Estevan Mercury 2024 06 05

Celebrating together.

Salute to the ECS Class of 2024.

B Section inside this issue

See that military plane? Learn more about what Estevan cadets were up to last week.

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Big date. Estevan Chamber of Commerce marks 120 years of serving local businesses.

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Community spirit. Estevan’s Day of Caring saw hundreds of people helping each other.

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Starting early. Young Alameda artist shares about first experience of selling his art.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024

Estevan area selected as proposed site of Sask’s first small modular reactor

By David Willberg

If a small modular reactor is to be built in Saskatchewan, it is going to be in the Estevan area.

Premier Scott Moe made the announcement Thursday night while speaking at the 120th anniversary banquet for the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, adding that the SMR would either be at Boundary Dam or Rafferty Reservoir. The Elbow area was also in contention to land Saskatchewan’s first SMR.

Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SaskPower, said there are a couple of reasons why the Crown corporation has chosen Estevan.

“We have a skilled

workforce in the Estevan area that has a lot of knowledge and history, and frankly a lot of pride in the fact that they produce power for this province, and so having a skilled workforce that can be hopefully transitioned over to a new power generation type of source is certainly helpful,” said Duncan.

Also, transmission lines are already located in the Estevan area.

“Any power that is produced in the future in Estevan, we get that out pretty easily, because of the infrastructure,” said Duncan. “Not to say that there wouldn’t have to be some upgrades over the decades, but the infrastructure is there to be able to move

power, whereas when you look at the Elbow region, there really isn’t the infrastructure.”

Proximity to an area the size of Estevan was also

very helpful, he said, with health-care facilities close by.

During construction of an SMR, Duncan said the government hopes local

people could be involved, but people would also be coming in from outside of the area, so accommodations would be needed.

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SMR announcement draws lots of reaction

By Ana Bykhovskaia of SaskToday.ca and David Willberg

The announcement that the Estevan area had been selected as the site for the province’s first small modular reactor has generated plenty of reaction.

Premier Scott Moe, in making the announcement Thursday night, alluded to his statement a few weeks earlier that the first SMR would “quite likely” be in the southeast.

“I’m here today to probably put a little bit of meat on that bone. Up until today, SaskPower’s been focused on really two regions on where they could locate an SMR,” said Moe.

But now SaskPower is focusing on one region, and that is Estevan – if SaskPower goes down the nuclear path.

“We don’t have a lot of other options, so that’s the path we’re most certainly looking at,” Moe said to applause from the crowd.

The premier predicted this would create a significant number of jobs during the construction of the SMR, and long-term operational jobs at the plant once it is complete.

SaskPower needs to make use of the Estevan area’s transmission lines,

which he said carry over 1,000 megawatts of power to the province. The Estevan area also has the necessary workforce.

Estevan MLA Lori Carr expressed her enthusiasm and optimism about the transformative potential of this development.

Carr highlighted Estevan’s unique suitability for the SMR project.

“I’m really excited that Estevan is going to be chosen,” Carr said. “If we get our first SMR in the area, it is the only logical place for it to go. We have the transmission lines, we have the workforce, a very talented workforce, that will easily be able to retool, going from one type of energy source to another. And I just think it’s very exciting. It gives a bit more certainty to the area of Estevan.”

Carr emphasized the environmental benefits of SMRs, which are crucial in the broader context of reducing emissions.

“Emissions are a really big deal right across Canada and even within the province,” she noted. “[With] big industry that’s coming to Saskatchewan, one of the first questions that they will ask is where does your power come from? So, it is important to us to have a baseload that

has very, very low emissions, and small modular reactors have virtually zero emissions.”

Echoing Carr’s words, Mayor Roy Ludwig described the announcement as “great for our community”.

“We’ve been working on the nuclear file for a number of years, we’ve worked very closely with SaskPower, with their hearings, with their meetings, with their education sessions. And we will be willing to help wherever we’re needed to continue to work on this

file, to bring SMRs to our community,” he added.

Ludwig is particularly hopeful about the job creation and economic boost the SMRs would bring to Estevan, while also allowing for more sustainability for the community.

“We would like to – and from what we’re hearing from our provincial leaders, hopefully, that will be the case – … have coal, we continue to run the mine, we continue to have the power plants running on off coal until we can transition to the nuclear,” Ludwig said.

“A lot of people are going to be employed in building the SMRs.

“And we’re hoping that with the necessary training, and of course, we’re getting involved with the community college, we want the local training, we want our local people to have the opportunity for these SMR jobs.”

The city and provincial leadership are already planning the next steps to ensure a smooth transition and to capitalize on this opportunity.

A conceptual design of the small modular reactor that could be coming to Estevan. File photo

Premier Scott Moe announced Thursday that SaskPower was looking at the Estevan area for an SMR.

Souris Valley Theatre announces 2024

The Souris Valley Theatre has unveiled its 2024 summer schedule, with performances that are expected to entertain audiences of all ages.

Two mainstage productions and two one-night shows will be presented at the theatre’s Frehlick Hall, with each offering a blend of music, drama and entertainment.

“All of us at the Souris Valley Theatre are incredibly excited about the upcoming season,” said board president Allison Holzer. “We’ve put together a lineup that celebrates both nostalgia and fresh interpretations, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We can’t wait to welcome our community back for a summer of unforgettable performances.”

Greased will be per-

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“The region checked a number of boxes in terms of the initial analysis of just the technical suitability of hosting an SMR. For those reasons, it really made sense for us to focus our attention for this next step on the Estevan region, and maybe come back to the Elbow region at some point in the future.”

Duncan did not divulge where exactly the SMR would be located on Boundary and Rafferty. An announcement on the final site selection is expected to come in 2025.

“With both Rafferty and the Boundary sites, we have options with any of the private landowners,” said Duncan. “What we’ll want to do is communicate first with any of the neighbours that would be closest proximity to those sites, and that work is now kicking off.”

Each site would require between a quarter section

The mayor pointed out that meetings are being scheduled to discuss further steps. He also noted that the

formed from July 8-12 and 15-19, with performances at 7:30 p.m. A 2 p.m. matinee will be on July 11. The production is set at Estevan High in 1959, and boasts a variety of music from rock and roll’s golden era. It is described as a “respectable homage” to the famed musical and movie Grease, but with a twist.

“In our version Sandy is a young man, new to Estevan, and Danni is the leader of the T-Birdies, the tough drag-racing gang. There is something magical about the music from this era and with so many classic hits to choose from, it was a real joy to put together,” the theatre said in a news release.

For those who remember all these songs, the theatre hopes they enjoy the journey back, while intro-

and a section of land, or between 160-640 acres.

“Certainly the Rafferty one would have fewer people [nearby], just because it’s a less-populated area, but the Boundary one is obviously much closer to Estevan,” said Duncan. The options on those lands give SaskPower the ability to have access to the land for further geotechnical land and water analysis.

As for neighbours who don’t live on those sites but are in the area, SaskPower wants to ensure they notify the people first before disclosing the locations publicly. Grant Devine Lake near Alameda, which also had been considered as a possible southeast location, is no longer viewed as an option. “Both Rafferty and Boundary really checked the box as far as the water supply,” said Duncan.

A decision on whether to proceed is not expected un-

city hopes Boundary Dam will be chosen as a site, as it will allow the bass population to remain, and Bound-

ducing the genre to others. Jailhouse Rock will run from Aug. 5-9 and 12-16. Set at the Estevan Correctional Centre, the musical’s protagonist is John Storm, one of the finest guitar craftsmen around. Known as “the Guitar Doctor”, many musical stars loved his work and the man himself.

til 2029 and the first SMR is not slated to be operational until 2034. Duncan said the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulatory process is quite detailed and comprehensive, and the federal agency’s work won’t start until a final decision is made on whether to build at Boundary or Rafferty.

SaskPower will need three different licences at the end of the process: one to prepare the ground once the site has been selected, another to construct on the ground and a third to operate. It will likely trigger the environmental assessment process, which Duncan said can be “pretty lengthy”.

“It’s not that we want to take this much time, in fact, we’ve offered to work with the federal government and other provinces to help streamline the process so that we can actually make a decision earlier, but the way the process is laid out right

ary can be a fishing and tourist destination.

“When it came to fixing guitars, Doc was amazing; when it came to paying his taxes, he was terrible. When old friend Johnny Cash heard Doc was in jail for delinquent taxes, he called Elvis and they came up with a plan to repay the debt and get Doc off the hook,” states the summary for the musical.

now, it really is 2029 that would likely be the earliest of whether to build,” said Duncan.

If the project were to proceed, Duncan predicted several thousands of people would be involved in construction during the different phases. SaskPower has also been told they shouldn’t build just one nuclear plant.

“Through the lens of ensuring efficiencies, through the lens of redundancies and those sorts of things, all of the advice that we have is you don’t build a single plant, you build them in multiples,” said Duncan.

As construction is nearing completion on the first SMR, the workers would then be transitioned to start building the second.

“Obviously, we have to get to the point where we’re going to build the first one, but it’s not just a four or five-year construction period and then you’re done,

“They decided to throw a benefit concert right in the Estevan Jail and some amazing friends join in to help out. Friends like Grace Slick, Johnny Rivers, Nancy Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, Eric Burdon, Jerry Lee Lewis, June Carter, Roy Orbison and Bobbi Gentry. “With this amazing line-up, everyone wants to see the show, especially two crazed Elvis fans who cook up a crazy plan to get into the jail to see their hero.”

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Aug. 8.

As for the touring shows, Rory Allen will bring his Tribute to the King production on July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Known for his authentic vocals and stunning costumes, Allen has performed his Pres-

you’re likely moving onto the second and building a second unit. You could see well over a decade of just construction alone, let alone then moving people onto the operational side.”

It’s a scenario that is expected to play out in Ontario, which is working towards finalizing their design with GE Hitachi. It’s the same design they’re looking at for units in the Estevan area. Ontario is looking at more than two SMRs, and Duncan said construction in Ontario is expected to begin next year.

