Estevan Mercury 20230719

Canadian and international students visit CCS facility

Dreams come true. Teen’s wish takes his family on a trip to Georgia.

Agri news. Former Estevan resident wins Stampede buckle. Family passes on organic farming traditions. Details on

A8

Big meet, big wins. Golden Eels claim five dozen medals in local event.

By Ana Bykhovskaia Estevan

hosted a group of international leaders, who one way or another deal with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, last Wednesday.

While summer vacation for most may be reserved for leisure, this was not the case for 32 PhD, postdoctorate, engineering and policy students who had the opportunity to attend the annual International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas (IEAGHG) R&D Programme’s CCS Summer School, which took place July 10-14 in Regina and elsewhere.

Hailing from 29 countries, students were competitively selected on merit, recommendations and a desire to fully immerse themselves in learning about CCS technology.

Storage Facility, the nearby Aquistore CCS storage site as well as the Carbon Capture Test Facility at Shand Power Station.

The students got to witness technology in action, learning how large-scale CCS is a critical tool for achieving the world’s ambitious emissions-reduction targets, and how lessons learned from BD3 and other existing CCS projects can accelerate the deployment of the next generation of the technology across heavy industries around the world.

there were several local and international students involved with Canadian universities.

University of Regina chemical engineering student Toluwanimi Adetunji said from a professional perspective, seeing the carbon capture process live was very interesting, and the network the school creates is beneficial for future development.

Networking and having fun. OTS Oilwomen’s Golf is this week, find more about the event on

The program, which allows for intense learning and multi-level networking, also provided its participants with a first-hand experience of the worldleading CCS facilities in Estevan, including tours of SaskPower’s fully-integrated Boundary Dam Unit 3 (BD3) Carbon Capture and

“I’m very impressed. I’m from South Africa, so I’m very familiar with a lot of coal plants. And it’s quite impressive to see how a coal plant has been [upgraded with a] carbon capture facility,” said one of the participants Tshiamo Moleele, council for geoscience. “The capture plant was really interesting to see, especially seeing the CO2 compressor and realizing how it works.”

Moleele also noted that it’s “really enlightening and inspiring” to see how the Canadian government is putting an effort into carbon capture.

While many students came from outside Canada,

Another chemical engineer involved with the school, Vida Gabriel, who is a co-founder of a direct air carbon captured startup, TerraFixing Inc, based out of Ottawa, said “Visiting the carbon capture facility was incredibly fascinating and so exciting.”

“I’m a chemical engineer by training and am now developing carbon capture technology. Although TerraFixing’s technology differs from SaskPower’s operations in that it captures CO2 from the air rather than from flue gas stacks, there is still so much technological overlap between the technologies,” said Gabriel.

“Being selected as a student for the IEAGHG summer school enabled me to meet and connect with

one of the pioneering carbon capture plant chemical engineers, Jon Ruffini [Jonathan Ruffini, senior production support for CCS at the Boundary Dam Power Station], which was defined as a highlight for me. And, as per the CCS knowledge center’s mission, I’ll be able to learn from all of their lessons learned as we scale up our technology and build our pilot, with many opportunities to collaborate.

She feels that carbon capture technologies are not talked about enough and she hopes to work on furthering education about it when back in Ottawa.

Emma Loizeaux, who is a social scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, said “Understanding technologies is really key to understanding how they intersect with social processes,” which is what her research is on, and the Estevan field trip strongly benefitted it.

The group arrived in Estevan Wednesday morning and spent the entire day in the Energy City. Tim Dixon, IEAGHG general manager, was a part of the tour along with other mentors and some sponsors.

Riding for blind children. Military police relay makes a stop in Estevan.

This year the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme CCS Summer School attracted 32 PhD, post-doctorate, engineering and policy students. Along with mentors and program sponsors, they were in Estevan on July 12 to tour local world-leading carbon capture and storage facilities. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

The Estevan RCMP invited the community to join them in celebrating the organization’s 150th birthday.

The festivities were held at Rotary Park inside Woodlawn Regional Park. Admission to the park was waived for the day, and guests were treated to a free lunch and cake. A variety of bouncy castles were installed at the location for the kids.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police marked its 150th anniversary of service to the public and security of the country on May 23.

“This major historical milestone is a chance to reflect on our storied past and show pride in our RCMP family. It also allows us to consider

how we continue on the path to a more modern, inclusive and trusted RCMP,” the RCMP said on their website.

“We serve with honour to keep Canada and Canadians safe from coast to coast to coast. It’s the amazing people, our employees and the communities we serve that keep us filled with pride and purpose.”

The RCMP has over 658 detachments across Canada. They have 134 working dog teams and 122 police service horses, over 12,300 vehicles, 34 aircraft and 332 marine assets. The celebrations of the milestone anniversary are held all across the country throughout 2023.

Students to implement knowledge at work and in research

“We are very excited to be bringing the International CCS Summer School and these bright and motivated international students to Saskatchewan and the International CCS Knowledge Centre for the fourth time.

Saskatchewan is recognized globally as a centre of excellence on CCUS, with the International CCS Knowledge Centre and SaskPower’s Boundary Dam CCS project. It is the best location in the world to learn about CCUS,” said Dixon.

He noted that the competition to join the school

this year was indeed intense, and they put a lot of effort into ensuring a really wellrounded and diversified group of leaders who will benefit from the program in their careers and research.

The IEAGHG International CCS Summer School travels annually around the globe to different host countries. However, it has returned to Regina, the only repeat city, for the fourth time. The draw to this location is the International CCS Knowledge Centre, based in the Saskatchewan capital, which provides a

unique, hands-on CCS experience through tours to Estevan.

BD3 is the world’s first and only CCS facility on a commercial power plant.

It has captured and safely stored more than five million tonnes of CO2 since it began operation in October 2014.

“The International CCS Knowledge Centre is proud to host such a diverse group of students who can take the technical and strategic expertise gained from this summer school forward around the globe to truly

make a difference in the climate change fight and build a better world for future generations,” said James Millar, president and CEO of the International CCS Knowledge Centre.

The IEAGHG, as the proprietor of the CCS summer school – now in its 15th year – aims to broaden the knowledge base around CCS in industrialized and developing countries, particularly at an academic level. Throughout an intensive week of learning, the CCS summer school programme covers every aspect of CCS,

from technical, such as capture, transport, storage and industrial uses, to regulation, policy, financing and communication.

Along with international students, the summer school attracts global experts with the most recent information available in each field. With 677 alumni representing over 59 countries, the summer school has played a key role in many moving on to successful careers within the CCS industry and academia.

Dixon shared some of their graduates’ success sto-

ries. He said he recently received an email from a 2009 participant, who took the knowledge obtained through the school to Trinidad and Tobago, which is now progressing on CCS. Another student became a CCS champion in Guyana, and many others had success with implementing knowledge and using connections they built through the program.

This year’s event took place at the University of Regina. Next year will see international CCS leaders gathering in Australia.

Funding for Highway 33 resurfacing announced

Highway 33 between Stoughton and Fillmore is to be resurfaced in the coming months.

“Our government is in Year 4 of the Growth Plan

and we made some commitments to Saskatchewan people including a pledge to improve 10,000 kilometres in a decade,” Highways Minister Jeremy Cockrill said Friday.

“Our construction crews are working all over the province making improvements to our transportation network, which will improve safety and enhance key transportation corridors.”

The 38-kilometre repaving project between Fillmore and Stoughton will also include four intersection improvements. Construction began earlier this

month and is expected to continue through most of the summer.

“Maintaining and improving rural highway infrastructure is important for the people who work, live and visit our communities,” RM of Fillmore Reeve Russell Leguee said.

“The upgrades to Highway 33 will positively contribute to the safe and reliable movement of agricultural

commodities to markets domestically and globally.

“Ensuring connectivity between communities and providing safe and reliable roads ensures a better quality of life for people living in rural areas.”

The general contractor is Langenburg Redi-Mix of Regina.

Drivers can expect delays with multiple work zones in the area at times. Traffic will be guided by a pilot vehicle. Remember to travel no faster than 60 kilometres per hour through the work zone, be extra cautious and obey all signs.

A weekly highway construction update is published on Saskatchewan. ca to provide drivers with the latest details on projects underway, to help plan safe and efficient travel.  If you’re planning to travel, check the Highway Hotline, which provides up-todate information on construction, emergency road closures, the status of ferries, barges and other road activities. Information is also available by calling 5-1-1. The provincial government says more than 4,600 km of highways have been improved over the last four years.

We would like to thank the Estevan Legion, Co-ops, Estevan Motors and everyone who made the Legion supper possible, all who donated in anyway, time or financially.

We want to thank the Co-ops for BBQ and for it’s donation to the Cancer Society in Leigh-Ann Tessier’s name. She truly enjoyed being part of the Co-op family for 18 years. we would like to thank Hall’s Funeral Home for their service. We want to thank everyone for their warm wishes and prayers. for Darrel’s recovery. The Estevan community has been amazing.

Sincerely: The McGillicky And Tessier Families

Jake, Mia and Jarren Senchuk, along with Const. Kyle Secord with the Estevan RCMP, were out at Rotary Park on Thursday celebrating the RCMP’s 150th birthday.

Jonathan Ruffini, senior production support for CCS at the Boundary Dam Power Station, took students on a tour around Boundary Dam Unit 3, explaining the carbon capture processes in action.

