New leader. Conservatives elect candidate for Souris-Moose Mountain.
PAGE A2
Celebrating traditions.
Frobisher hosts another successful Threshermen’s Reunion.
PAGE A6
Learning about wildlife.
EWF holds a summer camp out at Boundary.
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Swimming fast. Estevan athletes come back from provincials with medals.
PAGE A11
A day of music. Find the Bow Valley Jamboree recap on PAGE A12
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024
Three-timeOlympicgoldmedallistColleenSostoricstrainedandinspiredyoungathletesattheAllGirlsHockeyCamplastweek. Girlsofdifferentageshadachancetolearnfromtheacclaimedprofessionalonandofftheice.FormoreontheinauguralAllGirls HockeyCampandSostoricʼsinspirationalspeech,seePAGESA3andA12.PhotobyRobertGodfreywithLemonWedgeMarketingGroup
e Estevan Police Service (EPS) executed search warrants Aug. 9 at ve locations in Estevan, with the assistance of the Joint Tactical Support Team (JTST), RCMP International Border Enforcement Team (IBET) and the Weyburn Police Service (WPS). According to the EPS, these warrants stemmed from an investigation led by the EPS Drug Unit, and resulted in four people being arrested. Police seized one kilogram of cocaine, 50 grams of methamphetamine, two ri es, a Ford F150, which the EPS said is o ence-related property, and approximately $8,000 in Canadian currency. e street value of the illicit drugs that were recovered exceeds $150,000. As a result of this investigation, the EPS says 38-year-old Cody Klyne, Devon Martell, 35, Brennan McKeen, 41, and Jessica McKeen, 37, all from Estevan, were each charged with the following:
•Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of tra cking –cocaine;
•Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of tra cking –methamphetamine; •Tra cking a schedule
I substance – cocaine; •Tra c a schedule I substance – methamphetamine; and •Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
e above accused persons were remanded in
custody and were to make their rst appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Aug. 12. (Details on their appearance were not immediately available).
An increased police presence was reported on Friday in the 1700 block of ird Street. SWAT members were also spotted in other areas of the city. e EPS said there was no threat to the public. e Mercury and SaskToday will follow the situation.
By Greg Nikkel SaskToday.ca
e former MLA for Moosomin, Steven Bonk, won the nomination to represent the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Souris-Moose Mountain when the next federal election is called.
Bonk went up against Torquay Mayor Mike Strachan for the nomination, a process that wasn’t without controversy as the two candidates were only given a tight, two-week window to get their nomination papers in and have the vote held after current MP, Robert Kitchen, announced he would not run when the election is called.
Kitchen said he will continue to serve as MP until that time.
For the vote, speeches and votes were held in three locations, in Moosomin on Friday, and in Estevan and Weyburn on Saturday, with the vote tally from all three locations counted after voting was done at the Weyburn legion. e nal vote tally was not provided to the members, only the result of the vote.
Following the announcement of the vote results by Kellie Sidloski, Strachan commented, “Conservatives are going to win this riding, and I’m happy to see a good Conservative win the nomination. I know it wasn’t me, but Steven will do a good job.”
For his part, Bonk said, “I’m extremely humbled to win this nomination. I want to thank my teammate,
Mike Strachan. It was an honourable campaign, and he’s a good man, and I’m very happy with the way everything happened.”
He added his thanks to the Conservative members of Souris-Moose Mountain who voted for him, and said, “I will endeavour to represent them to the best of my ability at the next election.”
He noted to the members present for the vote results that Souris-Moose Mountain is one of the strongest Conservative areas in all of Canada, “and it’s important we export those values to the rest of Canada. We really are in need of that right now.”
Bonk also expressed his gratitude to Kitchen for serving this riding for the
past nine years. “I know he sacri ced a lot, and he has the respect of everyone in this room.”
Just prior to the candidates’ speeches in Weyburn, longtime Conservative supporter Murray McGillivray voiced his displeasure with the short timeline for this vote, and said, “I am not happy with the way this has been set up.”
He pointed out that this kind of short window of time has never happened for this riding over the years, and he has been a member of the party for many years.
After the speeches, several members came up to thank him for voicing this concern over the process, telling him it needed to be said.
StevenBonkthankedtheConservativemembersfor choosinghimtobethecandidateforSouris-Moose Mountainwhenthenextfederalelectioniscalled.
Bonk mentioned after the vote results that he and Strachan both had to scramble to get their names out to the constituents for the vote, and he knows it was a struggle for them both.
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
Southeast TechHub (SETH) is set to launch the inaugural Innovation Conference for Economic Development in Rural Areas (ICED Rural) from Sept. 10 to 12. e event aims to spotlight innovation and technological advancements within rural communities, with a special focus on fostering economic growth in these areas.
e three-day conference, which will be held at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus, is expected to draw approximately 120 attendees. e event is co-presented by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network, the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association and SETH.
According to Gordon More, the executive director of SETH, the conference has garnered interest from across Canada and the United States.
“My goal with the innovation conference is not just to engage our local community but to attract the eyes of the world to Estevan as a place to do business, especially with regards to innovation and technology,” More said.
He emphasized the importance of challenging the
AmongthespeakersattheInnovationConferenceforEconomicDevelopmentinRuralAreasare,fromleft,NickPoels, seniorcommunitymanagerfortheCenteronRuralInnovation(CORI);GregGosnell,thechiefexecutiveofficerof GenH2,aleadingcompanyinthehydrogeninfrastructurespace;andChristianBoyle,theCEOandfounder ofShapeshiftDevelopments,aconsultancyfocusedondevelopingprojectswithregionalimpacts. PhotossourcedfromICEDRuralwebsite
perception that rural areas lack the capacity for innovation.
“ ere is a prejudice in the world towards rural communities when it comes to innovation, and it’s not fair. is conference is an opportunity to prove that rural areas have both the capacity and competency for innovation,” More added.
A variety of speakers, including representatives from both Canada and the U.S., will present at the event. Among the notable speakers are Greg Gosnell, the chief executive o cer of GenH2, a leading company in the hydrogen infrastructure space; Christian Boyle, the CEO and founder of
Shapeshift Developments, a consultancy focused on developing projects with regional impacts; Aaron Pilkington, the Republican state representative in the Arkansas House; Nick Poels, senior community manager for the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI); and a number of other Americans and Canadians, including some southeast Saskatchewan innovators and leaders in di erent areas.
“I want the people of Estevan and southeast Saskatchewan to see all the amazing innovation that the community has created and be proud of all that,” More said. “ e other side of the coin, I want the local
community to be inspired to build on what it already has done for innovation and technology and keep going.”
Estevan’s own Je Sandquist, previous a corporate vice-president with Microsoft, is an advisor to SETH and the event, and will also be featured in a special session, with details to be announced at a later date.
To encourage networking, the conference will introduce a unique app developed by students from Southeast College’s computer science training through projects program. is app will group attendees based on their professional backgrounds, allowing for more targeted
networking opportunities. e app will be demonstrated alongside a robot built by the SETH participants, showcasing local innovation in action.
Registration for the conference is now open, with tickets priced at $120. Discounts are available for members of the Estevan and Weyburn Chambers of Commerce. With about a third of tickets sold, More noted that he is seeing interest coming from the U.S. and di erent areas in Canada.
As the countdown to the conference continues, More is optimistic about the event’s potential to not only highlight the achievements of rural communities
but also inspire further innovation and collaboration.
“Our region is a hub of pioneering e orts, hosting the world’s rst coal-powered generation plant with carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS), alongside advancements in lithium extraction, geothermal energy, and the upcoming establishment of small modular reactors (SMRs),” More said in the ICED Rural intro.
“Located in the heart of North America’s agricultural belt, our region also hosts a lignite coal mine exploring coal-to-hydrogen and graphite conversion. ese developments position Estevan as the perfect place for rural innovators across North America to come together. So join us in Estevan to connect, learn, and collaborate on driving economic development and diversi cation in our communities.
