Estevan Mercury 20240508

Happy Mother’s Day

Looking for an unique gift?

Overcoming the impossible. Local couple comes back after participating in toughest marathon in the world.

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Checking the temperature.

Community Safety and Well-Being committee updates on their progress.

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Fun at the range.

Southeast oilfield community partakes in OTS trap shooting event.

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Thank you for all you do!

The Mercury and community celebrate National Nursing Week.

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Provincial champs. Extreme volleyball team claims title, prepares for nationals.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024

Estevan celebrated Southeast Women of Distinction

The 2024 Southeast Women of Distinction Award winners were, from left, Sasha Mantei (Young Visionary Award), Michelle Beaulieu (Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace), Vi Day (Innovative Leadership Award), Daniyale Woolsey (Outstanding Contribution to the Community) and Pam Gunnlaugson (Equity & Inclusion).

By Ana Bykhovskaia SASKTODAY.ca

The grand celebration of outstanding women living, working, volunteering and shaping the southeast corner of the province took place at a May 2 luncheon at the Wylie-Mitchell Hall. Twenty-six extraordinary women were nominated in five categories this year, and the Women for Women (W4W) event organizing committee, consisting of nine local women, underlined that

each and every one of the nominees is a role model and was being celebrated through the festive community event.

“We increased our nominations from outside of Estevan, we have six. And we have an increase in our Young Visionary category with seven nominees. Each of you is so deserving of this recognition. And that makes the awards decision so difficult,” said Tania Andrist with W4W.

An independent committee located from out-

side the southeast decided the recipients.

“Our committee does not see the packages and we have zero influence on the outcome,” Andrist underlined. “The decisions are based on the packages that we receive from the nominators and we are so grateful for the unbiased adjudication. I know that the decisions are very difficult, particularly because of the large categories. There were so many worthy candidates.

“On a different day with a different committee, there

would be a different nominee chosen, so I really congratulate every nominee in this room.”

Young Sasha Mantei was recognized with the Young Visionary Award, presented to her by Breanne Van De Woestyne with Impact Creative Digital Services. This award is for individuals under the age of 20 who are an example for others through their exemplary achievement in academics, athletics, volunteerism or community building.

Premier: First SMRs most likely to be in the Estevan area

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.ca

Premier Scott Moe may have let the cat out of the bag on where SaskPower’s small modular reactor (SMR) project is likely to be located.

During his address at the Food Fuel Fertilizer Global Summit, held by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, Moe spoke of the opportunities Saskatchewan has to “harness uranium right here at home in our province, as we look at providing that surety of electricity supply in the future.

“That’s why SaskPower

was actively looking at small modular reactors being placed, quite likely, in the Estevan area — but I don’t think that’s been announced yet.”

That line raised some eyebrows among those in the audience at the Delta hotel in Regina, as SaskPower has, up to now, focused on two possible locations for an SMR, in the Estevan and Elbow areas. Back in September 2022, SaskPower had announced they selected two areas in Saskatchewan for further study to host small modular reactors. There was a 40-kilometre radius around Boundary Dam/Rafferty Dam and a

40-kilometre radius around Grant Devine Dam in the southeast; and the other was the area around Lake Diefenbaker from Gardiner Dam to Diefenbaker Dam near Elbow.

Decisions on narrowing down the potential location is not expected until later this year, and a final decision on SMRs is not expected until 2029.

Opposition critic Aleana Young was at the Food Fuel Fertilizer summit. At the Legislature later in the afternoon, she was asked about Moe apparently letting slip the potential location.

“I was listening closely

to the premier’s comments, obviously, and unclear on whether that was a formal announcement or not. Certainly the community of Estevan will be thrilled. It’s a community that’s been dealing with a huge amount of economic uncertainty,” said Young, pointing to the pending phaseout of coal.

“If the premier is making these promises I suppose I hope they’re true for the community of Estevan, and I also think it points to some of the concerns that we’ve raised around whether or not these timelines and commitments that SaskPower is making publicly are real.”

Fifth woman inducted into Estevan’s Trailblazer Memorial Walk at awards ceremony

By Ana Bykhovskaia SASKTODAY.ca

Estevan’s latest trailblazer’s name was unveiled at the Southeast Women of Distinction Awards ceremony on May 2.

The late Gertie Lev (1921-2018) is the fifth inductee to the Trailblazer Memorial Walk, presented by Woodley Well Service Inc. She joined Shirley Orsted, Melodye Pierson, Ida Petterson and Shirley Carson. These women are those who were the first to do something and/or to go somewhere, giving other women the opportunity to follow up and the knowledge that was needed to make it possible for them to do so.

Lev’s story was shared with more than 300 people in attendance, including her daughter Charne Shoob, who resides in Arizona and came to Estevan for the event.

“I’m so proud. My mom was a wonderful woman. I miss her terribly. She was a person who instilled her values in me, and now that I’ve retired, I’ve started doing volunteer work and I’ve become very active in my community in Arizona,” Shoob said.

Mary Anne Veroba, who was the master of the ceremony for the event, introduced Lev and talked about how she influenced the community.

“The first time I saw Gertie, she was walking down the halls of St. Joseph’s Hospital with the lady’s hospital auxiliary cart, a great big cart, and she was pushing that cart down the hall. This was a short but very well-dressed lady with beautiful posture, not a hair out of place, holding very interesting conversations with patients,” shared Veroba.

Gertie came to Estevan in the early 1970s after marrying Morris Lev, a farmer from Hirsch, a small Jewish colony east of Estevan. She lived in Winnipeg before and was already a widow. Her friends suggested that she meet Morris, who farmed in the Hirsch area in the summer and worked in a garage in Winnipeg during the winter.

“Although not really interested in courting again, Gertie agreed to meet him and there you have it,” Veroba said.

“In Gertie’s own words, it was the move to Estevan that brought out the Jewish side of her. She will reflect that she has never experienced antisemitism in Saskatchewan. ‘I didn’t hide my Jewishness. I brought it forth to show them that we are pretty good,’” Veroba said, recalling Lev’s words. “Gertie was independent and resourceful. Her home was filled with photos of friends, family,

grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, documents, pieces of history and medals that honoured her volunteerism.

“From the day she came to Estevan, Gertie joined everything, and it was demonstrated with the Canadian commemorative medal she received in 1992 from the governor general for her work in the community. She also received the Heart of Gold Award from Air Canada.

Lev was nominated among almost 80 women across Saskatchewan as a woman of influence. Her volunteerism was immense, Veroba said. She spoke to schools and church groups about Jewish holidays and rituals. Lev welcomed visitors into her home to share history and values.

She was the mainstay of the Saskatchewan Junior Concert Society. One of Lev’s most notable accomplishments involves the restoration and rehabilitation of the Jewish cemetery near Hirsch.

“This is a significant contribution to the Jewish history of the area. The cemetery dates back to 1894 and Gertie was not happy with the neglect and the state of despair that she found it in. So, on one of her visits to her family in Winnipeg, she contacted the Jewish Immigration Aid Society, received funding to fix it up and

arranged for regular maintenance of the cemetery,” Veroba shared. “In 1980, Gertie arranged a tea, and people from all over North America came for a rededication of a cemetery and its designation as a historical site.”

Lev had many hobbies. She could sing and dance, and had a great sense of humour, Veroba said.

“Gertie is and was a role model to many, and she really did live a story of happy, happy happenings. Gertie is a rightful member of the trailblazers. Her highlights include a

sustained commitment to faith, heritage and values; and steadfast devotion to family, community and volunteerism. Well known for enthusiasm, a sense of humour, generosity and her sense of fashion. Admirable role model for women of all ages,” Veroba summarized.

Shoob said the Women for Women (W4W) committee reached out to her ahead of the event to inform her of her mother’s recognition.

