Season Opening Drag Races Held ⇢B1
Wed., June 18, 2014
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www.estevanmercury.ca
Issue 6
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY FOR 111 YEARS
Estevan’s inaugural Energy Expo meets City’s expectations By Alex Coop acoop@estevanmercury.ca
Estevan’s inaugural Energy Expo didn’t draw dynamic crowds, but it allowed exhibitors from various companies to spread their message and make connections over the two-day period. Thirty-nine booths were crammed into Affinity Place on June 11, and company representatives spent the next two days interacting with other exhibitors and the general public. The initial concept for the event came to fruition about a year ago, according to Manpreet Sangha, Estevan’s economic development officer. In an attempt to further promote the energy industry in the region, the idea evolved into an expo the City plans to host every two years, alternating with Weyburn’s Oil Show, and placing a heavier emphasis on alternative energy opportunities. The Boundary Dam Power
Station’s $1.4 billion carbon capture project, which will safely store approximately one million tonnes of CO2 per year and greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is the first of its kind and will be a significant part of the Energy Expo for years to come. Sangha said despite the inability to tour the facilities at the dam due to commissioning reasons, a virtual tour was available for those interested in the project. She said the public can look forward to tours on location at the Boundary Dam Reservoir during the next expo, alongside a variety of outdoor exhibits. Mitch Carlson, manager of business development at SaskEnergy, had a booth set up and was one of the keynote speakers during the expo’s final day. The second half of his presentation in the conference area next to the exhibits was dedicated to liquefied natural gas and its positive capabilities, a
seemingly excellent fit for the overall theme the expo was trying to push. However, much like the obstacles Carlson pointed out during his presentation involving a lack of an established liquefied natural gas presence in the province, which makes it difficult for the product to gain traction, the expo appeared to endure the same challenges, as tables in the conference hall were largely vacant. This was most likely as a result of the expo’s lack of established presence in the area something Sangha pointed out as well. Nevertheless, Carlson said he was happy to be a part of the event, and wanted to help promote the energy industry in Saskatchewan. “It looks like it’s starting off as a small event, but we hope in future years it grows,” he said, drawing comparison to the Weyburn Oil Show, which has, over the years, turned into a colossal event. → A2 Energy
Screaming Good Time
People seemed to be enjoying themselves on the Fire Ball ride as the Estevan Fair kicked off on Monday evening. The fair continues at the Estevan Exhibition Grounds for its final night tonight. Photo by Alex Coop.
Rental rates remain highest in Energy City Estevan rental units continue to outpace the rest of Saskatchewan in terms of price. The rental apartment vacancy rate across Saskatchewan’s urban centres saw an increase from 2013 to 2014, but while more units are available, Estevan saw an increase in average rental prices and remains the most expensive city to rent property in the province. According to the spring rental market survey, re-
leased June 11 by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Estevan saw its vacancy rates for rental units rise from a near statistical impossibility of 0.0 per cent in April 2013 to a 5.5 per cent vacancy rate in April 2014. Estevan continued to reign as the city with the highest monthly rent, with an average two-bedroom apartment costing tenants $1,275 per month, a 10.3 per cent increase from the average a year previous.
That’s also 8.1 per cent higher than the next closest city, Lloydminster, which has an average rent of $1,171 per month. Swift Current remained the lowest average two-bedroom rent at $781 per month in April 2014. Regina and Saskatoon recorded average rents at $1,053 and $1,075, respectively. Weyburn’s average rental price was listed as $942 per month, making it 35 per cent more expensive to rent in → A2 Rental
The RCMP provided this handout photo of Sunday’s plane crash site near Torquay where two Saskatchewan men were killed.
Two die in plane crash The crash of a single engine Cessna aircraft in a field near Torquay has left two people dead. The two were the sole occupants of the plane that went down at 10:12 a.m. on June 15. The plane had departed from a private airstrip near Torquay and was en route to Lampman when the incident occurred. A father and son, Philip Wimmer, 59 and Bradley Wimmer, 29 of the Oungre area, were located and pronounced dead at
the scene of the crash. Members of the Estevan detachment of the RCMP were among the first to arrive at the scene, and they said they will continue to assist the Canadian Transportation Safety Board officials in their investigation into the cause of the accident. A search was conducted for the aircraft after it was reported overdue in Lampman, which subsequently led to the discovery of the downed plane and the victims.