“Let’s unite to harness the power of rural innovation for a strong future for our rural communities.”
More information, including the full list of speakers, event details and registration forms, can be found on the o cial conference website, icedconference.ca. Follow Southeast TechHub on social media for the latest updates on the event and speakers’ intros.
e Estevan Fire Rescue Service was called to assist with an elevator entrapment at a hotel in the eastern part of the city at about 7 p.m. on Aug. 9.
An occupant was stuck in the elevator. Crews gained entry so the person could get out of the elevator. No injuries were reported.
Earlier last week, on Aug. 7 at approximately 10 p.m., re crews were dispatched to a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm at a residence in central Estevan. SaskEnergy was also dispatched to the location. Small amounts of CO were detected in the residence. e cause of the alarm was believed to be from a natural gas stove
that was being used.
On Aug. 9 at about 2:30 a.m., re ghters responded to a commercial re alarm in the northwest part of the city. Crews checked the whole building but couldn’t nd a source for the alarm. It’s believed it may have been from a faulty detection device. e same day at about
2:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to a parking lot in central Estevan, where fuel was leaking from a truck. It was determined that there was a fuel tank in the box of
the truck that was leaking. Crews turned the valve o , stopped the leak, put down some absorbent material and then returned to the station.
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
From Aug. 6-9, A nity Place became the hub of female empowerment in sports as it hosted the rst-ever All Girls Hockey Camp, a landmark event that brought together young female athletes from across southeastern Saskatchewan and beyond.
e inaugural camp, organized through a partnership between local tness expert Meg LeBlanc of Meg LeBlanc Fitness and Melissa Deitz with Lemon Wedge Marketing Group, was hailed as a resounding success, setting the stage for future initiatives aimed at fostering female talent in hockey.
“I couldn’t be happier that my dream camp nally came to life here,” said LeBlanc, who has long envisioned creating a space speci cally for young female hockey players. “It honestly worked better than I could have even imagined.”
e camp featured a comprehensive program that combined on-ice skill development with oice training and personal growth activities. For LeBlanc, the most rewarding aspect was witnessing the progress the participants made over the course of the camp.
“It’s so fun being able to watch them come in on the rst day and see all the progress they made by the end of the week,” she said.
Deitz emphasized the signi cance of providing a supportive environment tailored to girls.
“ is camp wasn’t just about improving hockey skills,” Deitz explained. “It was about giving these girls the con dence and support they need to succeed in all aspects of their lives.”
e idea of the camp was born after a trip to Regina with local young hockey players for the U.S. versus Canada women’s hockey series in February.
“ e atmosphere there was electric. … And all these girls had role models to look up to with all of these women who were playing in the PWHL [Professional Women’s Hockey League],” Deitz recalled. “And on the way home, a great friend of mine said, ‘Why don’t we do an all-girls hockey camp?’ And I called my business partner, Robert [Godfrey], and I said, ‘Does Lemon Wedge Marketing Group do hockey camps?’ He was super supportive, and said,
‘We can do anything that we want.’”
e next day Deitz reached out to LeBlanc, and the wheels started turning. Many female entrepreneurs got on board with the idea, adding bits and pieces to the holistic project, and by April the All Girls Hockey Camp was open for registration.
e camp attracted 100 participants in under-9, U11, U13, U15 as well as U18-U22 groups – the capacity for this year. While the younger athletes had a full-day camp experience, the older ones had a chance to take upon group leader roles during the day, and then have some training time in the evening.
“It just teaches [older athletes] some leadership skills and is the opportunity to spend time with these young athletes. We’ve had feedback from all of those girls, and they had a great experience, which is very heartwarming. And young athletes get to look up to girls that are just a little bit older than them, who have some really great experiences too,” Deitz noted.
Besides LeBlanc and Deitz, helping to make the camp a reality were Kim Mayuk, Brady Johnson, Kim Pastachak, Trina Battersby, Sidney Wanner, Tricia Debruyne, Chloe Sorenson and others.
A highlight of the camp was the participation of three-time Olympic gold medalist Colleen Sostorics, who served as a guest speaker and coach. Sostorics brought her wealth of experience and inspired young athletes with her journey from small-town Saskatchewan to the pinnacle of international hockey. She also spent a lot of time on ice practising with the athletes.
“ ese girls are ying. We have some girls that are rookies and some girls that have clearly been playing hockey for a long time. But I wasn’t really concerned with that. I was just concerned that whatever level they are at today, tomorrow we get them to just a little bit higher level,” Sostorics said.
e camp was not only about honing hockey skills but also about building a strong community. LeBlanc pointed out that the collaboration with local businesses and female entrepreneurs was instrumental in creating a holistic experience for the participants.
“It’s better when you work together,” she said, highlighting the various partnerships that brought yoga, nutrition, mental health and motivational talks into the camp’s agenda.
“One thing that Meg said that I loved is that our joint venture was a perfect partnership. We brought our respective businesses together to create something special. So much collaboration,” Deitz said, also noting the support from local female entrepreneurs.
“I feel like we accomplished exactly what we set out to do, and I’m very, very proud of all the women and of course, we have some men in all-girls camp as well, and I’m very, very proud of what we’ve all accomplished together.”
Camp organizers also praised the partnership with the city and noted that they were able to utilize almost all facilities at A nity Place. Sostorics also praised Estevan’s venue.
“Shout out to the facility and Estevan for having a facility where we can put on this and for opening it up
to an all-girls hockey camp. Doing these things is going to pay dividends in the years to come in your community. And I’m just happy to be a part of it, to come down here and to experience this. It is my rst time in this building and it’s amazing,” Sostorics said.
As the camp concluded, the organizers were already looking ahead, with plans to continue and expand the program.
“Absolutely, we are going to continue,” LeBlanc con rmed, excited about the future potential of the camp.
“We de nitely are going to have All Girls Hockey Camp 2025, and I think we have some other irons in the re as well,” Deitz added.
For the girls who attended, the camp was more than just a training ground—it was a place where they felt seen, supported and empowered. As Sostorics noted, it’s crucial for these young athletes to know they have the community and a hockey community behind them.
Deitz thanked everyone who helped make All Girls Hockey Camp work.
“I really want to thank all the women who teamed up with us for this camp. I feel very humbled by that. I’m very excited that every woman that we called to be a part of this camp had huge enthusiasm and agreed right away to do so, that means a lot to me,” Deitz said. “I also want to thank the families for bringing their daughters and for taking a chance at this camp. And we want to thank the girls for making this the most unforgettable experience.”
She noted that All Girls Hockey Camp is a new brand they’ve created, and they plan on improving
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That’s a lot of family members
e idea was rst brought to my attention during my holiday last winter: we were overdue for a Willberg family reunion. Some of my family members wanted to address that problem.
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So during the August long weekend, about 60 members from my father’s side of the family gathered at the Diamond Willow Retreat in the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park during the Saskatchewan Day long weekend for our rst family reunion in more than 40 years. (I think it was in 1982 and I would have been three years old at the time).
Since then, I remember spending time at a homecoming in Tompkins when I was a kid, about 35 years ago, but it wasn’t a family reunion. I remember spending lots of time camping with my dad’s side of the family in the Cypress Hills when I was a kid, but again, not a family reunion.
David Willberg Willberg’s World
Meals were terri c. e drinks were plentiful. e venue was superb; the bonus is we were the only ones on the property for the weekend, so we didn’t have to share the accommodations or the kitchen with anyone.
an and they raised a family in southwest Saskatchewan. I didn’t realize my great-grandfather had several di erent professions during his lifetime, or that he spoke eight languages. I didn’t realize that 11 members of my family have served their country, whether it be in times of war, as a peacekeeper, a reservist or as a police o cer. I didn’t realize how vast the family tree extended.