Each SMR is expected to generate 300-315 megawatts of power and would employ 150-175 people.

Duncan noted the Department of Energy in the U.S. projects an SMR would employ as many people as an equivalent-sized coalfired power unit.

“We’re working closely with the industry to put in

ley show with the Regina Symphony Orchestra and Presley’s Imperials quartet. Allen continues to win hearts with his renditions of rock-and-roll classics, ballads and gospel songs. The Szakacs Family will perform on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. A large gospel group based out of Carnduff, the family’s journeys have taken them across Canada.

The family’s presentation is a sensitive and lively blend of vocals and collective instrumentation.

Together, Curtis and Bonnie Szakacs and their eight children share their Christian faith while performing. Their creative ability to write and arrange in a broad variety of musical styles makes for a skillfully surprising musical experience. They have released seven albums.

place a plan to be able to up-skill employees so that they can transition into a nuclear power plant. Ontario Power Generation has been very helpful because they have transitioned people from coal to nuclear, and have a lot of experience in the nuclear power generation process.”

SaskPower is also working closely with economic development in Estevan and the community to see if there are ways to keep coal mining jobs in different industries, and some different ideas have been tossed around.

“We’re going to need lots of people,” said Duncan. “If you’re building, if you’re standing up an industry in a community the size of Estevan, I don’t think a lack of opportunity is going to be our challenge. I think over the long-term the lack of skilled people is going to be our challenge.”

Both Carr and Ludwig expressed their gratitude to the province and SaskPower for their roles in bringing this project to the next level, and are committed to ensuring its success for the benefit of the community and beyond.

were pretty happy with it. Regardless of where it’s going, it’s going to be based out of the Estevan area, so it’s going to be good for all of our ratepayers.”

also thanked Carr for her efforts in making it happen.

and bringing in SaskPower to speak at events.

RM of Estevan Reeve Jason LeBlanc said the RM has been lobbying for the project. Estevan has everything that is needed to make this happen, including the employees and the businesses, and Estevan can support the facility once it’s up and running.

“The spin-off jobs after construction are a huge thing,” said LeBlanc. “We

LeBlanc was also encouraged to hear Moe say that the provincial government will push to have the coal mines stay open as long as necessary.

There isn’t a reason why the SMR couldn’t be located at Boundary or Rafferty, he said, and LeBlanc doesn’t have a preference on the SMR site.

LeBlanc said some of the surrounding RM councils have also been advocates for the project and played a role in the announcement. He

Estevan Chamber of Commerce executive director Jackie Wall said it was “so satisfying” to hear the announcement. They had been speculating for a long time that the decision would be in Estevan’s favour.

“It was really satisfying to have the premier in the city, at a chamber event, when we got the news,” said Wall.

The chamber has been working on the energy portfolio since shortly after she became the executive director in 2015. She added the chamber had been calling for SMRs to come to Estevan by participating in the community engagement process

Fire crews help RCMP at serious accident scene

The Estevan Fire Rescue was dispatched to a two-vehicle collision scene on June 1, just after 11 p.m. The accident occurred northwest of the city. Crews responded and assisted EMS and RCMP with that accident.

“It really helped to understand the SMR process, understand the technology, understand the safety. I think that was the most important to me, obviously, being in this community and having children in this community, the safety is always something that is first and foremost.”

The chamber also wanted transparency and information from SaskPower during the process, as Estevan has a strong understanding of energy.

“Don’t forget the resources we have here. We have it all for energy production,” she said.

Crews were on scene throughout the evening, said Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies. No further information was immediately available.

The Mercury and SaskToday will have more information as it is released.

On May 30 at about 1:30 p.m., fire crews were dispatched to a gas odour investigation in the northwest area of the city. An investigation determined that the odour was caused by a contractor cleaning in the area. Firefighters confirmed that there were no gas leaks and returned to the station. Crews also responded to

a commercial fire alarm on June 2 at about 7 p.m. The call came from the northern part of the city. Firefighters investigated and confirmed there was no emergency occurring, but determined that the alarm was due to the accidental activation of a pull station. They assisted with resetting the system and returned to the station.

By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca

The skies over Estevan buzzed with excitement on May 30 as the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron out of Winnipeg arrived in Estevan with their C-130 Hercules aircraft to do some training out of the local airport.

The visit was also a significant event for local cadet groups, their parents and leaders, providing an opportunity for hands-on learning and interaction with military personnel.

“We were lucky enough to be able to talk to the air force here and actually have them land so that the kids could have a look at the aircraft and talk to the crew, and search and rescue technicians,” said Craig Bird, the commanding officer of the No. 2901 Estevan PPCLI Army Cadets, who co-ordinated the visit.

“It’s always positive because we don’t have a lot of military presence down here in the southeast, so anytime that we can actually get military aircraft and actual airmen to come

down here, it’s a good bonus for the kids and something that they wouldn’t normally get exposed to.”

The squadron’s presence was a unique chance for the army cadets and the No. 30 Wylie-Mitchell Royal Canadian Air Cadets to engage with real military operations.

“The kids were trying on parachutes and talking to the pilots. It’s a good bonus for them and something they wouldn’t normally get exposed to,” Bird added.

Captain Adam Rietman, who serves as Aircraft Commander for the 435 Squadron, emphasized the importance of such visits.

He noted that “it’s super important” for the public to see the tax dollars at work and the positive impact of the military.

“It’s not all just pointing guns and stuff like that; we save Canadians. That’s why I got into the military myself, because of the search and rescue aspect of it,” he explained.

Rietman, a former air cadet himself, highlighted the program’s influence on

his career, noting, “The air cadet program pretty much set me on the track to who I am today.”

The Estevan Regional Airport’s relatively low traffic and excellent facilities made it an ideal location for the squadron’s training exercises.

“They like the airspace around here because it’s not as busy as other municipal airports, and they’ve got a first-class facility here with a runway that can handle the big aircraft,” Bird said. “It’s fantastic for our

training needs, since it’s an uncontrolled airspace and you do have local traffic. So, it’s really good work for us to de-conflict with them, but it’s not too, too busy that we really have to delay our training or anything like that. And at the same time, sometimes you get thunderstorms but more or less you’re going to have all the sunshine so it’s perfect for our needs,” Rietman said.

During their latest visit, the squadron’s search and rescue technicians practised parachute jumps, but the crew noted that they come to Estevan as often as every couple of weeks for training. Their activities include different scenarios such as search area practice, equipment drops, and more exercises vital for real-world readiness.

Rietman noted they have to practise and be ready for any kind of situation, as some of their worst deployments included parachuting in a blizzard in the Northwest Territo-

RCAF search-and-rescue plane trains in Estevan and crew visits with local cadets COMMUNITY

ries last winter and operating in high crosswinds.

“The most challenging are probably those high crosswinds. Sometimes you’re trying to beat a thunderstorm and sometimes you’re going to get those wicked gust fronts, up to 60 knots gusting, those can be some really challenging conditions,” Rietman said.

“And for me myself, it’s probably when those winds are like 40 gusting to 60 down the pipe or those high crosswind landings [with wind coming] straight from the side of the aircraft, trying to blow the aircraft off the runway and you got to manage it. Other times it’s really low visibility,” he said, naming some of the conditions they get to deal with when deployed for search and rescue operations.

The cadets’ excitement was palpable, with many expressing sincere interest in the plane and what the squadron does for the job.

“I was an air cadet my-

self and seeing these kids get exposure to military operations is fantastic,” Rietman shared. “It’s great to see the future of the air force in these young cadets.”

He added that cadet programs, be it army, sea or air, and a military career are something people should try.

“If you’re kind of lost, don’t know what to do, just walk into a recruitment centre. They’re very knowledgeable, they can help you out. Ask questions and we have a lot of help to get you to where you need for training … and a lot of the skills are transferable into the public sector. So I highly recommend it,” Rietman said.

Bird noted that he will have a debrief session with the cadets about this experience and they hope to host the 435 Squadron again in the future, continuing to inspire local youths and foster community engagement with the Canadian Armed Forces.

Estevan army and air cadets had a unique chance to visit with the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron out of Winnipeg on Thursday after the aircrew did their training over Estevan. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

The C-130 Hercules crew visited with Estevan army and air cadets and their parents after the training and answered questions.

The C-130 Hercules could be seen in the air over Estevan Thursday morning, as the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron was doing their training.

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EDITORIAL

SMR announcement a big win for Estevan

There’s still a lot of work that remains, but Estevan has taken a big step forward in its quest to land the province’s first small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear facility.

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Premier Scott Moe announced Thursday that the government was officially looking at just the Estevan area for the first reactor in Saskatchewan. The premier pretty much let the cat out of the bag a few weeks earlier when he said it would “quite likely” be in Estevan, but now it’s official: if it goes ahead, it will be near the Energy City, and not the Elbow area, which was our competition.

Needless to say, he received a pretty good reaction from the audience that heard the announcement at the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s 120th anniversary bash.

We’ve heard a lot of talk about SMR technology in recent years. Some people are skittish about it. They get nervous the moment they hear anything about nuclear reactors. Other people down here are going to be opposed to anything that isn’t coalfired power.

Additional consultations will now take place. SaskPower will have to decide whether the facility will be on the shores of Boundary Dam or Rafferty Reservoir. And we’ll have to play the waiting game.

The review stage is expected to take five years, meaning we’ll likely find out sometime in 2029 whether this project will receive the green light. There’s a lot to be reviewed for a project with such a high price

tag and with its environmental impacts, but five years will seem like a long time to those waiting for this to happen.

If this project is approved, it’s going to take several more years to build. The construction phase will be long, but we can at least look forward to more than a thousand people being in the area during that time. It will be the most people in our community since 2014, when we had the twin benefits of the oil boom and the construction of the CCS facility at the Boundary Dam Power Station happening simultaneously.