Trever McNabb, chemical services manager with SaskPower, showed the students around the Boundary Dam Power Station.

Military police coast-to-coast relay hits Estevan

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 60 of Estevan did its part in supporting the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay and their cause – raising funds and awareness for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children.

Five bikers made a stop in Estevan on July 10 while on their way from Victoria, B.C., to St. John’s, N.L. After a few years of B.C.-only rides, Ray Lyver, who is the national chairman and a retired military police officer, organized a coast-to-coast ride this year, in which he was joined by his uncle, reservist Dan Lyver, and two civilians, Joel Armstrong and Mark Kornell.

For the southeastern stretch of the relay, the group was also joined by Owen White, sergeant-atarms with Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 47 of Weyburn.

The Estevan legion members invited the cross-Canada riders to come have a rest in their air-conditioned club room, providing them with refreshments, some information about the branch and a South East Military Museum tour, as well as with a $500 donation that will be used to help children with visual disabilities.

The ride started on July 1 in Victoria and will end July 26 in St. John’s, after which the riders will need

to get back to B.C. The riders cover all their expenses themselves, and 100 per cent of the money they raise during the ride goes to the fund.

The Military Police Fund for Blind Children was set up in 1957 in honour of a military policeman’s blind daughter, Moira Stone, who passed away in her teens, Armstrong said. The fundraising relay is in its 15th year. “We ride from coast to coast in order to raise awareness and money for the charity,” Armstrong explained.

He noted that the relay followed the same route for 10 years until the former leader stepped back. Right after that, the pandemic hit, forcing the relay to develop a new route through B.C. only. That approach was taken for three years, until this year, when the new leader decided to resurrect the national ride. He also developed a new route, which brought the group to Estevan.

“We’re taking a totally different route than what’s been done before. And we’re meeting new people and making new contacts to try and build it bigger and better,” Armstrong said.

He noted that the fundraising is going well. From July 1-10, they were able to raise over $26,000.

Over the past 14 years, the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay has raised $850,000 for blind children,

and Ray Lyver is aiming at hitting the $1 million mark soon, Armstrong said.

Participants utilize various ways to fundraise for the cause.

“Because it’s military police, a large amount of it is through contact with legions; they are primary supporters for sure, partly with meals and refreshments and air conditioning, but also with donations from legions. But it’s also the riders themselves. I sought sponsorship for myself, and Mark and I together fundraised $4,500 from friends and family and community. And then

sometimes we just meet people along the way, and as we tell them about what we’re doing they [donate] as well,” Armstrong explained.

The group of four also welcomes local riders to join them for any portion of the ride.

Armstrong also shared his story of joining the initiative and meeting some of the beneficiaries, supported by the fund.

“We met a young lady, she was blind, in addition to being wheelchair bound, in addition to having tremors, in addition to being barely verbal. And the blind fund helped her by buying her a special sewing machine that she could use as a blind person. And she sews and makes adult bibs for people with disabilities like her that often spill their food because of their physical handicap,” said Armstrong.

“It hasn’t changed her condition, but it’s given her a sense of purpose that she can do something that helps other people and it makes her a little bit of money, so it made her feel valuable.

“And about two years ago, we had a young man Isaac, 12 at the time, who actu-

ally travelled with us with his parents and came on the ride. He was born with a neurological issue where his reflexes didn’t form the way they should. As a newborn, he couldn’t swallow ... It took years to get him to where he could eat normally … But his eyes similarly were functional, but they wouldn’t track together, he couldn’t focus on things, he couldn’t track movement, he had no depth perception. When he first went to school, the other kids discovered that they could just walk up to him and hit him.

“So by six years old, in Grade 1, he was suicidal. His single mother was diagnosed with breast cancer … Through a chance encounter, she ran into the guy who was leading the ride at the time and got connected with the charity. They found out about some specialized treatment for his condition, and the charity bought him a $6,000 pair of glasses to start trying to help his brain figure out how to use his eyes.

“I’m told the first words out of his mouth when he tried on his new glasses were, ‘Mom, is that what you

look like?’ So at 12 years old, he’d had enough treatment that he was able to come on a ride with us and he was able to read his handwritten story to the people at the legions explaining how the charity had helped.

“And along the ride … we’d arranged a baseball game with one fire department. They were destroying us, of course, because half of us can barely walk when we get off a motorcycle. But when Isaac got up to play, they lobbed him a ball and he hit it. They fumbled it on purpose, and then they overthrew first base, so he got the only home run of the game, which was a lifechanging moment for him.

“And for us, just to know that he was legally blind and suicidal at age six, and at age 12 he hit a baseball, was like ‘That’s why we do it,’” Armstrong shared. For more information about the relay, to follow their route live and also to support the Military Police Fund for Blind Children visit the MP National Motorcycle Relay website or check out their Military Police National Motorcycle Relay Facebook page.

Estevan U13 Brewers win league championship

The Estevan U13 AA Brewers capped a dominant season in league play by winning the Baseball Regina championship.

Estevan defeated the Swift Current 57s 16-6 Monday afternoon at Mel Murray Cactus Park to win the title.

The Brewers led 2-0 after the first inning, and then added six runs in the second and five in the third for a 13-0 advantage.

The 57s scored all of their runs in the fourth inning, but Estevan would get three more before the end of the game to dash any hopes of a Swift Current comeback.

A large crowd turned out to watch the game, with most of them rooting for the Brewers.

The Brewers went 19-1 in the

regular season to finish with the best record in their league and they went 4-0 in the playoffs.

Estevan opened the Baseball Regina postseason with a 12-2 win over the Davidson Cardinals in five innings last Tuesday.

Their next game was a 14-4 win over the Lumsden Cubs on Thursday night. That win put them into the semifinal, which was their toughest game, an 11-10 victory over the 57s.

The Brewers will now focus on the Baseball Sask. U13 AA Tier 1 provincial tournament, which is slated for July 21-23 in Moose Jaw.

It was the second league title in eight days for an Estevan Brewers team. Last week, the U11 AAs won the Baseball Regina championship for their division.

From left, Dan Lyver, Joel Armstrong, Mark Kornell and Ray Lyver were joined by Owen White, sergeant-at-arms with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 47 of Weyburn, for the southeast Saskatchewan portion of the moto relay, supporting blind children. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Quinton Dosch of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 60 of Estevan, middle, presented a cheque to the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay participants Ray and Dan Lyver, Joel Armstrong and Mark Kornell, who were joined by Weyburn’s Owen White for the southeastern portion of the ride.

The Estevan U13 AA Brewers gather for a group photo after winning the Baseball Regina league title. Photo courtesy of Wanda Harron Photography

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EDITORIAL

Some intrigue remains for byelections, even if they’re in the summer

You have to wonder how many people are going to be fired up about having a byelection in the summer months, even in the ridings where the votes are scheduled.

The governing Saskatchewan Party announced earlier this month that voters would go to the polls in three different constituencies – Lumsden-Morse, Regina-Coronation Park and Regina-Walsh Acres – on Aug. 10.

The Lumsden-Morse riding has been vacant since long-time MLA Lyle Stewart stepped down for health reasons. ReginaWalsh Acres has been without a representative since Derek Meyers, who hailed from Midale, tragically died from cancer.

Meanwhile, Regina-Coronation Park has been without a representative in the legislature since Mark Docherty announced he was stepping down. Docherty hasn’t endeared himself to the party’s faithful of late after questioning the direction it has taken under Premier Scott Moe.

At any level, one of the fundamentals to success in an election is getting your voters to the polls. It’s even more imperative in a byelection. Voter turnout is traditionally lower. People just aren’t as interested as they are in a general election.

Remember last year when the Sask. Party pulled off a big upset over the New Democratic Party by winning a byelection in Athabasca – a riding that has traditionally been an NDP stronghold? The defeat was so bad for the NDP that it was seem-

ingly the last straw in Ryan Meili’s forgettable leadership of the party.

You can be sure the NDP will be saying “Yeah, but it was a byelection” when voters go to the polls in Athabasca next year. At the same time, when a favourite loses a byelection, they have nobody to blame but themselves.

It’s pretty easy to predict who will win in Lumsden-Morse. It’s long been a Sask. Party stronghold, regardless of what the constituency has been named. (It used to be Thunder Creek). If the Sask. Party were to lose, it would be an even bigger upset than when the NDP lost Athabasca.

But the Regina ridings will be interesting to watch. It’s terrible that we’re talking about the race in Regina-Walsh Acres. Meyers was elected to be the riding’s MLA in 2020, and many people no doubt thought the personable and articulate man who was a successful broadcaster would be the MLA for years to come.

But his victory was relatively close, just 600 votes.

Docherty’s win was even closer, at less than 300 votes. You have to wonder how many people in his riding agree with Docherty’s recent comments.

The Sask. Party candidate also won’t have the incumbent’s advantage that Docherty had in 2020 after nearly a decade in the role.

If the Sask. Party wins three or even two of the ridings, they’ll tout it as a reflection

that they’ve chartered the province in the right direction, that they have created opportunities for everyone. The NDP will likely be pleased to win one of these seats, giving them six of the 12 Regina ridings in the legislature.

Two wins in Regina? They’d be celebrating, and you have to wonder if it means the Sask. Party would amend their direction.

The Sask. Party is at no risk of losing the next election. Not at this point. But they might find themselves with fewer MLAs come the October 2024 vote.

