Merry Christmas!
Find this year’s Christmas greetings special inside the Mercury.
So much support. Campaign by The General Store helps Salvation Army and humane society.
PAGE A3
Miracle on Fourth Street.
Annual pre-Christmas event was a hit.
PAGE A6
Agri News.
Find out what’s happening in the agriculture sector.
PAGE A8
Holts on ice.
Father plays with sons in Big Six Hockey League game.
PAGE A12
—And helpyourself to our gratitude and bestwishes! Thank you for choosing Henders Drugs as your pharmacy. We are proud to be Estevan’sonly locally owned &operated pharmacy
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024
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Donations are lower than normal for this time of year for the Estevan Salvation Army’s Christmas campaigns.
Ronza Reynard, the director of ministry for the Salvation Army in the Energy City, said they were at 34 per cent of their goal as of Dec. 12. Last year they were at 52 per cent of the objective on the same date. Both years the Salvation Army hoped to raise $125,000.
“We’re hoping that as it gets closer and closer to Christmas, we will start to see a few more donations coming in,” Reynard said, adding that the nal days would be when most of their donations come in.
e Salvation Army’s letter appeal traditionally is the catalyst for their Christmas campaign, but this year the donations haven’t been coming through the mail during the Canadian Union
of Postal Workers’ strike that started Nov. 15. Reynard said some people have been bringing cheques to the Salvation Army’s building at the intersection of Fourth Street and 11th Avenue, while others have deposited their contributions into one of the kettles that are located at several spots in the city.
e Salvation Army’s building is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m.5:30 p.m. ey can also drop by the Salvation Army on Monday with a donation and knock on the door.
“We’re seeing more donors coming in that normally mail it in, and it’s nice, because we’re able to put a face to some of the names that we see, especially if it’s somebody who regularly gives at Christmas time, or even throughout the year when they mail in a cheque, so this is nice to get to know our donors a
little more,” said Reynard.
e Salvation Army sent out its mailers early this year in anticipation of the strike. Once the work stoppage is over, Reyard believes there will be an in ux of donations.
“I think some people have done that … got that envelope in the mail and then the strike happened, and now we’re going to be waiting for those envelopes to come in once the strike is over,” said Reynard.
Some people have reached out about how they could send a cheque via courier.
“People are just trying di erent ways … and popping into the o ce is the easiest way to make sure it gets to us,” said Reynard.
For those who want a tax receipt for 2024, the donation has to arrive or be postmarked by Dec. 31.
e Salvation Army has
had enough volunteers for its kettle campaign, which Reynard said has been running smoothly. Kettles will remain in the community until Dec. 24.
Support has been strong for the food bank, with different groups doing fundraising. e food champion contest, which pitted several companies in town, had excellent support, with St. Joseph’s Hospital emerging as the winner.
Money raised during the kettle campaign and the letter appeal will support the Salvation Army’s various programs throughout the year.
Reynard praised a campaign that e General Store had to support the Salvation Army and the Estevan Humane Society at Christmas, and she also thanked everyone who has supported the Salvation Army campaigns thus far.
e Estevan man who is facing 10 charges in connection with a shooting earlier this year has been ruled un t to stand trial at this time.
Following a joint submission from the Crown and defence attorneys, Judge Mitch Miller issued the ruling Monday in Estevan Provincial Court for William Joshua Curtis, who will be detained in custody at the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford.
Curtis is charged with one count each of attempted murder by discharging a rearm; pointing a rearm; discharging a rearm; aggravated assault; possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an o ence; uttering threats; manufacture of ammunition while unauthorized; and possession of a rearm while prohibited. He is also charged with two counts of manufacture of a rearm while unauthorized.
In handing down the ruling, Miller said he had reviewed the reports of two doctors, one that was led July 12 and the other from Nov. 21. e rst found Curtis was t to stand trial but su ered from a mental disorder so as to exempt
him from being criminally responsible. e other found Curtis was not t to stand trial, and that doctor indicated that he did not pursue an extensive evaluation on criminal responsibility. e second doctor had concerns about Curtis’ capacity to understand the charges, and he noted Curtis was “quite delusional” about having participated
in the crimes he is accused of.
e doctor from the rst report also noted that the accused told him that he did not do anything and is “mentally ill to the point that he doesn’t feel any crime has been committed” and that someone else did it.
e rst doctor has concerns regarding his capacity to communicate facts to his
lawyer, because he is unable to consider the charge as a viable or reasonable one.
“Because of that, he is unable to discuss what happened with his counsel in a meaningful way. is implies that he has impaired capacity to even plan his strategy, his legal strategy, to counsel,” said Miller in reading the report.
Under section 672.45 of the Criminal Code, Cur-
tis will remain at the Saskatchewan Hospital until he is deemed t to stand trial. A review period will have to take place within the next two years.
Background: According to the EPS, members received a report on April 8 that an individual had been shot in the 1600-block of ird Street and the armed male suspect had ed the scene. Residents in the
neighbourhood were asked to shelter in place within their basements.
An immediate response included the deployment of EPS patrol members, the Joint Tactical Support Team (JTST) of the Estevan and Weyburn Police Services, Estevan RCMP detachment members, RCMP International Border Enforcement Team members, the Regina Police Service Air Unit, and members of Estevan Fire Rescue Service and Estevan Emergency Medical Services. Up to 40 o cers were deployed in Estevan at various stages of the response. Several drones were also used.
While containing the scene and searching for Curtis, the EPS said they determined he had barricaded himself in a residence in the 1700-block of ird Street, where he refused to communicate or comply with direction from members to surrender.
An RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) unit was subsequently deployed to the scene, where a tactical armoured vehicle and a chemical agent were used to successfully arrest Curtis.
By John Cairns SaskToday.ca and David Willberg
e latest e ort to improve health-care services in Oxbow involves trying to upgrade the Galloway Health Centre to hospital status.
A group in the community has been formed to lobby the Ministry of Health about becoming a hospital. RM of Enniskillen chief administrative o cer Pamela Bartlett said they want to be able to provide acute care services.
Citing the health centre’s website, Bartlett said the health centre has a “robust” emergency room, eight temporary care beds and 12 long-term care beds.
“ ose eight temporary care beds mean that they are unable to provide care for somebody longer than 24 hours,” Bartlett said in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday.
“When somebody goes in there … if that person needs IV or antibiotics, they can stay under observation for 24 hours. If they still need those IV or antibiotics longer than that, they need to be transferred to another facility.”
St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan, the Arcola Health Centre and the Redvers Health Centre are the nearest facilities.
Palliative, respite, overnight, convalescent and rehabilitative care, along with an adult day program, are covered under the temporary care beds. Any type of acute care has to be transferred to another facility with a hospital distinction.
As recently as a few weeks ago, the Oxbow group had been told there would be no changes to the health centre’s status, as the ministry believed the facility was meeting the needs of the community in its present form. But since that time, the Oxbow area group has been told the ministry would look into the matter. ey also had a phone call with Estevan MLA Lori Carr, whose cabinet minister duties include Rural and Remote Health.
“What they have asked is for SHA to provide all the options that are required and needed to be able to provide acute care services, and what it would take to move that forward, whether it’s going to be a change of designation,
whether it’s going to be an increase of sta – what that looks like, they’re hoping to have all of this information in January,” said Bartlett. A meeting is expected to take place in January with community representatives to relay a plan.
“No promises have been made at this time, but we’re very hopeful that a resolution will soon be reached,” said Bartlett.
Carr said the Oxbow group had asked to meet with her in person to discuss their concerns.
“What I had already done earlier in the week was I had asked the SHA to gather the information for me to understand why it’s not the designation of a hospital like they would like [in Oxbow], what is outstanding and what may need to be done so I can understand,” said Carr.
She wants to know if it’s a matter of sta ng, equipment or another issue.
“I think they have a very fair request as to what they’re looking for, and something as to what rural Saskatchewan is looking for, and to try to nd a way to make it work, that’s going to be my goal,” she said.
Sta ng has been a
much-discussed topic at the Galloway Health Centre the past couple of years. Numerous service disruptions have occurred. Bartlett said this is a di erent matter, as the focus is to land acute care services.
“A service disruption can come from a number of di erent factors,” said Bartlett. “Sta ng is one of them. When the doctors are on holidays or at training, that can trigger service disruptions. However, we have seen fewer service disruptions since Oxbow was added to be able to have the RNs receive extra [graduate] funding.”
During the Christmas break, Oxbow will have access to the virtual physician model, which Bartlett said would alleviate service disruptions.
“ e current and new manager is working very hard to ensure sta ng rates are at capacity to alleviate as many service disruptions as possible,” she said.
Bartlett noted that although Galloway was not designated a hospital, it had acute care services until less than a year ago, when there was a change in how beds were allocated.
e Oxbow situation
was addressed in the Saskatchewan legislature on Dec. 9, when the opposition NDP squared o with the government on healthcare issues impacting smaller communities. NDP
Leader Carla Beck pointed out Oxbow’s health facility has the necessary sta needed to deliver care at home.