Once the first unit is finished, it sounds like attention will shift to a second, so all of the labourers will be hear for a long time.

Once it is operational, an SMR will create a lot of jobs. Not as many as we currently have working between the Boundary Dam and Shand Power Stations, as well as the Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC, but thankfully other industries are being considered as options.

We also have to remember that this is just the beginning. The provincial government is going to need to find options to not only replace coal-fired power generation should the day come in which coal is no longer an option, but to meet the electricity needs of a growing province.

The Elbow region might be smarting from losing out on the initial SMR construction, but these reactors could be located there eventually.

We recognize there’s going to be some

apprehension about this project. The moment you say the word nuclear, they’re going to think about Chernobyl. There’s a stark difference between conventional nuclear power and small modular reactors, and this is not the nuclear power that the province investigated in 2008-09.

When you do your research from actual qualified sources, you see the differences between the large nuclear reactors and what we’re looking at here.

There will also be people who want to see coal power remain a catalyst of our area, and won’t support any other power options. But what happens when coal, at least conventional coal, is no longer available to us?

We’ve said it before: we’re proud to be a mining community and all that coal mining has done for us. But we might not always have that choice. And so we then have three choices: stick our head in the sand and hope this uncertainty somehow passes, eschew other options and hurt the future of the community, or pursue other options.

The government chose wisely by going with Estevan to be the home of the first SMR(s). We have the transmission infrastructure. We have the skilled labour force. And there would have been serious consequences for our economy within the next decade if the government went with Elbow.

There’s a lot of work that remains, and this is far from a done deal. But it’s an encouraging sign for our community at a time when we needed great news.

Thinking about what’s underfoot

As a young child, I lived in a small community in Alberta.

The population of Armena put it in the category of a hamlet, yet it was an amazing place to live with a school, store, church, grain elevator, ball diamonds and a busy outdoor skating rink.

It is where I attended school for Grades 1 and 2, learned to play t-ball and had fun at Friday night skating parties that seemed to draw people from all over to skate, sit around a warm fire or sip hot chocolate in the shack.

Armena also held amazing parades. I can’t explain where all the floats came from but there were several, and it seemed every child decorated their bike to take part. My favourite was when we built a big clock and I represented the nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock.

There is a tendency to look back on childhood with rather tinted glasses and perhaps I am guilty of that right now. It wasn’t without its problems to be sure, but as children it seemed rather wonderful. Maybe it’s okay to remember it that way.

There were several families with children and we spent countless hours together enjoying life as a group. My family had a big backyard and a huge swing set complete with teeter totter, carriage, climbing pole and swings, as well as a sandbox and heavily treed area we called our jungle. Our backyard was often the gathering place for all the kids in town and from there we would plan our adventures. We couldn’t wait to kick off our shoes, run and play. That was often our life on summer days. Running through sprinklers. Burying our toes in the sand. Seeing how high we could make the swings go.

Shelley Luedtke

Oh to be that carefree. To throw off shoes and enjoy the unencumbered feeling of going barefoot and totally unconcerned about thistles, twigs or jagged stones that might be underneath. We delighted in the lushness of the lawn and the warmth of the sand. Nothing could slow us down. Nothing could spoil the fun.

Oh, to be a child and go barefoot again.

But…oh, to be a child and go barefoot always. Without the option.

Millions of children worldwide live in extreme poverty. An estimated 300 million do not have a single pair of shoes. Shoes are a luxury. An unachievable dream.

Without shoes, children risk injury and infection. Some are unable to attend school either because of the grueling walk without the protection of footwear, or shoes themselves are part of the school uniform and without them a student cannot enroll. The lack of a pair of shoes can mean a closed door to education. It is not for want of ambition, desire or motivation, but simply the lack of shoes that limits the potential to learn.

If going without shoes is a choice, in a place where conditions are healthy and safe, that is one thing. But for many this is simply not the case. They are vulnerable to

punctures, wounds, cuts, scrapes and burns. These wounds mean exposure to parasites and debilitating infections. Contaminated soil. Open sewer trenches. Those who hunt for food or sellable items in garbage heaps risk disease and injury from dirty, sharp or infected refuse.

Globally more than 1.5 billion people suffer from soil-transmitted diseases. Footwear can provide protection against this, but unfortunately there is little access to a simple pair of shoes.

Since 2005, individuals and organizations have marked ‘Go Barefoot Day’ on June 1, a day to be reminded of the wonderful feeling of going barefoot, but also to draw attention to the needs of so many for whom that is not a carefree choice, but a potential danger.

The average woman in our part of the world owns 27 pairs of shoes and wears seven or eight of them. Men come in right around 12 pair and wear two or three. What if we would consider donating the cost of a few of those less frequently worn ones to an organization working to provide footwear around the world?

I like shoes, but do I really need a different pair for each day of the month? ‘Go Barefoot Day’ can help us recall the freedom felt at not needing to wear shoes, but also the reality for those having to be barefoot no matter the activity or terrain beneath their feet.

Carefree for some may mean choosing to kick off our footwear for a bit, while for others carefree could mean the protection and opportunity provided by footwear to call their own. Let’s give that some thought the next time we look for space in our closet to put another pair of shoes. That’s my outlook.

By David Willberg

The Estevan Chamber of Commerce had a full day of activities during its 120th anniversary celebrations on Thursday.

The chamber spread out its activities over two locations, with the Southeast Success Summit at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus in the morning and afternoon, and a banquet at the Beefeater Plaza in the evening. Chamber executive director Jackie Wall said there was more than 70 people at the summit and approximately 90 at the banquet.

“The goal [of the summit] was to have a positive conversation about success in the southeast, what we have experienced, what we are experiencing, and the success that we can have as we move forward, how we can work together to do that, or what areas we need to perhaps look at supporting in order to have continued success,” said Wall.

The summit kicked off with a speech from Community Futures Sunrise general manager Andria Brady, who spoke about their Go Digital Sask program that is impacting rural entrepreneurs throughout the province.

In the first Southeast Stories of Success panel, David Hammermeister of MNP chatted with oilfield entrepreneurs Ken Wallewein, the president of Western Fiberglass Ltd. and the past president of Apex Distribution Inc.; and Jeremy Mack and Cary Wock, co-founders and directors of Innovative Artificial Life Solutions Inc. They were also founders of Independent Pump Co. Inc.

The final morning session was Community Changemakers and the Creation of a Tourism Destination in southeast Saskatchewan with Trevor Keating of South Saskatchewan Economic Partnership.

In the afternoon, John Aron Bacon, the Business Development Bank of Canada’s manager for its Business Centre in Regina, provided a look at business growth and cost control to help safeguard profits amidst rising costs and inflationary pressures.

Gordon More, the executive director of the Southeast TechHub, explained how innovation can create jobs and is opening new possibilities for the southeast business community and employees.

The event concluded with the second Success in the Southeast panel. Wall spoke with Estevan MLA Lori Carr, Community Futures Sunrise regional economic development co-ordinator Christina Birch, former Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan, and Weyburn Chamber of Commerce manager Monica Osborne.

Other speakers were Pipeline Online owner Brian Zinchuk, who discussed the potential for lithium in the area, while Heather Blouin with Tourism Saskatchewan talked about opportunities for promotion.

“The southeast has so much to offer. There is so much potential here, and we really just need to do what we have done in the past – be resilient, be open to new innovations and ensure that we all get involved in the economic future of our region, whether that be something as simple as shopping local and local procurement, or as large as taking a look at attracting new industries and businesses.”

Wall believes it was important to have so many people in the same room, discussing and moving towards the same goals.

The evening banquet had two main speakers, Premier Scott Moe and McLellan. Moe noted that the chamber was started the year before Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, and he stressed the importance of small and medium-sized businesses throughout Saskatchewan.

“It’s those very employees and the owners of the small businesses that come together to build our hockey rinks and build our halls. They’re very much the heartbeat of our communities, whether they be villages, whether they be towns, or whether they be cities,” said Moe.

Small businesses play an important role in the economy, employing 30 per cent of the province’s workforce, the premier said.

He also noted that in the past two years, Saskatchewan has exported more than $100 billion in goods.

“Some of that is new goods, some of that is more goods, and much of that is value-added goods. And that is allowing us to climb the value chain when it comes to our ag industry. We’re climbing the value chain when it comes to some of the products we see in the energy industry.”

Moe said he wants his kids to have the opportunity to stay in the province, and younger generations haven’t always had that chance.

“That is what drives me to go to work each and every day is to provide that next generation, to provide our children, with that opportunity.”

Chamber president Denise Taylor briefly addressed the crowd, and after the premier spoke, two 4-H speakers – Reed and Luke Vandenhurk, both from the Cymri Beef 4-H Club – regaled the crowd. Reed discussed his love of Lego, while Luke spoke of pheasant hunting.

McLellan, who retired as the provincial chamber’s executive director two years ago, said he is always eager to speak about chambers. He asked the crowd to envision 120 years ago when a group of mostly men discussed the need for a board of trade in Estevan.

“What was it they were thinking about? What was it that brought them together to form that effort?”

asked McLellan, who noted the chamber’s board is now mostly women, and its staff are women. It’s a common refrain throughout the province, and he said that’s worth celebrating.

“Would those people who sat around a room, not probably too far from here, wonder what Estevan was going to look like in 2024? Would they have imagined you as a group of people as a community, as a chamber, as a business community, standing shoulder to shoulder in 120 years?”

