and Ontario have web portals where taxpayers can access municipal financial statements, the CTF said.

“The provincial government said it would help shine a light on municipal spending, but it hasn’t followed through,” Haubrich said. “Other provinces make it easy for taxpayers to access this basic information. It’s time for the Saskatchewan government to deliver on transparency.”

The CTF claims it had to use freedom of information requests to obtain the financial statements for all 767 municipalities in 2020 and for 96 per cent of municipalities in 2021.

The Estevan Leisure Centre will receive some roof repairs this year.

SOUTHEAST COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT

Southeast College celebrates Estevan graduates

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Southeast College cel-

ebrated its 2023 graduates in Estevan last Friday.

The formal graduation and awards celebration was hosted at the Estevan campus to recognize the achievements of Southeast College students. The ceremony that wrapped up the chain of celebrations for the college also saw the first international students graduating.

College president and CEO Vicky Roy was the master of ceremonies. The day saw a prayer by Jody Holzmiller, who is the vicepresident professional training and continuing studies, and speeches by Roy, Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison, as well as board chairwoman Donna Nyeste and valedictorians.

“Wherever you go, always be proud of your roots and where you come from,”

Roy said in addressing the graduates. “You’re a part of the family of Southeast College. This moment marks the culmination of countless hours studying, numerous challenges overcome and [an important moment in] your personal academic growth.

“It is important to acknowledge that success is not solely defined by individual accomplishments, but by the positive impact of our communities and the world around,” she continued. “Graduates, you have the power to drive change and social innovations. You can challenge the status quo and create a better future for all here in Saskatchewan, in Canada and also in the world. As you step into the professional world … remember to embrace diversity, foster inclusivity and champion social justice … You can be the shakers and movers, you are the next generation

of leaders in this province and in this region.”

Harrison spoke on behalf of the minister of education.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to work with Southeast College to provide high-quality education and training opportunities to help students in their future careers,” Harrison said. “Grads, your experience here will allow you to transition into the next chapter of your life. As you look ahead, know that Saskatchewan offers many opportunities to build your careers and lives right here at home.”

Nyeste spoke on behalf of the board of governors.

“The graduation is … a huge accomplishment for you, your family and your extended group of supporters. Dedication, perseverance and sacrifice have brought you to this momentous moment, and you should be incredibly proud of yourself and feel confident that your education received here at Southeast College is valuable, vital and will serve you well as you pursue through the rest of your lives,” said Nyeste

The college had two valedictorians address the graduates this year. Edralyn Duron, who graduated from the

The 2023 Southeast College Estevan valedictorians were Edralyn Duron, who graduated from the Adult 12, and international student Imele Virador, who graduated Continuing Care Assistant program.

adult basic education (ABE) program, and international student Imele Virador, who graduated from continuing care assistant, program spoke to graduates, their families and friends, and college staff

“Today’s truly ours,” said Duron, continuing by thanking the teachers and all the supporters that helped the grads make it to the day. “The future is really in our hands. So, let’s make the most of it.”

In her emotional speech, which Roy described as a “story of resilience and hope”, Virador also thanked everyone who helped the students to get through the year, and spoke about what it feels like to be an international student and all the challenges and success of their experience.

“We forget that we all have the choice to believe that we can do it. If we want to have a change, we have to take risks,” Virador said.

The speech wrapped up with standing applause.

Graduating ABE students in Estevan were Amali Agampodige, Christine Briones, Duron, Mohammed El Kaissoumi, Danielle Noble, Rolando Patron, Irsih Penano and Danica Wamboldt.

Essential skills for the workplace graduates were Sujung Koo and Crystal Hall.

The continuing care assistant program saw 11 graduates, including Reagan An-

derson, Breanne DeBruyne (also presented with a congratulatory letter and sash by Métis Nation–Saskatchewan Local No. 25), Joyce Espina, Rebecca Friesen, Trinity Maser, Nicole Meyer, Juan Padilla, Jonalyn Santos, Santana Sherring, Erika Valencia and Virador.

Continuing care assistant part-time program graduates were Amalia San Juan, Cecil Cabahug, Cherry Katherine Abucayan, Fenella Powell, Fe Rabanes, Jesse Ravanera, Mwamvita Ally Kidabu, Nichole Farrel and Tessa Macalos.

The 2023 industrial mechanic graduates were Joshua Alexander, Mitchell Mayson and Tyler Weger-Brandow.

The heavy equipment and truck and transport technician program graduated Johnloid Alvento, Kaleb Bzdel, Raymart Flores, Connor Frijouf, Thomas Huang, Saw Min, Nathan Mus, Christian Santos and Payden Thurlow.

The college also celebrated the July 2022 heavy equipment operator graduates Garret Desnomie, Davis Dietze, Kelsey Goudy, Ryan Lauf, Reesa Littlechief and Joshua Petrychyn; as well as April 2023 heavy equipment operators Rylan Baun, Ryan Brotzel, Griffin Dougall, Crystal Hall, Jordan Kriecs, Kelly Neufeld, Daniel Pierce, Lindon Schiestel and Edsel Villacencio.

The presentation of the

certificates was followed by awards ceremony and a light lunch.

During the graduation ceremony the college also celebrated the successes of some of its students. Twentythree individual scholarships were handed out to the most deserving candidates.

Altogether, students received $30,250 in scholarships and bursaries. The awards were distributed to students in various Southeast College programs, including continuing care assistant, heavy equipment and truck and transport technician, industrial mechanic, heavy equipment operator and adult basic education.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and everything they have achieved and continue to work towards,” said Kassandra Lawrenz, manager of college advancement. “The graduation and awards ceremony is a great opportunity not only to celebrate with our students, but to also recognize and express our most sincere gratitude to the outstanding support we receive from the community and our partners.”

This year scholarship and bursary recipients were:

• Steel Reef Enhancing the Energy Community

Bursary: Saw Min, heavy equipment and truck and transport technician; and Tyler Weger-Brandow, industrial mechanic.

• Kingston Midstream Fuelling the Future Scholarship: heavy equipment truck and transport technicians Min, Connor Frijouf, Raymart Flores, Thomas Huang, Kaleb Bzdel, Nathan Mus and Johnloid Alvento; as well as industrial mechanics Weger-Brandow, Joshua Alexander and Mitchell Mason.

• Conquest Equipment

Bursary: Frijouf.

