Game teaches about mushrooms
Once in a while in the role of reviewers we are afforded what is essentially a sneak peak at a new game, which really is rather cool.
That was the case when a prototype version of Mycology arrived for a look.
To start with for a game that might see a few tweaks before mass production, this was a highly polished prototype.
The box top is eyecatching, and Adam was quick to point out the mushroom art would be enough to have him grab the game off a store shelf if the price point were around $40. Of course, he has a bit of an interest in mushrooms, which I understand as my grand dad and father would go collecting ‘shrooms for the fry pan after a summer rain.
Inside the box were
high quality player boards, lots of wooden ‘meeples; and a rule set on only four pages.
You have to love rules that are easily shared on four pages, but they might want to add a page or two with a sample round to speed game play pick-up.
In the end though the game was quick to hit the table, and a solid play, understanding that changes are likely, including having the mushroom deck increase to 126 mushroom cards; and player actions per turn likely increasing to three.
More cards is always good, although ‘magic mushrooms’ are so limited in deck they rarely pop, so that is one card type that should be punched up a bit.
Three actions sound great, but as it is its hard to force a win on one turn with two actions. Three
meeple.guild@gmail.com
will change that and maybe not for the good.
It should be noted having art and the actual ‘unpronounceable’ names of different mushrooms on the cards in aesthetically great although I wish there was some indication where the various mushrooms grow in the world.
It’s also cool the game is Canadian-created.
Designer James Scott was born and raised in southern Ontario in a town called Simcoe, near Lake Erie. He went on to get an undergraduate degree at University of Toronto in Phytopathology (1990), and later a PhD in Mycology (2001), the latter reflected in the new game.
“Since 2002 I’ve been a professor at the University of Toronto (in the School of Public Health). Most of my mycological work has dealt with microfungi -- including medically important ones and environmental ones -- but I have also done some research work with poison mushrooms,” he explained via email.
“I’ve also been a mycology consultant (mush-
room poisoning) to the Ontario Poison Centre for 20 years.”
Scott is also a casual gamer.
“I’ve always liked board games but I am by no means a hard-core board gamer,” he said. “Like many people my age, Monopoly was my entry point into table-top games and then I rapidly progressed to Dungeons and Dragons! My current go-to games are Azul, Sushi Go!, Settler of Catan, etc.”
Interestingly a pandemic and another recent game fired Scott’s interest in creating Mycology.
“Just before the pandemic I bought Elizabeth Hargrave’s luxurious game, Wingspan, and at the time I thought that somebody should really do this type of game with fungi that integrates biology and doesn’t shy away from science -- and Latin names,” he said. “During the very early days of COVID just prior to the lockdown, I decided to take a shot at it, and developed an initial version of Mycology. That was February 2020. Now here we are 11 versions later with a much more streamlined game.”
So what was Scott trying to achieve with game?
“My main objective with the game was to create something fun that could be played by people with little or no experience with mushrooms so that they could come away having learned something about their biology and perhaps a few of their names,” he said. “An earlier version of the game contained a pronunciation guide, and I may try to add it back in along with a small booklet on mushroom ecology -perhaps as a Kickstarter stretch goal.”
Scott said of course the game should appeal to mushroom hunters.
“I designed the game mainly for the amateur mushroom enthusiast
audience and because of this, I deliberately wanted to keep a light-weight game mechanic,” he said.
The art mentioned earlier was by design, said Scott, suggested he decided to adapt classical illustrations for the mushrooms instead of new artwork for a couple of reasons.
*It allowed me to focus my art and design budget on great thematic art;
*Many classical illustrations (particularly Sowerby’s) are superb, and cannot be much improved upon;
*He wanted the game to have a bit of a Victorian feel by linking it to actual, historical scientific literature (we tried to visually reference that by illustrating the mushrooms as though on old sheets of paper viewed in perspective);
*and lastly, he wanted to focus the game on the mushroom biology rather than just showcasing pretty pictures of mushrooms (there are already lots of mushroom books with pretty pictures!).
Now basically complete what does Scott see as the best element of the game?
“Having play tested it with many non-scientific friends -- many with no knowledge or interest in mushrooms -- I’m happy that they have mostly come away with some knowledge of mushrooms,” offered Scott. “I’m a big fan of creating opportunities for incidental learning. For
people who are already enthusiastic about mushrooms, I’m confident they will be able to use the game as a way to dig deeper, learn names and habitats, and hone their foray skills.
“For the board game community, I would hope that the thematic scientific focus might have some interest, and that it may make up for the light game mechanic. I’ve also tried to construct some room for playing strategy that might be of greater interest to more adept board game people.”
In the process Scott said he hopes the game ‘feels adult’.
“I think it brings a more grown-up feel to the tiny, but growing, genre of mushroom games,” he said. “I also think it is very playable for people with no pre-existing knowledge of mushrooms while still offering lots to those who are moderate or advanced amateur enthusiasts.”
And yet the rules are all pretty straight-forward.
“Possibly the most interesting piece here is the poison mushroom rule. In early versions of the game, the poison mushrooms scored negative points and needed to be played in other players’ baskets -- creating a hot-potato scenario,” said Scott. “After much consideration, we decided this was a bit too punitive -- though it made for some very fun early games -and we compromised by making the poison species double-edged by being low cost but potentially high value. This change worked because the whole game premise is that you are a mycologist on a collecting foray rather than a mushroom lover collecting for the plate.”
A game that really is accessible and with just enough strategy to be table worthy when looking for a lighter game in the collection.
You can follow the game on Facebook (Mycology: The Board Game), and expect it on Kickstarter soon.
IN BRIEF
Kamsack Fire Department looking for volunteer firefighters
Courtesy of Kamsack Times
A call is being made out to those that would literally walk through fire to help their community.
The Kamsack Fire Department is looking for more volunteer firefighters.
Ken Thompson, Kamsack’s fire chief, said becoming a part of the department is about serving the community.
“Are you concerned about your neighbour, your family or your friends?” he said. “You’d be helping them in a time of need.”
The chief said there’s 14 firefighters in the department right now.
A minimum of six firefighters is need for attending a call. As the fire department is made of volunteers, not all of
their firefighters can attend every call.
Thompson said he’d like to see at least six new firefighters join. He emphasized that the department is open to all.
The fire department has the space for up to 24 firefighters.
There are some items one should consider before applying to becoming a volunteer firefighter.
An applicant has to go to a physician and get a letter saying that they are in a proper physical condition to do the job. Thompson noted that doesn’t necessarily mean that the applicant would have to be in absolute tiptop physical shape like a large career fire department member.
The fire chief said he’d also want to see a least a three-year com-
mitment to the department, as it does cost money to get the proper gear and training.