And, of course, I didn’t know some of the experiences of my other family members, which could only be learned by sitting down and sharing stories that went beyond simple small talk.
Family reunions aren’t a rare occurrence, especially for people who live in the Prairies. You hear about them frequently, especially in the summer months. Or you’ll hear about community homecomings, such as the one held in Redvers during the Canada Day long weekend.
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My dad’s family is more spread out than my mom’s. It seems like most of mom’s side, the Leguees, live within an hour of the farm west of Fillmore. A Willberg family reunion requires a lot of people to travel signi cant distances. A Leguee family reunion seems to happen each year at anksgiving.
People came from far and wide for the Willberg reunion. One couple travelled from New Zealand for the event, another ventured from Houston. Of course, most of us were from Western Canada. e Diamond Willow location wasn’t far from where the family homesteaded. e weekend o ered the assortment of activities you would expect. Eating, drinking and socializing were at the top of the list each day.
With few exceptions, it had been more than ve years since I had last seen anyone on dad’s side of the family. anks to the distance and my lack of transportation, it had been six years since my last visit to the southwest – disappointing considering I used to make at least one trip a year out there for a decade. Some family members I hadn’t seen in 15-20 years, others I had never met before. Fortunately, we have a common family trait leaving us with no doubt that we are Willbergs.
One of the biggest challenges was I spent the rst night meeting so many people, and then had to try to remember who they were over the next three days. Most people eschewed their nametags after the rst night.
But perhaps the element that stands out the most was the history. It was an opportunity to learn. Yes, you could pay the money for one of those genealogical sites and learn about your family’s history, but a family gathering can also do the trick.
I knew that my great-grandfather George immigrated to Canada from Finland in the early 20th century, married a Canadian wom-
But when you go 40-ish years without one, you want to make the most of it when you have the opportunity.
(I can’t imagine the work that would be involved in having a reunion every year or every second year. And I de nitely wouldn’t want to be the one to spearhead all of the work). It’s a lot easier to remain in touch with people now, thanks to the advent of Facebook and other social media ventures, and through text messaging that makes it easier to say a quick hello.
I hope it won’t be another 42 years before we hold another gathering, and I look forward to hearing “It’s good to see you again” more than “It’s nice to meet you”.
As a high school student back in the day, my classmates and I had a very di erent relationship with technology.
Our “cell phones” were monochrome Nokia bricks with buttons, where the highlight was a game of Snake. ere was no internet, no apps, and nothing remotely useful for educational purposes. ese devices were so limited in functionality that they were hardly a distraction – more of a novelty item than a necessity. Fast forward to today, where smartphones have evolved into powerful tools with the potential to both enhance and hinder education. e recent provincial legislation in Saskatchewan banning cell phones in kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms starting in the 2024-25 school year is a response to this duality. As Saskatchewan follows other provinces in implementing this policy, one must ask: is this a necessary step to reclaim classroom focus, or is it merely a distraction from more pressing educational issues?
On the surface, the legislation seems to address a valid concern. Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill made it clear that the policy aims to refocus students’ attention on learning. He stated that “technology has its place, but too often cell phones are taking students’ attention away from what they should be learning.”
is concern isn’t unfounded; anyone who has spent time in a modern classroom can attest to the magnetic pull of a smartphone. Noti cations, social media and games can easily disrupt the ow of a lesson, making it harder for teachers to maintain engagement.
Moreover, the Prairie Spirit Board of Education echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that the policy will reduce distractions and contribute to better mental well-being and academic success. In theory, by limiting the use of these devices, students might better focus on acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary for their future.
However, it’s important to recognize that many schools and teachers have already taken matters into their own hands. Policies to limit cell phone use in classrooms were already in place across various divisions. is provincial directive might provide a more uniform approach, but the question remains: How much does it actually change?
e truth is that many areas were prepared for such a policy even before it was legislated. Teachers and students alike have been moving towards solutions that balance the need for focus with the practical realities of modern technology.
For instance, at the Southeast TechHub’s innovation pitch event last spring, a group of students from St. Mary’s School presented a tech system designed to store cell phones safely during class. is system not only minimizes distractions but also addresses the concern of keeping devices secure – demonstrating that students themselves are thinking critically about how to manage technology in a school setting.
So, that brings us to the main point – the real issue may not be the phones themselves, but rather how we integrate technology into education. A blanket ban might seem like an easy solution, but it risks overlooking the bene ts that smartphones can o er. Tools for research, accessibility apps for students with learning challenges, and platforms for creative expression are just a few examples of how these devices can be harnessed for educational purposes.
Critics of the ban argue that the legislation
is somewhat tone-deaf, especially when there are more pressing issues in education, such as classroom resources and funding. Some question why this policy took precedence over concerns that have been loudly voiced by educators for years. In addition, the policy might be a way for the government to appear proactive without addressing the root challenges in the education system.
Moreover, there is a concern about the policy’s potential to exacerbate inequalities, particularly for students who rely on their phones for educational accommodations or lack access to other forms of technology.
In some ways, this legislation might be a case of missing the forest for the trees. e focus on cell phones could divert attention from the need for broader educational reforms and investments in technology infrastructure. If students are expected to put away their personal devices, it becomes imperative for schools to provide adequate technological resources to ensure that learning doesn’t su er as a result.
Ultimately, while the cell phone ban may help reduce distractions in classrooms, it is not a panacea for the challenges facing today’s education system. It is a step, perhaps necessary, but one that should be accompanied by a deeper conversation about the role of technology in schools. As we move forward, it will be crucial to balance the need for focus with the bene ts that modern technology can bring to education.
In my high school years, our cell phones were far from essential. But today, smartphones are a complex mix of potential and peril. Legislation like this may set the stage for more focused learning, but it also highlights the need for thoughtful integration of technology in education – an integration that respects the realities of modern students and the tools at their disposal.
e Rotary Club of Estevan has started in-person sales Aug. 1 for its Golf Ball Drop. e fundraiser is slated to take place at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course on Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. is year the club has decided to forward all the proceeds from its annual fundraiser towards the MRI for Estevan campaign. e tickets are numbered and are matched up with golf balls bearing the same numbers. e golf balls will be placed into a large bucket and lifted by crane over the hole and dropped, and the rst three balls in the hole will win.
Winners will take home a $2,500 rst prize, $1,500 second prize and $750 third prize.
Rotarians Terry Williams and Allison Holzer were at the Ice Factory on the rst day of in-person sales. Aug. 2 and 3 had members selling tickets at the same location from noon-6 p.m. and 9 a.m.-noon, respectively.
On Aug. 14, Rotarians will be at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course’s men’s night, followed by sales during women’s night on Aug. 20 from 5-9 p.m. ere also will be tables set up at Canadian Tire on Aug. 22 and 23, starting 10 a.m., and on Aug. 24 starting at 9 a.m. Members will return to the Ice Factory on Aug. 29 (starting at 4 p.m.) and 30 (beginning at noon).
It’s the rst time the Estevan club is hosting the fundraiser on its own. Historically the Golf Ball Drop was a joint event for the Estevan and Weyburn clubs.
Tickets are $10 each, with a maximum of 5,000 tickets to be sold. To purchase your chance to win the cash prizes and to support the Together We Can, MRI for Estevan campaign, people can stop by any of the scheduled locations, contact the Rotary Club of Estevan members, send a request through their Facebook page or e-transfer to rotary.club.estevan@gmail.com.
One of the most popular attractions that the Estevan Motor Speedway has o ered in recent years is going to make its return. e track will host Monster Mania on Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. and the following night at 6 p.m. Five monster trucks are scheduled to be performing. Mega trucks will also be appearing. According to president Brad Pierson, when the monster trucks made their most recent appearance in Estevan two years ago, the two shows brought in an average of 1,500 people each night. e track
looked at bringing back the trucks last year, but it was tough to nd dates that worked for both sides. “Based on the success of
two years ago, it is an easy decision [to bring them back],” said Pierson.