• Southeast College

PostSecondary Saskatchewan Opportunity Scholarship: Huang, Bzdel and continuing care assistant student Santana Sherring.

• City of Estevan Bursary: continuing care assistants Sherring and Jonalyn Santos.

• Enerplus Scholarship: Alexander.

• Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association Award: heavy equipment operators Rylan and Kelly Neufeld.

• Southeast College Board of Governors Bursary: Trisha Emmel and Edralyn Duron, both in adult basic education.

Southeast College scholarships and bursaries are made possible by donations from community organizations, businesses and individuals, as well as various fundraising events such as the college’s Swing for Scholarships Golf Tournaments. Eligible funds are matched by the Ministry of Advanced Education through the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship (SIOS) program.

“Southeast College is proud to offer innovative and flexible programming that encourages students to learn where they live,” the college said in a press release.

Southeast College Estevan campus celebrated the graduates of 2023. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Envision Counselling and Support Centre is coming off of its busiest year ever.

The highlights of the 2022-23 fiscal year were discussed at the annual general meeting in Estevan on June 13.

In her address, executive director Lynda Rideout noted that over the past year, all areas of their programming were in higher demand than ever before. Services, ranging from Prevention Education to Frontline Counselling and Family Support, hit record numbers.

“It was a very busy year for us last year with our numbers for all programs being higher than they ever were before. So, it was good to reflect on that. It’s different when you see numbers from just going day to day,” Rideout said.

“This is a direct reflection of the needs in our communities, and our team did not hesitate to rise up to meet the challenge, doing so with grace and humility,” Rideout said.

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, Envision supported 1,447 active clients with 163 of them being return clients; staff provided 3,293 total sessions and drove 116,071 total kilometres; and altogether the organization provided services to individuals in 69 towns and cities. Envision’s geographical area spans approximately 28,700 square kilometres, with a total population of over 50,000 individuals.

Laura Melle, assistant executive director, in her report, outlined that “April 1st started off the year with a bang”

as they were successful in hiring three new counsellors for their newest program, the Family Intervention Rapid Support Team (FIRST).

“Finding our feet with this program has been challenging at times, however, extremely inspiring. In this field, we understand that we must remain adaptable in order to meet the needs and break down the barriers people are faced with. The FIRST program is doing just that. It has forced us out of our comfort zone in changing the way we provide counselling and support services,” said Melle.

“Shifting from reactionary, incident-driven responses towards prevention and reducing risk factors for violence is the heart of this program. With many of our counsellors holding a waitlist this year, prevention work is likely to be beneficial in reducing the need for referrals to ongoing counselling.”

She also noted that they

“are finally starting to feel like [they] have regained some normalcy following COVID-19,” and started providing more services of different types.

Rideout noted FIRST, the program that is supported by funding from the Ministry of Justice, was highlighted during the AGM. They outlined that the program helped in reaching people that are struggling with potentially abusive situations before they progress. The program saw 80 referrals and 402 sessions provided throughout the year.

Other programs saw an increase in referrals, cases and sessions provided as well.

At the AGM, Envision elected a new executive for the year. Ann Favreau became the chairwoman, Roberta Derosier is the vice chairwoman, Sean Purdue is the treasurer and Aimee Haralson is the secretary. They also said farewell to board member/secretary Lana Perrault as her six-year term ended.

In her address, Favreau noted that they were successful in hiring Rideout as their new executive director last year, and also were able to find new board members.

“Our board had many vacancies and we served with seven members for a period of time. The board identified areas of expertise that would be advantageous on our board, so the nomination committee worked diligently to ensure we engaged competent directors to fill gaps in our knowledge and experience, and to strengthen our compliment. In that regard we are pleased to welcome David Wakefield from Kenosee/Weyburn, Brian Fornwald from Lampman, Barb Wright from Estevan, Teresa Lafoy from Weyburn and Trevor Tessier from Weyburn,” Favreau said.

Rideout also noted that the organization has “amazing support from our funders, as well as from individuals, organizations and businesses

within the southeast,” and is doing alright financially.

The organization has multiple programs and many employees, which means quite a complicated budget, as outlined by the treasurer in his address.

“We have 13 distinct programs, each with their own budget to develop and manage. As a whole, Envision’s operating budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year was more than $2 million. Not surprisingly, most of our annual budget is spent on our most valuable resource – our staff With more than 50 full-time and part-time employees, Envision devoted more than $1.6 million to compensation and benefits over the past fiscal year,” said Purdue.

During the past fiscal year, they also were able to complete a long overdue facelift in their Weyburn building, which they own, with over $60,000 spent repairing and refreshing the exterior of the building.

For their operations, Envision relies on funding from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice - Integrated Justice Services, Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, and Justice Canada, as well as from the United Ways of Estevan and Regina and ongoing community donors.

While their year was very busy, Rideout stressed that they are here to serve the needs of people in the southeast and they always welcome anyone and everyone who may need support.

“Although we are extremely busy, we are always here to help,” Rideout said.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to hesitate to reach out if they need support. And whether they reach for support by phone or by contacting us by email or through our website, we would be more than happy to figure out a time to provide that support for them.“

Carter Goudy Xavier Holt-McArthur Milay Itogawa

Nya Spence

The Envision Counselling and Support team includes, front row, from left, board members Sean Purdue, David Wakefield, Barb Wright and Roberta Derosier, chairwoman Ann Favreau, executive director Lynda Rideout, assistant executive director Laura Melle, board members Aimee Haralson, Teresa LaFoy and Sarah Satre. Standing are Envision Counselling and Support staff. Photo courtesy of Lynda Rideout

SPORTS

A9

For the first time, a hockey player born, raised and developed in Estevan has won the Stanley Cup.

Defenceman Brayden Pachal was part of the Vegas Golden Knights team that won the NHL’s championship June 13. Vegas crushed the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final to win the best-of-seven series 4-1.

“It was probably the most surreal thing that I’ve ever been a part of,” said Pachal. “The last week has kind of been a blur, but it’s just so cool and I’m grateful to be part of this and get that opportunity.”

The Knights were up 6-1 after two periods on Friday night. At that point, Pachal and the other Knights who were not dressed went down to the locker room to join their teammates.

“The vibe in the dressing room was ‘We’re going to win the Stanley Cup tonight.’ It was pretty cool to just go down there and see how already – even though there was still another period - how happy and excited the guys were to first of all, have a good strong third period, but knowing that it’s pretty unlikely they’re going to score five goals on us with the kind of team that we had,” said Pachal.

It was stressful watching the games, so having the cushion made it more enjoyable knowing it was going to happen.

Pachal donned his No. 94 jersey and was in the hallway waiting for the game to end. All of the players then rushed on the ice and swarmed Knights’ starting goalie Adin Hill for the celebration.

“Everybody was just waiting for that final buzzer [to sound] to go live a childhood dream,” said Pachal.

He was the last of the Knights’ players to hoist the Stanley Cup before the cherished trophy was handed over to the team’s coaches, management and owner.

“Teddy [Teddy Blueger] gave it to me, and I looked at it, and then completely blacked out. I don’t really remember what I did with it. It was just a super surreal moment and pretty emotional.”

But he was thinking about his parents, Kent and Rhonda, the opportunity they gave him to play and the drive they gave him to reach the NHL.

Different nightclubs and restaurants have reached out to the Knights about having a visit from the Stanley Cup, and festivities have been planned for The Strip each night, including a parade Saturday.

“The parade was something that I never

The Estevan U11 AA Brewers posted a perfect 5-0 record to win a tournament in Saskatoon on the weekend.

The Brewers knocked off the Humboldt Dodgers 15-5 on Friday, and the Saskatoon Red Sea Cardinals 12-0 and the Saskatoon Blue Jay Bomb Squad 14-6 on Saturday.

Their closest game was in the semifinal Sunday morning, when they knocked off the Sherwood Park Athletics 11U Green 8-6 to advance to the final. They finished the tournament with a 16-0 victory over the Moose Jaw Canucks in a lopsided final Sunday afternoon.

The opening game with Humboldt was tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the third, but Estevan then scored the final 10 runs. The Brewers had 13 hits, with five players having multiple hits.

Kane Massier went 3-for-3 in the game.

Hunter Nicholson had the shutout on the mound against the Cardinals, allowing five hits in four innings while striking out nine.

Brayden Pachal celebrates after winning the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights. Photo sourced from the Vegas Golden Knights’ Twitter account

could imagine. It was crazy. So many people there, and I couldn’t picture a better scene for the parade.”

Sidewalks and walkways were packed. He’s not sure how many people were there, but he wouldn’t be surprised if it’s close to a million.

People from the Estevan area have been sending their congratulations over the past week. It’s taken him a few days to get back to everybody, but he wants to make sure he does.

Massier had a home run in the third inning.

The Brewers closed out the round robin with the win over the Bomb Squad. The game was tied at six with the Brewers batting in the top of the fourth when Estevan scored three times.

Parker Kosior led Brewers by going 3-for-3.

In the semifinal, the Brewers scored five times in the third inning.

Ripyn Brown went 4 2/3 innings on the mound, allowing six runs but striking out eight. He also had multiple hits in the game.

Nash Cameron threw a shutout in the final, going four innings and allowing two hits and striking out eight. It was one of several games in which the Brewers didn’t allow a run.

Andrew Daae went 2-for-3 in the final with four runs batted in. Estevan had 11 hits in the game, with five players having multiple hits. And the Brewers had 10 stolen bases.

“Everybody played a role in getting me here, and I’m really appreciative of that,” he said.

He’s not sure whether he’ll get to spend a day with the Stanley Cup but if he does, he said he would bring it to Estevan. He wasn’t a big part of the team during the playoff, but he’s grateful the Knights gave him the opportunity to be on the ice afterwards and they made him feel like he earned it as much as anyone.

The Knights have had a winning mentality since reaching the NHL, he said. They reached the Stanley Cup final in their first season in 2018, and owner Bill Foley once said the Knights would win the Stanley Cup within six seasons.

“When we’re at training camp, we know that it’s a good team. And obviously health and everything plays a factor,” Pachal said.

Depth is a big part of their success, he said. It’s been tough to crack the lineup, as the defence has been referred to as the best in the league by some. The Knights are tough to play against, talented and experienced.

“I think it’s the backbone of that team. The depth up front, in my opinion … might be the best in the league,” he said. Pachal was called up by Vegas from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights – where he is the team captain – before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He played in one game in the playoff s, in the clinching game of the first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets.

He also appeared in 10 games in the regular season for Vegas, registering two points, including his first point in the NHL.

Pachal played his minor hockey in the Energy City until he reached the U18 level. He played several games for the Estevan Bruins in the 2014-15 SJHL season, and captained the Prince Albert Raiders to the Western Hockey League championship in 2019.

Pachal wasn’t the only member of the Knights’ organization to hail from southeast Saskatchewan.

Carlyle’s Jim McKenzie is part of the scouting staff for the club. McKenzie was on the ice for the post-game celebration and was also able to hoist the trophy.

McKenzie joined the Knights’ scouting staff in the 2016-17 season, the year before the Knights entered the NHL. Ironically, prior to joining the Golden Knights, McKenzie was a scout for the Panthers.

It’s the second time McKenzie has won the Stanley Cup. He also won the cherished trophy as a player in 2003 with the New Jersey Devils. That summer, he brought the Stanley Cup home to Carlyle as part of a big community celebration.  McKenzie was born in Gull Lake but his family moved to Carlyle when he was young and played his minor hockey there He now has family in the Estevan area.

The Estevan U11 AA Brewers celebrate after winning the Saskatoon tournament.

Estevan U11 AA Brewers win Saskatoon tournament

Don’t Cuss! Call US 306-634-7101 601 - 5th St. • Estevan, SK 68 Souris Ave. N. Estevan SK S4A 2M3 306.634.2654 ESTEVAN KINETTE CLUB Summer Fun Raffle Draw Date: July 1, 2023 Tickets are $20 1st winner gets choice of the 2 packages, 2nd winner gets the remaining prize pack! Contact any Estevan Kinette Member or message their Facebook page. COMMUNITY EVENTS Do you know a Non-Profit organization that has an Event or Fundraiser coming up? For more information contact Christine @ cjones@estevanmercury.ca or (306) 634-2654 TESSIER BENEFIT SUPPER Royal Canadian Legion 1317 4th Street, Estevan Sunday, June 25 @ 4:00 Tickets: $50 All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Darrel Tessier. If you would like to just donate, we can accept donations at the Legion Office and will have a donation box at the supper for those that would like to make an additional donation. Tickets available at the Legion Office or Club Room, Southern Plains Co-op and Henders Drugs. SOUTHERN PLAINS CO-OP Equity Days Mark your calendars! Equity Days BBQs are coming to a Southern Plains Community near you: Tues June 17 - Oxbow Food Store 11am-2pm Wed June 28 - Carlyle C-Store 11am-2pm Thurs June 29 - Estevan Food Store 11am-2pm Fri June 30 - Alameda Home Centre 11am-2pm All Equity Cheques not claimed at these BBQs will be available at our Admin office after July 3rd until July 15th. Any remaining cheques after July 15th will be mailed out to our Members to the address we have on file. ROTARY CLUB OF ESTEVAN 26th ANNUAL LOBSTERFEST 2023 Friday, June 23 @ Affinity Place Tickets $100 each ($40 tax receipt included) For Tickets: Email rotary.estevan@gmail.com Call Gloria @ (306) 421-1040 Come join us at Affinity Place for a steak and lobster feast! Cocktails start at 6 with supper starting at 7. Enjoy a fresh from the East coast whole lobster, a grilled steak, a baked potatoe, salad and all the fixings. A silent auction, a cash bar and a 50/50 are all available during the evening. BEAR CLAW CASINO & HOTEL Community BBQ Wednesday, June 28 @ 11am-2pm All are welcome! There will be food, drinks, raffle prizes and more!!! Bear Claw Casino & Hotel Highway #9 at White Bear First Nation

Estevan youth wins double gold at provincials

By David Willberg

Dalton Short has added to his impressive collection of gold medals through the sport of jiu-jitsu.

Short is an 11-year-old member of the Estevan Combat Sports and Fitness. At the recent Copa Sask. provincial championship in Regina, he won gold in both gi and no gi for grey belts in the 10 and 11-year-old age group among competitors weighing 81-87 pounds. He has now won seven gold medals during his five years in the sport.

In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, gi sees both players wear a cotton kimono, which can be used to grip and defeat an opponent.

“You have baggy pants and stuff. And you wear a belt. So in gi you can grab on and you have grips to use,” Dalton said.

No gi jiu-jitsu is when both competitors wear tight clothes that an opponent can’t grab.

“You win by points or by

submission, or by a decision,” Short said. He had two opponents in his age group and weight class, and he won all of his matches at provincials.

He says he’s pretty strong with big legs, so jiujitsu proved to be perfect for him.

“Legs, they’re like the strongest part of your body for tussling,” he said. “I’m really good at it … I’ve always liked it and I’ve done it for a long time.”

He credits his mother Marsha for getting him into the sport. He recalls he was playing baseball, but he left the sport because he didn’t want to play any longer. At that point, his mother Marsha suggested jiu-jitsu.

“I tried it, and I’ve loved it ever since,” he said.

His mother thought it would be something he would enjoy and good for his muscle development.

“I had other friends who were in the club as well,” she said.

Short’s coaches at

Southeast Combat Sports and Fitness are Tyson King, Dallas Fonstad and Amber Burt. They’re all really good coaches, he said, and he enjoys his time there.

He’ll spend 90 minutes there on Tuesdays and 60

minutes on Sundays. They practise their techniques, and he’ll stick around for the extra 30 minutes on Tuesdays for matches and open mat time. The club has helped him improve as an athlete.

“I’m a lot better than I once was,” he said proudly.

Estevan athletes won a total of 18 medals at Copa Sask., with four gold, five silver and nine bronze.

Octavia Hill won the gold medal in girls’ no gi and silver in gi for eight and nineyear-old white belts in the 95-pound-plus weight class.

Roman Hill won a gold medal in boys’ gi and bronze in no gi for white belts 10 and 11 years old in the 81-87-pound weight class.

Also competing at Copa Sask. were:

Leighton Petterson won silver in girls’ no gi and was fourth in girls gi for eight and nine-year-old white belts weighing 75-80 pounds;

Bryson Lefort-Lynx won silver in boys gi for eight and nine-year-olds white belts, 60 pounds and below. He was fourth in no gi in the 61-67-pound weight class, as there wasn’t a 60-andunder weight class.

Hunter Griffin won silver

in boys’ no gi and was fifth in gi for white belts in the 12-13-year-old age group’s 135-pound weight class.

Nicole Grass won silver in masters women’s gi and bronze in no gi for white belts in the 175-poundplus weight class.

Oliver Wock won bronze in boys’ gi and no gi for six to seven-year-old white belts weighting 6268 pounds.

Theodore Wock won bronze in boys’ no gi and was fifth in gi for eight and nine-year-old white belts weighing 61-67 pounds;

Liam Kwochka won bronze in the boys’ gi and no gi for 12 and 13-yearold grey belts in the 117-125-pound weight class;

Amber Burt won bronze in both gi and no gi for the open women’s blue belt class.

Soren Peterson was fourth in the boys’ gi’ and no gi for grey belts in the 12-13-year-old age group and weighing 117-125 pounds.

Estevan U15 and U13 Brewers combine to go 8-0

The Estevan U15 and U13 AA Brewers each had perfect 4-0 records during the weekend.

The U15 Brewers defeated the Regina Expos

10-3 and 5-4 on Saturday, and the Melville Millionaires 12-8 and 17-7 on Sunday to improve their record to 10-4-2.

In the first game

against the Expos, the Brewers scored four times in the sixth inning to pull away.

Quintin Sliva was the starting pitcher in the first game for the Brewers, and he allowed zero hits and three runs over 2 1/3 innings while striking out five. Ayden McKenzie went 2-for-3 in the victory.

The Brewers won the second game when Kristopher Phillips hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

McKenzie also went deep for the Brewers in the frame, and he was the starting pitcher for the game, allowing two hits and four runs over 1 2/3 innings while striking out five.

As for Sunday’s games, the Brewers won a slugfest in the first contest. Broden Henry had six stolen bases in the game, and the Brewers finished with 13 swipes overall.

The second game was close until Estevan scored five times in the fourth inning, with Talon Williamson having a two-run double.

Estevan added six runs more in the sixth.

Tanner Gillespie surrendered two runs on two hits over two innings.

The U13 Brewers started the weekend by sweeping the Regina White Sox, winning 24-2 and 18-1 on Saturday.

Game 1 saw strong pitching from Tayson Tangjerd, Kendall Grimes and Spencer Skuce, the Brewers said on their Facebook page.

Game 2 brought a similar story with the Brewers taking an early lead. Kale Kuchinka, Anthony Fornwald and Kyson Dangstorp were on the mound. They had lots of stolen bases in the game.

Sunday saw them de-

feat the Regina Buffalos 13-2 and 20-4.

In Game 1, pitcher Kersey Willis showed off his power, and Tangjerd came in to finish the game.

Game 2 saw Jett Markoski and Kohen Brownridge on the mound for Estevan. Brownridge also had a solo home run in the game. The Brewers (17-1) will close out the regular season on June 24 when they visit the Lumsden Cubs.

Linda Murphy wins senior women’s tournament

Monday, June 26 - 10 am - 7 pm & Tuesday, June 27 - 10 am Noon

Garage Sale

Tuesday - June 27 - 12 Noon - 7 pm & Wednesday June 28 - 9 - 11 am

Please call 306-461-4611 to volunteer or

Aidan Turner was on the mound for Brewers, and he went three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out one.

23064DS0

Fifty-three golfers entered the annual McGillicky Oilfield Senior Ladies’ Golf Tournament June 12 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course.

Linda Murphy won the championship flight, shooting an 82 to finish three strokes ahead of Glenda Johnstone. Lori Abraham was third with an 87, Susan Dafoe was fourth after shooting an 88 and Shelley Rueker was fifth with a 90 in the tightly-contested tournament.

Colleen Renard won the first flight with a 96, one stroke better than Jeannie Arndt and Joyce Kuchinka.

Sharon Stepp won the second flight with a 104, one better than a quartet of golfers.

Karen Beselt took the third flight with a 110, one ahead of four golfers. And Joanne Green shot a 113 to take the fourth flight in a countback.

Dalton Short proudly shows off his two gold medals, the latest for his collection.

Flight winners were, from left, Linda Murphy, Colleen Renard, Sharon Stepp, Karen Beselt and Joanne Green. Photo by Fern Walton

CLASSIFIEDS

|

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca

In Loving Memory of Blaine Tweed

Who passed away June 24th, 2007

Think of him as living

In the hearts of those he touched. For nothing loved is ever lost

And he was loved so much.

Always in our hearts Rob, Jodi, Maddi and Kolton Darryl, Charlotte and Brandon

FARMLAND WANTED

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Farmland Sale by Tender; Half section of good quality pasture with grid road access in RM of Leask #464. Call Gerald Muller, C&C Realty, 306-570-7743.

WANTED

One person assessed after being exposed to CO

Estevan Fire Rescue Service members were called to a carbon monoxide (CO) leak last week and responded to a collision.

On June 16 at about 11 p.m., fire crews were dispatched to a CO alarm in northern Estevan. Investigation showed elevated carbon monoxide readings in the residence, so SaskEnergy was called to the scene to help with the investigation.

There was one occupant who was at home at the time the leak occurred and was exposed to CO. The individual was assessed by the EMS. Firefighters ventilated the building, bringing

CARD OF THANKS

SincereThank-You forCareandSupport

the CO level down. Once everything was cleared and back to normal, the house was turned back over to the homeowner and SaskEnergy to further investigate and get repairs done on the HVAC equipment.

In the later hours of June 17, crews were dispatched to a collision on Highway 39 west of Hitchcock. A vehicle hit a deer. Davies said no injuries were reported, and the vehicle sustained minor damage. Crews as-

sisted with the vehicle and debris removal and returned to the station afterwards.

Earlier that day, Estevan firefighters also partook in the 2023 grad parade, showing their support and celebrating the graduates.

Twins add two more victories to the win column

HEALTH

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FINANCIAL SERVICES

LAND FOR SALE HIP/KNEE Replacement? Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING?

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca

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

Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306-649-1405 to find out how PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 49 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.

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Barristers & Solicitors Paul Elash K.C.

Aaron Ludwig, B.Sc., LL.B. Genevieve Schrader, B. Mgt., J.D. Gainsborough: Thursday a.m.

Onbehalfofourfamily,wewould liketoextendourdeepestgratitude tothedoctors,nursesandcaregiversfortheexceptionalcareand supportprovidedtoourbelovedFather,Husband,andGrandfather, LawrenceIrwin,duringhistimeat LampmanHealthCareFacilityand thePalliativeCareUnitatSt. Joseph'sHospital.Yourdedication andcompassionmadeasignificant differenceinourfather'sfinaljourney,andwecannotthankyou enoughforthekindnessandprofessionalismyoudisplayedthroughout. Yourworkisatruetestamenttothe nobleandinvaluableprofessionof healthcare. Yourunwaveringcommitmenttoensuringourfather'scomfortandwellbeingwastrulyremarkable.The levelofcarehereceivedwasofthe higheststandard,andwewereconstantlyreassuredbyyourexpertise andattentiveness.Yourknowledge, coupledwithyourgenuinewarmth, createdanurturingenvironment thatallowedhimtofacehisillness withpeace.

Wearealsodeeplygratefulforthe sympathycards,thedelicious meals,andthebeautifulfloralarrangementsthatweresenttous duringthischallengingtime.Your thoughtfulgesturesprovideduswith asenseofcomfortandremindedus thatwewerenotaloneinourgrief. Theloveandsupportwereceived fromallofyou,bothinaprofessionalcapacityandasfriends,meant theworldtous. Inthemidstofoursorrow,your kindnessbroughtlightintoourlives. Pleaseknowthatyourextraordinary contributionswillneverbeforgotten. Weareforevergratefulforthedifferenceyoumadeinourfather'slife andthesupportyouprovidedfor ourfamily.

Withdeepestappreciation, Edna,Craig,Glen,&DannyIrwin

The South East U18 AAA Twins continued their strong season with a pair of victories in league play, which improved their league record to 12-2.

The Twins edged the Regina Athletics 9-8 in extra innings on Thursday. The Twins had leads of 5-2 after three innings and 8-6 through five, but Regina fought back to tie with two runs in the sixth.

Sam Mallory drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to score Conner Kerr for the winning run. Kerr had three runs in the game.

Mary M. LeBlanc (nee Pearson) 1949 - 2023

Surrounded by the love of her family, Mary LeBlanc (nee Pearson) passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023 in Regina, Saskatchewan at the age of 74 years.

In addition to leaving a large group of loved ones behind to carry on her memory, Mary left an positive impact in the community. Mary came to Estevan almost 40 years ago and immediately took on a central role in our city. At one time, her aptly named ‘The Old Homestead Family Restaurant’ was one of the very few restaurants in town and was likely visited, at one time or another, by many in the community. Not only did every one of Mary’s family members, at some point, work in the restaurantincluding visiting relatives from across Canada - Mary came to embrace so many of her customers as extensions of her own family.

Mary would come to marry a late-found love of her life in Ross LeBlanc, also recently passed. Together, they provided love, stability and support for siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.

Mary LeBlanc has left a mark on many of us and set an example for the boundless limits that compassion and generosity can offer. She was loved dearly by so many, a testament to the life she lived and the legacy and example she leaves behind for several generations of friends and relatives.

She will be laid to rest here in Estevan, near her late husband and beside her mother, Jeannie Gordon, who was laid to rest here in 2009. As Mary’s chapter closes, know that her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all that knew her, while the example of setting a foundation for a family to live and grow will certainly be passed on to the many generations of family that follow in her footsteps.

Mary will forever be remembered by her family: children, Ken Pearson, Chris (Kristy) Pearson and Kim Pearson; grandchildren, Jessica Pearson, Bailey Pearson, Cory Pearson, Autumn Pearson and Chantel (Levi) Cossette (great grandchildren, Eva and Remi); siblings, Ken Anson, Jim Anson, Jeannie Anson (Randy Laminman), Susan Anson (Rob Hancock) and Mike Anson. Mary will also be deeply missed by Ross’s family: her stepchildren, Gwen (Jan) Nijman, Marlin (Lucille) LeBlanc and Jason (Sherrill) LeBlanc; step grandchildren, Megan, Marci and Gracie LeBlanc, Deanna (Chris) Tarnes (step great grandchildren, Emily and Jordyn), Scott (Seraph) Nijman and Josh LeBlanc as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Ross LeBlanc; parents, Ken and Adrianna “Jeannie” Anson (nee Gordon); brother Frank Anson and step granddaughter Kelsey LeBlanc.

The Celebration of Life was held on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, SK with Pastor Daniel Krauss officiating. The interment was held at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens. Mary’s family invited everyone to join them for the lunch reception at the Royal Canadian Legion (large hall) following the interment.

In memory of Mary, please make donations to Envision Counselling and Support Centre, 1308 7 St, Estevan, SK S4A 2A5. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Mary’s familyYvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Carter Beck had three hits, including a home run in the third inning.

Beck also picked up the win on the mound with two innings of shutout relief work.

The other game was less dramatic, an 8-0 victory over the White Butte Broncos on Saturday. Keaton Husband had two hits, including a home run, to go with two RBIs and a run. Spencer Copeland scored twice.

Callum Hollinger allowed three hits and struck out 10 in a complete-game shutout.

•••

The Southeast U15 AAA A’s split games last Wednesday against the

Yorkton Cardinals, losing 18-3 in five innings but recovering to win 7-6.

Tyson Hardy and Branson Hutt had two hits each in the first game, which was called after five innings due to the mercy rule. The A’s were down 4-0 in the third inning in Game 2, but recovered with two each in the third and fourth innings, and three in the fifth. Luke Holman led the offence with two hits, three RBIs and a run. Hardy and Rylan Ohnander shared the pitching duties for the A’s. The A’s were scheduled to visit the Swift Current U15 AAA 57s on Tuesday. (Results not available at press time).

OBITUARIES

Margaret (Molly) Evelyn Heier nee Samuel 1936 - 2023 Molly, our beloved Mom passed away peacefully at home the morning of June 17 with her family and friends. Originally from Trinidad in the West Indies, Molly moved to Estevan at the tender age of 18, to live with her Uncle, Dr. Phil Samuel. She attended Business College in Winnipeg as well Estevan Collegiate where she trained as a court stenographer. She met and married Audie Heier in Estevan, raising 10 children. Her faith and love of Jesus was always front and centre for her and she was passionate about Eucharistic Adoration and bringing the love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus to all she touched. Through her business, St. Joseph’s Prayer Centre and Bookstore, she was able to spread her faith. She was a pillar in the community and will be missed by many.

Molly is survived by nine of her children, Shane, Michael (Lisa), David (Kathy), Bridget (Mark), Leslie (Eric), Lindsay (Amanda), Chevawn, Cecilia & Mary (Patrick) as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by her devoted husband Audie; parents, Ivy and Erskin; siblings Keith, Ken, Neil, Gloria, Clyde, Ivor, Cecilia and our special Uncle Michael; daughter Teresa; grandchildren Nathan, Joseph, Dominic, Lucas, Gabriel and great-grandchild Brynlee.

The public viewing will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at 6:00 PM followed by prayers and sharing from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at St. John the Baptist RC Parish in Estevan, led by Lindsay Heier. The funeral mass, officiated by Reverend Father Antony Sathi, will be held at St. John the Baptist RC Parish in Estevan on Thursday, June 22 at 2:00 PM with a luncheon to follow in the church basement. Internment will take place after the luncheon at the city cemetery. There will be a livestream of the funeral mass available through the website of Hall Funeral Home at www. hallfuneralservices.ca

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, a mass can be offered for Molly and her family or a donation can be made in her honor to one of the following: a) Ken Yasinski - Dynamic Catholic Speaker and Author at PO Box 39044, Saskatoon, SK S7V 0A9 b) FacetoFace Ministries at https://f2f.ca c) Venessa Ziel - Catholic Christian Outreach www.cco.ca/Vanessa

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

Members of the Southeast U18 AAA Twins congratulate Carter Beck (20) following a home run in Thursday’s game.

June 25, 2003

Estevan Police Service organized a Torch Run in June of 2003. Participating were, back row, from left, Kirt Dahl, Connie Gibson, Kirk Johnson, Peter McKinnon, Glenn Dumontel, Tyller McMillen and Marie-Lise Leduc. Third row, Bonnie Pukas, Greg Bottomley, Patricia Deyell, Candice Mack and Bruce Dalziel. Front, Courtney Ehrmantraut McMillen led the run on his police motorcycle, and Leduc followed the group in her police cruiser. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest public awareness and grassroots fundraising organization for Special Olympics globally.

Estevan police arrest two for drug trafficking

Two people have been arrested following a drug bust in Estevan on June 10.

The Estevan Police Service said it conducted a drug trafficking investigation that resulted in a search warrant being authorized under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The Weyburn and Estevan Police Services

Joint Tactical Support Team (JTST) was utilized to gain entry to the residence for the search.

Officers seized a quantity of illicit drugs with an estimated street value of $10,000, along with nearly $1,000.

As a result of the investigation, a 29-year-old man

and a 34-year-old woman were arrested without incident and have been charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime not exceeding $5,000. They were released on conditions and will make their first court appearance

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.

on Aug. 14 in Estevan Provincial Court.

•••

A Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) blitz has been occurring in Estevan.

The Estevan Police Service says officers from around Saskatchewan are working alongside partner agencies to identify traffic violations and take enforcement action. This two-day initiative takes place at various locations around Estevan.

Enforcement activities focus on offences related to speeding, distracted driving, seatbelt use, unlicensed drivers and commercial vehicle standards. As usual, impaired driving enforcement will be a top priority.

STEP is a multi-agency task force dedicated to improving traffic safety across Saskatchewan. Members include municipal police agencies, the RCMP, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Police, and representatives from SGI and the Ministries of Justice and Finance.

•••

Police received a report of an attempted vehicle theft at a local business on June 12. The vehicle’s window and ignition were damaged. The matter is under investigation.

A stolen vehicle was reported from a business in the industrial area. Two other vehicles were also damaged during the theft.

Members received a report May 14 of the theft and fraudulent cashing of a

cheque. The matter appears to have occurred in Saskatoon but the victim resides in Estevan. The incident will be turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service for further investigation.

Police received a driving complaint regarding an individual travelling through a work area at a high rate of speed and in an erratic manner. The matter is under investigation.

Members received a report of two individuals on private property looking through windows. The individuals have been identified and will be interviewed. The matter is still under investigation.

Police arrested and charged an Oxbow man for uttering threats and unauthorized possession of a firearm. He was released on conditions and scheduled for court in August.

Police recovered a truck that had been reported stolen over the weekend. The truck was abandoned along Highway 18. The forensics identification section processed the vehicle and the matter remains under investigation.

Police were called to a local liquor establishment for a report of an unruly customer. A 41-year-old man from Winnipeg was arrested for assault and theft under $5,000. He was lodged overnight and will be released on conditions, and scheduled for court in August to speak to his matters.

Members were called in the early-morning hours for a report of two people going through yards. Police patrolled the area but did not

locate anyone. Police have possible suspects in mind; the matter remains under investigation.

Police received a report June 16 of someone fraudulently using cheques. The complainant had cheques cashed on the complainant’s personal account. The matter is under investigation.

Police attended to a disturbance in the north end of the city on June 17. An Estevan woman was arrested for causing a disturbance. Further investigation revealed she committed an assault. She was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in court in August.

Officers received a report of individuals trying to get into parked vehicles. The culprits didn’t gain access.

Members received a report of a Saskatoon man breaching his conditions of release by having contact with an Estevan woman. The matter is still under investigation.

Police received a report of a disturbance in the Pleasantdale area. Officers attended and an Estevan man was arrested and lodged for public intoxication.

Members were notified of a missing person on June 18. A youth had gone out Saturday night and didn’t return home. The youth wasn’t responding to calls or messages from his parents so the police were called for assistance. A short time after police started looking into the matter, the youth called his parents to advise he had been sleeping and didn’t receive the calls. No further action was required.

Carievale 4-H Beef Club holds Achievement Day

The Carievale 4-H Beef Club held its annual Achievement Day at the Carievale Riding Arena on June 9.

The cattle judge was Chad Wilson, while Chris Jones judged the record books.

Members started the show by reciting the pledge. Then the members participated in judging four steers. They had a mixed team grooming event with each cloverbud steer being used.

Jackie Gilliland was the show announcer. Karissa Elliott and Kamryn Gilliland were ring personnel. Angie Cliffe was the photographer.

All members received their 4-H certificates. Returning members received a 4-H duffel bag and new members a personalized clipboard.

The lunch was supplied by Nutrien and a barbecue supper was courtesy of PureChem.

For a full list of results from the Achievement Day, please visit our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.

Southeast 4-H youths gather for show and sale in Alameda

By Nicole Northild

The regional 4-H Show and Sale occurred in Alameda on June 10, with 117 members in attendance from five clubs all over the southeast corner

Members completed for awards and had the opportunity to sell off the labours of their hard work. This is a process that starts in October when the member secures their animal, and becomes the sole caregiver throughout the winter and spring up until this annual event. The money of the sales goes towards post-secondary education.

The 4-H members are expected to feed their ani-

mals twice a day, morning and night, keep accurate and relevant record books and brush and rinse their animals off weekly.

Jason Frey, the general

4H KID OF MONTH

presented by

leader of the Alameda 4-H Club and spokesperson for the Alameda Regional Show, said his son Joran rinses off his animals every day but also admitted that not everyone is that dedicated. Joran’s hard work paid off, winning this year’s champion twoyear-old cow/calf pair.

There is also a chance for 4-H members to practise their own judging skills.

“They have judging cards and all the kids from the clubs evaluate four steers that the show judges have pulled out of the barn,” said Pamela Dmytriw. “They have to come to a conclusion as to how to place the animals and give a written response.”

LANE REALTY

The judges then compare the members grading to their predetermined own.

“This year they also added oral judging so the kids turned in their cards (not able to see their notes) and had to explain to the judges their placements and why they put them the way they did,” said Dmytriw.

After the livestock judging, there was a team grooming mixer event, where all the members whose home bases are Carnduff, Carlyle, Alameda, Alida and Maryfield split up into teams of three or four people. They were divided up with a mix from all clubs to work together and promote intermingling.

The teams are judged on grooming and the winners received a banner that said Champion Groomers to go with a new comb for their animals to enjoy. Other awards that were given were best record book. All the members submitted their books a month ago for the judges to go through as well as best at showing your animal off

Nelson Motors 4-H Member of the Month: Marisol Gilliland

Marisol Gilliland has been a member of the Carievale 4-H Beef Club for a decade, and she continues to enjoy her experiences.

Gilliland, a 15-year-old in the intermediate age group, said she joined because her cousins were involved, and it looked like they were having a lot of fun. She then convinced her father to let her join. She really enjoys learning about nutrition of the animal, grooming and more.

