Weyburn classical pianist Meagan Milatz won Canada’s largest prize, the Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer 2025-2028 worth $125,000.
City launches study for indoor
By Greg Nikkel
Weyburn city council approved a proposal by an Alberta consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study on what the next steps should be for the city’s indoor pool.
Three firms submitted proposals, and in the end administration went with the highest-priced firm, RC Strategies of Sherwood Park, Alta., at a cost of $49,868, within the budgeted amount of $50,000.
The study is to look into whether the city should remodel, repair or replace the indoor pool, and the comprehensive plan is to look at studies, stakeholder engagement and recommendations to council on how to move forward.
Asked if the city will get their money’s worth from the highestpriced firm, Andrew Crowe, director of Leisure Services, said, “RC specializes in community engagement and rec facilities. Their proposal will
include reaching out to community stakeholders and work sessions with staff, to find out what works and what doesn’t. They focus on nailing down the needs of the community. We should get what we’re looking for.”
“We’ve got a lot of pressure on us here,” said Coun. Todd Bedore. “Is there any way to speed things up?”
“These planning pieces are so important, I don’t think we can gloss over that,” said Crowe. While they might look for ways to move the process on, he added, “I would hate to push it along too quickly. … I’d be cautious with that.”
Part of the plan will be to provide “D-class estimates” of costs, and Crowe explained this would be very high level cost estimates within 30 per cent of actual costs.
“It’s the same process we followed with the Spark Centre,” he added.
Mayor Jeff Richards commented, “This is tough, I would echo what
Coun. Bedore said that we would like to get the ball rolling. But when we’re making a 20-30-year decision here, we need to get all of the feedback we can.”
Crowe said as this firm was approved, he would be on the phone with them the next morning to get the process started. The final documentation and presentation of the plans is due to city council by July 2025.
The indoor pool has been closed since last fall, when the city discovered a catastrophic failure in the pool basin when they tried to fill it for the indoor swimming season.
This year only the outdoor pool will be open as weather conditions permit, and Crowe noted they will try to have the pool open earlier if possible, by May 16 if they are able, to extend the time will be able to be available.
• In related council business, council approved a streamlined sea-
son pass for use of the outdoor pool this summer.
Council was told that in investigating the rate options for the Leisure Centre, the rate structure was found to be overly complex for a seasonal facility.
The new season passes will allow regular facility users to have a flat, upfront fee that allows unlimited access to the Leisure Centre over the summer.
The new fees will allow cost savings for frequent users compared to those using punch passes or daily admission.
These new family season passes will be available with savings if they are bought before June 1.
Meantime, a full review of rates and fees will be done as part of a three-year rate review, to be completed by this spring, and these new rates will be implemented as of Sept. 1.
Classical pianist Meagan Milatz will receive the Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer 2025-2028 worth $125,000, along with mezzo-soprano, Kristin Hoff, the biggest prize of its kind in Canada. Meagan was born and raised in Weyburn, and received her initial piano training under Cherith Alexander before she moved on after graduating from the Weyburn Comprehensive School to further education at McGill University in Montreal.
Currently she is the founder, artistic and executive director of HausMusique chamber music concerts, which is housed in a recently-restored Art Deco heritage site on the ninth floor of Montreal’s Eaton Centre.
Continued on page 3
The Weyburn Review POOL
‘BECOMING THE BEATLES’ ON FEB. 18
The story behind the formation of the Beatles will be featured in the next performance for the Weyburn Concert Series, as they present “Becoming the Beatles” on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Cugnet Centre at 7:30 p.m.
Becoming the Beatles is a captivating live musical documentary, blending over 300 projections, 20 live songs by a four-piece band, and intimate stories to unveil the journey of the legendary band.
See page 2
Photo – Antoine Saito
Community News
Weyburn Concert Series presents ‘Becoming the Beatles’
The story behind the formation of the Beatles will be featured in the next performance for the Weyburn Concert Series, as they present “Becoming the Beatles” on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Cugnet Centre at 7:30 p.m.
Becoming the Beatles is a captivating live musical documentary, blending over 300 projections, 20 live songs by a four-piece band, and intimate stories to unveil the journey of the legendary band.
Led by musician and storyteller Haley Marie, the show delves into the Beatles’ rise to fame, their musical evolution, and the personal struggles of each member. It transcends mere tribute, offering profound insights into the band’s origins, their resilience against rejections, and the cultural influences that shaped their iconic sound.
“I play with three other musicians, and we’ve been together for a number of years. They are obsessed about the Beatles, and we get into all kinds of detailed discussions about them,” said Haley Marie.
She added the audience “can expect to hear their favourite songs, but within context.”
She compared the show to an art museum tour where viewers get a guided tour about each painting, about what was going on at the time, and it’s the same with the show, as there is much
background information about how each song came to be written and performed.
It’s also not a tribute show to the Beatles such as a tribute band might present, said Haley Marie, as they show how the group got their start, who the personalities are and how they affected and changed the music industry.
From wartime hardships to triumphs on the global stage, experience the untold tales of the Fab Four’s extraordinary legacy in this transformative theatrical experience.
It’s a show about four boys: one born during an air raid, one who had to reverse the strings on his guitar to make sense of it, one who stayed up late practicing with tears in his eyes and another who couldn’t read or write until he was eight. It’s also the story of a visionary young producer who was desperate to find his way out of the ‘comedy division’ at Parlophone records.
Haley Marie’s in-depth analysis reveals the reawakening of a world dev-
astated by war, the genius of oppressed musicians in the Deep South, the unexpected inspiration from the classical greats and the heartbreak from the death of the band’s biggest idol.
Hear first-hand how the band used flour and water to fasten their logo to the side of their van en route to Germany. How that same band was turned down by 80 per cent of the English recording market yet defied the odds to become the most successful musical group in history.