Prior to coming to Estevan, McLellan spoke with former chamber members and presidents about what they think makes Estevan

Estevan mine rescue team second at provincials

The Mine Rescue Team (MRT) at Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC’s Estevan Mine came home as the overall runner-up in the surface mining competition at the provincial event. Teams from 18 mine sites around Saskatchewan met at the 54th Saskatchewan Mining Association Emergency Response/ Mine Rescue Skills Competition, held at the World Trade Centre at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon on June 1. The Estevan team fin-

ished first in the surface firefighting category, and was the runner-up in first aid and the surface field problem. Teams working in underground and surface rescue displayed their skills in different events. The overall surface mining winner was the team from the K+S Potash Mine at Bethune. The overall underground winner was the team from Nutrien’s Cory Mine. The other categories in both the surface and underground mining competitions were practical skills and proficiency. The surface competition also had rope rescue skills and field problem categories, while the subsurface event offered bench technician and mine problem events. Members of the Estevan team that competed were Tanner Weger-Brandow, Tyler Ursu, Derek Choma, Jessica Klarholm, Brandon Schopp, Austin Dovell and John Wells. Klarholm was the captain. Cory Gibson and Travis Olver were the coaches, and Guy Hiltz is the local mines’ safety manager.

and the chamber unique.

“Each of them spoke with great passion about the chamber of commerce, the success that it’s had, and how they believe, as individuals to their core, that businesses, for their own benefit as well as that of the community, need to be part of this chamber of commerce.”

McLellan cited the example of Ray and Doris Frehlick and Prairie Mud,

who were inducted into the Saskatchewan Business Hall of Fame in 2016. In 1965, the Estevan chamber was recognized for being the best in Canada for communities under 110,000 people. More recently, Wall was selected as the chamber executive of the year in 2022 for chambers under 500 members. McLellan is confident the city will continue to prosper. Estevan has been

through the energy boom and bust cycles, and it is going through an energy challenge that will change the city.

A display in the plaza had photos of the chamber’s history, and a video celebrated the organization’s past.

Wall hopes the summit can be a biennial event that would run in years opposite of the Estevan Business Excellence Awards.

Premier Scott Moe chatted with Luke and Reed Vandenhurk at the chamber 120th banquet. Photo sourced from the premier’s Facebook page

A panel at the Southeast Success Summit featured, from left, Jeremy Mack Cary Wock and Ken Wallewein

Mark Spencer wins Estevan Oilmen’s golf tournament

Mark Spencer has been a fixture at the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society’s Oilmen’s Golf Tournament for years, and has been rewarded for his commitment to the event.

Spencer shot a 2-underpar 70 on Sunday to win the tournament’s 36-hole competition, finishing three strokes ahead of Anthony Melle. Defending champion Nolan Rohatyn finished tied for third with Payden Benning at 70.

Spencer said it felt great to win the tournament, and it was a fun group to be in on the final day with Melle, Rohatyn and former champion Mike Ross.

“Anthony Melle and I

golf a few times a year together. He’s a good player, too, and it’s nice to be in his group.”

As part of the 36-hole tournament, golfers played a qualifying round on Friday or Saturday to determine which flight they would be in on Sunday.

The scores on Sunday determined the champion and flight winners. The tournament champion has to come from the championship flight.

In Spencer’s case, he was the class of the tournament all weekend. He shot a 70 in his qualifying round to finish five strokes better than Melle.

Spencer continued the

momentum into Sunday, as he shot a 34 on the front nine. Then Spencer birdied the 10th hole to add to his advantage. His only blemish was a bogey on the 13th hole.

“It was a nice day today,” said Spencer. “There was no wind, a little wet, but it was good.”

He said he was able to limit his mistakes during the tournament, keep the ball in the fairway and play a conservative game.

Spencer praised the course conditions during the tournament, and the course staff

Tony Heath won the first flight by shooting a 75 on Sunday, which was 11 strokes better than his opening-round score. Richard Lamontagne was second with a 79.

Jason Fenwick won the second flight with a 73 –one of the best rounds in the tournament. He had a 90 in the opening round. Dave Morrow was second with an 86.

Travis Karsta won the third flight with an 85, well ahead of Kyle Unger who shot a 99.

There was also an 18hole tournament, which

was won by Riley Tetreault with a 75. Taysen Holt and Jeff Clausen were tied for second at 76. Golfers in the 18-hole tournament played their round on Friday or Saturday.

More than 275 golfers entered this year’s tournament, making it the largest in the Estevan area once again. It also has a strong social component, highlighted by a steak supper Saturday night served at Rotary Hall.

Job Posting

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• Perform duties of gauging and shipping crude oil as outlined in the Gauger’s Measurement Handbook.

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• Responsible for the orderly and cost-efficient movement of pipeline products in compliance with acceptable and safe pipeline practices.

• Recognize, Abnormal Operating Conditions and perform tasks to resolve the condition.

• Maintains records of product movements.

• Assist with equipment maintenance and troubleshooting as directed.

• Must be able to independently perform duties and work as part of a team.

• Assist in maintenance and overhaul of equipment as required.

• Participate in and successfully complete all required technical and safety training.

• Willing to promote a positive attitude towards a safety culture environment.

Working Conditions: You must be able to perform physical demanding duties including but not limited to repetitive bending, standing, crouching, sitting, and lifting up to 50 lbs on a repetitive basis. Work schedule is: 10 on 4 off, on-call rotation is expected.

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Mark Spencer, left, accepted the 2024 Oilmen’s golf tournament trophy from 2023 champion Nolan Rohatyn

ECS grad to highlight students with ceremonies

By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca

The Estevan Compre-

hensive School (ECS) is set to celebrate its graduating class of 2024 with a series of events on June 14 and 15.

The school will honour more than 170 students in a ceremony at Affinity Place, followed by a grand march.

“We’re super excited that we’re coming to the finale of the high school journey for … our Grade 12 students,” said ECS principal James Jones. “We have approximately 170 graduating students this year that we’re super excited to honour on Saturday, June 15.”

This year’s grad quote is “Embrace uncertainty, chase your passions, and let your curiosity be your compass.”

The 2024 graduation ceremony will be held at Affinity Place, with doors opening to the public at 12:30 p.m. The ceremony will start at 2 p.m. and is expected to last around two hours.

“Our plans are coming together quite nicely to

Estevan Comprehensive School athletes had a great showing at the South East District Athletics Association’s track and field qualifier in Weyburn on May 29.

Thirty-two athletes travelled to Weyburn for the meet, and 15 of them qualified for the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association’s provincial meet, which is slated for June 7 and 8 at the Gordie Howe Track & Field Complex in Saskatoon.

Four ECS athletes were aggregate winners, mean-

honour the graduating class of 2024,” Jones added.

Following the ceremony, a grand march will take place roughly 40 minutes later, allowing students time to change into their gowns and tuxedos. The march will be held on the floor of Affinity Place, with a class photo scheduled at the courthouse at 6 p.m.

To accommodate the influx of attendees at both the graduation and the Energy City Ex. fair and rodeo, special parking arrangements have been made for June 15.

“I’m super happy that the City of Estevan and the Exhibition Association and the people that are running the fair came together, and we discussed some solutions to try to help alleviate some of the parking concerns. So, the Affinity parking lot is going to be barricaded off in the morning to make sure it is available for our graduates and their families,” Jones explained.

Attendees will need to show proof of their graduation ticket to access the parking lot before the ceremony, after which the lot

ing they collected the most total points throughout the day, based on where they finished in the top four of each event.

Adeon Sullivan was first for intermediate boys with 36 points. Lila Hale had 30 points to lead intermediate girls. Kimi Zepeda had 30 points in junior boys, and Megan Porter was first in the junior girls’ quad, which combines the result of four different competitions.

As for those who advanced to provincials, for intermediate boys, Sullivan

will be open to the public.

“We’re just asking parents and students and families to plan in advance. We know that there’s going to be some parking congestion, but we hope that we can all work together to make sure that both events here in the city go off without any problems and issues,” Jones said.

The community will also have a chance to celebrate the graduates during the SMILE Services Parade on June 14. The parade opens the Energy City Ex and includes all graduates willing to join.

“The way it worked out, with the fair being on the same weekend, it was just

qualified in the high jump, 800 metres, 1,500 metres, and 3,000 metres. Joining him for the age group are Jayden Durr in the triple jump and the 4x100-metre relay, and Cameron Milbrandt in the discus.

Hale qualified for the intermediate girls’ long jump, triple jump and high jump, and is an alternate in the 4x100-metre relay. Rachel Duncan will compete in the 800 metres, triple jump and the javelin. Autumn Snider will run in the 800 metres.

In junior boys, Zepeda

easier to put the two together,” said Lucinda Milford, who is one of the grad parents and is in charge of the parade committee.

“We incorporated the grads into the fair parade, which I think is phenomenal because then more people actually get to see the graduates.”

The parade will not require graduates to wear their formal attire, giving them the option to dress comfortably.

“The grads have the option to dress up in their grad attire or whatever they’re comfortable in; it’s not mandatory that they wear their gowns or their suits,” Milford said. “They’ve all

will be in the 100 metres, 3,000 metres and the 4x100-metre relay, Kruz Shauf will be in the high jump, and Truman Ciepliski will be in the quad and the 4x100-metre relay.

Charlotte Waldegger will compete in the junior girls’ 200 metres, and Porter will be in the quad and the 4x100-metre relay.

Max Vicary will compete in the senior boys’ triple jump, and Andrew Min is in the long jump and triple jump.

Randi Milbrandt will

got their floats, and each is [responsible for] decorating their own.”

“We’re just joining in on the parade, so it actually is quite easy,” she added, expressing appreciation for the SMILE Services’ role in organizing the event.

“I think it’s a good thing for the grads and for the community and the city to incorporate everything together.”

Two weeks before the parade, Milford had about 130 graduates on the list to participate, with most floats carrying between eight to 12 students. She also expects some students to just bring their vehicles rather than trucks and trailers.

Her son, who is graduating this year, was planning on driving his grandparents’ truck, which he restored together with his father.

Reflecting on the graduating class, Jones highlighted their achievements in academics and extracurricular activities, noting the students’ involvement in sports and the successful staging of the musical The Little Mermaid.

“[Graduates this year] are a ranging group of students that have achieved great excellence in academics, as well as in sports. We’ve had students compete at a provincial level in various sports. We’ve had a lot of academic and extracurricular success.

