Mock Accident Shows Consequences of Impairment Keep
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SERVING THE ENERGY CITY FOR 111 YEARS
Wed., June 11, 2014
www.estevanmercury.ca
Issue 5
⇢A5
Mailing No. 10769
Relay for Life back on growth road
The event has seen over $1.1 million raised in nine years to fight cancer and the Estevan Relay for Life found new life and new energy with its 2014 version. After a couple of years of stabilized but promising results, this year’s event attracted even more participants and a modest but significant hike in financial support. Alva Iwanchuk, a relative newcomer to Estevan but one who was willing to step up and serve as president for this year’s relay, credits the spirit of cancer survivors and a generous community for the upsurge in support. “Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the Relay for Life in Estevan. I expect it will be a good one,” said Iwanchuk. “It will be bigger,” said long-time volunteer Tina Bird, who has served as a chairwoman for several relay committees over the years. “We had 12 teams this year, two more than last year and we raised $82,463.21, which beat our target of $80,500,” said Bird, who was charged with the duties of keeping track of the money and participation numbers this year. Last year’s fundraising effort netted $60,150, which had put the local
Cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and friends joined in for the fourth lap of the all-night walking marathon in the Civic Auditorium during the 2014 Relay for Life in Estevan. relay well above the $1 million mark. With 12 teams involved, and 109 participants this year, compared with 81 last year, the road ahead is clear for the 2015 celebration of life. “We also had 39 survivor participants this year, which I believe is an increase over the past few years,” said Bird. The event can’t be staged without volunteers, and this year there were 78 of them who got involved and helped out in several ways through committee
and logistical efforts. The all-night walkathon once again included the powerful and emotional survivor’s lap that lends an official start to proceedings following some entertainment and opening remarks from committee and city dignitaries. This year the survivors were led by the Estevan PPCLI Army Cadet pipe and drummers. “There were no glitches overnight either,” said Bird, of the marathon that includes team members relaying onto the walking path around the Civic
Auditorium, ensuring that each team has at least one member walking at all times throughout the evening, up until 7 a.m. the following day. “Cancer doesn’t sleep. That’s why we don’t,” said Iwanchuk, noting on Monday morning that “once you get past 60, it gets a little harder to do, but what the heck …” Iwanchuk, who moved to Estevan in August of last year, said she had been involved in the Relay for Life in Swan River Man. for several years, being on
Relay for Life honourary chairwoman Marlene Gaudry with her husband and caregiver Duane during the relay’s survivor’s and caregiver’s lap that helped start the overnight relay marathon. several committees in honour of her sister, who has been a cancer survivor for over 15 years. “It went smoothly. Everyone had a good time,” she noted. Prior to the start of the marathon, Iwanchuk said the Relay for Life was an opportunity to join others around the world who are simply wanting more birthdays for their loved ones. “We celebrate the survivors while remembering those who lost the war. We are turning what we know into learning what we can
learn to fight it.” Mayor Roy Ludwig reminded those at the opening ceremonies that all of us are touched by cancer in one way or another, whether it be ourselves or someone we know and love. Former co-chairs Carol Cundall and Mary Antonenko introduced the 2014 honourary chairwoman Marlene Gaudry, who is currently fighting back Stage 4 ovarian cancer with determination and resolve. Gaudry noted her cancer was finally diagnosed in mid-2013 and Cundall said
Cornerstone finds itself at odds with provincial auditor Refusing to hand over student files
By Norm Park normpark@estevanmercury.ca
When the South East Cornerstone Public School Division refused to comply with a request from the acting provincial auditor to provide access to student files earlier this year, it eventually led to an exchange of words and memos that has placed the two organizations at loggerheads, at least temporarily. As of June 5, the two sides had not reached an agreement regarding the access to information being
Harold Laich requested by the provincial auditor’s office, but the doors of compromise were, perhaps, opening. The original request to view confidential files
to extract specific information required by the auditor, was discussed at the Cornerstone trustee’s meeting on April 17, which led to a unanimous vote to deny access, which was reported in the April 23 edition of the Mercury. The main concern expressed by trustees at the time focused on certain confidential information regarding students and student behaviours that could be compromised. The board let it be
known at that time they had received additional legal opinions regarding the acting auditor’s request and had forwarded their concerns to the provincial privacy commissioner. “We had a visit with the auditor’s representative, and we differed with them. I understand they have other measures they can refer to, to get the information they probably need,” said Cornerstone board chairman Harold Laich during the
April 17 meeting. Judy Ferguson, the province’s acting provincial auditor, when contacted by the Mercury on June 5, said she was “puzzled” by the Cornerstone board’s decision that resulted in the standoff. She added the office she served hadn’t had liability factors raised before since the act that pertains to her office provides “protection for both parties.” When asked what the consequences would be if
Cornerstone continued to refuse access to a sampling of student files, Ferguson said the current situation was rare, and while she found the reaction from the school division “kind of surprising,” she wasn’t going to engage in pursuing a punishment route. “Part of our job is to look and see if an organization is carrying out their mandate,” she said, noting there wasn’t → A2 Negotiations