A couple of the truck drivers from two years ago
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are slated to return in Jared Vogel and Jason Court, who drove Crude Behaviour and Roughneck, respectively.
“ ey were very in uential in getting us other trucks lined up,” said Pierson.
e price of bringing the tour to Estevan has gone up, he said, and the speedway is hoping to see full grandstands each night. e mega trucks look like regular trucks, Pierson said, and they perform jumps and other types of entertainment. ey will use the same course and perform a lot of the same routines as a monster truck.
“ ey’ll put on a heck of sporting show for all of the fans,” said Pierson.
e Mega Trucks should do a good job of keeping the fans entertained when the monster trucks aren’t on the circuit.
e speedway’s concession will be open during the event. Proceeds of the monster truck show will be used to keep the speedway operating. Adult tickets are $45 each and children under the age of 11 are $25. Tickets can be purchased at Murray GM, High Energy Performance and Henders Drugs. Pierson said he has heard a lot of excitement in the community for the monster truck show.
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e small village of Frobisher came alive on Aug. 11 with the 53rd annual Frobisher reshermen’s Reunion, celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage with a day full of activities and demonstrations.
Despite some concerns about the weather leading up to the event, the reunion proceeded without a hitch.
“ e day turned out to be a great day, with people showing up in good numbers,” said Rod Mutton, a key organizer of the event. is year’s reunion saw slightly lower attendance compared to previous years, but the participation remained strong.
“ e engagement is really good. We got lots of help getting the tractors going this year,” Mutton said.
e day started with a pancake breakfast, fol-
lowed by a lengthy parade, which featured dozens of tractors and other antique equipment, most of which was from the museum’s collection, with a few people bringing their personal machines as well. e parade led guests to the Frobisher grounds, where there were kids’ activities, beer gardens and food trucks all set for the community to enjoy.
Younger guests had a chance to show their strength in a kids’ tractor
Localfarmersandenthusiastswerepreparingoldequipmentfor thethreshingdemonstration.
pull. e activity, in which a little bicycle that looked like a tractor was used for kids to pedal and pull some weights, attracted 22 competitors of di erent ages. e museum was open throughout the day for guests to view the antique collection.
e reunion also included a traditional threshing demonstration using a steam engine and threshing machine, which drew the interest of many visitors.
“ e steam engine hooked onto the threshing machine, and we fork the sheaves into it. en we pull the straw at the back and do some baling,” explained Mutton.
While the event means a lot for the older generation, there were also a lot of younger guests and participants, helping preserve agricultural history and traditions.
“A lot of the kids that were driving [tractors in the parade] are from farms, they learned from grand-
PascalVallieretestedapedaltractoraheadofthe kids’tractorpullduringtheFrobisherThreshermen’s ReuniononSunday.PhotosbyAnastasiiaBykhovskaia
pas, and they help out here [with the Frobisher reshermen’s Reunion] a lot,” Mutton said, re ecting on how the traditions are being passed down to the next generation. e day concluded with
a supper at the museum, providing a tting end to the community gathering.
“It’s nice to see the turnout here,” Mutton added. “We appreciate all the help we get. It’s really nice.”
Party in the Park, held following the FrameTech Classic’s Dave Price Memorial Horse Race at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, attracted about 300 people on Aug. 4. Regina-based rock and pop band Mascara, fronted by the award-winning songstress Melissa Mannett, provided entertainment at the new Binzebo at Mets Stadium in Woodlawn Regional Park. Park manager Maureen Daoust
said it was their rst time experimenting with the format and location of what was traditionally the annual Beach Bash at the park’s Boundary Dam site. “It was the rst time that we did this at Woodlawn. We thought we would try something new this year instead of Beach Bash because we have a new permanent structure, Binzebo, located by Mets Stadium-Lingelbach Field,” Daoust said. “We
wanted to showcase our new venue for events, and we just thought that maybe being closer to town [would be bene cial].”
e park collaborated with the golf event organizers and had quite a few golfers attend the party.
“ ere’s lots of golfers but there’s also lots of people that come out to watch the event,” Daoust said. “It was a little bit chilly and windy, so that may have deterred a few people
from coming, but we were pleased with attendance.”
She noted Binzebo worked great for the event and they received a lot of positive feedback about the venue. Now, the board will assess all the pros and cons of the two summer party locations and will decide where they will host one next year.
Bizebo is available for half-day, full-day and weekend rentals, Daoust noted.
“We wanted to create something that would be bene cial for small group users. We get requests for birthday parties, little company barbecues, baby showers, all kinds of things,” Daoust said.
She also thanked all volunteers and sponsors involved with the event.
“A shout out to all of our volunteers who helped out with the event because we cannot do it alone and
TheMascaraband,frontedbytheaward-winning songstress MelissaMannett,entertained duringthePartyintheParkonAug.4. PhotobyImpactCreativeDigitalServices
to my sta for helping with some of the setup. Captive Oil eld Rentals donated their light tower to us. Energy Electric did some electrical work for us. Dominos Pizza also came
out to provide some food,” Daoust mentioned some of the event sponsors. “We’re always pleased that we get support from the community. We’re really appreciative of it.”
e Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown petroleum and natural gas public o ering, held on Aug. 6, raised $7,208,879.51 for the province, an average of $501.51/hectare. is compares to $7,413,958.70, an average of $599.68/hectare received at the last o ering held on June 4.
One hundred and eight parcels were posted for this o ering, and 96 parcels received acceptable bids. ese bids covered 14,374.288 hectares.
e Estevan area generated the most revenue,
bringing in $4,716,387.14 for 68 leases totalling 5,709.704 hectares.
e highest bonus bid received on a parcel in the Estevan area is $895,408.90, or $2,026.83 per hectare. is 441.778-hectare lease was awarded to Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. and is located 17 kilometres north of Stoughton, within the View eld Bakken Sand Oil Pool.
e highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in this area was $7,217.54 per hectare, a total of $233,920.47. is
32.410-hectare lease is located six kilometres west of the Village of Frobisher
and within the Steelman Frobisher Beds Oil Pool. is lease was awarded to
Millennium Land (444) Ltd.
e Lloydminster area generated the next-highest amount of revenue, bringing in $1,678,241.23 for 19 leases totalling 3,803.133 hectares, an average of $441.28/hectare.
e highest bonus bid and the highest dollars per hectare received on a lease in this area is $419,233.36, an average of $1,556.81 per hectare. is 269.290-hectare lease was awarded to Whispering Hills Resources Ltd. and is located 19 kilometres west of Turtleford, within the Celtic Mannville Sands Oil Pool. Bids in the Kindersley area brought in $814,251.14 in revenue for nine leases totalling 4,861.451 hectares, an average of $167.49/hectare. ere were no parcels posted in the Swift Current area in this o ering. After three public offerings this scal year, government has raised $30,077,586.23 in revenue. ere are six scheduled public o erings each scal year. e next scheduled o ering in Saskatchewan is Oct. 1.
e Ministry of Energy and Resources is now accepting applications to two new critical minerals incentive programs, which will drive investment and innovation in Saskatchewan’s critical minerals industry from extraction to processing.
e Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive (CMPII) and the Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive (SCMII) targets 11 critical minerals found in the province, which are all essential to global economies, national security and everyday life. e CMPII supports value-added processing projects, while the SCMII supports commercial innovation projects.
“ e Saskatchewan critical minerals advantage is clear,” Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter said.
“ e Fraser Institute has ranked Saskatchewan as the best jurisdiction in Canada and third in the world for mining investment attractiveness. ese new, target-
ed incentives will help in protecting and promoting Saskatchewan’s continued leadership on a global scale into the future.”
e two new incentives will support development in Saskatchewan’s emerging helium and lithium industries. ey will also support development of minerals with near-term high potential such as copper, zinc, magnesium, nickel and rare earth elements.
“As we transition the Prairie Lithium project from exploration into development, incentives like these are very important to help attract the large investments that are required to build these projects,” Arizona Lithium executive director Zach Maurer said.
“ e Government of Saskatchewan’s focus on critical minerals has allowed us to expedite our transition into the development phase faster than any other region in North America.”
e incentives are based on the established and successful Oil and Gas Process-
ing Investment Incentive (OGPII) and the Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive (SPII).
“ e government’s ongoing support to the helium industry in Saskatchewan —through incentives which I believe don’t exist in any other jurisdiction in the world — is what sets Saskatchewan above all other regions for critical minerals exploration and processing,”
North American Helium chairman and CEO Nicholas Snyder said. “Support and incentives through programs such as the OGPII, and the new CMPII have led to investment of approximately $0.5 billion by NAH in Saskatchewan.
e CMPII and the SCMII incentives have been and continue to be critical for us to attract new investment funding to execute on our growth plans.”
e CMPII and OGPII will share the same $500 million funding pool and be available until March 2029. Qualifying applicants investing a minimum of $10
million will receive transferable Crown royalty and freehold production tax credits valued at 15 per cent of eligible project costs.
For innovation-related projects, the SCMII and SPII share the same funding pool of $100 million and will receive applications until March 2029. Qualifying applicants investing a minimum of $1 million will receive transferable Crown royalty and freehold production tax credits valued at 25 per cent of eligible project costs.
More than 50,000 Saskatchewan residents are employed in the mining and energy sectors, contributing to a strong and growing economy that bene ts everyone in the province. ese incentive programs will ensure the mining, oil and gas sectors continue their strong GDP contributions to the provincial economy.
e launch of the two new critical minerals incentives will support the goal of doubling the number of critical minerals produced in
TheEstevanPublicLibraryhostedaperformance bychildren’sentertainerEricPaetkauonJuly22. PerformingunderthenameofMr.Eric,he entertainedwithhisinteractive,originalsongs andtalesfromTheBigBookofStuff,whichisfor children.Itwasabusyweekatthelibrary,asitalso hadavisitfrommagicianDannyKazam,whohas becomeaperennialfavouritewithhisshow.
PhotobyAnnaLawrence
the province by 2030 as announced in Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy released in 2023.
about incentive
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By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e Estevan Wildlife Federation (EWF) wrapped up its annual conservation camp at Boundary Dam on Saturday. e three-day camp, held from Aug. 8 to 10, provided youths aged 11-15 with hands-on experiences in outdoor skills, wildlife education and environmental conservation.
Tija Donovan, the camp organizer, noted the camp’s success. is year’s camp reached capacity with 42 campers, supported by over 40 volunteers, many of whom were former campers themselves.
“ is is our 25th year of our camp, so it’s a pretty big deal,” Donovan shared, emphasizing the camp’s legacy and the community’s ongoing support.
e kids had a chance to practise lure-making, spearshing at the beach – which was new this year – and shing on pontoon boats,
catching nine walleye in the process, Donovan said. ey also had a couple of night games and learned how to start a re, cook bannock, llet a sh and more.
Participants engaged in various activities designed to instill a love for the outdoors and teach valuable survival skills. ese included blood trailing and calling for various animals like moose and elk, canoeing, digital wildlife photography, and axe and knife throwing, among other activities.
“We had groups down [on the water] and a couple of our counsellors and volunteers on Sea-Doos. We go out there and we teach the kids, when you tip a canoe, how to rescue it,” Donovan said. “We try to tip all the kids, just so that if they are out canoeing, they know how to rescue a canoe – you pull it up and make a little cross, then you ip it over and put it back in the water.”
e camp also featured
special presentations, such as the Sask. Trappers Association’s talk, as well as knot-tying and basic rst aid by the emergency response team from Westmoreland Mining LLC, and an educational session on aquatic invasive species.
“ ey teach about the invasive species that we’re seeing increase in Canada. A big concern is zebra mussels. ey’re microscopic, and they go on people’s boats. If you don’t clean, drain and dry your boat, they’ll transport from lake to lake to lake. And they completely ruin the aquatic atmosphere,” Donovan highlighted, noting that participants had a chance to learn more about the mussels and how to prevent the spread.
“And then we have what’s called the Mike Hike. Mike passed away in 2017, but we have Millennium Land [environmental consultant] come out now, and they take the kids all
Conservationcampparticipantslearnedhowtorecoveracanoeifit tipsonthewater.PhotosbyAnastasiiaBykhovskaia
through the grasslands and just talk about the di erent kinds of plants, everything that we have growing in Saskatchewan, and all the basic survival that you can learn out there,” she added. Saturday, the nal day of the camp, was dedicated to rearm safety and marksmanship.
“Saturday is our big gun
day,” Donovan said. “Kids go for handguns, 22’s, muzzleloaders, paintball, archery and trap shooting, or shotgun shooting.” She noted that the EWF’s conservation camp continues to play a significant role in educating the next generation about wildlife conservation and outdoor safety, ensuring that these traditions and skills are passed down for years to come.
“If anyone wants to come out, check it out and see what it’s all about, you’re more than welcome to come down,” Donovan said. “And a big thank you to Woodlawn for putting up with all of us back here during the camp.”
Carl Maley
l passed away surrounded by the love of his family
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Owen (Ripper) Douglas Ripley on July 31, 2024 He joins his beloved wife Elizabeth who died on March 16 2020 whom he missed dear ly He is predeceased by his sister Ethel and brothers Ivan and Gar net Owen is sur vived by his sister Bona and his sons Douglas Ripley and Reginald, daughter Vick y Boyle, and numerous grand and great grandchildren Owen wor ked for Suncor from 1959 to 1989, finishing his career at the Nor th Rosevear Gas Plant in Edson AB He passed peacefully in his sleep at the Peace Villa Seniors Lodge in For t St John BC
Joanne Weisgerber (nee Ganje) 1954 - 2024
It is with great sadness that we tell you Joanne Weisgerber (née Ganje) passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday August 1 2024 in Kelowna BC surrounded by her family and her beloved dog Ellie She is sur vived by her children Stephen and Stephanie (Jordan Hamilton); her brothers Darcy (Mar yJane) Ganje and David (Cher yl) Ganje; sister-in-law Mona Ganje; brothers and sisters-in-law; numerous nieces nephews and great-nephews; and many dear fr iends She was predeceased by her husband Richard “Dick” in 2012 her parents Mike & Bella Ganje and her brother Les Ganje Joanne was bor n and raised in Estevan Saskatchewan After spending a few years wor king in Regina as a young adult, she retur ned to Estevan where she met the love of her life Richard and raised their t wo children Joanne was dedicated to her wor k and had many fond memor ies of her 40 some years at Social Ser vices and Adult Probation She loved wor k so much that she even retur ned after she retired Joanne helped educators in the school systems in both Estevan and West Kelowna on a casual basis Joanne was ver y proud of her yard and garden in Estevan spending many hours tending to the flower beds She also loved her dogs ver y much, first Angel and then Ellie, as they provided great companionship when Richard passed Joanne was actively involved in her church communit y with the CWL par ish council collection counting and she especially enjoyed singing in the choir for many years In the fall of 2022 Joanne sold the family home and moved to West Kelowna to officially retire and be closer to her family This move put her halfway bet ween her children whom she was ver y close with Joanne deeply loved her family and they always remained at the hear t of her life
Faced with the daunting task of fighting stage 4 cancer she embraced each day with positivit y: “Be prayerful and positive” was her motto Even until the end, Joanne refused to give up, telling her kids “Don’t worr y I’m going to be okay” Joanne s war mth, kindness, and forgiving nature touched the lives of ever yone she met She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her The Prayer Ser vice was held on Fr iday August 9 2024 at 7:00 p m and the Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 11:00 a m with Rev Thuy Nguyen presiding Both ser vices were held at St John the Baptist R C Church in Estevan A luncheon followed in the church auditor ium after which the Rite of Committal took place at Sour is Valley Memor ial Gardens The family wishes to thank ever yone for the care Joanne received throughout her illness Hear tfelt thanks to: Dr Schifke Dr Taylor, NP Darr yl Loche, the chemo nurses at BC Cancer Centre in Kelowna and the many communit y care aids and nurses who helped with all aspects of care Stephen and Stephanie would especially like to thank the angels at Hospice House for their compassion and care dur ing her shor
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On Aug. 7, the Estevan Police Service received a report of sexual o ences against a minor, related to a previous investigation in June.
e subsequent investigation resulted in a search warrant being executed at his residence and numerous additional charges being laid against the 26-year-old Estevan man. He was lodged in cells for an appearance in court to speak to the matters.
e same day, members responded to a call coming from the 500-block of Second Street, as a domestic argument occurred. It was dealt with, and a 21-year-old man was arrested for breaching his conditions. He was lodged in EPS cells pending his release.
Police were dispatched to the 1300-block of Seventh Street for a disturbance. Upon arrival, the members spoke with the individuals on scene and determined that a 38-year-old woman was assaulted by an unknown woman, who then ed the scene on a bicycle. e matter is still under investigation.
A 32-year-old female from Tisdale was arrested by EPS members on Aug. 8 for assault. She was transported to police cells and lodged until sober. She will appear in court in September to speak to the charge.
Police also received a report of a
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suspicious person and vehicle honking at other motorists. e vehicle was located, and the female driver was spoken to. Further investigation showed that she had been reported missing out of British Columbia. A message was sent to the investigating agency with an update that she had been located and was safe.
Estevan police received 61 calls for service over the weekend of Aug. 9-11. Complaints included well-being checks, suspicious vehicles, fraudulent use of a debit card, an aggressive dog, uttering threats and several driving complaints.
e EPS performed a tra c stop and arrested a 29-year-old Weyburn man, as he was on conditions to have no contact with another individual who was also in the vehicle. e man was later released to appear in Estevan Provincial Court at a later date.
Members also attended to a central Estevan residence where a man was causing a disturbance. A 34-year-old Estevan man was arrested and transported to the police station where he was charged with uttering threats. He is scheduled to make his rst court appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Sept. 30.
A 52-year-old Estevan woman was arrested and charged with possession
of property obtained by crime following an investigation into a stolen room key from a central Estevan hotel. e woman is scheduled to make her rst court appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Sept. 30.
EPS members arrested a 26-yearold Regina woman for obstruction of justice on Aug. 9. Police originally received a report of a woman refusing to get out of a vehicle near the hospital. Members attended and mediated a resolution. e woman provided the police with a false name during this interaction. Members received two subsequent reports about the woman later in the day, and it was on the third occasion that her true identity was learned. She was arrested for obstruction of justice for providing a false name when obligated to identify herself. She was lodged in police cells and was to be released the following day, when sober, with a future court date. No further updates were immediately available. e same day, police received a report of theft from the lockers in a change room at the leisure centre. An individual had cash removed from their locker and another individual had their debit card removed. e
e Benson Recreation Facility was busy from July 22-26 with a children’s summer play camp hosted by the Benson Culture and Recreation Board. Morgan Ruel and Nevaeh Samson were the camp leaders.
Most of the camp had to be shifted indoors due to wild re smoke and later heat. is did not prevent the 15 children in attendance from having fun. Among the activities was Pirate Day, when the children played Pirates and Sailors, deep-sea dived for treasures, and went home with homemade parrots and a Captain Hook hand. e children also en-
joyed a Career Day and knocked down “ re” bowling pins with “water”. ey went home with homemade X-rays and doctor bags. A sports day was also enjoyed indoors with games of kickball, soccer, tag and basketball. Children nally went outdoors on the nal day for the annual water ght and pizza party. Young people used a soaked reusable water balloon to play hot potato, enjoyed a game of water gun tag, and ended the busy week with a pick-your-toppings ice cream sundae treat. Sask Lotteries provided funding for the camp. Youngpeopleenjoyedactivitiesatthecamp.PhotocourtesyofLaureenKeating
Jennifer Kuchinka is looking to create awareness and raise some funds for the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association by bringing a Brain Boogie walk to the city.
e event will happen on Sept. 14, starting at 10 a.m, near Fresh Air Fitness in Woodlawn Regional Park. Lunch will be provided after the walk. Tickets will be sold for a ra e, and Kuchinka said everyone who raises $40 will get a Brain Boogie T-shirt.
“I’m just noticing the generosity in our commu-
nity,” said Kuchinka, who is a survivor of a brain injury. She released a book, When the Truck Hit, that chronicles what she went through after being hit by a semi more than a decade ago. She has invited a lot of people to participate in the walk. “ is is the rst time in Estevan that this event has happened. ere are four other locations in Saskatchewan – Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon.” ose communities
have larger populations, and Kuchinka asked why it couldn’t happen here, since Estevan is a wonderful community with lots of generosity. Her goal was to raise at least $2,000, but she already has $1,300.
e survivor group that Kuchinka is part of will be coming to the event. ere will be information to create a greater understanding.
e association hosts events like walks, drumming sessions and more. Other activities include spring and fall retreats, and
a survivor and family camp. “ is association is all about providing awareness and the prevention of brain injuries,” Kuchinka wrote on the event’s Facebook page. “ ere are more and more survivors in our province every day. Brain injuries happen in sports, car accidents, slips and falls, and intimate personal violence every day. e retreats are informative and educational for survivors, like myself, and their families.”
Kuchinka recalled that when she met CFL Hall
TheCouncil of theCityofEstevan,pursuantto Section207 of the Planning and DevelopmentAct,2007 givesnoticeofits intentiontoamend Zoning Bylaw#2022-2061 to facilitate thedevelopmentofa day carefacility on 1505-1509 WellockRoad(Lot1A-3A,Block 139, Plan 102371060) Thelandiscurrently zonedtoResidential(R1)Districtwhich doesnot allowfor aday carefacility Amending thezoning to Medical Services (C5) District will allowfor aday carefacility andbecompatible with businessesand services offeredinthe nearby West EstevanMalland St.Joseph’sHospital. Theamending Bylaw 2024-2085 maybe inspected by anypersonatthe Legislative Services Business Division, City Hall, 1102 4th Street,Estevan,Saskatchewan, between the hoursof8:00am-4:30pm MondaytoFridayor through contact to Land DevelopmentServices at landdevelopment@estevan.ca 306-634-1821.
City Council, at it’smeetingtobeheldon Monday, August 19, 2024,at 6:00pm in Council Chambers City Hall 1102 Fourth Street,Estevan,Saskatchewan will hear any person(s) wishingtobeheardwith respect to theproposed rezoning bylaw andwillfurther consider anywrittensubmissions respectingthe proposed zoning amendment, providedsuchintentions and/or submissions arereceivedbythe City Clerk’sOffice, LegislativeServices,City Hall, 1102 Fourth Street,Estevan,Saskatchewan, S4A0W7 no later than 12:00 pm on Tuesday, AUG US T13, 2024.
of Fame quarterback Matt Dunigan at an event 10 years ago, she could tell Dunigan had su ered a brain injury. Concussions forced him to retire from the league in 1996.
She also recently read a stat that one in eight women who are a ected by intimate partner violence have su ered at least one concussion.
“I personally know and have good friends who have experienced this, too,” she said. “I just think there needs to be more supports in our community and in
Saskatchewan.”
Kuchinka said she is grateful for her support group and for the sponsors who have stepped forward to help make Estevan’s rst-ever Brain Boogie possible.