It’s unfortunate that these votes are happening in the summer months when they could have occurred earlier. We know, there are limited opportunities to have elections in Saskatchewan. These ridings have been vacant since February and March.

Have an election in May? Farmers are seeding, although that wouldn’t be as big of a deal in the Regina ridings. There’s a lot of activities happening in June. But you would have had more attention for a mid-June vote than one in August.

People are away from home. They’re at their cabin at a lake. They’re enjoying outdoor activities. They aren’t thinking about who to vote for in a by-election, unless they’re really hooked on politics.

Consequently, interest and voter turnout will be low.

But it will still be interesting to see what transpires.

When did butterflies turn into moths and flowers become weeds? Ana

The other day, I was going by a window in the house and noticed a big moth. My first reaction was “Phooey”.

But it opened its wings, and … a flashback. Little me with a handmade net spending days and nights out in wildflower fields until my grandparents dragged me home. I was hunting anything that could fly, be it sleepy moths hanging out at dusk time, fireflies hypnotizing me at night, small blue noisy dragonflies, nimble grasshoppers or actual butterflies, which seem like a real treasure to most of the kids.

Back then I knew for sure that all of those creatures were indeed beautiful, and so were frogs and even toads, lizards, mermen and all kinds of bugs, but not spiders for some reason. (I have been afraid of those eight-legged, eight-eyed monsters throughout my entire life).

Back then I also knew that all flowers were gorgeous, and I couldn’t understand why grandma would nurture some, feeding, watering and weeding them, while others she didn’t like at all, and she made my cousin and me go pull them out. Dandelions and bindweed’s little white bells looked as attractive to me as marigolds or zinnias.

Peonies, roses and lilies, on the other hand, inspired my respect and made me a bit afraid. They looked very aristocratic, like something that could come from the store, so I wouldn’t come anywhere close, too afraid of getting into trouble if something goes wrong while I’m around those fancy flowers. But some daisies grandma planted every year looked like the ones I was tasked to extricate, which didn’t make much sense.

Bykhovskaia

And then there were wildflowers, which grandma would approve for a bouquet for the table, but not for the garden. So, in the adult world, they were better than weeds but worse than cultivated flowers.

In my world they all were flowers. The word flower in my narrow vocabulary was a synonym for beauty, which in its turn, was very close to happiness.

Back then I knew nothing about invasive species or moths, eating fur coats in the closet. Then, anything that was unique, was beautiful. And everything seemed unique for a young eye. Every rock, every piece of glass, every leaf, every creature, every emotion, and every minute of every day were inimitable. And I treasured them all, not making any difference. (I still remember grandma’s grumpy look when I brought her a bouquet of thistle one day. But I have to give her credit - despite her dispraise, she did put my “flowers” in a vase for a day.)

I’m not sure when it changed. As I grew older, without notice, flowers that were a symbol of beauty turned into ugly weeds that need to be sprayed, and magnificent butterflies I was collecting to be like Nabokov turned into gross moths. And with that, the rest of the world’s uniqueness was also fading.

I’m sure most of you, my readers, can

resonate with my frustration. I look back at my week nowadays and all I can recollect is just a couple of things that kept me busy. Too often I drive to the farm or Regina and don’t even notice the landscape. I miss deer hiding in blooming canola fields (as long as they are not on the road, right?) and curious owls sitting on power poles. I don’t sense emotions and feelings as well. Too often, I don’t realize how exceptional some happenings and minutes are, as I’m in a hurry to get things done.

My brain notices things I’ve seen before and sweeps them under the “been there, done that” carpet. And in a rush of daily life, I either don’t even notice them consciously, or take them as something ordinary and boring, like that moth on the window.

We grow up and get used to things, to open up space and time to learn and take on new endeavours. I’m sure it’s all a part of the smart adjustment process we all go through to be efficient. But I also think it’s a choice to pay more attention to the world around, to see, rather than just watch, to hear rather than just listen, and to feel rather than nod and skip.

I watched that moth for some time, and believe it or not, I could see a butterfly again.

It’s mid-July already and winter will be here in no time, so after meeting that moth, I made a promise to myself to try noticing as many warm and beautiful moments of this summer as possible in real-time and not in a retrospective. It may not go too far, but I know I’ll notice more than before.

The boys of summer’s unforgettable year Take a deeper look at previous provincial election numbers

The editor:

It’s been a truly special year for Estevan Minor Baseball’s Brewers program.

Two teams, the U11 and U13 AAs, won Baseball Regina league championships after also winning regular season titles. The U11 AAs likely didn’t have the results they wanted at provincials, but they still had what was undeniably a memorable year. The U13s will be at provincials this weekend.

The U15 AA Brewers had a strong season in league play and made it to their provincial semifinal. The U18 AA Brewers have had a great year in league play, too.

To top it off, the Southeast U18 AAA Twins, which play home games in Estevan and have a number of Estevan players, are having one of the best seasons in their program’s history.

Seasons like this don’t come around often. You’ll often see a couple of teams thrive. One team might be okay. Another will struggle. So to have five teams all having great campaigns, it should be savoured by everyone involved, because you don’t know when it will happen again.

Obviously, youth sports are about far more than just wins and losses. Baseball is no different. Above all else, it’s about helping these kids find a love for the sport and building their skills year after year. It’s about making friends, creating memories and learning some of the life lessons and skills that can be built through sport.

It’s why kids all have to be given the chance to play, especially at the lower levels.

And teams are tasked with getting kids ready to play at the next age group, because they only get two years in most divisions.

But winning is still fun. It makes the season go by a little quicker, it makes the road trips a little more enjoyable (especially the ride home after a victory) and it makes all of the practices that much better. If you win a provincial title, well, maybe there’s a trip to Western Canadians in the offing, perhaps to a community you’ve never been to previously.

Looking back years later, an adult might not view the season with a championship as their favourite, but there’s always pride when they return to the ballpark and see a championship banner.

Local minor baseball isn’t just about the Brewers, either. The age-rep. teams might get the attention and the accolades after winning a title. But these are just one team in each age group.

The Brewers give kids something to aspire to, but age-rep. teams don’t exist without the minor ball organization. And minor ball doesn’t exist without all of the house league teams in each age group who account for the bulk of the players, coaches and volunteers.

And there are also all of the players in the age groups that are too young to have a AA team.

It’s great to see Estevan Minor Baseball rewarded for its efforts of the past few years. Last year was memorable. The U13 Brewers won a Western Canada Baseball Championship, the second ever for Estevan Minor Baseball. They did it as the host team, and they won convincingly, too.

The U15 Brewers made it to the final of Westerns, and the U18 Brewers were in the semifinal round.

Estevan hosted provincials in 2021 and 2022 as well, reminding people in Saskatchewan’s baseball community about the facilities we have here, the people we have and all that we can offer.

It’s been great to see minor baseball carry over the momentum of last year. It’s meant a lot of celebrations for the kids, a lot of post-game high fives, and a lot of excitement for the ride home.

If they don’t have the same success next year, does that mean it’s a failure? Of course not.

Last year the Estevan Softball Association added two provincial titles to their list of accomplishments. It was wonderful to see. But that doesn’t mean this year was a waste if they don’t win anything. In the end, it can’t be their primary focus.

Championships and banners are nice, and at the professional level, they can be the be-all and end-all. But when dealing with athletes aren’t old enough to drive yet, there’s more to the game than winning.

Still, regardless of how the remaining teams fare this season, hopefully the players realize how lucky they have to be part of a season like this.

I read with interest your editorial, The push for the provincial election has begun (July 5, 2023), in the Estevan Mercury. The paragraph that really caught my eye was when you stated that in 2020, Estevan MLA Lori Carr was re-elected with 62 per cent, the lowest share of the

popular vote for a Saskatchewan Party candidate since Doreen Eagles in 2003. While this is true, there is more to the story as the popular vote share in 2003 was not a decrease.

I was a candidate for the Saskatchewan Party in 1999. You will recall that this was the first general election the newly-formed Saskatchewan Party ran in.

For the 1999 election, I received 46.88 per cent of the popular vote. In 2003, this increased to 51.32 per cent, a jump of 4.44 per cent.

In 2007, I had 66.18 per cent, a 14.86 per cent jump, and in 2011, the last election I ran in, it was 79.24 per cent, a 13.06 per cent surge.

The result in 2016 was 77.25 per cent for the Sask. Party, a 1.39 per cent de-

crease, and in 2020, a 15.42 per cent decline. I don’t think it’s fair to make the comparison of results of a newly-formed party to the same party now that it is well-established.

Dorren Eagles Macoun

Editor’s note: Eagles was the Estevan MLA from 1999-2016

Estevan teen’s wish comes true thanks to foundation

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Estevan’s Liam McIntyre’s start to life wasn’t easy, as he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after he was born.

He learned early how to fight and live with the disease, while also helping and inspiring people around him.

He’s been brave and strong in his journey, leading others, and a few years ago his CF support team decided they should do something special for Liam, so they applied to have his wish granted through the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

“We’ve been planning for his Make-a-Wish since before COVID,” shared Liam’s mother, Kasey McIntyre, who was part of his Make-a-Wish journey along with his father Ken and sister Abigail.

She noted the Makea-Wish Foundation is for children that have critical, but not necessarily terminal illnesses. It allowed

Liam’s wish to qualify for the program, which covers the expenses of kids’ wishes coming true.