Haley Marie pointed out how they are still having an
impact in 2025, as they just recently won a Grammy award for a new Beatles song, Now and Then, using material produced 50 years ago and finished off by Paul and Ringo for release this year.
The show Becoming the Beatles will be touring through Saskatchewan for about two weeks, and Weyburn’s show on Feb. 18 will be towards the end of their time here.
“We’ll be good and warmed up by then and will bring lots of energy to the show. My most favourite
moments are when people come up after the show, and say they learned a lot they didn’t know before. The show isfor the die-hard Beatles fans, and also for those who don’t know that much about the Beatles. My challenge is, to the die-hards, if they learn something they didn’t know before,” said Haley Marie.
She noted there has been a lot of meticulous research put into the materials for the show, including a graduate of the university in Liverpool that delves into all things Beatles.
Haley Marie, at the piano, leads a four-piece band who will perform 20 of the Beatles’ best-known songs, with stories and photos provided in between to give context of how and when these songs came to be. This is part of the “Becoming the Beatles” performance for the Weyburn Concert Series on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Cugnet Centre.
Weyburn police investigate incident of mischief
The Weyburn Police Service responded to 72 calls for service for the week of Feb. 3-9, resulting in 14 charges.
Notable incidents during the week include: Mischief Under $5,000: Police responded to a complaint of an intoxicated adult male breaking the mirror off a local cab company’s vehicle on Feb. 3. Investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with knowledge of this incident to report it to police.
With the cold temperatures, some deer have migrated into the city. Police received numerous reports of deer struck by vehicles causing damage. While driving around the edge of the city, please be aware as they may jump out of nowhere. Please avoid any deer you encounter as they can become defensive if
challenged, and it is best to just leave them be and they will make their way back out of city limits.
Police received a complaint from an adult male in medical distress on Feb. 4. Police called EMS to attend the home and assist with gaining entry. A man was found in need of care and was transported to hospital by EMS.
Police received a complaint of a heavily intoxicated female causing a disturbance in a house on Feb. 9. Upon arrival, police tried but were unsuccessful in de-escalation. A woman was arrested for breach of the peace without incident and placed in cells until sober.
City police received numerous complaints of hit-and-run to vehicles. Police want to remind the public that if you strike another vehicle causing dam-
age it needs to be reported to the other driver or police so they can notify the owner of that vehicle of the damage. Charges of fail to report a motor vehicle accident will occur if the offender is located.
Police responded to 14 Mental Health and Wellbeing check calls where assistance was provided when needed. Some of the charges this week were for condition breaches, where multiple offenders were found to not be in compliance of a court-ordered condition.
*Anyone with information regarding any of these matters, or any other matter of a criminal nature, is encouraged to contact the Weyburn Police Service at (306) 848-3250, the local RCMP Detachment at 310-RCMP (7267), or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Musician
Photography By Jolaika
Community News
Young dancers talk about what face-paint they want to get, while attending the Inclusion Weyburn Valentine’s dance, held Friday evening at the Legacy Park school gym. There was DJ music, snacks and drinks, and games for the families to enjoy for the evening.
Weyburn classical pianist wins music prize
Continued from front page
Asked if she thought she would reach such a level of achievement while learning and playing piano here in Weyburn, she replied, “No, I never would have imagined this during those early days … but that’s where it all started!”
Meagan regularly performs with top inter-
national artists, and has a recording contract with ATMA Classique for nine HausMusique albums. She received the Prix Opus “Discovery of the Year” in 2024, and has appeared as a soloist with Canadian orchestras, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Regina Symphony Orchestra,
l’Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke and the McGill Symphony Orchestra.
Meagan will be performing on Saturday, March 1, as soloist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra at Darke Hall.
Meagan was named one of CBC’s “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under
Weyburn-Estevan area generates most revenue in oil-gas lease sale
The provincial government’s Crown oil and gas public offering, held on Feb. 4, raised a total of $3,039,589, for the province, with the southeast area generating most of that total.
Provincially, there were 29 parcels were put up for bid in this offering, and 25 parcels received acceptable bids, covering an area of 2,753.836 hectares.
The Weyburn-Estevan region raised a total of $2,747,969 for 16 leases covering 1,684.452 hectares.
Millennium Lands (111) Ltd. made the highest bonus bid and dollars-per-hectare bid of $997,962, an average of $6,158 per hectare, for a 162.045-ha lease located 13 km northeast of Midale, within the Midale Central Frobisher Beds Oil Pool.
Synergy Land Services Ltd. was awarded a 710.727-ha lease after bidding $503,031, an average of $707.77 per hectare.
This lease is located nine km southwest of Gainsborough, adjacent to the Gainsborough West Frobisher
Beds Oil Pool.
Two leases were awarded to Baserado Resources Ltd. and Hummingbird Energy Ltd., who submitted joint bids on each lease.
One lease, totaling 64.58 hectares, is located four km south of Carnduff, and received a bid of $325,000, an average of $5,032 per hectare.
The second lease, totaling 64.666 hectares, is located four km southwest of Carnduff, and also received a bid of $325,000, an aver-
age of $5,025 per hectare. Both leases are near the boundary of the Carnduff Midale Beds Oil Pool.
This is the sixth and final oil and gas public offering for the 2024-25 fiscal year, over which time the government has raised $51,814,614.
Several factors affect public offering activity, including changes in oil and gas prices, land availability, geological and technological constraints and other market conditions.
30”, and she did a 50-concert tour across Canada for the 2019-20 season with violinist Amy Hillis as the duo “meagan&amy”, winners of the first-ever Pan-Canadian Partnership Recital Tour offered by Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Debut Atlantic and Prairie Debut.
Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer is the largest prize of its kind in Canada, and one of the largest in the world for a collaborative emerging artist in classical music.
The prize honours Jean-Pierre Goyer and his contributions to music, arts and culture in Montreal, Quebec and Canada.