“We’re very proud of our graduating class of 2024. They have left a positive mark on our building and in our community,” Jones said. “We wish them nothing but success as they go on and pursue their future endeavours.”

Our annual Salute to ECS Grads can be found in a B section in this week’s Mercury.

compete in the senior girls’ 80-metre hurdles and 4x100-metre relay, while Jenna Knibbs will be Mil-

brandt’s teammate in the 4x100 metres, and will also compete in the 4x400-metre relay.

have single suites available as well as larger suites to accommodate couples so they can remain together in the comfortable surroundings of our home. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals and aides are kind and courteous.

offer all levels of care so all residents can “Age in Place” and we are committed to making each resident feel right at home.

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Kasia Harding cleared the bar during the high jump. Photo by Greg Nikkel of SaskToday.ca

ECS salutes academic achievement

Osama Kamel and Andrew Min were the winners of the Spirit of ECS Award for Grade 12 during the school’s annual academic awards night on May 29. The school saluted students for not just their success in the classroom, but for their contributions to clubs and other extracurricular activities. Recipients of many scholarships and bursaries were also revealed. For a full list of recipients, please visit our provincial news hub at sasktoday.ca.

Photo courtesy of James Dobos

Co-op celebrates past year’s successes

By David Willberg

The Southern Plains Co-op had a lot to discuss during its annual general meeting on May 28 at the Oxbow Friendship Centre.

Audited financial statements released during the meeting showed the co-op had more than $108.84 million in sales for the 202324 fiscal year, which ended on Jan. 31. The amount is down from the record-setting $111.288 million seen in 2022-23, but it’s easily the second-best year in the co-op’s history.

The cost of goods sold was nearly $94.67 million, leaving the co-op with a gross margin of more than $14.17 million.

Operating and administrative expenses were $15.9 million, but net interest was $399,243, leaving the co-op with a loss from operations of more than $1.32 million.

The FCL loyalty program brought in $1.62 million, and the patronage refund was $3.27 million, so the co-op had $3.57 million in savings before income

taxes, which amounted to $227,958. The net savings for 2023-24 were $3.34 million, compared with more than $3.98 million in 2022-23.

Board president Scott Keinlen said the sales decline can be attributed to a decrease in prices for fuel, and crop inputs of fertilizer and chemical. Overall food sales held steady, a good increase occurred in Carlyle.

Convenience store sales were down, fuel litres for the association struggled to meet 2022-23’s level, and home-building supplies were down slightly, but there was strong year-overyear increases at the liquor outlets.

“This being said, our financial position remains strong,” wrote Keinlen. “We continue to look for diversification opportunities to grow our business while contributing back to our local communities.”

General manager Brian Enns noted that if they have another year for sales like 2023-24, the co-op will approach $2 billion in cu-

mulative sales since its inception in April 1946.

“I don’t know what the founding fathers thought they were getting into in 1946, but with the co-op, we’ve been around for a long time, and we continue to grow,” said Enns.

Keinlen and Frances Boutin have been elected to another three-year term on the board. David Murray has opted not to seek another term, so the board will operate with eight members instead of nine this year. The co-op can have anywhere from seven to 10 members.

Other board members are Connie Hagel, Rhonda Huish and James Lainton, whose terms expire in 2025; and Marcia Greenwood, Lynne Hewitt and Linda Thauberger-Smith, who are slated to be up for re-election in 2026.

Construction is underway on a new food store in Carlyle in late fall 2023. Once complete, the food store will be adjacent to Highway 13, east of the Ramada Inn.

“This project is on budget and scheduled to open in very late fall 2024,” said Kienlen.

The relocation of the coop’s administrative department took place over the winter, and the offices are now located in the former agro location on Kensington Avenue in Estevan. Enns said the change has gone well.

“It’s definitely a change from being where we had lots of people coming in, to limited traffic coming in. We’re not seeing as many people because we’re not in the food store, but we still get … some people coming in, and it’s functioning quite well for us,” said Enns.

He pointed out the agro

store that opened in 2022 continues to perform well for the co-op.

“We know that in southeast Saskatchewan, agriculture is still a large economic driver, so we want to help in that area the best we can.”

Kienlen noted the coop currently employs 225 people, an increase over last year, which reflects the steadiness and prosperity of the association.

More than $201,000 was donated to communities in the southeast in 2023-24, and the co-op continued to support fundraisers.

Enns was pleased with the turnout for the meeting. There was about 40 people present, and it was, to his knowledge, the first time the meeting has been in Oxbow.

“I think it’s important to get out there into the different communities the best we can,” said Enns. “In talking to some of the people that were around longer than I have been, [they said] the meeting had never been in Oxbow, so this was new to them and some of the people were very appreciative.”

College announces leader for centre of innovation

The Southeast College announced Monday that Tania Hlohovsky Andrist has been selected as the successful candidate for the position of executive director of innovation and applied research effective immediately.

In this new role, she will lead the Southeast College Centre of Sustainable Innovation.

The college praised Hlohovsky Andrist’s vision and deep knowledge of the southeast region; her extensive network; background in fundraising,

journalism and communications; and her dedicated service at Southeast College as a business consultant and applied research lead officer at the centre.

These traits and experiences make her the ideal candidate to advance the centre, said the college in a press release.

“Her skills and competencies are perfectly aligned with our strategic plan goals, and we are confident that she will drive the centre forward with great success,” the college added.

Hlohovsky Andrist has

been instrumental in the development and success of the Centre of Sustainable Innovation, securing key industry partnerships, launching the Innovation Conversations speaker series, and negotiating impactful contracts with major organizations. Her dedication to fostering innovation and sustainability has significantly contributed to the centre’s mission of promoting collaboration and advancement within the community and the region.

“We are incredibly for-

tunate to have Tania Andrist leading our Centre of Sustainable Innovation,” said Southeast College president and CEO Dr. Vicky Roy. “Her extensive experience, strategic vision, and dedication to fostering sustainability make her the perfect fit for this role.

I have no doubt that under her leadership, the centre will achieve remarkable success and drive significant positive change in our region and province.”

The SE College Centre of Sustainable Innovation is poised to change the

landscape of the southeast region of Saskatchewan, attract interest from other industries, and drive sustainable innovation. Hlohovsky Andrist’s leadership will be pivotal as the region continues to research technologies such as carbon capture, retrain workers from the coal industry, and explore innovative practices in both energy and agriculture sectors, said the college. Her strategic vision and proven ability to secure essential funding will ensure the centre’s continued growth and success.

Tania Hlohovsky Andrist

Photo courtesy of SE College

People turned out for the Southern Plains Co-op’s annual general meeting on May 28 in Oxbow. Photo courtesy of Brooke Spagrud

Community spirit and volunteerism shine at United Way Estevan’s Day of Caring

By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca

Estevan came together in the spirit of volunteerism and community support on Wednesday.

The annual Day of Caring, organized by the United Way Estevan, saw community members completing various projects and providing support to those in need of help around their properties and with their beautification efforts.

“It went great,” said Shelly Veroba with United Way Estevan. “It was a little windy, but the sun was shining, and the storm didn’t roll in until the end of the day, so it went really, really well for us in order to get our projects completed.”

This year’s Day of Caring featured 47 projects completed by local volunteers.

“We had 163 volunteers this year,” said Veroba, noting that the hours that people could commit to volunteering varied, but they were able to find suitable projects for everyone. “We were a bit lower on projects, but around the same number of volunteers. But

some of our projects were bigger, so we were able to complete all of them.”

The event had a range of participants, including businesses, community groups and individual volunteers. The volunteer and project base remains the same from year to year, Veroba noted, but a few new participants join every year.

This year, the Estevan Public Youth Centre asked for help organizing their property, and MNP volunteers not only did that but also donated a couch for the local youths.

Most United Way member agencies also had their staff and/or patrons participating and completing the projects. The Estevan Comprehensive School’s SRC also sent in some “muscles”, which Veroba said really helped complete a big project at the Souris Valley Theatre down at Woodlawn Regional Park.

“We had a few different businesses and groups step forward this year, in addition to our regular supporters who have helped us year to year.”

The day also featured a successful barbecue halfway through at the Estevan

Alliance Church, which had a good turnout from both project participants and volunteers.

“The barbecue was hugely successful this year,” Veroba said. “We had pretty much everybody that participated. We encourage all of our projects to also come to the barbecue. So, a good majority of them came. Some people can’t make it to the barbecue, because of their mobility, or the reason why they need help for a Day of Caring is a disability that prevents them from being able to come to things like the barbecue. That’s understandable. But we did have a really good showing. And it was so good to see everybody come out, enjoy a meal and then get back out and start volunteering again.”

The United Way Estevan also delivered 17 sunshine baskets to individuals who didn’t need help around their property but wanted to have a friendly visit. Gift bags were filled with items such as crossword puzzles, tea, chocolates, lotion and information on 211.ca, a resource providing various types of assistance.

“We had a representative from 211.ca attend in the morning to meet our volunteers and give out information,” explained Veroba. “We also put brochures and business cards in the sunshine baskets so people who are isolated in their own homes can reach out for assistance.”

A couple of CNIB volunteers also came to Estevan from Regina to volunteer during the Day of Caring.

The event was a community-wide effort, showcasing the strong volunteer spirit of Estevan.

“A huge thank you to the community, the business community, the individuals who participated, and the people who put in the projects,” Veroba said. “It just brings joy to people’s hearts to be able to come

into their yards and homes and see the need that’s in our community with the people who do struggle to

“United

TENDER

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sometimes get these tasks completed.

Way Estevan just wants to say a huge

thank you to everybody that participated in the Day of Caring this year,” Veroba said.

Jeremy Bens, Melissa St. Denis, Heather Stein and Curtis Allary were out at the long-term care facility at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Kirk Johnston, Ashley Lattery, Madi Tanner and David Mack with Murray GM were at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home as part of the United Way Estevan Day of Caring.

