CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

Organizing and running the 2023 World Para Hockey Championships was a “Herculean” task involving hundreds of staff and volunteers whose efforts ensured the event was a success, the Events Centre GM says.

“A special callout to the volunteers and their commitment for the event. And really, from the bottom of my heart, (thank you to) my team at the Events Centre,” Ryan MacIvor said emotionally during the July 24 reguthe tournament.

“It’s pretty spectacular when you understand what we did (including employees’) tireless work to ensure the venue was open and welcoming. They really are the unsung heroes and the MVPs from my point of view.” in Canada, Saskatchewan, or Moose Jaw, while it was also a “Herculean effort” to undertake, he continued. Organizers had only 120 days to start preparing after Hockey Canada awarded the community the event and

“It was no small feat,” MacIvor remarked. Statistics indicate there were more than 15,000 port staff; more than 2,500 hotel room nights booked; days to install para hockey infrastructure. The tournament will leave a legacy at the Events

Centre and in the region, MacIvor said.

The venue now has a para hockey conversion kit, change rooms have accessible shower heads and chairs, there are new time clocks in dressing rooms and most internal electrical components have been upgraded.

Meanwhile, Team Canada held an open public practice and a meet-and-greet with the Regina Avengwith another Regina team; Hockey Saskatchewan had para stakeholder meetings; the World Para Ice Hockey organization held women’s development meetings; and many athletes used the city’s accessible transit.

“We haven’t really hosted a big event since the Scotties back in 2020, and so growing that volunteer infrastructure, we sort of set the stage that we now have this big international event where we continue … to build upon (that volunteer base),” said MacIvor, noting more than 135 volunteers contributed over 10,000 hours.

The organizing committee developed partnerships with Prairie South School Division and a school in Regina since it was “imperative” to engage with youths, he continued. Players from Team Canada travelled to four schools in Moose Jaw — six in total participated — to speak with students, while more than 1,450 students attended three morning games.

The event was also an exercise in “nation building” since the Snowbirds participated in presenting player of the game awards, attended games and received recognition, welcomed Team Canada to its dressing room and delivered and announced the starting lineup. The aero-

The championship had so much coverage locally, nationally and internationally that it generated “incredible footage and stories” across the world, said MacIvor.

The data shows more than two million people viewed tournament videos, more than 58,000 viewed the YouTube live stream and over 900,000 watched on other platforms. Furthermore, there were 94,200 online engagements, more than nine million impressions and 617 posts.

“To think that Saskatchewan … (and) Moose Jaw made it to the Para Olympic Games’ Facebook page (is awesome),” MacIvor said. “That is one of just many, many, many news stories and articles that went around the world.”

The City of Moose Jaw was “spectacular” in its commitment to the tournament, the event was incredible, and it was humbling to see the athletes perform at a high level, he continued.

To thank council for its support, MacIvor presented an artwork of a thunderbird that an Aboriginal artist had made for the tournament, noting the creation embodied how everyone pulled together.

The Coteau Street East bridge, the Ninth Avenue Southwest road and smart meters were some topics that city council asked city administration about during the recent regular meeting.

Coteau Street East bridge

Coun. Heather Eby inquired about the Coteau Street East bridge and whether there was any new information about it.

Bevan Harlton, director of engineering, explaineddestrians can still use it — in May after a structural engineering consultant determined the structure had deteriorated.

City hall has been evaluating the structure monthly since closing it to vehicles and determined it remains safe for residents to use, he added.

Council decided during its 2021 budget discussions to tear down the 110-year-old bridge and split the demolition costs with Canadian National Railway.

A previous council report indicated it would cost $1.8 million for minor maintenance of the bridge and replacement in 2025, $1.1 million for conversion to a pedestrian bridge and replacement in 2025, $2.7 million for major rehabilitation and replacement in 2035, and $2.2 million for conversion to a pedestrian bridge and full replacement in 2035.

City hall could demolish the bridge between now and 2027.

Ninth Avenue Southwest road

Coun. Jamey Logan inquired about when the Ministry of Highways planned to address Ninth Avenue Southwest, considering that road was becoming dangerous on which to drive. The road is experiencing slope instability and slumping issues, which are also causing giant potholes.

The ministry met with city manager Maryse Carmi- ect’s design, said Harlton. Once that’s complete — it’s work with communications to schedule open houses to discuss the construction.