Childcare centre asks for speed zone adjustment
By Greg Nikkel
The Little Discoveries Early Learning Co-operative, based in the Elgin mall on First Avenue, has made a request to Weyburn city council to adjust the speed zone area around their facility, due to dangers from speeding motorists.
Executive director Jennifer Fenwick appeared before council on Monday night to make the plea, describing the situation they have at their location.
The childcare facility has 120 spaces for children from over 60 families, with the children ranging in age from infants up to 12 years of age.
Located on First Avenue, their front door and parking lot face Bannerman Street, directly up the street from the Weyburn Comprehensive School, which brings an influx of traffic in the morning, at lunch and after school.
The speed limit in front of Little Discoveries is 40 km/h until partway up the street, when it becomes 30 km/h.
“We have found that there are several drivers during peak school traffic times that drive fast past our centre, from First Avenue to the school parking lot,” said Fenwick in the letter to council, noting there are children who don’t attend their centre who walk to the bus stop, and have to cross the street to get there.
“On numerous occasions, we’ve seen drivers speeding to get to the parking lot and nearly missing a child who may not be actively looking out for vehicles while crossing the street,” said the letter.
The centre is asking the city to move the speed zone signs right to the corner of Bannerman Street and First Avenue facing south, and one additional sign at Bannerman and Third Avenue facing north.
Mayor Jeff Richards said this request will be sent to the city engineer, who will look at the situation and feasibility of filling their request.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Agriculture, Oil & Business
Southeast College students gathered with staff and sponsor-presenters, as 10 bursaries were awarded on Monday morning at the Weyburn campus. The bursaries were separated from the scholarships, which will be presented at the end of the school year in the late spring.
Southeast College presents student bursaries
Southeast College held a presentation of bursaries to students on Monday at the Weyburn campus, with ceremonies held Tuesday and Wednesday in Estevan and Whitewood. The bursaries were separated from the scholarships, which will be presented at the end of the school year as part of
the graduation ceremonies.
This presentation of bursaries also allows the students to apply them to their current year of studies.
There were 10 bursaries presented in Weyburn to the following students.
A SE College Board of Governors bursary was presented to Shyra Mis -
sens of the Adult Basic Education program.
A City of Weyburn bursary was presented to Marvil James of the Business Management program. A second City bursary was presented to Jacqueline Unrau of the practical nursing program.
A Weyburn Rotary Club bursary was presented to Mikayla Moule
of the Business Management program, and a second Rotary bursary went to Shanice Ostrea of the practical nursing program.
A Barber Motors bursary went to Emelia Koranteng of the Continuing Care Assistant program.
A Weyburn Security bursary went to Simranjeet Kaur of the
Continuing Care Assistant program. A second Weyburn Security bursary went to Skyler Kreger of the practical nursing program.
A Prairie Sky Co-op bursary went to Trisha Emmel of the practical nursing program, and a second Co-op bursary went to Goodness Chimezie of the practical nursing program.
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) acknowledges the United States’ decision to postpone the imposition of a 25-percent tariff on Canadian agricultural exports for 30 days.
This development offers temporary relief from the previously announced tariffs that are at odds with the 2020 Canada-United States-Mexico agreement (CUSMA).
The original intent to levy significant tariffs casts a long shadow, threatening the well-being of Saskatchewan’s farm and ranch families, and agri-food businesses, the bedrock of the province’s economy.
APAS reinforces the need to honour the CUSMA agreement in sustaining the robust trade relations that mutually benefit both nations and are essential for maintaining a resilient supply chain.
“While the delay is a welcomed pause, it serves to extend the period of uncertainty for producers,” said APAS president Bill Prybylski.
“The continued threat of tariffs still hangs over our heads, and with it, the risk of escalating inflation and uncertain trade relations. It’s like throwing a wrench into a finely-tuned machine. Everything gets jammed up. It affects everyone, including families sitting down for dinner in the U.S., and in the end, nobody comes out ahead.”
Saskatchewan’s agricultural community, a cornerstone of the Canadian and American economies through their dedication to producing high-quality food, now faces increased uncertainty.
“If we thought the postCOVID inflation squeeze was tough, imposing tariffs is like setting up round two.
It’s simple: tariffs are taxes that crank up consumer prices, hitting everyone’s wallet. Let’s not go down that road again,” said Prybylski.
The 30-day grace period is a critical opportunity for policy makers to seek a resolution and avoid the potentially significant and far-reaching adverse outcomes. With the United States as Canada’s largest agricultural trade partner, disruptions to this relationship could have broad, negative consequences.
Considering these developments, APAS called for solidarity in backing the agricultural sector and intensifying our search for new global markets. Now, more than ever, it is paramount to safeguard Saskatchewan’s agricultural prospects and to continue our support for North American prosperity in harmony with CUSMA principles.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Editorial & Opinion
Letter: Trump’s tariff threats part of his mission to ensue chaos
To the editor, Trump’s tariff threats and the ensuing chaos are not courtesy of Justin Trudeau as was implied in last week’s editorial. Like so many who want to blame our PM for so much as a cloudy day, I think you’ve entirely lost the plot.
Trump is on a mission that extends well beyond Canada. He’s taken his carnival on the road to threaten Mexico, China, the European Union and South Africa, throwing world economics into disorder in his wake. No matter the facts, evidence or industry experts from his own country telling him how stupid and costly it will be FOR AMERICANS, he continues to tout tariffs as the answer to MAGA dreams. He rants nonsense about ‘subsidies’ to Canada. We buy and sell stuff from each other; that’s trade. We have a tenth of their population and a lot of resources. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why a deficit exists. But even that is mostly in oil, which we sell to them at a discounted rate on an already low dollar.
First Trump said tariffs were about the border. Reality check: Canada was responsible for only 0.2 percent of the fentanyl going into the U.S. in 2024, and only 198,929 illegal immigrants compared to a whopping 2.135 million from Mexico. Of course we need to do our part, and the federal government response was reasonable. Wanting to move beyond his usual three-word slogans and meet the moment, Pierre Poilievre immediately caved and called for militarization of our border. What???