Susan Thompson and many other Kingston Midstream employees helped during the United Way Estevan Day of Caring.

Microtel Estevan employees were helping at the Souris Valley Theatre. From left, Gladys Papa Cres Eviota Aizee Palad Jasmin Dionisio Sharon Fernell and Joann Hernandez

EDS participants and staff partook in the United Way Estevan Day of Caring.

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Flashback –June 3, 1970

Assuming executive positions on the SRC for the 1970-71 school term were Debbie Bourgois, secretary; Cindy Johnson, vice-president; Lester Boey, president; and Ian Third, treasurer. The results of the student elections were announced late May 1970 at the first IHJH Colour Night. Robert Siepp, past president of SRC presented the 1970-71 gavel to Boey during the ceremonies.

Alameda boy, age nine, already a professional artist

By David Willberg

Madden Millions is a nine-year-old boy from Alameda who loves art.

The passion he has discovered at an early age has been rewarded, as his painting of an octopus recently sold for $100 to Nicole Grass, making Madden one of the youngest professional artists in the region.

Madden is part of an art class for children in Alameda led by Vicki Graham. She asked him to draw an octopus for a temporary exhibit at the Estevan Leisure Centre. Graham knew that Madden loves sea creatures, including the octopus.

“I like to draw pictures of animals,” he said. Madden said he was really happy with how the drawing turned out, although he admitted that he accidentally added an extra tentacle. He was excited to find out that his artwork would be at the leisure centre, and that lots of people would see it and the artwork of his friends.

Among viewers was Nicole Grass. She

regularly uses the leisure centre’s weight room, and she checks out the temporary displays, which are located next to the arts council’s office. She appreciated Madden’s octopus drawing when she saw it for the first time.

“It’s bright, the movement seemed to catch my eye. I just really enjoyed the painting and I kept thinking to myself I should stop in when the office is open and ask about it,” said Grass.

She reached out to the arts council and made an offer on Madden’s artwork.

Grass said she doesn’t usually appreciate art and doesn’t have a lot of artwork in her home.

“I’ve never had a piece that stood out until I saw that painting, and I thought ‘I like this thing,’ and the more I looked at it the more I liked it,” said Grass.

Madden said he didn’t know that he could draw well enough for someone to want to buy it. At first, he said no to selling the octopus, but then Gass came up with $100, which changed his mind. They didn’t know each other previously.

Madden said he’s not sure what he will do with the money, but he will likely put it in the bank. It’s a great feeling to be a professional artist and he would like to create more art.

Graham is also the office manager of the Estevan Arts Council. She said the EAC likes to feature artists, and she approached Gale Tytlandsvik, who is the head of the arts council’s visual arts committee, about showcasing student artwork in April. Tytlandsvik thought it was a great idea to celebrate the kids’ talents.

“We had plaster art, acrylic, watercolour, plasticine.”

Graham was pleased with how the kids’ exhibit turned out. A couple of kids used tablets to display their skills with such mediums as stop-motion animation. It showed that art doesn’t necessarily have to be on a canvas.

“It was well received. A lot of people stopped and asked questions, which brought about the whole thing with Madden’s art.”

Young people from Alameda, Oxbow and Alida all contributed to the exhibit.

Mayor’s Message

I encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy a weekend full of festivities. Friday, June 7 the Tougher Than Dirt Tour hits the Estevan Motor Speedway at 7:00pm. Saturday, June 8 head down to Hidden Valley Golf & RV Resort from 10:00am – 4:00pm for the River Bottom Rods & Rides Car Show and Sunday, June 9 is the Estevan Police Association Max-Fun Colour Run 5K at 1:00pm down in Woodlawn Regional Park.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN

The City of Estevan is undertaking construction for the Watermain replacement. The affected area includes First street between Souris Avenue and eighth Avenue, as well as 8th avenue between First street and Valley Street.

Property access and parking restrictions are to occur.

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

(subject to weather) City of Estevan will perform this work within the current Bylaw regulations and specifications.

Safety Construction site could be dangerous. If you have children, please ask them to keep a safe distance from the site. We will take every precaution to ensure public safety, but we need your assistance to constrain the natural curiosity of younger children. Please DO NOT attempt to go close to areas affected.

Theft or Vandalism

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

Questions and Concerns

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

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

Madden Millions with his painting of an octopus that recently sold for $100.

Photo courtesy of Vicki Graham

CLASSIFIEDS

A

Woman charged for assault, damaging EPS cells

The Estevan Police Service has announced multiple charges against a 62-year-old woman.

Police were dispatched to a disturbance in the north end of the city on May 29. The woman was arrested for public intoxication and causing a disturbance. While in police custody, she damaged police property. She was lodged in cells until sober.

The following day, the EPS announced that as a result of an ongoing investigation, the woman had been arrested for an assault.

She will appear in court in August on the charges.

In other recent police news, police issued several tickets for infractions under the Traffic Safety Act on May 27. Officers also assisted the bylaw enforcement officer with serving inspection notices.

Police received a report of a possible fraud. It was reported that someone was purchasing an excessive amount of Apple play

cards. That matter remains under investigation.

The EPS was called about a missing person on May 28. She was initially reported missing to a detachment of the RCMP, as she was last heard from outside of Estevan. She was located on May 29 in good health.

The EPS received a report on May 28 of theft from a local business. The individual was located, arrested, charged and released for court for theft under $5,000.

A complaint was received regarding an individual trespassing at a local business. A 19-yearold man had been banned from a local dispensary by the property owner. He returned to the dispensary and was subsequently issued a summary offence ticket under the Cannabis Act for re-entering a premise after being told to leave.

Members conducted a traffic stop on May 29 and determined that the

motorist’s licence was suspended. He was issued a ticket under the Traffic Safety Act and the vehicle he was driving was impounded.

Police were dispatched to a disturbance in the central area on May 30.

A 45-year-old man was arrested for assault and lodged in cells. He will be released on conditions with an August court date.

Police received a report of a vehicle stolen from the central area of the city. Through an investigation, it was determined the vehicle was in Alberta. The EPS contacted police in Alberta, who located the vehicle and arrested two suspects. The matter remains under investigation.

A report was received of a vehicle being taken from the driveway of a residence in the north part of the city. The matter is under investigation.

A traffic stop resulted in a male receiving a 72-hour driver’s licence suspension

and a vehicle impoundment after he tested positive for THC on a roadside screening device.

Another traffic stop resulted in a female receiving a 72-hour driver’s licence suspension and her vehicle being impounded after she tested positive for THC on a roadside screening device.

A report came in of mischief to a residence in the central part of the city. A statement was obtained. The matter is under investigation.

Officers responded to a report of a person receiving threatening messages on June 2. A statement was obtained, and the matter is under investigation.

Police conducted a curfew check on a man with court-ordered conditions to be at home at a specific time. The man was not home and a breach charge was filed.

Members were called to 51 occurrences over the weekend.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

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or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com. Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306-649-1405 to find out how! PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 49 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306-649.1405 or visit www. swna.com for details.

St. Joseph’s Hospital relies on donations to fund equipment purchases. Your Memorial Gift honours your loved one and makes it possible for our hospital to continue providing quality care for Estevan and area residents.

A letter will be sent to the family acknowledging your gift; please include their name and address as well as your own. You will receive an income tax receipt.

Weyburn’s Jan Keating, author of A Normal Boy: Living in an Asylum, and A Prairie Girl: Living in Baghdad, captivated an audience at the Estevan Public Library on May 29, sharing insights into her writing process and the compelling true stories behind her books. The event drew an engaged crowd of about 20 people, eager to hear from the author.

Anna Lawrence, adult program co-ordinator, praised Keating’s presentation.

“Jan is an amazing speaker. She’s very passionate about what she’s written and how she’s gone about learning the information about her books, which was really cool to see,” Lawrence said.

Keating read excerpts from both of her books and discussed the inspirations behind them. One book revolves around the story of a boy in a Weyburn asylum, a narrative that stayed with her for years before she penned it. The other book focuses on a woman, whose story Keating felt compelled to write after becoming fascinated with her life and forming a bond with her family.

The author also fielded questions from the audience, with one inquiry addressing her plans to adapt one of her books into a screenplay.

“Her goal is to turn the story about the woman into a screenplay,” Lawrence recounted.

The event was part of the library’s ongoing efforts to bring local authors to the community, which Lawrence noted happens more often during spring and fall.

While the library’s summer programming will focus more on activities for children, Lawrence hinted at exciting new initiatives for adults. These include a date night at the library for friends or partners on June 19, and a “magical grandparent” session on June 24, which will continue into July, aimed at teaching grandparents tricks to impress their grandchildren. For more information on upcoming events, residents can follow the Estevan Public Library on Facebook.

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST

Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land description and title number described in the following list are fully paid before the 6th day of August, 2024 an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.

Somewhere over the rainbow

People in the Estevan area were treated to a picturesque sight on Friday evening. Double rainbows appeared over the Energy City after a thunderstorm rolled through the community. This photo was captured in the northeast corner of the city.

Photo by Christine Jones

Early learning challenges addressed in Cornerstone

Maintaining a prescient mindset is one notable and desirable trait to claim in Jacquelene Gibbs’ world.

But even she probably couldn’t anticipate the rapid growth in community uptick that has involved the South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s (SECPSD) early learning programming that cares for the youngest members of the family.

Newly-developed and successful projects have led to more than a doubling of participants in some offerings and the demands they make on the professional personnel are being met with signature talents.

Gibbs was in the Cornerstone conference room on May 22 to explain the process and procedures of this portfolio to an attentive audience of board members and administrators. The group gathering was part of the board’s monthly meeting in the school division’s head office in Weyburn.

Gibbs is the co-ordinator of the early learning system in Cornerstone. Nine other professionals who deal with various programming needs and other staff members keep the projects and programs moving ahead. Those needs are brought to the table early on in a child’s worldly adventures and continue up to the age of five, as the youngsters are then prepared to take on the gradelevel classes.