“But Oxbow residents, the mayor, and health-care workers report that they have to transport patients to Estevan, Arcola, Regina, sometimes even Swift Current, and often by ambulance. Mr. Speaker, there seems to be a simple x. Why won’t the premier listen to the local people of Oxbow and ensure they can get the care that they need at home?” Beck said in the legislature.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill did not rule out the possibility of expanding health services in Oxbow because of the sta ng available.
“We will absolutely be working with the community of Oxbow to understand what their current services are. But I would just say that whenever we expand services, we want to make sure that that’s
sustainable into the future,” said Cockrill. He said that “if there is an opportunity to have some predictability around sta ng over the long run in that community, we’d look at expanding services.” Bartlett sent a letter saying that since December 2023, Galloway Health Centre has lled four permanent RN positions and three licensed practical nurse (LPN) roles, and has increased the casual pool. rough the rural stabilization program, there have been extra shift lines granted to have overlapping shifts which these lines are slowly being lled. ere is a draw to Galloway Health Centre for LPNs throughout the area as LPNs at Galloway Health Centre are working to their full scope of practice with emergency patients, which has occurred as a result of the reintegration.
“Both SHA and the ministry have allocated many resources to rural sites such as Oxbow to stabilize the services, i.e., the additional nursing positions through the ER stabilization plan, the rural health professional incentives.”
A member of the Estevan Police Service has been charged in connection with a domestic violence incident.
According to an email from the provincial Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), on Nov. 18, SIRT received a noti cation from
Rural Municipality of Benson No.35 Notice of Advanced Poll
Municipal By-Election
Public Notice is hereby given that:
1. An advance poll will be held for the election of office for: Councillor for Division 2
2. Provision has been made for an Advance Poll for the convenience of qualified voters. Advanced voting will take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Municipal Office, 370-1st Avenue, Benson, Saskatchewan.
Dated this 13th day of December 2024. Chantel Walsh Retur ning Officer
the Estevan Police Service (EPS) regarding an allegation of domestic violence involving a member. SIRT’s civilian executive
director accepted the notication as being in-scope and directed an investigation.
On Nov. 29, SIRT inves-
Rural Municipality of Benson No.35 Notice of Poll
Municipal By-Election
Public Notice is hereby given that: 1. A vote will be held for the election of office for: Councillor – Division 2
2. The poll on Election Day for qualified voters will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Municipal Office, 370-1st Avenue, Benson, Saskatchewan.
3. I will declare the result of the voting at Benson on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 8:30 p.m
Dated this 13th day of December 2024. Chantel Walsh Retur ning Officer
tigators arrested the member, who was charged and later released on conditions.
“SIRT’s investigation remains ongoing and no additional information can be released at this time,” the agency said in the email.
SIRT said it would not be divulging the member’s name or the specific charges until their rst court appearance. In accordance with the provisions of e Police Act 1990 and e Police Regulations, SIRT will issue a public report within 90 days of the investigation ending.
e Mercury and SaskToday will have more details as they become available.
Morethan15peoplecamedressedasSantaClausfortheEstevanRoadRunners’annualSantaRunonDec.14.ParticipantsgatheredattheEstevan DaycareCo-operative,andthentheywentpasttheEstevanRegionalNursingHome,CreightonLodgeandSt.Joseph’sHospital’slong-termcare. TheireffortsbroughtChristmascheertotheresidentsofthosefacilitiesandtoanyonewhosawthemontheroad.PhotobyHayleyHolt
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
The Estevan General Store took a chance to prove that kindness is contagious, and the experiment’s results are indeed inspiring.
Spearheaded by owner Kendra Sutherland, the store’s inaugural Kindness Drive has inspired the community to unite in support of two valuable local nonprofits: the Estevan Salvation Army and the Estevan Humane Society.
The campaign, which began two weeks ago, has captured the hearts of local businesses and some residents alike, with donations pouring in to help those in need. The drive’s motto is “Every Little Bit Builds Big Change. Together We Thrive!”
In an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday, Sutherland said the inspiration for the campaign came from observing similar efforts online.
“I’ve seen a couple of people do something like this last year, and I thought it was a great idea. I just changed it up a little bit,” she explained.
Rather than imposing strict guidelines or limits on contributions, the General Store’s Kindness Drive encouraged donors to give what they can.
“I was thinking my little two or three grocery bags that I donate to the Salvation Army isn’t going to add up to much,” Sutherland said. “And I thought, well, maybe other people feel that way, so maybe if we do it all together, we can create this huge event.”
The choice of charities was deeply personal for Sutherland.
“The Salvation Army has helped me in the past,” she shared. “And the humane society is just amazing. Nobody loves the animals like they do.”
What began as a modest idea quickly grew into a community-wide movement. Sutherland adopted a tag-and-nominate strategy to encourage participation, starting with three local businesses.
“When they brought their donations in, they tagged three more businesses. And it just snowballed from there,” she said.
The results have been staggering. As of Dec. 12, over 80 local businesses were nominated, out of which over 50 joined the drive and more were expected. The General Store had already delivered one vehicleload of donations to the charities, with enough collected to fill another one. Additionally, nearly $3,000 in cash and gift cards had been donated.
“The response has been phenomenal,” Sutherland said, recalling the overwhelming moment she saw the store floor packed with contributions. “I had no idea it was going to blow up the way it did. I was off for the weekend, and when I got here yesterday, you couldn’t even walk out there — it was so full.”
The Estevan Salvation Army and humane society have both expressed immense gratitude for the support.
“The Salvation Army was just stoked because I took a full car-
KendraSutherlandsparkedaKindnessDrive, aninitiativethatencouragedlocalbusinessestorallyaround theflagofsupportingEstevan’sSalvationArmyand HumaneSocietywithmanydonationsthathavebeen accumulatingatthestoreoverthepasttwoweeks.
load. I couldn’t have squeaked any more in if I tried,” Sutherland said with a smile.
The wish list for the Salvation Army includes, but isn’t limited to, canned goods, peanut butter, dry pasta and sauce, rice, cereal/ oatmeal, crackers and personal
hygiene products. The humane society wish list consists of large breed dog toys, cat toys, cleaning supplies, a large cat tree or gift cards to put towards one from Walmart. The shelter also noted the animals are on a specific brand of food, so people are
asked to donate gift cards from Pet Valu for food.
The campaign is set to wrap up on Dec. 14, but there’s still time to contribute. Donations can be dropped off at the Estevan General Store, where staff will ensure they are delivered to the chosen charities.
Sutherland hinted that the Kindness Drive might become an annual tradition.
“I’d like to make it an annual thing,” she said. “It’s been so great to see how the community has come together.”
Looking ahead, Sutherland hopes to expand the initiative to include other nonprofits.
“There were a few others I wanted to include, but I didn’t want to make it too complicated,” she said. “Maybe next year, we can bring in the youth centre or other groups.”
Beyond the Kindness Drive, the Estevan General Store has been experimenting with other community activities. Recently, it hosted a kids’ shopping night where children could select gifts for their family members and have them wrapped — all without the watchful eyes of parents.
“The kids were so excited to pick their own gifts for mom and dad,” Sutherland said. “It was fun to see them running around the store.”
For more information, visit the Estevan General Store’s Facebook page, and to participate in the Kindness Drive stop by the store with your donations before the end of the day on Dec. 14.
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Canada Post strikes hurt, but not as much as they once did
When members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on strike in mid-November, few would have imagined that it would have lasted into mid-December. It’s not the rst time that we’ve seen a postal strike in Canada. But this one felt di erent due to the length. Make no mistake: a strike by Canada Post employees has a negative impact on our country. A lot of people still depend on the Crown corporation to send and receive everything from parcels to utility bills. ere are still a lot of Canadians who have eschewed online banking or direct deposits.
And there are a lot of remote and rural areas in our country that need Canada Post, regardless of the other options from the private sector.
And at this time of year, the strike’s impact was even greater. Most people didn’t have their Christmas shopping nished in early November and their parcels sent in time to be delivered before the strike. ose who were hoping the strike would be resolved quickly so they could get their Christmas gifts sent and delivered on time were disappointed. ere will be a lot of people getting late Christmas presents this year, and it has nothing to do with procrastination.
Yet despite the impact, it took four
weeks for the federal government to publicly call for back-to-work measures.
e Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered a return to operations on the weekend, and operations at Canada Post resumed Tuesday. Many Canadians were likely thinking “it took you long enough”.
Was the government gun shy about forcing employees back to work after the federal New Democratic Party backed away from its supply-and-con dence deal with the Liberals in the wake of the government’s strike-ending measures for CN and CPKC Rail employees earlier this year? Or did the government’s lack of a reaction re ect the reality of Canada Post’s signi cance in 2024?
As stated before, Canada Post is still vital. But with each passing year, it becomes more of a diminishing return as less conventional mail circulates through the system.
Most people probably took notice when it was announced, after the strike began, that Canada Post lost $315 million in the third quarter. While Canada Post employees were on the picket line, Canadians were getting a reminder of the company’s nancial situation.
Would this strike have been allowed to reach the four-week mark 10 or 20 years ago? Probably not, especially with so many Canadians relying on postal de-
livery at this time of year.