Training for the role is provided by the fire department. Every firefighter has to meet the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency minimum standards, which were released in May 2022. The standards include knowledge of fire behaviour; putting on personal protective clothing; inspecting and putting on self-contained breathing apparatuses; use of ropes and ladders; carrying, cleaning and rolling up hose; and operating portable fire extinguishers.
Thompson said trainee firefighter can attend fires, but will be restricted until they are fully trained.
“They’ll be basically shadowing a firefighter
that’s been on for a while and they’ll be observing and helping out with the hoses,” he said. “We’ll teach them how to hook a hose up to the hydrants and things like that. They can observe until we take them through their course and then we supervise them until they’re confident enough that they can do stuff on their own.”
For those who want to go further, firefighters can be trained to qualify for the National Fire Protection Association 1001 level 1 and level 2 certification, which is a professional standard. Four firefighters completed that training this year and another four are pursuing it.
Those interested in joining the department can contact the town office at 306-542-2155.
EDITORIAL
Passionate about keeping Ukrainian family traditions alive
Courtesy of Preeceville Progress
The art of Ukrainian Easter Egg decorating has become a passion and a tradition for Doreen Bochnuik and her family.
Bochnuik was first introduced to the Pysanky (art of decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs) in Grade 9 from her Ukrainian language teacher, Alfred Hladun, who had brought it into the classroom to teach the history and customs of the Ukrainian culture.
“While still a student and living at home, I would make pysanky every year during the Easter season,” said Bochnuik. “I had taken a long break from it until I had children and decided to make it part of our yearly Easter tradition in our home. A few people had asked me to teach them how to do it at home and then I started going to Culture Day and the nursing home to share this special tradition. I have really enjoyed sharing my hobby with others, we always have so much fun! Young or old, anyone can create a pysanky. Although I am not an expert at it, I really do enjoy the stages and steps of decorating a pysanky, from the first layer of wax and the continuing layers of wax and dye that leads up to the final unveiling of a beautiful piece of art.” she said.
One egg could take many hours or days to create depending on the
intricacy of the design.
Georgia Johnson and Norman Harris of the Endeavour area were well- known for their intricate designs and patterns on Ukrainian Easter eggs. Bochnuik fondly remembers growing up seeing their eggs on display and for sale at Paul’s Drugs and was in awe of their creations. “I usually pull out my dyes, wax and tools early in March and make six-toeight eggs a season,” she said.
Georgia decorated two ostrich eggs for a family friend many years ago and during a recent visit, she had the opportunity to see them again. These took Georgia many, many hours to complete and are still beautiful.
The history of pysanky is very interesting. Colours, styles, designs, symbols all have specific meanings to the different regions of the Ukraine. The creation and the blessing of pysanky was an important part to the Ukrainian culture.
“This is one way that I keep a small part of my Ukrainian heritage alive. My favorite design is the forty triangles. This design reflects the pre-Christian era where each triangle represented a prayer or magical belief, relating to the total life of the peoples and signifying the forty tasks of life,” stated Bochnuik.
In the Christian interpretation, the design signifies the forty day Lenten period, the forty days of Christ’s fasting,
the forty martyrs or the forty birds hovering around the forty martyrs.
The Ukrainian pysanka (plural: pysanky) was believed to possess enormous power, not only in the egg itself (which harbored the nucleus of life), but also in the symbolic designs and colours drawn on the egg in a specific manner, according to prescribed rituals. Pysanky were used for various social and religious occasions and were considered to be a talisman, a protection against evil, as well as harbingers of good.
In ancient times pysanky were decorated only by women and young girls. The eggs were chosen with great care – only fertilized eggs were used, from
chickens that had laid eggs for the first time. The decorating process was carried out in secret, away from the eyes of strangers, lest someone cast an evil spell on the egg. In pagan times, pysanky were decorated in early spring; with the introduction of Christianity, this was done before Easter.
The symbolic ornamentation of the pysanka consists mainly of geometric motifs, with some animal and plant elements. The most important motif is the stylized symbol of the sun, which is represented as a broken cross, a swastika (an ancient Sanskrit symbol), a triangle, an eight-point rosette, or a star. Other popular motifs are endless lines,
stylized flowers, leaves, the tree of life, and some animal figures such as horses, stags, and birds. The influence of Christianity introduced such elements as crosses, churches, and fish.
The most popular method of decorating pysanky is the wax-resist method, known as batik. A special instrument called a kistka or ryl’tse is used to “write” the design. (Pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, to write.)
The dyes used to decorate pysanky also had a symbolic meaning. Red symbolized the sun; life, joy; yellow stood for wealth and fertility; green was the symbol of spring and plant life. In the not-too-distant past, artisans prepared their own dyes, using natural products such as the bark of oak or ash trees, twigs from sour apple trees, saffron or willow tree leaves. Today, chemical dyes are used.
It took a long time for the Ukrainian pysanka to develop and achieve perfection. Although contemporary artisans continue to employ ancient symbols and traditional colours on the egg, the pysanka is no longer considered to be a talisman, just a beautiful folk art object.
There are a few different tools and methods for decorating pysanky and Bochnuik uses a hand-held kistka and beeswax, using a candle for heating the kistka. To remove the wax, she dips the egg in a hot
$90K to support CWD research
The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to announce a $90,000 grant to support innovative research out of the University of Saskatchewan to study the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and meningeal worm in woodland caribou and other boreal species.
Through this grant, the University of Saskatchewan’s Dr. Phil McLoughlin and his team will study the population dynamics of deer in the southeastern part of the caribou range. This work uses state-of-theart radio collars and trail cameras, enabling the team to better understand animal movements and develop a comprehensive transmission model. The results of this research will provide the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment with valuable insights to develop science-based policies and management actions that prioritize the conservation of woodland caribou and their habitat.
“We know these diseases put the longterm survival of woodland caribou and other boreal species at risk, which is why we are proud to support Dr. McLoughlin’s innovative research,” Environment Minister Dana Skoropad said. “This grant reflects our government’s commitment to protecting Saskatchewan’s unique wildlife and habitat, including our threatened woodland caribou populations.”
“The goal of our research is to provide practical tools, knowledge, and options, and build the capacity to conserve the Boreal Plains ecosystem while safeguarding the core socio-ecological needs and values of residents,” Dr. McLoughlin said. “We are very grateful for the province’s interest and financial support in this important research.”