In terms of mitigation, you rightly point out that Canada needs to remove interprovincial trade barriers and diversify our markets, but this is not new. Neither federal nor provincial parties of any stripe have done enough in the past thirty years to address either issue. This is a wakeup call for everyone.
Illustrating it’s clearly not about the border, Trump continues to threaten economic dominance and/or annexation which is not only disrespectful of Canada as a sovereign nation but is also illegal under international law. And his coup-like actions carried out by his unelected tech-bro are unconstitutional and show a wanton disregard for the rights of minorities, freedom of expression, international law and more.
Amid this, there are those who continue to wave F ____Trudeau flags and quibble about carbon tax. Too many continue to play Poilievre’s Canada is broken record which serves Trump’s line that Canadians are just waiting for him to swoop in and fix us. Not.
Seriously, it is time to grow up. Unimaginable as it is, our closest ally and trading partner is now threatening our very sovereignty. This crisis, in this moment, is bigger than any Canadian industry or province. It is certainly bigger than individual political parties or players or ideologies within that realm. This is the kind of moment in which legacies are carved by the courageous actions of leaders who look beyond their personal ambitions to stand unified for what is right.
Anne Lazurko, Weyburn
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The Weyburn Review
Op-Ed: Wind project would provide economic boost: Enbridge
By Alex McNichol
Construction projects play an important role in driving lasting economic growth and development – so important in these uncertain times.
While there’s not a long list of projects built in Canada in recent years, one good example is Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline replacement project. A large piece of that work took place near Weyburn.
Since 2020, the first full year after completion this work has generated more than $6 million annually in property tax payments, after tallying about $190 million in tax revenues during construction. Yes, those are just Saskatchewan numbers.
Enbridge’s proposed Seven Stars Energy Project is not on the same scale and will not have the economic impact of a $5-billionplus pipeline project. However, it’s worth noting the economic benefits from this 200-megawatt wind energy development would be concentrated in a much smaller area – within the RM of Weyburn, RM of Griffin and City of Weyburn.
The Seven Stars project construction would occur over two years (spring to fall in both 2026 and 2027), with an average workforce of 100 people, including local hires. There will be no camp associated with the project, so workers
will need to source food, lodging, and other services locally.
Labour spending is estimated at $75 million and we’ve identified many categories of services we’ll need to contract, providing opportunity for Weyburn-area businesses.
Once the Seven Stars project is up and running, the benefits really start to add up. Over a 30-year lifespan, the project is expected to generate more than $100 million ($3.4 million to $4 million annually) in local economic benefits, including approximately $25 million ($800,000 annually) to the RM of Weyburn, RM of Griffin and for provincial education taxes, beginning in 2028.
Rounding out this picture are lease payments to landowners in the project area, local Enbridge employee salaries, outsourced contracting to maintain a purpose-built office and warehouse, and a fund to support community-driven programs and initiatives.
At Enbridge, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits projects like this can bring to a region when they are developed collaboratively with landowners, local governments and other interested parties. That’s why we’re taking plenty of time to listen to residents, answer questions and address concerns.
Input received has led to project enhancements such as:
• a new turbine layout, with wind
turbines located further from residences and property lines of nonparticipating landowners, to align with local zoning bylaws;
• moving eight turbines from the RM of Weyburn to a more remote area in the RM of Griffin;
• offering Neighbour Agreements to some landowners who wouldn’t otherwise benefit financially from the project.
We’re encouraged by the progress we’ve made and are hearing that the broader sentiment in the community is one of optimism and support, but we understand we’ve still got work to do to get the details of this project right. The real test of that is a robust provincial environmental process which includes another opportunity for public input.
In the meantime, we’re hearing from businesses eager to work with Enbridge in providing the products and services needed to bring the project to fruition. We’ve been reaching out to local non-profit organizations to identify community needs and opportunities for financial support.
And, yes, we’re hearing from residents who welcome further economic diversification and a substantial investment in the “Opportunity City” that will help to build long-term prosperity.
Alex McNichol is a Director of Power Business Development with Enbridge
Sports & Leisure
A group of U11 lacrosse players practiced picking up a ball with their racquet, during a Weyburn Lacrosse Association session on Sunday afternoon at the Credit Union Spark Centre. Through the winter, there are training practices held every week to help prepare the athletes for the spring and summer game season.
Wrestlers win medals at South Sask event
The results for the 2025 South Sask championships SAWA for the Weyburn Wrestling Club held in Moose Jaw on Feb. 9 are as follows.
The Weyburn club had 18 wrestlers go to Moose Jaw and they came home with 13 medals: six gold, four silver and three bronze.
In the Freshie 18-20kg weight category, Raef Pirlot won bronze; In the Freshie 20-21kg category, Kansas Dureault placed fifth; in the Freshie 2627kg category, Madyx Weiss won bronze; in the Freshie 28-29kg category, Hunter Wagner won gold;
in the Freshie 35-36kg category, Anna Lanz placed fourth, and in the Freshie 39-41kg category, Brantley Schachtel-Pocha won gold.
In the Novice 23-24kg category, Lochlan Pirlot won silver; in the Novice 24-27kg category, Grady McLeod placed fifth; in the Novice 29-31kg B category, Meagan Kerr won bronze; in the Novice 32-35kg category, Owen Pulfer placed fourth; in the Novice 38-41kg category, Mirabelle Leroux won silver, and in the Novice 61-65kg category, Brysen Richaud won gold. In the Peewee 39-42kg
WCS wrestlers win at SHSAA tourney
There were five wrestlers from the Weyburn Comp who attended the 2025 SHSAA South Sask Championships, held on Feb. 8 in Moose Jaw, and they returned with two medals.