Canada Post employees have done their best to cope amid the changing times. Most of their employees are dedicated and friendly folks who work hard and want to deliver quality customer service so that people will want to come back. ey know there are more options for Canadians to receive their parcels and pay their bills than ever before.
Canada Post is certainly not absolved of blame in this work stoppage. eir decision to lay o striking employees came across as a heavy-handed move that would have been tried decades ago in an e ort to break a union. It helped the striking CUPW employees come across as sympathetic in the eyes of many Canadians.
We’ll see what the future holds for Canada Post. If the federal Conservatives win the next election, they might not be be so patient with Canada Post’s losses, and they might want to take measures to make it more cost-competitive, similar to what the Tories did in the nal months of their previous government.
We can now look forward to our packages, letters, bill payments, cheques and more getting delivered. But there will be further discussions to take place about the future of Canada Post in this ever-changing world.
I have heard this line so often this month: “Where has the year gone”?
It feels like I just took down the Christmas tree, and just a few weeks ago, I was digging it back out again.
Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year. It is a time to spend with family and friends, to make memories that last a lifetime. When I think back on my childhood, the memories are so sweet, especially with my mom. She always made Christmas a time to remember.
Christmases were simple and not a lot of money was spent. My sister and I each had a doll, and mom, being an excellent seamstress, made a box full of clothes for those dolls. Dad made us doll beds, and mom made bedding for that bed. It was such fun and I remember it like yesterday.
e best Christmas gifts were the handmade things that mom created, and she made a great deal of our things, such as knitted sweaters, socks, and mitts. To this day, I still have a small sweater and skirt that she made for my daughter at Christmas, as well as a tiny little purse. At times we go through our keepsake box and smile because it is such a wonderful memory.
My dad and I did not get along well, but I do have special memories of him. I longed to have a horse, and one Christ-
Stephanie Zoer
Just a few words
mas as a 10-year-old, dad gave me his yearling lly. It was the beginning of my horse-training years and something I will never forget.
When my kids were little, I did the same for my daughter. I made her a box full of doll clothes and to this day, she still has them.
Gifts do not need to be expensive, and I love it when I get something that is homemade, whether it is baked, beaded or wooden. at person took the time to make it for me and that is special.
As I grew older, getting a gift was still nice, but it was more important to me to spend time with family and friends.
Our family here is small, as everyone else lives out of province. It is important for me to make memories with my adult kids, as for me the memories I have of my mom as an adult are cherished.
Mom passed away three years ago on Dec. 19, and although she lived a good life, like so many will say, because she was 96
years old, I wish she was still here. Because she lived in Ontario, I called every Christmas, and although near the end she was deaf and could not hear me, I could still hear her voice.
Making memories is far more important than anything else. Spending time together with your family is number 1, because one day, before you know it, they will be gone. At times it can be di cult to make memories with family that do not want to, but all you can do is try your best. In the past year, so many loved ones have gone, some have been so young and others much older, but if it was a person that was important to you, the pain can be the same.
Christmas is a time that can be stressful for so many people because of nancial issues, the loss of a job or family being far apart. Maybe you are battling health issues. Make the best of it. Make Christmas fun, not with all the spending, but the making of memories. Something that will be talked about for years to come. I have plans for some special games at our house, and I am sure they will be talked about for years. ese are the memories I want my family to have, that they always had a fun and family- lled Christmas.
By David Willberg
A freezing rain system that blasted southeast Saskatchewan on Sunday couldn’t deter hundreds of people from attending the Christmas in the Park festivities organized by the Woodlawn Regional Park.
e event kicked o this year’s Festival of Lights at the park. Following an afternoon of family activities in and around the Doug ird Hall, the park held its annual winter reworks show. en the festive displays that are part of the Festival of Lights were turned on for the rst time this year.
Park business manager Maureen Daoust said Woodlawn is excited to offer the afternoon of family activities to everybody in the Estevan area.
“ e weather wasn’t super co-operative, but in Saskatchewan, we take what we get. It’s not -40, so we’re grateful for that,” said Daoust.
e family activities included pictures with Santa, children’s crafts and games, food served by the Southern Plains Co-op, outdoor hockey, and horse-andwagon rides provided by the Milfords.
Daoust is pleased the park can o er the outdoor reworks show each year.
“We have the same crew out of Manitoba that we used last year, and they put on a remarkable show, and we actually added music to the show this year,” said Daoust.
ose standing outside near the hall or watching from their vehicles could hear the music accompanying the reworks.
“It’s pretty awesome,” said Daoust. “I think in Saskatchewan, most of us are used to summertime only for [ reworks, on] July 1st or parade days or fairs or exhibitions that run through the summer. So it’s a pretty cool thing to be able to o er in the wintertime.”
e Festival of Lights has around 55-60 exhibitors this year. Daoust said some previous participants had to take a break this year,
JaseMackgavehisChristmaswishlisttoSantaClaus.
but that was more than oset by some new entrants who want to be involved.
“It’s de nitely the largest number of new people that
we’ve had, so that’s also very encouraging for us to keep it going, that we get all kinds of new businesses or service organizations that
e Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) has released this year’s Conditions at Freezeup Report.
is document summarizes conditions during the late fall/ early winter period. Current conditions, in combination with the winter snowpack, become the initial conditions for the spring snowmelt runo report. is document gives an early indication of areas that are more
vulnerable to potentially above or below normal runo during the spring period. It is important to note that this report is not a spring runo report. Conditions can change quickly with timely spring rains or signi cant amounts of snow throughout the season.
“Even though conditions are somewhat drier than normal, this year is still an improvement from last year when moderate to extreme drought conditions were
being observed across the province in October 2023,” said Daryl Harrison, the Minister responsible for the Water Security Agency.
Despite the general low snowmelt runo in spring 2024, May and June rains resulted in most large water supply reservoirs being near or at normal levels throughout the year and they remain this way moving into the winter.
With the dry two months leading up to freeze-up, most of cen-
tral, northern and southeast Saskatchewan went into freeze-up with drier than normal soil moisture conditions. Two snowstorms occurred in mid-November that brought 10-80 centimetres of snow to Saskatchewan, with east-central regions receiving the most snow. is snow could result in insulating the soil and reducing frost penetration, increasing in ltration in the spring, which may reduce
want to participate.”
e Festival of Lights will run nightly until Jan. 1. Daoust said the exhibitors put a lot of time into their displays.
“It’s a little bit of a feat to be creative and to maybe change it up from previous years,” said Daoust.
While touring the displays, people can tune in to FM 88.5 to listen to Christmas music and greetings from participants. e festival is free to attend, but there is a donation box at the end of the route.
Daoust was impressed with the number of people present for Christmas in the Park given the weather. She thanked the sponsors who supported the day and the Festival of Lights as a whole.
runo ; or creating frozen topsoil due to partial melting and refreezing, reducing in ltration and increasing runo .
At this time, there are no areas where WSA believes that there is a heightened risk of above normal spring runo in 2024. e WSA will continue to monitor conditions throughout the 2024-25 winter. Beginning in early February, spring runo outlooks will be released.
Hundreds of people turned out Saturday for fun activities and Christmas shopping during the Estevan Downtown Business Association’s fourth annual Miracle on Fourth Street.
e pre-Christmas festivities featured plenty of attractions in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of
Fourth Street. People enjoyed pictures with Santa Claus, hay rides provided by Graham Collie and his Clydesdale horses, marshmallows at warm-up stations, street hockey with the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears, Christmas music, hot chocolate and a variety of crafts and games.
Many businesses in downtown Estevan had in-store specials throughout the day to entice shoppers.
Estevan DBA president Laurel Buck described the event as “a big success”, saying there were long lineups for the hay rides right up until the scheduled end of the events.
“ e stores were busy,” said Buck. “Everybody talked about what a great event it was.”
e weather conditions were favourable for the day, with above-average temperatures and a slight breeze.
Miracle on Fourth Street was the second event hosted by the DBA this month. Moonlight Madness took place on Dec. 5, also on Fourth Street. People went from store to store, looking for Christmas shopping deals. Customers had passports stamped at businesses to win a prize.
“Moonlight Madness was great,” said Buck. “Lots of people, again, were in and out the doors. Lots of passports were lled out. It was a busy night for all of the stores.”
Buck expects the DBA will o er both events again next year, because Moonlight Madness and Miracle on Fourth appeal to di erent crowds.
Moonlight Madness is for people looking to shop. And while there were shoppers at Miracle on Fourth, lots of families were excited to participate in the activities.
TheEstevanGreatNorthU18AAABearsplayedstreethockeywithkids.
Thefallsitting of the30thLegislature is complete.Our government wasabletoadvance legislation to builda strong economyand bright future forall Saskatchewan residents, whiledeliveringon therecentprovincialelectioncommitmenttomakelifemoreaffordable.