“I told my husband that my mom was getting this honour, I said ‘It would be

so wonderful for me to be there.’ And he said, ‘Then go.’ So here I am,” Shoob said.

“Her granddaughters and both my daughters admire her so much. And my younger daughter is her reincarnation, she wears high heels and dresses up,” she added with a laugh. Shoob said she was pleasantly surprised with the Southeast Women of Distinction Awards event.

“I am so amazed with this event. I did not expect something so large and so inclusive. It’s wonderful,” Shoob shared.

Local outstanding women celebrated at luncheon

Mantei is a student at the Estevan Comprehensive School, her interests outside of school include artistic swimming, 4-H, working on the family farm and roller derby. Also competing for the title were Aivry Culy, Teigha Lesy, Izzy Semenuik, Andri Groenveld, Keira Lindsay Zepeda and Tayla Gervais. The winner in this category will also receive a $2,000 scholarship, and each of the remaining six candidates will receive a scholarship of $250 during the school’s year-end awards presentation.

the winner of the Innovative Leadership Award, presented by SaskTel. Estevan MLA Lori Carr handed the award out on behalf of SaskTel.

Vi Day of Carnduff was

This award recognizes women who have created or implemented innovative programs, practices, partnerships or other opportunities that significantly improve the lives of women in their community.

Day and her late husband Tony Day owned and operated Fast Trucking in Carnduff and other businesses, and have been strong employers in the region. The Day family has also supported many causes.

Other nominees were Daralee Kittelson, Chandra Marchuk, Sara East, Trina Battersby, Kylie Jo McGregor and Brooke Wilson.

Michelle Beaulieu claimed the Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award, presented by TS&M Supply and handed by Karl McKenzie. This award is for women with exemplary achievements beyond the scope of their paid work that improve workplaces.

Beaulieu, a constable with the Estevan Police Service and is one of two forensic officers in the city. She is also active in the community.

Other nominees were Jennifer Henderson and Jackie Wall.

Pam Gunnlaugson won the Equity & Inclusion Award, presented by Saskatchewan Blue Cross, finishing ahead of Aimee Haralson. The award recognizes women for leadership, resilience and activism to further advance efforts in improving the

community or the culture for the next generation.

Gunnlaugson’s career has been dedicated to helping individuals develop their potential academically and personally, and she thrives when working with newcomers and Indigenous people.

The winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, presented by Steam Est. Industries and handed by Keith Cassidy, was Daniyale Woolsey of Bienfait. The award recognizes influential community builders whose contributions and leadership have helped to create a community where everyone can thrive.

Woolsey has been a member of the town’s fire department, organizes the Bienfait Canada Day parade and co-ordinates other July 1 activities, and is involved in numerous sports and recreation organizations.

things and come out on the other side with the purpose of sharing your story to help others and most importantly, continue to expand the league of superheroes that you surround yourself with every day. Love them, lean on them, learn from them. And at the end of this life if we’ve managed to do that, I think we’ll feel like we live a beautiful life,” Cassidy said.

The event also saw inspiring and insightful speeches by Stacey Wempe and Michelle Gilchrist. (The next edition of the Mercury will have more on their speeches).

Correction

In the Mercury’s Best of Estevan 2024 special, a couple of mistakes were made. Under promotional products, Crown Advertising and Sunset Embroidery tied for first. Crown was listed for gold and Sunset was listed for silver. Under autobody repair, Murray GM Estevan and Carstar were tied for bronze, but only Carstar was listed. The Mercury apologizes for any inconvenience this might have caused.

Also nominated were Verdeen Matthewson, Lynn Trobert, Misty Pennington, Nancy Samoluk, Jeri-Lee Jones and Kasey McIntyre.

Mary Anne Veroba was the MC for the event.

Becky Cassidy opened the event with an inspirational address.

“Continue to grow, continue to go through hard

Gertie Lev was inducted into the Trailblazers Memorial Walk, joining inaugural inductees Shirley Orsted, Melodye Pierson, Ida Petterson and Shirley Carson, who were recognized last year as women who were the first to do something and/ or to go somewhere, and who gave other women the opportunity to follow up and the knowledge that was needed to make it possible for them to do so.

The W4W committee consists of Cassidy, Andrist, Van De Woestyne, Veroba, Brittany Zahn, Tara Daoust, Lori Gervais, Michelle Erdman and Stacy Dutka.

Charne Shoob, daughter of the late Gertie Lev (1921-2018), came to Estevan to celebrate her mother’s recognition.

COMMUNITY

Estevan couple back home after conquering world’s toughest on-foot race

By David Willberg

The Marathon Des

Sables proved to be everything that Lloyd and Roanna Sehn expected it to be – and then some.

The Sehns are back home in Estevan after completing the 2024 edition of the marathon, a 252.8-kilometre, six-stage odyssey through Morocco’s portion of the Sahara Desert. They were 448th and 449th overall among the 781 runners who finished the journey. But reaching the finish line on the final day, together, meant more to them than their placement, since their goal prior to the race was to finish.

“To me, it was more special than any other finish line, because this race is considered to be the toughest foot race on the planet,” said Lloyd. “To get that finish line meant the world to us.”

“And we were together, too, so that was pretty special,” added Roanna.

“Every finish line we came across hand in hand,

and to be able to do that as a married couple, that’s a pretty rare thing,” added Lloyd. Between 850 and 900 people entered the race, Lloyd said, but some didn’t start. The number of finishers was a record. The course is modified each year to provide something different for those who return, and this year Lloyd said it was billed as the longest and most difficult circuit yet.

“We got very lucky. We got the longest one and the hardest one,” Lloyd said.

At no point did they consider dropping out of the marathon due to the heat or the variety of physical afflictions suffered to their feet and lower bodies along the way. It would have taken something significant for them to withdraw.

In the first day alone, their feet took a beating from the black rocks and the downhill treks. Roanna had a series of blisters on her toes, and Lloyd had blisters, too, but other

people were in worse condition.

“What we found is when you had a section of land that was relatively clean, we seemed to hit it at the highest point of the heat of the day. So, it might have been easy footing, but you’re dealing with 45 Celsius heat,” said Lloyd.

The longest stage was the third day, a two-day test at 85.3 kilometres, and it took them 20 hours, 58 minutes and 11 seconds to complete. It might have also been the day with the best scenery.

“It started with a significant climb on what they call a jabal, which must be the Moroccan word for mountain. It was solid rock faces as high as you could see on both sides, and there’s this crevasse that’s cut out of the mountain that you work your way, zig-zagging up, and it’s all rock face. That was breathtaking, that view,” Lloyd said.

Once they hit the top, they had to go down a 25-degree slope. A rope is anchored into the mountain. Then it opens up into a “humongous” and soft sand dune, he said, with sand over their shoes, which they had to ski down.

Also that day was another mountain range, and at the summit was a very narrow section about eight kilometres in length.

“It’s single file, and you’re not passing anybody … there’s not enough room. When you looked over the edge, you were looking at least a thousand metres below,” said Lloyd.

The sand dunes were majestic, but they weren’t fun to run through.

“It was always challenging terrain, because even when you were on the flats, I’ve never seen that much rock. Black, sharp rocks,” Roanna said.

The sixth and final stage was a half-marathon at 21 1/2 kilometres. They decided to run the distance.

The heat was stifling, exceeding 40 C and even 50 C some days. And the sleeping conditions were “pretty brutal”, Roanna said. They slept in a tent with five other people.

“It’s not even a tent,” added Lloyd. “It’s open on both sides, and it’s more of a shade. We slept with it open, so when the sandstorms would come, we tried to drop one side to at least limit the sand from

coming straight through but that wasn’t always possible.”

They didn’t get a lot of sleep at night. At one point a sandstorm knocked down the pole supporting their tent.