Liam’s initial wish was

to go to a university to see how they ran computer programming, as he wanted to be a video game designer one day. But as time passed, he decided he probably would go to a college for computer programming and changed his wish.

He chose to go to Six Flags Over Georgia, which is a 290-acre theme park located in Mableton, and to a waterpark. Make-aWish Canada and Makea-Wish Georgia collaborated to make this happen, Kasey noted.

Even though the family learned Liam’s new wish was granted about a year ago, they kept it a secret as much as they could until the reveal party right before the trip.

“It was pretty exciting for me. It happened as a surprise party at the Tower,” shared Liam, who thought he was coming for his grandma’s birthday.

Once the surprise was revealed, the family headed

out on a week’s journey in Georgia.

“I got to go to Six Flags and Margaritaville,” Liam shared, adding that he ended up liking the water park and its slides the best. Abigail said that Margaritaville was her favourite part of the trip as well.

“And there were other things to do in the city,” Kasey added. “They got us into their aquarium, and if anybody ever goes I would 100 per cent recommend going to the aquarium, it’s just a wonderful family day.”

The foundation covered all expenses associated with the trip and planned three days of activities, leaving the other days open for the family to enjoy Georgia at their own pace.

“We had a lot of fun, good memories were done. It’s hard to believe we’re back home and back to normal things. But it was really pretty,” Kasey said.

“Just real, real good time together.”

Ken, Abigail, Liam and Kasey McIntyre made a stop at the Georgia Aquarium during their Make-a-Wish trip to the U.S. Photos courtesy of Kasey McIntyre

Liam and Abigail McIntyre at Margaritaville, at Lake Lanier, which Liam said was his favourite stop of the adventure.

David Willberg Willberg’s World

| Wednesday, July 19, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca A6

Scotsburn Dental celebrates grand reopening

The Scotsburn Dental Clinic and Scotsburn Orthodontic celebrated the completion of renovations and the addition of new services during a grand reopening on Saturday.

A large crowd gathered at the business’ building on King Street throughout the morning and early afternoon. Office manager Stacey Wempe said they wanted to have something fun to mark the milestone.

“It was a community event and it was fun for the whole family. We probably had hundreds of people,” said Wempe, who was surprised with the turnout.

Bouncy castles were set up in the business’ parking lot. The Paw Patrol

and Buzz Lightyear came by to greet children, and a few people provided face painting for the kids, which Wempe said was a popular offering. Breakfast, lunch and ice cream were all served.

People could also enjoy office tours.

“It was a busy day for everyone, but everyone really liked the idea that it was a family fun day, so we had … all ages come,” Wempe said.

There were draws during the day as well.

Wempe viewed the festivities as a great way to give back to the community for their support, and to further build teamwork among the employees.

She had the idea for the grand reopening format after attending the street fair hosted by the Estevan Downtown Business Association on Fourth Street in August 2022. She saw everyone having fun and she thought the parking lot for Scotsburn Dental and Orthodontics was the perfect site.

The expansion allowed them to fit in more chairs due to the growth of the business. They also now have an orthodontist who comes to Estevan once a month.

The expansion was completed in December 2022 and everything has been working well since it was finished, Wempe said.

Yoga festival brought many people to Estevan

The third annual OM Yoga Festival was not only an opportunity for participants to practise their yoga techniques, but it was an opportunity to receive tips on mindfulness and wellness.

Nearly 70 people, including the instructors, attended the event, held Saturday and Sunday at Rotary Park inside Woodlawn Regional Park. Kim Mayuk, who owns the OM Yoga Studio in Estevan and organizes the festival, said this year’s event was the biggest one yet, thanks to growth in the participant and attendee list.

“We had more people travelling from other provinces, so that was great,” said Mayuk.

The event had some new instructors to go along

with some favourites. A few of those guiding the sessions were from the Estevan area. In addition to conventional yoga classes, the registrants enjoyed aerial and acro yoga, along with meditation, wellness workshops, live music and sound healing.

The acro yoga was new for this year, and Mayuk said it proved to be a hit.

“It’s partner yoga, where you balance on other people’s hands and feet, so that’s definitely new to Estevan,” said Mayuk. “It’s never been here before; we’ve never had anyone teach it before. It was a great thing for the community.”

Rotary Park also hosted the OMazing Market, which was open to the public. Wellness vendors

and healers came from across the Prairies.

A vegan/vegetarian lunch was created by Freshii Weyburn both days, and Mayuk said it was “awesome”.

Another highlight for Mayuk was courtesy of Sarah Garden, who offered a presentation on the art and science of relaxation.

“With the increasing anxiety in people, especially after the pandemic, [she talked about] how to regulate your nervous system,” said Mayuk.

The other presentations were also well-received, she said.

Mayuk noted this is one of a small number of yoga festivals happening in Canada this summer. There are wellness retreats in Alberta, but nothing that she said is classified as a yoga

festival. Many of the big festivals in Canada shut down following the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

“I think the closest one happening to here is in Colorado,” said Mayuk.

Among those who registered, 15-20 of the participants were from the Estevan area. Others came from throughout Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. Those from outside of the city stayed at hotels or camped at Woodlawn Regional Park.

“We had a lot of participants camp right at Woodlawn because then they could walk to the festival grounds and even some of our teachers … who came from Regina and elsewhere, they stayed at the campground.”

A large crowd turned out for the grand reopening celebration at the Scotsburn Dental Clinic and Scotsburn Orthodontic.

Sarah Garden offered tips on relaxation during the festival.

Taylor Dunnigan with Boho Hair Flare worked on the hair of Kirsten Rheindel

A7

Wednesday, July 19, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca

CCS facility captured nearly 150,000 tonnes of CO2

SaskPower’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility was available 70 per cent of the time from April 1-June 30, capturing 148,938 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) during the three-month span.

The numbers were released by the Crown corporation on Thursday.

The CCS facility was offline for much of May for what SaskPower described as semi-annual, routine maintenance and cleaning. Unplanned issues at Boundary Dam Unit 3 delayed the restart of the facility into June. The CCS plant cannot operate when Unit 3 is offline.

The 70 per cent online

figure is lower than the 75 per cent target that SaskPower has for CCS. It is also the lowest figure since SaskPower began releasing the CCS site’s performance report on a quarterly rather than a monthly basis in mid-2022.

Unit 3 at Boundary Dam was available 70.5 per cent of the time in the second quarter, below its target of 80 per cent.

The acid plant was online 58.3 per cent of the time, below the target of 70 per cent. The plant has reached the 70 per cent threshold just twice in the past five quarters.

And 927 tonnes of sulphuric acid were produced,

below the expected level of 1,200 tonnes.

While online, the CCS facility had a daily average capture rate of 2,365 tonnes, with a peak one-day capture of 2,790 tonnes. This resulted in an emissions intensity of 444 tonnes of CO2 per gigawatt hour, which is within the current federal carbon tax threshold of 549 tonnes of CO2 per gigawatt hour.

So far this year, 375,124 tonnes of CO2 have been captured through the CCS facility at Boundary Dam, and 5,376,837 tonnes of CO2 have been kept from entering the Earth’s atmosphere since CCS went online in October 2014.

Drewitz students receive ballet exam results

Students from the Drewitz School of Dance in Estevan, under the direction of Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway and assistant teacher Hunter Hildebrand, recently received their ballet exam results from London.

A new Royal Academy of Dance curriculum has been implemented in the past few years and it is slowly taking effect in professional dance studios worldwide.

The marking system and medals are now introduced for each grade in bronze (pass), silver (merit or high merit) and gold (distinction). Eighty-two examinations took place and all candidates were successful.

“With ballet being the fundamental discipline in dance, children are encouraged to participate in examinations which are an individual goal for them,” the dance studio said in a news release.

The examiner was Sharon Smith.

Students were strategically marked in all specified areas: technique, posture,

musicality, presentation, character and their dances. The standard required to pass is worldwide throughout all countries.

Examinations for this session were for students in primary to Grade 5, Grades 6-8 and vocational.

Recently-received results are as follows:

Primary grade:

Distinction – Brinley Wilson;

High merit – Norah Graham and Addison Melle.

Grade 1:

Distinction – Sofia Erana-Schmegelsky;

High merit – Lexey Lievaart, Emma Salkeld, Ivy Eskra, Mckinley Gabert, Desiree Krahn and Ellise Mayuk;

Merit – Taylor Curtis.

Grade 2:

High merit – Alice Mowchenko, Eva Gedak, Zélie Roy-Cennon, Gabrielle Morales and Grace Hall;

Merit – Tyler Zabel, Aubrie Jorgenson and Brooklyn Morissette.

Grade 3:

Distinction – Natalie Currie and Sofia Carritt;

High merit – Ella Smyth, Silver Gardiner, Keira Kessler, Madison Zukewich and Coco Mercer; Merit – Rowan Grimes, Aubree Marchuk, Aspen Mayuk, Kayleigh Reed and Kathryn Orlowski-Lever.

Grade 4:

High merit – Rylee Johnston, Ava Mann, Sierra Mantei and Sophia Deitz; Merit – Taylor Ellis, Summer Gardiner, Elizabeth Harmsworth, Kelsie Wilson and Emma Morhart.

Grade 5:

High merit – Brooke Dzeryk, Payton Sernick and Marin Burnett; Merit – Sydney Lainton, Tegan Mosley, Cana Marsh and Audie-Rae Richardson.

Grade 6:

High merit – Sydney Ross, Josie Hurren, Elliana Wiebe and Layla Kitz; Merit – Scarlett Mercer, Peyton Irwin, Alexis Paton, Mercedes Irwin and Sienna Kuntz.

Grade 7: High merit – Sophia Fleck, Tyann Babyak and Kerison Burnett; Merit – Hailey Taylor,

Black cow reported missing from Alida

Livestock Services of Saskatchewan is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a black cow that was reported missing from a pasture north of Alida.

The agency said circumstances surrounding the missing animal are deemed suspicious. The cow is not branded, but did have a white tag with 40 C in the left ear.

The cow has a split right ear and has white near the udder.

If you have information related to this advisory please call your local RCMP detachment or Livestock Services of Saskatchewan at 306-5465086.

OF THE TRADE

Rowyn Siever and Samantha Carritt.

Grade 8: High Merit – Marley Nashiem;

Merit – Halle Adams RAD vocational exam results: Advanced 1 Vocational Merit – Jersey Long.

An investigation has started into a missing black cow.

Photo courtesy of Livestock Services of Saskatchewan

Grade 2 exam participants

Alice Mowchenko, Zélie Roy-Cennon, Grace Hall and Brooklyn Morissette. Photo courtesy of Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Wendy Wenaas just claimed her third Calgary Stampede buckle in team cattle penning. Her teammates in this year’s competition were Jen Fleming and Hope Elkins.

A former Estevan resident, Wenaas won her first Stampede open-class buckle in 2000. The second one came in 10-class in 2021. This year saw her claiming her third Stampede 14-class buckle, but she says winning at this biggest competition never gets old.

“They’re all just as sweet,” Wenaas said. “To win the Calgary Stampede can never happen too many times. The excitement of the crowd that’s there, the camaraderie of your teammates and even those that you compete against. It’s a sport that you need a good horse, you have to have the skill and the mindset, and you have to have a little bit of luck because cattle placement has a lot to do with it too.”

Wenaas left the Energy City close to 40 years ago, but she says Estevan was the place where she found her love for horses.

“I fell in love and got an interest in horses while I lived in Estevan,” Wenaas recalled. “We had a couple

By Nicole Northild

Ian and Jo-Anne

Cushon

have both been involved in the International Rural Exchange (IRE) over the years and are partners in Moose Creek Organic Farm north of Oxbow.

They are continuing the farming tradition that started with Ian’s grandparents in the 1920s, which has been passed down to their children. Their son Liam is a partner on the farm and their daughter Anna works there in the summers while not in university.

Ian and Jo-Anne may argue about who was the first one to phone the other after they had met. Their love was possible thanks to them meeting in Saskatoon while Ian was attending the National Farmers Union conference and Jo-Anne was attending the University of Saskatchewan.

In the early 1980s, Ian went overseas on an agriculture exchange in New Zealand, at Canterbury Plains, on a farm that was a mix of crops and 3,000 sheep.

“For the first two weeks, all I did was make work using a hand hoe before they

of Shetland ponies; that was my start into the horse business. We boarded them at the community pasture, which was right by the city graveyard, so that’s where I started with horses and then upgraded from there a little bit while still in Estevan.

“I didn’t have fancy horses back then, but I had a love of competition at a young age. It didn’t matter what it was, whether it was playing high-school sports, or going to Lignite Louis Days and competing on my horse there in some of the gymkhana events. My love of competition has always

got an idea of what I could do,” Ian said. “The farm was close to the coast and had a huge river with salmon and snow-capped mountains in the spring. Unlike here the animals could be on pasture all year round.”

Cushon’s own involvement as a foster family in the exchange program was a little slower, as there was already eight families in the area that were signed up before them. But in 2007, they jumped in fully and since then have had strong ties with the IRE, with Ian serving terms on the board and every year welcoming one or two foreign young adults into their homes and Canadian culture.

Most of the trainees that have come to the farm have been from Switzerland.

“They are really skilled kids, having taken two years of farm school. A lot come with more skill than I have in mechanics. I’ve learned a lot,” said Ian. “We have had all types of personalities. It is important to be patient and work with who they are.”

Through the years they have gotten many wedding invitations and baby pictures, and a collection

been there, but I didn’t take the horse competition to the next level until I moved to Alberta.”

Wenaas was born in Biggar and moved to Estevan when she was about five years old. The Energy City became her home until graduation, after which she moved to Regina for university. For three years she lived without horses, until in 1988 the company she worked for transferred her to Calgary.

“What better place for a horse-crazy girl to be rather than Calgary with the Calgary Stampede and moun-

of many life-changing stories. Two Swiss trainees had met in Canada, working on neighbouring farms, fell in love and got married. Others have fallen in love with Canadians and stayed, becoming active members of local communities.

This proves that there are many layers to the exchange being mutually beneficial.

“In Switzerland there are a lot of rules and farms are small. They can’t just farm there, even if their parents are farmers,” said Jo-Anne. “We have done this for a long time and we enjoy them coming every year. It’s fun and we try to create a good experience.”

This is an experience that usually doesn’t just affect the trainees involved either. Having their son or daughter in Canada usually became the excuse for parents and siblings to come and visit. Once the Cushons hosted one of the trainee’s six family members for two weeks.

“We end up feeling very close,” said Jo-Anne, and the hospitality goes both ways. Last winter Liam went to Switzerland for three weeks to visit six former trainees.

tain riding and lots going on?” Wenaas said. Her competitive career didn’t start instantly though, as she was spending a lot of time mountain and trail riding. Things changed in the early ‘90s when cattle penning became “a passion and an obsession,” Wenaas shared.

“I’d gone to a horse event one day, heard about team penning, watched it at the Stampede grounds for one of their regional year-end events, and I just fell in love with the concept and decided that was something that I had to learn to do,” Wenaas

recalled. “I had never ridden a performance horse before, just trail horses. So, I spent many years with different trainers and people teaching me how to read cows and improve my horse-riding skills and continued on from there.”

Throughout her competing career, she had to balance her passion with a regular job. Even though for the past 15-20 years Wenaas has been using her skills, talent and knowledge in her job – as she was running practices and teaching others how to work cows on horseback through lessons and clinics – it never was a full-time job.

She says throughout her career, she’s had many great horses to throw a leg over. This spring she started competing on a little red gelding she calls Chilli, purchased last fall as a four-year-old, and saw a lot of potential in that horse.

“When he started to come on strong as a competition horse I decided he was ready to compete in the big show and he did not disappoint,” Wenaas shared.

Wenaas has been competing in team cattle penning for close to 30 years, has travelled and competed all over North America, and won every award there is in

Canada and many in the U.S. Wenaas has won at the Canadian Western Agribition in the past, competed in Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., Montana, Texas, Missouri, Nevada and other major places, and she is looking forward to continuing with her passion.

“You can never have too many wins under your belt,” Wenaas said. “I’ve been very fortunate over my 30-year career, there isn’t a major that I haven’t at least won once in the sport within Canada, for which I thank great horses, great partners, and good health to be able to do it,” Wenaas said, adding that she’d love to compete more internationally but often it becomes cost-restrictive.

“For right now, I’m happy to keep excelling in the Canadian market, and helping other people as they grow and excel in the sport is part of the reward that I get from it too.”

While she hasn’t been in Estevan for close to 20 years, she still has a few friends in the Energy City and keeps warm memories about the place that shaped her choices. She is planning on coming to Estevan for her 40th high-school reunion in August 2024.

Wenaas now resides in the Cochrane, Alta., area.

This cultural adoption fosters not only lasting relationships but also broadens one’s views on how farming could be done differently. In 1985, thanks to the state of finances, some dry years and worries about the status quo, Ian decided to start the big change over to organic.

“We were concerned with the use of pesticides and concerned for the environment and food quality. Wanting to eat healthy for us, means eating organic,” said Ian.

As one could imagine, switching up farming practices from conventional to organic was quite the en-

deavour and learning process. Thankfully they had resources they could go to.

“We had neighbours that were real pioneers, very passionate about what he was doing. It’s a huge labour of love,” said Ian.

By the 1990s, their farm was completely organic with crops such as wheat, oats, flax, industrial hemp, rye and pelt, and their customer market only grew bigger, making it possible for them to expand over the years.

“Certain things require more work, like tillage. Lots of fallowing so there is more labour at that time,” said Ian.

“But there are also certain advantages, such as not having to store chemicals,” added Jo-Anne. “The science of organic farming is much more established. We talked to a lot of other farmers and went to lots of conferences.”

Organic farming has led to new skills and tricks.

“A lot of management for weeds and pests is crop rotation, timing and increased seeding rates. Weeds having less space is the most important; it’s really the first line.”

Ian even took on the job of selling his grains overseas, but found that the paperwork involved in exporting was not worth the small gain, even though he was a huge hit in Japan.

“We have had lots of adventures with the trainees, like the combine demolition derby.”

It was held at the Estevan Motor Speedway in 2011 and saw Team Switzerland versus nine other combines. The event was a proud moment.

“They worked for weeks and weeks on that combine and somehow got it to Estevan. It was an old German Claas combine from the ‘60s. You can still find the derby online.”