Woodland caribou are a species at risk, and the spread of CWD and meningeal
worm into the boreal forest poses a significant threat to their survival, as well as the survival of other cervid species. The presence of CWD in deer of the SK2 woodland caribou range and the northwesterly spread of meningeal worm has heightened the urgency to further understand transmission risks for caribou and other boreal species. This grant builds upon previous funding from the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund to a larger umbrella project led by Dr. McLoughlin involving moose populations and the spread of meningeal worm in Saskatchewan. The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to supporting this vital research and recognizes the importance of this work to the conservation of woodland caribou, as well as the food security of Indigenous people. — Submitted
lard. There are electric kistkas available to purchase as well as different types off bees wax and dyes. Paul’s Drugs has been getting in the supplies for the last several years so it’s been helpful to have supplies readily available. The dye is very potent and if stored properly can be re-used year after year.
The brightness of your dye can be changed by adding a bit of vinegar into the jar. Kistkas come in different sizes- fine, medium and heavy. It’s handy to have at least one of each so that you can make varying designs. A fine point is used for making intricate designs where a heavy point is used for filling in areas on the egg.
Bochnuik also stated that a clean egg is so important and farm eggs work the best. “Any egg will do, including duck, goose, or chicken, as long as it’s an unwashed, clean, white egg. I often use white duck eggs because they are a little larger and are bright white. It is very handy that I raise some ducks.”
“To ensure that your pysanky lasts, draining the yolk out of the egg and spraying it with a spray varnish will ensure that it lasts many years. But many people don’t drain the yolk, they just let the egg dry.”
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For the first time in five years, Parkland Music Festival returning to Canora
Courtesy of Canora Courier
“It is very exciting to have the live festival back in our community.”
Gillian Rice of Canora, Parkland Music Festival Corresponding Secretary, said she and the other volunteers preparing for the festival are looking forward to brining the energy of the festival back to Canora.
“The last time we held the Parkland Music festival in Canora was in 2018,” said Rice. “We were scheduled to have the festival and had everything lined up in 2020 but had
to cancel because of the pandemic.”
Festival dates are April 12 and 13 with classes to be held at the Canora Composite School Auditorium, including two sessions on April 12 and one on April 13.
The final concert is set for April 16 also at the CCS Auditorium.
Rice reports that the number of entries is down to about one third of the normal total before the arrival of COVID-19.
“I have heard of this happening in many communities that are starting up their festivals after the pandemic. Hopefully
we will get our numbers back up to where they were previously but I do think it will take a couple of years.”
Spectators are welcome to attend this year’s festival.
“We have a suggested donation of $5 per session,” said Rice. “There are programs available at Community Insurance and the Town Office in Canora for $10, which allows one person entry to all sessions.”
Festival entries closed in late January.
“There are mostly piano classes in the festival this year. We do have
a few spoken word classes and two vocal entries as well.”
This year’s adjudicator is Lori Potter, whose background includes a wide range of valuable experience, according to the adjudicator bio provided by the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association.
“Lori Potter has her Bachelor of Education in Music and French, her RCM Grade 10 Piano and in 2018 she earned her Associateship in Piano Performance with Distinction from Trinity College of London, England.
“Lori has taught Royal Conservatory of Music piano, theory, harmony, history and voice classes for over 30 years and taught classroom choir in schools. She has recorded two CD’s as songwriter, vocalist and pianist with her church.
Festival Executive includes: Lindsey Propp, president; Chantel Kitchen, entry secretary, and Naomi Kapitoler, treasurer.
Committee members are:
• Scholarships/ patrons - Lindsey Propp, Naomi Kapitoler, Gillian Rice and Jocelyne St-Jacques
• Adjudicator assistant co-ordinator -
Brittainy Vanin
• Program
design/typing - Jocelyne
St-Jacques and Gillian Rice
• Housing/ supplies - Patty Kolodziejski and Jocelyne St-Jacques
• ScholarshipsLinda Osachoff, Pastor Brett Watson and Joan Foreman
• Admission/ door marshals: Catherine Holt.
For the first time since 2018, the Parkland Music Festival is returning to Canora, with classes set for April 12 and 13 at the Canora Composite School Auditorium. The final concert will be held on April 16.
“Lori is currently the director of Conservatory Adult Choir and accompanist for Juventus Choir as well as an instructor of Summer Conservatory Choral and Jr. Glee Camps. Mrs. Potter loves teaching music to all ages and enjoys performing, sharing the gift of music”
In addition to Rice, the Parkland Music
Adjudicator Lori Potter brings a wealth of experience in teaching piano, theory, harmony, history and voice classes.
We all have rights we should know
about those who instill that feeling in us; family, church, doctors, police.”
Melle also reminded that we all the right to say yes to something, and conversely to say no as well, with an expectation of being listened to in both cases.
When discussion turned to the right to a home and to live where you want, it was noted that “it costs money to live in your home,” said Melle.
By Calvin Daniels Staff WriterIt’s important everyone understand their rights.
So in 2017, Estevan Diversified Services produced a handbook ‘Your Life, Your Rights’.
Wednesday those attending the Together We Shine Conference at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre in Yorkton were taken through the book by Karen Melle and Cindy Anderson.
The duo basically took listeners through each ‘right’ detailed in the book, asking for audience feedback on what they were hearing.
The book starts with a
very basic premise.
“You have the right to be yourself,” offered Melle, who added it’s important to know who you want to be too.
“If you looked in the mirror what would you say about yourself? . . . You can be whoever you want to be, so don’t ever be afraid of who you are.”
That was the segway for Anderson to turn the page in the book – everyone attending was given a copy – and to tell those attending “you have the right to be respected . . . Everybody deserves respect.”
And, so it was as Melle and Anderson worked through the book as part
of the Yorkton Branch of SaskAbilities hosted conference.
Melle turned another page and the discussion turned to the “right to feel safe . . . to be comfortable and not afraid.”
In the discussion about feeling safe Melle talked
When it comes to money, Melle reminded “you have the right to know how much you pay for rent. You have the right to know where your money is going.”
Food of course is another expense in life, but we should expect to have food, said Melle, reminding “you should never have food taken away as a punishment. You have a right to food.”
Melle continued the
discussion with attendees as Anderson posted pages on an easel on stage as a visual aid. The art, created by students at Estevan Comprehensive School students for the book, covering a range of things from the right to have friends, to the right to love and be loved, to the right to look at your private information to the right to work.
Melle said after the presentation the book really was a project to help clients know they have rights they might not immediately know, or understand.
The book lays out the rights in very simple and plain language, added Anderson, as a resource people can turn to, to better know what they should expect.
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Sask. hosting para hockey world event
Saskatchewan hockey fans should be gearing up to enjoy a major event as the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship is scheduled for Moose Jaw May 28-June 3.
This is the first time that the championship will be played in Canada.
