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- 2023See PAGES A10-11 for our choices for the top 10 stories of the year.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023
Do you remember what happened in 2023? - A look back -
To our Members, Customers and the Communities we serve, we wish you all a safe &
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JANUARY A2
| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
The past year brought ups and downs for Estevan, with major projects progressing and topics that affect everyone continuing to be discussed. The community has seen a return of major events, the start of new activities and big sports competitions. The Estevan Mercury’s Year in Review will walk you through all major southeast happening of 2023. The year started with lots of winter sports in Estevan and frigid frosty days, causing power outages. At the start of the year, a long-time Estevan volunteer, Char Seeman, who co-chaired the Community Hamper Association and Angel Tree for 30 years, announced she was stepping down. The first baby for 2023, Oaklynn Lynndale Netowaysin, was born at St. Joseph's Hospital on Jan. 5. Thousands of guests went through over 50 displays at Woodlawn Regional Park during its annual Festival of Lights, which continued from mid-December 2022 through Jan. 7. The Christmas season proved to be a success for the Estevan Salvation Army, as they exceeded their goal, raising over $133,000. Many Ukrainian families who were forced to flee the Russian invasion and chose Estevan as their new home celebrated their first holidays in Canada and were grateful for the generosity and support of the community. The first meeting of the year for Estevan city council on Jan 10 began with Mayor Roy Ludwig giving the mayor's address. He reflected on accomplishments for both the city
and the community during the previous 12 months, and also offered a look at the year to come. The Estevan Public Youth Centre announced the hiring of Adam Elliott as its new executive director. His first day on the job was Jan. 9. The importance of safety in the workplace was emphasized during the annual Safety Stand Down on Jan. 10 at the Southeast College's Estevan campus. Nearly 200 people attended the event, which was organized by Independent Well Servicing (IWS) and Crescent Point Energy Corp. The College of Physicians and Surgeons in Saskatchewan suspended the licence of Estevan physician Dr. Mehdi Horri. The suspension took effect on Jan. 11. Several members from Estevan Bowl were at the Youth Bowl Canada 10-pin bowling provincials in Sas-
katoon. Danyck Belanger won the gold medal in the senior boys' competition, Kadence Kraushaar of Estevan won a bronze medal in bantam girls, and Louis Ley won bronze in bantam boys. Ella Gudmundson's years with the Estevan Junior Coaler Rollers program and her skills
Comprehensive School. Barrett Fleck from Bienfait was been recognized as the Most Improved Official by Hockey Saskatchewan in the southeast on Jan. 14.
earned her a spot on Team Canada to compete at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in Valence, France, from July 28-30. Canada went on to win a bronze medal at the event. Forty-five table tennis players from throughout southern Saskatchewan were
in Estevan on Jan. 14 for a tournament at the Estevan
A Midale woman had three moose, a mother and two babies visiting her backyard on Jan. 17. Conservation officers were called to transfer the animals out of the community. While the younger animals made it fine, the cow didn't recover from sedation. A 92-year-old man died in a collision between a pick-up truck and a semi-trailer near Carnduff on Jan. 17. Scottish culture and the life and art of Scotland's greatest poet were celebrated during the annual Robert Burns Night at the Royal Canadian Legion's Estevan branch late January. The Southeast College announced receiving a grant to establish the new Centre of Sustainable Innovation. St. Joseph's Hospital and its foundation unveiled a new tribute to long-time supporters. The Carson Family Atrium is now in the main entrance
of the facility, recognizing the years of support from Ron Carson and his family. The City of Estevan's 2023 budget was approved by city council on Jan. 23. The Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts had lots of curling in a five-day span. Opening ceremonies were held on Jan. 25. The Robyn Silvernagle rink out of North Battleford won the provincial title. A local rink skipped by Cindy Ricci competed. Tw o m o r e Saskatchewan daily newspapers, the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, announced they were to be printed at Estevan Web Printing. Jordan Hochstein, the man at the centre of a brief armed standoff in Estevan in August 2022, pleaded guilty to numerous charges, while oth-
ers were stayed. He received a 22-month conditional sentence order and a five-year firearms prohibition. A long-time supporter and volunteer in the local sports community, Mel Murray, received a life member award from Western Canada Baseball. The Government of Saskatchewan announced allocation of another $1 million towards a new nursing home in Estevan. The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum hosted an Art Night on Jan. 27. The provincial and federal governments committed funding towards a number of projects in Saskatchewan, including one in Estevan, the rehabilitation of the Estevan Leisure Centre's rooftop for increased sustainability, and the replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with a total cost of over $1.3 million.
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Februar y started off with a big curling event, followed by a lot of hockey action and many off-ice events and happenings. Affinity Place remained busy with curling, thanks to the SaskTel Tankard men's provincial tournament from Feb. 1-5. The contributions of Bill Kapiczowski to the sport of curling in Estevan and elsewhere were recognized as he was inducted into the CurlSask Legends of Curling Honour Roll during the tournament. The Kelly Knapp rink won the title. An Estevan man, Alexander Li, was charged with 12 counts of unsafe storage of a firearm, eight counts of possessing a restricted weapon in a place other than where entitled, and eight counts of unlicensed possession of a restricted f i r e arm with readily-available ammunition after the Saskatchewan RCMP's Moose Jaw Crime Reduction Team (CRT) executed two search warrants at residences in Estevan as part of an ongoing investigation. The matter remains before the court. The Estevan Salvation Army started hosting church ser vices in Estevan once again. The Warm Welcome Kitchen started serving meals again after they hired Donna McGillicky as its new kitchen co-ordinator.
Now part of the
The Estevan Wildlife Federation handed out trophies and certificates during the organization's annual awards night Feb. 4. The South East Cornerstone Public School Division notified parents about a hacking incident that occurred on Feb. 8,
diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a condition that affects bone marrow. The Estevan Humane Society was thrilled with the response from the community for its annual Whiskers and Wine Gala, hosted on Feb. 11. Louise BigEagle was at the Estevan Public
in which an unauthorized third party gained access to the network. Local producers and others had the opportunity to hear about the economic benefits of irrigation during a meeting organized by the Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association and the Southeast Sask. Economic Partnership, which is trying to further diversify the economy of the region. A number of fundraisers happening in southeast Saskatchewan for Kyla Dyer, a 15-year-old girl from the Glen Ewen area
Library for Aboriginal Storyteller Month. The EAGM introduced two new exhibitions. Gallery 1 featured art by Jess Richter, and Gallery 2 displayed creations by Phyllis PoitrasJarrett. Nearly 400 riders braved the cold for the Arcola Optimist Club's 30th Snowmobile Rally. The Estevan U18 AAA Bears set a franchise record for goals in a game Feb. 12 against the Battlefords Stars in a 9-3 win. Estevan city council approved a
new policy at the Feb. 13 meeting that governed the walking track at Affinity Place. The policy was soon repealed due to the response from the community and concern with some of the clauses. Oxbow hosted its second annual Family Day Winter Festival on Feb. 20. The auction for the retail liquor store permit in Estevan and five other communities began on Feb. 8 and wrapped u p Fe b. 1 6 . It wound up selling for
$1,407,500 to a bidder under the name of Liquormerchants. A total of 128 bids were received. A week before the annual Pink Shirt Day in Canada, students at St. Mary's School took a stand against bullying. Students and staff donned pink shirts and other attire on Feb. 15 to promote kindness and a positive attitude around the school. Seventeen doubles bowling teams were entered in a 10-pin tournament at Estevan Bowl on Feb. 19. About 175 delegates from across the province were in Estevan from Feb. 23-25 for the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation's convention to discuss fish and
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wildlife issues impacting the province. Estevan Kinettes contributed over $10,000 to Telemiracle 47's $5.5 million total. Choose Life Ministry, which operates a program in southeast Saskatchewan for women with life-controlling issues, hosted a Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk on Feb. 25. The Estevan Bruins clinched a playoff spot Feb. 25 by defeating the Yorkton Terriers 4-2. The first-ever season for the Estevan IG Wealth Management U13 AA Bearcats came to an end Feb. 26. The accomplishments of Shanelle Rioux, one of Estevan's long-time football players and contributors, were saluted as she was inducted into the Estevan Football Family Wall of Fame. A couple of Estevan athletes were in Charlottetown, P.E.I., for the 2023 Canada Winter Games F e b . 18 to March 5.
Kaylee Carlson of Estevan was entered in archery and Sebastian Murphy was competing in snowboarding. Former Lampman resident Robin Ulrich was a coach of the female hockey team. The last week of February was successful for many Estevan-area athletes during the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games. The ECS Elecs cheerleaders brought home a bronze medal from the annual Best of the West competition in Regina. Dr. Mehdi Horri's licence was reinstated, starting Feb. 27 but with new restrictions, after nearly seven weeks of suspension.
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EDITORIAL A4
| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
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Published weekly by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, 68 Souris Avenue N., Estevan, SK S4A 2M3.The Estevan Mercury is owned and operated by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc. Advertising rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice. Conditions of editorial and advertising content: The Estevan Mercury attempts to be accurate in Editorial and Advertising content; however, no guarantee is given or implied. The Estevan Mercury reserves the right to revise or reject any or all editorial and advertising content as the newspaper’s principals see fit. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an advertisement, and is not responsible for errors in advertisements except for the space occupied by such errors. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for manuscripts, photographs, negatives and other related material that may be submitted for possible publication. All of the Estevan Mercury’s content is protected by Canadian Copyright laws. Reviews and similar mention of material in this newspaper is granted on the provision that The Estevan Mercury receives credit. Otherwise, any reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Advertisers purchase space and circulation only. Rights to any advertisement produced by The Estevan Mercury, including artwork, typography, photos, etc., remain the property of this newspaper. Advertisements or parts thereof may not be reproduced or assigned without the consent of the publisher.