Family photo, from left, Liam Cushon, Jo- Anne Cushon, Ian Cushon and Anna Cushon

From left, former Estevan resident Wendy Wenaas, Jen Fleming and Hope Elkins won the Calgary Stampede 14 class team cattle penning. Photo courtesy of Wendy Wenaas

Golden Eels impress at annual home swim meet

The Estevan Golden Eels summer speed swimming club welcomed athletes from across southern Saskatchewan to the Estevan Leisure Centre’s swimming pool on Sunday for the Eels’ annual swim meet. Eels’ members combined to win 60 individual medals, with 10 gold, 22 silver and 28 bronze. A large crowd gathered at the pool to watch all of the action.

Rachel Duncan, competing in the 13 and 14-year-old female division, won gold in the 25-metre fly, silver in 25-metre freestyle and 50-metre fly, and bronze in 50-metre freestyle and 100-metre individual medley.

Sofia Erana-Schmegelsky, entered in seven and eight-year-old female, won gold in 25-metre fly and backstroke, silver in 25-metre freestyle and 50-metre breaststroke, and bronze in 50-metre freestyle.

Meredith Knoll, competing in nine and 10-yearold female, won gold in 25-metre backstroke, silver in 50-metre backstroke, and bronze in 50-metre freestyle and 100-metre individual medley.

Liam Kwochka, en-

tered in 11 and 12-year-old male, won gold in 25-metre backstroke and breaststroke, as well as 50-metre breaststroke, and silver in the 25-metre and 50-metre freestyle.

Charlie Pyra, entered in nine and 10-year-old female, won gold in 50-metre backstroke, and silver in 25-metre fly, 50-metre freestyle and 100-metre individual medley.

Eli Sclear, swimming in nine and 10-year-old

male, won gold in 25-metre backstroke and bronze in 50-metre backstroke.

Elijah Vanstone, entered in nine and 10-year-old male, won gold in 50-metre backstroke, and bronze in 50-metre freestyle, and 25-metre backstroke.

Jackson Enns, competing in nine and 10-year-old male, won silver in 100-metre individual medley, and bronze in 25-metre breaststroke and fly, and 50-metre individual medley.

Jennika Linthicum, entered in 13 and 14-yearold female, won silver in 50-metre backstroke and 100-metre individual medley, and bronze in 25-metre and 50-metre freestyle.

Eva Meyers, swimming in seven and eight-year-old female, won silver in female 25-metre fly and 100-metre individual medley.

Isabelle Pyra, competing in 11 and 12-yearold female, won silver in 50-metre breaststroke and

100-metre individual medley, and bronze in 50-metre freestyle, backstroke and fly.

Shiven Sangar, entered in 15-17-year-old male, won silver in 25-metre freestyle and 50-metre fly, and bronze in 25-metre fly and 100-metre breaststroke.

Danica Mosley won bronze in the 11 and 12-year-old female 25-metre fly and backstroke, and the 50-metre breaststroke.

Parker Simmons, entered in 15-17 male, won bronze in 25-metre freestyle, and 50-metre backstroke and breaststroke.

Also, Marc Nathan Burlasa won silver in 11 and 12-year-old male 25-metre backstroke;

Casey Olney won silver in the 15-17-year-old male 50-metre breaststroke; Danae Schlamp won silver in 11 and 12-year-old female 25-metre breaststroke;

Dalton Maley won bronze in the 11 and 12-year-old male 25-metre breaststroke;

Jacob Pyra won bronze in the 15-17 male 100-metre individual medley; and Grace Trepanier won bronze in seven and eight female backstroke.

Relays were held after a lunch break.

The Eels finished second

overall at the meet with 168 total points. Regina was first with 303 and Swift Current was third with 100.

Swimmers from Assiniboia, Gravelbourg, Oxbow and Weyburn were also competing.

Coach Colin Sutter is pleased with how the Eels have fared so far this season. They were in Weyburn on Saturday for the Silver Seals’ competition, and they have also been to meets in Assiniboia and Oxbow.

“Personal bests have been achieved by pretty much all of our swimmers so far this year, and it’s been a pretty good year,” said Sutter.

Fifty-seven swimmers are part of the club this year. Most of them are swimming competitively, but some are in their first year and are getting used to the speed-swimming world.

“There has been lots of improvement,” said Sutter.

“There has been a couple of swimmers who came in who were learning front crawl this year, and now they’re placing second in their races.”

The Eels will compete in the provincial semifinals on Saturday in Regina, and provincials will be July 29 and 30 in Saskatoon.

Estevan U11 and U15 Brewers compete at provincials

A couple of local baseball teams competed at Baseball Sask provincial tournaments on the weekend.

The Estevan U11 AA Brewers, competing at Tier 1 provincials in Moose Jaw, went 1-2.

Estevan opened with an 11-1 loss against the Swift Current 57s. Their lone run came in the second inning when Parker Kosior stole home to tie the game at 1-1 at that point.

The Brewers recovered to defeat the Holdfast Knights 21-11 in the second game. Kane Massier went 3-for-3 with two singles and a triple, and Ripyn Brown had three runs batted in.

The Brewers had 14 runs

in the game and scored six times in each of the second and third innings.

The final game was a 9-6 loss to the Lumsden Cubs. Nash Cameron and Jacobi Hlavka each had two hits for Estevan.

The Brewers had eight players born in 2012 who will move up to the U13 ranks next season. They also had three 2013-borns and one 2014-born player.

“Each player was determined to learn the game of baseball and compete with everything they had,” the Brewers said in a Facebook post.

Some were in their first season of baseball.

Estevan had the top record in Baseball Regina during the regular season,

won a tournament in Saskatoon and won the league playoff title.

Meanwhile, the Estevan U15 AA Brewers, competing in Regina, went 2-1 in the round robin and qualified for the semifinal round, which they lost 7-4 to the Regina White Sox.

Estevan opened with a 13-7 win over the Northeast Knights on Friday.

The Brewers surrendered two home runs in the first inning and trailed by as many as six runs in the contest. But they chipped away at the lead.

Broden Henry had a home run during the game for the Brewers, who had eight walks and nine stolen bases during the day.

Tanner Gillespie came

Local water polo athletes compete in Montreal

Four southeast athletes were in Montreal recently for Water Polo Canada’s National Provincial Championships.

Mahlyn Bomberak of Bienfait, Jennika Linthicum of Estevan, Rachel Tober of Oxbow and Ryan Hoeving of Weyburn joined athletes from Regina and Saskatoon on the 15U girls Team Sask. entry. The team faced squads

from Ontario, Quebec and two from Alberta.

Team Sask. finished fifth in round-robin play, but fought their way through an exciting wildcard game and into the bronze medal contest.

The age and experience of third-place Quebec proved to be too much for the Saskatchewan squad in the medal game, and they placed fourth in the tournament.

on in relief for the Brewers. The Brewers then beat the Macklin Lakers 20-17 in the second game. Kris Phillips hit a solo home run and finished with five RBIs. The Brewers had 14 hits on the day.

The two teams were tied at 17-17 entering the seventh inning, but Estevan scored three times to pull away.

Their third game was an 11-4 loss to the Regina Blue Jays. Phillips had a solo home run in the game. In the semifinal, the Brewers opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Estevan had a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the fifth, but the White Sox recovered with three in that frame.

Quintin Sliva surrendered six hits and three runs over four innings for the Brewers, striking out three.

The U15 Brewers also went 2-2 at Baseball Regina playoffs on July 8 and 9. They opened with a 9-4 win over the Regina Blue Jays, highlighted by a sixrun fourth inning that included a Phillips home run. Aidan Turner started on the mound for the Brewers. He lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and two runs while striking out nine.

The next game was a 21-1 rout over the Melville Millionaires. Logan Kolenz had four hits for the

Brewers, with three singles and a double. Sliva started on the pitcher’s mound for Estevan. He allowed one hit and zero runs while striking out four. Estevan didn’t commit an error in the game. They lost 16-15 to the White Butte Broncos on Sunday, but it wasn’t from a lack of effort, as they scored seven runs in the sixth inning. White Butte scored the winning run in the seventh and final frame.

Keith Daae led the Brewers by going threefor-four Their final league playoff game was a 15-5 loss to the Regina White Sox. Henry went 2-for-3 for Estevan.

Tober now trains with the Regina Armada Club and is involved in Water Polo Sask’s High School Excellence Program. She previously trained in Estevan. Bomberak and Hoeving will join Tober in Regina in the fall, but trained with the Estevan Sharks club this season. Linthicum will continue to train with the Sharks in the fall.

EVENTS

Danica Mosley, front, dives into the water during the Golden Eels swim meet.

From left, Ryan Hoeving of Weyburn, Mahlyn Bomberak of Bienfait, Jennika Linthicum of Estevan and Rachel Tober of Oxbow were a part of Team Saskatchewan in Montreal during Water Polo Canada’s National Provincial Championships. Photo courtesy of Heather Tober

Submitted by Teresa Ellis

A southeast soccer team partook in the U19 boys division soccer outdoor provincials, held in Regina July 8.

With only two teams entered, the Stoughton Soccer Club was competing against the SUSC Swansea team from Saskatoon.

The first game of the provincials was held at Mosaic Stadium. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. The second game was held at Mount Pleasant Sports Park, and the game was again tied at 1-1, causing a penalty kick battle. The Stoughton Soccer Club pulled ahead and was close to a victory, but SUSC Swansea took it with the last two kicks and won the championship.

“These two teams put up an amazing fight to win. It was amazing to see such a small-town team take on such a large-city team, and to keep the team at bay and come out with tie games was incredible. This smalltown team came to Regina and brought a lot of heart and a love for the game,” said Teresa Ellis with the Stoughton team.