“We knew going in, wearing the same running outfit throughout the week, that we would be pretty dirty, but I had no idea the sand that would blow, and how filthy we would feel with that. It was in your scalp. You had a nose full [of sand]. And you had to try to sleep in that,” said Roanna.

Everyone in their tent finished the race, and they encouraged each other at the start of the day.

They also had to reach the checkpoints spread out across each stage in a certain amount of time, and they had a time limit for each stage.

“They have two camels that pace the minimum pace, and if those camels catch you, your race is over,” said Lloyd.

The training they undertook before the race paid off, Roanna said, as they spent a lot of time on the treadmill and a stair-climber while carrying extra weights. They also dedicated a lot of time to building upperbody strength, but Lloyd thought they could have done more for their backs, because they were carrying 22-pound packs each day.

“We finished strong every stage,” Roanna said.

The Sehns came away marvelling at the organization of the event. There were medical staff at each checkpoint. All-terrain vehicles and a helicopter were available for those who needed to drop out.

“The pre-race meetings every morning were incredible,” said Lloyd. “We would be at the start line a half hour ahead. They would detail the sections of the day, where the water stops are, where the checkpoints were, and what we were going to face.”

When they started off each day, AC/DC’s Highway to Hell played, which Roanna thought was appropriate.

Some of the organizers entered as runners and carried medical supplies to help in case someone was in distress. One entrant they knew had a heart attack at the summit of the mountain on the third day

but is on the road to recovery. One of their tentmates saw a person collapse from heat exhaustion in front of him.

The Sehns knew they had support from people back in Estevan. They tried to send an email and a video message home each day, but those often didn’t arrive. And they were focused on the task at hand.

Once the race in Morocco was finished, they spent time in Nice, France, before returning to Estevan. And they had a couple of days to experience the culture of Ouarzazate, the Moroccan city that is a few hours from the marathon’s start line.

Lloyd and Roanna have entered daunting races in the past, and now that they have conquered the toughest foot race in the world, they will enter at the Sinister Seven in the Crowsnest Pass, Alta., this summer.

Lloyd also wants to enter Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, Calif., but they need to build a resumé to apply, as only 100 runners are accepted each year. “I think we checked a box on Marathon Des Sables,” said Roanna. “Our goal was to go and finish, and we did that, and there are so many other amazing races out there and options for us.”

Lloyd and Roanna Sehn show off their medals after completing the 2024 Marathon Des Sables in the Moroccan portion of the Sahara Desert.

Photos courtesy of Lloyd and Roanna Sehn.

The Sahara Desert had plenty of challenging terrain.

The Sehns had some time for fun while in Morocco.

Roanna and Lloyd Sehn finished each stage together.

EDITORIAL

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Time to elevate the conversation

The latest chapter in the farce that is question period in the House of Commons was written last week.

body from the government. The representative of the government will usually provide a non-answer.

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Federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre was ejected after referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “wacko”. While we’ve heard far worse things said locally about Trudeau over the past 8 1/2 years, you would hope that the leader of the official opposition – the man who wants to be the next prime minister of this country – can come up with a better description than “wacko”, whether it be to describe the PM or his party’s policies.

Poilievre was reacting because Trudeau’s government has not yet approved the B.C. government’s request to limit a decriminalization policy for illicit drugs. When told by the speaker of the house that his conduct was unacceptable, Poilievre then referred to the prime minister as an “extremist”.

The speaker was busy that day, as he previously punted Tory MP Rachel Thomas after she described his handling of the House of Commons as “disgraceful”.

(We could go off on the mess that has been the speaker’s role over the past year, but that’s another editorial for another time).

Question period has long been a source of frustration for many Canadian political watchers. It’s frustrating at both provincial and federal levels. A member of the opposition stands up and asks questions to some-

The opposition member will ask the question again. The government representative will give a similar response. The process will continue until the opposition zeroes in on another issue.

And while the exchanges are happening, other MLAs or MPs will heckle or try to shout down the person from the other party who is trying to speak.

(This is when it would be good if the speaker of the house would step in and try to restore some decorum and respect, and remind the elected officials to act like adults and not like juveniles who can’t handle it when someone disagrees with them).

Poilievre needs to be smarter in his use of language. When he uses words like “extremist” and “wacko” in regards to the prime minister and members of other parties, all he does is give them and their supporters more ammunition when they try to portray him as a Donald Trump-esque leader with an affinity for insults. (And the Liberals are definitely going to try to draw comparisons between Poilievre and Trump in the next election, regardless of whether Canadians go to the polls this year or next).

Maybe Poilievre is looking for the sound byte by directing such comments towards

the PM, or maybe he’s trying to appease a certain segment of his base that loves such insults, but it probably risks doing more harm than good with undecided voters and those who remain skeptical about him. And even if Poilievre might be right with his criticism of the policy, there are better words to use.

As for the prime minister, remember when he talked about how we need to do politics differently? We’re still waiting for him to make good on that pre-2015 election promise. We’ve seen the same things from him as we saw from his predecessors: deflecting, unwillingness to actually answer questions and a desire to stay in power regardless of the costs.

And he’s far from innocent when it comes to hurling insults during question period.

It would be idealistic and naïve to expect our elected officials to honestly and fully answer questions. But it shouldn’t be asking too much to expect them to act like intelligent, mature people who respect each other’s opinions and differences. (And most of them are bright, educated people, contrary to what some think).

It also shouldn’t be asking too much for the speaker of the house to interject when the catcalls begin.

It would help improve Canadians’ perceptions of those they elect to represent them.

Why do women’s recognition awards remain essential in 2024?

The Women of Today Awards and its successor, the Southeast Women of Distinction Awards, have been my favourite community events on many fronts.

It’s so thought through – from decorations, little gestures, sponsor recognition, music, lights and colour theme – to, of course, the core idea of the event.

In an era marked by strides towards gender equality, one might wonder: are awards recognizing women’s success and their contributions to community and workplace as relevant as they once were? Afterall, the event dates back 25 years.

The answer is yes. I agree with Coun. Shelly Veroba, who said during the awards luncheon that when hosting a women’s celebration will cause no questions, that will be the day when we can drop it. We are not there. Hopefully, just yet.

As we keep moving further into the 21st century, the significance of such recognitions remains paramount, serving as a celebration of achievements, but what I see is a more important part – a catalyst for continued progress.

Firstly, let’s address the question of why we specifically recognize women. No secret that the need for that arises from a historical context where women have been systemically marginalized and undervalued in many spheres of life. While there are considerable advancements, gender disparities persist in workplaces, leadership positions and societal expectations. (If you doubt it, check how many men in your surrounding equally share household and childcare responsibilities, check how many women are in male-dominated industries, how many women are there at the top of … well any valuable structure. And the list of such checkpoints goes on).

Ana

Bykhovskaia

Twenty Lines

About…

Recognizing women’s achievements provides a necessary counterbalance to this historical imbalance, highlighting women’s talents, capabilities and contributions.

Besides, such recognition serves as a beacon of inspiration for future generations. (Coun. Kirsten Walliser also pointed during the latest event how influential it was for her to see what other women achieved). By honouring women’s successes, we not only celebrate individual achievements but also pave the way for aspiring women to dream bigger and strive harder. Representation matters deeply. Seeing women acknowledged for their achievements sends a powerful message: that their efforts are seen, valued and worthy of aiming at repeating.

Women’s awards also often encompass personal success but also community and workplace impact. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of individual achievement and collective progress. Women frequently play central roles in supporting communities, encouraging collaboration and driving positive change within workplaces. These contributions are not just noteworthy but essential for building inclusive, vibrant societies and thriving organizations.