Ourgovernmentknows that affordabilitycontinues to be topofmindfor many Saskatchewan residents, whichiswhy ourgovernmentintroducedThe Saskatchewan AffordabilityAct.Itfulfills the commitmentwemadeduringthe recent election campaign andaimstodeliver long-term, sustainable support forall Saskatchewan residentsand families
TheSaskatchewanAffordability Actensures that Saskatchewan maintainsthe status of themost affordableplace in Canada to live,work, raisea family andstart abusinessbyimplementing 13affordability commitments.Thisincludesthe largestpersonalincometax reductioninthe province since2008 by raisingthe personal exemption, spousalexemption,child exemptions and the seniorssupplementby$500 ayearfor thenextfouryears
Additionally,The SaskEnergy (CarbonTax Fairness forFamilies) AmendmentAct,2024 fulfills thegovernment’scommitmentfromthe recent provincial election to extend thecarbontax exemption on home heating. This is inresponsetothe federalgovernment’sdecisiontostop chargingthe carbon taxonhomeheating oil, whichprimarily benefits families in Atlantic Canada EffectiveJanuary 1, 2024, theremoval of thefederal carbon taxfromresidential SaskEnergy bills issavingthe averageSaskatchewanfamilyapproximately$400. Due to theexpectedincreaseinthe carbon taxonApril 1, 2025, from $80to$95 pertonne the continuedremoval of thefederal carbon taxfromresidential SaskEnergy bills will save the average Saskatchewan family approximately$480 in 2025. Both TheSaskatchewanAffordability Act andThe SaskEnergy (CarbonTax Fairness forFamilies) Actwerepassedunanimously in the legislativeassembly.
Ourgovernmentalsomadeprogresstowards promises made in this year’s Speechfromthe Throne One importantcommitmentwas ensuring everySaskatchewanresidenthad access to aprimary care provider by 2028. Recognizingthatcontinued collaboration with allhealthsectorpartnersis keytoaddressing staffing in health care facilities.Saskatchewanisinvesting $1.1 million to launch amedical resident recruitmentincentive targetinghighdemandspecialties.Medical residents training in EmergencyMedicine, Anesthesia andDiagnosticRadiology programs arenow eligible for anew financialincentive of up to $60,000.
Acontinued focusoninfrastructureiskey to expandingservicestoevery region of theprovince. To that end, ourgovernmentcommitted to expandingthe Urgent Care Centre models to 4additional cities,offeringbetteraccess to immediatecarefor patients.The province wasalsopleased to announce thegrand openingofthe Martensville PrimaryHealthClinic, oneofonlytwo clinicsof the kind in Saskatchewan offering publicly funded nursepractitionerled primarycare. The Throne Speechshowedour governmentscontinued support forincreasingsupportsinour classroomsthrough ourcommitmenttoexpanding theamountofspecialized support classrooms from eightto200. Theseclassroomsprovide extraresources to students whoare experiencing behavioralchallenges,withanadditional learning spaceand additional staff. They empower students with regulation,communication andproblem-solving strategies whichtheycan utilize when they return to theirhomeclassroom.The high impact individualized supportsoffered bythese classroomshavealready produced positive resultswithdivisions whoare currently participatinginthe pilots
Ourgovernmentisdevelopinga Saskatchewan studentassessmentprogram that will provide data on howstudentsare doingincoresubject areas, recognizingthatreading levels from kindergartentoGrade 3are akey indicatorofeducational success. Thegoals of assessment areto provide afairand objectivemeasure of howstudentsare doing, help guideinstruction andassist schools, divisionsand government in improvingstudent achievement. Now that thefallsitting of theLegislature hasfinished, we look forwardtospendingsometimewithour friendsand family celebratingthe holidayseason. Maythe holidayseasonbring joyand happiness to youand your family;Merry Christmas andHappy NewYearfrommyfamilytoyours!
***PLEASENOTE– WE AREMOVING! AS OF DECEMBER 23RD, WE WILL BE OPEN AT #3-461 KING STREET***
andhisClydesdalehorsesofferedhayrides.
Estevan city council took care of an annual task at the Dec. 9 meeting, determining who will sit on various committees in 2025.
Mayor Tony Sernick will be on the economic development committee (alongside Coun. Shelly Veroba), the emergency measures organization, the Estevan board of police commissioners (alongside Coun. Kirsten Walliser and Coun. Tom Mauss), the Estevan CPKC community advisory panel, the Estevan Housing Authority’s board, the RM of Estevan No. 5 liaison committee (along with Walliser and Mauss) and the Southern Coal Transition Committee (alongside Veroba).
Coun. Mathew Dubowski will be part of the boards for the Estevan Arts Council, the Estevan Art
Gallery and Museum and the Souris Valley Museum.
Coun. Dave Elliott has been appointed to the boards for the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins, the Estevan Minor Hockey Association, the Estevan Public Library, the Southeast Regional Library and the Souris Valley eatre.
Coun. Brian Johnson will be on the Creighton Lodge management committee, the regional water association board, the St. Joseph’s Hospital board and the South East Transportation Planning Committee.
Johnson and Dubowski are both part of the Woodlawn Regional Park Authority.
In addition to the committees listed above, Mauss has been named to the SMILE Services board and the Southeast Saskatche-
wan Airshed Association board. Veroba is also on the board of management for the business improvement district, and is on the boards for the Estevan Curling Club and the Estevan Exhibition Association.
Walliser’s other committees will be the airport liaison committee and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s cities caucus.
Walliser has been the deputy mayor since Nov. 25 and will remain in the role through Jan. 6. Veroba will move into the position from Jan. 13-March 9, followed by Johnson (March 10-May 11), Mauss (May 12-July 13), Dubowski (July 15-Oct. 13) and Elliott (Oct. 14-Dec. 7). Walliser will move back into the role from Dec. 8 until the end of the year.
Christmas 2024 Schedule… December 22nd Service 10:30am ChristmasEve CandlelightService 6:30pm December 29th Service 10:30am
Christmas–thebirth of ourSaviour!
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
After a hiatus of over a decade, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) has been revived at the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS).
Spearheaded by teachers Andrea Clausen and Kerri Lawson, the initiative aims to engage students and the community in tackling the dangers of impaired driving.
e program’s relaunch was inspired by outreach from the provincial SADD executive, which encouraged the school to restart its chapter, and by collaboration with the Estevan Police Service.
“Last year, the provincial Students Against Drinking and Driving executive reached out to our school because we had a chapter in the past,” said Clausen.
Despite initial plans to restart the program in 2023, logistical challenges delayed the launch until this school year.
e group currently has eight members. Clausen noted that for many members, involvement in the school’s musical has limited their availability to partake in SADD’s activities, but she remains optimistic about the program’s future.
“We’re hoping to get more active and visual in the new year when we come back after Christmas,” she said.
e group’s initial activity included a Red Ribbon campaign at the end of November – an e ort to raise awareness about impaired driving and the importance of nding a safe ride home.
Clausen credited the provincial SADD organization for making it easy to restart the chapter, providing resources and campaign ideas.
“ ey send out a bunch of information with ideas and things that you can do. … It makes it quite easy to start up a chapter,” she said.
She noted the feedback for their Red Ribbon cam-
paign from the community and students involved alike was really positive.
“It was shared on our school social media, and there were lots of people resharing, commenting
and liking it, so it was really good. I think everybody wants more of a message out there for students not to be, not just drinking and driving, but also not driving impaired or driving
Torquay’s talented son, Levi Stepp, is making his way back to Saskatchewan this holiday season, bringing with him a festive gift for the community: a special concert titled Steppin’ into Christmas. e one-night event is set to take place Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church in Estevan. Stepp, who now resides in Toronto, recently wrapped up a seven-month stint performing with Carnival Entertainment aboard cruise ships. He said he is thrilled to be back in Canada and to come home to southeast Saskatchewan for the holidays.
“I have been gone since May. I’ve been singing and dancing for Carnival Entertainment, which has been a joy,” Stepp said.
“It’s been very cold coming home because I was just in the Bahamas. It’s nice to be home, and it’s honestly a privilege being able to perform and sing and dance and do what I love across the seven seas now, which is really cool.
“But I’m home for the holidays, I wanted to come home and spread some Christmas cheer in the place where it all started because
Estevan is where I learned the love that I have for singing and music,” he added.
He will head to Saskatchewan on Dec. 17 to get into performing mode right away.
“I will meet with my amazing collaborator, Rachel Andrist, who I’m looking forward to singing with again. We’ll rehearse, make sure everything’s all good. And then I’m looking forward to performing for you all on December 19th,” Stepp said.
He promises an evening lled with holiday joy.
“Steppin’ into Christmas is a show of cheer, holiday and spreading joy to everybody,” he said. “ ere’s a little bit of everything on the program – some new holiday hits mixed with some Christmas classics, some emotional songs, some upbeat and fun songs. So, I hope there’s a little bit of
Christmas cheer for everybody.”
Tickets for the concert are $20 for adults and $5 for children and are available at the door.
After spending months performing far from home, Stepp is looking forward to giving back to his roots.
“I really, really wanted to give back to the community what they gave me,” he said. “ ey’ve always very much been there and supported me throughout my career and just my journey of per-
forming. I hadn’t been home for a while to sing for them, and I wanted to allow them to hear what I’ve been working on.”