Gilliland has attended the regional 4-H show and sale in Alameda every year. She has watched how professionals clip and groom their animals. She has been to the Canada Western Agribition on a couple of occasions through 4-H.

At the regional sale, she has had a couple of secondplace and third-place finishes. And at achievement days, she has won showmanship and team grooming awards a couple of times.

The grand champion steer winner this year was Kate Nielson, with reserve champion steer being Amy Gilliland. In the category of female supreme champion was Kirk Rutten, with reserve female supreme champion going to Dylan Frey.

She has participated in the public speaking program each year, which helps her feel more comfortable, and she has made friends through 4-H, not just in Carievale but elsewhere.

The Carievale club is a great one to be a part of, she said.

“They’re all really friendly and they’re all welcoming. We’ve had a couple of new members, and they’ve all had nothing but good things to say about the club, and I really enjoy it,” she said.

Gilliland recommends young people join the Carievale club and be part of 4-H in general. It helps them make new friends and learn new things about their animals.

“It helps you learn about things you should watch out for if they get sick,” she said.

Gilliland hopes to have a ranch of her own one day and apply all of the things she has learned about cattle through 4-H.

As well as the husbandry aspect of 4-H, there is more required to complete the 4-H year. A questionnaire about what you learned has to be filled out as well as putting together a speech and presenting it in public, to hone one’s oratory skills. Top speakers from each age group are chosen from the local district and then move on to regionals. If they are found to be the best at regionals they then go on to provincials. This year provincials were held in Lloydminster

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.

Highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

Payment terms: cheque within 5 working days of bid acceptance by SaskPower.

Note 1

SaskPower does not guarantee any tendered hay to be free of noxious weeds or poisonous plants and is not responsible for any damage caused by insects or other wildlife.

Note 2

The bidder shall ensure that they operate with due consideration for the condition of the property and conditions).

Note 3.

Bales still on the ground after 2023 September 01 will be assessed a fee of 50¢ per bale per month, payable in advance.

Ethan Brooks from Cloverbuds 4-H Club with his steer.

Photo by Pamela Dmytriw

Arts Council hands out scholarships

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Estevan Arts Council promotes arts in many ways, including the annual presentation of scholarships to children who plan to attend art summer camps.

Awards help with expenses and cover artistic summer activities of the kids’ choice, be it theatre, visual arts, music, dance or anything in between.

This year, the organization handed out nine awards. The presentation took place June 14 in the Arts Council room in the leisure centre. Allison Holzer, who is a part of the scholarship committee with the arts council, introduced the recipients that were present and handed them the certificates.

Bly Rucks received support to go to the Souris Valley Theatre’s camp, and she said her goals are to learn more about what happens backstage, acting and eventually directing plays. Sophia Murphy’s award will help her partake in the University of

Saskatchewan’s Community Arts and Artisanship, which is an online eight-week program that will teach painting and drawing. Claire Podovinnikoff will attend the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum’s Colour Craze and Build It art camps.

Taylor Ellis will do the Drewitz School of Dance camp, practising ballet, stretch and musical theatre, and she said she wants to teach in a dance studio one day. Thessa Espina received an award to partake in the SV Theatre’s youth sum-

mer camp. The arts council awarded Cadence Siebert to also join the SV Theatre’s camp, as she wants to grow as an actress. Other bursary recipients were Payton Sernick, Quinn O’Hanlon and Sienna Kuntz.

All award winners will have up to $100 each to go against their summer camp payments.

Arts council president Wilma Mantei thanked the recipients for their interest in arts.

“Thank you for applying

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

PLEASE SUPPORT THE UPCOMING LOBSTERFEST AT AFFINITY PLACE ON FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2023.

for a scholarship, because it starts with you becoming involved with the arts and going farther by taking camps and increasing your knowledge,” Mantei said. “We want to raise citizens in this community with lots of music and arts ability to show it to our community. That is what Estevan Art Council promotes, we promote the arts.

“We also have Koncerts for Kids, which is starting up again this fall, and we have the concert series for everybody. We also have the [Energy City] Film Circuit showing at the [Orpheum] Theatre, and we have pottery through Pottery Club, and visual arts. So there’s lots happening in our community, and I want you to be aware of that. And we’re so glad that you’re starting out young with your arts.”

For more information about Estevan Arts Council’s awards and programs visit their Facebook page or website at estevanartscouncil.org.

ALL THE MONIES RAISED GO BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN

McLeod Avenue

The City of Estevan is undertaking construction for the Watermain replacement. The affected area includes all of Mcleod Avenue. Property access and parking restrictions are to occur. This work will commence June 5, 2023 and will take approximately eight (8) weeks to complete (subject to weather) City of Estevan will perform this work within the current Bylaw 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.

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.

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 2024. Contact City Hall 306-634-1800 for more information.

(1) Monday- Friday June 19-23 Area bounded

Place, Chinook Bay and Hwy 47N Service Road)

(3) Tuesday - Friday July 4-7 Area bounded by Spruce Drive and Princess Street on the North, King Street on the South, Souris Avenue on the West, and Kensington on the East (includes Hillside and Scotsburn regions)

(4) Monday -Friday July 10-14 Area bounded by King Street on the North, CPR Railroad on the South, 14th Ave on the West, and Kensington on the East (includes 7th Street, 8th Street, 9th Street, Centennial, Trojan, and Soo Industrial regions)

The Council of the City of Estevan pursuant to the Cities Act that the Council of the City of Estevan, gives notice of its intention to implement a bylaw for the Sale of Fireworks and Pyrotechnics for the City of Estevan

On June 12, 2023 meeting the first reading of the Bylaw 2023-2074 was passed and the final readings is expected to be on June 26, 2023.

The proposed Bylaws 2023-2074 may be inspected by any person in the City Clerk’s Office, on the main level of City Hall, between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

Dated this 13th day of June, 2023.

Judy Pilloud 1102 4th Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0W7

The Estevan Arts Council presented local children with scholarships to help with summer camp expenses. Participating in the presentation were, back row, from left, president Wilma Mantei, recipients Sophia Murphy, Cadence Siebert and Taylor Ellis, and board members Allison Holzer and Nancy Samoluk Front row, Bly Rucks, Claire Podovinnikoff and Thessa Espina