“You can’t do things alone. It’s easier to work together … and support each other. I really appreciate the supports this association has given to survivors like me. I’ve learned so much about nutrition and mindfulness. I’m just a regular person, and I’m just grateful for it.”
TheCity of Estevanisundertaking constructionfor the Watermain replacement. Theaffected area includesFirststreet betweenSourisAvenue andeighth Avenue, as well as 8thavenue between Firststreetand ValleyStreet.
Property access andparking restrictions aretooccur
This work will commence May 27, 2024 and will takeapproximately eight (8) weeks to complete (subject to weather)
CityofEstevan will perform this work within the current Bylawregulations and specifications.
Safety
Construction sitecould be dangerous. If youhavechildren, please ask them to keep asafedistancefromthe site. We will takeevery precautiontoensurepublic safety but we need your assistancetoconstrain the natural curiosity of younger children
Please DO NOTattempttogoclosetoareas affected.
Theft or Vandalism
If yousee anyact of vandalism, theft or anyone suspiciously tampering with equipment, signageorbarricades, please contact 306-634-1800, or afterhours call Police.
Questions andConcerns
TheCity of Estevan, EngineeringServices apologizefor anyinconveniences that this work maycause
Thankyou in advancefor your cooperationand patience. If youhaveany question or concerns, pleasecall at 634-1800 or approach the supervisororforemanonsite.
TheEstevan PoliceServiceisseekingapplications for the position of Police Constable.
TheEstevan PoliceServiceoffers acompetitivesalary andbenefitspackage ongoing professionaldevelopment, and arange of careeropportunities. Currently serving andtrained Canadian policeofficers areencouraged to apply
your ability to safely completerecruit training and perform all aspects of policework
•Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or have apermanent residencyatthe time of application
•Valid driver’slicense (unrestricted foraminimum of one year)and good driving record
•Good moral character
•Exemplary employment record Excellent communication skills, both written and oral •Computer skills
Formoreinformation on the requirements, selection process, and the application package,please visit our website,www.estevanpolice.ca (Employment Opportunities). Afully completed PersonalDisclosureForm mustaccompanyeach application. Please submitcompleted packages, including an up-to-dateresume,inasealed envelope to: Chief of Police
Estevan Police Service 301-11th Ave. Estevan, Sask.
S4A1C7
Thankyou foryour interestinthe EstevanPoliceService
No phone calls,please.Only successful candidateswill be contacted
Theclosing date is September 3, 2024
Fifteen members of the Estevan Golden Eels summer speed swimming club competed at provincials in Swift Current on Aug. 3 and 4. Many swimmers won medals or nished in the top six in at least one event.
Isabelle Pyra was the overall aggregate age group winner for 11 and 12 girls with a total of 63 points. She won gold in the 25-metre and the 50-metre y, and the 50 and 100-metre breaststroke. She also took home a silver in the 200-metre individual medley.
Jennika Linthicum, competing in the 13 and 14-year-old girls’ division, won gold in the 100 and the 200-metre backstroke, silver in the 200-metre individual medley, and bronze in the 50-metre
and the 200-metre freestyle swims.
Charlie Pyra, entered in the nine and 10-yearold girls, won gold in the 50-metre y and the 100-metre individual medley, and silver in the 50-metre breaststroke and freestyle.
Elijah Vanstone, entered in nine and 10 boys, won gold in the 100-metre backstroke and bronze in the 50-metre backstroke.
Luke Currie, also competing in nine and 10-yearold boys, won bronze in the 100-metre backstroke.
Rachel Duncan, competing in 15-17-year-old girls, won silver in the 50-metre y and bronze in the 200-metre breaststroke.
Liam Kwochka won a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle for 13
and 14-year-old boys.
Also competing were Mahlyn Bomberak, Shyra Carlson, Rose Chabot, So a Erana-Schmegelsky, Danica Mosley, Sarah
and
Coach Erin Wilson said the small group of swimmers achieved personal-best times and many
were asked to swim in relays.
“I am proud of all the swimmers’ hard work,” said Wilson. “Only the best make it to provincials,
ere is still much to be decided in the races for the track championships at the Estevan Motor Speedway.
More than 80 drivers were entered between the track’s ve divisions during a Saturday night program. It was the second-to-last points program of the year, and the track champions will be decided at the Aug. 23 race event.
Saturday night’s program was billed as a stock car special, with added money o ered for the drivers. Austin Daae was the victor in the feature race. Daae started from the pole position on the grid, and nished ahead of Mike Hagen, who was second, Chase Davidson (third) and Troy Heupel (fourth).
Daae leads the points standings with 227, ve more than Kyle Scholpp, who has 222. Joren Boyce is third with 216.
Sports fans in the Estevan area likely remember Frances Aceron as a talented young basketball star whose talents earned her a spot on Team Saskatchewan’s U18 women’s team for the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls.
After completing Grade 10 in 2022, Aceron went to King’s-Edgehill School in Windsor, N.S., to further her basketball skills.
“I had a strong start, but there was a change of management under the program ... after my rst year,” said Aceron.
She decided to stay for her Grade 12 year and continued to play basketball, but it wasn’t at the same level. She was also the captain of the volleyball team and experienced new things, such as wrestling and rugby. Aceron won a provincial title in wrestling and has secured a scholarship in women’s rugby to Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S. Aceron said she decided
CashSaxon(99),picturedhereracingConnorHason(15)andKruzWilson(27), wonthehobbystockfeatureonSaturdaynight.PhotobyByronFichterFotography
In the hobby stock class, Cash Saxon was the victor – his rst feature race win in that class in Estevan. Kyler Satran was second, Connor Hanson was third and Landon Runge came
to try rugby after she was encouraged by one of the teachers and coaches at the school. ere weren’t a lot of opportunities for the sport in Saskatchewan.
“I found it’s such a different culture,” said Aceron. “I found it so much fun, and it’s very inclusive to all kinds of athletes, so I loved it just from having it as a spring sport.”
ere are some similarities with Canadian and American football in terms of scoring and contact, but other rules are di erent.
e physicality is her favourite part of rugby.
“I love making tackles and hitting … but also running and being able to run into contact is super fun,” said Aceron.
She was drawn to Acadia because Wolfville is a small town with a population of under 5,000 people. She will be studying nursing for an accelerated three-year program.
“It was a really good
in fourth. Hanson holds the points lead entering the nal race of the season with 190. Brennor Grinstead is second with 184 and Runge is third with 183.
Les McLenehan was the feature winner in the modied division, picking up his rst feature victory of the season. Marcus Tomlinson was second. Aaron Turnbull and Tyson Turnbull
were third and fourth, respectively.
Kody Scholpp nished sixth but still holds the lead in the points standings with 230. Steven Pfeifer sits second with 221, and Tyson Turnbull is third at 219.
Gabriel Deschamps continued his strong season in the sport mod class by nishing rst in that division’s feature race, working his way up from 10th on the starting grid.
Ryder Raynard was second, Quentin Skjerdal was third and Leevi Runge was fourth.
Deschamps has 198 points, two shy of the maximum of 200 for the ve points races in the sport mod division this year. Leevi Runge and Robby Rosselli sit tied for second with 181 points each. Rosselli was just three points back of Deschamps entering Saturday’s program, but
these are the top
in
age group from the south swimming against the top six from the north. It is impressive to just make it that far.”
he wound up in 15th position.
Gunner Raynard was the winner in the slingshot race. He started in the 14th position on the grid, and worked his up into the lead by the end of the 10-lap feature. Eli Turnbull was second, Slade Pfeifer was third and Brogan Wagner was fourth. All of the top four nishers moved up at least ve spots on the grid. Wagner leads the points standings with 232, eight more than Gunner Raynard. Sladen Pfeifer is third with 220.
Prior to the start of Saturday’s program, the speedway paid tribute to the contributions of the late Carl Maley, who died on July 28 at the age of 91. Racing was a big part of Maley’s life, and he was inducted into the speedway’s Wall of Fame in 2014 for his contributions to the sport.
opportunity to pursue a post-secondary sport as well as the degree program I really wanted to be in,” she said.
e rugby program has a rivalry with St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., which is another university in a small town. Acadia is a good program, she said, and two coaches from her high King’s were from Acadia.
Aceron said she is going to have to work on her speed and strength, especially since she will be in a sport with strong, fast athletes. With her size and stature, it’s going to be particularly important to gain muscle and strength so she can compete safely. Conditioning will also be important.
“Unlike other sports, rugby is kind of like 80 minutes full out, with 40-minute halves and no stop times. It’s very physically demanding.”
Aceron competed in eight-player rugby last season. When she was in the
FrancesAceron,right,willplayrugbyfortheAcadiaUniversityAxewomen startingin2024-25.PhotocourtesyofFrancesAceron
Prairie Cup for Team Saskatchewan this summer, she played an inside centre role. Once she gets to Acadia, she said there would be positions she could adapt to, but she predicted she would be a winger. She also hopes she can
continue with other sports at the intramural level, and she wants to keep coaching at her previous school, giving back to a sport that has opened so many pathways for her.
“ ere are a lot of opportunities, especially in a small town,” she said. Aceron hopes rugby can continue to grow and develop in Saskatchewan. She’s grateful for the opportunity to play for Team Saskatchewan, and she looks forward to doing her part to promote the sport.
By Ana Bykhovskaia
e Bow Valley Jamboree returned with vibrant energy on Aug. 10, drawing a crowd of around 700 people to Oxbow for a day of music, art and community celebration.
Carole Stewart, one of the directors of the Oxbow Arts and Cultural Committee, described the event as “fabulous” and highlighted the beautiful weather and great turnout, with people coming from all over the province.
“ e weather was beautiful. e music was phenomenal,” Stewart said. “Attendance was great. … e year after COVID, we probably had 900 but that was highly unusual. So, I would say this year was strong, if not stronger, than any other year other than that one year that we’ve had. …And our campground was absolutely full of campers and tents.”
Since its inception in 2010, the jamboree has welcomed musicians and artists from across Canada, with an emphasis on Saskatchewan talent. e jamboree is pre-
sented by the Oxbow Arts and Cultural Committee, whose focus is to bring music and the arts to southeast Saskatchewan and to help promote and provide opportunities for up-and-coming artists.
is year, the jamboree featured a lineup of bands travelling from both Saskatchewan and Manitoba to perform at the festival, with music playing from the afternoon to well into the night. Crowds were entertained with a variety of musical genres, ranging from Celtic to country to classic rock.
e day featured music by Kilted Wind, Teagan Littlechief and her band, En.O.Dee, the Walbaums, Ryan Keown and his son Austin Ryder, e Bromantics, e Uncoolas and recently reunited southeast band Six Days ‘Til Sunday, who closed out the night.
“People were dancing from probably ve o’clock on or six o’clock on, and never sat down until one in the morning,” Stewart noted.
In addition to the music,
the event showcased local artists in an art tent, where community members displayed their work. A special highlight this year was the limited-edition T-shirts featuring artwork by a young local artist, which quickly sold out.
“ ere is a local artist, a young boy in town that drew a poster of the jamboree. And so, this year, we decided to make limited-edition T-shirts with his artwork on the back. ey sold like hot cakes, and you could only get them if you’re at the jamboree,” Stewart said.
Food was another big draw, with a variety of options provided by local vendors and organizations. e Lions Club o ered a roast pork dinner, while other food vendors included Get in My Belly, which is a popular food truck, a group serving Filipino cuisine and one of the local churches.
“ e food was great, and the vendors were selling out,” Stewart commented.
e event also featured a children’s area, with activities ranging from a bouncy castle
to a sh pond, and art activities to a scavenger hunt organized by the local library.
“Our children’s area was well received, with lots of activities for the kids,” Stewart added.
Many other local organizations and entrepreneurs were involved with the event.
“ e legion was there selling tickets for their car, and then we had a jewelry booth, a hair-doing, neck-
laces, natural products and baking,” Stewart listed.
e sel e board, introduced last year, was brought back. e Shriners took care of the people mover, which helped make the event more accessible for everyone.
Stewart emphasized that the Bow Valley Jamboree is not just about entertainment but also about fostering a sense of community.
“We really do this to break even or make just a little bit to have a better festival over the next year,” she explained, noting that the primary goal is to ensure its continued success.
e town also organized a couple of events around the jamboree. A car show was held in Oxbow on the day, and a pancake breakfast was served out in the park the following morning.
ree-time Olympic
gold medallist Colleen Sostorics delivered an inspiring Gold-Medal Talk on Aug. 8 during the rst All Girls Hockey Camp, which is being held from Aug. 6-9 at A nity Place. e camp, a joint initiative of Lemon Wedge Marketing and Meg LeBlanc Fitness, has drawn young female hockey players from across the region, eager to learn from some of the best in the sport. Sostorics, originally from Kennedy, shared her journey to becoming one of Canada’s most decorated female hockey players, o ering insights into the dedication, resilience and teamwork required to achieve success playing at home or on the international stage.
“I wanted to play in the NHL. I was going to play for the Calgary Flames because they were my favourite team,” Sostorics said, re ecting on her early ambitions.
However, she acknowledged that given her stature and the opportunities available to women at the time, this dream was unlikely.
“Fortunately, women’s hockey was introduced to the Olympics in 1998, and that became my new goal.”
In her insightful and fun talk, Sostorics – who helped Team Canada secure Olympic gold in 2002 in Salt Lake City, 2006 in Turin, and 2010 in Vancouver – stressed the importance of support systems in achieving one’s goals.
Family and friends played a huge role in her success, she said, as the encouragement she received from them, both at home and on the national
team, was crucial.
During her talk, Sostorics also shared memories from her Olympic experiences, particularly the camaraderie and the shared joy of victory. Winning gold and celebrating as a team are moments you never forget, she told the young athletes, noting that what stands out even more are the friendships and the journey you take together.
e camp attendees were moved by Sostorics’ emphasis on resilience in the face of challenges. She said overcoming hardships, whether it’s injuries or losses, is a signi cant part of achieving success, and she encouraged young athletes to not let the struggles put them down as they are only meant to make them stronger and push them to improve.
“In order to realize your dreams and be the best that you can be, you have to go through struggles. You have to not be able to do something, you have to get better,” she shared.
Sostorics, who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame
“It’s always the second week of August, and it’s so reasonable. … You get six or seven bands, depending on how long each band plays, phenomenal musicians and talent, beautiful weather, a beautiful day in the park,” she said.
“If people haven’t been to it, they really need to come. I hope more people will recognize and come. We have a great crowd, but I think people are missing out if they haven’t been yet.” More information can be found at bowvalleyjamboree.org and on the Oxbow Arts and Cultural Committee’s social media pages.
e Bow Valley Jamboree has become a staple in the community. Looking ahead, Stewart encouraged those who have not yet experienced the jamboree to mark their calendars for next year’s event, scheduled for Aug. 9, 2025.
Three-timeOlympicgoldmedallistColleenSostorics, hailingfromKennedy,presentedattheAllGirls HockeyCampinEstevan,sharingherstoryand experiences.Youngathletescouldalsohave alookatthetrophiesSostoricswon.
in 2019, concluded her talk by encouraging the young players to dream big and remain persistent.
She encouraged the girls not to be afraid, to chase their dreams and aim at being their best while remaining themselves.
SaskToday and the next edition of the Mercury will have more on the All Girls Hockey Camp, providing young athletes with the opportunity to develop their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches and mentors.