Mark your calendars for this heartwarming event, a chance to reconnect with a hometown star and get into the holiday spirit. Stepp looks forward to seeing familiar faces in the audience.
“Like I said, it’s Christmas time, and you can never get enough Christmas cheer. So, I really wanted to give that to the community.”
distracted,” Clausen said.
“And kids thought it was fun. It was very cold the night that we went. Some of them were wishing that they had more layers, but it was good. ey were happy to do it. ey were excited to be out there just spreading the message.”
Clausen emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer messaging in promoting responsible driving among youths.
“It’s peer-to-peer, so in-
stead of adults telling them that they can’t do it [drive while impaired], it’s their peers telling them they shouldn’t be doing it, which is always better,” she said. Looking ahead, the group will have regular meetings and plans to collaborate with the EPS on initiatives such as check stops and with the local liquor stores on liquor bag decorations featuring anti-drinking and driving messages. ey are also considering organizing a mock crash, a large-scale awareness event requiring community collaboration. Re ecting on her motivation to lead the program, Clausen expressed concern about an increase in impaired driving among young people that she is noticing.
“I’ve noticed kind of an uptick in the younger population driving impaired. I think that it’s actually becoming more prevalent instead of less prevalent,” she said. “So, I feel like we need to get the message out there that it’s not the cool thing to do.”
If students are interested in becoming a member of ECS’ Students Against Drinking and Driving, they can visit Clausen in Room 301.
By David Willberg
Chad and Crystal Ross are back from Japan and South Korea, where they learned more about the importance of the Asian nations to the Canadian cattle industry.
Chad Ross is the vice-president of Canada Beef, which is the organization that’s responsible for using beef producers’ checko dollars to market Canadian beef, both domestically and internationally. e couple was part of a delegation called the Canada Beef Road Show in Asia in November.
“ ey wanted a producer to come along, so my job was to tell about the production side of the business,” said Chad Ross.
ey attended three meetings across Japan in the evenings – seminars followed by receptions. He said invitees were beef importers, distributors, processors and retailers.
“We were able to have seminars and speak to them. Crystal and I spoke, along with representatives from Canada Beef, as well as representatives from processors in Canada,” he said.
In between, they had a rigorous schedule of meetings in one-on-one sessions in which they talked about Canadian beef and how it is raised. And they talked about programs that Canada Beef can o er to help promote the product in their countries.
“We also went right to the retailers, and there were several retailers that we visited that had Canada beef promotions right in their meat case. And so, we were able to go there, meet the meat sta , meet customers and answer any questions that they would have.” He was thrilled to have Crystal join him because they are partners in their cattle business.
“Crystal and I both rep-
CrystalandChadRosswerepartofaCanadian delegationduringarecentmissiontoJapanand SouthKorea.PhotocourtesyofChadRoss
resented producers all across Canada on our production practices that we use when raising cattle and ultimately beef,” said Ross.
Four days were spent in South Korea, where they attended a seminar and reception and met with more industry leaders. e trip overseas was a
great learning experience. Ross said they were immersed in the culture, and they also learned a lot about businesses and how they market beef.
“One thing that we learned was that trade disruptions in Canada due to labour issues are concerning to them, especially the
middlemen who have products sold. An importer who imports Canadian beef and then sells it to a distributor or a retailer, if they have product to deliver and they can’t take delivery of that product because of a labour disruption in Canada, it’s very concerning to them.”
If the disruptions occur, then the importers will have to take their business elsewhere.
ey’re also very cost-conscious, Ross said. Beef has gone up in price considerably in Japan and South Korea because of supply issues, and that has a ected businesses. eir currency has gone down, giving them less buying power.
“ ey love our beef. ey know our beef is high-quality. ey know it is safe and they know it’s consistent,” said Ross. “ ey had a lot of questions for Crystal and me as far as the safety of our production practices, and
what we do to raise our beef, and is it environmentally sustainable, and are we humane in the treatment of our animals. We reassured them that we de nitely are.” Being environmentally sustainable was particularly important in South Korea, Ross said.
“It was fun to tell them our production practices that we are doing that really set us apart from almost any country in the world.” Both countries are big importers of Canadian beef. Ross said approximately one half of Canadian beef is exported to other nations. About 70 per cent of Canadian beef exports go to the U.S. Japan is the No. 2 market and South Korea is No. 4. Ross said the checko -paying producers play an important role in the cattle industry, and Canada Beef does a lot in marketing the product and o ering quality to the customers.
Nelson Motors and Equipment hosted its second annual ink Ag event
– a hands-on experience that provided students from the South East Cornerstone Public School Division and Prairie South School Division with insight into the operations of the John Deere dealership. Young people came from Lampman, Carlyle, Redvers, Alameda, Assiniboia, Ogema and Avonlea, among other communities. ey had
the opportunity to work in the four main departments of the dealership. Students gained practical experience in the parts department, where they manufactured hoses, handled receiving parts for internal and customer orders, and engaged in a race with one of the owners to locate and store parts correctly. e service department exposed the students to working with a pulled combine engine and allowed them to complete
tasks such as setting valves.
Nelson Motors and Equipment general manager Jaret Nelson emphasized the importance of the hands-on approach.
“We wanted the event to be hands-on for these students,” he said. “It’s what our business is about, hands-on and helping customers be the best growers they can be.”
In addition to parts and service, the students also interacted with the sales and
Precision Ag departments. ey were tasked with assisting a “customer” in nding suitable equipment and attachments for their land, and then working with the Precision Ag team to set up a job using computers and sending instructions to the equipment.
Shannon Mack, human resources and hiring manager at Nelson Motors and Equipment, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative.
TheThinkAgeventhostedbyNelsonMotorsand Equipmentgavestudentsanopportunitytolearnabout theagriculturesector.PhotocourtesyofRebeccaWestling
“It was truly rewarding to see the students engage meaningfully with our team,” said Mack. “We discussed education options including apprenticeships, job opportunities, wages and the over-
all work environment, giving them a comprehensive view of potential career paths.” Mack also mentioned that two students would be participating in work place-
ments with the company in the future. e success of the ink Ag event has prompted the company to plan similar initiatives again.
55 of the Planning and Development Act 2007, the Council of the Rural Municipality of Estevan No 5, gives notice that a discretionary use application has been received and the details are as follows:
Proposed Development of Bulk Fuel Sales and Storage: High Profile Commercial/Light Industrial District Blk/Par 8-Plan 101951928 in the NW-17-2-7-W2
Intended Discretionary Use: The proposed discretionary use within the High Profile Commercial/Light Industria District (HPCI) is to allow for bulk fuel sales and storage within a Commercial Cardlock operation.
Public Hearing: Council will hold a public hearing to receive any written or verbal submissions on the proposed discretionary use application at 11:00 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday January 8, 2025, in the Council Chambers of the RM of Estevan No 5, #1-322 4th Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan. Written submissions will be presented to Council and can be delivered to the RM office, emailed or faxed.
Dated at Estevan, Saskatchewan this 18th day of December 2024. Michelle Dickie, Administrator
By Stephanie Zoer
Carlyle, a town known for its warmth and festive spirit, is mourning the loss of one of its most cherished people, Ken King, who died on Dec. 6.
King was a pillar of the community, a dedicated business owner, a loving family man and a passionate supporter of local traditions, most notably the Dickens Village Festival.
For 42 years, he owned King’s Department Store, which became known for its fashionable clothing and customer service.
On Jan. 22, King held a sta meeting when he informed the sta that he might need to close the business due to some serious health issues. Jade and Travis Moore purchased the business.
“I needed to purchase the business and keep it
going,” said Jade Moore.
In May, they had the ofcial grand reopening with King in attendance. At the time King, said he was not 100 per cent, but he was not 10 per cent either, and he was happy to part of the celebration.
On Dec. 6, the morning of the opening of the Dickens Village Festival, King passed away, leaving the community in mourning. King’s legacy is deeply intertwined with Carlyle’s heart and soul.
As the longtime owner of King’s Department Store, he provided not only goods and services to the community, but also a gathering place where neighbours became friends. His store was more than just a business, it re ected his commitment to Carlyle and its residents.
Even after illness forced him to step away, the im-
pact of his years of hard work remained evident in the community he loved so much.
Word travelled quickly of King’s passing and upon entering the Store, his top hat and tie sat idle by the cash register in remembrance of a man who loved this time of year.
As the town’s festival continued, his absence was deeply felt by many, but his presence was honoured in the laughter, joy and unity that the event inspires. Many people have come forward with kind words about him.
Moore began working for King in September 2023, and she said she never felt so respected and valued as an employee. King always put his employees and their families rst, no matter what.
“I really believe that he is the example of what a
KenKingʼstophatandtiesatidleatKingʼsDepartmentStoreduringthe CarlyleDickensVillageFestivalinremembranceofamanwhoalways hadakindwordforeveryone.PhotobyStephanieZoer
Community Futures Sunrise is inviting community leaders, advocates, and others to a community champions meeting, which is designed to foster collaboration and empower individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact in the southeast.
e event will happen on Jan. 13, 2025, starting at 1 p.m. at the Carlyle Memorial Hall, and is for any interested citizens of urban and rural municipalities and First Nations in southeast Saskatchewan.