City hall is waiting for the ministry to complete the design before approving it for tender, he continued. Meanwhile, the province is committed to repairing the slumping road this year and remediating the rest next year; undertaking the project in two phases is fair.

“I agree. I hope it will be taken care of this fall,” said Logan.

Mayor Clive Tolley agreed, saying, “Many people have been inquiring about that.”

Smart meters

Coun. Doug Blanc wondered how the smart water meter installation project was going and how many had been installed. He also wondered what city hall was doneeded to be operational if city crews ever needed to shut off water to a residence or neighbourhood.

City crews and contractor Neptune have installed 4,500 smart water meters so far, which is a 34-per-cent completion rate, said Harlton. The project manager says everything is on schedule and crews should install all 12,500 meters on time.

Meanwhile, as crews replace the water meters, they are also checking the curb shutoffs — the municipality is not waiting for homeowners to complain — to determine if they have failed or are malfunctioning. They then report them to city hall, which creates a rating list of ones

Harlton noted that city hall is not linking the completion of projects, which means crews will continue to shutoffs using different methods if necessary.

“In the middle of next year, we will have a list of curb stops that need work. And then we’ll have to prior-

NOTICE OF INTENTION

TO AMEND ZONING BYLAW PLAN NO. 5346

The Council of the City of Moose Jaw intends to consider a bylaw pursuant to The Planning and Development Act, 2007 to amend the City of Moose Jaw’s Zoning Bylaw No. 5346.

The proposed amendment would rezone 476 Stadacona Street East, legally known as Lot 11, Blk/Par 49, Plan OLD96 Ext 0, from R1 – Large Lot Low Density Residential District to R2 – Medium Density Residential District. The purpose of the amendment is to accommodate for future higher density residential land uses.

A map of the a ected area and a copy of the proposed Bylaw may be found on the City website at www.moosejaw.ca.

Public feedback on the proposed Bylaw may be directed to Planning and Development Services, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8, or by email at planning@moosejaw.ca. All written submissions must be received by 10:00 am on Monday, August 14, 2023. Questions may be directed to the Department of Planning and Development Services by email or by phone at 306-694-4443.

The proposed Bylaw and any submissions regarding the proposed Bylaw will be considered at the regular meeting of City Council to be held in Council Chambers, City Hall, at 4:00 pm on Monday, August 14, 2023.

DATED at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan this 27th day of July, 2023.

Dawn Lugrin – Assistant City Clerk cials who quit in April 2022. required — to MuniCode Services Ltd. since 2009, and the company completed all work for building inspections and plan reviews, a council report explained.

City council unanimously approved Starchuk’s ap24 regular meeting, using section 16 of The Construction Code Act as its authority, and instructed the mayor and Starchuk starts Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Council appointed Jordan Hoffort as a building ofOctober, which meant MuniCode was performing less work in this area, the report continued. With the hiring of Starchuk, the municipality will no longer be required to contract out any work — including completing all building plan reviews and inspections — to that company.

Michelle Sanson, director of planning and developcan inspect industrial or commercial buildings.

Moose Jaw fastball players matched up pretty well against their counterparts from the United States. One just has to look at how three members of the Moose Jaw Ice performed at the USA Softball 12U B Northern Nationals this past week in Fargo, N.D.

Playing with the Minot Storm Blue, the Ice would play key roles in in their team’s performance as the Storm went all tournament before eventually settling for a

The Ice put together a 2-1 record in the round robin and won their opening playoff game 14-5 over Grantburg Barnettners bracket.

There, they’d run into unbeaten Pool B winner Hillsboro and end up in one of their closest games of the tournament before going on to a 4-3 win.

The Storm had realized in their opening game that Strueby -- one of the standout pitchers for the Ice in their provincial AA winning campaign -- had the potential to do big things in the event, and from that point on, the ball was essentially hers.

And to say things turned out well onstatement, with the win over Hillsboro an example.

Strueby would go the distance, allowwhile striking out 15 of the 28 batters she faced and throwing 116 pitches.

The Storm rewarded her by overcominning and then holding on in the seventh for the win.

Olafson and Ansell had a rare hitless game in the tournament, while Strueby was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.

That sent Minot into the winners

12-2 over previously undefeated Bainerd White.

Storm would lead 6-0 through three beforening.