“It’s historic really,” said national team member Tyler McGregor who readers may recall was in Saskatcåheåwan Feb. 9 at Echo Valley Provincial Park as part of the Cross-Canada Sledge Skate of Hope. The event was part of a Canada wide effort inspired by and as a tribute to one of Canada’s most enduring national heroes, Terry Fox. The Skate of Hope had McGregor having set a personal goal of skating his sled 42 kilometres (a marathon) in each of Canada’s provinces raising money for the Terry Fox Foundation in 2023.
The Skate for Hope
project now complete, McGregor is looking ahead to playing for a World Championship on home ice.
“In the sports entire existence in Canada we’ve never hosted a World Championship,” he told Yorkton This Week in a recent interview.
While the Paralympics might trump the championship in prestige, McGregor said the upcoming event is certainly “the next best thing.
“It’s really exciting to have a tournament of that magnitude hosted in
Canada.”
McGregor said the sport of para hockey is going to be the big winner through the exposure of the event which he said will not just be in Moose Jaw, but across Saskatchewan and Canada.
“For the sport moving forward this is huge,” he said.
The championships are big for the Canadian team.
“It seems like it’s been so long since we played in front of fans,” he said, adding in this case family and friends can attend more easily
so that is huge for the team.
In McGregor’s decade with Team Canada he said big events have
largely been played in Europe or Asia.
“People had to get up at crazy hours to see us play,” he said.
Rising in the middle of the night might be OK for family and friends, but it is harder to get the eyes of casual fans on the game.
“Many people are aware of our sport, but never watched a game,” said McGregor.
Playing on Canadian ice “will just increase exposure for our sport,” offered McGregor, adding “once people see the sport on TV, or especially in-person, they’re instantly intrigued and hooked by the sport and want to come back and see more.”
What fans will see in Moose Jaw is eight of the top national para hockey teams in the world.
While that has still traditionally meant Canada and the U.S. battling for gold and silver, there are a couple of dark horses McGregor said fans should watch for.
China, after taking bronze when hosting the most recent Paralympics has sort of gone off the radar.
“I’m really curious to see how China’s developed,” said McGregor.
Then there is the Czech Republic.
“They’ve done such an excellent job of developing the sport in their country,” said McGregor. “. . . They just try to get as many people as they can onto a sled to introduce them to the sport.”
That effort is paying off as the country strives to join the world’s top
tier teams.
So with more countries looking to compete for medals, does that put pressure on Canada on home ice?
McGregor said in any version of hockey Canada is expected to win, but this time the team; management, coaches and players are taking a different tact.
“We’ve been doing a really good job this season of just focusing on us, or putting ourselves in a position to go win a gold medal,” he said.
In the past the gold was all too important at times, suggested McGregor adding they hope the more relaxed approach will be the difference maker.
“We’re just showing up every day being the best version of ourselves and as a team,” he said, adding the approach is all about relieving some of the pressure typically on Canadian hockey teams on an international stage.
Then there is the legacy of the event in Moose Jaw which McGregor said is exciting too.
The arena in Moose Jaw is being made accessible for para hockey players, which McGregor said can be the impetus for all sort of possibilities for the sport.
“Whether it’s a local team, or a place for provincial athletes, or other national events, they’ll have a facility that’s accessible to us. That’s so exciting,”
Tickets for the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championship went on sale to the public on March 29 at HockeyCanada.ca
Artist reception opens new show at GDAG
By Calvin Daniels Staff WriterThe Godfrey Dean Art Gallery is currently presenting a new art exhibition by Ryan Wonsiak, Alternate Scenarios.
“Alternate Scenarios describes a personal story and lived experience through a representational style in bold colour, showing familiar figurative depictions of social and family encounters,” noted the gallery web-
site.
The show kicked off Saturday with a reception and drawing jam with the artist.
On the gallery website the artist explains, “being in isolation and solitude for two years has been a time of vacillation between real and imagined histories, of recalling memories of childhood and family paradigms through photographs and oral histories from family.
“I was born a queer
and gender non-conforming individual in the small Saskatchewan town of Yorkton in 1985. I lived in an unsafe community and through the harassment of my peers and social circle for first looking and acting like a “girl”, and later for being what was categorized as, not in reclamation of myself, but put upon me by others, as “gay”.
“This series is an expression of these memories and dynamics
through visual mediums of drawing and painting. My exhibition will invite the viewer to imagine a place where they can no longer trust their own memories. A state where everything is at once confusing, familial, and familiar.”
Alternate Scenarios is on display until May 27.
In addition, opening April 5 and running to May 23, will be the gallery’s multi-year project ‘Belong Where You Find Yourself’ will transform the main gallery. This
is multidisciplinary and multi-generational exhibition featuring drawing, painting, photography, film making, storytelling, musical theatre, wood working, sculpture, and fabric art from a unique group of local artists!
City Centre Dental - Everett Legacy Co-op - Trey
Yorkton Public Library - Myah
Yorkton First Steps - Aislyn
Hancock Plumbing Ltd - Hailey
Modern Mattress - Annika
Yorkton This Week - Mila
The Medicine Shoppe - Natalie Vacations Yorkton - Hasley
Kahkewistahaw Gas and Convenience Store - Bexley
Western Development Museum - Leo Vision Sense - Tucker
SMAK - James
Hearn’s Westview Pharmacy - Kayla
Thorsness Appliance and Bed Store - Nixson
Yorkton Hyundai - Jacob
Nursing students take the scare out of visiting a doctor.
Teddy bear hospital helps kids with fears
By Calvin Daniels Staff WriterGoing to the doctor need not be a scary thing.
That is what a program now in its 10th year tries to show youngsters attending Yorkton Nursery School Co-Operative.
The program has third year nursing school students; Toni Rohatensky, Jaidyn Eitzen, Mackenzie Dull, Clarizze Perpetua and Maisy Wheeler, visiting the nursery school over several weeks each year offering the ‘take the scare out of care,’ explained Lana Haider
with the nursery school,” adding the program is held “so that if children need to go to the hospital it won’t be quite as frightening.”
As part of the program a Teddy Bear hospital was held March 30, which enforces the idea for the children “that
nurses are here to help and make them feel better when they find themselves at the hospital,” said Haider, adding it “lets them see and touch the medical equipment like a nebulizer and thermometer.
“They spend time playing with the children and become
a part of the class showing them compassion and becoming a classroom friend.”
The program is good for the nursing students too.
“Spending time with the children is part of their pediatric clinical rotation,” said Haider.
Students pen play for Drama Festival
By Calvin Daniels Staff WriterMany students take part in drama each year.
Far fewer become playwrights.