In the Elite Female 50kg weight category, Avlynn Drake won bronze. In the Elite Male 53kg category, Seth Peeler won silver; in the Elite
Male 56kg category, Chris Dayaan placed fifth, and Ephraim Henning didn’t place.
In the Elite Male 82kg category, Raiden Kiraly didn’t place due to an injury.
The next event for the Weyburn high school wrestlers will be for the high school regionals on March 1, to be held in Carrot River.
Weyburn minor hockey teams in action
The U9 Weyburn Credit Union Kings were in Yellow Grass this weekend, where they went undefeated during round robin play of the tournament. Despite a hard fought effort, the kids came up a bit short in the A final to a “Ready to go, hard work-
ing” Yellow Grass team for a well-deserved second-place finish.
In other action, all four Weyburn U7 major teams made their way to Midale for a tournament on Saturday. Way to go Jets, OilKids, Canucks and Flames players and coaches.
category, Jep Furgason won silver; in the Peewee 43-45kg category, Conner Pocha won gold; in the Peewee 45-49kg category, Landon Leroux won gold, and in the Peewee 50-53kg category, Rastyn Weiss placed fourth.
In the Bantam Female 84-91kg category, Danika Tocher won gold and Lily Forseth won silver.
The next event for the Weyburn Wrestling Club will be at provincials on March 22, to be held in Swift Current.
Weyburn Red Wings split weekend games with Wolves
The Weyburn Red Wings split their two-game series with the La Ronge Ice Wolves over the weekend, taking a 5-3 win on Saturday after being doubled 4-2 on Friday night. Earlier in the week, Weyburn dropped a 5-2 decision to the Melfort Mustangs.
In Saturday’s win, Jerome Maharaj was the first to get Weyburn on the board with a first-period goal, assisted by Josh Karman.
After La Ronge tied the game, Braigh LeGrandeur took the lead back, assisted by Simon Martin, followed about a minute later by a Ryder Rommelaere goal, assisted by Drew Molde and Matthew Edwards.
Edwards then added a goal of his own early in the third period, assisted by Liam Fitzgerald and Karman. The scoring was rounded off by Luke Schraeder, unassisted, into the empty net with 1:15 left in the game.
Ty Matonovich was in net for Weyburn for the win, making 26 saves on 29 shots.
The night before, Weyburn was first on the scoreboard as Edwards scored five
minutes in with Karman providing the assist.
La Ronge then scored three unanswered goals before Lucas Schmid scored with 30 seconds to go in the game, assisted by Ethan Dekay.
The Wolves added an empty net goal with 12 seconds left in the game.
Angelo Zol was in net for the game, except when he was pulled for the extra attacker, and made a total of 40 saves on 43 shots.
In the 5-2 loss to Melfort, Weyburn’s two goals were scored by Edwards, a power play goal unassisted late in the second period, and Fitzgerald in the third period, assisted by Sale and Martin, on the power play.
Zol was the netminder for the night, making 35 saves on 40 shots on net.
The Red Wings’ next two games are on the road before they host the Estevan Bruins for a home game on Family Day, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. at Crescent Point Place. Weyburn will be back in Melfort on Feb. 13, and then will be in Nipawin to face the Hawks on Friday, Feb. 14.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
A Weyburn Comp Eagle intermediate player broke through with the ball to go for a basket, during a game versus the Estevan Elecs on Friday evening at the Eagle gym. The Eagles also took on the St. Michael Tigers in the mini-tournament games.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Sports & Leisure
Gold Wings edged out in overtime
The Weyburn Gold Wings had a pair of games versus the Notre Dame Hounds over the weekend, with the first game going into overtime to decide the outcome.
The Hounds edged the Gold Wings out 3-2 on Saturday, then they lost 3-0 on Sunday.
In Saturday’s game, the Gold Wings were first on the board as Hallie Parada scored early in the first period, assisted by Peyton Halayka and Julia Durr.
Notre Dame tied the score, then Parada got her second goal of the game in the second period on the power play, assisted once again by Halayka and Durr.
The Hounds tied the game, and with no scor-
ing in the third period, the game went into overtime, where Notre Dame scored at 2:22.
Tila Boyd was the goaltender for Weyburn, playing 67 minutes altogether, and she made 40 saves on 43 shots on net.
The Gold Wings were held off the scoresheet on Sunday, and Boyd was in net for this game as well, making 32 saves on 34 shots on net. The Hounds’ clinching goal was on an empty net with 57 seconds on the clock.
The Gold Wings will have two home games this weekend, first hosting Swift Current on Saturday, Feb. 15, and then Regina on Feb. 16, both games starting at 7 p.m.
This was the team of high school wrestlers who took in the SHSAA South Sask wrestling competition held on Saturday. They are, from left to right, Chris Dayaan, Avlynn Drake, Coach Greg Kiraly, Ephraim Henning, Raiden Kiraly and Seth Peeler. The next event for the wrestlers will be the high school regionals on March 1, to be held in Carrot River.
Kansas Dureault takes a shot to take his opponent down while competing in the Freshie 2021kg category at the 2025 South Sask championships in Moose Jaw on Sunday.
A trio of Team Blue players went on the offensive with the ball to take it the other way against Team Green, during a fun game on Saturday for U7 players. The day was filled with games at the Credit Union Spark Centre.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Lily Forseth ties up her opponent during a recent wrestling match. The Weyburn club had 18 wrestlers go to Moose Jaw and they came home with 13 medals: six gold, four silver and three bronze. Photos – Courtesy Shane Lanz
Variety of activities planned at Weyburn Public Library
A wide range of activities for all ages are planned for second half of February at the Weyburn Public Library.
For preschoolers, a storywalk will be held on Monday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m., featuring the story, “Awasis and the World Famous Bannock”, with bannock samples. For school-aged children, there are weekly activities scheduled according to their ages, with junior programs for those who are six to eight years, and tween programs for those aged nine to 12. The programs are all at 4 p.m. with one exception noted.