“ is event is a platform for engaging discussions, innovative ideas, and collaborative regional economic development opportunities,” states a press release for the event. “Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share their experiences and contribute to shaping a stronger, more resilient region.” Attendance is free but people are asked to pre-register.
“Join us at the community champion meeting and be part of the change you want to see in your community and the entire southeast. Together, we can make a di erence,” states the news release.
perfect boss should be, and now I have his example to follow,” said Moore.
“ ere is a quote that goes something like this,” she said. “ ey won’t remember what you said, what clothes you wore, what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel. And for that I know Ken’s footprints on us all will be remembered forever,” said Moore.
King was always ready with a kind word, a friendly smile, and treated everyone the same way. He was a huge supporter of local and area events and often was seen giving donations and attending events.
Within a few hours, hundreds of people posted messages on King’s Department Store’s Facebook page, o ering their condolences and sharing memories about King. e store also paid tribute to him.
“ e legacy of King’s Department Store was created by Ken’s outstanding morals – putting the customers and sta rst, and giving us all the amazing King’s experience.
Businesses recalled the sight of him, hurrying down the street with racks of clothes while sporting his big smile and wearing his red sneakers to set up for sale known as e Big One.
Carlyle Mayor Jen Sedor said: “ e community of Carlyle is saddened by the loss of our beloved community business leader, Ken King.
“Ken never forgot a face and could always be count-
KenKingʼsfavouriteweekendoftheyearwasthe CarlyleDickensVillageFestival,andhemadesure tovisiteverybusinessduringthistimewithasmile andwarmhello.PhotocourtesyofJadeMoore
ed on for a friendly greeting or words of encouragement,” she said. “Ken, without a doubt, raised Carlyle up as a must-visit tourist destination in Saskatchewan.
“We must never forget his kind nature and spirit that so easily resonated with those who knew him. Our job now is to continue the legacy that Ken built, one of service, kindness and consideration in each other.
“We will miss you Ken; your presence on Main Street, Carlyle will remain for generations to come,” Sedor said. A memorial service was held on Dec. 12 at Arcola’s Prairie Place Hall.
since “When we go places, we always meet newpeople,and learnhow to raise cattle and build your ownherd,” said Bigney. Her time in with the Carnduffand Area Beef 4-H Club allowedher to showcattle in Brandon at the Royal Winter Fair.Theyhavealso beentoCanadianWestern
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e Royal Canadian Legion Estevan Branch No. 60 gathered on Dec. 11 for its annual past-presidents’ supper, an event that brought together members and supporters to re ect on the past year’s achievements and outline future goals.
Held at the legion hall, the evening celebrated the branch’s legacy while addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Jim (Frosty) Forrest, who returned as president for another term, delivered an address that summarized the activities, achievements and commitment of the branch, particularly in supporting veterans and contributing to the community. Forrest expressed gratitude for the dedication of the members and volunteers who have kept the organization thriving.
“ e past year has brought some challenges as well as rewards. As always, our branch has stayed active in the community, providing colour parties for various events, such as provincial minor ball tournaments, the Canada Day
parade in Bienfait, and, of course, the annual United Way Telethon,” Forrest said in his address, listing many community events the legion participated in.
Forrest highlighted the branch’s signi cant donations to local organizations, which have been possible through fundraising events and support from the Estevan community.
“We were able to make substantial donations to the veterans program and support many other worthwhile causes,” he pointed out.
Over the past year, branch No. 60 has distributed over $74,000 to various groups. Community donations went to the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s MRI campaign and other health initiatives, youth sports team, culture organizations, senior living facilities and more, with over $46,500 in total. Donations from the legion’s poppy fund exceeded $27,000 and were directed towards local army and air cadets, as well as various initiatives supporting veterans and more.
“ ese donations are a way for us to give back to the community that
MelMurraywaselectedassecondvicepresident,defeatinglegionmemberGeoff Thiessen,whotookonanexecutiveposition.
supports us,” Forrest said. “Every dollar we raise stays here, helping people in Estevan and making a di erence in their lives.”
Forrest also noted that the legion worked on improving facilities, thanks to support from local businesses and the provincial government.
“ e clubroom received a new paint job. … e clubroom also received two new pool tables and lights. e Memorial Hall has a new overhang over the front door, and we will soon have the new Bingo machine up and running, as soon as we get the ashboard,” Forrest said.
e president also emphasized the importance of community partnerships and how they enable the branch to extend its impact. From organizing the annual Poppy Campaign to hosting events that bring people together, the legion remained a busy community centre throughout the year.
Forrest pointed out the hall rentals have been up, and they also saw quite a bit of activity at the events and activities they organize, which helps generate funds to keep the doors
open and support the community in return.
e legion’s truck ra e, currently underway with a draw for a Ford truck and cash prizes to take place on Dec. 31, remains the organization’s main fundraiser of the year. Forrest acknowledged the volunteers who help make the fundraiser a success.
e year also brought some challenges. e main problem the legion faced was the aftermath of a storm, which left them facing the need to do major fundraising to replace the roof on the halls.
“Our roof on our halls was severely damaged by hail, and will need to be replaced in the spring,” Forrest said. “ ere will be a huge cost to this, and we will need to do some creative fundraising to make this happen.”
Secretary and treasurer Bernice Forrest then presented the annual nancial report.
Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen and Estevan-Big Muddy MLA Lori Carr sent in their greetings, and Coun. Dave Elliott spoke to guests on behalf of the City of Estevan.
Jim(Frosty)ForrestistheRoyalCanadianLegion Estevanbranch’spresidentforanotherterm.
PhotosbyAnastasiiaBykhovskaia
“You all know you’re an incredible part of this community,” Elliott said. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Members then went over executive reports. An election was needed only for the second vice-president position, for which Mel Murray defeated Geo iessen.
e rest of the branch No. 60 executive for the next year is rst vice-president Willie Forrest, past-president Lyle Dukart, sergeantat-arms Willie Forrest, assistant sergeant-at-arms Quentin Dosch and chap-
lain John Mohan. Two-year executive members are Colleen Jensen, Darcy Williams, John Greenhough, Kimberly Ball, Dave Elliott and iessen. One-year executives are George Kingdon, Blaine Millions, Terry Torgunrud and Gloria Leitch. Two positions were vacant.
e event dignitary, Zone 1 commander Nedra Clark, then installed all new members.
e evening also saw a shared meal, as well as traditional toasts, anthems and ceremonies.
QuentinDoschwasinstalledasthe legion’snewexecutivemember.
Saskatchewan’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating after a White Bear First Nations man died while in police custody. According to a news release from the Saskatch-
ewan RCMP, at approximately 12;20 a.m. on Dec. 13, the Carlyle RCMP received a report of an assault
at a residence at White Bear. O cers responded and the RCMP said two injured people were located. One, an adult male, was taken to hospital with injuries described by the RCMP as serious in nature. Another, an adult female, was taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. O cers arrested a man at the scene without incident.
A 49-year-old man was taken to the Carlyle detach-
ment and lodged in cells. According to the RCMP, he was monitored by sta throughout the night.
At approximately 9 a.m. on Dec. 13, the RCMP said an o cer observed the man in medical distress. ey immediately began providing rst aid and continued until EMS arrived. e man was declared deceased by EMS. His family has been noti ed.
As required by e Police Act, the Saskatchewan
RCMP noti ed the Saskatchewan SIRT, which will investigate the Saskatchewan RCMP’s interaction with the deceased and the circumstances of his death.
e Carlyle detachment will also conduct a separate investigation into the original assault report, with the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s General Investigation Section.
SaskToday.ca will have further details as they become available.
e second man accused in the death of Talon Lonethunder on the White Bear First Nations earlier this month has been arrested.
e Saskatchewan RCMP said Saturday afternoon that Dwayne Maxie was located and arrested by the Regina Police Service on Dec. 12. Maxie was wanted by the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes unit for one count of manslaughter under the Criminal Code.
Maxie was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Estevan Provincial Court on Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m.
e co-accused in the case, Jeremy
Whitebear, has been charged with second-degree murder. He was arrested on Dec. 7 at White Bear and made his rst court appearance two days later. He remains in custody.
Lonethunder, who was from White Bear and living in Coronach, was located deceased at the White Bear FN on Dec. 3. Whitebear and Maxie were charged two days later. e RCMP says its major crimes unit continues to investigate.
SaskToday will continue to have updates on this story as they become available.
Donald Lloyd Pontius 1942 - 2024 It is with profound sadness that we announce Don s passing on December 8 2024 at the age of 82 years He was predeceased by his mother and father Elizabeth (nee Henry) and Ralph Pontius; brothers and their spouses George
When little kids come to your door on Halloween night, you know they are pretending to be something they are not.
You do not expect that the 10-year-old dressed as a mechanic will change the oil in your car. You can be fairly certain that the pirate on your porch will not force his way in and plunder all your jewellery. ere are times when pretending is not only ne but expected.