Gibbs noted the provincial priorities of learning and assessment, along with Indigenous education programs, are embraced by SECPSD. That includes focus of pedagogical instructional coaches to support Tier 1 instruction for teachers across the grades.

Instructional coaching, especially for newly-arrived educators, is one peg in the program along with the Indigenous educators programming, mathematics and English as an addition-

al language. They all have specific coaching leaders at the helm.

She noted the portfolio contains two overarching pieces. These pieces are the new teacher and instructional supports from prekindergarten to Grade 12 and the birth to five early learning programs that support the provincial priorities and assessment.

The connection begins long before the child comes to school and other sites can be used such as libraries, or, as she suggested, a program held in a rink, as a possible venue. As in other Cornerstone realms, programming is data driven and Gibbs brought those facts to the table along with examples of strategies deployed to assist both the young participants and their valued educators. She noted how new teachers are brought on board and connected to coaches and other supports as they begin their careers in SECPSD.

There has been a reduction in personnel, she noted, but they are handling the increases in demands and enrolments.

“Teachers can go on site to refine their practices, and administrators know what to look for when they enter,” Gibbs said. That way they get a clear picture and teacher decisions are made a bit easier.

She noted the coaches assigned are just that. The teachers make the decisions, and the coaches “stay on the sidelines” after providing their assistance. New teachers got most of their focus this year, Gibbs said. There were five new teacher orientation sessions delivered this school year followed by survey/data collection as the coaches followed up on their duties.

Director of education Keith Keating added that district superintendents follow up as well to ensure

nothing is missed.

New teachers, in other words, can rest assured that a coach is there to help them.

Indigenous education programming involves treaty outcomes and educational experiences for the youngest.

Gibbs spent some time in her half-hour presentation to explain such things as the Master Minds program that has gained popularity for families, and how the youngest enrolees learn through play, how their progress is documented, how families are engaged in the discussions over the learning experiences, and how the young kids get engaged with one another as they travel through the program(s).

The Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre is brimming with activities and participants with the families that have registered in the past month now exceeding 507 compared with just 24 at the start of the new program launch in May 2021.

The Drop-In Family Free Play program at the Estevan centre nearly reached the 2,600 mark in March. Gibbs noted this program could double in size if they had the space to do so. She said that some programming participants are able to “spill out” into the nearby field and an outdoor play area is being developed.

Early learning programming also includes mobile outreach adventures in a number of communities and regions.

The support system includes home visits, information referrals and transition supports.

The pre-kindergarten program continues to grow, too, with increases in regular attendance as the youngsters learn through play and experiences with their adult educators and other children.

Weyburn author Jan Keating visited with the Estevan Public Library guests. Photo courtesy of Anna Lawrence

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Brewers teams post 4-0 records on the weekend SPORTS

Two teams in the Estevan Brewers baseball program had perfect 4-0 records on the weekend.

The Estevan U15 AA Brewers improved their record to 10-0 with four victories in which they outscored their opponents 58-8. They defeated the White Butte Broncos 13-3 and 14-4 on Saturday, and the Davidson Cardinals 17-0 and 14-1 on Sunday.

The Brewers scored seven runs in the first inning of their first game against the Broncos on Saturday at Mel Murray Cactus Park. Spencer Skuce hit a two-run home run to key the offensive outburst. Kale Kuchinka allowed three runs, two of them earned, over 4 2/3 innings, and struck out nine.

In the second game, the Brewers scored eight times in the fourth inning. Chayse Zohner and Cort Barber homered for Estevan in the game. Broden Henry gave up four runs, two earned, in 5 1/3 innings and struck out seven.

Barber dominated on the mound for Estevan in the first game against Davidson, giving up one hit and zero walks in five innings. The Brewers led 6-0 after the first inning and added eight runs in the second.

Davidson opened the scoring in the first inning of

the second game, but Estevan responded with five runs in the first and six in the second, including a three-run, inside-the-park home run by Aidan Turner. Chayse Zohner gave up one hit and one run in 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight. Up next for the Brewers will be home games against the Swift Current 57s on June 8 at 1 and 4 p.m.

The Estevan U18 AA Brewers also went 4-0 on the weekend, beating the Lumsden Cubs 7-5 and 12-2 at home on Saturday, and the East Central Red Sox 20-3 and 18-3 on Sunday to outscore their opponents 57-13.

Estevan scored four times in the second inning in the first win over Lumsden. Jacob Mayer didn’t allow a run in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Estevan scored six times in the third period of the second game. Blake Andrist starred at the plate with two hits, two runs and an RBI, and gave up two runs, one of them earned, and one hit in five innings pitched.

Against the Red Sox, Estevan had six runs in the first inning and nine in the fourth. Jayden Kuchinka had four runs, four hits and three RBIs for Estevan.

In the second game, Estevan scored four times in the first and seven in the second.

Ryker Wall had three runs, two hits and five RBIs.

Up next for the U18 AAs will be home games against the Assiniboia Aces on June 8, and the Regina Buffalos the following day.

•••

The South East U18 AAA Twins went 1-3, with 2-0 and 10-1 losses to the East Central Red Sox on Saturday, and an 11-6 win and a 3-1 loss to the Saskatoon Diamondbacks on Sunday.

In the first game against the Sox, Conner Kerr had three of the Twins hits, including a double. Draven Naviaux allowed two runs in five innings, and Tyson Hardy pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

The Twins were down 6-0 through 3 1/2 innings

in the first game against the Diamondbacks, but rallied with one in the fourth and 10 in the fifth. Kerr had two runs, two hits and four RBIs, and picked up the win on the mound with six runs against in six innings.

The second game against the Diamondbacks was scoreless after six innings, but then Saskatoon outscored Estevan 3-1 in the seventh and final frame.

Chase Himmelspach had two hits and drove in the lone run.

Keaton Husband pitched a complete game for the Twins and struck out six.

•••

The Estevan U13 AAA Brewers went 1-2, with 2714 and 18-13 losses against Lumsden, and a 23-2 win over White Butte.

Tytan Romanow hit two home runs and drove in five in the first loss to Lumsden. Joseph Hozjan also had a solo homer.

Colby Gress went 4-for4 in the second loss to Lumsden. Estevan led 10-9 after five innings, but Lumsden rallied.

Estevan finished with 22 hits in the win over White Butte. Romanow drove in four runs on four hits, including a home run to lead Estevan’s attack, and Hozjan also homered. Tayson Tangjerd gave up two runs and struck out 10 batters on the day.

Estevan also beat White Butte 24-11 in an exhibition game on Sunday.

The Brewers will visit Moose Jaw for one game on June 7 and the Regina

Estevan pool team wins provincial title

A team of pool players from Estevan has qualified to compete at an international event in Las Vegas, after winning a Canadian Poolplayers Association (CPA) Saskatchewan title. The squad, comprised of Burva Connor, Melissa Donison, Rey Ferrer, Jigs Gonzales, Murray Hamm, Elyse Mantei, Carl Maranan and Henry Renwick, competed at the CPA’s Southern Saskatchewan Pool League championship in Moose Jaw late last month. Five Estevan teams were among those who entered, and other teams from Saskatchewan were also competing. Donison, who was the team’s captain, said they started slowly at the event, losing their first match. Then they needed to win a sudden-death game in their second set of contests; had they lost, they would have gone home.

“We didn’t tell Henry it was sudden death. He just went out and played his game,” said Donison.

The next day, they won two more matches to advance to the final, where they played the team that defeated them initially. This time the Estevan squad prevailed.

“You were guaranteed to play twice, but after that, it was single elimination,” said Donison.

Five of the eight team members played in a match. Each player was assigned a number based on their skill level, ranging from a seven for the top players to a two for the novices. The total for the five players competing in a match can’t exceed 23.

“Your skill level seven is your very experienced, consistent … player,” said Donison.

Furthermore, with the tournament’s handicapping system, if a player with

a ranking of seven plays someone who is assigned a four, then the top player has to win more decidedly.

The local entry had a seven and two sixes on their team. There was also a five, two fours and two threes.

Donison noted she was on a team that finished second last year.

“Myself and one other player were part of a different team before, and since your skill levels go up, you can’t all stay on the same team, so I had to branch out and start my own team. Most of them were from last year, except we have two new players that are brand new this year, and those are Elyse and Carl.”

Donison has played at the event in Las Vegas once before. It was a good experience, but there are just over 10,000 people at that tournament, so it can be a little unnerving at first.

Wolfpack for two the following day.

The Estevan U11 AAA Brewers had four games against the White Butte Broncos on the weekend, winning 12-7 and 14-9 at home Saturday, but losing 14-13 and tying 9-9 on the road Sunday.

Estevan rallied from a five-run deficit to beat White Butte in Saturday’s first game. Estevan scored six times in the third and five in the fifth. Jacobi Hlavka had two hits and three RBIs.

Dylan Kennedy threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Estevan.

Estevan again rallied from a five-run deficit in Saturday’s second game against White Butte, thanks in large part to six runs in the fourth inning and five runs in the fifth. Marek Kosior. had an inside-the-park home run that scored three.

Estevan lost 14-13 to White Butte on Sunday, after White Butte scored the winner in the bottom of the sixth and final inning. Estevan had taken a 13-12 lead after scoring six times in the sixth. Cyrus Schell had three hits and three RBIs for Estevan.

In the 9-9 draw, Estevan scored six times in the top of the second. The Brewers stole 13 bases and didn’t commit an error.

“I enjoyed every second of it,” said Donison. She is looking forward to going back, as is the rest of the team. They are looking to do some fundraising before they leave.

Mantei noted they play in a league together on Monday nights. She was the newcomer on the squad, having joined in September. They’re all friends and are looking forward to competing in Vegas.

Most of them have been playing pool for quite a long time, and are high-ranking players.