But, this year four students at Sacred Heart have added writer to their high school resume com-
bining their talents to pen Murder . . . Or Something
The play, written by Scott Falconer, Daheel Haughton, Madeline Eckhart, and Hudson Smith, is on stage this weekend at the Region #4 Drama Festival. The festival, held under the auspices of the
Saskatchewan Drama Association, brought students from seven schools in East Central Saskatchewan for three days of adjudicated performance at Sacred Heart High School.
So, what brought the four students to the table to write a play.
“Our teacher (MaryAnne Blenkin) was sort of offering it,” said Smith.
“She saw how good we did last year and had trust in our abilities,” added Haughton.
“She thought we were talented,” continued Smith.
Still, talented or not, bringing the ideas of four people together had to be a challenge starting with the very basic premise of what sort of play it should be.
“I remember the first time we sort of had that talk,” said Falconer.
As it turned out theme was one area they quickly found consensus on.
“We knew we wanted to do a comedy,” said Smith.
But the idea of humour only takes you so far, and the quartet needed more of a foundation to build on.
Up stepped Eckhart who suggested a murder mystery after playing Clue.
It was a quick buy-in from the others.
“Murder mysteries were popular at the time,” said Haughton.
But when did the murder happen.
“We wanted a period piece,” said Eckhart.
“We had so many variations,” offered Falconer.
“So many ideas,” echoed Smith.
“We played around with the year a lot,” continued Falconer. “. . . It was the ‘70s for a day.”
“I think it was the ‘70s for a minute,” joked Smith.
In the end the 1920s won out, in part because the period had a jargon of its own that worked into the idea of creating a comedy.
“We could make fun of the 1920s,” offered Falconer.
The quartet hit Google and began to research the slangs and now long outdated words of the period.
Words came up like rapscallion, (a mischievous person) and giggle water (alcohol), said Haughton.
Even the cocktails of the day sound funny to an ear in 2023, with gin rickeys and bees’ knees, added Smith.
And over many weeks – they began in early September – they had a script complete in January.
“We met every week for four months,” said Haughton.
Falconer said it was not easy, but worth it.
“We’re all busy people,” he said, adding
drama is not their only activity.
It was a case of finishing writing and going straight into rehearsals, said Smith.
It was something they were working toward even as they did the final script work.
“We had cast everybody we could,” said Falconer.
So now the play goes on stage before drama festival adjudicators.
Smith said obviously they feel the tension.
“You’re always nervous before a performance,” he said. “But it’s exciting.”
So was seeing the play performed as the cast of six actors rehearsed.
As the writers “you see stuff the audience don’t see,” said Falconer.
It was almost surreal to watch, added Smith, who noted it helped that the cast and crew have done a fine job of bringing the play to life.
Whether the play advances to provincials –only two of the 10 at the regional event advance –the quartet of writers are happy.
“It was a fun experience,” summed up Smith, adding he’d love to try another play.
“It was a great experience,” agreed Haughton.
Pool performances
It was an event to showcase the athleticism of synchronized swimming. Saturday the Yorkton Aquabatix Synchro Club hosted its annual Watershow. The show is a time for young participants to perform for family and friends in a non-competitive setting, their home pool the Access Water Park with the eyes of judges upon them. The afternoon of swimming saw the stands installed at the pool full with an appreciative audience.
Student internship results in full time employment
student interns to apply their classroom learning directly in a business,” said Machnee.
Last year, Parkland worked with three local businesses and one notfor-profit business to manage five students in Business Strategy Internships. The businesses involved were Deneschuk Homes, Royal Auto Group, Cornerstone Credit Union, and Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society.
ly on a professional and personal level. “I am proud to say that I am now a permanent member of the Royal Auto Group team, and I have Parkland College, Royal Auto Group, and Mitacs to thank for that”.
At the end of Jones’ internship she was offered full time employment as a Marketing Assistant.
Royal Auto Group is also grateful for the internship opportunity. Corporate General Manager, Natalie Ortynsky, said, “Randi’s eight-month long marketing internship was a mutually beneficial way for her to gain experience while seeing whether this role and industry was the right fit for her. She was eager to learn
and we found it exceedingly valuable having her on-site.”
New student internship opportunities will begin again this spring. Interested local businesses are encouraged to reach out to Parkland College to find out if their project or initiative would be eligible for the Mitacs internship funding. -Submitted
YORKTON – This past year, Parkland College introduced a new opportunity for both students and local businesses.
Through the college’s Applied Research department, a proposal was submitted and approved by Mitacs, a national, not-forprofit research and training organization. To be eligible for funding, the project for the student internship needed to be innovative and strategic for the business or nonprofit.
The college manages the intern selection process with the business and matches students with an appropriate business and project. A Parkland College job coach provides mentorship and employability skills training to the students throughout their internship. Typically, the interns work for four months with the option to apply for an additional four months. The business pays $7,500 for a four-month term and the student receives between $12,000 and $14,500 at
$18.96 per hour.
Gwen Machnee, the project lead at Parkland College, says the process is designed to be simple for businesses.
“This program has made a significant difference for several businesses in the region and we look forward to being able to help more businesses and organizations this year. The program has provided an amazing opportunity for our
Randi Jones was one of the Parkland College students who applied for the internship and was matched with Royal Auto Group. Her internship started in May of 2022 and was extended until January of 2023. “My marketing internship at Royal Auto Group was the perfect combination of educational and enjoyable each and every day. I will always be grateful for the continuous guidance that Parkland College and Royal Auto Group provided,” said Jones.
Jones explained that the opportunity allowed her to grow tremendous-
10:00 AM -
Culture Open House held in city
By Calvin Daniels Staff WriterCulture takes many forms but knowing what is available in a community is not always apparent.
That is why Cultural Open Houses held in Melville Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon in Yorkton were organized.
Chelsey Johnson, Executive Director with Parkland Valley Sport, Culture and Recreation said various local cultural groups were invited to have information tables at the open houses.
“It’s open for groups to come and promote their programs and what’s
going on in the community,” she said Saturday afternoon.
It was also a chance for groups to “show volunteer opportunities they have available,” said Johnson.
Finding help to do things is a growing challenge.
“Finding volunteers is hard and not just because of COVID,” offered Catherine Tomczak, Operations Coordinator with OSAC. She said people live busy lives “with not a lot of extra time.”
The event was also an opportunity to show culture is diverse.
“Most definitely
it’s not just arts,” said Tomczak.
Getting a broader view of what culture can be and the groups and organizations that support culture is important and especially for new Canadians, said Johnson.
In that regard the open house was itself fairly wide open in what groups could become involved.
It was by design to be “inclusive of everyone,” said Johnson, adding that is the same in a community where being inclusive of all is important.
The two events attracted roughly 10 groups to each with tables and attracting about 25 to each.
Tomczak said overall as co-organizers she and Johnson were pleased.