On the other hand, sometimes it matters that you do more than just look the part. If you are going for surgery, the minimum expectation is that your doctor attended medical school. If you are getting on an airplane, it is nice to know that the pilot has own a plane before.
In these cases, owning a stethoscope or a fancy pilot’s suit is not enough. Sometimes it matters that you are who you say you are. at is the point in Ephesians chapters 4 and 5.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
In theestateofHelen AnnPersson,lateof Hirsch,Saskatchewan, deceased
Allclaimsagainst the aboveestate, duly verifiedbystatutory declarationand with particulars andvaluation of security held,ifany, must be sent to the undersignedbeforethe 20th dayofJanuary, 2025
Moffat &Company
Barristers &Solicitors 5First Avenue NE Weyburn, SK S4H 0M6
Paul tells his readers that if they are going to live the Christian life, some real changes are required. Speci cally, he says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put o your old self… and to put on your new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
A partial list of what we are to put o would include falsehood, anger, stealing, slander and bitterness. We are to put on things like kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love (see Ephesians 4:25-5:8 for the complete list). ese qualities are important, not because we are trying to earn
Tim Pippus of the Estevan Church of Christ
anything (see Ephesians 2:8-9), but because we want to respond to God’s grace and represent him well. People expect Christians to be real. Too often I have heard people say, “I would be a Christian, but I knew a guy who went to church, and he was one of the meanest people I ever knew.” While we will never be perfect, we should at least be sincere. People ought to see Christ living in us and, when they do not, we need to be ready to apologize and do better. When the outcome does not matter, it is OK to pretend. However, if the issue is important, it is essential to be who you claim to be.
Estevan city council approved several chemical plant tenders for the water treatment plant during the Dec. 9 meeting.
Border Chemical Company Ltd. was awarded the aluminum sulphate tender plant for $104,370, or $497 per tonne; ClearTech Inc. was awarded the liquid chorine tender for $44,189.04 ($2.32 per kilogram) and the potassium permanganate (KMnO4) tender for $15,592.50 ($5.94 per kilogram); and KlearWater received the ammonium sulphate tender for $18,270 ($3.48 per kilogram) and the hydro uosilicic acid ( uoride) tender for $15,996.96 ($3.68 per kilogram).
Matthew Angell, the water and wastewater services manager for the city, noted in his report the aluminum sulphate was down 2.7 per cent, chlorine dropped 0.8 per cent, KMnO4 decreased 12.5 per cent and ammonium sulphate declined 3.3 per cent, while uoride was up 5.8 per cent.
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Council approved a new policy for tax enforcement fees and timelines. City assessor Trina Sieben said the document will establish and set a procedure, outline charges associated with each enforcement step, and maintain the most e ective method of tax collection, while keeping a reasonable payment schedule for Estevan residents. e policy is regulated by three provincial acts.
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Turnbull Excavating was awarded the crushed reclaimed asphalt tender for $96,658.80. e work involves crushing recycled asphalt chunks to one-inch gravel sand that will be
stockpiled in the city maintenance yard.
Hayley DeConinck, the city’s roads and drainage manager, said the roads and drainage division uses reclaimed asphalt for a variety of di erent jobs, including temporary dust control in back alleys, dig sites and gravel roads. She also noted the material packs well in the summer months, creating a good base.
“ is material will last many years as there is a large amount to be crushed. e last time it was crushed was 2018,” she said.
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Council will continue to follow the same procedure for members’ remuneration.
In a report to council, city clerk Judy Pilloud said the previous council established a formula to tie the wages of mayor and councillor to a percentage of MLA salaries, eliminating the need for an evaluation process. e city previously had a committee that met well before the election to determine council wages.
e mayor’s salary will be set at 55 per cent of the MLA base salary and adjusted annually. Councillor stipends will be at one-third of the mayor’s wage.
Mayor and councillors will be paid a full-day per diem or a half-day per diem for attending any business on behalf of the city that requires that individual to take time o from work.
e member will also be
compensated for attending between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for meetings and approved conferences. Committee meetings do not qualify for reimbursement unless out-of-town travel is required. Per diem rates are established as 2 1/2 times the rate of the Saskatchewan minimum wage. If the mayor misses more than three meetings in a calendar year, he will be docked $400, while a councillor would be docked $200. is excludes meetings missed due to personal or family illness, if a member is away on council business or has a leave approved under the council absence policy. ***
Two building permits worth $670,000 were issued in November, bringing the total for the year to 41 permits worth $9,968,257. One permit for November was a commercial project worth $550,000, while the other was a miscellaneous permit worth $120,000. *** Coun. Shelly Veroba and Coun. Matthew Dubowski asked about garbage pickup during the inquiries portion of the meeting. Veroba noted there have been delays with pickup recently and she wanted to know how these issues are communicated to a ected ratepayers. Dubowski asked about garbage bin replacements. Some people have told him they wait nearly a year before having their bins replaced. He was told there has been a spike in bin replacements, and GFL Environmental was struggling to keep pace. He wanted to know if there was anything GFL could do to expedite the process. City manager Je Ward said any cart replacement issues should be forwarded to the company, and the issue can be brought up during contract renewal.
| Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | www.SASKTODAY.ca
It was a special night for the Carlyle Cougars and the Holt family during the Cougars’ 7-3 win over the Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings on Friday night.
Fifty-one-year-old Todd Holt skated on a line with his sons Kaelan and Taysen. e trio combined on the Cougars’ fth goal, scored by Taysen and assisted by Todd and Kaelen. Todd and Kaelan Holt each nished with two assists, while Taysen had a goal and a helper.
Todd Holt was a star forward for the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos from 1989-1994, and remains the team’s all-time leading scorer. He was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the
1993 NHL Entry Draft, played pro hockey in North America and Europe, and upon returning to North America, played in the Big Six and led the league in scoring.
His sons have been in the league for several years and are in their rst season playing with the Cougars. Todd Holt said after the game he was “incredibly grateful” to the Cougars and everyone who gave him the “great honour” of playing with his sons.
“I am always telling young players or people I know to live in the moment and cherish what you’re going through. Well I took my own advice and I had the day of my life,” he said. When he arrived at the
BroganBarbervolunteeredtocleantheiceatthe CarnduffRedDevilsTeddyBearToss.
PhotobyRachelleApperley
rink and met all the Carlyle players, he felt like he was 16 again, and it was great to be on the ice with them.
“Getting a feel for the ice again, alongside my boys, was nerve-wracking. I know I am nowhere near the player I was but like any father I didn’t want to embarrass them or let them down. We were on the starting lineup and as many times as I heard my name announced, it had a di erent ring to it hearing it announced after No. 74 Kaelan Holt and No. 43 Taysen Holt.”
Being in on a goal with his two sons is a scenario he has played out in his mind “a million times since they were children”, he said. ey embraced on the bench after the goal was announced and the players were very respectful.
Ben Johnstone scored three times and added two assists for Carlyle. Josh Romanyk, Adrien Riddell and Riley Niven also scored. Landon Audet was in goal.
Taylor Hoedel was in on all three Oil Kings’ goals with two goals and an assist. Drew Czerwonka also scored. Dylan Dedecker was their goalie. Also on Friday night, the Oxbow Huskies edged the Carndu Red Devils 3-2. Colton Schell scored twice for Oxbow, including the game-winning goal with 56 seconds to play in the third. Liam Rutten also scored.
Ty Stovin and Ben Hiltz scored for Carndu .
skatedonthesamelinefortheCarlyle CougarsonFridaynight.PhotosourcedfromToddHoltʼsFacebookpage
Zack Miller (Oxbow) and Cody Dumaine (Carndu ) were the goalies. ree games were played Saturday, including the Redvers Rockets beating the Cougars 4-3. Presten Kopeck had two goals for Redvers, and Kenton Miller and Naton Miller also scored. omas Bauche was the Redvers netminder. Romanyk scored twice for Carlyle and Brett Turgeon also scored. Curtis Meger was in goal.
Carndu knocked o the Midale Mustangs 7-1. Cooper Bowman had two goals and an assist for Carndu , while Strahn Douglas and Nico Anderson each had three help-
ers. Stovin, Hiltz, Brandon Trask and Matthew Plews also scored. Mason Plews was in goal. Tate Kasick scored for Midale. Carver Ottenbreit was their goalie. e game was the Red Devils’ annual Teddy Bear Toss night. e bears collected after the Red Devils scored their rst goal will be directed to the Carndu and Area Santa Cause. All students at the Carndu Education Complex received free admission to the game thanks to the Carndu Recreation Board. In Saturday’s other game, the Moosomin Rangers defeated the Wawota Flyers 6-2.
for Moosomin.
Devin Stewart Nico Muskego had Wawota’s goals.
Kyler Beckett (Moosomin) and Jayden Hodson (Wawota) were in goal. Wawota is at Redvers on Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. Two games are set for Dec. 20: Carndu and Redvers and Oxbow at Moosomin. ose games will start at 8 p.m. e following night, Carndu is at Oxbow, Midale is at Carlyle and Kipling-Windthorst is at Wawota, with all games starting at 7 p.m.
By David Willberg
e Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins went 1-1 in their weekend home-and-home series with the Melville Millionaires.
Estevan rallied from a 2-1 de cit in the third period to defeat Melville 5-3 on Friday at A nity Place, but then lost 2-0 in Melville on Saturday. e two teams were tied at 1-1 after the rst period, with Edward Knittig scoring for Melville 7:36 into the rst and Hayden Pimm tying the game four minutes later. Leo Jewitt had the lone goal in the second. e Bruins had just three shots on goal in the rst and six in the second.
Estevan exploded for four goals on 15 shots in the third. Ewan Rennie tied the game with a power-play goal 4:42 into the third. It remained a 2-2 contest until Brady Wilson scored a power-play goal with 6 1/2
minutes to play, and Rennie notched his second of the game on a breakaway 2:16 later.
Simon Parini’s goal 28 seconds later pulled Melville to within one, and Wilson scored his second of the game with one second to play on a shot from deep in the Bruins’ zone.
Benjamin Polhill stopped 21 shots for Estevan, while Nick Genette made 19 saves for Melville.
Head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic said the Mills came out hard Friday night and had a great tempo to their game.
“I thought in the second period, especially in the second half, we started going back to the game plan, and then in the third period, we really executed, and they did what we asked in terms of what we want to execute and take advantage of,” said Tatarnic.
e tying goal in the third marked the turning
point in the game.
“I thought we were playing well and we had momentum, but that really changed it,” he said.
Rennie agreed the 2-2 goal was a catalyst for the win.
“We started getting the legs moving a little bit more, and getting in on the forecheck and playing a little more simple,” said Rennie.
Rennie said each game has added signi cance for the club as the Bruins try to get back into the playo race.
“Every point really does matter, and coming into the stretch here, a lot of teams are so close,” said Rennie.
Polhill was nearly perfect on Saturday night, surrendering just one goal on 27 shots, and that goal, scored by Jewitt, came after a lucky bounce.
Ryan Roethke had Melville’s other goal with seven seconds to play in the third.
e Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears rallied from a 4-2 de cit midway through the second period to defeat the Notre Dame Hounds 6-5 on Wednesday night at Afnity Place.
Will Nicholson opened the scoring for Estevan six minutes into the rst period, but Notre Dame scored three times in a 2:14 span to lead 3-1 after the rst period. Roan Burgess tal-
lied early in the second to pull Estevan to within one, but the Hounds replied a few minutes later to restore the two-goal lead. Estevan took over from there. Ryden Amberson’s power-play goal pulled the Bears to within one again, and Gunner Moore tied the game with two minutes to play in the middle frame. Brendan Jones gave the Bears the lead 89 seconds into the third, and Moore’s
second of the game with an Estevan man advantage put the Bears up by two. Notre Dame added one late in the third to nish the scoring. Brady Carr made 20 saves for the Bears. Estevan outshot Notre Dame 4225. Estevan (11-11-2) will close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule on Dec. 18 when they host the Yorkton Maulers, starting at 8 p.m.
TheEstevanBruinsdefeatedtheMelvilleMillionairesonFridaynightatAffinityPlace.
Polhill was pulled for an extra attacker.
Ben Laurette had 22 saves for the shutout for Melville, who had lost ve straight games.
Caden Drury, who was the captain of the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears in 2021-22 and at one point the top scorer in the SJHL this season, recently left Melville to
join the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Tatarnic said he noticed the di erence in Melville without Drury.
“I think any time you lose your leading scorer, it’s a big loss.”
e Bruins announced the acquisition of goaltender Zach Shaughnessy from the Delta Ice Hawks of the Paci c International Junior Hockey League to compliment Polhill, who has started every game in goal for the Bruins since Kyle Kelsey left for the BCHL in mid-November.
Estevan (10-12-3-1) will close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule when they host the Humboldt Broncos on Dec. 20 and 21. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
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e second week of December was another busy one for members of the Estevan Police Service.
e EPS received a complaint Dec. 9 of youths operating vehicles erratically and stunting at a local business parking lot. Members attended, monitored the parking lot for a period of time and spoke with several young drivers, but no concerning driving actions were observed.
Multiple driving complaints were received. Vehicles were reported to be driving too fast for road conditions. e EPS reminds motorists to reduce speed and increase following distance between vehicles to reduce the potential for collisions during the winter.
A report came in Dec. 10 of a suspended driver believed to be frequently operating a vehicle within the city. e individual was identi ed and the matter is
still under investigation.
A theft was reported from a locker at the Estevan Leisure Centre. e matter is still under investigation and EPS reminds the public to secure their belongings when leaving them in public access areas to deter theft of property.
A semi-trailer unit was observed being driven down Fourth Street through the downtown area on Dec. 11.
e driver was charged with operating his vehicle o the truck route under the City of Estevan’s tra c bylaw.
Police arrested an Estevan male for assault and uttering threats after o cers were called to a residence in the Pleasantdale area. e individual was lodged in cells until sober and was charged accordingly.
e EPS reminds the public that parking on Fourth Street in the downtown area is prohibited from midnight-8 a.m.
O cers are investigating a mischief to an apartment building in northeast Estevan on Dec. 12. A tenant is suspected of damaging the camera system and some drywall in the building. e matter remains under investigation.
e EPS arrested a 31year old man for breaching the peace after he was causing a disturbance in north Estevan. He was lodged in cells until the following morning and support services were arranged for him upon his release.
Police received a report Dec. 13 of an individual uttering threats to harm another person. A statement has been obtained and the matter is still under investigation.
A female was reported to be harassing individuals at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Members attended and mediated the situation.
A couple of three-day
driving suspensions and three-day vehicle impoundments were issued during separate tra c stops. e rst incident was for a 32year old woman from Tuxford. She also received a three-day vehicle impoundment after she was stopped on Valley Street. During the same tra c stop, a second female was arrested on unendorsed warrants from the Regina Police Service. She was lodged in cells to be held in custody to attend court in Regina.
e second instance was for a 44-year-old Estevan woman after a tra c stop on 12th Avenue. She tested positive for drugs on an oral uid device.
Police arrested an Estevan woman for theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime and failing to comply with a judicial release order. She was lodged in cells and remanded to appear in court
on Dec. 16. e EPS received a complaint Dec. 14 of fraud over $5,000. e victim was contacted by telephone and asked to send money for bail for a relative who was in trouble. e matter remains under investigation.
A report of a male failing to abide by court-ordered conditions was received. e matter remains under investigation.
Police attended to a report of two females involved in a dispute on Highway 47 north of Estevan on Dec. 15. e females are related and both were transported to the police station, where members mediated the situation with the assistance of the EPS Police and Crisis Team.
e EPS received a report of a deer that had been struck by a vehicle on Highway 47 south. Members attended and located the deer, which had died prior to
It was another busy week for members of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service.
Fire Chief Rick Davies said it started with a call on Dec. 9 at 4:30 a.m., when re crews were dispatched to a commercial re alarm in southeast Estevan. Crews responded, investigated and determined an emergency was not occurring. Davies said the call might have
been due to a possible alarm issue. at same day, re ghters responded to a pair of two-vehicle collisions. In the rst in central Estevan, no injuries occurred and minor damage was reported. e other was in northeast Estevan and it was determined to be a minor incident with no injuries or entrapment.
On Dec. 10, just before 7 a.m., re ghters were called to a residential carbon monoxide alarm in northeast Estevan. A moderate level of CO was detected in the home, so SaskEnergy was called to further investigate the issue.
Later that day, re ghters were called to a rollover on Highway 18 near Frobisher. EFRS members
provided assistance through mutual aid. Davies said minor injuries were reported, but entrapment didn’t occur.
Crews were called to a residential re alarm on Dec. 11 in northwest Estevan. Crews responded to investigate, and it was determined to be a false alarm. eir assistance was not required.
e following day, crews were called to another
commercial re alarm in northeast Estevan. Crews responded and investigated.
“Entry was gained to the building, and it was cleared to con rm no emergency was occurring. It was found that the alarm was due to an issue with the re sprinkler system,” the chief said. e nal two calls were in the evening of Dec. 15. One was for an elevator
their arrival. It was moved into the ditch to eliminate the tra c hazard and the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure was contacted to remove the animal. Members responded to 51 occurrences over the weekend. Other reports included an assault with a weapon and uttering threats that is still under investigation; a theft under $5,000; indecent acts outside of a local medical facility; several motor vehicle collisions; unruly patrons at local drinking establishments; bylaw complaints; and various driving complaints and trafc o ences.
A 48-year old Estevan man was arrested for assault and mischief under $5,000 after a report of a domestic disturbance in the west end of the city. He was lodged in cells for the evening and will be released on conditions, including to appear in court at a later date.
rescue in north-central Estevan. A re o cer arrived on scene and con rmed no entrapment in the elevator, so crews stood down from the incident. en the re ghters were called to a commercial re alarm in central Estevan. Crews determined an emergency wasn’t occurring and the alarm was due to cooking.