“The defeat was a big win in Stoughton Soccer Club’s eyes. They may have lost, but these kids played

their hearts out and did better than anyone had anticipated, as they were all so young. These kids were full of high fives, hugs and encouragement even in the face of defeat; it was such an amazing thing to see,” Ellis added.

SUSC Swansea won the Championship Cup.

“These kids were so excited, as they should be, to win such a monumental trophy,” Ellis shared. The teams all shook hands and lined up. The SUSC Swansea team received their trophy and had their photos taken. The

Stoughton Soccer Club received silver medals and had their photo op.

The SUSC Swansea team then invited the Stoughton Soccer Club to join them for a group picture.

“SUSC Swansea yelled, ‘Everyone, arms around each other’, and another picture was taken,” Ellis shared.

She added that both teams were encouraging and acknowledging players that played an exceptionally hard game.

“And then ending the day with a group picture to

uplift each other, was one of the most heartfelt experiences I have ever seen,” Ellis said. “Both teams need recognition for the hard games they played and the incredible sportsmanship they showed. We want to commend them for a game well played.

“And a big thank you goes out to Regina and the Saskatchewan Soccer Association for hosting this amazing tournament and giving these kids the opportunity to play at Mosaic Stadium.”

The Stoughton Soccer Club’s players ranged from

13-18 years of age, with much of the team being Grade 8-9 students.

“This is the youngest team I have ever had the privilege of taking to provincials, and they did a tremendous job against kids much older than them,” said club president and coach Erin Clark.

The majority of the team came from Stoughton, but they also have players from the surrounding areas, with Ryden Ellis being from Benson, Liam Chesney from Lampman, and Tye Laporte coming from Alameda.

For the provincial the team also recruited players from other towns they played against in their regular season, with Minty James, Lincoln Pryde, Kori Roberts and Taylor Martin joining from the Redvers soccer team.

“The Stoughton Soccer Club trains hard and plays hard, and Erin [Clark] takes immense pride in helping all these kids hone their skills, and trains them in endurance, kicking skills, ball control and so much more. She really is a big part in helping these kids become the best players they can be. She dedicates all her extra time to soccer, and it definitely shows, as these kids had some incredible skills,” Ellis said.

Clark said she can’t do it on her own and her husband Rory, who is also a coach, is a huge help in keeping the soccer club going and supporting her at every turn. She also commended her veteran players.

“These players helped the younger players grow in the sport of soccer, and they were amazing mentors to them,” Erin Clark said.

Four of these veteran players leave next year, and “it’s hard watching them age out of soccer,” Clark said.

Young Guns repeat as Figgy Messer Price Cup winners

The annual battle of the generations at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course once again went to the younger team.

The Young Guns defeated the Old Boys 17-15 to win the Figgy Messer Price Cup for the second straight year. The tourna-

ment was played Saturday and Sunday at Woodlawn and featured a total of 32 match-play showdowns.

It has a similar format to the biennial Ryder Cup battle between top professional golfers from the U.S. and Europe.

Saturday morning saw

eight best-ball matchups, and the Old Boys emerged with a 4 1/2-3 1/2 lead. The Young Guns recovered in alternate shot, winning five of eight battles to lead 8 1/2-7 1/2 after the first day.

The Young Guns then won eight of the 15 singles matches. The Old Boys

came out firing to start, winning six of the first eight matches, but the Young Guns responded with six wins in the final seven games.

Anthony Melle was the Young Guns’ captain and Marcus Friess was the assistant captain. Rounding

out the Young Guns were Nolan Rohatyn, Jeff Ward, Brad Wilhelm, Kristian Kallis, Scott Sykes, Reece Donovan, Preston Erickson, Drew Kocur, Erik McKersie, Drew Fenwick, Jace Carlisle, Reegan Robinson, Will Van Sickle and Chris Hoffos.

The tournament is held in honour of Rod Fagerheim, Patrick Messer and Dave Price – three longtime golfers at Woodlawn who have all passed away.

The Old Boys won the first two editions of the tournament.

OTS Oilwomen’s event sees considerable growth

The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society’s (OTS) Oilwomen’s Golf Tournament, to be held on July 21 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course, has seen a resurgence in interest this year.

Tanya George, who is a committee member and treasurer for the event, said they had a head start in promoting the competition. Last year’s

tournament had just 58 golfers, and this year they are at 120, as of Monday morning.

“The response from the community as far as donations coming in, it’s been excellent,” said George.

She admits they are surprised with the surge in interest, because they weren’t really certain if the industry had bounced back after last year’s

numbers. The total number of entries is inline with what they used to have.

The tournament will have a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. and it is a Texas scramble. Each team of four has to have at least two women who work in the oil and gas sector or who have retired from the industry. The other two can be oilwives, someone who is connected to the industry or even someone from the community.

“Our biggest focus right now is just making sure two women on the team are oilwomen,” said George.

Prizes will be handed out after the tournament. The Estevan OTS will sponsor the top prize, which used to be decided based on score but now is drawn at random. George noted everyone is

there for fun and relaxation. Additional team prizes will also be presented by drawing names.

There is a fundraising component for the tournament, thanks to a 50-50 draw and raffle tickets for door prizes. The beneficiary of this year’s tournament has not been decided, as people have brought forward some options to tournament organizers.

George views the event as a great way to get women out of the office, come together, network and meet new people.

“It’s just a day of golf and relaxation … especially in recent times, recent years, it’s been a little stressful for a lot of people, so we really encourage women to take part in these events. It’s a great way to get out of the office.”

The Oilwomen’s golf tournament will be held at Woodlawn on July 21. File photo

From left, manager Graham James, Brighton Coderre, Hayden McIntosh, Leif Clark, Easton Berner, Kori Roberts, Taylor Martin, Minty James, Addison Whitstar, coach Rory Clark, president and coach Erin Clark, Tye Laporte, Vigo Orpiano, Carter Goudy, Grayson Goudy, Yveian Orpiano, Lincoln Pryde, Liam Chesney and Ryden Ellis

ANNOUNCEMENTS

When our Lord intimated the change of day from the seventh to the first day of the week, He did it by visiting the little assemblies of His disciples the same evening (of His resurrection) John 20: 19-29. John Thackway.

IN MEMORIAM

In The Arms Of An Angel Cristy Lynn Worsnop Forever and always Mom’s very best friend Dad’s special little girl Always in our thoughts Forever in our hearts Love Mom, Dad and Nola, all your family And your very special little Fur Babies

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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!

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Estevan man charged for assault with machete

Estevan Police Service members responded to a report of an assault with a weapon at a business in the northeast corner of Estevan on July 11.

The EPS said in a news release that investigation led police to a private residence where the suspect was arrested without incident. As a result of the in-

cident, 49-year-old Pruthvisinh Dodia of Estevan has been charged with assault with a weapon, which was a machete, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.

According to the EPS, no significant injuries occurred to the victim during the incident and the suspect received medical

OBITUARIES

Jerome Raymond Stepp 1934 - 2023 Jerome Stepp, late of Weyburn, Sask. and formerly of Torquay, Sask. passed away at the Weyburn General Hospital on July 14, 2023, at the age of 89.

Jerome’s memory will be forever cherished by his wife of 62 years, Marjorie and their six children and their families: son Kevin (Sharon) - Blair (Lindsay) and children, Kaitlyn & Ryder, Adam (Caryn) and children, Clair & Connor, and Matthew (Lindsay) and children, Mila & Benjamin; son Tim (Sherry)Ryan (Angela) and children, Halle, Jack & Madelyn, and Dustin and children, Kaydence, Parker, Cruz & Reese; son Daniel (Tina) - Brooke (Matthew), Logan (Alesha), and Levi; daughter Danita (Bernie) - Brenna (Jay) and children, Myah & Maci, Brittany (Colton) and daughter Blake, and Bridget (Karter); son Jeff (Heather); daughter Sheila (Lawrence) - Ian (Ella) and children, Henry & Arthur, and Taylor. He will also be sadly missed by his brother Ken (Lavine) and sister-in-law Evelyn Wilson, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Jerome was predeceased by an infant son Larry; parents: Tony & Frances Stepp; sisters: Lenora (Ray) Marchand and Margaret (Arnold) Felgate; in-laws: Porter (Ida) Wilson, Glen (Ora) Wilson, Don Wilson and Uella (Vern) Fjoser.

The Prayer Service will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, Sask. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Estevan, with Rev. Sathiadas Antony the celebrant. Please join the family for a time of fellowship and refreshments in the church hall, immediately following the Funeral Mass. A live stream of the Funeral Mass will be available. Please visit Jerome’s tribute page at www.hallfuneralservices.ca for details.

treatment while in police custody for minor injuries sustained during the assault.

Dodia appeared in Estevan Provincial Court on July 12 and was subsequently released with a future court date to speak to the matter.

The EPS also responded to a report of a break and enter on July 11. The incident occurred in the Westview area. The Forensic Identification Section also attended to the scene. The matter remains under investigation.

Police received a report of a scam in which the victim paid some money in hopes that the scammers would stop contacting them. The scammers are now threatening the victim, requesting more money. Matter remains under investigation.