Donison would like to see more people join the league, because it is open to anybody of any skill level. The league has games on Monday nights at 8 p.m. at The Beef Bar, the Black Grasshopper Pub and the Royal Canadian Legion Estevan branch’s club room. Anyone interested in joining can contact Amanda Pearson at 306-4616604.

Kale Kuchinka and the Estevan U15 AA Brewers are now 10-0 to start the season.

Members of the team were, back row, from left, Henry Renwick Murray Hamm Carl Maranan and Elyse Mantei. Front row, Rey Ferrer, Melissa Donison and Jigs Gonzales. Missing is Burva Connor. Photo courtesy of Elyse Mantei

Former Cowessess reserve chief re

on need for truth for reconciliation to occur

By David Willberg

During his time as the chief of the Cowessess First Nation, located north of Broadview, Cadmus Delorme was thrust into the national spotlight on multiple occasions, not just for progressive initiatives that were introduced during his tenure, but a tragic discovery on the reserve.

Delorme was the keynote speaker at the firstever South East Summit, held May 23 at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus. In his speech, There Can be No Reconciliation Without Truth, Delorme reflected on his experiences with his family, his time as the Cowessess chief, and stressed the importance of education.

Despite the serious nature of the topic, Delorme often incorporated humour.

He stressed that nobody in the room created the residential school system, the Indian Act or the ‘60s Scoop. But everyone has inherited problems associated with these measures.

“When we inherit something, we have a responsibility to do something about it,” said Delorme. “One of the things I find as a very proud Indigenous person and a very proud Canadian, is that the majority of Canadians, your heart is with reconciliation.”

Delorme never attended a residential school but his parents did. He described his upbringing as a family filled with love.

As a youth, Delorme

found a love for golf at the Cowessess golf course. He recalled competing at the Golf Saskatchewan junior provincials at Mainprize Regional Park near Midale when he was 16, and being the only Indigenous person entered.

“Nobody was rude to me or ignorant to me, but I, right away, talked myself into it that I didn’t belong here,” said Delorme.

He struggled at that event and at another, but became better, won provincial events and has represented Saskatchewan at 13 national events.

“I can stand here, with the confidence to share with you, knowing that I belong in this room, just from the fact that my father and mother raised me through sports,” said Delorme.

He also told the crowd how the experiences of his parents and other members of his family led to a distrust of police. Delorme was worried each time he saw a police officer when he was young. He told the crowd that when his mother was six years old, she was kept at home by her grandmother. A couple of days later, an RCMP officer came and took Delorme’s mother to the train to go to a residential school.

Delorme’s parents were worried that he would eventually be taken and told where he had to go to school.

He graduated from high school at Cowessess, but he didn’t see value in education. At the urging of his

wife, he enrolled at the First Nations University of Canada at the University of Regina and took a class on Indigenous studies. It was the first time he ever heard of residential schools, despite his parents’ experiences and the presence of a residential school at Cowessess until 1996. He became angry and frustrated as he heard about what happened.

“My parents held it from me to protect me,” said Delorme. “Today, when we talk about truth and reconciliation, to my Canadian friends and family, you’re on a rediscovering journey right now. But just remember, Indigenous people, especially us young ones, we’re also rediscover-

ing it right now, too. We can’t assume that just one side knows the history.”

He believes truth has to come before reconciliation, but many bypass the truth phase and become frustrated.

He cited several examples from Canada’s past and modern times to demonstrate how Canadians need to be asking the right questions. Drawing on his own experiences, Delorme pointed to the discovery when hundreds of unmarked graves were found at the site of a former residential school at Cowessess nearly three years ago. Sixteen unmarked graveyards have been located in Canada, and he said more will be coming.

Unmarked graves represented validation of what he called the “pain, frustration, anger and tiredness” of trying to be Indigenous. Many people have since told him that what they viewed as the truth wasn’t the case.

Generations of Canadians weren’t taught about the trauma of residential schools, and many were taught erroneous things about Indigenous people. The younger generations have now heard of them.

“We’re the students right now in this moment. Our teachers are our kids. The most important place to talk reconciliation in this province is the kitchen table every one of us goes to for our meals,” said Delorme.

It’s also important to teach people new to Canada about the history between Indigenous people and Canadians.

Generations of people on his mother’s side of the family were taken from their families and sent to residential schools, rather than getting education from their family. They also missed out on affirmation of love, physical touch, quality time and the gift to serve.

Delorme highlighted two worldviews in this province. Everyone lives with a Western Canadian worldview, which Delorme said is so beautiful and has benefitted everyone in the room, but there is also an Indigenous worldview, which is just as beautiful. He said they can co-exist.

Using the example of two canoes, one with the Western worldview and the other with the Indigenous worldview, Delorme said the Indigenous canoe fell behind thanks to the Indian Act. Now they are trying to catch up.

“Pre-1867, when the Dominion of Canada was created … there was a beautiful Indigenous worldview here. There were doctors and nurses and a medical system. There was an economic system. There was an education system. There was a trade system. There was a sports system.”

Indigenous people have been trying to share their culture with Canadians, but it’s only now that Canadians are starting to understand that worldview.

They want to partner with people on projects, but 75 per cent of his time during his seven years as chief from 2016-2023 was managing poverty and 25 per cent was dedicated to furthering business and partnerships.

“We have the talent to be in every room in this country. We lack the resources to lift us to those talented places.”

While he was chief, his focus included political sovereignty, economic sustainability and cultural rejuvenation. He decided not to run for re-election in 2023, and has started the OneHoop consulting firm, which emphasizes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action No. 2, business and reconciliation.

City council approves annual taxation bylaws

Estevan city council gave second and third readings to four bylaws related to property taxes during the May 27 meeting.

The first bylaw was to fix the rate of taxation. The budget that was approved in January has a two per cent property tax increase, the first community-wide tax hike in property taxes since 2019.

Council had to wait for the education share of property tax to be finalized in the provincial budget before it could bring forward the rate of taxation bylaw.

The other bylaws were for health, the library and the business improvement district. The health levy is expected to generate $101,962, which will be

directed to the fundraising campaign to bring an MRI scanner to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The library levy will generate $403,000 for the South East Regional Library and local library operations. The money raised will cover the city’s provincially-mandated commitment to the library system. The business improvement district levy will fetch $27,500.

••• Council approved three community event permits. Two of them were for the upcoming Estevan Exhibition Association’s Energy City Ex. The cabaret will be held on June 15, with Tyler Lewis providing entertainment. Also, beer gardens will be set up each

night of the event from June 14-16.

The Black Grasshopper Pub was given the green light for its parking lot party on Sept. 14, which will start at 6 p.m. There will be live music.

Council approved neighbourhood block party kits that will be available free of charge starting June 1.

In a report to council, leisure services manager Erin Wilson wrote the neighbourhood block party program encourages residents living on the same street or within an apartment building to plan a get together to build relationships and connect over food, fun and play.

Each kit will include games and sporting equipment for all ages, icebreaker activities, sidewalk chalk with a list of potential games/activities, scavenger hunt search sheets and participant name tags.

Additional supports include assistance with street closure permits, with delivery of barricades if needed; noise bylaw information; and financial support, as the city is working with

local grocery stores to provide a discount on food purchases.

If a group did choose to host their function in a public park, a $25 permit would be needed.

“We are encouraging groups to consider yards and streets before public park areas. A reminder of no alcohol use in public parks will be included in their package,” Wilson said.

Information on the city’s website will include details on frequently-asked questions, step-by-step instructions to make hosting a block party as easy as possible, liquor licence information, templates for invitations that can be printed and shared with neighbours, and a link to easily reserve the neighbourhood block party kit.

One kit is ready for the community to reserve. It can be picked up at the information desk the business day before the event, and it must be returned by noon the next business day after the party. The cost to create the kit was approximately $800, and it was supported

by Saskatchewan Lotteries’ Community Grant Fund. Coun. Shelly Veroba, who is the chairwoman of the Community Safety and Well-Being Committee, said it is a great idea because positive interactions among neighbours help build safety. It also allows children to know who they can turn to when necessary.

•••

The city will apply for a CP Rail grant for a Cardiac Safe Communities outdoor AED station.

In a report, safety coordinator Helen Fornwald said Moosomin and Indian Head have installed machines. They have had positive experiences by placing them in central locations, and have not experienced any issues related to vandalism or weather.

“It has an infrared camera in it, so you know if someone is taking it out to try to steal it or vandalize it, so a picture will automatically be sent to whoever is going to be monitoring it,” Fornwald wrote.

The machine cannot be in direct sunlight. It could be placed on a concrete pad, which is the more ex-

pensive option, or mounted on a building with a source of power.

Fornwald suggested the Churchill Playpark or the Garden Park on Fourth Street as potential locations.

The group that contacted the city will apply for the grant. Coun. Rebecca Foord wanted to know if the city will have to pay the organization a fee for submitting the application. Fornwald said she would check, but she doesn’t expect a fee. To maintain the machine, after four years, the City of Estevan would have to purchase batteries, pads and a monitoring plan, which have a combined cost of $1,145.

Council gave first reading to an amended building bylaw. In a report, land development services manager Richard Neufeld said council had approved the bylaw last year and sent it to the provincial Building and Technical Standards branch for final approval. It was denied due to conflicts with the Construction Code Act and Regulations, forcing the city to make some changes.

City clerk Judy Pilloud said the amendments have been adopted by MuniCode.

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In the inquiries portion of the meeting, Coun. Tony Sernick said he has received a lot of calls about the pothole issues in the community. He said it is nice to see more patching occur rather than just filling the holes.

Mayor Roy Ludwig said it has been a “very bad year” for potholes and it will cost the city double or even triple the typical amount to fill them. If people are patient, Ludwig said they would be happy with the city’s efforts.

Coun. Travis Frank said the issue is due to the weather the city experienced in the winter.

Cadmus Delorme delivered the keynote speech at the South East Summit on Thursday at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus.