Estevan Mercury 20230927

Provincial recognition.

Beloved Stoughton vet celebrated for her service.

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president addresses future of power production in Estevan

By David Willberg

SaskPower is facing some big decisions over the next few years when it comes to power production, and those will have a direct impact on Estevan.

Rupen Pandya, the president and CEO of the Crown corporation, and other representatives of SaskPower’s head office were on hand for Monday night’s meeting of Estevan city council. A number of local employees from SaskPower were also on hand, and they listened on while Pandya spoke and answered questions from council.

Fun day for seniors. Estevan Car Club’s cruise and other updates in Senior Living special.

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He spent several minutes talking about small modular reactors (SMR), as the Estevan area is one of the two communities viewed as a possible location for the first reactor. The Elbow area is the other.

Once the location is chosen, then the lengthy process can begin of getting regulatory approval for the project to proceed. A final decision on whether to build an SMR won’t be made until 2029.

Pandya said they would narrow the site selection by the end of 2023 and they’ll select a location next year for application to the Impact Assessment Agency and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

When council had the opportunity to ask questions, Coun. Lindsay Clark said if Estevan doesn’t get the first SMR unit, it would be a “disaster” for the community.

What are SMRs?

An expert shares knowledge about nuclear energy through presentation.

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We are the oldest in town. The Mercury celebrates its 120th birthday with a special edition. See special B section Season is underway. Recap on the latest local minor football games.

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A decision has not been made on how many units would be built, as their focus right now is on the first SMR.

“Clearly, going forward, if you think about electrification and its impact on Saskatchewan’s grid, we’re a 5,400-megawatt grid right now, more or less, and when full electrification takes place, we’re looking at being a 10,000-megawatt grid by 2050,” said Pandya.

Once one of the reactors is complete, it would employ 180 people province-wide, both inside and outside the company.

Each unit would require about 1,750 people to be involved in construction from 2029-2034.

Pandya also provided an update on the solar power project that is being planned for southwest of Estevan. An announcement of a successful independent power producer is expected in 2024 and the facility is to be online in 2026.

“We’re talking about large numbers of people not having a job. I think that people need to be the No. 1 priority on your decision, because it will absolutely destroy this community if we don’t get it,” he said.

Later on, Clark questioned why the consultation process for the SMRs won’t be complete until 2029.

Pandya responded that they are working with the Impact Assessment Agency to see how they can streamline the process and shave time to make a more prompt decision.

Coun. Shelly Veroba noted that she and other members of council and management attended a public engagement session at the Southeast TechHub on Friday. She said it provided good information, and she encouraged SaskPower to continue with public engagement because a lot of people still view nuclear as an unsafe power source.

(For more on the presentation, please see Page A11).

Coun. Tony Sernick said

he wishes that carbon capture and storage was more of an option for SaskPower, but he understands the company’s reasoning.

And Mayor Roy Ludwig noted that the city is in discussions with the Ocean Man, Pheasant Rump and White Bear First Nations about Indigenous support of nuclear, and the city has talked to the Southeast College about offering training sooner rather than later so that fewer people will need to be brought in.

In speaking to council and with the media before his presentation, Pandya stated conventional coal would have to come offline in 2030. The Clean Electricity Regulations, released earlier this summer and open for consultation until early November, make it more difficult for a coal-fired power facility to operate with carbon capture and storage technology.

SaskPower is doing its assessment of those regulations and will lay out its position.

“I’ve said publicly, right from the start of my tenure in this role, based at least on the preliminary architecture of those regulations, that it’s not possible for us as a jurisdiction, technologically, logistically and financially,

to … achieve net-zero 2035, and that warrants a conversation between the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada on how we manage energy transition in this province,” he said.

SaskPower is also looking at carbon capture retrofits to the existing gas assets. It is also looking at a conversion to natural gas for the Shand Power Station and for Units 3 and 6 at Boundary Dam.

“As part of our power planning, we are actively looking at all of our available options,” said Pandya. “We have a major piece of regulatory legislation that is in the review process and don’t know how that will turn out, but certainly over the course of the last number of years, we’ve been actively looking at all of those options to help us manage the transition.”

SaskPower can capture more carbon on a gas-fired conversion than through a coal-fired conversion.

Carbon capture is currently not happening on a natural gas power plant in Canada, but Capital Power in Alberta is going down that path and is expected to be in production in 2026-27, Pandya said. It is a coal plant being retrofitted to gas.

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Rupen Pandya, left, spoke to Estevan city council Monday night while employees of the Crown corporation and others listen.

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By David Willberg

Estevan was among the communities across the country to be part of the One Million March for Children last Wednesday.

A large crowd gathered at the parking lot of the former Mr. Mike's Steakhouse Casual restaurant location, where they listened to music and a brief opening speech.

Then they walked from the parking lot to the nearby Estevan Comprehensive School before returning to the starting point.

There they listened to more speeches and music before departing.

The local protest was organized by the local group Concerned Citizens SK. Myles Fichter, who is one of the club's members, described the turnout as an excellent representation by citizens of Estevan who care about the issues brought forward by the march.

Many of the participants carried signs that had such slogans as "Let Kids be Kids", "Leave our Kids Alone" and "Protect Parental Rights". The walk was initially supposed to head south from the parking lot, but they decided to go to the Comp. instead, which

A1 “We know that carbon capture works. It works on Boundary Dam,” he said, noting that Boundary Dam has been operating with a 75-80 per cent capture rate. The province will expand intermittent power options like wind and solar and bring more hydroelectricity onto the grid, although the potential for hydro in Saskatchewan is limited.

Fichter thought was a good idea. During the rally, people honked their horns as they drove past the protestors.

He believes the crowd would have been even larger if the event had been held on a weekend.

"This is a real simple message. I know there's some protesting going on in Eastern Canada by some Marxist union groups and whatnot, and they're saying this is a hateful thing, this protest across Canada, which it's not," said Fichter. "It has nothing to do with any other group of people. This has to do with simply the right of the parents to steer and influence their children's morality, ethics and values, and nobody else has any precedence over that. Parents are the sole lead in that area."

Concerned Citizens SK was pleased to hear the provincial government is bringing forward legislation requiring parental consent for name or pronoun changes for kids under the age of 16 in schools, he said, but they want to see the wording of the document. The walk was not a religious event, he said, but it was about parents who are tired of kids hearing about ideologies through the schools.

Saskatchewan will also import more power from Manitoba.

Saskatchewan has about 5,400 megawatts of generating capacity, Pandya said, and about 65 per cent is through thermal, fossil-fuel emitting, such as coal and natural gas.

Roughly 21 per cent is hydro and about 11 per cent is wind. Almost 80 per cent of the energy consumed is generated by

Concerned Citizens SK chairperson Linda Rose said it was great to see everybody in attendance. She told the crowd that children are impressionable, innocent and already confused growing up, and shouldn't hear about things like sexual orientation and gender ideologies.

"We are parents. We are grandparents and we have our children's best interests at heart. Some teachers do not, and some teachers are wonderful and great."

Emily Gillies said many of the teachers are wonderful, kind-hearted, good people who show up to do their job every day, and she supports the ways teachers help and support children through difficult teenage years.

"I'm sure we can all remember being alone and confused when we were teenagers. We didn't want to turn to our parents and we needed a safe adult. A teacher could be that person and make a difference in a child's life, and that should not be taken away."

Gillies said she has a problem with policies that strengthen government footholds and erode family values.

The Estevan Police Service re-

thermal and fossil fuels.

Prior to the introduction of the Clean Electricity Regulations, SaskPower was aiming to have a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its generating capacity by 2030, and it wanted to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions from generating facilities by 2050.

“I think we had ambitious targets with respect to the 50 per

The EPS's Drug-Intelligence Unit executed two search warrants stemming from an investigation into alleged cocaine trafficking.

One was at a residence in the 400-block of Third Street and the other was in the 400-block of the Willow Park Greens home park. The

ported no problems from the event in Estevan.

One Million March for Children protests across Canada voiced opposition to what they called gender ideologies and support for parental rights in schools.

People were encouraged to bring their children to the marches, and while adults comprised the vast majority of

cent reduction in GHG, emissions by 2030. And certainly net zero by 2050 or earlier,” he said. But with the Clean Electricity Regulations requiring net-zero by 2035, it advanced their plan by 15 years, and gave Saskatchewan 12 years to reach that objective.

“It took 93 years for us to build the current system that we have in operation, province-

EPS reported that over 30 grams of cocaine were seized.

Deputy Police Chief Murray Cowan said the drugs have a street value of approximately $3,200.

The operation was supported by EPS patrol units and the Joint Tactical Support Team for the EPS and

Ronald McDonald House Motorcycle Ride

the crowd in Estevan, some youths were present.  Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Yorkton and North Battleford were among the other Saskatchewan communities to hold such rallies. Counter protests, organized by LGBTQ+ supporters, were held in some of the Saskatchewan communities and elsewhere in Canada.

wide … and we’re being asked to transition back in just 12 years.” Saskatchewan has the longest pathway to net-zero of almost any jurisdiction in Canada, he said.

Significant federal support will be needed to help SaskPower to meet the new regulations.

Pandya noted that he

the Weyburn Police Service. The suspects were taken into custody without incident.

Cyrus Ackrill, age 28, Kane Ross, 23, and Kayla Murphy, 33, have been charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Ackrill was remanded in custody and was scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday morning.

is familiar with the Estevan area. A relative taught in the Lampman area and encouraged Pandya’s family to come to Saskatchewan. He spent numerous summers in Saskatchewan, became well-versed with the rivalry between Bienfait and Lampman, and ventured into Estevan from time to time, so he viewed Monday as a bit of a homecoming.

Ross and Murphy were released on conditions and will appear in court on Nov. 6.

None of the charges have been proven in court. The EPS reported on Friday that a fourth person had been arrested, but that person has not been charged. The incident remains under investigation by the EPS.  SASKTODAY.ca will have more details as they become available.

Request for Proposal

The Estevan Police Service has announced charges against three people in connection with a drug bust that happened in the city last week.

The One Million March participants gathered for a group photo following their walk. Photos by David Willberg

One Million March for Children supporters walk along the pathway south of the Estevan Comprehensive School.

Stoughton veterinarian receives her second

SVMA Meritorious Service Award

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (SVMA) recognized the best ones in their field, and the southeast had a reason to celebrate as one of the most beloved veterinarians in the area – Dr. Anne Y Kernaleguen – received her second Meritorious Service Award. The first recognition came in 2008.

The award ceremony was held on Sept. 9 at TCU Place in Saskatoon during the annual SVMA conference. Kernaleguen said while she knew she was nominated for the award, she didn't know she was a winner.

"I was very pleased and honoured," Kernaleguen said, adding she had most of the clinic staff as well as some family members and friends with her at the SVMA Awards Night Banquet at the conference.

She said there's been a lot of progress in the veterinarian world since her last award. There is more technology and some drugs are safer now, but a lot of things stayed the same, as the staff at the clinic continued doing their job and taking care of animals, small and big, to the best of their abilities. And her professionalism and care were once again acknowledged 15 years later.

The Meritorious Service Award recognizes a member in good standing who has made an outstanding single or long-term contribution to the quality of life in their community or province. This achievement may be in the area of youth or senior programs, philanthropic organizations or the arts.

Sarah Richaud, a veterinary technician at the Stoughton Veterinary Services who introduced Kernaleguen during the awards night, said Kernaleguen received three different nominations for the Meritorious Service Award.

"I believe the diversity of their origins also speaks highly of Anne's character and how deserving she is of

this award," Richaud said.

The first nomination letter came from a student who helped at the clinic last spring, the second letter was from Dr. Michelle Anderson, who worked at the Stoughton Veterinary Services for many years, and the third one came from Kernaleguen's previous colleague and her nephew Dr. Victor Kernaleguen.

"Anne has been a veterinarian in Stoughton for more years than I even know. She works tirelessly to provide the utmost care for all the large and small animals in the southeast corner of the province, day or night, seven days a week, 365 days a year. From midnight calvings on Christmas Eve to going out on call on a -40 day, to working through her lunch hour to finish up surgeries, she never complains and always seems to have an abundance of energy that none of us can explain," wrote Anderson.

"Anne is always willing to learn and never backs down from a difficult case. She has provided countless hours of mentorship for so many vets, techs and students alike. She is one of the most patient teachers I have ever met and is always willing to go the extra mile to show a student or co-worker how to do a procedure or technique.

"She also is a pillar in the community and is supportive of all the local programs and businesses. Anne is irreplaceable and I'm not sure how we got so lucky to have her in our little community," Anderson added.

"With Anne, if there is a will, there is a way, and this has kept her going through her 45-year career in a time where being a woman in the industry was not always as accepted as it is today," said Victor Kernaleguen in his nomination letter. "She has acquired many skills over the years and has kept her veterinary practice very up to date for a small centre of 700 people. She has never been scared to invest in her clinic to give her clients the best experience possible."

"Thank you, Anne, for

being the best boss, veterinarian and friend that anyone could ask for. I'm so grateful that I took a chance at the quaint rural clinic and have got to spend the last 12 years working alongside you. You truly are one in a million and very deserving of this award," Richaud said in her remarks.

Once the community learned about Kernaleguen's recognition, congratulations started pouring through social media among other channels. As of the beginning of this week, there were hundreds of reactions, shares and over 170 congratulatory comments on one Facebook post alone.

"Dr. Anne is by far the most professional, caring, realistic, honest, dedicated and compassionate veterinarian I have ever had the pleasure of knowing," wrote Roxy Blackmore. "Congratulations Dr. Anne, so very well deserved. You hold a very special place in thousands of hearts encompassing the entire animal kingdom. We are so blessed to have you. Thank you. We love you."

"Congratulations, and thank you for being an every-

day hero," said Nyki Schaeffer.

"A kinder, more caring, intelligent human being than Dr. Anne is absolutely impossible to find,"

wrote Shane Campbell.

"Anne is beyond deserving of this award. The patience of a saint and a heart of gold for all animals and their families," said Kate Halkyard.

Kernaleguen grew up on a mixed farm near St. Brieux, Sask. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978 and started working for Dr. Don Pulfer in Stoughton on May 1, 1978. She bought the practice on Jan. 15, 1979, and has enjoyed working in the Stoughton area ever since.

Kernaleguen has worked extensively with cow-calf producers. She also finds dentistry very interesting and has taken extra courses in canine and feline dentistry. She has two wonderful sons and many animals of her own. She has been a 4-H leader for many years and a supporter of her community as a volunteer and contributor in different capacities.

Blanket exercise will bring awareness to Indigenous issues

St. Giles Anglican Church in Estevan will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 by hosting a Kairos Blanket Exercise at St. Paul's United Church's gymnasium. The event will start at 2 p.m.

The Venerable Wilma Woods with St. Giles described the blanket exercise as an experiential learning event that works through a timeline of Indigenous and settler relationships during

Canada's history. While St. Giles is organizing the event, Woods emphasized this is not religious in nature and the community is welcome to attend.

"The blankets … are used as part of the exercise. There are other things used as well," said Woods. "While white people can lead it, it's definitely not the way that it should be done, and so we're really fortunate to have Indigenous people …

to lead it."

There is a dialogue associated with the blanket exercise, but Woods said she didn't want to disclose too much, because everybody's experience is going to be unique. It can be a very emotional experience. Woods has attended one before and she is looking forward to attending another.

She said elders from the Yorkton Tribal Council will be coming for the blanket

exercise. Rev. Alex Campbell, who is the Qu'Appelle Diocese's Indigenous ministries leader, will be here.

Woods said she has Indigenous relatives and she grew up in a predominantly Indigenous small town in B.C. Truth and Reconciliation has been a topic of interest to her for a long time.

St. Giles is hosting this event because she said the church has a lot to answer for when it comes to its relation-

ships with Indigenous people.

"The work of reconciliation is ongoing, and it's one of the ways that we can actually put our money and our time and our space and our lives where our mouth is," she said. "We have apologized. We've paid money, but it's ongoing for them and it needs to be ongoing for us."

She thought she knew a lot, but she realizes there is so much more to learn.

"You're bound to learn

something, even if you have that background," said Woods. St. Paul's was selected to host the event because St. Giles needed more space and the church hopes to have a lot of people in attendance.

Food will be served once the blanket exercise is complete.

Kairos Canada is a jointventure ecumenical program administered by the United Church of Canada.

From left, vet student Lynka Itogawa, receptionist Stacey Campbell, vet student Jackson Goudy, veterinarians Dr. Michelle Anderson and Dr. Anne Kernaleguen, and veterinary technicians Emily Dayman and Sarah Richaud. Photo courtesy of Stoughton Veterinary Services

The Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association recognized Dr. Anne Kernaleguen, pictured here with Tish, with the Meritorious Service Award.

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Patience and understanding needed for reconciliation to proceed

Sept. 30 will mark the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

It’s a day that has seen gradual acceptance in Canada. It is considered a national holiday, and is observed as a statutory holiday in B.C., but not in Saskatchewan.

We hear a lot about reconciliation, but there are a lot of truths that we have to accept when it comes to how we have treated Indigenous people in the past and the impact it continues to have with each passing generation.

In a country like Canada, where we pride ourselves on tolerance and acceptance, the stories of our mistreatment of Indigenous people can be difficult to hear. Some of the headlines we have heard have been jarring.

We also have to recognize the need for patience. There is no cure-all for the current challenges facing Indigenous communities and the relationships between Indigenous people and those in the rest of the country. These issues pre-date Confederation in 1867. Forced assimilation, abuse, racism, residential schools – they have all contributed to the challenges Indigenous people face today.

And if we didn’t reach this point overnight, then we’re not going to solve the problem instantaneously, either.

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We hear talk from politicians about how they’re going to spend money to make lives better, and that’s great, but a lot of times the commitments aren’t followed through fast enough, if at all.

Remember when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to bring an end to all long-term boil water advisories on reserves by March 2021? It still hasn’t happened. Yes, we went through the COVID-19 pandemic, but COVID wasn’t the reason these advisories are still in effect.

The fact that there are people in this highly-developed country who don’t have access to clean drinking water is astonishing.

Ultimately, we can’t just leave reconciliation up to someone else, and we can’t just let politicians and bureaucrats take care of it.

Are attitudes towards Indigenous Canadians better than they were, say, 50 or 100 years ago? Yeah, they are. We realize that some of the actions that were taken in the past, from the residential schools to the ‘60s Scoop, were wrong and led to trauma that is still being felt to this day.

People are more accepting of Indigenous people than previous generations. But there is still a lot of work to do and a lot of attitudes to change.

We’ll never be completely rid of racist

attitudes and cultural stereotypes but we can work hard to improve our views. This can come from teaching children in our schools about the mistakes of the past, about the contributions of Indigenous people to our communities, and by getting Indigenous people involved in the school system.

It’s nice that we do land acknowledgements, but it’s far more powerful when there is some personal reflection in that message, even if it’s just for a few seconds.

There are some wonderful Indigenous and Metis people in our community. Hopefully, you know at least one of them. Many of them are intelligent, hard-working and/ or creative individuals. They have wonderful stories and traditions to share. A lot of them just need to be given an opportunity.

Regardless of what you’re doing on Sept. 30, it’s important to take time to pause and reflect on why this day is observed. Take the time to do a little research on past transgressions against Indigenous people. Go to one of the events happening in the community on Sept. 29 or 30, or take a look at the new exhibit at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.

And it’s important that we take the time to pause and reflect on a regular basis, not just when it’s a national holiday like the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Nuclear power: the two emotional poles

While I was following the southeast energy discourse for a long time, last week was the first time I got to attend a local talk about nuclear power and small modular reactors.

Al Shpyth’s presentation was indeed informative and interesting (learn more on Page A11), but potential emotions people might have here when it comes to nuclear energy – which were acknowledged at the beginning of the event –didn’t resonate with me.

Unlike many people from the area or even the province, I’ve experienced both emotional poles of nuclear, be it power generation or weapons (whose designs are completely different, by the way), in my life.

On the one hand, I was growing up in the post-Cold War space, where the nuclear war threat was still real. I assume it was so for many people who caught the Cold War times here. But I was also growing up in the post-Chornobyl space, where people have seen firsthand what radiation can do. The accident and its aftermath affected my loved ones, as my family believes the radiation wave hit one of my aunties, who was a young girl residing in Belarus at the time.

Following the Cold War, during the ‘90s when I was a kid, there were really scary social commercials on TV about how the post-nuclear world would look. I don’t know if there was anything similar here, but for my young imagination, those clips were terrifying. They looked like cartoons, which attracted kids to the screens, but those cartoons were colourless and showed the world where nothing really existed anymore, people melted, and separate objects just rolled through the grey, dark desert.

Since my early years, I knew radiation was evil, scary and very dangerous.

But on the other side, I grew up knowing that nuclear power, when built and operated properly, is a reliable source of energy. (That notion seems like something not so normal for

people here.) And that’s because my home city of five million used the huge Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, located less than 100 kilometres away, for over 55 per cent of its own as well as the Leningrad area’s power supply.

That plant was the first in Russia to operate the RBMK (which stands for high-power channel reactor and is similar to what was used in Chornobyl) type of reactor. The big plant originally had four nuclear reactors.

In 2008, the construction started of Leningrad II with two different reactors meant to replace the older RBMKs. The first one became operational in 2018. Two older reactors have now stopped and will eventually be decommissioned.

Being young, we’d drive to Sosnoviy Bor –the town with restricted access, where the plant is located – to come closer and see it firsthand. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but the plant was impressive.

Don’t get me wrong, the Leningrad NPP’s operation was by no means flawless, especially with the RBMK type of reactors, which never were the most stable. Besides, it was built in 1967, and a lot of the issues it had during the Soviet times were covered up, resulting in greater and extended damage.

It’s seen accidents and issues. There were fatalities, and there was a similar-to-Chernobyl accident that preceded the later one. The reactor’s instability wasn’t properly addressed in Leningrad NPP.

Once the Soviet era was over, more transparency helped improve the operation and make it safer.

But even though it wasn’t flawless, it never was disastrous. Nowadays everyone is aiming at zero accidents, but they still happen in any industry.

In my lifetime, the plant was operating fine most of the time with minor issues. I remember when I was working as an editor in St. Petersburg and reports or rumours about potential problems at the Leningrad NPP came in, we’d send reporters with Geiger counters (devices to measure the amount of radioactivity) to different areas of the city and outside it to see if there was any impact. It always remained at what you’d expect to see in the area.

I understand the general worry of nuclear power, which is probably re-ignited even more now by Putin’s threats of the red button. But when it comes to energy production, the process is very different. Yes, mistakes happen. But things like Chornobyl and Three Mile Island are hopefully mistakes that are never to be repeated. The Chornobyl catastrophe was the product of a severely flawed Soviet-era reactor design combined with a human blunder. And in Three Mile – the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history – while the Unit 2 reactor partially melted down, its small radioactive releases had no detectable health effects on plant workers or the public.

Those accidents and their aftermath brought about sweeping changes in engineering, training, operations, emergency response and regulations of nuclear power generation, affecting the safety of people involved and those around.

So, being used to living next door to an old-style nuclear plant, when it comes to SMR technology, all I can see are the benefits. Yes, price- and construction-time-wise they still have a ways to go, but safety, efficiency and cleanliness seem like big fat pros to me, even though my fear of radiation is still with me.

Melanie Tribiger Hearing Aid Practitioner Clinic Owner

David Willberg Willberg’s World

Which route will we complain about now?

It was August of 2001. One of the events I covered that summer was the Roche Percee Trail Ride and Wagon Trek, which was organized for many years by the Souris Valley Trekkers and the Roche Percee Rec Board.

In addition to the wonderful scenery of the Roche Percee Valley, the beautiful horses, and the great times had on the trails and in the campground area, people were talking about two things: the wedding that took place at the event that weekend and the condition of the Roche Percee Access Road.

To this day, I’m surprised I made it to Roche Percee that weekend while driving my 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier. That stretch of road might be less than four kilometres, but it was in horrible condition. After that weekend, I slotted it a close second behind Highway 47 north of Stoughton as the worst road I had encountered in the southeast. (Keep in mind that porous stretch of Highway 47 is more than 80 kilometres, while the access road is less than four).

I’m from Langley, B.C. We don’t have roads like those. Our biggest highway threats in B.C. would be tight, winding roads through the mountains and the traffic for the stretches that cut through the cities.

Driving the Roche Percee Access Road suddenly had me yearning for the nightmarish, high-traffic areas found in B.C.’s Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, like the junction of Highway 1 and 264th Street – a mainstay in traffic reports.

There have been some efforts to patch up the Roche Percee Access Road over the years, but there’s only so much work that can be done. Eventually, the patchwork has to stop and the road needs a fresh layer of asphalt.

The residents of Roche Percee and the many people who venture down the road for work-related purposes or to view the pierced rock formations near the village will be excited to see that the road has finally been resurfaced. It’s not as extensive as what we saw from Fillmore to Stoughton on Highway 33 earlier this summer, but hopefully, it will have some longevity.

Motorists can now take that scenic drive into Roche Percee without having to dodge potholes and wonder how many new obstacles have been added to that road since they drove it previously.

Admittedly, from a provincial perspective, it’s a lightly used road. It’s hard for the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to justify dropping a lot of money into the road because it doesn’t have a lot of traffic.

But it’s their responsibility to look after the road, and once it becomes hazardous to drive – which I think it was – they have to do something. Frankly, the government should have resurfaced the entire stretch years ago, rather than just the 800 metres closest to Highway 39. And when it is a road used for tourism, maintenance becomes imperative. You don’t want to have out-of-town visitors getting a negative first impression because the road is terrible.

Now we have to find other roads to complain about.

The government has done a decent job on our roads in recent years. They put money into resurfacing Highway 18 west of Outram, although the stretch between Estevan and Outram remains one of the worst in the southeast. Highway 47 from Estevan to Stoughton is overdue for a thick layer of asphalt so that it can handle the heavy truck traffic that rumbles down that route on a daily basis.

And yes, Highway 47 from Stoughton to the TransCanada Highway is still one of the worst you’ll find anywhere.

It’s good that the government poured some money into Highway 33 from Stoughton to Fillmore, and it’s good there has been investments for such routes as Highways 18, 39 and 13 in recent years, but there are a lot of kilometres of highways down here with a lot of heavy trucks due to the industries we have been blessed with.

I know Saskatchewan has a lot of kilometres of paved highways to maintain and we don’t have the massive tax base of other provinces. But we do have to remember the amount of trucks down here and the impact of the southeast region on the provincial economy.

New physician excited to practise in Estevan

By David Willberg

The newest physician to join the Estevan community has enjoyed her experiences thus far.

Dr. Erin Segstro started seeing patients on Sept. 13 out of the Primacy Medical Centre in northeast Estevan. She graduated from medical school in 2021 and finished her family medicine residency this past June.

Segstro said she decided to come to Estevan because she had a great mentoring experience with local physician Dr. Sarah Tsoi at the clinic. Segstro was a medical school student at the University of Saskatchewan at the time.

“I really liked her practice and how she was able to set up her patient load, so I thought I’m going to be in Saskatchewan for the next couple of years, so this seems like a good place to be able to do the type of medicine I’m most interested in and see the types of patients I enjoy,” said Segstro, who hails from Winnipeg.

Everybody seemed to be very cordial in Estevan, and that added to her decision to come here. And she wanted to be at the Primacy clinic due to her rapport with Tsoi.

“This was the clinic that I knew here in town, and it’s nice when you’re first starting out to have the support of staff who have been working at this for a long time, and other doctors who are able to support me as I learn a new system. It just seemed to be nicer for me to start in a group practice as opposed to being on my own,” she said.

Segstro has wanted to be a doctor for almost as long as she can remember. She read a “very moving” book as a pre-

teen about somebody who went overseas as a doctor and shared their experiences about helping others.

“I thought this is something that I’m very interested in doing – helping people and hopefully being able to learn from their stories as well.”

Segstro said she has an interest in obstetrics, women’s health and pediatric care. She has considered the potential for additional training in obstetrics and being able to perform procedures.

The support shown for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation is also really impressive, she said, and people have told her the community takes pride in its hospital and the care provided.

Segstro said she is looking forward to getting into some of the fitness classes offered in Estevan, and she loves

being outside so she has been making good use of the integrated sidewalk and pathway system.

St. Joseph’s Hospital executive director Candace Kopec said they are pleased to have Segstro back in Estevan. She left a great impression during her previous time in Estevan.

“She just really enhanced the team that is here,” said Kopec.

Segstro’s arrival brings the total number of general practitioners in Estevan to 14, and Kopec believes the community is in good shape when it comes to GPs. There are also two specialists in the community.

“We’re always really looking to enhance our specialty services, so we want to really look at physicians supporting our obstetrical program,” said Kopec.

Estevan U18 AAA Bears have new title sponsor

The Estevan U18 AAA Bears hockey club has announced a two-year partnership with its new title sponsor, Great North Wellhead & Frac.

Beginning with the 2023-24 regular season, the team will be known as the Great North Estevan Bears.

“We are very excited that Great North has signed on to be our title sponsor for the next two seasons. We feel that it’s a great fit for our hockey club and look forward to building a great relationship,” said team governor and board chairman Blake Jamieson.

“Being able to have the opportunity of supporting this level of hockey locally is exciting. Hockey’s been a huge part of my personal life and when I was told the Bears needed a new title sponsor, we had to make sure Great North was able to support in some capacity,” said Nick Neurauter, Great North Wellhead & Frac’s Estevan branch manager.

“Being able to be the title sponsor is just the cherry on top. The Great North team

looks forward to seeing the program have success moving forward.”

“The support from our business community in Estevan and the southeast area is invaluable to our team’s success and sustainability.

Our players are prepared for a new season of hockey to begin, and the Bears are grateful to have Great North join us for the start of the year,” said Bears’ head coach and general manager Ryan Pilon.

The Great North Este-

van Bears began their fourth season in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League on Sept. 23 and 24 with home games at Affinity Place against the Tisdale Trojans. Great North was incorporated in 2003.

The Primacy clinic at St. Joseph's Hospital has a new physician, and she's excited to be in Estevan. File photo

Great North Wellhead & Frac and the Estevan U18 AAA Bears announced a sponsorship agreement on Monday. Photo by Robert Godfrey with Lemon Wedge Marketing

Sacred Heart supports

Terry Fox

Sacred Heart School/École Sacré Coeur continued its tradition of supporting the Terry Fox Foundation. The school has been participating in the Terry Fox Walk for over 30 years and held its annual walk Friday, raising more than $1,000 in the process. Students raised money through pledges and an ice cream sale in September. They also met as a school to hear about Fox's legacy and had a warm-up activity with Maria Walter from Soul Step Studio. Family members and even pets joined the students and staff for this year's walk. Photo courtesy of Megan Vanstone

Resurfacing complete of Roche Percee Access Road

By David Willberg

The Roche Percee Access Road is in the best condition it's been in for years, thanks to the completion of a resurfacing project.

The 2.7-kilometre portion of the road closest to the village now has a fresh, thin layer of asphalt. Funding for the project came under the Thin Membrane Surface Fund, which supports a number of highway projects throughout the province each year.

Mayor Jay Riedel said it's been "amazing" to see it finally happen. When he ran for mayor in the 2020 civic election, one of his primary objectives was to see the refurbishment occur.

"I've lived down there for over 30 years now, and I've got some nice cars and everybody else has some nice vehicles, and it's a shame to have to drive down that road for all these years," said Riedel.

He believes the condition of the road has deterred people from visiting the pierced rock

formations and some of the other tourist attractions in the area.

"From my vantage point and my house, I could see how many people are at the rocks, throughout the summer, every day," said Riedel. "There's lots of times there's a hundred vehicles down there."

When he talked to people from outside the area, the first thing they told him was the next to fix the road.

The mayor said people in the Roche Percee area are thrilled to have the work complete. Some have called it a life-changer.

"You don't know whether you want to take the backroad home, and in the winter time it's terrible with the snow removal," said Riedel. "Everybody's in denial [that the resurfacing happened]. Everybody's in disbelief. We didn't think it was ever going to happen. Now we've moved onto other things."

Doug McClement with GenCo Asphalt said the method used for the resurfacing was

the most cost-effective option for the job, as it gives a bit of strength and better rideability than the current state of the road.

The project was expected to wrap up late last week or early this week.

Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who was recently appointed as the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, said the repairs were approved earlier this year.

"This is one of the ones that actually came to the top as one of the worst ones," said Carr. "The tender was sent out in June, it was awarded in July to GenCo. It really is just one of those programs that has a budget throughout the year and they prioritize projects."

She conceded the road was in bad condition, and Carr said she and the South East Transportation Planning Committee had joined Riedel and others in advocating for the resurfacing.

Thin membrane surface roads were not designed for heavy traffic, although there are some heavy trucks that use the

Repair

route. Carr said they level out the surface and apply a 40-millimetre asphalt overlay, which would be under two inches.

She also noted that when Highway 39 was twinned east of Estevan in 2017, 800 metres of the access road closest to the highway were resurfaced.

Within the village, crossings at the bridges were

levelled out.

"When Scott came to town to visit [in August], that was one of the first things I talked to him about was the road, and Lori was there with him," said Riedel. Now that the road has been resurfaced, Riedel suggested a show and shine would be a great event for Roche Percee to host.

By Stephanie Zoer

The Homespun Craft Show and Sale in Carlyle held its 35th annual event Sept. 16 and 17.

Held at the Carlyle Sports Arena, people were welcomed at the door and asked for a small admission fee. Then the shoppers could enter into the door prize draw.

Known as the Biggest Little Craft Show in Saskatchewan, 58 vendors had their handmade items neatly displayed for customers.

There was a wide variety of goods to choose from, including hand-crafted wooden toys, metal garden ornaments and silverware, which was made into display pieces. Vendors came from far and wide. Many were Saskatchewan residents, but it also included

people from Alberta, Manitoba and even Ontario. Ken Chrun from Ken’s Bent Silverware attended the show for the first time. He was impressed with the setup and how smoothly things went.

Chrun builds items from refurbished silverware using spoons, forks, graters and metal bowls, creating tractors, combines and animals. His unique pieces caught the eyes of many people.

Joanna Klein from the Creative Garden Art Studio has attended the show for several years and does not want to miss it. Her bright and colourful metal flowers and trees were a hit for many.

“I enjoy the show,” said Klein. “There are great people here.”

Karen and Stacey Onofriechuk enjoy coming each year, as they love the atmosphere. They

create wooden Christmas items and wall hangings. The mother-daughter team works together to create their unique pieces.

Also in Carlyle during the weekend was the 20th annual quilt show and sale. It was held at the Memorial Hall.

Many quilts were hung around the inside with their bright patterns and beautiful piecework, capturing the eye of those who attended.

Over the weekend, people came and went, enjoying the many items on display, with vendors waiting for customers to snatch up the items for sale. Although the days were long, they were happy with the turnout and have already booked the dates for next year's 36th annual Carlyle Homespun Craft Show and Sale.

Great turnout for Obstacle Course Fun Day

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Obstacle Course Fun

Day at the Estevan Exhibition

Grounds attracted quite a bit of interest both from participants and spectators on Saturday.

Thirty-four riders joined the competition, put on by the Estevan Exhibition Association and its members, including Lindsay Collins, Stacey Holtz, Jessica Klarholm, Valerie Paulson and Annetta McDavid.

"We're happy to see so many people here," Collins said.

The committee started thinking about and then organizing the event in July and August just to provide something different for locals to close out the summer.

"There's lots of horse people in the community, and it's nice to have different things to do other than just barrel racing and the things that are going on like rodeo," Collins said.

They brought in the first obstacle course event a couple of years ago, and it seemed

to be popular enough to start working towards making it an annual tradition.

The original plan was to have the event outside, but Saturday's weather pushed them indoors, where the obstacle course was set up.

"The horses and riders had to go through 11 different obstacles," Collins explained.

"They have to demonstrate that they have control over their horse and that their horse will go through the obstacles. We have a judge, so when she's judging them, she looks at the willingness of the horse to go through the obstacle and the way the rider handles the horse, so she judges them both."

The event attracted people from close and afar, with riders travelling from different areas of Saskatchewan. With five categories available – in-hand, beginner, novice, open and jackpot – the obstacle course had riders from five to 70 years of age on horses of various breeds.

Jackpot was won by Darcy Ward of Weyburn, followed

by Sharon Carlson of Bienfait. In the in-hand category, the first place winner was Novena Benko out of Weyburn, and the second prize went to Ashley Kerslake from Lampman. In the beginner category, Tenley Mack of Estevan won the main prize, with Mark Pettitt of Estevan coming in second. Jade Bloor of Weyburn was the winner in novice, and Carlson was second. In the open category, first prize and the title were claimed by Wawota's Sandra Mountney and Brenda Noble of Estevan came in second.

Besides the obstacle course, the day featured a garage sale-style tack sale and lunch.

Collins also noted that they are looking to put together some shows in the wintertime, which will be more than just the obstacle course, but these plans haven't been finalized yet. People can follow the Estevan Exhibition Association's website at estevanex.com or their social media for the latest updates.

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Joanna Klein from Creative Gardens Art Studio has attended the show for several years and loves it. Photos by Stephanie Zoer

Aria House went through the challenges at the obstacle course. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

The Estevan Car Club made Sunday brighter for Estevan seniors with their nowtraditional drive-by.

The rain on Saturday pushed the gathering to the next day. Fortunately, more rain held off, and it turned out to be a nice day in the end with close to 40 members joining the seniors cruise.

"This is our third one," said Estevan Car Club organizer Nathan Dies. "Last year, we did this as well and it went pretty good, so we thought we'd try it again.

"We all know that age isn't going to wait for any of us. So, someday I might be in here, and hopefully, somebody comes and drives an old car past my place.

"And I think everybody enjoys doing this and realizes that it's appreciated," Dies added.

On the day of the cruise, participants gathered at the Ron Stregger Trenching

parking lot at 1 p.m. From there they drove by Hill View Manor, then they went past the Estevan Regional Nursing Home a couple of times, drove by Creighton Lodge and finally made it to St. Joseph's Hospital' long-term care unit. There, most people parked their vehicles and took time to visit. As the cruise approached the facilities, seniors would come out or watch old fancy cars going by through the windows. At the final stop, many long-term care residents came outside to have a closer look at the vehicles and visit with the drivers.

Dies said he was happy with the turnout. They are now an informal club, and he did his best to reach as many people as he could through personal connections and social media to have a colourful and fun cruise for participants and seniors.

Most drivers were local, and one man came from Regina to join the cruise.

With the seniors cruise,

the Estevan Car Club is getting close to wrapping up its 2023 season. There is nothing else planned. Depending on the weather, they might call for another gathering before the winter, but the majority of their activity for this summer is in the books.

Dies said they had a good time and hope the community enjoyed seeing them at their new location as well.

"It was pretty good; we had a new location this year and it worked out all right. We'd get 20 to 30 vehicles out once a month and something different every time. You don't get the same group of people every month," Dies said.

For any updates on the club's activities and projects and to join, check out the Estevan Car Club's Facebook page.

"Next year we'll do this again sometime, and if you know somebody with an old car that needs to get it out, encourage them to do so," Dies said.

Local senior citizens and other mature motorists will get the opportunity to have some tips for when they're behind the wheel during a mature driver refresher course on Oct. 26 at the Estevan 60-and-Over Club's hall in the Estevan Leisure Centre.

The session, which will

be hosted by the Saskatchewan Safety Council (SSC), will begin at 9 a.m. There is no cost to attend the six-hour session but pre-registration is required.

Participants are asked to bring a lunch and refreshments.

The SSC says the mature driver refresher course

is strictly informational and offered in a positive, openclass environment. Participants' driver's licences are not affected and there are no required examinations.

According to the SSC, the course helps reinforce safe driving habits. It will increase a motorist's confidence when navigating Sas -

katchewan's growing traffic numbers, both on municipal roads and on the highways. It provides insight into how to adapt driving habits based on the physical changes the body goes through as it matures.

Some of the topics that the SSC says are discussed in the course are:

•Normal driving situations such as intersections, following distance and maintaining an open "gate" around the vehicle;

•Hazardous driving environments such as skids, head-on collisions, hydroplaning, and how to protect yourself while driving;

•Traffic guidance such

as sign recognition and pavement markings;

•Review of safety devices such as seat belts and airbags; and

•Medication awareness, vision, and effective use of your eyes.

People can register online at www.sasksafety.org or by calling 1-855-280-7115.

Auxiliary continues to enjoy community support

The St. Joseph’s Health Care Auxiliary is weighing its options for its next fundraising project at St. Joseph’s Hospital, now that it has

nearly paid for the purchase of new x-ray equipment.

The auxiliary has been working to fundraise $320,000 to purchase the

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new unit. The donations it receives will also pay for related renovations for the diagnostic imaging equipment at the hospital.

The auxiliary has been able to raise the money through its own fundraising efforts and estate donations, such as one that it received from Tom and Irma Trofimenkoff.

It is also a long-time member agency for the United Way Estevan.

“We do get support from the United Way. We

gladly accept all we can get from them,” said president Valerie Hagel.

The allocation from the United Way helps the auxiliary pay off projects as quickly as they do. Representatives of the organization are looking forward to appearing on the United Way Estevan Telethon on Oct. 13 and 14 at the Es -

tevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. St. Joseph’s Hospital executive director Candace Kopec said she spoke to the auxiliary at September’s meeting, and she appreciates their continuing support.

“They’re looking at supporting us on a couple of projects. We’re just working out the details on some of those.”

The auxiliary meets the third Monday of the month at the hospital at 1:30 p.m., except for July and August. It is looking for new members.

In April, the auxiliary reopened the gift shop inside the hospital for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions came into effect in March 2020.

They also hope to have a pre-Christmas tea and bake sale in the hospital’s auditorium in the first week of December. The event hasn’t happened since December 2019.

Estevan Car Club members hosted the seniors cruise on Sunday to cheer up residents of local senior living facilities. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Close to 40 Estevan Car Club members showed up for the seniors' cruise.

St. Joseph's Hospital's long-term care was the final stop of the seniors' cruise, as participants parked and visited with residents.

Obituaries

Hearing a different voice

Hank Lievaart 1933 - 2023

Hank passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family at Hill View Manor in Estevan, Sask. on September 1, 2023 at the age of 90.

Hank will be forever loved and remembered by his family: daughter, Wilma Mantei (Terry), grandson, Lee Mantei (Simone), great grandchildren, Chloe, Lia, granddaughter, Andrea (Preston) Leatherdale and great granddaughter, Torrie, grandson, Paul (Stacey), great grandchildren, Daniel, Samuel, Kalem, Ryder, Praline, Holden, Joylynne; son, Adriaan Lievaart (Rosemarie), grandson, Justin (Tracey) Lievaart, great grandchildren, Rylan, Lexey, granddaughter, Jennelle Wimmer (Casey), great grandchildren, Brayden, Jaxon, Madison, granddaughter, Jaclyn Betts, great grandchildren, Mac, Olivia; daughter, Roxanna (Jack) Rutko, granddaughter, Julie Best (Tyler), great grandchildren, Aubrie, Addison, Alice, and grandson, Jay Rutko.

Hank will also be lovingly remembered by his sisters-in-law in Holland: Bep Lievaart, Nelly Lievaart and Leenie van Oost; nieces, Geraldine Pluyms, Betty Seibert and Ramona Buchko; nephew Adriaan Leusink, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Holland.

Hank was predeceased by his parents, Willem and Jacoba Lievaart; parents-in-law, Adrian and Johanna van Oost; wife, Johanna Lievaart; brothers, Wim Lievaart and Cees Lievaart; brothers/sisters-in-law: Pete and Eef van Oost, Reik van Oost, Art and Joppa Leusink, Jan and Corry van Oost, Annie van Oost, Gerrard and Adrianna Pluyms, Adriaan van Oost and grandsonin-law, Brad Wimmer.

Hank Lievaart, the middle of three boys, was born in Rozenburg, July 25, 1933 in Southwest Holland, on a small island off the coast.

At 8 years old, Hank had a very serious accident where he was hit by a semi-truck while riding his bike. He was in a coma for a long time and spent 2 years at home. His mother and aunt were diligent with him at they taught him to walk again as well as work on his schooling at home. At the age of 11, dad lost his father in an air raid in World War II as an innocent bystander walking to work. Dad dropped out of school to work on farms to support his mother. Because Hank lived so closed to the waterway and saw so many ships passing by, he dreamed of being a sailor. He tried to sign up, but his mother refused to sign as he was underage. He tried 3 times but no success. His dream of being a sailor did not materialize. He continued to work on a farm where he milked 50 cows with two other workers, helped farm the land producing many kinds of crops. He always brought home milk and vegetables and gave every pay cheque to his mother. Hank met Johanna, who also worked on the same farm, and they fell in love. She was from the big city of Rotterdam. They were married in 1954. Hank’s next dream was to own land and become a farmer. This could not happen as the land was taken up for the expansion of the Rotterdam harbour. Hank’s family, friends, and neighbours were relocated. Hank and Johanna left on their honeymoon to Canada, the land of opportunity with plenty of farmland available. They travelled by ship, women on one side, men on the other. Hank enjoyed every moment of the trip from the deck, seeing the ocean waves, and sailors doing their jobs. Johanna was down below sick. Ten days later they landed in Halifax, Peer 21. With one suitcase and $25 dollars, they travelled by train to Saskatchewan, where opportunities were great for farming. They spent 2 years in the McTaggart area working on a pig farm. Their daughter, Wilma was born. They moved to the Outram area to work on the Memory Farm where Adriaan and Roxanna were born. After 8 years they were able to buy land and farm on their own. The farm expanded and they earned a good living to provide for their family. His second dream came true. Hank never gave up on his love for the water and sailboats. He built model boats and floated them in the dugout with the kids. Eventually Hank got a sailboat to sail on the Boundary Dam, and later bigger ones for Lake Diefenbaker. There were many family excursions and holidays on the sailboats. They sailed for almost 40 years. His first dream came true. Hank’s other hobbies included music, woodworking, chime clocks. He had a great love for animals and bonded with them such as a chicken, a blind calf, talking cockatiels and a few black poodles. Three things both Hank and Johanna were passionate about was their love of God, love of family and love of music. Hank taught his family these important values, along with being kind and caring to all, getting an education, working hard, but knowing that life is not always about work, but also having fun while you do it and then taking time to enjoy life as well. On December 25, 2015, Johanna passed away and Hank had to live life without the love of his life. He continued to live on the farm until he moved to Hillview Manor, June 2022. Hank’s family would like to thank family, friends, and neighbours for their sympathy and condolences. Thank you to the Hillview Manor staff and residents for the love, care and friendship.

Hank would want you to remember that God loves and cares for you as stated in one of his favourite songs, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

The Memorial Service for Hank was held on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Estevan, with Rev. Sharon Kane officiating. Following the service, everyone was invited to join for Hank’s interment at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens and a time of fellowship and refreshments in the church social hall.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Hank via a donation in his memory may do so directly to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Trinity Lutheran Church (Estevan), or the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation (Estevan).

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

Obituaries

In Memory of Mark Nesbitt

1951-2023 Obituary of Mark Nesbitt

Mark Nesbitt, late of Chitek Lake, SK, passed away on September 12, 2023 at the age of 72 years.

Mark was born in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan on June 15, 1951 to Maxine and Dave Nesbitt. The family soon moved down to Bienfait, SK where his father found work. Mark grew up in Bienfait and began working for CN Railway at the early age of 19. He worked for CN his entire career in a variety of roles, and lived in various parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba during that time. He happily retired in Chitek Lake, a place he felt most at home. He lived life to the fullest. In his younger years; he enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling and road trip adventures with his kids. He was a resilient person, and lived his life the way he truly wanted to live. We will miss his care and love, his laughter, his quirks, and the ease we felt just being around him.

Mark leaves behind his two children Gyllis Nesbitt (Christina Elder), Cassandra Janovsky (Jan), whom he shared with his former wife, Diane Mitschke, and four grandchildren Cabri, Carter, Ellie and Nina, along with his brother Gary Nesbitt (Missy) and niece, Kyla. He also leaves behind many cherished friends that he has made along his journey, particularly those during his time in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba and during his retirement in Chitek Lake.

In keeping with his wishes, no formal service will be held. Family ask that if you knew Mark, take a moment to enjoy a coffee, and reminisce on some memories you’ve shared with him. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Tracey Lynn Lenchuk, Funeral Director, Spiritwood, SK 306-883-3500.

In 1960, the Aral Sea was the fourth-largest inland lake in the world.

Located on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea played host to a fishing industry that supported some 3.5 million people around its shoreline. Then things began to change.

In 1959, officials in the Soviet Union diverted the two streams that fed the Aral Sea so that they could irrigate cotton fields. While the cotton grew, the Aral Sea shrank. Within a few years, the lake began to evaporate and by 2014 most of the former lake bed was a desert.

People moved away. Lively cities became ghost towns and now the only tourists that visit this oncepopular area are those who enjoy seeing ecological disasters.

This story interests me because I see a similar process at work in the church. People start full of excitement.

Their faith is new and wonderful. However, at some point, they begin to cut themselves off from the source of their joy and their hope begins to fade or evaporate. Soon, they lose their spiritual vitality and, like the Aral Sea, everything good simply disappears.

However, this does not have to happen. We can be continually refilled and refreshed if we choose to be.

One of the simplest ways to do that is to dwell on God’s promises. As Romans 10:17 reminds us “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.

Belief, on its own, will not last. We must continue to read, meditate, and teach God’s promises to ourselves

and others. Daily reminders of scripture, such as an app on your phone that sends you a verse a day, are a great place to start.

In a world that surrounds us with many negative voices, we need to make a conscious effort to stay connected to our hope. We need to feed the positive parts of our lives by hearing and responding to the voice of Jesus. Then we will not only remain full, but we will overflow with the life of Christ.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).

Fire crews responded to four calls

Estevan Fire Rescue Service members responded to four calls last week.

On Sept. 18, firefighters were called to a residential fire alarm going off on the north side of Estevan. It was quickly determined that the alarm was false in nature and the EFRS’ assistance wasn’t required.

Later the same day, crews were called to investigate smoke downtown. The investigation showed there was no emergency occurring, and what appeared like smoke turned out to be steam coming from a tar trailer, utilized

for roof construction work in the area.

On Sept. 21, a commercial fire alarm went off on the south side of Estevan. It turned out to be cooking-related, and firefighters’ assistance wasn’t needed.

Another commercial fire alarm went off in a multiapartment building on the north side of the city on Sept. 24. Firefighters arrived on the scene and found that a pull station was activated by someone. They reset the pull station and the alarm and cleared the scene.

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A massive mushroom

Stoughton’s school carrying and flying partnership flags

It’s a simple yet significant statement.

System Goal No. 1 in the South East Cornerstone Public School Division calls for a successful education process in the 37 school facilities involving about 8,400 students.

“Our students have opportunities to learn and succeed in every school,” states the information for the goal.

With that overseeing target entrenched in their governance minds, Cornerstone board members heard a series of presentations at their meeting Sept. 20 in Weyburn.

Director of education

Keith Keating opened the presentation by referring to the province’s new Provincial Education Plan (PEP) that contains four priority actions and focus areas that include student transitions, inspiring success, learning support and assessments, and mental health and well-being.

Keating pointed out the new school year will see Cornerstone implementing collaborative response teams

in schools, supporting student assessment, working with the Indigenous Responsibility Education Framework and ensuring schools have understandings of trauma informed practices.

Keating noted that following the disruptions brought about by required responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, things returned to normal practices and procedures for the 2022-23 school year.

He also said that beyond the academic reach, there were also support plans and activities for students and families dealing with mental health or other challenges that required some attention to ensure student success moving forward.

Those items were included in some additional learning opportunities, he pointed out.

“We have a vast and knowledgeable learning support team to address student needs if support outside of school-based staff is required,” he said, before pro-

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viding a litany of employees that included counsellors, co-ordinators, instructional coaches and liaison personnel who provide these vital services to, again, ensure a measure of student success.

With that introduction in place, Stoughton Central School principal Shelly Campbell provided a verbal and video presentation of the directions the kindergartenGrade 12 school had taken to embrace their mandate to build bridges with the regional Indigenous communities, especially the nearby Ocean Man First Nations.

“We’re taking it to the land,” she said, during her opening notes to the board members.

She said she had grown up in the town and the school, and noticed that when she

returned as teacher and leader, a certain disconnect in behaviours had surfaced between the Indigenous and other students.

“We had to become a community before we could go on,” she explained. “There’s still a long way to go, but we’re making progress.”

With that, a series of photos appeared on the screen displaying the Treaty 4 flag, Nakota language greetings, reconciliation statements, and a flag wall housing the Canadian and Saskatchewan flags, as well as the Métis, Treaty 4 and Pride flags, to represent acceptance, respect and safety for all.

Classroom activities and discussions have focused on such things as seven sacred teachings, keeping native languages alive, land acknowl -

edgements, and a continual reach out to Ocean Man and other First Nations to include non-Indigenous as well as Indigenous students.

She remarked that in recent Nakota language lessons with Peter Bigstone, nine of the 15 original students were non-indigenous kids who just wanted to learn, and they did so within the spirit of fun and inclusion led by Bigstone.

“This received a better response than I expected,” she admitted. “Kids love to visit with Pete.”

Other land-based learning included teepee building and raising, a buffalo hunt with a ceremony, dressing of the carcass and processing the hide by both Ocean Man and town kids, she said.

“There is a spiritual as-

pect to this. It was hard work but it was also a once in a lifetime opportunity for us,” she said.

Star blankets have been awarded to students and the school, a mark of partnership achievements.

Hoop dancing classes with Terrance Littlechief also drew a lot of interest along with a gardening project.

Snow days involved a dog sled team experience along with snow shoeing, skiing and fireside activities that allowed even more team building.

“It all comes back to relationships,” said Keating near the end of the presentation.

“Yes, and we’re lucky to have a good working relationship with Ocean Man. Pinamaya Amba Wasdte Yuha,” Campbell said in closing.

Golf cart driver arrested for impaired driving in Estevan

Estevan police had an unusual encounter on Sept. 21.

Members of the Estevan Police Service located and stopped a golf cart travelling on Fourth Avenue at around 2:45 a.m. A 29-year-old man from Calgary was arrested for impaired driving. The man was released the next morning and will appear in court at a later date. The golf cart was returned to the owner.

Police are also investigating two separate reports of harassment. In both cases, the matters seem to have been resolved with the help of outside services and mediation. No formal criminal charges had to be laid.

In other recent police news, the EPS received a call on Sept. 17 through the Report Impaired Drivers line. Police were given a description of a vehicle that was believed to be headed to an address in the Hillcrest area. Police attended and were unable to locate the vehicle being operated.

Members received a report of an individual driving without a licence.

Police located the vehicle. It was parked. The driver was located in the area, spoken to and cautioned not to drive.

Officers responded to a report of an individual trespassing at a local business on Sept. 18. He had left prior to members' arriving on scene.

Police received a report of an erratic driver on Fourth Street. The plate provided did not match the vehicle type that was given. The vehicle was not located by members.

A report of two suspicious people in the central part of the city was also received. Members located and spoke to the individuals.

A traffic stop resulted in a female providing a breath sample into a roadside screening device. She recorded a warning level. Her driver's licence was suspended for 72 hours, and her vehicle was impounded for three days.

Officers responded to a report of a theft from a vehicle on Kensington Avenue on Sept. 20. The EPS is asking for the public's assistance in reporting any

Vicky Gervais holds the massive puffball mushroom that was grown on her son Clinton's farm east of Bienfait this year. She dropped by the Mercury's office last week to show it off for the staff, since it's rare to see a puffball of that size. TAX

suspicious people or vehicles. The matter is still under investigation.

The EPS dealt with 52 occurrences from Sept. 22 through 24, including reports of harassment, theft under $5,000, suspicious people or vehicles, uttering threats, noise complaints, unwanted guests in liquor establishments and businesses and reports of possible impaired drivers.

Police received a report of a theft of a truck from a residential area. A statement was provided and the matter remains under investigation. The EPS reminds the public to ensure their vehicles are always secured and that all valuables are removed.

Police received a report of a theft under $5,000. The suspects have been identified and the matter remains under investigation.

As a result of a traffic stop, an Estevan man was issued a 90-day driving suspension for testing positive for drugs on the oral fluid device. His vehicle was impounded for 14 days.

Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act, that unless arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following

Are nuclear power and small modular reactors a good option?

By Ana Bykhovskaia

A short answer is yes, said Al Shpyth, a pro-nuclear environmentalist with more than 30 years of consulting, government and industry experience related to the minerals and nuclear sectors. Small modular reactors are a good option, and if chosen to be built near Estevan, will be good for the area.

But Shpyth had a longer and more detailed response to that question during his presentation Nuclear Power and SMRs – A Primer at the Southeast TechHub on Friday.

Shpyth – who noted that he is not a nuclear expert but is experienced in the eld, was not a liated with SaskPower, was not speaking for any other company or organization, and all opinions were of his own – took those present as well as those watching online on a tour about science and contemporary technological progress, as well as governmental regulations and environmental and other concerns, explaining what SMRs are and how they work. During the twohour event, he also touched on approval processes, issues and concerns, and actions to support nuclear.

"We have a good chance to have nuclear energy put into our community. I know that for some this is an emotional thing," said TechHub executive director Gord More, opening the event. "Al and I were approached by SaskPower about this, but we didn't want this to be a SaskPower event. We wanted this to only be about nuclear energy.

"And there is one important piece in all of this, if these nukes are built here, it would be terrible if at the workyard they're all Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba or B.C. plates, and they're not Saskatchewan plates. And that's one of the reasons I wanted to do this event. e other part is GE-Hitachi and the Sask. Government really want our community to be a part of the supply chain.

"So, with the college, we are collecting as much information ... for the community, so that you can be a part of the supply chain whether you

need to be certi ed to work it or run it, or if you have boiler maker skills or welding skills, there are opportunities for you," More added.

Opening his presentation, Shpyth said he's been in the mining industry for over 30 years and acquired a lot of experience in nuclear, and uranium in particular. Introducing himself, he noted that he has family roots in the southeast, as both his grandfathers were coal miners and their families lived in the Bienfait area.

"I'm the only one in the family not born here, but I have memories of coming here for summers with grandparents and swimming in the coal pits, tobogganing down the hills and rocks per se, when I was old enough going across the line to Portal," Shpyth shared.

"And I'm very happy to share with you my thoughts and experience on nuclear and small modular reactors."

Proceeding with his presentation, he said SMRs are the technology that can play a role in Saskatchewan's future.

"SMRs, in ways, are like the coal plants that have been down here for a long time. ey're also like natural gas plants, in that they are thermal electric sources of electricity. Heat is generated, creates steam, steam turns turbines, and we get electricity," Shpyth explained. "SMRs can be baseload like coal. ey can also load follow like natural gas. And that's the attractive

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part of the SMRs. e large nuclear power plants, the ones that are in operation today, are predominantly baseload plants. at's where they run best. SMRs, again, are di erent because of their size and other features. ey can act both like a coal plant and a natural gas plant.

"The difference, of course, is unlike the fossil plants, the fuel [uranium] that goes in to generate the steam is not burned. It's not combusted, so there aren't combustion gases that come out the other end."

He noted that small means they are less than 300-megawatt electric units, which is comparable to the Shand Power Station. The modular in the name means the reactors or parts for them are going to be built in manufacturing centres, multiples at a time, and largely, if not entirely shipped to sites, Shpyth said, which is key to helping bring SMRs' cost down in the future.

SMRs are also attractive because they require lower initial capital, have greater scalability, allow for siting exibility for locations unable to accommodate more traditional larger reactors, provide enhanced safety and security compared to earlier designs and can readily " t" into the infrastructure of fossil fuel plants that are being closed.

Shpyth also spoke about GE-Hitachi WRX 300 – a SMR discussed for Saskatchewan. Being a boiling water reactor, this model

uses uranium to boil water to make steam, which turns turbines to make electricity. It uses low-enriched uranium fuel pellets assembled into bundles. Each uranium fuel pellet provides up to ve years of heat for power generation, and uranium is not burned so no combustion by-products or greenhouse gases are produced.

In his presentation, Shpyth touched on uranium enrichment and explained its types, including natural, low enriched and high enriched, and what it means, as well as nuclear fuel cycles. He also addressed the approval process, including the federal and provincial regulations. On the federal level, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which protects the health and safety of the public and the environment, requires to license the design of the full life cycle, including site preparation, construction, operation and decommissioning, and spent fuel management and disposal. The technology chosen by SaskPower will also be subject to an impact assessment.

On the provincial level, they will have to undergo an environmental assessment, a results-based process used by the Government of Saskatchewan to understand and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a project before any irreversible decisions are taken that may lead to negative e ects on the environment, natural

resources or public health and safety.

Shpyth also went over SaskPower's SMR timeline, which plans for local SMR(s) to become operational by 2035. ( e timeline is a ected by ongoing Indigenous, stakeholder and public engagement).

Talking about issues and concerns related to SMRs, Shpyth touched on radiation and radiation safety, security and waste management.

He noted that radiation comes from many natural sources, like the sun and various elements in the earth, and technologies we use, such as X-rays and other tests to diagnose diseases or treat

cancer. He explained di erent kinds of radiation and how they penetrate various materials, and compared levels of radiation people are exposed to during daily procedures to the e ects of the presence of an SMR in the area, which is low. He also talked about how such variables as time, distance and shielding a ect levels of radiation exposure.

Shpyth noted that contemporary SMR fuel and/or reactor designs are di erent from most other reactors to be the safest in the sense of radiation and susceptibility to emergencies, making nuclear energy the second safest and almost as safe as solar. He pointed out that nuclear is also the cleanest source of energy. ere are many options for dealing with nuclear waste, such as canisters or deep geological disposal. Around 95 per cent of all radioactive waste has very low or low levels of radioactivity. Shpyth also talked about what people can do to become supporters of nuclear energy, including self-education and engagement of others, advocating for nuclear, encouraging energy literacy and more.

The recording of Shpyth's presentation as well as up-to-date information about future SMR supply chain events can be found on the estevanhub.ca website.

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Al Shpyth spoke about small modular reactors and nuclear power during his presentation at the Southeast TechHub on Friday. Screenshot of the live stream of the presentation

The Estevan and area breastfeeding coalition posed with their gift basket winner at the start of World Breastfeeding Week, which in 1997 was marked on Oct. 1-7. (It is celebrated on Aug. 1-7 now). From left, Jan Gross Barb Harris, Sheila Wiens Valerie McNab (winner, with baby Lindsey), Joan RoellchenPhohl, Gale Tytlandsvik and Deborah Weiler

Shooters on the mark at Estevan Trap Club meet

The Estevan Trap Club hosted the sixth annual Pump 'N Thump Shoot and registered shoot at the range south of the city on Sept. 16 and 17.

Over the course of two days, 17 registered shooters from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and North Dakota participated. A total of 10,000 targets were launched. Three 100 registered events of singles, doubles and handicap were held on both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday evening, the shooters competed in Annie Oakley and Buddy Doubles events before the main one got started. A few more local shooters joined for the Saturday night Pump 'N Thump to shoot 15 singles, 20 doubles and 15 handicap under the lights.

The first place winner was Jason Sparwood of Virden, Man., taking

home the fire pit donated by Fast Trucking Services Ltd. and a cash prize of $250. The runner-up was Reg King of Estevan, who pocketed $200. The cash prizes throughout the weekend were donated by Thru Tubing Solutions.

Also on Saturday morning, the Estevan Strippers hockey club held their annual shoot, making it a very busy weekend for the club.

Anyone interested in joining the club can come out to the range at shooting times. The club welcomes new shooters. The sessions are at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays when they will be shooting under the lights, and at 1 p.m. on Sundays. If you would like more information contact Reg King at 306-421-1909.

Call volumes up by almost 30 per cent for the EPS

leased at the Sept. 19 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners,

members received 5,636 calls up to Aug. 31, as opposed to 4,449 a year earlier.

This past August saw more calls than the same month in 2022, with 724 occurrences versus 529.

However, when compared to the five-year average, which is at 5,669, the numbers are on par with general tendency.

As for the Criminal Code statistics, there were eight crimes against the person in August, with six assaults and two sexual crimes, compared to 13 for August 2022.

So far this year, the EPS has had 96 crimes against the person, with 73 assaults, 19 sexual crimes and four assaults causing bodily harm, which is down five per cent from 101 such charges in the first eight months of last year.

Crimes against property were at 43 for August, led by 24 thefts under $5,000, 13 mischief/wilful damage complaints, two thefts of a motor vehicle, and one

each for residential, business and other break and enters. There was also one theft over $5,000. Thirty-two such infractions occurred in August 2022.

There were 261 crimes against property from Jan. 1-Aug. 31, up 19 per cent from the 220 for that stretch in 2022. This year's crimes against property have included 131 thefts under $5,000, 85 mischief/wilful damage complaints, 29 residential break and enters, two business break and enters, seven thefts of a motor vehicle, five thefts over $5,000 and one other break and enter.

There were just two charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in August, one for trafficking and one for possession, as compared to one for August 2022.

Twenty-three charges were laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the first eight months of this year, with 12 for possession and 11 for

trafficking, versus 25 a year earlier, which is an eight per cent decline.

Twenty-five charges were laid for Criminal Code traffic violations last month, including 24 for impaired/ exceed-related offences and one for dangerous driving or other. Ten were laid in the same month last year.

So far this year, there have been 99 such violations – 79 for impaired/ exceed-related offences, 10 for impairment by drug and 10 for dangerous driving and other.

There were 69 Criminal Code traffic violations in the first eight months of 2022, so there has been a 43 per cent increase on a year-todate basis.

Five-year averages for each category are 88.8 for crimes against the person, 218.2 for crimes against property, 84.4 for Criminal Code traffic violations and 26.8 for the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Also released was the August report for Spec. Const.

Anna Volmer, the city's bylaw enforcement officer. It showed 26 animal-related calls, 13 vehicle-related issues, 23 unkempt property inspections, and 21 other bylaw violations, among other occurrences.

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So far this year she has had a total of 958 occurrences, including 224 other bylaw instances, 182 animal calls, 172 unkempt property inspections and 154 parking violations leading the list of her activities.

The City of Estevan is also inviting interested citizens to sit on the Estevan board of police commissioners as members at large.

If you are interested in becoming one of two members at large, please send a letter explaining your qualifications and what past experiences you have that could benefit this board, in writing, by Nov. 10 to: City Clerk, 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, SK, S4A 0W7. Phone 306-634-1852 or email at cityclerk@estevan. ca, for more information. A criminal records check may be required.

Shooters take aim during the Estevan Trap Club's meet. Photo courtesy of Marilyn King

Bruins split season-opening games with Millionaires

The Estevan Bruins opened the 2023-24 SJHL season with a win and a loss against the Melville Millionaires.

Estevan edged Melville 3-2 on Friday night at Affinity Place in front of 1,485 fans, but then fell 5-0 to Melville the following night in the Mills' home opener.

Friday night's game felt like the first contest of the regular season at times. Neither team scored in an uneventful opening period, but the action and intensity picked up as the night progressed.

"The game starts at 7 o'clock, so you have to [be ready to] start at 7 o'clock," said Bruins head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. "I thought we built the two-goal lead, but we didn't manage it."

Owen Barrow notched the Bruins' first goal of the season 81 seconds into the middle frame on a three-ontwo rush.

"That's one thing we've definitely been harping on is our starts. We need to get them down," said Barrow, who didn't get his first goal of last season until the midway point

of the campaign. It remained a 1-0 game until less than five minutes remained in the period, when Brendan Hunchak scored his first as a Bruin on a power play to double the advantage. The Mills scored twice before the period was out.

Former Estevan Bears' captain Caden Drury tallied 48 seconds after Hunchak's goal, and Euan Morrison tied the game

1:59 after Drury's marker on a Melville power play.

Estevan regained the lead 7:02 into the third when a pinching Felix Allard scored on another Bruins' man advantage. It was Allard's first goal as a Bruin.

The line of Barrow, Hunchak and Keagon Little combined for seven points, as Barrow added an assist, Hunchak had two helpers to

go with his goal and Little was in on two goals.

"I've known Hunch for a lot of years, and it's awesome to play with him again, and Little, it's unbelievable playing with him. He always gets the puck to you," said Barrow. Cam Hrdlicka made 26 saves to get the win for the Bruins, while William Dyke also came up with 26 saves for Melville.

Tatarnic said Melville works "extremely hard", and if a team turns the puck over, the Mills will attack. He said it's a reflection of Melville's new head coach Doug Johnson, who guided the Nipawin Hawks to the SJHL title in 2018.

"It's just a different style. Doug Johnson's a different style of coach, and if you play against Doug's teams, you know what they are, and if you play against other coaches' teams, you know what they are," said Tatarnic. "Doug's teams are going to work extremely hard the whole game. They're going to make you earn your ice out there."

Melville did a good job of setting a physical tone from the start, Tatarnic said, while the Bruins were more physical as the game went along.

Barrow said after Friday night's game that the team has been coming together well.

The following night, the Bruins had a number of chances to score early in the game, but Melville had the lone goal of the first period when Drury scored on a power play midway through the frame.

The Black and Gold thought they had tied the game a short time later when a dump-in took a funny hop off of a stanchion and went in the Melville net, but the goal was called off because the officials ruled the play offside.

Melville's Brendan Olson had the lone goal of the second period, and the Mills pulled away with three goals in the third. Liam Cox-Smith tallied 5:20 into the frame, Preston Tauter scored a shorthanded goal into an empty net six minutes later, and Payton Kostyshyn finished the scoring with 65 seconds to play.

The Bruins played most of the game with just four defencemen, as Tyler Guy was injured in the first period and Michael Gallant went down in the second.

Jackson Miller stopped 23 of the 27 shots he faced for the Bruins. Dyke made 31 saves to get the shutout for Melville.

The Bruins will be back on the ice on Sept. 29 when they host the Weyburn Red Wings at Affinity Place. Game time will be at 7 p.m. Then they will visit the Wings the following night.

Estevan Bears pick up three of four points against Tisdale

The Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears had a lopsided victory and a shootout loss in their seasonopening home games versus the Tisdale Trojans.

Estevan began the 2023-24 campaign in style with an 8-3 romp over the Trojans on Saturday night.

Cameron Allard notched the Bears' first goal of the season when he tallied 2:09 into the game, and Chase Holt also scored in the opening stanza.

Estevan added four goals in the second, with two from Kade McIvor and singles from Holt and Gunner Moore. Holt added his third of the game and Moore scored his second in

the final period.

Kaden Perron made 25 saves for the Bears.

The eight goals marked the second-highest singlegame total in Bears' franchise history. The offence kept rolling on Sunday, as Evhan Allan scored less than two minutes into the first period for Estevan.

The two teams combined for seven goals in the middle frame. Roan Burgess and Taye Shukin scored to give the Bears a 3-1 lead less than five minutes into the frame, but the Trojans replied with two of their own. Tallen Wallis scored with 2:59 to play in the second to put

Estevan back in the front, but the Trojans tied the game at 4-4 in the final minute.

The teams exchanged goals in the third, with Thomas Ries getting the Bears' lone goal to tie the game at 5-5.

Tisdale outscored Estevan 2-1 in a shootout that went eight rounds.

Perron stopped 20 shots for the Bears in Sunday's game.

The Bears' next action will be when they visit the Battlefords Stars on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Be sure to check out our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca for updates on the Bears throughout the season.

ECS volleyball teams have great weekend; golfer competes at provincial championship

Volleyball teams at the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs had a great showing during the weekend.

The senior boys' volleyball team won their home tournament on the weekend.

Teams from the Oxbow Prairie Horizons School, Carlyle's Gordon F. Kells High School, Lampman School, Kipling School, Ogema School and Montmartre School were entered.

ECS went 6-0 in the round robin, then defeated Carlyle 2-0 (25-17, 25-20) in the semifinal and Kipling 2-0 (25-21, 25-19) in the final. The Elecs lost just one of 17 sets during the weekend.

The senior boys also won a tournament at home on Sept. 8 and 9, but that tournament was supposed to be held in Weyburn.

The Elecs' senior girls' volleyball team went into Weyburn and came home with the silver medal from the 12-team tournament.

Estevan finished second in Pool B and played the host Weyburn team in the semifinal round. ECS won that match 2-1 (25-17, 16-25, 15-12) to punch their ticket to the final.

The Elecs dropped a 2-0 (25-16, 25-12) decision in the final, but still had a good showing in their first tournament of the year.

The Elecs' junior boys won a tournament in Yorkton. ECS started in the round robin by winning both of their games on Friday and added four more victories on Saturday.

ECS played Yorkton Sacred Heart in the semifinal round and won 2-0, and

then faced Yorkton Regional in the final. ECS won 2-0 as well, taking the first set 25-20 and the second 25-20. Melville, Norquay, Sturgis and Yorkton's Yorkdale School were also entered.

• • •

Meanwhile, Blake Andrist represented ECS at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association's provincial golf tournament on the weekend.

Golfing for Team South East, Andrist finished with a two-round total of 175, thanks to an 87 in the first round and an 88 in the second. Team South East finished eighth in the male event with a two-round score of 490, shooting a combined 252 in the first round and a 238 in the second.

Other members of the South East male entry were

Koby Krainyk of Redvers (86-83-169), Zane Leslie of McNaughton High School in Moosomin (9081-171) and Chase Robertson of Gordon F. Kells High

School (94-86-180).

The South East was fifth in the female division with a two-round total of 377 (189-188). Team members were Kirsten East

of Carlyle (108-103-211), Faith Gerspacher of Rocanville (112-100-212), Tianna Delalleau of Carlyle (109115-224) and Vaida Mass of Moosomin (108-122-230).

Estevan’s Parker Bell signs NHL contract with Calgary

Former Estevan resident Parker Bell has taken another step towards fulfilling his NHL dream.

Bell signed a three-year contract with the Calgary Flames on Thursday. He was selected in the fifth round, 155th overall, by the Flames in the 2022 NHL

Entry Draft.

The 6'4", 205-pound winger spent the 2022-23 campaign with the WHL's Tri-City Americans, where he notched a career-best 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points, which was second among Tri-City skaters. Bell added two goals and

four assists for six points in six playoff games with the Americans.

The 19-year-old had his first taste of professional hockey at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, skating in two contests with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Calgary

Wranglers, and notching an assist.

In a video posted to the Flames' X account, Bell said it was "the best phone call of my life" to know the contract was finished. He said his mother Candyce was pretty excited to hear the news.

Bell is currently at training camp for the Flames. He said he has been working hard to put on weight and improve his skating, and he had a good experience with the Flames at their prospect tournament in Penticton, B.C.

"It's nice being with the guys there, and I feel like we

had fun and we went 2-1," said Bell.

Bell was born in Estevan and played much of his minor hockey in the Energy City. He later moved to Campbell River, B.C., and spent several years playing developmental hockey in that province before joining the Americans.

Marc Belanger (21) of the Estevan Bears tries to stickhandle past the Tisdale defender and goalie during Sunday's game. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Ilia Chmelevski (25) cuts in past a Melville defender during the Bruins’ 3-2 victory on Friday night.

The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs junior boys' volleyball team won a tournament in Yorkton. Photo courtesy of Sheena Summers

Estevan Chargers defeat Weyburn in the rain

By David Willberg

The Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate

U12 Chargers picked up their first win of the season on Saturday by beating their Highway 39 rivals, the Weyburn Ravers, 25-14 at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Athletic Park.

Running back Jax Trombley scored four touchdowns for the Chargers, but he had a lot of help from the offensive line, said coach James Haagsman. Two of Trombley's scores were around 50 yards in length, and the others were on short yardage plays.

"They were mostly runs to the outside, and a few were up the middle with broken tackles, running behind the big offensive line that we have. We have the biggest offensive line in the league, mostly to do with Mason Lesy … he's our starting guard," said Haagsman.

Trombley had never played football before this season, Haagsman said.

Weyburn had a 14-12 lead at half-time, but Estevan shut the Ravens out in the second half. He credited first-year players Cyrus Schell and Jude Shackleton for outstanding play at the outside linebacker positions.

"They couldn't get any yardage on us once we figured out how we could handle their offence," said Haagsman.

The steady precipitation on Saturday negated the passing attack for both teams.

The Chargers will host the Moose Jaw Lions on Sept. 30, starting at 4 p.m.

• • •

The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team dropped a 29-0 decision to the Moose Jaw Peacock Tornadoes Saturday in Moose Jaw.

Head coach Mark Schott said they were confident entering the game because they thought they matched up well with Moose Jaw, but once they hit the field, it felt like they were a step or two behind the play.

"Peacock was able to get a decent amount of pressure in our backfield on our quarterback," said Schott.

The players and coaches thought they were capable of a better performance, he said.

The Elecs had a couple of their biggest offensive plays of the season, with passes over the middle from Dorion Sifton to Kalifa Elshein for close to 20 yards each.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Elecs stopped Peacock on multiple third down attempts.

"We have to put up some points, and that just hasn't happened," said Schott. "We can play stellar defence – and defensively we have to be better – but we can play top-level defence, and if we can't score,

we're not going to find ourselves in any football games."

The Elecs will host the Swift Current Colts on Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. at Woodlawn. Both teams are seeking their first win of the season.

• • • The Estevan Kinette Club U18 Viragos dropped a 28-7 decision to Regina on Saturday evening at Woodlawn.

Coach Mark Tribiger said it was likely one of the best games they have played, as they had just 11 players dressed due to injuries.

Morgan Hase had the Viragos' lone score with a 65yard sweep to the outside in the

first half. The score was 15-7 at halftime.

"Our defence and our offence, everybody was working together so well. It was really good to see. The defence forced quite a few two and outs for Regina, and they just couldn't get much going on us," said Tribiger.

The Viragos will close out the regular season when they visit the undefeated Yorkton Lady Gridders. If the Viragos win, they would likely make the playoffs, but if they lose, their season would come to an end.

• • • The Estevan Lions Club

U14 Oilers had two games in a four-day span, and fell 26-0 to the Weyburn Falcons last Wednesday and 41-14 to the Moose Jaw Raiders on Saturday.

Running back Hugh Ross had one of the Oilers' touchdowns against the Raiders, while quarterback Ryder Mantei had the other score.

Coach Paul Duncan said the defence played really well but the offence struggled against Weyburn. Defender Arvin Sangard had a really strong game, with tackles for losses, sacks and other big plays.

Taya Stigings had a

strong game against Weyburn and picked up a lot of yards after initial contact.

"Most of the time, I think she was trying to drag three or four of the Weyburn kids with her as she was getting positive yards for us," said Duncan. In the second game, the offence had a better showing, especially when using a nohuddle offence. Ross and T.J. Thompson had strong game with their speed.

Sangar had another strong game and Kerian Kyle had big plays to stop drives. The Oilers will visit the Swift Current Steelers on Oct. 1.

Motocross circuit wraps up season

The South Corner Racing Circuit concluded its season on Saturday by having a program at the Trackside Motocross Association’s facility southeast of Estevan. The riders were able to get the first half of the program in before cancelling the second half due to rain. A ride day was held at the track on Sunday. The circuit had a total of seven programs this year between Estevan, Carlyle and Alameda, and will hand out awards at a yearend event on Oct. 28.

by

Jax Trombley celebrates as he crosses the goal line during the Estevan Chargers' win over Weyburn on Saturday. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Photo

Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

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our community. Celebrating your newspaper.

Estevan has a rich and unique history since its inception. And the Estevan Mercury has been there virtually every step of the way.

The Mercury is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. And we're proud to bring this special publication to you, our readers.

How long has the Mercury been around? We're Estevan's oldest business – a fact that has long been a source of great pride in this office. (In many Saskatchewan communities, the newspaper is the oldest business).

When the Mercury was first printed in 1903, Saskatchewan was still a part of the North West Territories. Saskatchewan didn't become a province until Sept. 1, 1905.

We were there when Estevan became a town and the Estevan Police Service was formed in 1906.

We've been there through the First and Second World Wars, the Spanish influenza and the Great Depression. We've documented the most important events in local history.

We believe that if a business or an organization has been around for 120 years, then they must be doing something right. Or a lot of things right. If a business doesn't deliver a quality product that people can depend on, then it won't last 120 years.

We are proud to present this special section that pays tribute to the past of both the Mercury and Estevan. We have been able to find the front cover from our first paper back in 1903. And as you flip through the pages, you'll see articles from our past that chronicle some of the most notable moments in our city's history, and some of the changes that have occurred over the year. There are some stories that are rather obvious selections, such as the Estevan Riot of 1931, the plane crash south of the city in 1946, or Es-

tevan becoming a city in 1957, but we think we've brought together a strong variety of stories from Estevan's past.

And while we don't want to completely ignore our recent history, we've made sure that we have included articles from further back to show off our past. Not only is it an effort to educate and remind, but it also gives us a chance to show how much things have changed.

We've done our best to keep the stories as they were when they ran in the paper. We've made changes when

necessary, but they've been kept to a minimum.

A milestone like this allows us to reflect on the men and women who have served as publishers, editors, reporters, sales manager, sales representatives, production employees, administrative professionals, proofreaders, typesetters and others who have helped make this paper possible for 120 years.

We're especially grateful to those who launched this paper in 1903.

Our success also wouldn't have been possible without the

people who have worked hard to ensure the paper is printed each week, and the carriers who have braved all sorts of weather to ensure the Mercury is delivered on a weekly basis.

There's a lot of people who have worked very hard over the years to make the Mercury what it is – the best weekly newspaper in Saskatchewan.

And of course, we need to be thankful for you, the readers, for continuing to place your trust in us each week, not only by reading this publication, but by trusting us when bringing in

an ad or by coming to us with a story idea.

As with any industry, there has been a lot of change over the years, but we like to think that we have kept pace, and now offer a quality product, both in print and online. We're a leading contributor to our provincial news hub at sasktoday.ca.

It's been our pleasure to be here since 1903. Our duty of informing the public is one that we have taken seriously, and it's one that we will continue to fulfill as Estevan's No. 1 and most trusted source of news.

1928: Few cases for hearing when court opens

District Court will open in Estevan on February 14, and, as becomes the festal day when love should be the one and only impelling impulse, there will be a light docket presented to His Honor Judge Wylie.

Five cases only are listed

for trial, as follows: William Byerly vs. John McGinnis. Kale Berday vs. Louis Siggelkow. David Olikyfski vs. Stephen Ceglowski. Joseph Audet vs. August Wetsch

826 4th St., Estevan • 306-637-4300 www.southernplainscoop.com Proudly advertising in the Estevan Mercury for 58 years!

One of the cases is an appeal against a former judgment. Another arises out of an auto collision and the remaining two are disputes over debt. There are no criminal cases. The slimness of the docket is unusual, for, in

a district such as Estevan where settlement is developing fast over a wide area, the rule is that litigation is varied in character and heavy in volume. The

irresponsible class from the border country. The court sitting will, however, engage its interest in the hearing of eight applications for Canadian citizenship. 1037 - 5th Street | Estevan 306-634-5172 www.johnsonplumbing.ca This pricing is not in effect today

1929: Estevan first town of its size to have the “Talkies”

Determined to keep in the van of moving picture houses in the west, manager J.A. McKenzie of the Orpheum Theatre, Estevan, recently installed complete Western Electric Sound Equipment, and theatregoers of the town and district have this summer enjoyed an excellent run of the latest releases, both Vitaphone and Movietone. Estevan enjoyed special distinction in connection with this advance, being the first place of its size in Canada to have the "talkies."

A notable array of outstanding sound productions has already been lined up for the fall and winter season, and, although bookings are not

yet completed, the following talking pictures will be seen here: Broadway Melody; Fox Movietone Follies; Show Boat; Singing Fool, the well-known Al Jolson picture; Desert Song; Hollywood Revue of 1929; College Love; Broadway; Madame X; Last of Mrs. Cheyney. Announcement of further signups will be made from time to time. At a cost of $12,000, the Orpheum Theatre has been equipped for the "talkies.''

Last year an optometric expert pronounced the seating and lighting arrangements in the Estevan picture house to be practically perfect. This summer the installation engineer of Northern Electric, when

testing the theatre for sound equipment, declared that the acoustics surpassed those of many city houses in the West. With these "natural" advantages, the Orpheum, a commodious, comfortable building, lays fair claim to the name of the "best theatre in the West outside of the cities.”

The three years that have elapsed since the premiere of Don Juan have seen the revolution which struck the film industry on that occasion sweep the country. Other producers were forced, in spite of themselves, to make pictures with sound and dialogue; exhibitors of the country clamored for sound picture equipment; the revolution reached across the

oceans until now 27 foreign countries have sound projection installations.

More than a fourth of the picture theatres in America have been equipped with sound devices. Ninety-nine per cent of wired theatres capable of showing sound pictures have booked Warner Brothers' feature length Vitaphone pictures and the Vitaphone Corporation's short subjects or "presentations.'

During the three years Vitaphone Corporation has made more than 650 short subjects, including presentations by famous artist from the opera, concert, stage, vaudeville, musical instrument, and motion picture fields.

1931: 13 strikers are committed for trail

Thirteen of the fourteen strikers arraigned before him were committed for trial by D.A. Wynne-Jones, J.P., at 2.40 o’clock this afternoon, on charges of rioting arising out of the bloody conflict waged on Estevan’s main thoroughfare

Tuesday afternoon.

One prisoner, Harry Michelowsky, Bienfait, was released. The Magistrate did not take the suggestion of Crown Counsel that three others, Joe Leptack, Andy Levie, and Mike Pulhauriski, also be set free. Bail in the case of R. W. Dixon, M. & S. Mine, was set at $2000; the recommendation of the Crown that Metro Uhyrn be allowed out on bail was refused by the magistrate.

H.E. Sampson, K.C., of Regina, and W. J. Perkins, Estevan, Crown Prosecutors, conducted the case during the preliminary hearing, which was held in the courthouse. R.D. Newsome, Estevan appeared in behalf of the strikers.

Two men were killed, three more are not expected to live, and a score of miners, police and citizens were injured by stray bullets and flying missiles when 400 strikers and their wives fought a grim battle against local and Mounted Police in front of the town hall Tuesday. Although a special meeting of the Town Council in the morning had refused them permission to parade through the streets, the strikers attempted to do so in defiance of the edict.

Although complete calm has prevailed over the strike sector since the riot, police vigilance has not relaxed for a moment. Reinforcements of 45 officers under Inspector Carnock arrived in a special train from Regina over the C.N.B. at midnight on Tuesday, joining the detachment which had repulsed the strikers under Inspector Moorhead and swelling the total number of R.C.M.P. to 85.

Patrols thread the mining areas

incessantly through the night, the officers armed with rifles and revolvers. Three machine guns are mounted in readiness for an outbreak. Extra policemen do sentry duty on the streets of Estevan. The district engineer and the engineer and the general staff officer of Military District No. 12 reported to be in town late last night, making arrangements for billets in case militia has to be moved in from Regina.

At ten minutes after midnight on Tuesday, while the nerves of the police and public were still on edge following the bitter reign of terror of the afternoon, a pistol shot cracked the stillness of the night. It was believed to have been fired in the vicinity of the railway tracks. Officers stationed at the moment on Fifth St. made an immediate search of the street and lane, but the source of the mystery shot was not discovered and remains unknown.

1945: The war is over

On Tuesday afternoon, the announcement was made by President Truman from Washington that Japan had accepted allied surrender terms and brought to an end to the second great war.

It is expected that the unconditional surrender terms will be signed today. Estevan awaits the signing to determine the date of its celebration for which plans have been fully made.

Estevan staged a noisy, happy, orderly celebration on Tuesday night following the news of the capitulation of Japan. A long stream of cars passed up and down the streets with their greatest concentration on Fourth, flags waving from the windows and horns going full blast. Included in the parade was the new town fire engine, which shortly after its appearance became loaded with cheering youngsters. At one stage a line of pedestrians carrying Union Jacks took the street to march up and down with shouting and cheering.

The sirens of the new fire truck and McNeil & Lee ambulance added to the clamor while boys darted in and out of the bicycles which they had hurriedly and effectively decorated.

A block of Twelfth Avenue was roped off just south of Fourth for a street dance with music supplied by a jukebox with the compliments of Ideal Cafe. Mr. Coxen of the bus depot kindly allowed the use of electrical facilities at his garage for the running of the machine. Further along on Fourth Street,

another dance was started, this one being in front of Allan Pyper's Radio Shop which also supplied the music. This continued for several hours and finally died away about 11:30 when tired and happy people gradually dispersed to their homes. It was an orderly crowd and there was

no willful damage. When the news came through just about five o'clock that peace had been declared, the fire sirens gave the expected

signal. Stores were immediately closed and flags and bunting appeared quickly along the streets and on business places.

While all this was going

on, the members of the Victory Celebration committee were meeting at the town hall to round out arrangements for the V-J Day celebration.

1946: 21 RCAF airmen die in Sunday crash at airport

20 RCAF pilots and one ground crew man were killed at the Estevan airport Sunday morning when a Dakota transport aircraft crashed and burned near a runway in the northwest corner of the landing field. Considering the death toll, it is western Canada's worst flying tragedy and the second most serious fatal flying accident in Canadian aviation history, with the “human factor,” known and recognized as the cause of the great majority of flying accidents, being indicated by air force headquarters in Ottawa as the main cause of the crash.

The tragedy occurred a few minutes after 10 o'clock Sunday morning and the field was closed immediately by RCAF officials to everyone except ambulances, fire trucks,

doctors and air officials. A guard was placed on the charred remains of the aircraft and no unauthorized person was allowed inside the boundaries of the airport.

Information released by the RCAF on Monday indicated that one possible cause for the crash might have been the fact that the starboard stabilizer lock had not been removed prior to the start of the fatal flight. From this bit of evidence, gleaned from the burned wreckage of the twin-engine transport, air force officials and former airmen were able to piece together a probable picture of the flight.

An official Air Force court of inquiry was held on Monday and Tuesday with Wing

Commander J.J. MacDonald, DFC, Squadron Leader Underhill and Squadron Leader Kirkcaldy, all of No. 2 Western Air Command headquarters, Winnipeg, in charge.

A full investigation of the tragedy is underway, but the official statement made clear the main factor in the crash:

“The aircraft was seen to approach the airport normally with its wheels lowered. For some reason the pilot decided not to land on his first approach and opened up the engines to go around again. During this maneuver the pilot apparently lost control and the aircraft crashed.

“A technical examination of the wreckage has shown that the control lock on the starboard elevator was in posi-

tion and had not been removed before the flight commenced. Standard procedure as laid down before take-off requires

1957: Estevan becomes a city

In a relatively simple, but still impressive ceremony, involving the affixing of half a dozen signatures to a few copies of two documents, Estevan was raised to the status of a city – Saskatchewan’s ninth and youngest – at noon today in the office of the Premier of Saskatchewan in the provincial Legislative buildings.

The actual time of the historic event, both in Saskatchewan and Estevan history, was 11:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.

On hand for the ceremony were His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan, Hon. W.J. Patterson; Premier T.C. Douglas; Mayor Harry Nicholson and members of the Town (City) of Estevan Council: Miss Norah Mather, now City clerk; Kim Thorson, MLA; Thos. McLean, vice president of the Estevan Board of Trade and about 30 interested Estevan residents.

The ceremony involved first the signing and approving of an Orderin-Council requiring the issuance of a Proclamation to incorporate

the Town of Estevan as the City of Estevan.

The Order-in-Council had been passed by the Executive Council of the Province of Saskatchewan who had empowered Premier T.C. Douglas, as president of that Council to sign it in their behalf.

Premier Douglas, prior to signing the Order-in-Council, explained the necessary procedure and as he picked up a pen to sign his signature, commented, “this is indeed a pleasure.”

Several copies of the Order were signed by the Premier who then rose from his chair behind his desk and asked the Lieutenant-Governor to approve the Order.

Hon. Mr. Patterson formally dressed for the occasion, sat down in the chair, picked up a pen, turned and smiled at Premier Douglas and said, “it was many years since I have sat behind this desk to sign my name to official papers.”

After Hon. Mr. Patterson had signed the documents, they were

transferred to a smaller desk facing the Premier's desk where the approved Order-in-Council was signed by the Deputy Provincial Secretary Leo J. Beaudry and the Deputy Attorney-General, J. L. Salterio.

The signatures of these two officials were necessary to continue the legal action of the Order started when the Premier first signed.

With the Order-in-Council thus continued as a properly legal document, the Proclamation, declaring Estevan to be City of the Province of Saskatchewan, was presented to the Lieutenant-Governor who signed two copies.

One of those copies was then presented to His Worship Mayor Harry Nicholson for the City of Estevan. The other copy will remain in the possession of the Province of Saskatchewan.

As he presented the copy of the Proclamation to Mayor Nicholson, Premier Douglas said “at this exact moment, the city of Estevan comes into existence.”

positive evidence of removal of all the control locks. In view of the fact that all members of the crew of the aircraft lost

their lives, it appears doubtful that a full explanation of this regrettable error will ever be ascertained.”

1957: Estevan’s Auditorium gets official opening

The Estevan Agricultural Society and reduced attendance of community residents, as a result of bad weather conditions, opened the new Agricultural Auditorium Tuesday in Estevan, with an afternoon and evening program that featured cornerstone and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Last-minute changes to the program were required when weather conditions made it impossible for some of the expected dignitaries to attend, but these changes did not affect the effectiveness and importance of the ceremony.

Originally it had been planned to place the cornerstone of the building in its proper location, but the wintry weather forced this to be changed to a ceremony of unveiling the stone, and its accompanying copper “capsule”, inside the auditorium.

Similarly, it had been planned to cut an entrancebarring ribbon across the front entrance and this had to be

changed to the large gates across the end of the arena area.

E.P. Rae, president to Estevan Agricultural Society, spoke briefly at the start of the afternoon program and after reviewing the effort that had been made by Estevan community citizens in building the auditorium, read a list of the materials enclosed in a copper box that will be sealed behind the cornerstone.

He then proceeded to remove the orange, black and white drape materials from the cornerstone and capsule. T.A. Torgeson, past president of the Estevan Agricultural Society who served in that position for 10 years, cut the gold and black ribbon across the doors.

Speaking briefly, he said “this auditorium is the outstanding example of community teamwork in the entire area served by the Estevan and District Agricultural Society.” He added “under the leadership of President Ed Rae and his associates, many organizations and individuals

have co-operated in the building of this auditorium worth a third of a million dollars at a cost of $250,000.”

Dealing with financing of the project, Mr. Torgeson said “the grants by the federal and provincial government

were made because of the fine exhibitions of livestock and other agricultural products by the farmers of southeastern Saskatchewan and because they recognize the need for a building that will accommodate the large gatherings of

young agriculturalists of this part of the province.”

He added “the people outside Estevan have helped greatly in the building of this fine auditorium.”

As he cut the ribbon, Mr. Torgeson said, “this sym-

bolizes the official opening of this magnificent agricultural auditorium; may we take pride in this great result of the community teamwork; may young and old enjoy it for many, many years to come.”

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1970: Estevan elects First Lady of Sask. cities

Mrs. Ida Petterson scored a decisive victory and the City of Estevan scored another first on Wednesday evening as the local civic election results were made known.

Mrs. Petterson defeated incumbent Mr. Gregg Trout for the position of Mayor of the City of Estevan. Mrs. Petterson's victory will make her the first female mayor ever to take office in a Saskatchewan city.

The victory was termed a landslide as Mrs. Petterson took the lead from the early polls and maintained a steady pace throughout the various poll divisions as she ousted Mr. Trout from the city's number one office.

Although still somewhat "taken-up", Mrs. Petterson stated that one of her first objectives as mayor of the City of Estevan will be to take a serious check into the possibilities of creating or inducing more

industry to the city. "The number one problem," she said, "is to get industry. We need industry to pour money into the community."

She mentioned she was hoping to hear from Mr. R.R. Southam (MP for the Moose Mountain constituency) soon and she would be checking into the possibility of incentive grants that are available from the senior governments.

In a closely contested battle for the six aldermanic seats, incumbent Mr. Joe Mack paced the group of 11 with 2,040 votes, followed by newcomer Mr. Cliff Hawkes, who picked up 1,742, a mere 27 votes ahead of incumbent Mr. Frank Mather. Next on the council list were incumbent Mr. Russ Brown and Mr. Walter Ropchan with an oddity … both men drew 1,587 votes each.

The sixth man on the list and therefore

owner of the final council seat was Mr. Phil Attrill, a former alderman who will be returning to council chambers.

Of the five incumbents, Mr. Don Perry was the only unsuccessful candidate, as he polled 1,212 votes, ninth on the list behind Mr. George Gelmich at 1,371 and Mr. Earl Branford at 1,293.

The only actual newcomer to the council chambers will be Mr. Hawkes, with Mrs. Petterson and Mr. Attrill having served on previous councils.

There was one bylaw to be voted on, concerning the allowance of certain stipulated sports on Sunday. The bylaw approval was passed with a heavy 2,185 in favour and only 785 opposed. The bylaw has to receive third and final reading from council before it can be passed. Approximately 62 per cent of the eligible voters cast their ballots.

1980: Summer Games a successful story

A successful story with everyone a winner was how Culture and Youth Minister Ned Shillington brought an end to the 1980 Saskatchewan Summer Games Saturday night at the exhibition grounds.

A successful story, indeed, as more than 1,100 volunteers and about 1,500 athletes were on hand to pull off the third summer games and fifth games overall.

This was the first time the games were awarded to a small centre.

“I think we pulled off the best Saskatchewan Games to date,” said chairman Ed Komarnicki while relaxing at a volunteers’ party Saturday night at the curling rink, which was attended by about 1,500 persons.

“I always wondered if Estevan could put together a group to do a good job. As I look around I see they [the volunteers] carried their commitment right to the end.”

Saskatoon, representing Zone 6, didn’t surprise anyone as they captured their third consecutive summer games title. The host zone, Zone 1, accomplished what they set out to do and that was to win the Joe Griffiths award. It is awarded to the zone showing the most improvement in their final standing at previous Saskatchewan Games, with comparison being made on a winter to winter and summer to summer basis.

Zone 1 finished in the basement in 1976.

Lt. Gov. C. Irwin McIntosh, in his address at the closing ceremonies, said the games close, but the spirit moves on until the next games.

The lieutenant-governor presented the Joe Griffiths Award to track and field athlete Janice Lendvoy of Estevan and swimmer Doug Munn of Oxbow, both gold medal winners.

The improvement of 24 1/2 per cent helped the zone, from the Estevan-

Weyburn area, move from eighth to fifth in the overall points standing.

Komarnicki, who spent 2 1/2 years preparing for the games, said he’s relieved that it’s over but at the same time, felt saddened at the fact there’s not something else to look forward to, such as working towards the games. “It’s over, period,” he said.

Komarnicki expressed surprise at Zone 1 being the most improved.

“it puts a cap to the whole week. It was just as if it was written into the script,” he said. “It just makes me feel great.”

On the financial side, Komarnicki said he is of the opinion the games were on budget. However, because so much happened during the six-day period, he said it won’t be until sometime in September that a true picture will be available. He said many people who worked on the various committees will be gone on holidays.

1992: Shand station commissioned

According to SaskPower president and chief executive officer Jack Messer, the official commissioning of the Shand Power Station near

Estevan was a celebration of engineering and science technology.

Shand, he said, is Canada's most environmentally

advanced coal-fired power station. It will add 300 megawatts of power to the province's electrical grid system, or enough to light up three

SHOLTER HORSMAN

million 100-watt light bulbs.

The plant, which has been performing at near peak load capacity for about a month, was officially launched with not a lot of fanfare, but good exposure to the general public who were invited to tour the facilities along with the various government and company officials following the brief commissioning ceremonies.

About 600 people viewed the unveiling of the Shand commissioning plaque by Messer and Dwain Lingenfelter, minister responsible for SaskPower.

"Shand is a Saskatchewan success story, and is viable evidence to the efforts and achievements by those who worked to get this power plant up and running. The fact the plant came in on time and on budget is a credit to those people," said Messer, who also served as master of ceremonies for the occasion.

"Shand stands as a testament to a new era in environmental responsibility. It is evidence of SaskPower's commitment to the sociallyacceptable production of electrical power," he said.

Pointing to these envi -

ronmentally responsible components, Messer said that the time injection system, which captures acids that cause sulphur dioxide before it enters the atmosphere, was just one move toward environmental protection.

Air and temperature controlled burners reduce the nitrogen oxides which produce acid rain, and a closedloop, zero-discharge water management system prevents water used at the plant from being discharged into the environment, except through normal evaporation.

An electrostatic precipitator captures in excess of 99 per cent of the flyash particles before they leave the station's stack, and in addition, the Shand Greenhouse produces up to one million seedlings

annually for reclamation of land and for wildlife habitat and conservation purposes. The plant cost $516 million and was constructed over a four-year period. Lauren Carlson, vicepresident of major projects for SaskPower, was singled out a couple of times for the contribution his department made to the Shand construction process.

The citizens of Estevan were also cited as having had a great deal of patience and understanding during the construction period. It was noted that although many of the workers involved in the construction process were not originally from Estevan, the city made them a part of the community very easily and made them feel comfortable.

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2002: It’s gone

One of Estevan's landmarks, and what used to be the tallest building in the city, was destroyed during a spectacular fire Sunday night.

The former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool wooden elevator, one of the few Prairie icons still remaining in the province, burned to the ground. The empty elevator, which was purchased earlier this year by two local farm families, was destroyed within a few short hours.

Foul play is suspected and an investigation is being conducted by the Estevan Police Service and the provincial fire com

missioner's office.

Estevan police Chief Peter MacKinnon told The Mercury that major crimes investigator Staff Sergeant Del Block and Randy Ryba of the fire commissioner's office are working together to determine the cause and origin.

"The circumstances of the origin are

highly suspicious. We consider it a crime scene and I have had our major crimes investigator initiate an investigation," said MacKinnon.

Mayor Tim Perry declared a state of emergency Sunday evening and it was lifted at 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Because of the potential dangers, a 10-block area between Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets was evacuated by the fire department.

"I had no choice because I knew we couldn't fight the fire," said Deputy fire Chief Ron Tocker. "The majority were cooperating and some were not."

An evacuation centre was set up at St. Paul's United Church. However, most of the people who were evacuated went elsewhere until they were allowed to return to their homes later in the evening.

Emergency officials said the fire could have been much worse, especially had there

been a north wind.

Tocker said the firemen were lucky with the conditions and that they worked in the department's favour.

The burning embers spread for several blocks, keeping fire crews busy wetting down buildings in the exhibition grounds.

Work crews from CP Rail were on the scene Monday morning cleaning up the debris and repairing the railway tracks, which were damaged because of the extreme heat from the fire. Several of the damaged tracks and ties had to be removed and replaced.

Dangers existed throughout the fire, forcing the fire department to water down tanker cars and Prairie Mud Services Ltd. buildings, a few yards south of the empty burning elevator.

The elevator was owned by the Estevan Grain Company. The 60,000-bushel facility was built in 1966 with a 103,000-bush annex added in 1976.

2011: The year of the flood

Water, water everywhere. If there were a phrase to sum up the spring and summer of 2011, that would have to be it. Without question 2011 was the year of the flood.

Although the flood first hit during the spring, the first sign that there may be trouble came as far back as January when the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority announced that for the first time since Rafferty Dam was created they would be conducting a winter release of water, citing the high level of the dam and anticipated spring runoff as the reasons why.

It was clear then that were concerns of a spring flood and it became obvious as the year went on those worries were well founded. In April, the SWA announced it would be increasing the flows out of Rafferty and Boundary to 140 cubic metres per second. Not surprisingly, the release of the water led to flooding in the Souris River valley in areas of south of Estevan and to the east.

Unfortunately, as it would turn out, the April flood was just the first

of many. Just as things appeared to be calming, a freak snowstorm in late April that dumped inches of heavy, wet snow on the area, threw things back into chaos and again forced the SWA to bump the flows out of Rafferty to 211 m3/s in mid May which again led to more flooding in the valley. Despite the best efforts of local volunteers, a number of homes suffered significant damage and other areas such as the Woodlawn Regional Park were hit hard.

Those incidents proved to be a precursor of the troubles that were lurking around the corner. Midway through June, a rainstorm that dumped anywhere from seven to eight inches on Weyburn in just hours once again turned things upside down. While Weyburn suffered significant damage in the immediate aftermath of the storm, the runoff took a couple of days to reach the Estevan and once it did, life was never the same again for many.

The watershed was forced to bump the flows out of the local dams to over 750 m3/s which was not only

a record but a level that many thought they would never see. The devastation that would follow was incredible.

After fighting the good fight, the residents of Roche Percee were forced to admit the obvious and evacuate just prior to June 19 when the village was overcome by the water leading to the destruction of more than 75 per cent of homes.

In Estevan, emergency services personnel were forced to evacuate the residents of the Willow Park Greens mobile home park as the flood waters made it to the southern edge of the park. Fortunately, there were no injuries or significant damage to the park.

The flood also led to some worries about the City's water treatment plant. The rising waters turned the plant into an island but did not make it inside due to the tireless work of City employees and local emergency services workers.

Unfortunately the flooding was not restricted to areas along the river. Overland flooding caused major damage throughout the RM of Estevan and other areas such as Macoun, Benson

and Lampman. The two biggest areas of concern were Lampman and Benson as a stream of water placed both communities into states of emergency. If there were any positives to take away from the devastating floods, it was the way people in the area stepped up to

help those in need. Along with the hours of volunteer work, individuals and businesses donated thousands of dollars to help those in need while others supplied whatever items they could spare for those who lost almost everything.

2014: Clean coal project in Estevan is online

SaskPower’s most expensive project ever is now in full functioning flight.

Clean coal is no longer an oxymoron, said Saskatchewan’s Premier Brad Wall Thursday morning as he and other provincial officials cut a ribbon to officially declare the Boundary Dam carbon capture plant, attached to the Unit 3 power unit, open.

In fact, the island that captures 90 per cent of the unit’s noxious carbon dioxide and 100 per cent of the sulphur dioxide had been functioning since Sept. 14 when the full-court press on the test runs were initiated.

On the Wednesday afternoon prior to the Oct. 2 official launch, Cenovus Energy Inc., the recipient of the CO2, picked up the gas right from the plant when it entered their pipeline that is attached directly to the capture plant, sending it to their nearby well sites to be used for enhanced oil recovery systems.

“It was 2,300 hundred tonnes, and we’re being paid for it,” said SaskPower president and CEO, Robert Watson, after stating to an applauding audience of about 250 invited guests, that “It works. It’s working.”

“We started picking the CO2 up at 3 p.m. yesterday,” said Cenovus

spokeswoman Jessica Wilkinson who made the trip from the company’s Calgary headquarters to attend the celebration and who spoke with the Mercury following the official launching ceremonies.

“No glitches, the quality is very high.”

The carbon capture capabilities at Saskatchewan’s largest power production plant, now provides SaskPower with another option in which to address greenhouse gas emissions and emerging environmental regulations.

Wall said the province’s quest for balance with regards to doing what’s best for the economy and the environment led them to this particular project and this specific day of celebration.

“We had a choice of low-cost energy versus higher cost but better for the environment decisions … until today,” said Wall, noting that 1,200 new coal fired plants were being planned around the world as he spoke. “That’s why coal is still part of the mix. There is reason for hope as of today. The message is that maybe there is more choice after all.”

Wall said the message has been sent that technological solutions can be found, noting that the new capture

system includes zero fly ash emissions, too, as well as nearly eliminating all the CO2 and all the SO2.

“This is the first generation of this technology and it has received a lot of media coverage,” the premier said, thanking the federal government for its $240 million cash injection into the $1.4 billion project at the early stage of development, in 2010.

Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, was also on hand, noting that the federal government was on board as early as 2008. It was also noted that Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki had been championing the project since its inception, said the company’s leader.

“Saskatchewan’s resource economy is becoming a powerhouse, an energy super power and it’s on the leading edge of clean technology,” said Rickford. “Sorry Mr. Obama, we’re leading the way. This project represents a major step forward for clean technology,” he added. With Saskatchewan now in a position of global leadership in the removal of carbon dioxide in a commercial-sized generating unit, there was speculation as to what the next steps would be.

Carnduff, Sk. • (306) 482-3244