A craft, “Lots of Hearts Painting”, is on today, Feb. 12 for the junior group, and on Thursday, Feb. 13 for the tweens.
Wednesday, Feb. 19 for the tweens.
During the February break week, junior kids can learn about how to fry bannock with Faye Beyer on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and on
Weyburn art curator, Regan Lanning, provided a tour of the James Weir People’s Choice exhibition, to Grade 3-4 students from Legacy Park School last Wednesday afternoon. A series of tours have been scheduled of the exhibition through February and March. Voting will end on March 14, and the reception for the winners will be held on March 20 at 7 p.m.
A set of chain reaction activities will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 3 p.m. for junior-aged children and at 4 p.m. for tweens. There will be a fun “minute-to-win-it” set of games and magic tricks on Monday, Feb. 24 for juniors, and on Tuesday, Feb. 25 for the tweens.
There will be an afternoon of indoor mini-golf at the library branch on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
For an evening of trivia and bubble tea, teens are invited to drop by Meok-Ja on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. to try different drinks, and play some trivia.
There will be a class to make chocolate pancake tacos on Friday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m., and they can make a “cheeseburger in paradise” pie on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.
Teens can come create some unique art using CDs and cassettes on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.
For those interested in a murder mystery evening, there will be one held on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at
6 p.m.
A parent-teen workshop, with Olha and Maria from the mental health team at the Weyburn Comp, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m.
The adult book club will meet on Thursday, Feb. 13 to talk about “Somebody’s Daughter” by Ashley C. Ford, at 6:30 p.m.
Some food and drink classes are coming up for adults, including how to make pina coladas, with Leslie Richards, on today, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
An evening to sip, snack and chat over chocolatecovered strawberries and tea will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. A class rescheduled from the fall, on fresh ricotta cheese with Sara Shier, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
An activity for caregivers and those dealing with dementia or memory loss, called intuitive painting, will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m.
A class in karate, with sensei Owen Day of the Weyburn Wado Kai Karate Club, will be held on Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Remember that time when Amazon sponsored your church fundraiser?
Remember when Facebook bought a case of Girl Guide cookies to support your daughter?
Remember when Google provided free pizza to your child’s soccer team when they won the championship?
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
St. Michael Grade 3 student, Violet, has a close look at Jake’s project on Feb. 4, as two of the three classrooms showed their projects on magnetism and static electricity. This was part of their science unit.
Applications invited for Co-op Community Spaces program
Applications for the Co-op Community Spaces program officially opened February 1. For the 11th consecutive year, Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and Co-ops across Western Canada will help create places for everyone by providing $1 million to support projects dedicated to recreation, environmental conservation, and urban agriculture.
“Through the Co-op Community Spaces program, FCL and the Cooperative Retailing System are giving back to the communities where we live, work and play,” said Heather Ryan, FCL CEO.
“The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Co-operatives. It serves to remind us of the positive impact co-operatives have in com-
munities across the globe. Co-op Community Spaces is one way we bring our community-centred values to life right here at home.”
Since the program began in 2015, Co-op Community Spaces has provided $13.5 million in funding to 189 projects across Western Canada, including community kitchens, educational spaces, hiking trail development, and a variety of projects in the hearts of the communities where Co-op operates.
Community service co-operatives, non-profit organizations and registered charities are invited to apply online between Feb.1 and March 3. Funding between $25,000 and $150,000 per project is available.
Please visit communityspaces.ca to learn more.
Real estate sales up, new listings down
Saskatchewan’s housing market is off to a strong start in 2025, with 782 sales across the province in January—up one per cent year-overyear and over 17 per cent above 10-year averages.
Strong January sales led to the 19th consecutive month of above-average sales in the province, a streak of robust sales that dates back to June 2023.
In Weyburn, real estate sales totaled nine in January, which is up 12.5 per cent from a year ago, and up 30.4 per cent from the 10-year average. Six of the sales were for detached homes, and three were for apartments.
New listings declined across the province by two per cent year-overyear and were down nearly 28 per cent compared to long-term averages. Declining new listings continue to be met with strong demand, which failed to provide any supply relief to begin the new year.
The new listings in Weyburn totaled eight in January, which is down 50 per cent from a year ago, and down 64.8 per cent from the 10-year average.
The listings brings the inventory in Weyburn to 61 residential properties as of the end of January, which is down 29.9 per cent from a year ago, and down 55.1 per cent compared to the 10-year average.
Inventory levels were down 19 per cent yearover-year and currently sit over 44 per cent below the 10-year average, with over 600 fewer units available than this time
last year. Notably, of the 3,925 available units reported at month’s end, over 700 had already accepted a conditional offer and are set to leave the market once those transactions close.
“While market activity in the coming months will provide a clearer picture of trends for 2025, monthly sales figures continue to outperform expectations,” said Association CEO, Chris Guérette. “We’re picking up right where we left off after a near-record 2024.”
Tighter market conditions continue to place upward pressure on home prices across the province, as Saskatchewan reported a residential benchmark of $342,600 in January, up from $337,800 in December and nearly seven per cent higher than January 2024.
The benchmark price for a home in Weyburn was $227,000 at the end of January, which is up 3.9 per cent from a year ago.
This price applies to a three-bedroom two-bathroom home with an attached garage, and 1,162 sq.ft. of gross living area.
“Until recently, Saskatchewan was braced for another strong year in 2025. That outlook has become less certain given the threat of tariffs, coupled with potential Canadian retaliation and uncertainty with the Bank of Canada,” said Guérette. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on these external factors and their potential implications on Saskatchewan’s housing market in 2025.”