Now, why don’t we recognize men in the same manner? Well, first of all it’s important to acknowledge that men historically haven’t faced the same systemic barriers as women. While men undoubtedly make valuable contributions to society and the workplace, their achievements have traditionally been more

visible and frequently rewarded. Women’s recognition awards, therefore, serve to repair this disparity, strengthening the voices and accomplishments of those who have been historically marginalized.

But why don’t we recognize everyone’s contributions equally then, one may ask.

The reality is that societal structures often preserve inequality, which results in certain groups receiving disproportionate recognition and opportunities. Women’s recognition awards help address this imbalance by shining a spotlight on individuals who might otherwise be overlooked or underestimated due to systemic biases. However, this doesn’t diminish the importance of recognizing everyone’s contributions. It rather underscores the need for more inclusive practices across the board.

I often visualize social inequalities (any of them) as a pendulum, which, in search for balance, goes from one extreme to the other. I feel that equal recognition of all achievements will come at that balance point when gender inequality becomes a notion of the past.

Awards that celebrate women’s success and their impact on communities and workplaces remain as necessary in 2024 as ever before, so I’m sincerely grateful to the Women 4 Women committee for resurrecting our local spotlight. Such events serve as a means of recognizing past struggles, inspiring future generations and promoting a more equitable society.

While there is no doubt that the progress has been made, a lot of work is yet to be done, and women’s recognition awards play an important role in driving that progress forward. It’s not about exclusion but about redressing historical imbalances and championing diversity, inclusion and equality for all.

EDITORIAL

Marie Donais Calder hopes her story

on their dream.

The Estevan author, who has penned 30 books, was at the Estevan Public Library on Saturday to reflect on her experiences in the publishing world, with friends, family and interest onlookers in attendance. Included in her works are 25 historical fiction works through the Other Side series, chronicling her father Edmond Donais’ experiences in Germany with the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers following the Second World War. The final book in the Other Side looks at his life upon returning to Canada. She has also published Together Forever in the Clouds, which pays tribute to the 21 airmen who died in an airplane crash south of Estevan in September 1946, and several children’s books.

Donais Calder’s story is one of perseverance. She had to retire from teaching

The organizers of Estevan’s Walk to End Cystic Fibrosis (CF) are hopeful the event will continue to receive support from the community in what is a milestone year.

The 10th annual event will take place on May 26 at Woodlawn Regional Park. It will open with registration and a breakfast – in-

early because of her deteriorating eyesight.

“I was so lost for one whole month of September. I didn’t know what to do with myself. My friend gave me a kick in the butt and said ‘Look Marie, you know you want to write about your dad. Get going,’” said Donais Calder. “And that’s what happened. I thought I was writing one book, but as you can see, there are 25 of them.”

If not for the opportunity to write, Donais Calder suspects she might have wallowed in the sorrows of her teaching career coming to an end.

“My eyesight has deteriorated since I started, which makes it even more challenging,” said Donais Calder.

She has had a number of other physical setbacks in her life, but she overcame them to become an author.

“No matter what’s happening in your life, there’s always a reason for it, and when you look back on those experiences, hope-

cluding coffee, tea, muffins and fruit – at 9 a.m. Opening ceremonies will be at 10:30 a.m. and the walk will be just after 11 a.m. A barbecued lunch will be served after the walk is finished, likely around 12:30 p.m., and closing ceremonies will wrap up the festivities. The gazebo beside Lingelbach Field at Mets Sta-

fully, you can see how it helps you grow,” she said.

After the release of Together Forever in the Clouds in 2021, Donais Calder hasn’t released any new works, but two new efforts are expected to be out this year. The first is

dium will be the start-finish line, and the walk will go through Woodlawn Regional Park’s Preddy Trails.

Event organizer Kasey McIntyre, whose son Liam has been diagnosed with CF, said people can take a two-kilometre walk to the dog park, and transportation will be available back to the starting point.

another children’s book, What Can You Do When You Live in a Shoe?

“It is a metaphor for life and all of the changes we face in life,” she said.

“I don’t know about you, but I have found myself in many different shoes,

“The other option is to do four kilometres – it might be a little more than four – but if you want to go further than the dog park, then people can go up and around that … road that leads you back to Mets Stadium,” said McIntyre.

Life with CF is challenging, she said, so people often push themselves through the walk.

There will be silent auction items, donated by generous people in the community who want to see an end to CF, she said. They also have a number of sponsors for the event.

with different things that have happened to me, with career changes, moves in location and all kinds of different things that have happened over the years.

It’s really about don’t let yourself wallow when you have to change your shoe.

Participants will also receive a goody bag with items from people in the community who support the walk.

McIntyre said it’s hard to believe the event has been around for a decade. It started off being held at the Kin Playpark in the Hillside subdivision and has grown to be a fixture in the community.

“It’s come a long ways, and we’ve seen so many advancements in our time [hosting the event],” said McIntyre.

Figure out how to make the best of that shoe.”

The other is the first installment in her life story. She received a request from her publisher, Borealis Press, to share her story. The first book takes her from “sunshine to the darkness”, she said, and ends with the death of her father when she was a child.

“I haven’t even started the second book,” she said. “I just find that I’m embroiled in those first 12 years.”

For the first time, her publisher is working alongside Donais Calder on the book. She has had editors, typesetters and others who have helped her in the past.

“This is so deep and personal that he has suggestions. He has been reading it carefully and making notes, and he won’t talk to me until he’s completed it,” said Donais Calder.

She is hopeful the children’s book will be out in the fall, and she has been told the memoirs will be out this year as well.

For the second straight year, Liam and family will have their lemonade stand set up on May 18 at the Dennis Moore Centennial Park, and at a location on Henry Street across from the Kin Hillside Playpark. McIntyre’s father, Ron Dunville, has been collecting empty beverage containers and taking them to SARCAN to be recycled, with proceeds going to the McIntyre Family and Friends team entered in the walk.

This year is also the 20th edition of the national Walk to Make CF History, and McIntyre said it’s nice the local walk has been around for half of that time.

Marie Donais Calder discussed her experiences with the publishing industry Saturday at the Estevan Public Library.

The annual Walk to End Cystic Fibrosis will take place in Estevan on May 26. File photo

May 8, 2024

Full field for the OTS trap shooting event

By Ana Bykhovskaia SASKTODAY.ca

The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society’s (OTS) fourth annual Top Gun trap shooting event attracted over 120 participants from southeast Saskatchewan, as well as a few from Manitoba, on May 3 at the Estevan Wildlife Federation’s shooting range.

The event saw 125 people participating, bringing in all levels of trap shooting skills.

“We have everything from guys that competitively shoot … to some guys that have never held a gun before and come out and have some fun,” said Jordon Blanchette, the chairman of the event committee.

The organizers provide everything necessary for a nice day at a trap shooting range.

Blanchette said they had great participation and a good day out at Boundary Dam.

“We filled up again, that’s four years in a row here that we’ve had a full event. We had a good turnout, lots of guys that have been there year after year, and a couple of new teams have showed up over the past couple years,” Blanchette said.

“Everything went off

very well. Beatz Eatz did supper for everybody, and it was really good. And it was good to see a bunch of local oilfield guys all having fun and letting their hair down a little bit.”

He noted that with a few more people participating, they started the event a little bit earlier and had one team shooting a bit later, but the format of the event remained the same in general as previous years.

“The nice thing with this event is that it’s just a one-day event. So, you don’t need to worry about not being able to go see your kids play baseball on a Saturday. It takes up a Friday, and that’s about it,” Blanchette noted.

The Estevan OTS introduced a trap shooting event to add variety to their offering four years ago and had nothing but success with it. While networking wasn’t the main point, there is still some happening, Blanchette said.