During the July 11 night shift, the EPS received two separate reports of theft of items from vehicles. The thefts were determined to have been committed by the same individual, who was located a short time after the complaints were received. Christopher Borgen, 34, of Weyburn was arrested and charged with two counts of theft under $5,000 and subsequently released with a future court date to speak to the matter.

an individual that is a peace officer in Saskatchewan. It is believed the scammer obtained the peace officer’s name through the media and used it as the author to attempt to mislead the victim.

Police received a report of a white car travelling at a high rate of speed in a residential area. Statements were provided by witnesses and the matter remains under investigation.

Estevan police members received a report of mischief to property on July 13. A residence was damaged with spray paint. The matter is under investigation.

The same day, police were called about a young child wandering down the street in Pleasantdale area. Police attended, and with the assistance of the complainant, located the child. The child’s mother was identified and the matter is being further looked into.

Police received numerous calls in relation to an intoxicated person on King Street on July 14. Estevan EMS had also received calls about the same individual. Officers located the person and were able to get her home.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Jerome via a donation in his memory may do so directly to the Weyburn & District Hospital Foundation, for the new Weyburn General Hospital. Donations may be mailed to the Foundation at Box 1416, Weyburn, SK S4H 3J9, or you may donate online at https://www.wdhf.ca/In_Memoriam.htm.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Jerome’s familyDustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Officers arrested and charged a 43-year-old Carnduff resident for impaired driving. He was lodged in cells to be released when sober.

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HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS & LABOURERS WANTED

For all heavy equipment: ie. dozers, excavators, scrapers etc.

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Fax: 306-769-8844

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SEED & FEED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WANTED

ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT IS HIRING: Parts Technicians, Service Managers, Agriculture & Heavy Equipment Techs - Journeyman, Apprentices and Sales roles. View Open Roles www.rockymtn.com/careers. Possible Relocation and Signing Bonus Offered.

Josephine (Josie) Agnes

Hesketh (nee Rolfes) 1942 - 2023

Josephine (Josie) Hesketh, formerly of Bienfait, Sask. passed away surrounded by the love of her family, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan, Sask., on July 13, 2023 at the age of 81.

Josie’s memory will be forever cherished by her husband of 63 years, Kenneth and their children and families: son Bill (Sheila) - Lindsay and Monty, and their families; daughter Katherine (Ron) - Kasey and Cole, and their families; son Richard; daughter Ramona (Rodney) - Mallory and family, Meghan and Marlee; son Keith (Rhonda) - AJ and Brittney, and their families; daughter Peggy - Dustin and family, Jessica and family, Levi and family and Ethan; son Ken - Anna and family and River; son-in-law Mark - Zach and family, Alexa and Connor; son Jeffrey; daughter Maureen (Myron) - Madison, Maisy, Maya, Markie and Maleah, and her beloved great grandchildren. She will also be sadly missed by her siblings: Martha (John) Kraus, Johanna (Paul) Collier, Liz Downey, Ken (Georgette) Rolfes, Henry Rolfes, Herman (Myrna) Rolfes, Caroline (John) Salaway and Leo Rolfes, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and her inlaws: Louise & Garth Coyston, Laverne Bourassa, Val Marie & Richard Wilhelm, Gloria & Jerome Threinen and Diane (Ray) Carriere.

Josie was greeted in Heaven by her daughter Cindy; great grandsons Linden and Max; parents: Joseph & Josephine Rolfes; parents-in-law: Thomas & Marie Hesketh; siblings: Joey, Ben, Fritz and Marie; in-laws: Bert, Gene, Armand, Larry and Grace, and some nieces and nephews.

The Prayer Service was held on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Estevan, with Rev. Sathiadas Antony the Celebrant. A time of fellowship and refreshments followed in the church hall, after which the Rite of Committal took place at the Bienfait Cemetery.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Josie via a donation in her memory may do so directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, online at heartandstroke.ca.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Josie’s family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Notice to Creditors

In the estate of CLARENCE KENNETH ROLFES, late of Estevan, Saskatchewan, deceased. All claims against the above estate, duly particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 2nd of August, 2023.

Bridges & Company LLP

1329 Third Street Estevan, SK S4A 0S1

Solicitors for the Executors

Police also received a report of a fraud from an individual attempting to sell an item on social media. A prospective buyer provided a fraudulent cheque in an amount exceeding the value of the item and requested a refund of the difference by way of etransfer. The matter is still under investigation.

Police received a report of another possible scam on July 10. The complainant was contacted via phone about a virus on her computer. The callers requested a substantial amount of money to repair it and stated that the computer would be locked out otherwise. No money was provided for the services.

Estevan police members attended to a local business July 12 to a report of two suspicious persons on the property. The two individuals were arrested for theft and later released for court in late July.

Police also received a report from an individual who was trying to sell used property. The seller received an offer to purchase, but the buyer wanted to provide a larger payment to the seller than the offer and have the seller rebate the difference.

The same day, members received another report of an individual receiving a letter from the Saskatchewan police, indicating there was legal action being taken against the individual for cyber intrusion.  The letter is signed by

A call from a confused individual was received on July 15. Police and EMS personnel attended and upon locating her, she was transported to hospital for further examination.

Members had 40 occurrences during the weekend from July 14-16.

Police agencies across the province are also warning the public of a scam reaching out to people by email.

The email letter claims to come from a representative of the Saskatchewan Police Commission and contains logos of several of the province’s municipal police agencies and the title “Summons to Appear”.  The sender informs the recipient they are the subject of legal proceedings related to sexual offences, including offences involving minors. The email asks the recipient to respond to it and notes that the recipient will be arrested by local police.

The emails are being sent from the cybercrime. police.gouv@gmail.com address.

Police are currently investigating this email scam.

“We would like to remind the public to never open emails from an unknown sender, always double check the email address and contact your local police if you feel you are the victim of a scam,” the Estevan Police Service said in press release on Thursday.

You’re going to lose access to local news on Facebook and Google.

Dear readers,

Your access to local, provincial and national news is going to be revoked on Google, Facebook and Instagram.

And it’s not because of anything we’ve done. Recently, Canada passed the Online News Act, also known as Bill C-18, which ent company behind Facebook and Instagram. in Canada as a result.

Facebook and Instagram. Google will also remove links to our sites and articant content licensing agreements already in place with our parent company,

Undoubtedly, this will have a huge impact not solely on us but, more importantly, on people like yourself who may use these platforms to discover what’s happening in your community and to get context to events happening in your own backyard.

We’re not planning on going anywhere, but here’s how you can help:

1. Sign up for our free daily newsletter by scanning the QR code. free (And encourage your family and friends to do the same.)

2. Follow us on Twitter.

3. Bookmark our website as the homepage on your devices.

4. If you own/operate a local business, consider supporting local by placing ads with 100% Canadian-owned media outlets, like us.

With your help, more people will be able to get their local news from a trusted source. In today’s age of misinformation, that’s more important than ever. Thank you. We appreciate you.

Sincerely,

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION STREET DANCE IS JULY 22, 2023, JOIN THE FUN FOR AN EVENING OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN

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

Safety

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

2023 Property Tax Notices

2023 Property Tax Notices were mailed out Thursday, June 8, 2023.Please contact City Hall if you did not receive your property tax notice or need to update your mailing / contact information.

2023 Taxes are due: July 31, 2023

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

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

2.5%, December 3.5%

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

Payment Options:

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

➢ Payments accepted by Cash, Cheque or Debit

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notice of Property Tax Levies

Interested in pre-paying your taxes monthly?

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

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

The best time to start would be August 1, 2023 to prepay for 2024. Contact City Hall 306-634-1800 for more information.

MEMBERS NEEDED!

CITY OF ESTEVAN DEVELOPMENT APPEALS BOARD

The City of Estevan is recruiting new candidate(s) for appointment to the City of Estevan Development Appeals Board (DAB). The DAB hears appeals on matters related to land use and building within the City. DAB decisions shape the community and affect the lives of developers, neighbours, citizens and businesses. It is important for the public to have confidence in the quality of these decisions and the decision-making process.

To be eligible, candidates shall be a minimum of 18 years of age and a resident of the City of Estevan. Applicants cannot be an employee of the City of Estevan. Appointments are for a period of two years.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter describing their experience on previous positions on boards and other organizations along with a willingness to serve their community. Other factors include a flexible meeting schedule to attend hearings as they arise (typically in evenings) and the ability to make decisions with fairness, objectivity and impartiality. Some familiarity with chairing a meeting and land use related bylaws would be an asset.

Deadline for applications is September 15, 2023 at 4:00 PM. Please mail or e-mail your application to:

Judy Pilloud, City Clerk City of Estevan

1102, Fourth Street, Estevan

Saskatchewan, S4A 0W7

cityclerk@estevan.ca

The City of Estevan will be flushing watermains to ensure good water quality for all users of city water. This work includes the turning of main water valves around the city and flushing large quantities of water from various hydrants in each area. During this process you may notice a substantial drop in pressure, this will be brief. As well, discoloured water is possible during the days, please run a faucet (bathtub is best), for a few minutes until the water is clear again. Please contact City Hall at 634-1800 if issues persist. Thank you for your understanding during this important maintenance!

(3) Monday- Friday July 17-21

Area bounded by Kensington on the West, Sawyer Road on the East, North and South City Limits (includes Glen Peterson Industrial Park, East Industrial, Southeast Industrial regions, and properties along Hwy 39E Service Road)

Theft or Vandalism

If you see any act of vandalism, theft or anyone suspiciously tampering with equipment, signage or barricades, please contact 306-6341800, 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.