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Olga Marie Froh
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Olga Froh late of Regina SK on Tuesday February 4th 2025 at the age of 99 years Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband Joe Froh and her parents Olga is survived by her children Judy (Michael), Don, and Connie (Curt); as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews A special thank you goes to Debbie Froh who has provided mom, and all of us, much appreciated help and love The family also extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Palliative Care Unit, Trinity Lodge and the Renaissance Olga will be deeply missed by her family and friends and all who were fortunate to know her Her passion for life, generosity and boundless love left a lasting impression on all who knew her Flowers are gratefully declined; those wishing to donate in Olga s memory may do so by cheque to the Khedive Heritage Hall, P O Box 189, Pangman, SK, S0C 2C0 Funeral Service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 2:00 p m To leave an online message of condolence or to view a livestream of the service, please visit www speersfuneralchapel com
Derald (Del) Staveley
A loving father and grandfather, Del, passed away peacefully on Sunday January 26 2025 in Victoria British Columbia Born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, on March 27, 1946, Del is survived by his sister, Barbara Cichon; his two children Catheryn and James; and his four grandchildren, Keara, Collen, Elsie and Viera; and his partner, Annette Romuld Del was a genuine friend to everyone lucky to be in his orbit He was a person of the highest integrity loyal sharp witty and charming His stories were legendary and will be missed A Celebration of Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 2:00 pm In place of flowers, donations may be made to STARS Air Ambulance Condolences may be offered to the family at www mccallgardens com
test Joanne Hennie
Joanne Hennie, late of Regina, passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at the age of 96 years Joanne was predeceased by her husband Walter Hennie and their children, triplets Walter John, Judy Lynn and Janie Lee in infancy; parents Undine and Alfred Hill; sisters Bette Leach, Diane Schneider and Sharon Hubick; brother Ken Hill; brothers-in-law Vern Leach, Bernie Schneider; sister-in-law, Ev Hill and son-in-law Alen Gibbons Left to cherish her memory are her brother Jack (Margaret) Hill; brother-in-law Aden Hubick; daughters Bonnie Gibbons of Regina, Jackie (Come) Bechard of Lajord and Tracy (Pete) Schaefer of Yellow Grass; grandchildren Greg, Jeff (Ann), Tracy (Paul), Beau (Carrie), Peter, Garrett (Tanya), Brad (Manda) Nolan (Lisa) and Falin ; great grandchildren Rielle and Mac Josh (Karly) their children Clover Jackson and Georgia and Nick Sarah and Colby Emery and Bellatrix Ava Mya and Jessa Ashton Madison and Hadleigh Tobin Brooklyn Jamieson and Lincoln Isabella Rose Nolyn Susanna and Daveny Aki and Tuukkal; along with numerous nieces and nephews Joanne had a very special place in her heart for Walley’s siblings and spouses Joanne was born on April 20, 1928 in Yellow Grass, and she grew up there After completing her grade 12 she attended school in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina where she graduated as a teacher On August 5, 1950 Joanne married Walter Hennie, a classmate of hers in Y G , where they both enjoyed hockey, ball, skating and curling " Jo " was always active in sports and played countless games of curling, golf and bridge where she met many "dear", "dear" friends from Regina, Y G and Weyburn Family was very important to Joanne and her nickname was "Happy" She coached and played ball with her daughters in the Regina League and many rural Sportsdays She was honored with seven other women at the annual Sportswomen s dinner and variety night at the Saskatchewan Hotel representing curling Many thanks to all who took such wonderful care of Joanne during her time at Regina General and Wascana Hospitals Joanne s burial will take place at the Yellow Grass Cemetery on a future date spring or summer In lieu of flowers charitable donations may be made to Heart or Cancer societies Family and friends are invited to leave tributes at www reginafuneralhome
Raymond Arndt
Raymond Ferdinand Arndt, late of Weyburn, SK passed away on February 3, 2025 at the age of 88 years He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Alma Arndt; his first wife and mother of his children Rosella; sisters Ruby (Wes) Schultz and Noreen Knibbs Ray is survived by his wife Dianne Arndt; his daughter Jo Laine (Roger) Juarez; son Troy (Connie) Arndt and grandsons Wyatt (Celine) Luke; step-son Ryan (Harmony) Borys and grandsons Landon and Scott (Tianna); stepdaughter Coreen (Darcey) Ward and grandchildren Jenna (Kai) Brody (Brooke) and Lawren (Evan); stepson, Rory (Stacey) Borys and grandchildren, Brooklynn (Dean), Ryder, and Ty; great grandchildren: Skylar, Lukas, Wyatt, Jax, Ava, Brynn, Maklynn, Lewynn, Kaia, Noah, Jackson,Layne and one more in May; his brothers, Ron (Kathy) Arndt and Ken (Sandy) Arndt; brother-inlaw, Lorne Knibbs; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends A Private Family Celebration of Ray s life has taken place Interment was held at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn, SK For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Ray may be made to the Heart & Stoke Foundation of Saskatchewan, Unit #26, 1738 Quebec Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 1V9 Arrangements were entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Weyburn, SK (848-0333 1888-848-0333) Expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at: www rdfuneralchapel com “Honoring Life and Celebrating Memories"
Ruth Elizabeth Wilson-Bigg
Ruth Elizabeth Wilson-Bigg (nee Arrowsmith) passed away peacefully on October 14 2024 following a brief health battle She was 102 Ruth was born June 9 1922 to Alfred and Rose (nee McLauchlan) Arrowsmith in Regina Shortly after her birth the family moved to Weyburn where Ruth attended Haig School and Weyburn Collegiate Institute At the latter she studied violin and played in the collegiate concert orchestra After attending Weyburn Business College between 1944 and 1946 Ruth further pursued her violin studies in Vancouver She then returned to Weyburn and worked for the Canadian Pacific Express In 1948 she realised her childhood dream of travelling the world After some time in England she joined her sister and brother-in-law, Maisie and Roland Barker, in Aradan, Iran, where Roland was employed with the AngloIranian Oil Company She travelled extensively through the Bible Lands of the Middle East, visiting memorable sites such as the ruins of ancient Babylon near Baghdad, Iraq For a time, she worked at a British consulate in southern Iraq, absorbing the atmosphere and culture of the