“Networking is not really the purpose of it, but it automatically comes and that’s a nice thing. A lot of the guys were saying, when you go to the golf event with the OTS, you have people from Calgary, people from here and all over in the oilfield. With this event, it’s pretty much

just locals and it’s nice just to get out with some local guys and not have some head management,” Blanchette said.

He also noted that May is a nice month to host the event as it sees more flexibility in the industry.

“It’s just a good day of getting away from work,

CRANES & TRUCKING

and it’s a nice thing with being at breakup, too. Not everybody’s busy and tied up, so guys have a little bit more time to get away. And the networking wasn’t our goal, but when you have that many guys that own companies or work for companies locally, it always just happens,” he said.

The event is expected to continue, and some participants already expressed their willingness to register for the next edition. And the only thing the organizers hope will change in the future is the weather.

“The only thing that we need is we need some

better weather to show up.

The only good year that we had for weather, it was +30, but it was the COVID year, and we couldn’t stay and hang out. Last year it was rain and wind, this year was wind and little sun. But no matter what, the guys still come out and have fun,” Blanchette said.

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Over 120 oilfield workers partook in a day of trap shooting during the latest OTS event.

Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

By David Willberg

Nursing

profession, but Madison Daoust and Chelsea Meyer are proud they opted for a

to help others. Daoust, who has been a nurse for four years, and Meyer, who is 12 years into her career, spoke with the Mercury and SaskToday as part of our special for Nurses’ Week, which runs from May 6-12. Both are originally from Estevan and are pleased to be practising at their hometown hospital of St. Joseph’s. “I’m thankful that I

chose to become a nurse,” said Daoust. “I’m thankful for the opportunities that it’s providing me, and the people I’ve met along the way. It has been rewarding.”

Daoust is finishing up her tenure as a charge nurse in Unit A, and she will soon be floating between Unit A and the emergency room. She selected nursing because she wanted a career

in the medical field, but she wasn’t sure what. She applied for nursing school, enjoyed it and knew there would be a job opportunity for her at St. Joseph’s Hospital once she graduated, since Daoust knew she wanted to return home after her schooling.

Nursing is in her background, too. Her aunt Tara was a nurse who worked at St. Joseph’s for years, and is still practising as a nurse. But Madison Daoust didn’t know nursing was for her until later.

Meyer works in St. Joe’s emergency room. Her family had some experience in health care as well, and she was really inspired by the nurses she knew. She first entertained the idea of being a nurse when she was in Grade 6.

“I thought it would be a great way to help people, and I wanted a career where I would always be learning something new,” said Meyer.

Nursing is an everchanging profession, they said. No two days are the

same and there are opportunities to learn.

“I love my co-workers,” said Meyer. “Coming to work is fun when you have a good group of co-workers to work with. I love interacting with my patients and the physicians. It’s a nice environment to practise in.”

“Some of my best friends in my life are my co-workers,” added Daoust. “It’s nice to have a family environment when you come to work. The learning opportunities are endless. I’ve only been here for four years, but every day I feel like I learn something new.”

They described themselves as avid learners, so nursing is a great career for them.

Nursing is also rewarding. Daoust said it’s nice when they get to see their patients recover or feel better before they are discharged from the hospital.

“Estevan is a smaller community, so you know a lot of people coming in, and it’s rewarding to hear out in the community the experiences that people had with specific nurses or with you personally. In a bigger centre, you likely wouldn’t get much of that,” said Daoust.

While it can be a wonderful profession, Daoust cautions people that nursing can be more than someone might have bargained for. She recommended shadowing a nurse for those considering the career path, so they can see what the job is all about.

Both of them had good, experienced nurses to learn from when they first started out in their careers.

“I think, in general, we are quite a young staff,” said Daoust. “There’s lots of new staff and lots of younger bodies, so we do really value those that have more experience. Even I feel like I’ve relied a lot on Chelsea, and I feel like, in a way, you [Chelsea] mentored me in some ways, too, because it’s nice to have somebody that has experience that you can rely on and ask questions,” Daoust said, thanking her friend for the guidance.

Meyer responded with thanks to Daoust.

“We’re constantly learning from each other,” said Meyer.

The hospital has become busier, said Meyer, with more people in the ER, while the medical floor is almost full.

“Patients’ needs are becoming more complex,” said Meyer. “There’s always something to learn, something new presenting.”

Both expect they will be in nursing, and practising at St. Joseph’s, for the long term. They have family in the area, and there are always new opportunities to expand their training and try different departments.

“If you’re feeling like your job is becoming redundant, which it usually isn’t in nursing, there’s lot of different places you can go and different things you can try, so that’s nice,” said Daoust.

Madison Daoust, left, and Chelsea Meyer are two of the dedicated nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Flashback – May 12, 1993

Hospital auxiliary fundraising for MRI contribution

The St. Joseph’s Health Care Auxiliary has announced its new fundraising effort to support Estevan’s hospital.

During its spring tea, bake sale and raffle Wednesday afternoon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the auxiliary revealed it is fundraising $100,000 for the campaign to bring an MRI scanner to the hospital. The auxiliary then presented a cheque for $30,000 to director of support services Mark Pettitt to launch their efforts.

This year marked the first time since 2019 that the auxiliary has been able to host the tea, bake sale and raffle. The event was held in Tom and Irma’s Café, which is named after the late Tom and Irma Trofimenkoff, who were generous supporters of healthcare and other causes in the Estevan area.

“We’re very appreciative that everybody’s come out and supported us, and

we’re very fortunate that we have staff members at the hospital donating to help us out with the baking,” said treasurer Darla Wilhelm.

Wilhelm said the auxiliary was pleased to be able to have the event again and to see so many people from the hospital and the community. The auxiliary has been around since 1938, and while they have been down on their membership – they currently have 19 – they are always looking for new members and are looking forward to supporting the hospital.

Pettitt said it’s been wonderful to be a recipient of the fundraising and volunteerism from the auxiliary.

“We always look forward to seeing them in the hallways and at their meetings

and in the gift shop, and when they go around with their tray of cookies up to visit our patients,” said Pettitt. “What an amazing donation to start off the $100,000 for the MRI.”

A plaque in the hospital notes all of the different fundraising efforts and items purchased by the auxiliary from the organization’s inception until 2018.

Pettitt reminded the crowd what the CT scanner, the dialysis unit, the ultrasound clinic and other additions to the hospital did to reduce travel time for patients in the southeast. Once the MRI is installed, he said it will also make a big difference.

The Government of Saskatchewan gave the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation the green light to start

fundraising to bring an MRI unit to the hospital during the provincial budget in March. The foundation has to raise $6.3 million. As of Sunday afternoon, the campaign had brought in $2,595,002.77, including the $2 million donation from Estevan’s Elaine Walkom in memory of her late husband Grant.

The hospital auxiliary has also paid off its most recent project, which was to raise $320,000 for new x-ray equipment at the hospital.

The auxiliary generates the money through fundraisers, donations and its status as a United Way Estevan member agency.

“I’m very happy with all of the support that we get from the community and the surrounding area,” said Wilhelm.

(L-R) Jeff Lees, Kingston Midstream, Councillor Carla Bison, Councillor Tammy Ewack, Councillor Craig Big Eagle, Councillor Faye McArthur, Chief Connie Big Eagle (Ocean Man First Nation), Jonathan Kowal, Chris Masson (Tundra Oil & Gas)

Major award winners at the Estevan (Elks) PPCLI Army Cadet Corps’ annual inspection in 1993 were, front row, from left, Lance-Cpl. Chris Mantei, Lance-Cpl. Chris Davidson, Regimental Sgt. Maj. Curtis Dunford, Pipe Maj. Glen-Mary From and cadet Darcey Rooks. Back row, Master Warrant Officer James Turner Sgt. Clint White, Chief Master Sgt. Derek Beahm and Warrant Officer Chris Dixon

From left, Mark Pettitt with St. Joseph’s Hospital accepts a $30,000 donation from Darla Wilhelm and Valerie Hagel with the St. Joseph’s Health Care Auxiliary.