“This was meant to be a pilot project,” she said, adding she expects they
will be holding similar events in other communities in the future.
Reporting an impaired driver isn’t “snitching;” it’s potentially saving their life
If someone is driving impaired, you should call 911 and report them. It’s not snitching on that person; it’s helping them
by potentially saving their life.
As part of the April Traffic Safety Spotlight on impaired driving, SGI
and law enforcement are reminding the public that the Report Impaired Drivers (RID) program* allows them to simply
call 911 if they see a driver they suspect may be impaired. Impaired driving collisions kill an aver-
age of 34 people per year in Saskatchewan (based on a five-year average between 20172021). Impaired drivers endanger pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other motorists. But more often than not, the person killed in an impaired driving collision is the person who chose to drive impaired. So by reporting that impaired driver, you’re removing them from a life-threatening situation, and helping to prevent a crash that could end or ruin their life.**
“When a person makes the decision to drive impaired, they are putting their own life at risk, along with everyone else on the road,” said SGI President and CEO Penny McCune. “If you see someone you know is driving impaired -- or believe is driving impaired -- please report it.”
“You can help prevent heartbreak in your community by choosing to drive sober,” said Corporal Brian Ferguson of Saskatchewan RCMP Combined Traffic Safety Services (CTSS) Unit. “There is simply no excuse for impaired driving. We all know the risks, we all know the consequences and, as a community, we all know we have a part to do. You can choose to drive safe and report suspected impaired drivers – it’s as easy as that. If you see a suspected impaired driver, pull over and immedi-
ately call 911.”
Be aware of the common signs demonstrated by impaired drivers. These include:
• drifting in and out of lanes
• driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed
• tailgating and changing lanes frequently
• making exceptionally wide turns
• changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance
• overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights
• disregarding signals and lights
• approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly
• driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather
• driving without headlights or leaving turn signals on
If you spot someone exhibiting these behaviours, pull over and call 911. Take note of the location, the direction the vehicle is travelling, a description of the vehicle (including colour, make, model and licence plate number), what type of driving behaviour is being exhibited, and a description of the driver if possible.
In 2022, RID calls have led to more than 370 Criminal Code charges, 130 roadside suspensions and 50 other charges.
The more often a consumer sees your advertising message, the better your chances are that they will remember you when they’re ready to buy.Loki’s Brood Vikings were among those with information tables at a Culture Open House held in the city Saturday.
Classifieds Classifieds
Monuments
Card of Thanks
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In Memoriam
1050 In Memoriam
GAWRYLIUK — Elaine. In loving memory of a dear sister who entered God’s Heavenly Kingdom on September 26, 2011. Of all the many blessings
In Loving Memory of Jenna Marie Hunt May 24, 1991 – April 6, 2016
However great or small
To have had you for a sister
Was the greatest gift of all
The family chain is broken now
And nothing seems the same
But as God takes us one by one
The chain will link again.
— Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by brother Ed, sisters Sylvia & Lorraine and their families.
WEGNER — In loving memory of Albert Wegner, February 14, 1921 to September 23, 2009. He had a nature you could not help loving, And a heart that was purer than gold., And to those that knew and loved him, His memory will never grow old.
— Ever remembered, forever loved, Elsie and family
1100 Cards of Thanks
Always
and
Mom and Dad, Drew (Dawn, Jayden, Liam and Chloe), Connor (Lee) and Sara
The family of the late Dennis Kuzek would like to thank everyone who supported us through Dennis’s illness and after his passing. The gifts of food, cards, phone calls and donations will never be forgotten. Thank you to Father Mel Slashinsky, cantor, choir, pall bearers and the Orthodox Ladies for serving the lunch after prayers, Ron Sebulsky and Cheryl Bilokreli for preparing the lunch in Theodore after the funeral and a thank you to Garry Gawryliuk for the eulogy. Also a special thanks to the staff at Bailey’s Funeral Home for their caring and professional matter for getting us through a difficult time.
— Val & Family USE MARKETPLACE
CLASSIFIEDS
306-782-2465
The family of the late Randy Lozinski would like to thank the nursing staff of the ICU department at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre and Dr. Okafor for all their help and care they gave during Randy’s time in the hospital. Thanks to Bailey’s Funeral Home and Doreen Day for their compassion during this difficult time. A special thanks to Yorkton Concrete for their thoughtfulness and show of appreciation with the procession to the cemetery. We would also like to thank everyone who sent flowers, cards, food, donations and the many phone calls received. It is greatly appreciated.
- Sheila, Kristin & Chris, Regan & Craig
Coming Events
The family of the late Kirk Neibrandt wish to extend our heartfelt thanks for the numerous cards of sympathy, flowers, gifts of food, the generous donation Education Trust Fund, visits, phone calls and support from relatives and friends following the loss of my husband and our father. Thank you to the Doctors, Nursing Staff of ICU and 1st West, Home Care Treatment Nurses and Palliative Care of the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. The Doctors and Nurses of the Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Regina, Regina General Hospital and the Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, for their care of Kirk. A special thank you to Dr. van Heerden and staff and Louck’s Pharmacy also. We also wish to express our thanks to Vern and staff at Christie’s Funeral Home for their professional service, Pastor Dan Moeller for officiating the service, Jackie Guy - soloist, for her special songs, the Rhein Lion’s Club for the use of the hall and the many people who helped with set up of hall, lunch and clean up. Thank you to everyone who shared with us and our families, Kirk’s Celebration of Life on August 15, 2012. Your support was overwhelming. “You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived; Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”
GIGANTIC ANNUAL GUN AND HOBBY SHOW in Dauphin, MB, Saturday, April 15th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, April 16th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 304 Whitmore Avenue (8 Avenue Hall). Admission $5, under 12 free with adult. Approximately 80 - 8ft tables. May contain guns and related items, military items, hobbies, crafts, antiques, hockey cards, Indian artifacts. Something of interest for everyone. This is a buying, selling, trading show. Bring your guns and collectibles. Buy-Sell-Trade or have appraised. For information phone (204) 444-4690.
— With healing hearts, tears in our eyes, Wendy, Brandi and Dana Neibrandt.
contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness 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.
PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS.
Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.
1130 Coming Events
YORKTON FARMER’S MARKET
Buy Locally Eat Fresh Parkland Mall
Every Thurs. and Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
1130 Coming Events FALL SUPPER; LOCATION: BURGIS BEACH HALL, DATE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012. Two sittings - 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. Walk-ins Welcome. ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT CANORA PHARMACY, CANORA AND ALEXANDER’S MEN’S WEAR IN YORKTON or call Linda at 563-4885 or Dodie at 563-4174. ADULTS $12.00, 4-12 YEARS
$6.00, UNDER 4 FREE (Children’s tickets available at the Door). All proceeds will go to replacing the playground equipment that was destroyed in the 2010 flood.
1140 Companions
LOOKING FOR a female companion between 55 and 65. I enjoy dancing, dining, cooking, and shopping. Please respond to Box E, c/o Yorkton This Week, Box 1300 - 20 Third Ave., Yorkton, SK, S3N 2X3 1150 Personals LOCAL HOOKUPS BROWSE4FREE 1-888-628-6790 or #7878 Mobile HOT LOCAL CHAT 1-877-290-0553 Mobile #5015 Find Your Favourite CALL NOW 1-866-732-0070 1-888-5440199 18+
Land for Rent
LAND FOR RENT 2 Quarters, 20 miles South-East of Foam Lake. Call 306-272-3838 for more information.
Apartments/Condos for Rent
RENOVATED SUITES available. Good location. First Choice 306621-5050
The family of the late Pauline Spelay wish to extend their heartfelt thanks for cards of sympathy, mass cards, flowers, gifts of food, donations, visits, phone calls from relatives and friends following the loss of our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Thanks to the doctors and nursing staff at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Pasqua Hospital - Regina, St. Peter’s Hospital - Melville for their care. Also a special thank you to St. Paul Lutheran Care Home, Melville for your excellent care during this past year. We also wish to express our thanks to Larry and staff at Bailey’s Funeral Home for their professional services, Father Ray Lukie, Father Peter Pidskalny, Father Joakim Rac for officiating the services, the cantors, choir and the Knights of Columbus for leading the holy rosary, the grandchildren and great grandchildren for being pallbearers, crossbearer, epistle reader, and giving the eulogy, the luncheons as served by the St. Mary’s Cultural Centre after the prayers, and the Royal Canadian Legion after the funeral service. — Dennis, Michael, Trudy, Dave and Family
Need someone to fill a position in your business, phone This Week classified ad desk, 306-782-2465 and find the right person for your need.
1120 Announcements
#1 IN PARDONS. Clear your criminal record! Start TODAY for ONLY $49.95/mo. Our Accredited Agency offers FASTEST, GUARANTEED Pardon. For FREE Consultations, call 1-866-416-6772. www. ExpressPardons.com.
MUSIC MAKERS - Music & Movement classes for children birth through age 4; PIANO LESSONS for all ages & styles. Call Diane at 641-9887.
For Sale - Misc
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
FRESH VEGETABLES, PLANTS, CRAFTS, BAKING, CABBAGE ROLLS, PEROGIES & MEAT For bookings phone Lorraine Sully at 782-7374
Published weekly by Boundary Publishers Ltd., a subsidiary of Glacier Ventures International Corp. The Glacier group of companies collects personal information from our customers in the normal course of business transactions. We use that information to provide you with our products and services you request. On occasion we may contact you for purposes of research, surveys and other such matters. To provide you with better service we may share your personal information with our sister companies and also outside, selected third parties who perform work for us as suppliers, agents, service providers and information gatherers. Our subscription list may be provided to other organizations who have products and services that may be of interest to you. If you do not wish to participate in such matters, please contact us at the following address: Yorkton This Week, 20 Third Avenue North, Yorkton, S3N 2X3. For a complete statement of our privacy policy, please go to our website at: www.yorktonthisweek.com or stop by our office and pick up a copy.
Craft Items / Gift Ideas
PROBLEM WITH Birth Certificates? Maybe late issued. Maybe I could help correct the record at Vital Statistics. Call John @ 306-563-6883. REMOVE YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD 100,000+ have used our services since 1989. BBB A+ rating. US waiver allows you to travel to the US, or apply for a Record Suspension (Pardon) - professional & affordable Call 1-8-NOW PARDON (1-866-972-7366) www. RemoveYourRecord.com
1170 - Public Notices 1170 - Public Notices
SASKATCHEWAN HISTORY books for sale. The Imperial Review, 1983, $80; Tears, Toil and Triumph: Story of Kelvington and District, 1980, $80; The Ties that Bind: Melville ‘83, 1983, $100; Links with the Past Belbutte-Bapaume,1980, $80; Ploughshares and Prairie Trails: Dilke & District 1982, $80; Footsteps to Follow: A History of Young, Zelma and Districts, 1981, $80; Furrows in Time: A History of Balcarres and District 1987, $80. Shipping and handling extra over cost. Call 431-738-8824
Livestock
acre parcels shown within the bold dashed outline on the following map.
FOR SALE - Bred Heifers Calving Now. Simmental x Angus (Black) - 18 Head; Char x Simm6 Head; Simm x Angus (Red) - 7 Head. Price $2850 each. Call 1306-547-2105.
Proposed parcels on the NW 24-25-4-2
General Employment
C.I. TAXI requiring Class 5 drivers. Leave contact info at City Limits Bar or call 306-782-1313
Yorkton This Week is owned and operated by The Prairie Newspaper Group LP, a division of GVIC Communications Corp.
LIVESTOCK JOB - Duties include feeding and caring for cattle. Cutting, baling, and raking hay. Fencing, processing cattle and all other usual ranching duties. Call Richard at 1-306-547-2105. Fax 1306-547-2193.
Phone 306-782-2465, and we will help you place your ad in This Week.
Reason
The reasons for the amendments are:
1) To accommodate subdivisions of the quarter section for proposed twelve (3.5 acre) parcels for the intended use of highway commercial and light industrial.
Public Inspection
The Village of Pelly is seeking a full time Municipal Administrator. Pelly is a community with 255 people located approximately 25 km from the Manitoba Border and approximately 1 hour north east of Yorkton. Under the direction of Council, the Administrator is responsible for all day to day duties in accordance with policies, bylaws and the various legislation.
Any person may inspect Bylaw Z2/12 at the municipal of ce in Yorkton, Saskatchewan during regular of ce hours between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Copies are available at cost.
Written Submissions
Council is in search of someone with a minimum Standard Urban Certificate or Rural “C” Certificate to start as soon as possible. Salary and benefit packages are negotiable
Any person(s) may make a written submission to council regarding proposed Bylaw Z2/12. Submissions will be accepted either by mail or at the public hearing. Mailed submissions should be forwarded to: Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244 26 - 5th Ave. N., Yorkton, SK S3N 0Y8.
Please submit your resume with work history, references and salary expectations to: Village of Pelly Box 190,
Public Hearing Council will hold a public hearing on October 11, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., at the R.M. Of ce at 26 - 5th Avenue North, Yorkton Saskatchewan, to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed Bylaw Z2/12. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing, or delivered to the undersigned at the municipal of ce before the hearing.
Issued
Drama Festival hosted at SHHS
By Calvin Daniels Staff WriterHigh school actors were centre stage at the Region #4 Drama Festival this week.
The festival, held under the auspices of the Saskatchewan Drama Association, brought students from seven schools in East Central Saskatchewan for three days of adjudicated performance.
“There are 10 plays being performed,” said Rachel Sterzuk, a Region #4 host for the three-day festival being hosted by Sacred Heart High School. “The top two move in to provin-
cials in Regina the first weekend in May.”
Two of the performances are by Sacred Heart students.
The comedy Typecast was one of the plays, while Murder . . . Or Something was the other, the latter written by four local students’ Scott Falconer, Daheel Haughton, Madeline Eckhart, and Hudson Smith.
Yorkton Regional High School students were offering 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse.
Other schools included Esterhazy with three plays, Langenburg Central School, Rocanville,
McNaughton High School from Moosomin and Indian Head.
Overall, the event has “about 200 cast, crew and directors,” taking part.
Awards will be presented Saturday.
After three days of performance the play ‘ Scapino!’ from Esterhazy High School earned top spot, and will advance to the upcoming provincials.
The SHHS drama club plays also performed very well and won many awards including;
Murder…or Something directed by Mary-Anne Blenkin and Madeline Eckhart –
runner-up to best overall production. The play now moves on to compete at provincials May 4-6.
Typecast directed by Courtney Senko and Owen Bahrey – runner up to the best technical production
Daheel Haughton –runner up to the Mary Ellen Burgess award (top acting award at the festival) – Alfredo – Murder…or Something
Hudson Smith – Bob Hinitt technical performance award – top technical award at the festival – lighting Typecast
Scott Falconer –top 10 acting award –Crawford – Murder…or
Something Sophie Lemcke –top 10 acting award –Colleen Ball – Typecast
Isabelle Guy – Myra –Typecast – certificate of acting merit
Bree Klemetski –Jane – Typecast – certificate of acting merit
Cyrus Macauley – Ruth – Murder…or
Something – certificate of acting merit
Kai Cowan – Charles Claplin – Murder…or
Something – certificate of acting merit
Chloey Forster – stage manager –Typecast – certificate of technical merit
Renee Mcinnes –stage crew - Typecast –certificate of technical
merit
Jared Ostapovitch –sound, music composition - Typecast – certificate of technical merit
Amirah Dongla – stage manager –Murder…or Something –certificate of technical merit
Keji Clement - stage manager – Murder…or Something – certificate of technical merit
Phoebie Avila – set painting/stage crewMurder…or Something –certificate of technical merit
Bree Klemetski –cheer award – Typecast
Daheel Haughton –cheer award – Murder… or Something
Grants to charities announced at YDCF annual meeting
Charities in Yorkton and district received $6,500 in grants from the Yorkton and District
Seniors, Parents, Children!
Community Foundation at its annual meeting March 28, bringing the total distributed by the YDCF over its first three years of operation to $182,000.
Successful applications to the annual grants program came from the Krepakevich Fund for Families to SIGN Family Support for $1,625 and the Melville Arts Council for $888. Grants from the Mental Health Fund were made to Dr. Brass School ($1,399) and Big Brother Big Sisters Yorkton and Area ($226).
General Community Fund grants were made to Yorkton Arts Council for $781, Godfrey Dean Art Gallery for $800 and Rail City Industries in Melville for $781.
Gene Krepakevich, who passed away in 2022, was remembered as a visionary community leader and an early champion of the YDCF. Gene and his wife Gladys were among the first donors and over three years continued to give.
Krepakevich Fund for Families is an endowed fund that generates
grants for programs to help families in need.
The Krepakevichs did not wish to limit the grants to Yorkton; they were willing to support projects in any community within the district. Gifts in memoriam from friends and family, and contributions by other donors who share their vision have added to the donations made by them, and the principle amount of the fund now sits at more than $75,000.
In its first two years with the YDCF the fund has issued grants on behalf of the Krepakevich family totalling $5,902 and the principle remains intact to generate future grants.
Ray Bailey, President of the Community Foundation noted that although awareness of the Community Foundation was slowed by the pandemic, donations are steadily increasing with 49 donors contributing over $50,000 in 2022 so that the endowment grant pool will continue to grow and generate annual grants.
Memorial donations
were received in 2022 for Krepakevich and Elsie Sakal.
Representatives from many of the local charities were on hand for the one-hour AGM and a video with messages from last year’s grant recipients was played thanking donors for the grants and explaining the good that came from those contributions to their programs. Two attendees learned of some of the needs in the area identified during a November survey sent by YDCF to over 40 local charities and heard how many local concerns are echoed in the Food Banks of Canada 2022 HungerReport.
Among the business of the meeting was a farewell to Sharon Tropin and Abi Adefolarin who are stepping down from the board along with City of Yorkton representative Lisa Washington. Sharon and Lisa had both served more than five years, first on the steering committee that founded the organization and on the board of directors since the
2019 launch. Elected for new two-year terms to the board were David Balysky representing the City of Yorkton, and Darlene Stakiw. Re-elected was Ray Bailey.
Board members are elected for two-year terms, and may serve three consecutive terms. Those continuing to serve are Andrew Rae, Candace Tendler, Trevor Plews, Victor Surjik and Dick DeRyk.
The Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2022 were presented at the meeting, and can be found on the YDCF website, www. ydcf.ca. Persons interested in learning more are also welcome to contact any board members. YDCF uses only the earnings from its endowment funds to make grants only to other registered charities in Yorkton and district. Each year in January charities are invited to apply for grants, which are announced at the annual general meeting held in March.
Artists
APRIL 5 – MAY 23, 2023 FREE ADMISSION
EXHIBITION RECEPTION – SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1:00PM
GODFREY DEAN ART GALLERY 49 Smith Street East YORKTON, SK 306.786.2992 11am – 5pm Monday to Friday 1 – 4pm Saturday Closed Sunday
SCEPTER DIESEL CONTAINER
Fits standard RV racks. Versaflex spout. 20 L (5006 093)
1397 EACH
SAVE OVER 20% WAS $24.99 1997 EACH
ROZOL RTU GOPHER CONTROL
For the control of ground squirrels and pocket gophers in rangelands, crop and non-crop areas. 9.1 kg (6068 076) 22.7 kg (6068 084)…………29900
HUSQVARNA PUSH MOWER, 3-IN-1 Collection, mulch and side discharge options. 20” steel cutting deck. Ergonomic and foldable handle bar. 166 cc (5711 296)
15997 EACH
SAVE OVER $15 WAS $174.99
49900 EACH
SAVE OVER $100 WAS $599.99