area Ruth returned to Britain in 1950 and a year later she married Douglas Naysmith Wilson, whom she had met during her time in Iran Following the dissolution of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Douglas took an engineering job in Scotland, and whilst living there, Ruth enjoyed exploring its quiet beauty and history by motorcar As Douglas worked on engineering projects in various countries where wives were not always permitted, Ruth returned to Weyburn in 1960 and joined the secretarial staff of the Saskatchewan Hospital During the phasing out of the institute, Ruth transferred to the Saskatchewan Attorney General’s Department and worked as a court reporter in Saskatoon before transferring to Yorkton in 1969 Douglas passed away in February of 1970 In 1984, Ruth retired During her retirement, she resumed her travels, taking trips to countries including England, Egypt, Morocco, Cuba and Hungary In 1994, she married Jack Bigg Following Jack’s passing in 1997, Ruth moved to French River, PEI, to be closer to her sister Judith Cox, niece Rosemary Clews, great-nephew Aaron Taylor and great-niece Miriam Taylor The prairies, however, beckoned once again, and she returned to Yorkton in 2006 Passionate about animals and nature Ruth was one of the first members of the Yorkton SPCA She is predeceased by husbands Douglas Wilson and Jack Bigg; parents Alfred and Rose Arrowsmith; sisters Judith Cox, Maisie Barker and Mary Faith Evangeline Arrowsmith; niece Rosemary Clews; and her many beloved cats, King Titus, Queen Sheba, Baby Kitten, Ebony, and Little Orphan She is survived by her nephew Richard Barker, nieces Caroline Hammond and Patricia McLauchlan, great-nieces and great-nephews Zenith Wilson, Roxanne McLauchlan, Lydia Waites, Aaron Taylor, Amelia Crowther, Miriam Taylor and Kate Barker Ruth also had the good fortune of long-standing friendships and cherished her relationships with Lavern and Lorna Fenske, Theresa Harris, and Merle and Tom Schurko The Schurkos, along with Bonnie Rohatynsky, another dear friend, provided endless support to Ruth and the family in her final days The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to them and the compassionate nurses at Yorkton, Melville and Pasqua hospitals for the exceptional care they provided The funeral service was held on October 21 at 2:00 p m at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Yorkton The interment took take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weyburn Donations to the SPCA in Ruth s name are welcomed
In memory of James Wanner Lovingly remembered and greatly missed Mom, the Wanner & Matthew Murray families
HIRING:
Bryden Construction & Transport Co. requires SHOP LABORERS
Duties involve cleaning the shop and equipment, assisting in the service/ maintenance area, and general laborer duties. Clean driver’s abstract required. Job location is Arborfield, Sask. Room and board provided. Send resume with work references to: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca or fax 306-769-8844
Obituaries
Community News
Weyburn library children’s programmer, Erin Bell, gave some tips to Millie (left) and Travis, participants in the string art class held on Saturday morning. The project was to create a heart with yarn, just in time for Valentine’s Day on Friday.
Envision Counselling introduces a new Men’s Support Group on February 25
It’s time to break the stigma and open the door for men to connect, share, and grow together.
Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc. announced the launch of their new Men’s Support Group—a space created by men, for men, and facilitated by male counsellors. This group is all about real talk, real support, and real connection.
Life throws challenges at all of us, and it’s easy to feel like you’re carrying the weight alone. Whether it’s stress at work, family dynamics, mental health struggles, or just the everyday pressures of being “the guy,” this support group is here to let you know you don’t have to go at it alone.
This is what men could expect to find at the group:
• A safe, judgment-free zone to talk openly about life’s ups and downs;
• Peer-led conversations guided by men who understand the challenges;
• Practical tips, shared experiences, and a sense of community and improved communication;
• Tools to help navigate relationships, stress, personal growth and improving self-worth.
“We wanted to create a space where men could feel comfortable opening up about the things they’re facing,” said Emmett Aronson, Envision Counsellor. “It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about showing up, being real, and knowing you’ve got a group of guys who’ve got
your back.”
The start date will be Tuesday, February 25, from 6:30-8 p.m. for seven weeks
The location is to be determined, and the cost is free to attend. Pre-registration is required, as there are limited spaces avail -
able.
If you’re a man looking for a place to be heard, find support, and grow, this is your opportunity to be part of something meaningful.
How to Register: To sign up or get more information, contact Envision’s
Intake Counsellor, at intake@envisioncounsellingcentre.com or 306842-8821.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment—take the first step toward connection today. Real talk and real support are waiting for you.
Activities set for February break, Family Day in city
Weyburn students wanting activities to keep them occupied during the February break week of Feb. 17-21 will have options at the Credit Union Spark Centre.
On Monday, Feb. 17, the Family Day holiday will feature a number of fun activities for the whole family.
The fun starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m., featuring face-painting, making friendship bracelets and members of the Paw Patrol will make an appearance.
In addition, the Weyburn Red Wings will be hosting their Highway 39 rivals, the Estevan Bruins, for an SJHL game at 3 p.m. at Crescent Point Place.
For Feb. 18-21, the February break day camp will be on at the Spark Centre, going from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at a cost of $100 for the week.
The focus will be on engaging the child with art projects and physical activities, including outdoor ones if the weather permits.
The City of Weyburn will also be providing public skating times during this week, each afternoon from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. at the Tom Zandee Sports
Arena, and at the outdoor rink if the weather permits. Everyone can also drop by the Weyburn Art Gallery free of charge during this time to view the James Weir People’s Choice exhibition and cast a vote for their favourite top three pieces of art. Voting for the People’s Choice will close on March 14, and the reception to announce the winning pieces will be held on March 20 at 7 p.m.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
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