CLASSIFIEDS

Cecilia Wetsch 1938 - 2024

Cecilia Wetsch, late of Estevan, SK passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at St. Joseph’s HospitalLong Term Care at the age of 86 years.

Cecilia is survived by her children David (Aimee), Lori, Melanie (Jack); grandchildren, Casey (Wilson), Ryan (Brayden), and Travis (Katherine) and favorite furry friend Callie.

Cecilia was predeceased by her mother Irene; stepfather Frank; brother Orest; sister-in-law Florence and son-in-law Calvin. As per her wishes there will be no service.

In memory of Cecilia memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation (designate to Long Term Care), 1176 Nicholson Rd., Estevan, SK S4A 0H3 or online at https://www.sjhf.org/ Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Cecilia’s family - Yvonne

Funeral Director.

Faye Goudy (Gosselin) 1945 - 2024

We the family announce the passing of our dear Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister and Friend, Faye Antoinette Goudy on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home at the age of 78 years. Faye was predeceased by her husband Lawrence; parents, Ernest and Mae Gosselin; siblings, Jack, Gloria Kroeker, Dennis and Rick; brother-inlaw Henry Keen and her nephew Gerry Keen.

Faye’s memory will be cherished by her children, Kerry (Karen), Terry (Sherry), Wesley (Karen), Darren (Chantelle Kittle), Sherri (Richard) Garton and Shelly (Brad) Hodgson. Faye will be greatly missed by her 20 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; sisters, Jeanne Paul and Pat Keen; brother-in-law Dan Kroeker; sister-in-law Kathy Gosselin as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many other family and friends.

The Public Visitation was held on Friday, May 3, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, SK. The Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C Church with Rev. Thuy Nguyen presiding. The luncheon was held immediately following the service. The interment of Faye, along with her husband Lawrence, took place at the Estevan City Cemetery where they were laid to rest together.

In memory of Faye, memorial donations may be made to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home Auxiliary,1921 Wellock Rd., Estevan, SK S4A 2B5. Our family would like to extend a special “Thank You” to all the staff at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home for all your compassion and care to our mother and our family. We are forever grateful. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Faye’s family - Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Thank you

The family of Faye Goudy would like to thank everyone for the cards, flowers, food and thoughtful expression of sympathy received following Faye’s passing. Also, thanks to Hall Funeral Services and St. John the Baptist R.C Church for all your caring assistance and the support was appreciated and very comforting to us.

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Speedway cancels season opener

The Estevan Motor Speedway was forced to cancel its season-opening program, scheduled for Saturday evening.

The announcement was made Friday afternoon on the track’s Facebook page.

“Last night, south of town was hit with a considerable amount of hail and rain. Our track prep crew has been working diligently, however with no sun and cooler temperatures, the facilities cannot be brought to race-day conditions,” the speedway said on its Facebook page.

In addition to having races in all five of its classes, the speedway was going to be raising funds for Alicia Mann and her family by

donating the proceeds of the 50-50. The Biggs family had guaranteed a jackpot of at least $7,000 for the night, with half going to the Mann family and half going to the winner.

A long-time supporter and volunteer at the track who often sings the national anthem, Alicia Mann was diagnosed with cancer last year.

The speedway says the Mann family fundraiser will be pushed to the next race, which is scheduled for May 18 at 7 p.m.

“Details will follow as the board pivots and changes course. Pre-purchased tickets can be used at the next event,” the speedway said.

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Bienfait for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open in the office of the assessor from 8am to 4:30pm on the following days: Monday to Friday, April 30 to May 31, 2024. A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of the Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal along with a fifty-dollar ($50.00) fee to: The Assessor, Town of Bienfait, Box 220, Bienfait, SK. S0C 0M0 by the 31st day of May 2024. Dated this 30th day of April 2024. J. Franklin Assessor

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Envision marking 30 years of serving the SE

The Envision Counselling and Support Centre is marking years as a non-profit service organization in the southeast.

Alongside their anniversary celebration, Envision will be recognizing and honouring Victims and Survivors of Crime Week from May 12-18.

They are welcoming the public to join them in celebrating this milestone. They also welcome the public to join them in honouring those who have been impacted by violence, and those who provide support to the victims and survivors of crime, including social workers, fire departments, police, emergency staff and more.

“We want a large focus of our 30th anniversary to include nurturing network connections as well as an aware-

ness component including knowledge of supports but also knowledge of the issues that individuals are facing within our province,” said Envision executive director Lynda Rideout.

“We want to ensure that our communities are aware of what support services are readily available to them so that we are meeting the needs of as many southeast Saskatchewan residents as possible, all while continuing to strengthen our relationships with individuals and partners who reside in the communities that we serve. This is important to us.”

Envision Counselling and Support Centre provides therapeutic counselling and support services to individuals, couples, families, caregivers and children all across southeast Saskatch-

ewan. The Interpersonal Violence and Abuse program, Family Intervention program, Children Exposed to Violence program and many more important programs and services are crucial to the communities in which they serve.

Most of Envision’s programs are free of charge. They can provide these services at little to no cost largely on behalf of government funding, sponsorships and donations.

As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, Envision Counselling will be hosting grand reopening open houses within three of their office locations during the month of May.

The Carlyle event will feature a free community barbecue, running from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 17. Envision will

Mayor’s Message

be serving hot dogs and burgers. Preorders and donations are welcome.

Weyburn and Estevan will also feature open houses. Envision counsellors and support staff will be providing tours of the facilities and speaking to their programs. Estevan’s open house will be held on May 24 and Weyburn’s will be May 31. There will be refreshments and dainties provided from 10 a.m.-noon.

Everyone from the public is encouraged and welcome to attend. More details can be found on Envision Counselling’s website at www.envisioncounsellingcentre.com and social media platforms closer to the date.

The first 30 people at each location will receive a personalized Envision swag bag in honour of the celebrations.

Southeast Tech Hub is celebrating  their second Anniversary  coming up on May 10, 2024 at noon at 403A 9th Avenue. There will be a free BBQ with cake.

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN

The City of Estevan is undertaking construction for the Watermain replacement.

The affected area includes First street between Souris Avenue and eighth Avenue, as well as 8th avenue between First street and Valley Street. Property access and parking restrictions are to occur.

This work will commence May 27, 2024 and will take approximately eight (8) weeks to complete (subject to weather)

City of Estevan will perform this work within the current Bylaw regulations and specifications.

Safety

Construction site could be dangerous. If you have children, please ask them to keep a safe distance from the site. We will take every precaution to ensure

public safety, but we need your assistance to constrain the natural curiosity of younger children. Please DO NOT attempt to go close to areas affected.

Theft or Vandalism

If you see any act of vandalism, theft or anyone suspiciously tampering with equipment, signage or barricades, please contact 306-634-1800, or after hours call Police.

Questions and Concerns

The City of Estevan, Engineering Services apologize for any inconveniences that this work may cause.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience. If you have any question or concerns, please call at 634-1800 or approach the supervisor or foreman on site.

Estevan Extreme win third straight provincial title SPORTS

A13

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

By David Willberg

The Estevan Extreme U15 male volleyball team has captured the provincial Sask Volleyball championship, continuing a tradition of success for the members of the team.

The Extreme defeated the Saskatoon Huskies Premier club 2-1 (30-32, 2516, 15-13) to win the tournament, which was held in Warman from Friday to Sunday. Six of the nine members of the team won the provincial U14 title two years ago, and all nine players were on last year’s team that also won the gold medal at the U14 level.