Olafson had a 2-for-2 outing that in- cluded a pair of runs scored and two runs batted in, while Strueby was 1-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Ansell had a hit in four trips and scored a run.

Strueby did her thing in the circle, allowing two runs on four hits and walking two while striking out 14 of 24 and tossing another 101 pitches -- giving her a tidy 417 for the weekend to that point.

From there, it was into the winneriar foe: the Brookings Outlaws, who had handed the Ice their lone loss in the round

- robin.

Things looked good early this time around for Minot, as a pair of runs in each 4-2 lead. Brookings kept chipping away were all tied up 6-6.

The Outlaws took over the next inning, though, with six runs giving them control of the game. The Storm got one back in the bottom of the frame, but that’s as close as they’d get.

Strueby would take the loss, with only seven of the 12 runs counting as earned. She’d give up 16 hits and walk four while striking out 11, throwing another 120 pitches in the process.

Strueby also had a good game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Olafson was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, Ansell 1-for-4 with a run.

That sent the Storm into the ‘B’ side thanks to a 5-4 loss to West Fargo United.

It was a tough one, too, as after tying the game in the seventh and scoring in the extra inning, West Fargo would put up a pair of runs in the bottom of the extra to Olafson was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Strueby had a hit and a walk in four trips to the plate. Ansell was held without a hit.

Strueby capped the tournament by goon six hits four walks, striking out another 13 and throwing another 126 pitches, for a grand total of 663 through Minot’s eight games through the week.

The Moose Jaw Canucks Red might have absorbed more than their fair share of losses throughout the Baseball Regina 13U AAA regular season, but during the July 22 weekend all those games against tough competition came within a couple of wins paying huge dividends.

The Canucks went undefeated through the round robin and reached the playoff round before falling short of the gold medal game at the Baseball Sask 13U AA Tier I provincial championship in Prince Albert.

Moose Jaw opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over the Saskatoon Cardinals on Friday, July 21 before picking up back-to-back wins on Saturday, July 22 defeating Humboldt 15-10 and downing Maidstone 12-6.

That was good enough for a 3-0 re-

July 23. There, the Canucks fell behind in the middle innings and nearly staged a late-game comeback before dropping an 11-8 decision to the North East Expos.

Moose Jaw 6, Saskatoon 3

The Cardinals took a 3-1 lead out of the fourth inning, but Moose Jaw would and would tack on an insurance marker the

Isaiah Ross had a 2-for-2 game that included a pair of RBIs, while Nigel Legare was 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored.

Dax Chesney got the start and albefore Dalton Stephens, Brady Novak, Rhett Benaschuk and Legare all combined

Moose Jaw 15, Humboldt 10

The Canucks needed an even bigger comeback in their second game, as after trailing 10-4 through two innings, they’d put up runs in each of the next four frames -- including six in the sixth -- to secure the victory.

David Choe had a stellar game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with, two walks, four runs scored and an RBI to lead the offence.

Chesney was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while Rylan Gray went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Benaschuk had a single hit and knocked in three runs, Novak was 3-for-4 and knocked in a pair, Ross and Hudson Sowden also crossed the plate twice each.

Baxter got the start and allowed six runs, three earned, on four hits while get- four runs on eight hits and striking out six. -

Moose Jaw 12, Maidstone 6 Sure enough, the Canucks needed angame, only this one wasn’t quite as onerous.

Trailing 4-3 through three, Moose at the end of the inning. A four spot in the sixth gave the local crew control, though, and they’d tack on two more in the sevEvery player but one had at least a base hit in the win, and all but two scored at least one run.

Gray led the way, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while Ross was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three RBI. Legare also plated three runs, while Benaschuk had a pair of RBI. - gave up two runs, none earned, on threelowing a single hit in the seventh.

North East 11, Moose Jaw 8 Moose Jaw’s run of rallies came to lack of trying.

After North East scored three runs take 10-4 lead, the Canucks would put up four in the sixth to close to within a pair. The Expos would add an insurance marker the next inning, though, and Moose Jaw would get the tying run to the plate in the seventh before falling short.

Gray led the offence with a 3-for-4 showing that included a pair of runs, while Chesney also had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Taeve Morhart knocked in a pair, Ian Kampus added a hit.

Benaschuk started the game and went the fourth inning, Chesney capped the conthree innings and striking out seven.