EDITORIAL
Well, that year went by fast It seems like just yesterday we were reflecting on the year that was 2022 and looking ahead to what 2023 would bring. That was a year ago. It seems like each passing year goes by a little bit faster. Of course, that's not the case; it just feels that way. But until someone comes up with a way to slow down time, we're going to be facing the same situation every year: reflecting on how fast the days go by. It's been another eventful year in the southeast. And it hasn't always been easy. The Nov. 1 incidents in Estevan that left two people dead and a member of the Estevan Police Service seriously injured served as a reminder that yes, these sorts of things can happen here. And it reinforces the fact that we need to continue to provide support when it comes to mental health issues. Sadly, we're always going to need to do more. One positive note about this story is that the officer who was shot was back at work in early December, just five weeks after the incident. We saw the importance of holding government responsible for their decisions. Elaine Walkom's story that went public after the Ministry of Health denied her request to donate $2 million for the purchase of an MRI scanner at St. Joseph's Hospital brought the
need for an MRI machine in the southeast back into the forefront. There's a lot of work and fundraising remaining to make an MRI happen in Estevan, but for those down here who need it and have to travel at least two hours to Regina, sometimes in adverse weather conditions, they have a reason for hope. Now that the business plan is in place, the government needs to do the right thing and green-light this project. We continued to have difficult discussions on the future of power production in the city. It seemed like this issue was in the news from the start of the year. And while we might want to bury our heads in the sand and pretend this isn't happening, it's going to be a big story for our community for the next few years. Remember: we're talking about the future of the community. We also had a lot to celebrate. Brayden Pachal became the first person born, raised and trained in Estevan to win the Stanley Cup. And he brought the greatest trophy in hockey home to Estevan for his day with the Cup. We had the provincial women's and men's curling championships here in January and February, bringing a considerable boost to the local economy. We once again saw some tremendous fundraisers as people in the southeast again showed their unending generosity.
And we went through a full year without pandemic-related restrictions. This year was as close to normal as we have experienced since 2019. So, what can we look forward to next year? Elections, for one. There will be the provincial vote in October. The municipal and school board elections will be a few weeks later. It will be interesting to see how the provincial election plays out, and who will run in the civic election, especially the Estevan mayoral race, where Roy Ludwig has already announced he won't seek re-election. If you're hoping to see a federal election in 2024, well, that's less likely. The Liberals aren't going to want to go to the polls with their support lagging, so they'll be eager to keep the NDP happy. If the Liberals do suddenly decide this is the time to have an election, that might be a sign they see weakness in federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. If we have a new prime minister by the end of 2024, it likely means Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned. We'll get to look forward to the traditional assortment of events, activities and milestones. And you get to look forward to reading about it through the Mercury, whether it be in print each week or online via our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.
What would you choose as the word of 2023? Is there one word that best reflects everything we've been through over the past year? Every year the Oxford English Dictionary selects that one word, which is supposed to "reflect the ethos, mood or preoccupations and to have lasting potential as a word of cultural significance" of the previous year. Rizz – a shortened version of charisma – became the Oxford's editors' choice for the departing 2023, the dictionary publisher unveiled in late November. (Authentic was MerriamWebster's choice, while Cambridge Dictionary picked the word hallucinate.) Oxford Dictionary notes that the use of the word they chose has dramatically increased in the English-speaking world over the last 12 months, and it's attracted a great deal of interest. The Oxford's runners-up were prompt – an instruction, given to an artificial intelligence (AI) program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates; situationship – a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established; as well as Swiftie – an enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift (a phenomenon that I've been trying to crack for a while, but no luck). Interestingly, the word rizz claimed the No. 1 spot the same year in which Chat GPT, an AI creator that by format is not supposed to have any charisma, went viral, and the discussion about the potential and dangers of AI found its way into all and every profession and field. While dictionaries monitor the vocabulary, moods and changes in 67 different countries and 27 non-sovereign entities, all using English as an official language, the tendencies in every given country and community might resonate or differ.
Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About… I think, Estevan hasn't had any problems with its rizz throughout the last year, nor have the people, which wouldn't make it our word of 2023. But what were we talking about these past 12 months? Energy, as part of our rizz, economy and life in general, renewable or not, was, as always, a big topic in this region. The potential to become an even more global energy centre – an attractive perspective for Estevan – was painted and discussed in small and big groups throughout the past year and will be talked about more and more as we get closer to 2030. Innovations were being brought up more and more often with some reflections on great individuals and local achievements, as well as planning for further development and growth in the tech innovations sector. I felt the connection between innovations and Estevan grew stronger over the past year and marked even greater potential for the region. The city and its residents' safety, well-being and mental health needs were being addressed more often through a systematic scope. This one was also a reflection of a more global situation. But even though this topic remained important on all scales, after years of the pandemic and then a slow and often not-that-easy recovery, we just got tired of overfocusing on declines and gaps.
Many other topics and issues were on our minds when it came to the local agenda. Dave and I tried to do a well-versed recap of everything we've been through in our Year in Review and the Top 10 Stories of 2023. But if I had to find one word to sum up what's been happening in Estevan over the past 12 months, in reality, emotionally and culturally, I'd describe it with the well-known term "changes". They might not be happening yet in every field, but they definitely were in the air. Changes came to how we do things and how we talk about things, how we grow and how we educate our children, how we plan for the future and preserve the past. My runner-up would be another old word. (Today's Estevan is pretty conservative, so are the most-used words here.) It'd be "community" in its best meaning of a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common, as well as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals, as Oxford Dictionary defines it. Here, we appeal to the community in times of need and happiness; we respond to emergencies, minor and major, as a community; we do things to serve the community; we mourn and celebrate with the community; and we care for each other as a community. Estevan indeed is a community – something that's become a notion of the past in big cities and many other places but is still a thing here. And while the two words I'd choose are somewhat opposite in their content, I feel they describe the Estevan of 2023 the best. What word or phrase would you choose to sum up 2023, locally or in general?
MARCH A5
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| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
March entertained the community with a blizzard, which created near-zero visibility in Estevan, but also created many great memories through different events and activities in the community. After three years of a break, the Battle of the Books, organized by the Estevan Area Literacy Group, made its return with the first round held at Pleasantdale School on March 1, followed by the second at Spruce Ridge School on March 9. The ECS Elecs' senior girls basketball team hosted its 12th annual Victor Elias Memorial Shoot for a Cure pink tournament March 3 and 4, raising money for Teigha Lesy, a Grade 11 student at ECS diagnosed with cancer. The Southeast Techhub in Estevan announced a partnership for the creation of Estevan Robotics and also introduced the Estevan Drone Racing Club. MI T's D r. Er ic Grimson returned home to Estevan on March 2 to open the Innovation Conversation series. Grade 12 ECS student Conner Pi-
che earned a prestigious honour, the Chancellor's Scholarship, worth $30,000, from the University of Saskatchewan. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service celebrated the dedication of its members at the annual awards night on March 4. Joseph Lee Dzuba pled guilty for one count each of driving while prohibited and operating a conveyance while the ability to do so was impaired by alcohol or a drug, or by a combination of both, after a vehicle-pedestrian collision south of the city in 2022. The City of Estevan started looking into further options for wastewater due to the murky future of SaskPower's Shand Power Station. Open houses were held on March 6-7 to discuss the issue. Council then approved a pilot project that will test out subsurface wetlands for the water treatment process. A blizzard paralyzed the southeast on March 11, but a joint effort t o clear t h e snow eased
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the situation. The Estevan Bearcats 2 became the champions of the U11 A age group in the S a s k a t c h - ewan Female
at St. Joseph's Hospital was announced in March. The Estevan Ironside Energ y U11 AA Bruins
pool and kitchen upgrades and general maintenance. A lot of people stopped by the Wylie-Mitchell
preceded by an optional run or walk – at the Boundary Dam beach at the end of March. T h e Stoughton Centr al
Hockey League (SFHL), after defeating Kindersley's Western Prairie Klippers 3-1 on March 12 in the league final in Weyburn. The 2023 Big Six Hockey League final was a battle of Highway 8 rivals. For the second time in their franchise history, the Redvers Rockets won the championship, defeating the Moosomin Rangers. The Estevan Bruins lost in the first round of the SJHL playoffs against the Flin Flon Bombers, falling 2-1 in overtime in the seventh and deciding game. Dr. Allison Christie announced her retirement after 40 years working in Estevan. An expansion in the number of post-treatment beds for the addiction recover y centre
wrapped up their season by hosting and finishing second at the South East Minor Hockey League's (SEMHL) ournament. The Estevan Figure Skating Club hosted its year-end carnival for the first time since 2018. Club members entertained the crowd March 19 at Affinity Place with solos, duets and group performances. Lampman School won the provincial mixed curling title in Hanley mid-March. The ECS cheerleaders came home with a silver medal from the provincial cheerleading championships in Regina. The Dr. Brown annual fundraiser at the Oungre Memorial Regional Park on March 25 saw about 160 people attending, raising over $75,000 for
building on March 25 to check out the B&T Gun Show. The Estevan Minor Hockey Association held its final tournament of the season on March 25-26, bringing U9 and U11 female teams to the Energy City. The Estevan Sharks water polo club competed at the spring provincials in Saskatoon on March 25 and 26, which marked the last competition for the 2022-23. The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society (OTS) hosted the 63rd open bonspiel on March 24 and 25 at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. AC Power Contractors won the event. About 30 people joined the Energy Dash and Splash – a polar bear swim
School Bulldogs' senior boys' basketball team came home from the Hoopla provincial tournament in Prince Albert with a bronze medal in the 1A division. The 59th Estevan and District Music Festival took place from March 20 and 30, showcasing the talents of many local youths. The Brokenshires won Estevan's Farm Family of the Year Award. The family was presented with the prestigious honour in front of a large crowd at the Farmers' Appreciation Evening banquet at the Beefeater Plaza. The Lampman Curling Club celebr ated its 100th anniversary by hosting a major event, a 64-rink bonspiel, from March 29-April 2.
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APRIL A6
| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
April brought the first signs of spring, as well as a blizzard and many community happenings. A number of students from the ECS travelled to table tennis provincials in Saskatoon on March 31 and April 1, and several came home with gold medals. The Estevan Recreational Dance Club entertained the crowd at two sold-out recitals in early April. The Estevan Kinette Club invited guests to join in for the celebration of its 75th birthday on April 1. The Souris Valley Museum invited the community for an Easter egg hunt on April 1, and about 150 people stopped by. The Estevan Mermaids demonstrated the progress they have made during the 2022-23 season during their annual water show on April 2 at the Estevan Leisure Centre's pool. The Estevan Wildlife Federation hosted its 37th annual fundraising dinner, raffle and auction. The event brought in close to $40,000. The Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins' bid for a provincial title came to an end on April 2 in a 4-1 loss to the Saskatoon Riverkings at Affinity Place in the provincial final. A walk with the cross was held in Estevan on Good Fr i d a y.
Nearly 30 people came together to take turns carrying a large wooden cross through south Estevan. The S uperannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan celebrated their 50th anniversary this year, and the head of the STS was in Estevan on April 13 for a local event to mark the
milestone. Estevan military historian Craig Bird paid tribute to the Battle of Vimy Ridge through a presentation, marking the
famed battle's 106th anniversary. The Estevan Strippers' Molson Spring Bust Tournament ran from April 12-16 at Affinity Place, the Power Dodge Arena and the Bienfait Memorial Arena. Thirtysix teams were entered what is Saskatchewan's largest
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recreation hockey competition. On April 15, St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church held a supper and comedy by Doug Arden fundraiser for a community centre, which is to be located at the former St. John School. Darlene Himmelspeck of Estevan was in Oxbow in mid-April, where she presented a 20-inch by 24inch photo of the 1963-64 Oxbow Huskies to Rae Wright. The Huskies made it to the league final that season. The Sun City Prop Busters had its annual static display at the Estevan Market Mall on April 15. Dr. Mehdi Horri has been charged with allegedly
Jared Boechler and Nic W ilson combined into an exhibit named All Conditioned Things in Gallery 2, running from April 14 to May 26. The 28th annual M.O.R.E. fundraiser for the Midale Rink, held on April 15 at the
Harry 'O Memorial Arena, attracted about 300 people and helped raise $108,000. T h e R oy a l Canadian Legion's Estevan branch recognized its members during its annual V imy breaching the Awards Night on April conditions of his undertak- 16. ing by the provincial College Winter had one last of Physicians and Surgeons blast in store for the city on April 14. His licence of Estevan and southeast wasn't suspended until after S askatche wan, br ingthe hearing in the fall. ing wet, heavy snow and The EAGM had Pat- strong winds to the area. rick Fernandez's exhibition The storm struck early called Tadhana on display on April 19 and lasted in Gallery 1, and works by until the following day. It forced the city to mobilize snow-removal crews, and it also resulted in power outages and closed highways. T h e L ad i e s Night O ut fundraiser hosted by the Estevan Exhibition Association on April 22 proved to be entertaining for about 175 people Thank you for dining withinusattenance. this year Food, auctions
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and games helped r aise funds on April 22 for the Creighton Lodge Trust Committee, with about 350 people in
attendance. About $60,000 was raised for the expansion of the lodge's kitchen. A team of Estevan billiards players won the Royal Canadian Legion's 8-ball championship
for Saskatchewan. The Est e v a n E x t re m e volleyball teams won gold and silver at provincials in
Saskatoon.
Estevan fi re fi g h t e r AnnieFrance Bizier c laimed a spot in the 2024 Saskatchewan Fire F ighters Calend a r , raising
funds for the Jim Pattison Hospital Foundation. The selection night took place April 22 at Casino Regina. One of Saskatchewan's top innovators, Dr. Aaron Genest, was in Estevan April 26 to talk to the community about technology and innovations during the second Innovation Conversation. Eight students from ECS travelled to the Saskatchewan Polytechnic main campus in Saskatoon to participate in Skills Canada provincials. Alyssa Saccar y won a bronze medal for the bridal hairstyling event. Este van honoured 39 lives lost to workplace injuries and illnesses, including two locally, on the National Day of Mourning. The Estevan Public Youth Centre's first cornhole tournament, sponsored by the Estevan Kinette Club, raised over $6,000 on April 29.
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MAY A7
| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
May's war mer day s made community members smile more. While a later spring delayed the seeding season in the southeast, most other things went as planned. Midale's Got Talent show was brought back on May 5 after almost a decade, and saw a lot of support and interest from 13 talented performers, guests and sponsors. Young drummer Mavrik Espelien of Estevan claimed first place. The green flag waved for the start of the Estevan Motor Speedway's 2023 season on May 6. Five classes of racing were offered. Lampman's Riley Raynard, a racer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, announced his retirement from the speedway's hobby stock division, after amazing fans in both Canada and the U.S. since 2012. Raynard continued to attend the races to help out his brother and also became an announcer. Bienfait goaltender Chloe Sorenson won bronze at the Esso Cup national female U18 AAA hockey championship in Prince Albert. T h e Po l t a v a
Ensemble of Song, Music and Dance brought their tremendous skills and bright costumes to the Estevan Comprehensive School on May 6.
Sixty-three hectares (156 acres) of Crown mineral rights were to be transferred to Ocean Man First Nation upon the surface attaining reserve status. A talented group of Canadian musicians, Tim & The Glory Boys, performed at the Orpheum Theatre on May 11 as part of their Home-Town Hoedown Tour. Former Estevan resident Shaylee Foord was one of nine women from across the country selected for the second edition of the CFL's Women in Football program. Each CFL club welcomed one additional woman to join its football operations department from May 14 to June 3.
Foord was working with the E d m on ton
Elks. The Coal Country Run, a fun running/ walking/bicycling event, which is also a big fundraiser for the Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym, took place on May 13 at Woodlawn Regional Park, attracting about 130 participants. The Estevan Mermaids artistic swimming club attended provincial championships in Regina in May. The Rotar y Club of Estevan held its annual highway cleanup on May 16 along with the Benson, Outram-Madigan and Crossroads 4-H Clubs. Estevan's air cadets wrapped up another year by hosting their 82nd annual ceremonial review and
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awards parade at the WylieMitchell Hall
on May 16. Sgt. Tyler McMillen with the EPS was recognized for 20 years of exemplary service on May 17. The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society's third annual Top Gun trap-shooting event attracted over 100 participants from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta on May 12. Estevan's Chad Froese claimed the individual championship. Members of the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home committee met May 24 with representatives of the provincial government. The province identified a future need for 59
Estevan
additional long-term care beds for the Estevan area, which would bring the total number of beds in the community to 167 for a new nursing home, up from 108. St. Joseph's Hospital hired Candace Kopec as its new executive director. The Estevan Bruins had two members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, defencem a n Pa u l
Coffey a n d c e n tre Doug G i l m o u r, speak at this year's Sportsman's Dinner on May 25. Estevan's dance community celebrated the Drewitz School of Dance's 40 years in business on May 27 with two sold-out recitals for the Spotlight on the Stars. For the first time this year, the Trackside Motocross Association held races at its facility east of Estevan with 102 riders entering. The ninth Estevan Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis (CF) History, raising funds for CF research and awareness, took place May 28 at
Carlyle
Woodlawn Regional Park. Estevan Minor Football (EMF) announced plans to leave the Moose Jaw Minor Football League and join the Parkland League for the 2023 season. The EMF would later rejoin the Moose Jaw circuit. Anglers spent two days out on the water May 27 and 28 for the Rafferty Dam Walleye Tournament. A total of 25 two-person teams entered. Shelan Proust was recognized with a Marlene H o f f m a n Vo l u n t e e r Award by Sask.
V o l l e y - ball for her countless hours of dedication to the Estevan Extreme Volleyball Club over the past eight years. The United Way Estevan Day of Caring flooded the city with kindness on May 31, with many projects completed. For the first time since 2019, students who are part of the school safety patrol program in Estevan gathered for a dance put on by the EPS. The event was held May 31 at the Beefeater Plaza.
JUNE A8
| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
June offered plenty of entertainment, sports and beautiful weather. Carter Beck of Carnduff won a gold medal in the tetrathlon at the track and field provincial competition in Saskatoon June 2 and 3. The members of the mine rescue team from the Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan Mine finished first in practical skills and the runner-up for first at the Saskatchewan Mining Association’s mine rescue competition, held June 3 in Saskatoon. For the first time since 2016, the Wa-Wa Temple Southeast Shrine Club brought entertainment to Estevan with Global FMX performing on June 3 at Affinity Place. Dogs and their owners were out walking in southeast Estevan on June 4 as part of the Estevan Humane Society’s (EHS) annual Dr. Neil Howard Memorial Dog Jog. The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society hosted its annual Oilmen’s Golf Tournament from June 2-4, with hundreds of golfers entered between the 18-hole and 36-hole events. The spillway bridges for Rafferty Dam and Grant Devine Lake were resurfaced as part of $147 million worth of infrastructure and other investments across the province. The No. 2901 Estevan (Elks) PPCLI Army Cadet
Corps handed out awards during the annual sunset ceremony on June 6. The Radiothon for Life took place on June 7, raising over $96,000 for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation. The big and loud Energy City Ex. returned to Estevan from June 8-11, thanks to the Estevan Exhibition Association. The four-day fair and rodeo brought a lot of beloved entertainment back and also offered many new fun opportunities. Over 10,000 people attended. Estevan dialysis nurses initiated the first local Kidney Walk for their patients on June 9. The Estevan Police Association brought back the Max-Fun Colour Run that took place June 11 at Woodlawn Regional Park with over 70 people participating. Creighton Lodge started a Cycling Without Age Canada chapter in
Estevan this summer. They purchased and star ted u s i n g a special cycling machine, which allows com-
munity members to take residents out for rides. Hobby stock and sport modified drivers from S askatchewan, Manitoba
and the northern mid-west U.S. were in Estevan for the Estevan Motor Speedway’s stop on the Tougher than Dirt Tour. The ECS auto c lub hosted its annual John Dyck Show and Shine in midJune. Tony and Tim Gervais opened their creative yard to the community on June 10 for the 20th annual T&T Rods Show and Shine. T h e Southeast C o l l e g e ’s Estevan campus celebrated its Estevan 2023 graduates on June 16. The ECS Class of 2023 had the opportunity to celebrate all of their years of hard work during the school’s graduation ceremony on June 17 at Affinity Place. The annual grad parade followed. James Jones was hired as ECS’s new principal, replacing Nathan Johnson, who stepped down earlier in the year. The Estevan Arts Coun-
cil handed out nine awards to children who planned to attend art summer
camps. The Souris Valley Museum celebrated National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21 by hosting a dedication ceremony for its new Red River cart. A unique collection of Andrew King’s prints was on display at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum this summer. Estevan youth Dalton Short won double gold at provincials through the sport of jiu-jitsu. The Rotary Club of Estevan served over 700 people during its annual Lobsterfest on June 23. T h e legacy project for the 2022 Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship, a new score clock, was installed in June. Theodore Brycks pleaded guilty to six charges stemming from a 2022 incident involving the Carnduff RCMP
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that occurred in Alameda. He was sentenced to 5 1/2 years
in prison. The 26th annual Alameda Fish Derby took place on Grant Devine Lake on June 24. The Estevan Toastmasters Club celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 25. Estevan city council denied a request for Straight Pride Flag to be flown at city hall and for Mom and Dad Week to be proclaimed, after a group called Concerned Citizens SK appeared before council members on June 26. Preston Majeran
over $5,000 involving a local bank and a nonprofit organization. He was sentenced to a 12-month condi-
tional sentence order. Helen Fornwald of Estevan was elected as the president of the CurlSask board for the next two years. The national grand exalted ruler for Elks Canada was in Estevan on June 29. The Estevan U11 Storm and U13 Storm sof tball teams won the gold medals in their respective divisions at the season-ending Highway 39 League Tournament. The Este van Night Markets, organized by the Estevan Downtown Business Association, made a return on June 29.
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JULY A9
| Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
July brought heat, long days, community events and plenty of fun summer activities for residents of southeast Saskatchewan. Canada Day was celebrated in the southeast, with festivities held in many communities. Estevan’s Caroline Saxon and Joanne Choma were a part of the Dino Challenge on Canada Day in Dundurn, helping the small Saskatchewan town set a new Guinness World Record for most people gathering together in dinosaur costumes. The second annual Energy City Exposure Showcase softball tournament in Estevan, held from June 30 to July 2, provided young softball players in the U17 and U15 divisions with the opportunity to showcase their abilities to scouts. Estevan’s Desiree Da Silva came in third in her category at the Canadian Armwrestling Championship in Nova Scotia from June 30-July 3. Sixty-eight steers were available during the Estevan Rotary Regional 4-H Show and Sale on July 6 at the Estevan Exhibition grounds. The average sale price was around $4 per pound. A section of pathway was named after local author and historian Marie Donais Calder on July 6. The Estevan OTS held its second annual mixed golf tournament on July 8 at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort’s Hideout Golf Course. July 9 was the 19-year anniversary of the disappearance of Courtney Struble, who vanished after watching a movie with friends west of Estevan. She was 13 at the time. The Estevan U11 AA Brewers won the Baseball Regina league title on July 9, defeating the Balcarres Broncs 4-1.
The Dakota Classic Modified Tour made its return to the Estevan Motor Speedway on July 10 for the first time since 2019. Local favourite Kody Scholpp took top spot in the modified feature. The Military Police National Motorcycle Relay made its way to Estevan in support of its Fund for Blind Children, and it was greeted by members of the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. International delegates were at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station on July 12 as part of the International Energy Agency’s CCS Summer School in Regina and elsewhere. The Estevan RCMP celebrated the 150th birthday of Canada’s national police force by hosting an anniversary bash on July 13 at Woodlawn Regional Park. The Estevan Golden Eels swim club hosted its annual swim meet at the Estevan Leisure Centre on July 15, with swimmers coming from throughout southern Saskatchewan. The OM Yoga Festival brought many participants to Woodlawn Regional Park on July 15 and 16 for a two-day festival. The Estevan U13 AA Brewers won the Baseball Regina league title on July 17 by defeating the Swift Current 57s 16-6 in Estevan. Jenna Knibbs from Estevan was part of the Team Saskatchewan Green entry that won a bronze medal at the U16 Canada Cup volleyball tournament in Niagara from July 18-23. The Estevan OTS Oilwomen’s Golf Tournament was held July 21 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course and attracted 119 participants for a Texas scramble event. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service,
Wishing you a joyous holiday season with peace and cheer in the new year!
EPS and Estevan EMS were called to a structure fire in the 400-block of Third Street on July 21. The fire was later deemed to be an arson, but no arrest has been made. The Estevan Motor Speedway honoured inspirational local hobby stock driver Riley Raynard before the start of the July 22 program, naming its annual Dirt Wars program after him. The Estevan Downtown Business Association’s Street Dance on July 22 attracted 1,100 people to a big community bash. A thunderstorm that rolled through the city around midnight couldn’t dash the fun for revellers. Firefighters spent about six hours combatting a blaze on July 23. A residence on Spruce Drive sustained significant damage in the fire, and an adjoining house was also impacted. The fire was not deemed suspicious. Zachary Lewis was given a 13-month conditional sentence order on July 25 in Estevan Provincial Court after he was found guilty of charges following an incident that shut down Fourth Street in November 2022. Statistics Canada released its Crime Severity Index on July 27 and Estevan’s figure for 2022 was at
79.54, down from 88.2 in 2021. Local oilfield business
TS&M Supply celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 27, with a massive crowd turning out for a barbecue lunch and tours at TS&M’s head office in Estevan. Redvers’ Travis Patron, the former leader of the now-defunct Canadian Nationalist Party, was c harged after a series of incidents in Saskatoon. He is scheduled to go to trial next year. The Southeast U18 AAA Twins’ baseball
What a year 2023 has been. We have seen some difficult times, but we have also seen a tremendous amount of community spirit, strength, and support for the most vulnerable in our province. As I work with my colleagues in the legislature, I am committed to being your voice for Southeast Saskatchewan moving forward.
Happy
New Year I wish you a safe and
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A10 December 27, 2023 By Ana Bykhovskaia and David Willberg 1. Two fatal incidents. Related incidents that occurred in Estevan on Nov. 1 and left two people dead and a police officer injured shook the entire city, and they will be remembered not only due to the severity of the cases but also as potential indicators of some systematic gaps. That morning at approximately 6:38 a.m., Estevan police officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 1200-block of Sixth S treet. The woman, l a t e r i d e n t i fi e d a s Karie Ann Guillas, was seriously injured and bleeding. She was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that morning. Her 19-year-old son, Justice Guillas, was arrested as a suspect and taken to the police station. During the process of photographing Guillas, a confrontation took place and he gained control of an EPS-issued firearm. Sgt. Braden Lonsberry was shot, sustaining a serious injury. A second EPS member discharged their service pistol, striking the man. Both injured men were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and later taken to Regina by STARS Air Ambulance. Justice Guillas was pronounced dead later that day. Lonsberry’s injuries weren’t life-threatening, and after undergoing treatment he returned to active duty in December. Estevan’s hospital went on a lockdown as a precaution that morning, and sirens were heard throughout the community, as emergency services from all across the southeast were assisting with the incidents. The mother and son appeared before court earlier this year, as they both were involved with a multivehicle incident north of the city in January that left Estevan’s Troy LeBlanc in hospital with serious ankle injuries. In March, Justice Guillas pled guilty to several charges and was sentenced to 343 days in prison. With 61 days in remand, the sentence was reduced to 245 days, and it was supposed to end in mid-November. However, he was released on Aug. 21. The Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety did not give details on why Guillas was released nearly three months early. As of Dec. 15, Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team was continuing the investigation into what happened at the police station, examining the actions of police during this incident, while the EPS is investigating the initial homicide of Karie Ann Gulias. 2. Bring an MRI to Estevan. An attempt to support local health care by donating millions towards the purchase of an MRI machine, and the following denial from the Ministry of Health, stirred not only Estevan but the entire province. Last spring, Estevan’s Elaine Walkom stepped forward to donate $2 million as a legacy project in memory of her late husband Grant Walkom, who owned Hank’s Maintenance in town, to help bring an MRI scanner to St. Joseph’s Hospital and train specialists to run it. The offer was initially denied by the Ministry of Health. However, after the story was made public and more pressure was put on the province, the wheels started turning. When approached by several RMs in the region through a letter, the Ministry of Health said they “look forward to further discussing opportunities to advance health-care services in Estevan with Ms. Walkom and St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation in the near future.” The following conversations with the local and provincial authorities outlined that an MRI in Estevan would be beneficial locally and provincially, as it would cut travel time for many in the southeast and lower general waiting times across Saskatchewan. St. Joseph’s Hospital confirmed they could ac-
commodate the equipment, putting it in the same area where the lab and CT scanner are located. It was defined that a detailed proposal had to be developed. Emmanuel Health CEO Corey Miller was previously responsible for MRI machines in the province and has been an asset in developing the business case for the machine. The total cost, including capital equipment, building and renovation costs, and staff training and star t-up costs, is estimated at $6,266,000, including taxes. The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation has committed to raising the remaining funds for a total of $6.5 million to bring an MRI to Estevan. The St. Joseph’s Hospital board and the Emmanuel Health board have given their approval, and the business case has been taken to the provincial government. The fundraising campaign would begin once the business plan is approved by the provincial government and included in the provincial budget. 3. Champion’s homecoming. The last weekend of July was a time for the community to remember as Estevan’s own Braden Pachal, a defenceman with the 2023 Stanley Cup champions the Vegas Golden Knights, brought the trophy to the Energy City for the first time since 2003. On July 31, the Stanley Cup was airlifted from Montana to the Estevan Regional Airport, where Pachal and his family picked the trophy up and brought it to the Estevan Leisure Centre. A large crowd was present to greet him. He hoisted the 35-pound trophy over his head several times, drawing cheers from the adoring public. He then walked the Cup into the Estevan Leisure Centre and Affinity Place, where he signed autographs for more than two hours. At one point, the lineup was more than threequarters of the way around the Affinity Place concourse, as more than a thousand people were eager to meet Pachal, pose for pictures with him and the Stanley Cup, and get an autographed picture of him. “A day like this brings you back to your roots and where it all started,” said Pachal afterwards. “It’s the love of the game, and to bring this back, it’s pretty special.” A barbecue was held in the Estevan Leisure Centre’s forecourt and a public skate was held at Affinity Place. Pachal donned his skates and took a few laps around the ice surface where he played several years of minor hockey. Pachal also took the trophy to the White Bear First Nations. Joining Pachal in Estevan was Phil Pritchard, who’s the curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He’s also known as the Keeper of the Cup, the man who escorts the Stanley Cup to locations around the world every year. Less than three months after the historical visit, the trophy made its way to Estevan again. In October, Carlyle’s Jim McKenzie, who is a scout with Golden Knights, had his day with the Cup. He picked up the cherished NHL championship trophy in Regina and then brought it to the Energy City so his family in the area could spend time with it. Among the highlights was bringing it to Willy’s The Tap House, giving people another
chance to have their photo taken with the trophy. McKenzie also won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2003. 4. Power generation’s future. Coal-fired power generation, carbon capture and storage, natural gas, solar power, geothermal power and small modular reactors (SMRs) were all part of the conversation when it comes to the future of power production in Estevan. Early in the year, the Crown corporation posted information on its website regarding the potential for SMRs. SaskPower is looking to build an SMR in either the Estevan or Elbow areas. A decision on the site is expected in 2024, but the first SMR isn’t expected to be operational until 2034. Deep Earth Energy Production Corp. said early in the year its geothermal project in southeast Saskatchewan was “a go”, and revealed that an independent consulting service has confirmed the presence of the resource. SaskPower promoted several options for future power production during an open house in Estevan in March, but it did not have any information on carbon capture and storage, despite the recent success of the process at the Boundary Dam Power Station. The Crown corporation also discussed a transmission line construction project from southeast Saskatchewan to North Dakota. Premier Scott Moe talked about the issue and the impact of federal regulations during a visit to Estevan in May – his first public trip to the Energy City since early 2020. Rupen Pandya, the president and CEO for SaskPower, was in Estevan on Sept. 26 to meet with representatives of Estevan city council. Pandya talked about SMRs and also discussed the proposed solar power plant to be built southwest of Estevan. He also discussed the potential for a retrofit of the Shand Power Station to accommodate CCS technology during a press conference before meeting with council. SaskPower revealed that Unit 4 at Boundary Dam would remain on standby until March 31, 2024, or until the Great Plains Power Station natural gas plant goes into service. Unit 4 was supposed to be retired in December of 2021, but has been pressed into service on numerous occasions to meet the province’s power needs. The CCS facility at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station captured 592,490 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first nine months of the year, and it has captured more than 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 since its start-up in October 2014. Estevan also hosted numerous presentations on the future of power production, including one by Al Shpyth hosted by Southeast Techhub. 5. Measures taken at ECS. The Estevan Comprehensive School announced a number of measures in March to address student safety, after what it said was an increase in “violent incidents” at the school.
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In a two-week span from Feb. 3-17, there were three assaults and two fistfights at the school. Nathan Johnson, who was the school’s principal at the time, said the school hadn’t experienced anything like this during his time at ECS. After consulting with outside agencies, the school took steps when it came to excused absences, lunch breaks, spares, and students being allowed outside of the classroom. Outer washroom doors were removed, but the school said that the measure would not impact student privacy. Johnson said afterwards the school had received a favourable response to the moves. While the school has seen some incidents since the measures were announced, they did not have a surge like in February. The 2023 McLeod Series basketball games with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles was called off as well due to issues with fan conduct during the basketball games in both cities in 2022. It is hoped the long-standing series can resume in 2024. 6. Appeal granted. A southeast Saskatchewan family was thrust into the spotlight during the winter after a man suffered a stroke while in Arizona, and Saskatchewan Blue Cross denied the insurance request. Rebecca Fee created a GoFundMe page for her grandfather Louis Lamothe after he had the stroke on Feb. 3 in Yuma, Ariz., and spent weeks in a hospital in the state. He was eventually airlifted to a hospital in Saskatchewan. The stroke left him paralyzed on the left side, and unable to speak a n d swallow. Fe e reported that Saskatchewan Blue Cross denied the request, even though Lamothe answered questions truthfully on his application. She claimed he wasn’t covered because his cholesterol medication changed from 10 to 20 milligrams. He was facing at least $100,000 in medical expenses and $56,000 in a medical flight from Arizona to Saskatchewan through an organization named Angels of Flight. Saskatchewan Blue Cross defended the de-
December 27, 2023 A11 cision, saying it ’s critical that individuals understand what they are covered for and provide accurate medical
information when purchasing coverage. The story received extensive national media attention, and days after Fee went public with the story, Saskatchewan Blue Cross reversed its decision and decided to cover his insurance for the time in Arizona and the medical flight. “I have the best news!” Fee said at the time. The $29,000-plus raised through GoFundMe was directed towards family expenses, such as travel, accommodations and meals, which would not be covered by insurance. Lamothe died in October. 7. ‘A zeal for life’. Estevan’s Leigh-Ann Tessier was killed in a motorcycle crash in North Dakota in late May and her husband Darrel was seriously injured. The incident occurred when the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a pick-up truck east of Fortuna. Both Tessiers were wearing helmets when the collision occurred. Leigh-Ann Tessier’s mother Sandra McGillicky said her daughter “had a zeal for life” and an approach to “live life to the fullest”. McGillicky also fondly remembered her daughter’s smile, which she said could light up the darkest room. The North Dakota State Highway Patrol has completed its investigation, and its website says charges are pending against the driver, even though it’s been more than six months since the collision. The Divide County State’s Attorney’s Office is reviewing for possible charges. Darrel Tessier had to be taken to hospital in Fargo, N.D., where he underwent several operations and had to have one of his legs amputated. H e returned to Canada on June 28. He is continuing his rehabilitation at the Wascana Centre in Regina and at a private clinic. He will need more surgery in the new year on his arm and leg, but has been coming home on weekends. The community showed tremendous support for the Tessier family. A GoFundMe campaign generated $13,880 t ow a rd s Darrel’s medical expenses, and a steak supper fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch brought in approximately $20,000. Darrel and Leigh-Ann Tessier were legion members, and her parents were also involved in the branch. 8. Saluting women. A number of events made their return in 2023 following a multi-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one event in particular came back with a new name, a new look and new organizers. The Southeast Women of Distinction Awards,
organized by a local committee named Women 4 Women, were handed out on May 10 in front of a capacity crowd at the Estevan Exhibition building. Its predecessor, the Women of Today Awards, ran from 1999-2019 and was organized by the Quota Club of Estevan. The 2023 award recipients were Dr. Rebecca Holman, who took home the Innovative Leadership Award, presented by SaskTel, Kathryn Gilliss (Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award, presented by TS&M Supply), Kylie Phillipchuk (Young Visionary Award, presented by Impact Creative SK), Ramona Knebush (Equity & Inclusion Award, presented by Saskatchewan Blue Cross), and Cathy Welta (O utstanding Contribution to the Community Award, presented by Steam Est Industries). The workplace, community and young woman awards were staples of the Women of Today Awards, while the equity and inclusion award and the innovative leadership awards were new. Twenty-four women were nominated between the five different categories. Guest speaker Corliss Rassyle delivered her Be the Best You speech. She reflected on her life experiences, told the crowd that she’s proud of how far she’s come and also stressed she’s proud of the audience on the progress they’ve made. The other highlight of the event was the Trailblazer Memorial Walk, presented by JS TruckMart. Ida Petterson, Shirley Orsted, Melodye Pierson and Shirley Carson were recognized for their contributions to the region through their efforts in the workplace, politics, community service, sports and their families. For each inductee, there was a banner with their name, photo and a brief write-up on what they accomplished. 9. Ongoing health-care challenges. Another story that seemed to be facing the region throughout the year was health-care staffing. Town-hall meetings were held in Oxbow in February and the other in November. Nursing shortages caused repeated service interruptions at the town’s Galloway Health C e n t re, a n d the meetings gave the public a chance to ask questions of elected officials and health-care leaders. A virtual physician program was brought to Oxbow in August because of a lack of medical doctors in the community after two physicians relocated to Regina. While Oxbow has since been able to bring a couple of doctors to the town, the virtual program was still being used in November. Meanwhile, the Redvers Health Centre had a three-month closure in its emergency room due to health-care shortages in that town. During the disruption, emergency and acutecare services were only available Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Those services were restored after a couple of new physicians moved to town. St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan has not been excluded from the staffing challenges. The obstetrics unit at the hospital has been limited since late April due to what the Saskatchewan Health Authority called a shortage of nursing staff. Low-risk, emergent births have continued to happen since late April, but many patients
have been sent to an alternate location. Low-risk deliveries would not include any surgical interventions, such as C-sections, Winkel wrote. A meeting is slated for January between the hospital and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to discuss resuming obstetrical services at the hospital. Estevan also continues to see turnover among its physicians, with some new doctors moving in during the year but others leaving the community. The SaskJobs website shows many jobs are available in health care in the southeast region. 10. Buried alive. A former Estevan resident was murdered in Bangladesh, and her husband is still on the run. Reports from overseas in early June indicated that Afroza Begum had been buried at the home of her husband’s family, and her body was uncovered May 31. Her husband’s father, brother and sisterin-law were remanded into custody for the killing, while Begum’s husband’s aunt was ordered to jail. Begum’s husband had not been immediately arrested and was on the run from police; it’s believed he fled back to Canada. Begum had been a student at the Southeast C o l l e g e ’s E s t e - van campus in the 2021-22 school year and graduated in June 2022. Her
friend and schoolmate Hayley Burden remembered Begum as a really nice person and spoke highly of her children. Begum’s daughter was enrolled at the Estevan Comprehensive School in 2021-22. Begum’s husband Ashraful Alam had not been arrested as of press time. He had been the chief administrative officer for the Town of Battleford but had been fired from his position after losing contact with his employer in the spring. He had told the town that h e was going overseas t o tend to a family emerg e n c y, and initially participated in meetings via Zoom, but had stopped participating in those sessions. The Saskatchewan RCMP has been looking into the matter.
AUGUST A12 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca August kept the summer fun going, with many communities hosting events and festivals that attracted large crowds. The August long weekend was once again a memorable one in Midale, with several popular events including the Bull Bash and Cabaret bull riding, the Souris Valley Antique Association's Pioneer Echoes celebration of old-fashioned agriculture, the Classy Car Show and a street dance. The Southeast A's, who play most of their home games out of Alameda, defeated the Regina Athletics 13-1 on Aug. 6 in Moose Jaw to win the Baseball Saskatchewan U15 AAA Tier 2 title. T h e TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course held its annual FrameTech Classic from Aug. 5-7, with Jace Carlisle winning the men's division, Paige Wheeler the women's competition and Rick Hallberg the senior men's event. Carson Harcourt won the annual horse race elimination event featuring golfers from the men's championship flight. Estevan Fire Rescue Service members were dispatched for a mutual aid call to assist the Bienfait Fire Department with a structure fire occurring in the town early on Aug. 7. Local Facebook users found they could no longer access news stories on the Mercury's Facebook page
while in Canada, although they can still do so when outside the country. Despite Facebook's blackout of Canadian news, the Mercury generated greater traffic on the
SaskToday website in October and November. Tye Dandridge-Evancio began working as the new director and curator of the
EAGM on Aug. 9. The Southeast College announced on Aug. 9 it had created a new program that will encourage entrepreneurship among those in the trades through a four-course program. More than 800 people attended the Bow Valley Jamboree in O xbow on Aug. 12. They enjoyed music by talented performers throughout the afternoon and evening. Agriculture history was celebrated in Frobisher on Aug. 13, with an antique tractor parade and threshing demonstrations as part of the village's annual Thresherman's Reunion. Caitlin Maxie of the
White Bear First Nations went missing on Aug. 18 and then was located deceased at White Bear on Aug. 20. The Estevan Downtown Business Association held its annual Street Fair on Aug. 19, attracting many people to local businesses. The Southeast S teelers, a women's fast-pitch team based out of Carnduff, captured their first-ever S of tball Canada national title in Quebec from Aug. 16-20. The Steelers went 8-0 against Canada's best.
Estevan city council approved naming sections
of pathways after Craig Bird, Gale Tytlandsvik, Mike Csada and the Estevan Brick Wildlife Park at the Aug. 21 meeting. Council awarded Tytlandsvik with $10,000 for a big mural to be added to the west wall of the Kessel Run Games store, located at the intersection of Fourth Street and 13th Avenue. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe was in Estevan on Aug. 23 for a meet-and-greet barbecue. A large crowd met with him at the Dennis Moore Centennial Park to ask questions and discuss the direction of the province. Acclaimed pianists Audrey and Rachel Andrist returned to their hometown of Estevan on Aug. 24 to perform at Hill View Manor and Creighton Lodge. North Portalbased folk and American duo Last Birds – comprised of Lindsay Arnold and Mike Davis – released a new single, Give it to Me, on Aug. 25. It was the first song
Estevan, SK
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from their new album Endless Turn of Day into Night. Former Estevan resident Kim Barnstable was among those affected by the forest fires that struck Kelowna, B.C.
in August. He was out of town when the fire struck, but his wife had to evacuate on a moment's notice. Their home was spared from the fire. The Roche Percee Recreation Site and Campground hosted its second annual Commemorative Family Fun Day on Aug. 26, and many people
turned varit i e s
out to enjoy ous activioffered.
L ori C a r r shifted from the Ministr y of Social Ser vices back to the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure as part of a cabinet shuffle that occurred on Aug. 29. She was in charge of highways in 2018 and 2019.
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SEPTEMBER A13 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca School was back in southeast Saskatchewan in September, fall officially began and the activities started to shift indoors, but people still had lots to do. One person was killed when a fuel truck rolled over on Highway 18 west of Outram on Sept. 1. The Wilson Old Tyme Harvest on Sept. 2 north of Manor featured a variety of antique farming equipment. Kyle Poirier won the Bass Battles fishing derby at Boundary Dam on the Labour Day long weekend, as he had five fish with a combined length of 249 centimetres in the catchand-release event. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service introduced the latest addition to its equipment fleet on Sept. 5 – a hazardous materials response trailer named after Dean Nagel, a long-time firefighter who died in 2022. The Deep Earth Energy Company announced that a third-party consulting service confirmed the presence of the resource after a geoscience and reservoir engineering technical review of DEEP’s geothermal project in southeast Saskatchewan. School was back in session in southeast Saskatchewan on Sept. 6. James Jones began his tenure as the principal of the ECS, replacing Nathan Johnson, who took a new post at the SECPSD. John Deadlock, who spent six terms serving on Estevan city council and also was instrumental in the success of the United Way Estevan Telethon for decades, died in Hanna, Alta., on Sept. 6 at the
age of 88. Ryan Olson of Estevan won the top prize of $5,000 in the golf ball drop organized by the Rotary Clubs of Estevan and Weyburn on Sept. 8. A total of 3,000 rubber ducks floated down the Souris River during the Estevan Humane Society’s annual duck derby. The humane society and lucky winner Bryan Milford each took home $15,000. The 25th annual Ride for Ronald McDonald House saw motorcyclists travel throughout the southeast and raise more than $8,000. Dr. Erin Segstro started seeing patients on Sept. 13 out of the Primacy Medical Centre in northeast Estevan.
The EAGM held a reception on Sept. 15 for Reconcil-onialism by Regina Cree-Métis artist Geanna Dunbar. Garrett Stambaugh outlasted more than 40 drivers in the season-ending Enduro race at the Estevan Motor Speedway on Sept. 15. The annual Homespun Craft Show and Sale, billed as the Biggest Little Craft Show in Saskatchewan – was held in Carlyle on Sept. 16 and 17. The Souris Valley Museum’s antique vehicle collec-
tion gained national attention after Dale Johnson’s
and SMRs – A Primer at the Southeast TechHub on Sept. 22.
article about the vehicles on display at the museum appeared in the Sept. 18 edition of the Old Autos newspaper. Andy the Music Scientist performed in Estevan on Sept. 20 in the first show for the Koncerts for Kids series since 2019. A One Million Person March for Children was held in Estevan on Sept. 20. Hundreds of people gathered for speeches, music and a walk in northeast Estevan. After years of lobbying, the Roche Percee Access Road received much-needed new asphalt through the provincial government’s Thin Membrane Surface Fund. Al Shpyth delivered a presentation, Nuclear Power
The Estevan Bruins opened the 2023-24 season by splitting games with the Melville Millionaires winning 3-2 in Estevan on Sept. 22 but losing 5-0 in Melville the following night. The EPS announced charges against three people on Sept. 22 in connection with a drug bust. T h e ECS Elecs senior boys’ volleyball team won their home tournament on Sept. 22 and 23, their second tournament victory at ECS that month. Members of the Estevan Car Club wrapped up their season on Sept. 24 by having a cruise to local seniors’ homes. The City of Estevan held
an open house on Sept. 26 to discuss changes to the play structures at the Churchill Playpark. The Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons announced in late September that Estevan physician Dr. Mehdi Horri would be suspended for two months, starting Nov. 1, for breaching an undertaking. The Estevan Mercury, which is Estevan’s oldest business and Saskatchewan’s top weekly newspaper, celebrated 120 years in business by releasing a special publication on Sept. 27. The SV Museum served bannock and held activities on
Sept. 29 ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A blanket exercise was hosted by St. Giles’ Anglican Church on Sept. 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many turned out for the symbolic lesson about the challenges Indigenous people have faced. A traffic stop on Sept. 30 resulted in drug charges being levelled against two Estevan residents. The Sept. 30 enrolment numbers showed there were 8,305 students registered in the South East Cornerstone Public School Division and 1,349 in the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division.
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OCTOBER A14 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca October was, as always, a busy month in Estevan and surrounding area, with lots of activity in the community for residents to choose from. J a n e Howard took a ph o t o o f a funnel cloud in the Estevan area on Oct. 4, a rare sight in the southeast for that time of the year. The International Minerals Innovation Institute and the Government of Saskatchewan announced a collaborative study exploring the potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS) hubs, anchored by minerals and power production. Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatche wan’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, spoke about the Sask. First Act during the Estevan Chamber of Commerce Coffee Talk on Oct. 4. A fisher,
which is a small carnivorous mammal, was spotted on a camera southwest of Est e - van o n
Oct. 6. The animal has since made numerous appearances. Southeast musicians Kylee Carver and Jacquie Walbaum showcased their skills during the Sirens D ueling Pianos concert fundraiser for the Estevan Lions Club on Oct. 6. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service held an open house for Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 10, serving up hotdogs and giving tours of its building. Municipal police chiefs and others from across the province were in Estevan on Oct. 11 and 12 for the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP) semi-annual conference. For the second straight year, the ECS Elecs senior boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams won the Co-op Challenge showdown against their rivals from Wey-
burn, claimimg all four matches and taking 12
of the 16 sets. One person died and five were injured in a three-vehicle collision that occurred Oct. 12
and 15. Officers with the CBSA seized firearms f ro m
Ameri c a n travellers during separate incidents at the North Portal border crossing on Oct. 17. J S
on Highway 13 near Kisbey. The United Wa y E s t e van’s 47th annual fundraising telethon, held Oct. 13 and 14 at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch, raised $357,001 for the United Way ’s member agencies and community partners. The goal was $343,064. The 34th edition of the Estevan Model Engineering Show – the oldest event of its kind in North America – attracted 37 participants, who displayed 155 model engines and other handmade projects at the WylieMitchell Hall on Oct. 14
Truck Mart was the big winner at the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s Estevan Business Excellence (EBEX) Awards, as the company won three awards, including the Business of the Year. Bert Baxter Transport, which has been part of the business community for more than 65 years was inducted into the Nick and Verna Morsky Business Hall of Fame during the EBEX Awards. Canada Post’s annual Stamp Out
Hunger Food Drive for the Estevan Salvation Army’s food bank on Oct. 21 collected more than 2,700 pounds of food. Carter Beck of Carnduff was named the Male Player of the Year and Kevin Culy of Estevan was selected as the Rocky Nickel Umpire of the Year Award winner during the Baseball Sask. awards. The Saskatchewan L ego Users Group held its annual Brickery event on Oct. 21 at the Estevan 60-and-Over Club’s meeting area. K e i t h Te r m i n e , a n agent w i t h t h e U. S. Border Patrol, became the first American to be presented with a silver bravery award f r o m the Royal Canadian Humane Association for saving southeast Saskatche w a n resident Ken Murray’s life from a fire. The United Way Estevan delivered $51,320 in funding on Oct. 23 to the
Southeast College’s Education Foundation to support a Mental Health Counselling pilot project at all college campuses. One person died in a collision that occurred on Highway 39 near Macoun on Oct. 25. The incident occurred in the midst of a snowstorm that dumped nearly a foot of snow on the southeast and created hazardous driving conditions. A piece of art created out of old boards sourced from the Civic Auditorium by Estevan’s Tim Dyck of Resurrected Wood Work was revealed at Affinity Place on Oct. 27. The Southern Plains Co-op’s Trail of Terror attracted thousands of people t o Wo o d l a w n R e g i on a l Park’s Preddy Trails on Oct. 27, despite cold weather and recent snow. It was among numerous activities to be held in the community this year before Halloween. The Estevan Primec Controls Canada U13 AA Br uins won their home tournament on Oct. 29, defeating Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Rangers 4-1 in the gold medal game. Amanda Minchin with the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was presented with the Graham Coulter Trophy as the provincial P G A’s Professiona l of the Year on Oct. 30.
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Happy New Year! As we count down to 2024, we’d like to share our thanks and best wishes with everyone who has been a part of our year. We’ve really enjoyed spending time with you, and we hope the next twelve months bring you countless reasons to celebrate!
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A15 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca Estevan had plenty of activities to offer the community in November, ranging from remembrance to fundraisers, and the community started to get ready for the Christmas season. The Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee Talk on Nov. 1 was dedicated to discussing the Estevan Community Safety and Wellbeing pilot project and a community survey the committee held in the fall. Mayor Roy Ludwig revealed at the Coffee Talk that the City of Estevan has received a federal grant for $750,000 to proceed with engineering work for downtown revitalization, which includes the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street. The ECS gave students and parents a look at the future during its biennial career fair on Nov. 2. A 27-year-old man was killed in a rollover that occurred Nov. 3 on Highway 47 just south of Benson. Last Birds – compr ised of husband-and-wife Mike Davis and Lindsay Arnold – celebrated the release of their new album, End less Turn of Day into Night, with a party at Art Concepts Framing on Nov. 4. The Big Six Hockey League opened its milestone 65th season on No v. 4 a n d 5 with five games. Students from St. Mary’s and Spruce Ridge S chools
gathered at the Estevan City Cemetery on Nov. 6 to participate in the annual No Stone Left Alone remembrance ceremony, commemorating those who served Canada during different wars and military operations. The fourth Innovation Conversation event, Energy and Innovation in Estevan, was held at the S o u t h e a s t College on Nov. 7 and featured speeches from representat i ve s o f the Petroleum Te c h nology R e search Centre.
The EPS announced charges against four people in connection with an alleged home
invasion, assault and forcible confinement incident that occurred early on Nov. 7. A fifth person was later charged. According to the EPS, two people suffered “significant” injuries. The ECS revealed at a press conference on Nov. 8 that it was looking to bring Challenge Days back to the school in an effort to boost empathy among Grade 9 students. A large crowd gathered at Affinity Place on Nov. 9 for a concert with headlining act Trooper, along with Sass Jordan and the Northern Pikes in a celebration of Canadian rock music. The Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion held its annual Remembrance Day service on Nov. 11 at the ECS, with former Estevan and Bienfait resident Duane Gall, a 34year member of the Royal Canadian Navy, serving as the guest speaker. A n e w plaque on Estevan’s cenotaph, which has 38 additional names, was dedicated following the Remembrance Day service.
Carlyle’s Blaze Dunn was presented with the Youth Philanthropist of the Year Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals
South Saskatchewan Chapter on Nov. 14, after raising more than $50,000 for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s annual Festival of Trees on Nov. 18 and 19 raised approximately $150,000 for health care in the community, with highlights including a gala supper and a day filled with activities for the family. The Lampman Grizzlies won the provincial 1A girls volleyball title on Nov. 18, defeating Rose Valley in the final. The Estevan Bruins defeated the Notre Dame
Hounds 8-5 on Nov. 22 during the first-ever Hooky for Hockey game. More than 1,000 school kids attended the game, which started in the early afternoon. For the second consecutive year, the
team of Audrey Trombley and Jim Vermeersch were acclaimed as chairwoman and vicechairman, respectively, of the SECPSD’s board at a meeting on Nov. 22. Logan Stewart and Wyatt Thompson, two Grade 12 students at the Carnduff Education Complex, were selected as the winners at the Southeast Techhub’s pitch competition for their portable irrigation system, winning $22,500 in the process. Four entries were received. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service had a busy day on Nov. 24, with two structure fires and a three-vehicle collision.
The Bienfait Lions Community Theatre returned Nov. 24 and 25 for the first time since 2019 with dinner and performances of Those
Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner. The Estevan Mermaids synchronized swim club hosted competitors from around the province for the Marnie Eistetter Training Meet and De velopment Camp at the Estevan Leisure Centre on Nov. 25 and 26. A reception was held at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum on Nov. 29 for its latest exhibits, including a display by the Estevan Photo C l u b, w h i c h meets on the last Wednesday of the month at the EAGM.
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DECEMBER A16 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca December brought the traditional assortment of preChristmas activities in the community, which meant lots of fun for people of all ages. But there was more than just Christmas happenings. The annual Dickens Village Fe s t i v a l w a s held in Carlyle Dec. 1 and 2, attracting many people to the town to celebrate a Victorianstyle Christmas. The Southeast Chorus, comprised of musicians from this part of the province, and the Northwest Chorus, featuring performers from North Dakota, teamed up for their 51st annual celebration of Christmas music on Dec. 2 and 3. Estevan city council held an eight-hour meeting on Dec. 4 to discuss the 2024 budget, which includes a two per cent property tax increase. If approved, it would be the first property tax hike since 2018. France’s Ambassador
to Canada Michel Miraillet travelled from Ottawa to Estevan on Dec. 5 to thank, recognize and honour local Second
Wor ld War veteran Jim Spenst by presenting him with a Rank of Knight with the National Order of the Legion of Honour in France, in honour of the effor ts of S penst and other Canadian soldiers to liberate the European nation from Germany during the Second World War. The Kins-
men TeleMiracle Foundation donated $31,095, supporting the purchase of a new Panda infant warmer and resuscitator for St. Joseph’s Hospital’s maternity ward. Hundreds of people dropped by the St. Joseph’s Health Care Auxiliar y ’s Christmas Tea, Bake Sale and Raffle on Dec. 6 – the first time the event has happened since 2019. The provincial government’s final land sale of the year on Dec. 7 brought in more than $17 million, with one licence in the Alameda area bringing in more than $10 million. The Lampman Community Theatre performed Night at the Lamp, penned by local playwright Maureen Ulrich, at the Lampman branch of the Royal Canadian Legion from Dec. 7-9. The movie A Cowboy Christmas, filmed in Maple Creek, made its Canadian debut on Dec. 8 at Estevan’s Orpheum Theatre. The director and a producer
were in attendance. The ECS senior and junior girls’ basketball teams brought teams to Estevan and raised money for the Salvation Army’s food bank during the Holiday Classic tournaments on Dec. 8 and 9. The Estevan Downtown Business Association brought lots of people to the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street for shopping and fun dur ing the annual Miracle on Fo u r t h o n Dec. 9. Local musicians showcased their talent on Dec. 10 during the Rotary Club of Estevan’s annual Christmas Carol Festival. Mayor Roy Ludwig confirmed in an interview with the Mercury that he would not seek re-election in 2024. He has been mayor since 2012 and on council since 1994. The City of Estevan continued a tradition by adding a large Christmas tree at the junction of King Street, 13th Avenue and Souris Avenue North. The Carlyle RCMP was
seeking the public’s assistance with a vandalism incident in which 12 trans-
formers were shot at, knocking out power to hundreds of people. It was not connected to a widespread power outage in the southeast on Dec. 13. The Community Hamper A s s o c i a t i o n’s Angel Tree program held its toy store, with more than 400 toys distributed to children of hamper recipi-
ents. A total of 295 hampers were filled this year. Each child receiving a toy also received two pairs of pyjamas through the Estevan Kinette Club’s PJ Project, thanks to the support of the community. The CPKC Holiday Train rolled into North Portal and Estevan on Dec. 17, bringing live music with Dallas Smith and Mackenzie Porter, and raising support for the Salvation Army’s food bank. Wo o d l a w n R e gional Park held its annual Christmas in the Park event, which is the kickoff to the annual Festival of Lights displays. The Festival of Lights will continue until Jan. 1. Estevan city council had a busy agenda for its last meeting of the year, highlighted by a presentation G o r d More and Angud Singh on economic development.
Don’t drink and drive Don’t text and drive Don’t do drugs and drive
E V I R AR VE ALI
How to stay alert behind the wheel Impaired driving and distracted driving get their share of attention, as both contribute to fatal yet preventable collisions. However, another danger lurks when people get behind the wheel, particularly when they engage in drowsy driving. D rowsy dr iving ac counts for thousands of crashes, injuries and fatalities each year. The council equates the effects of driving while tired to driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent. The majority of drowsy driving incidents happen between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the lateafternoon hours. One in 25 drivers has admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel.
Remaining awake and alert behind the wheel might seem easy. But droopy eyelids and incessant yawns can catch any driver off guard. The following tips can help drivers remain more alert. •Alcohol and certain medications can exacerbate feelings of drowsiness, so neither should be ingested prior to driving. It is important to determine if fatigue arises after taking new medicines before getting behind the wheel. •Try not to make long distance trips alone. A companion on the drive can share driving duty and provide conversation that helps drivers stay alert. •Get adequate sleep at
night. It is more likely that you may fall asleep behind the wheel if you are sleep deprived. •Recognize gas station snacks will not be the fix. Once the body metabolizes these snacks, which tend to be carbohydrate-heavy, drowsiness can increase as the sugar spike in the bloodstream wears off. •Sip coffee or a caffeinated (unsweetened) beverage. The caffeine is a central nervous stimulant. Avoiding sugar will mean you won’t crash once it wears off. •Pull over and take a rest or a brief, 20-minute nap. •Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and reduces stress hormones. Do-
Impaired driving could result in an arrest and worse consequences. Photo by Nes / Moment / Getty Images ing a small workout before getting on the road, or during pit-stops, can help drivers stay alert. •Don’t begin a trip during a time when you would
HAND OVER YOUR KEYS. Hold On to What Matters. Drinking and driving can take away everything that matters most to you:
your freedom, your job, your reputation, your future and even your life.
Make a commitment to yourself and others to drive sober this season.
This important reminder is brought to you by:
normally be sleeping. Stop and start while you are alert. Build rest into your budget and stop at a roadside motel. •Blasting music may not be a fix, and actually could be
an extra distraction, causing you to miss the sounds of horns or sirens. Staying alert in the car involves some strategies that any driver can employ.
PLAN AHEAD DON’T DRIVE IMPAIRED Dr. Robert Kitchen MP Souris-Moose Mountain
1-866-249-4697 • www.drrobertkitchen.ca
Make It A Night To Remember – Not A Night To Forget.
DRIVE SAFE THIS Holiday Season
601 - 5th Street, Estevan (306) 634-7101
PLEASE PLAN A SAFE RIDE HOME
If you feel different, you drive different. Drowsy Driving is just as dangerous!
CLASSIFIEDS A17 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca Obituaries Sylvia Harris 1937 - 2023 Sylvia passed away at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home on December 14, 2023 at the age of 86. Sylvia’s memory will be forever cherished by her children: Shirley (Alf) Mayberg, Kerry (Brenda) Harris, Charlene Lamoureux (Barry), Murray Harris, Sharon Harris, and Trudy Larsen (Ernie); 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; sister-in-law Gloria (Barry) Neilson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence Harris; sons-in-law: Clifford Lamoureux and Tom Larsen; parents: Wallace & Bertha Fulmore; sisters: June and Lorna; brothers: Lionel, Robert, and Arnold. The Memorial Service for Sylvia was held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, Estevan, with Sandy Dalziel officiating. A luncheon followed in the church auditorium. Those wishing to pay tribute to Sylvia via a donation in her memory may do so to a charity of choice. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Sylvia’s family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.
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Economic development efforts continue in Estevan By David Willberg Estevan city council heard more about progress on economic development in the community during the Dec. 18 meeting. Southeast Techhub executive director Gordon More and economic development co-ordinator Angud Singh discussed their efforts and how those will benefit Estevan. More opened by discussing the different speakers the Techhub has hosted during the year through the Innovation Conversation series. All of the presentations can be found on the Techhub’ website, and he noted a presentation on small modular reactors (SMRs) has been particularly interesting. The Techhub held a pitch competition in November, with two students from the Carnduff Education Complex taking top spot for their portable irrigation project. Techhub has also held workshops to help prospective entrepreneurs with everything from business start-up to public speaking. More also talked about the robotics and drones initiatives. The robotics are moving along well, he said. Students built a dog and created a three-foot humanoid with the help of a 3-D printer. “The goal is the students will be walking a robot across the stage at our conference, and also … to have the robot play hockey on Rafferty [Dam] while holding a Tim Hortons [cup],” said More. The conference More referred to will be the Innovation Conference on Energy Development Sept. 10-12, with a focus on SMRs, geothermal, microgrids, carbon capture and
Angud Singh, left, and Gordon More provided an update to Estevan city council at Monday night’s meeting. with the Advanced 1A Driver Training Centre in Weyburn, and the individual who runs the program has four available slots to send candidates. But Singh wants to have the program here, rather than having people going to other communities. There have been discussions with the Southeast College. “The costs on this program are quite large and we want to make sure funding is possible to implement it here,” said Singh. Another economic development project is looking at converting lignite coal to graphite. Details are being worked out to send coal mined here to selected partners. RFPs have been completed, and are being evaluated; Singh said it looks “promising”. “We’re just exploring the possibility of taking advantage of this opportunity and producing graphite … finding markets for graphite and hopefully yielding profits,” he said. Singh has also submitted an application for targeted sector support. The city has asked for $45,000 in federal money for a series of roundtable discussions and workshops on energy transition that would be at the Southeast College.The Town of
Carnduff would be a partner on the project. And the city has applied for additional funding for downtown revitalization in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street that would improve facades and esthetics of storefronts, increase accessibility and more. The money is for accessibility and is different from other grants the city has pursued for downtown upgrades. Economic Development is looking to host an event in the spring along the concourse at Affinity Place that would include a trade show and networking to help home-based businesses get some exposure. Singh said the event could help create value for business licences. Coun. Shelly Veroba pointed out that when she ran for council for the first time in 2016, there was debate as to whether Estevan needed an economic development officer. She believes Singh’s efforts are proof that it’s money well spent. Coun. Lindsay Clark noted Estevan might be in transition, but it’s good to see the city being proactive on this issue, and he thanked More and Singh for their efforts.
Council eliminates fees for city-wide registration The City of Estevan won’t charge a fee for businesses and organizations to rent a table at spring and fall city-wide registration in 2024. Estevan city council voted at its meeting on Dec. 18 to eliminate the $95 fee to have a table at the event. In her report to council, leisure services manager Erin Wilson said city-wide registration is a way to get people into sports, recreation and cultural activities at once. But fewer organizations are participating because online registration is now an affordable option for groups, and the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on HealtH ServiceS
Wanted
storage and more. He is looking to set up an organic chemistry lab in Estevan, and SaskPower has donated $300,000 in equipment. The drone club meets each Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Wylie-Mitchell building, although it is on a break for Christmas. Coun. Rebecca Foord said More has made people ask some difficult questions and he’s been unafraid to answer them. “I think it’s really helping educate people in our community just on things that we don’t know about, a lot of things that have been different, and a lot of things that are coming down the pipe for us,” said Foord. Coun. Kirsten Walliser said people wonder who the presentations are for and they don’t feel comfortable. More said they’re for everybody, as his job for years was to translate from a person or a business to a programmer, and vice-versa. He doesn’t want people to feel overwhelmed by technology. Singh started by talking about Class 1A truck driver training, which has been broached at the economic development board meetings. There have been discussions on how it can be done locally. “Short term, Councillor [Tony] Sernick and I have spoken with several employers in the region, putting together all of the different pieces, putting together the funding piece, the training piece, and then having the employers hopefully send an ideal candidate to the program for training,” said Singh. Three large employers in the local trucking industry are currently considering the project and sending a driving candidate for a 1A. He has had conversations
groups and how they operate. Eight to 12 organizations typically participate in city-wide. Council believes waiving the fees would be a good way to enhance city-wide, and it should be better for organizations that have low or no revenues. After some discussion, council decided there would not be a fee for businesses. • • • Council denied a request from Cathy Schlacter to have the City of Estevan help her open a non-profit animal shelter and rescue in Estevan. Schlacter wanted help in purchasing a building and all the necessary items and materials. Her shelter, which would be named Wiggles & Wags, would be separate from the Estevan Humane Society. She said she already has people interested in volunteering and helping her make it successful. Her facility would be open around the clock every day, as she said animals need human interaction throughout the day, and the adoption of animals would take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Fundraisers would happen to help sustain the shelter. “I am fully aware that this
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kind of operation is a lot of work and dedication to making sure animals are in a safe environment. I strongly believe in making a difference in animals’ lives, one day at a time. We as humans are the animals’ voice and protectors,” said Schlacter. When given the chance to discuss the matter, Coun. Kirsten Walliser said this concept was discussed at the recent humane society board meeting. She added the humane society would be open to having Schlacter volunteer. “The Estevan Humane Society is hard at work addressing a broad variety of animal rights issues within our community,” said Walliser. Coun. Travis Frank said resources for the city are finite and he believes the second shelter would split resources rather than increase them. • • • Council tabled a request for proposals for Churchill Playpark’s accessible playground equipment design to get more information from the public, including children. In her report to council, parks manager Shannon Wanner said the city received nine different submissions for the equipment, which would be installed in the spring of 2024. Each design was unique with different features and added equipment to enhance the area for play. Five designs were under budget and four exceeded the expected cost. Walliser, who took an active role in the project, said they received a lot of feedback about the project earlier in the
fall, and as much as she likes the concept that Wanner recommended from Park N Play, Walliser wanted to go back to the community with that one and a second option from 1-Stop Playgrounds. Park N Play’s came in at $297,830.35, while 1-Stop Playgrounds was $298,736.52. Both met the six requirements for the project. Wanner voiced her support with going back to the community, and said she believes there will be enough time to get it installed even with the delay. • • • Council awarded the 2024 water treatment plant chemical tenders to ClearTech Inc. for liquid chlorine for $44,569.98 and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) for $17,823.75, Klearwater for ammonium sulphate ($18,900) and fluoride ($13,110.51), and Border Chemicals for aluminum sulfate ($107,310). Ammonium sulfate saw the biggest increase in cost from 2022 at 22.5 per cent and was the only one to exceed budget, while KMnO4 had a six per cent decrease. • • • Council gave second and third readings to the fees and services bylaw for 2024.The full list of fees and charges changes can be found on the city’s website. • • • During the inquiries portion of the meeting, Coun. Tony Sernick said he has received concerns from some residents regarding the $250,000 for new boards at the Power Dodge Arena in the 2024 budget. He asked for a report on why they are needed.
SENIOR LIVING A18 | Wednesday, December 27, 2023 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
Flashback – Dec. 23, 1992 Linda Robinson, centre, of the Salvation Army accepts a $200 donation from Macoun school students, clockwise, from bottom left, Kristine Gustafson, Amanda Bachorcik, Kathryn Gustafson, Suzanne Kuchinka, Tyson Snider and Danielle Vanderhurk. The money was raised through a silver collection at the school’s Christmas concert which was held earlier in December 1992.
Estevan woman’s 106th birthday was on Christmas Estevan’s most senior citizen celebrated her birthday on Dec. 25. While most people were gathering around the trees to unpack Christmas presents, Blanche Keating was also accepting greetings from family, friends and the community as she turned 106 years old. Keating was born in 1917 and raised in the Weyburn area. She moved to Estevan in 1960 with her husband Francis and their children, after she accepted a teaching job at the former St. John’s School. After moving to Estevan,
she switched to elementary school and retired from teaching in 1982, ending a long career she enjoyed. Keating enjoyed travelling after she retired, visiting family who are spread throughout the country. She also ventured to Europe on multiple occasions. When she celebrated her 100th birthday in 2017, she was still living on her own at her residence on First Street, which the Keatings purchased in the 1960s for $6,500. Keating later moved to Creighton Lodge, where she was residing until this
December when a decision was made for her to move to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home. As of the end of 2023, Keating has 11 children, 37 grandchildren and 59 great-grandkids, and she’s been making a Christmas ornament for each baby’s first Christmas. Good genes, good family, good friends and a good God – Keating says these are the reasons she has been able to live not just such a long and full life, but to still be in good shape, both physically and mentally past 100.
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Estevan's Blanche Keating was accepting birthday and Christmas greetings from numerous family members and friends as she turned 106 on Dec. 25. Photo courtesy of Kevin Keating
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December 27, 2023 A19
Sharks athletes win medals at winter provincials
Female athletes from the Estevan Sharks competed at winter provincials in Saskatoon. Photos courtesy of Melissa Enns Members of the Estevan Sharks' water polo program were in Saskatoon recently for winter provincials. The club had a strong showing with every team coming home with a medal. The 10-and-under no-belt mini team won the gold medal, while the U10 belted mini team brought home silver. The 10U no-belt team con-
sisted of Ayla Smelt, Erin Jones, Gavin Tinant, Grace Trepanier, Jaxson Ward, Raymond Johnson and Willow Van Sickle. The 10U belted team included Kohler Martindale, Maverick Martindale, Nicolai Mitchell, Patrick Johnson, Sawyer Klotz, Simon Hall and Tripp Davies. The 13U boys' team, which was
Fourth from top left Jennika Linthicum, second from bottom left Mahlyn Bomberak and third from bottom left Rachel Tober were part of Team Saskatchewan.
a mix of Estevan and Regina players, won a bronze medal. The Estevan athletes were Carter Smelt, Dalton Maley, Eli Sclear, Jaxon Reinhardt, Royce Milford and Sebastian Martens. Also winning the bronze medal was the 13U/15U girls' team. It consisted of players from Estevan, Saskatoon and Weyburn. The athletes from Estevan were Jennika Lithinicum,
Sianna Goudy and Meredith Knoll. Finally, the open men's squad, with players from Estevan and Regina, won the gold medal. The Estevan members were Tyler Gillies and Keegan Mennie-Kindlein. In other water polo news, Jennika Linthicum from the Estevan Sharks, and Sharks' alumni Mahlyn Bomberak and Rachel Tober of the Regina Ar-
mada competed in Calgary with Team Saskatchewan at the 17U Female West NCL tournament. The team went undefeated over the weekend, competing against opponents from Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. Team Saskatchewan is currently in first place in the league with an 8-1-1 mark. The next competition will be in Edmonton in mid-February.
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Mayor’s Message With the New Year falling upon us, may you not only enjoy the festivities of the season, but may health and happiness be with you throughout the New Year.
MEMBER AT LARGE NEEDED! THE ESTEVAN BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS The City of Estevan invites interested citizens to sit on The Estevan Board of Police Commissioners. If you are interested in becoming a Member at Large, please send a letter explaining your qualifications and what past experiences you have that could benefit this board in writing to: Judy Pilloud, City Clerk, City of Estevan 1102, Fourth Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, S4A 0W7 cityclerk@estevan.ca Criminal Records Check may be required upon request.
A20 December 27, 2023
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