Head coach Bryton Such said the team did a really good job of sticking together and playing as a team throughout the weekend.

I’ve worked with personally with our provincial team program, the Future Selects, so I knew that they had a good team set up there,” said Such. “They’ve got some really good coaches out there as well, so we knew that it was going to be a challenge.”

The Extreme players love being pushed, and they enjoy playing the Huskies Premier.

“It was awesome to come out on top in the final against them,” said Such.

The coach believes the team’s previous success played a big role in the final.

“I think it’s a combination of some good supports, as well as having a bunch of athletic boys who love volleyball and are sponges when it comes to taking feedback,” said Such.

Prior to provincials, the Extreme won their home tournament and captured top spot in a 16U competition.

Up next for the Extreme will be nationals in Edmonton from May 1618. Such said they have just a few practices before the tournament, so their focus will be enjoying volleyball.

“Whether it is the six guys on the court, or whether it’s someone coming off the bench and executing, I think everyone did a really good job of sticking together as a team.”

Estevan opened the tournament by going 2-1

“With volleyball, you have six guys on the court, so when they act individually, it can make the sport pretty tough, but I think that our boys did an awesome job of sticking together, trusting each other and doing their job and trusting that their teammates would do theirs,” said Such.

in the round robin, defeating the Regina Summit 2-1 (22-25, 25-21, 16-14) and the Meadow Lake Heat 2-0 (25-15, 27-25), before falling 2-0 to the Huskies Premier (25-15, 25-17).

In the crossover game, Estevan won 2-0 (25-17, 25-19) over the Lloydminster Rustlers Gold, and they

beat the Summit 2-0 (2515, 25-18) in the semifinal. Such referred to the final against Saskatoon as a “marathon” and a “nailbiter”. Prior to the tournament, they viewed the Huskies as their toughest competition for gold.

“They’ve got some really good athletes … that

“These guys have been put in some pretty difficult situations throughout their young volleyball careers, and it’s been pretty awesome to see that clutch gene really coming out where they love to be in that tight match. They love to be in those big moments and making big plays.”

He said they have been lucky to have players who love sports, and have natural athletic ability and a drive to succeed.

Mermaids wrap up season at competitions

The Estevan Mermaids’ artistic swimming club wrapped up its season by competing at the Canadian Prairie Championships in Regina from April 26-28.

In youth figures, Sierra Mantei took the top spot among the Estevan contingent by finishing 18th out of 70 swimmers. Other Estevan swimmers were Mahaley Fonstad (27th), Sasha Mantei (28th), Rowyn Shier (32nd), Isabelle Pyra (36th), Rory Miller (55th) and Sarah Pyra (57th).

In the solos competition, Isabelle Pyra was 11th for her routine and 14th for the championship score.

As for junior free solos, Sasha Mantei was seventh for her routine and Rowyn Shier was eighth.

The Estevan Bruins had the opportunity to watch players who will be part of the team’s future, whether it be next season or further down the line, during their annual spring camp, held from Friday to Sunday at Affinity Place.

More than 100 prospects attended this year’s evaluation sessions. The athletes were divided into six teams, and each squad played four scrimmages.

The total number of players was higher than in previous years, said head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. It allowed the Bruins to have two more teams, and to have more players on each team.

He said the camp numbers reflected a desire by the club to have more players present, and there was a greater interest from players in coming to Estevan.

“We want to … see a little bit more, and it seemed like players were more interested in attending,” said Tatarnic.

The club already has commitments from a few players who were at camp. Brett Moch, a 6’2” defenceman from Lethbridge, Alta., committed after camp. He skated on a defence pairing with Jagden Taylor, who is another 6’2” blue-liner who previously agreed to play for the Bruins next season.

“We like both of them together. They bring some size and they have a little bit of a physical element to their games,” said Tatarnic.

Taylor spent last season

The youth free team was eighth for its routine and sixth for the championship score.

It was also Sasha Mantei’s final event in her artistic swimming career with the Mermaids, as she will be pursuing architecture at the University of Calgary in the fall.

“Good luck with your studies Sasha. Once a Mermaid, always a Mermaid,” the club said in an email to the Mercury and SaskToday. The Estevan Mermaids also attended the Sadie Caulder Knight provincial championships in Saskatoon last month. This competition included all limited competitive (LTD) athletes and the competitive teams.

In the 10U LTD division, Kayden Pukas was first,

with the Regina Pat Canadians U18 AAA program, and played one game with the Bruins as an affiliated player. Ben Polhill, a 6’3” goaltender out of the Edge Hockey Academy in Ontario, has also committed to the Bruins for next season.

“We knew about him previously, and we were pretty impressed with him at camp,

Eva Meyers was second and Brinley Groenveld was third. Other swimmers were Sophia Vibe (ninth), Brooklyn Saxon (11th), Lexington Beaudry (12th), Ella Biette (14th), Mackenzie Delainey (16th), Ciara Schell (21st) and Jillianne Velasquez (22nd).

In the teams’ routine, Pukas, Biette, Velasquez, Vibe, Meyers and Groenveld were first in the championship and second in their routine. Schell, Saxon, Beaudry and Delainey were third for their routine and their championship.

In the 12U figures, Ava Collomb was sixth and Lainey Halkyard was eighth.

In 12U youth LTD, Violetta Andrieieva was third, Harper Davies was seventh and Ella Rubiletz came 12th.

too,” said Tatarnic.

Another player in camp who has committed to the Bruins for next season is local product Carter Onrait, who was the captain and top scorer for the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears last year.

Among the local players, Tatarnic was pleased with defenceman Boston Tait, who played U15 AA hockey with

“Lots of times, when you get to a high level of sports, you take it as a job and it’s a business. I think that too many times, people put so much pressure on themselves to execute and forget why you’re playing volleyball, and it’s because you love it.”

The Extreme players have reached a point where they know what they need to do, so there’s no point in changing anything with only a few practices to go.

In the team routine, the five U12 swimmers were third in routine and championship.

As for the youth division, Sasha Mantei was 10th, followed by Rowyn Shier (11th), Sierra Mantei (17th), Isabelle Pyra (21st), Sarah Pyra (24th), Mahaley Fonstad (28th) and Rory Miller (33rd).

the Estevan TS&M Bruins last season and is expected to be an early draft pick in the May 9 Western Hockey League Draft. Kobe Wotta, who hails from Arcola and played U18 AAA hockey in Estevan, had a good camp as well.

A few members of the Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins, including defenceman Gray-

In solos, Isabelle Pyra was eighth in routines and for the championship. The Mermaids’ seven swimmers in the youth division teamed up to

son Brock, and forwards Tayson Deitze and Carter Hirsch, impressed the club.

“I thought all of the local kids did really well at our camp, and we’re going to bring pretty much all of them back to our main camp, so it’s important to give those local guys an opportunity,” said Tatarnic.

According to Tatarnic, there was a good balance of of-

fence and defence at the camp.

“There was a couple of games where there was quite a bit of offence going on, and other games were pretty tight and you got to see the defensive side of the game. A couple of goalies were pretty strong,” said Tatarnic. Additional commitments for next season will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Members of the Estevan Extreme U15 male volleyball team are, back row, from left, assistant coach Jayden Kuchinka Chayse Zohner Adeon Sullivan Kris Phillips, Broden Henry, Logan Kolenz, head coach Bryton Such and assistant coach Emma Such. Front row, from left, Cameron Milbrandt Jayden Durr, Aidan Turner and Bennett Walliser

Photo sourced from the Extreme’s Facebook page

finish second in routine and third overall.

In the junior limited competition, Sarah Greening was first in the routine and championship. In junior solo, Sasha Mantei was third and Rowyn Shier was fifth in routines.

Several members of the club competed at the Canadian Prairie Championships in Regina. Photo courtesy of the Estevan Mermaids

Estevan’s hospital receives a

Estevan nurses will have more opportunities to deepen their skills, thanks to a recent donation.

The RBC Foundation announced a $10,000 gift to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation on April 24 to support nursing education. The donation enables the nurses to take courses and improve their skills to better serve surrounding rural communities.

“Nurses in rural communities require a diverse set of skills, so ongoing education is important,” said Candace Kopec, St. Joseph’s Hospital executive director. “We also have a particular need to provide training around debriefing for staff following a critical incident. So thanks to RBC’s support, we will be able to provide ongoing expert support to our staff in times of need.”

The gift is part of the RBC Foundation’s overall $6 million commitment this year for reskilling, upskilling and improving the resiliency of nurses and health-care workers at hospitals across the country.

“As we navigate changing and emerging healthcare challenges, we at RBC believe that investing in the development and upskilling of nurses is critical to improving the quality of patient care and patient outcomes,” said Kim Ulmer, RBC regional president. “We’re honoured to continue to support our resilient and compassionate health-care workers who take care of us in our deepest times of need.”

In February 2024, Statistics Canada reported that Canada’s health-care workforce is struggling

to keep up with demand, resulting in decreased access to primary care for patients. Monthly research from IPSOS also shows that health care is consistently one of the top concerns Canadians have for the country’s future.

Held in honour of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, National Nursing Week is designed to increase the awareness of the many contributions nursing makes to the wellbeing of Canadians. Nurses are Canada’s largest group of health-care professionals, with 400,000 members. National Nursing Week runs from May 6-12 this year.

Man arrested for threatening police officer in Estevan

The Estevan Police Service dealt with conflicts, thefts, an accident and more in late April and early May.

Police received information that an Estevan man threatened to harm a police officer on April 29. The man, who was in custody on unrelated charges, was arrested and now faces an additional charge for uttering threats.

The EPS is investigating a report of a hit-and-run collision at a business on the east end of the city.

On April 30, EPS members were called about a suspicious person taking photos of a building in the 1300-block of Third Street. Officers patrolled the area but could not locate the subject. If anyone has any information or might have witnessed this person and their behaviour, they are asked to call Estevan police.

Officers are investigating cheques that were taken and then fraudulently deposited.

Report from the Legislature

May 2, 2024

Our government continues to invest in the things that matter most to Saskatchewan people –classrooms, care and communities. These investments are only possible due to the strength of our province’s growing economy. That’s why our government is committed to investing in the that growth into our great province.

The Ministry of Energy and Resources and its $53.8-million budget will support our growing economy with a focus on Saskatchewan’s world-class natural resources. Included in the ministry’s budget is $10 million in funding over 10 years for the Public Geoscience Initiative, which will increase exploration to drive the province’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

effective, the budget provides the Ministry of Environment funding for enhancements.

In recognition of the important role of critical minerals, the budget introduces the Saskatchewan Critical Mineral Innovation Incentive for new pilot projects and the complementary Critical Mineral Processing Investment Incentive for new or expanded value-added processing projects. To further encourage investment in the provincial economy, the budget includes enhancements to several industry programs. The Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive application period of $100 million in royalty credits. The Oil and Gas Processing Investment Initiative program has million in Crown royalty credits.

The Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive has been extended by one year to allow for a program review, which will include engaging with industry. The annual program cap on the amount of non-refundable tax credits that may be issued has been doubled to $7 million annually under the Saskatchewan Technology Start-Up Incentive and eligibility has been expanded to startups in the cleantech and all agtech sectors, as well as expanded by one year. Another new addition under the budget is the Multi-lateral Well Program, which will facilitate the development of previously inaccessible or uneconomic oil plays and will attract increased oil well drilling to Saskatchewan.

The budget provides a $140-million Clean Electricity Transition Grant (CETG) to SaskPower for use towards in-year clean electricity operating costs, which will help maintain affordable power rates for customers. The CETG is tied to electricity-sector revenues.

Saskatchewan established the Small Modular Reactor Investment Fund to support the future emission baseload power. The fund will receive annual allocations tied to electricity sector is projected the fund will be a $568.4-million asset for the province.

The budget invests $570.6 million in agriculture, an increase of $22.4 million, or 4.1 per cent, from last year. This funding will allow the Ministry of Agriculture to fund agricultural research and enhancements to crop insurance while investing in programming for producers and agribusinesses.

In recognition of the challenging weather and soil conditions faced by some producers, the ministry’s budget provides $431.7 million to fund federal-provincial risk management programs, including Crop Insurance and Agri Stability. This is an increase of $23.7 million from last year. With regards to forestry, the budget provides funding to accelerate work on the Forest Resource Inventory Project, helping to achieve the Growth Plan goal of doubling Saskatchewan’s forestry industry.

These investments are creating strong results across our economy. We recently received news that Saskatchewan’s GDP ranked second in the nation for growth in 2023 at 1.6 per cent. That’s ahead of the national rate of 1.2 per cent.

This total dollar value of the province’s 2023 GDP is $77.9 billion – a record high. Saskatchewan has one of the strongest and fastest-growing economies in the nation. This record growth doesn’t

As our government continues to make strategic investments into key sectors of the Saskatchewan economy, we look 306-634-7311 or e mail loricarrmla@sasktel.net Lori Carr, MLA

306-634-7311

loricarrmla@sasktel.net

The matter remains under investigation.

Police received several scam calls about fraudulent activity on bank accounts on May 1. No money or personal information was lost. The public is reminded to use caution when receiving calls or messages from an unknown source.

Police also charged an Estevan man for breaching conditions of a release order. He was released with a new court date to answer to the charge.

Police stopped a vehicle on May 1, and the driver was issued a three-day driver’s licence suspension and had their vehicle impounded as a result.

Police are investigating a report from May 2 of theft of property from a motor vehicle. The vehicle was parked in the downtown area at the time.

Members are also investigating a report of harassing communications. Both parties have been spoken to and the matter remains under investigation.

Police responded to a report of two males wearing masks who entered a store in the 500-block of Fourth Street. With assistance from a caller, police were able to locate the

two men very quickly. Members spoke to the employee at the store, who indicated that no crimes had been committed. The two were spoken to and sent on their way. Police thank the caller for being vigilant and reporting this suspicious behaviour.

The owner of a vehicle filed a report May 3 after noticing damage to their vehicle. It appears someone may have keyed the vehicle while it was parked near the mall. The matter remains under investigation.

Police responded to a domestic disturbance in south Estevan. As a result, a 20-yearold Estevan man was arrested and charged for assault. He will make his first court appearance in June.

Police arrested a 37-yearold woman after she was found to not be in compliance with her conditional sentence order. She attempted to resist arrest by fleeing on foot. The woman was held in custody over the weekend and will appear in court on May 6.

On May 4, police received a report of property not being returned to the owner. The complainant was advised to attend and provide a statement.

A traffic stop for speeding resulted in the male driver testing positive for THC on the roadside screening device. He was issued a 72-hour driver’s licence suspension and vehicle was impounded. Officers located a 45-yearold man in breach of his release order. He was remanded in custody and will also appear in court on May 6. The EPS is seeking the public’s assistance with a case stemming from May 5. While attempting a traffic stop, members had a man on a motorcycle flee from them. The incident occurred on 13th Avenue at Eighth Street around 10:45 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call the EPS or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.

A report was received of an individual that is stealing power from a residence. The matter is under investigation. Members also dealt with a report of a wallet and other items that were stolen from a vehicle. A credit card from the wallet was used at multiple locations around the city. The matter is under investigation. Police responded to 58 occurrences from May 3-5.

St. Joseph’s Hospital received support ahead of the National Nursing Week.

Photo submitted by the RBC Foundation and St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation