Marketplace 2022-12-30

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Ex-NHL’er brings horse rides, hockey camp to Ile-a-la-Crosse

By Julia Peterson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (The StarPhoenix)

All week long, youth in Ile-a-la-Crosse, Sask., have been buzzing with enthusiasm about an ex-NLH player’s visit to their northern village.

Rich Pilon, who grew up in St. Louis, Sask. before going on to play for the New York Rangers and the St. Louis Blues in his 15-year NHL career, is committed to supporting small Saskatchewan communities like his hometown.

He started a program called Horses and Hockey as a way to support Saskatchewan youth and open the door to important conversations about mental health and wellbeing.

This week, children in Ile-a-la-Crosse have the chance to take horse-drawn sleigh rides through the community during the school day. At

night, Pilon leads hockey camps.

“The kids love it,” said youth sports, recreation and culture coordinator Mike Bouvier. “They love the horse rides, and they are so excited about the hockey camp. All I had to say was, ‘Hey, there’s an ex-NHL player here to do hockey camps,’ and that was all they needed to know.

“It’s all they’re talking about this week, the parents are saying.”

This is Pilon’s second visit to Ile-a-la-Crosse with Horses and Hockey. He also came in the summer — though the horses drew a chuckwagon instead of a sleigh, and there was no ice to do hockey camps. Instead, in the evenings, Pilon gave presentations about mental health.

He talked about his own struggles with drugs and alcohol at the end of his NHL career, and how he found his way to sobriety and mental wellbe-

ing. Over the years, Pilon has often spoken about how working with horses and spending time with animals has been key to his own mental health. That’s an important part

of why he wants to share those experiences with children in northern Saskatchewan.

When Bouvier heard about Pilon’s work, he was eager to bring him

to the community, and found mental health funding from various organizations to make it happen.

He said it’s easy to see the immediate benefit

in the joy on the youths’ faces.

“You see these little kids — these little five- or six-year-old kids — going on a sleigh behind these big, huge, massive horses,” he said. “And they’re just amazed at it.”

Bouvier said this program helps young people feel inspired to get involved and put a focus on their physical and mental well-being.

“The kids are so eager to learn from Rich and from each other.”

Terriers trampled in ‘Stang stampede

The Yorkton Junior Terriers are celebrating 50 years in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League this season.

To mark the milestone Yorkton This Week is digging into its archives and pulling out a random Terrier-related article from the past five decades of reporting on the team, and will be running one each week, just as it originally appeared.

This feature will appear weekly over the entire season in the pages of The Marketplace.

Week #15 comes from May 15, 1996.

Melfort – Despite it being a semi-final game for the Royal Bank Cup, the Yorkton Terriers couldn’t find a way to defeat the Melfort Mustangs, losing 7-3.

The Mustangs had owned the Terriers heading into Saturday’s contest winning seven of eight games through the final weeks of the regular season, the league championship and a 7-1 win in the opening game of the cup tournament.

“We knew coming in we’d have to play the perfect game,” said Neil Schell of the Terriers.

Submitted by Mike Bouvier

Youth in Ile-a-la-Crosse enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides and hockey clinics from former NHL defenseman Rich Pilon, as he works to promote youth mental health.

Continued from Page 2

TERRIERS 50 YEARS

“We had a game plan going in, but like a lot of our games (at the tournament) we didn’t follow it.”

Lee Rusnak, wearing the captain’s C for the Terriers, said his team wasn’t quite ready for the task.

“It’s basically run on emotion and that wasn’t there for our team,” he said.

Goaltender Scott Prekaski said “they have a very hard working team. Sometimes that’s something we have lacked. Sometimes we took a shift or two off.”

Prekaski added the team’s lack of success against Melfort over the course of the season played a role.

“It was in the back of our minds,” he said. “We talked about it, about keeping it out of our minds. We scored the first goal and I thought things looked bright for us there …”

While the Terriers did come out and score the first goal of the game Saturday, a marker by Jamie Standish at the 8:01 mark of the first period, the Mustangs were just too much for the Terriers.

Before the first ended the ‘Stangs had secured a 2-1 lead on goals by Ben Kuep and Travis Stevenson.

“I thought the turning point of the game was our first goal,” said Melfort coach Kevin Dickie.

“Once we got that first goal we seemed to ease up a lot on the bench.”

Schell agreed the late goals took a toll.

“They kind of took the

Looking back at the Yorkton Terriers

wind out of our sail. It would have been nice to have the lead going into intermission,” he said. “Melfort did a really good job of taking a lot of the momentum away from us.”

Rusnak took the late goals personally.

“We made two mistakes and they capitalized on both. I take full responsibility for letting them lose,” he said.

Melfort realized the Terriers started well.

“Yorkton came our very strong. They wanted to keep the game as close as they could,” said Jason Duda, the Mustangs top scorer through the week.

Terrier coach Lee Odelein liked his team’s early jump, but added the momentum didn’t last.

“We’ve got to give them (Melfort) credit. They’re a very strong team. A very determined team, a very focused team,” he said.

Dave Noel-Bernier, Yorkton’s game star, said it was just a case of the Mustangs being the better team in the game.

“We didn’t play a bad game – but they played a great game,” he said.

The late Mustang marker set the tine for the second period as the Mustangs notched two early powerplay goals by Valeri Ermolov and Duda.

Duda’s goal sent the Terriers’ starting goaltender Kendall Sidoruk,

a pick up from the North Battleford North Stars, to the bench in favour of Prekaski.

Coming into the fray was a difficult task for Prekaski.

“It was really such an emotional game,” he said. “On the bench I tried to keep everybody up so I was in it like everybody else.”

Yorkton responded to the changes with Joe Tassone scoring 30 seconds later to draw within two.

Duda however, would add his second of the game at 15:26 to close out the period scoring with the Mustangs up 5-2.

“We’ve got a good defence. Let us get up by three goals and it’s tough to come back,” he said.

In the third the Terriers once again showed an early spark as Rob Kozak scored at 3:42 of the period on the team’s first shot.

But the Terriers would only manage four more shots while the Mustangs would pepper 11 at Prekaski, scoring twice, including another by Duda for a natural hat trick at 8:41. Trevor Blevins rounded out the scoring.

The loss was especially hard since the Terriers had 10 players graduating from the junior ranks.

Rusnak was among the

graduates.

“It was my last game. That’s tough to swallow. I’ve been with coach for three years and I feel like I let him down,” he said. “It’s a tough thing to handle right now.”

Prekaski, who agreed to a four-year college

New long-term facility for Grenfell

Three teams will move forward to the next stage of procurement for the new Grenfell LongTerm Care (LTC) Home. The new 33-bed home will be built on a vacant parcel of land located in the northeast corner of the town and will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. It will include private rooms with bathrooms, two spa tub rooms, a commercial kitchen, common living and dining spaces and administrative spaces.

“We are very pleased to see this project moving forward,” Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley said. “Rejuvenation and replacement of long-term care homes around the province has been a priority for our government and seniors in Grenfell and area will soon have a new safe and comfortable place to call home.”

Six teams responded to the Province’s Request

for Qualifications, which closed October 6, 2022. After evaluating the responses, three teams have been invited to move forward to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage:

• PCL Construction and G. Architects

• Graham Design Builders and Stantec Architecture Ltd.

• Scott Builders Inc. and BR2 Architecture

PCL Construction Management Inc., founded in Stoughton in 1906, is a group of independent construction companies that form Canada’s largest general contracting firm. PCL is the Construction Manager for the Government of Saskatchewan’s Saskatoon Remand Centre project.

Graham Construction was founded in Saskatchewan in 1926. Graham has delivered projects such as the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw, the Southwest Integrated

Healthcare Facility in Maple Creek and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

Red Deer based Scott Builders Inc. has been operating in Alberta since 1971. Scott delivered the Credit Union CUplex project in North Battleford, a 120,000 sq. ft field house and curling rink that includes a running track and two fullsize soccer fields.

“I am very pleased to see this project moving forward and one step closer to construction. We have worked alongside the Grenfell Health Foundation as well as members of the community and I want to thank them for their steadfast commitment and support, “ Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk said. “This project is very important to the community because it allows our seniors to age in a safe, supportive environment.”

The new facility will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. When

the RFP closes on March 2, 2023, the proponent will be selected following the evaluation process.

“The Saskatchewan Health Authority is looking forward to this project moving forward so that we can welcome residents into their new home,” Executive Director of Integrated Rural Primary Health Care Saskatchewan Health Authority Jacqui Kennett-Peppler said. “The new Grenfell LTC home will serve residents from the town of Grenfell and surrounding rural municipalities in a space that encourages residents to gather together, creating a sense of community.”

Residents of the Grenfell Pioneer Home, which closed in 2018, were relocated to nearby facilities. They will be offered the first opportunity to move into the new home once it is complete.

scholarship, said there is definitely apprehension for some players.

“I know I have someplace to go. I feel so bad for the guys who aren’t sure where they’re going,” he said.

Dickie said the win over the Terriers wasn’t an emotional one for his team.

“Sure I’m thrilled for the guys to have the opportunity (to play in Sunday’s final), but in the dressing room we didn’t even cheer after the game,” he said. “We have one goal and that is to win a national championship.”

The host Mustangs had

their shot Sunday against the Vernon Vipers who made it to the finals by defeating the Newmarket 87s 7-3 in their semi-final contest.

But it wasn’t to be for Melfort who lost Sunday’s Royal Bank Cup final 2-0, sending the Vipers home with the national junior A crown.

As a final wind-up to the Royal Bank Cup, Trent Walford of the Newmarket 87s was named the Canadian Junior A Hockey Player of the Year. Walford, 19, was selected over Serge Bourgeois of the Moncton Gagnon Beavers, and Duda of the Mustangs.

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The Toronto Arrows have focused on a strong core of Canadian talent since joining MLR in 2019.

TO Arrows ink top rugby draft pick CALVIN DANIELS Sports

So it’s not surprising when the Arrows selected Owain Ruttan, 24, fifth overall in the 2022 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft. The team more recently signed Ruttan for the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

It will be a case of coming home for Ruttan who hails from Ontario but had most recently played rugby on the west coast with the University of British Columbia rugby program.

“It was super exciting, and pretty cool going back close to my home. I grew up in Ontario,” Ruttan said of the Arrows’ selection.

Ruttan said as a youth he did play other sports, but with a Welsh grandfather who loved rugby pointing the way he was soon on the pitch where “right away I just loved it.”

Ruttan said while you are never sure what might happen in a draft, he was aware Toronto was interested after a call from the team.

“I was watching what

they were doing over there in Toronto,” he said.

Ruttan said a chance to play in the MLR was something which was certainly on his personal wish list.

“The league has been around for a while. It is something that has peaked my interest,” he said, adding he recognizes the MLR is “all about developing players” as the only domestic pro league at its level of competition.

And competition is how a player gets better, noted Ruttan.

“The university programs are a great starting point for players including myself,” he said, then added there is another step to take with the MLR, where “you are going all day, every day” and “there’s always work to be done.”

So what work does Ruttan see in himself that he must get better at.

At present he said he is being something of a gym rat as he focuses “on getting really strong and putting some weight on,” in preparation for life on an MLR field.

As a forward, Ruttan said his game is pretty straight forward coming down to tackling a ball carrier in his zone, or taking the ball on offence knowing he’s likely to be tackled. It’s a rough and ready life in the rugby trenches.

“It’s the life of a forward,” he said.

In addition to being drafted by, and signing with, the Arrows, Ruttan has also recently had his first taste of wearing a Team Canada jersey.

Manitoba native Kyle Steeves and 2022 Toronto Arrows draft

Owain Ruttan

pick, Owain Ruttan, both earned their first cap for Canada after coming off the bench in the second half as Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team concluded their two-game European fall tour with a 43-37 loss to Namibia at the National Rugby Center Amsterdam in the Netherlands recently.

“It was a super cool opportunity,” offered Ruttan. “… It was fun – a little taste for me.”

It was certainly a memorable game.

“Down 36-34 with less than two minutes left in the match, Canada found themselves with a lineout just inside Namibia’s 22-metre line,” detailed a story at rugby.ca “Reserve hooker Lindsey

Stevens hit his mark on the throw and after a few phases Canada forced Namibia to take a penalty at the breakdown, setting up Cooper Coats for a shot at goal with less than 60 seconds to play.

“Coats put the penalty kick through the posts from approximately 15-metres out, giving his Canadian side the onepoint advantage at 37-36 with only time for one more play.

“On the ensuing kickoff, Canada was called for a knock on before taking two scrum infractions which resulted in a penalty for the opposition.

Namibia opted for a lineout deep in Canadian territory rather than kicking a penalty which could

have sealed the match. After struggling in the first half, the Namibian lineout came up clutch when they needed it most and after several phases along Canada’s try line, scrum half TC Kisting dove over the line, sealing a thrilling victory for his Namibian squad on the final play of the game. The conversion was successful as Namibia defeated Canada for the first time in history, 43-37.”

Ruttan said losses are never the best outcome but added “they (Nambia) are a good side.”

Ruttan said the brief experience with the national team was a good experience in terms of showing him what life with the Arrows will be like training “all day, every day.”

As for Team Canada Ruttan hopes he can be part of the team’s plans moving forward as it retools after failing to qualify for the most recent World Cup – the team’s first miss since the event started.

“I want to stay in that mix,” he said, adding that is where experienced gained with the Arrows can be a huge asset moving forward.

Don’t fear the winter: A nighttime hike in northern Sask.

By Julia Peterson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (The StarPhoenix)

LA RONGE — By the time I arrive at the trailhead in Morley Wilson Park, the northern Saskatchewan sunset has come and gone, and temperatures are dipping below -20 C.

The moon — full, bright, almost cartoonishly enormous in the sky — lights up the park and the woods surrounding it, silhouetting the small group of hikers clustered at the park entrance, getting ready to head out.

Matthew Maurer, who will lead the group, hands out headlamps and snowshoes with eager, welcoming enthusiasm.

He has organized summer hikes in La Ronge for the last two years, but this year is his first time taking groups out on winter evenings, too.

“Hiking is just something that I enjoy doing,” he says. “I go for hikes every morning, and I figured there are a lot of people who are interested. They ask me about it. But they don’t feel com-

fortable going out and exploring by themselves.

“So I figured I’d put something on, and provide people with guided hikes and get them familiar with the trails, because I want people to get comfortable. Then they can show their friends, and their friends can show their friends, and we can encourage more people to get out hiking.”

The group of hikers varies from week to week; it’s an informal, friendly gathering. Earlier in the season, some of the local youth groups came out

with glow-sticks, lighting up the dark trails in neon colours. This time, counting Maurer, there are six of us — a mix of old-timers and first-timers clustered together as we hit the trail.

Heading into the trees, sinking deep into the powdery snow with every step, my knees and hips relax into the rhythm of snowshoeing. It surprises me. This is my first time on snowshoes, but I’m almost instantly feeling confident and surefooted.

Except when we’re going up or downhill, that

is. Then my snowshoeing is less ‘steady motion’ and more ‘gawky penguin.’

But everyone is encouraging, offering advice and friendly laughter as we step and stumble along, leaving the lights of the town behind us.

Since September, Maurer says more than 50 different people have joined him for an evening or nighttime hike. People come and try a winter hike for all sorts of reasons — in search of physical activity, for the love of nature, for something to do — and once they get a taste of it, many can’t wait to return.

For Maurer himself, taking up hiking on a regular basis has been life-changing.

“For me, it’s a way to deal with my anxiety,” he said. “Hiking is calming. It’s good for your mental health, and your physical health. It’s a great way to keep balancing your life.

“That’s why I want to share it with everybody, to give them that opportunity to find that balance in their life.”

As we make our way along the trail, passing lines of animal tracks

and squelching over pockets of muskeg under the snow, that feeling of calm and balance Maurer described is inescapable.

I start to think that it’s no wonder he and the other hikers have been so eager to come out here all year round, even as the nights get harsh and long.

The atmosphere — the cold, quiet, sparkling beauty — of a winter hike is a completely different way to get to know the woods.

“It feels more vibrant,” Maurer says. “And you feel more connected with the people that you’re with, because you’re sticking together and you’ve got a limited light source. It just feels a lot more engaging.”

Saskatchewan’s winters are famously long. Sometimes, as we head out into yet another day of heavy snow and biting wind, it can feel like winter is just something to endure, day by day, until spring finds us again.

But, since we do live here, we can endure the season if we must — or find ways to embrace it, however we can.

And as we hike our

way through the woods around La Ronge, the light from our headlamps bobbing over the snowy landscape, I feel entirely glad to be out here in the cold and dark, enjoying winter on its own terms.

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Matthew Maurer stands at a trailhead in La Ronge, Sask. In 2022, Maurer started leading evening and winter hikes in the trails around the town.

IN BRIEF

New girls hockey team perfect at Melville tournament

Courtesy of Canora Courier

The Parkland Prairie Ice, a first-year U13 girls hockey team, was formed in time for the 2022/23 season to give area girls and district audiences the opportunity to enjoy girls hockey.

The team’s roster is filled out by girls from a number of area communities, including: Canora, Norquay, Sturgis, Kamsack, Preeceville and Yorkton.

The players enjoyed their first game action as a team in the best possible way; winning five straight games to capture first place at a tournament held in Melville Dec. 10-11.

The head coach is Nicole Korpusik of Norquay, who was a member of the first University of Regina Cougars female hockey team during her playing days.

The Melville tournament began on Saturday when the Ice hooked up with Parkland Fire, the host team, and skated away with a 6-3 win. Since it was their first game action as a team, Korpusik admits she wasn’t sure what to expect.

“My jaw hit the floor from the drop of the first puck, the leadership was incredible and the teamwork blew my mind,” said Korpusik “Our passing was incredible and the girls took every opportunity to make plays and include each player on the team.”

In their first game together, the players showed a strong ability to handle adversity.

“When the Fire scored against us it wasn’t a hang-your-head moment, these girls would rally around each other and bounce back.”

Harper Danchilla and Avery Lammers of Yorkton led the offence with two goals each. Single markers came from Ryea Harper of Canora and Rowyn Johnson of Norquay.

The second game was later in the day against the Warman Bearcats, which was a dominant 9-0 shutout for the Ice and goalie Ty Northrop of Norquay.

“We had almost every player contribute on the scoresheet, whether it was through goals or assists. It was awesome to see,” marveled Korpusik.

Danchilla and Lammers once again contributed a total of four goals to the cause with two each. Tessica

Mydonick of Canora and Morgan Olson of Sturgis each scored twice, while Makayla Johnson of Preeceville contributed one goal.

The action started early on Sunday, with an 8:30 a.m. faceoff against the Warman Bengals.

“The girls played gritty which resulted in having to work a little harder and be disciplined because we spent some time in the penalty box that game,” reported Korpusik. “Those penalties were mostly the result of hard work, not unsportsmanlike play, so I’ll take it. We came out on top with a 5-1 win.”

For the third straight game, Avery Lammers scored a pair of goals. Singles came from Ryea Harper, Rowyn Johnson and Isabelle Smith of Yorkton.

The final round robin game was against the Hamiota Huskies from across the border in Manitoba. Based on the standings, the Ice players knew they had qualified for the final game before the puck was dropped.

“But this didn’t stop our girls from playing their hearts out. Again we had a great mix of numbers on the score sheet and came out with a 7-2 win and an undefeated round robin record.”

Harper Danchilla scored four goals and Morgan Olson added a pair, with Avery Lammers rounding out the scoring.

Korpusik said they were given about an hour “to rest and fuel up” before hitting the ice for the championship final, pitted against the host Parkland Fire for the second time in the tournament. The final score was 4-1 for the Ice.

“We knew they’d come out flying. . This was their tournament and they would be hungry for a win. The Fire scored first but our girls responded quickly and the first

period ended with both teams on the board with one each. Our girls were showing signs of fatigue and had to dig deep. The passes weren’t coming as easily and the shots weren’t finding the mesh as they had before. We fought through frustrations, blisters, sugar lows, headaches and fatigue. We supported each other and we persevered, we came away as champions with a 4-1 victory!”

Avery Lammers was the offensive leader in this game with a pair of goals. Tessica Mydonick and Cassidy Wolkowski of Canora each found the net to provide the Ice with their margin of victory. Ty Northrop was the winning goalie for all five games, and made an offensive contribution as well with a pair of assists over the weekend.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these girls,” shared Korpusik.

“Sticking together is easy when you’re fresh and winning but when you’re tired, hurting and frustrated your true colours as a player and a team come out. These girls stuck it out, never quit and supported each other through the adversity - that’s why they are the champs.”

Jackie Guidry, tournament organizer, was pleased to see the teams from the Parkland area in Saskatchewan and Manitoba “having good, competitive games” during the tournament.

“We need to continue to increase the awareness of female hockey all over Saskatchewan so girls can continue to build lifelong friendships and skills while playing with and against other girls.”

Korpusik is quite impressed with the accomplishments of her players during their short

time as a team, especially since they only had two practises together before the Melville tournament.

“Each of the girls on this team play on a house team in either Preeceville, Canora, Kamsack or Yorkton which means during the regular season we are competitors. This could make building a new team challenging. There are five different team schedules to try to work around in order to plan practices, so finding times that work for every-

one and ice time that corresponded with open schedules was logistically challenging. Luckily, we have an incredible manager, Jaime Johnson, who has worked tirelessly to find opportunities for us. I am proud to say our players have bonded quickly both on and off the ice.”

The Ice now get to enjoy the Christmas break, before preparations begin in the New Year for a tournament in Portage la Prairie, Man. from Jan. 13-15.

The Parkland Prairie Ice, a new U13 girls hockey team this season, won a tournament held in Melville on Dec. 10 and 11 thanks to five straight wins. From left, were: (standing) Bowdrie Northrop of Norquay (assistant coach), Tessica Mydonick of Canora, Jess Harper of Canora (assistant coach), Avery Masley of Sturgis (in front of Harper), Isabelle Smith of Yorkton, Chloe Doogan and Ryea Harper of Canora, Allie Babiuk of Sturgis, Makayla Johnson of Preeceville and Nicole Korpusik of Norquay (head coach); (kneeling) Camryn Kosokowsky of Kamsack, Cassidy Wolkowski of Canora, Rowyn Johnson of Norquay, Avery Lammers and Harper Danchilla of Norquay, Rylee Coleman and Morgan Olson of Sturgis; and (front) Ty Northrop of Norquay (goalie).

Tactigon a battle in tight quarters

When you receive a game to play and review before it has even started to be produced it’s really a good news / bad news scenario.

The good news of course is the ‘sneak peek’ at a new game. It’s like seeing a movie weeks before it hits theatres. You know you are getting a look behind the scenes in a sense. Simply put, it is very cool.

The bad news, you are getting a prototype, so some of what you actually take to the table will be much different come production, so you are reviewing at least a bit on good faith.

Take for example Tactigon which arrived recently.

The pieces were homeprinted on a 3D printer, and several didn’t survive mail well, arriving broke. Now gamers are going to have super/crazy/gorilla glue on-hand so repair was not a huge problem, but you have to take it on faith production quality will be better. Now generally plastic pieces are pretty sturdy, but I can attest to the lousy quality of some of the Guild Ball from Steamforged Games were. Frankly they were horrible, so you just never know.

Speaking of pieces, these came is red and green – festive for the season for sure – and workable for sure, but

when it comes to an abstract strategy game like Tactigon I much prefer stark black and white.

For example the muticoloured pieces of the original Hive actually had me thinking ‘kids’ game’ and it took me some time to actually buy the game.

When the beautiful black and white ‘carbon’ edition was released it was a must have. Just gorgeous.

Ditto Terrace. The bright, near-neon set is cool, but the later black and white release is my personal favouite.

So hint to Tactigon crew – think black and white.

As for game play, the rules here are pretty straight forward, but with multiple pieces doing different things, it will take a game or two to absorb it all without needing to look at the rule booklet.

The board is uniquely shaped, and is pretty crowded at game start, so it’s a straight ahead game, in the sense you won’t be making a bunch

of moves merely to set up a strategy. That is generally a good thing.

The pieces move from one to five spaces, and on a smallish board that generally works, although set up has some one move pieces at the back of your force, so they are particularly slow getting into meaningful action.

So thanks to Facebook we are usually able to connect with designer’s for some insights into a game’s development, and in this case Andy Shaw was good enough to tackle some questions via email.

Shaw himself is a ‘gamer’.

“I have always loved board games,” he said. “As a kid I played an enormous amount of Chess, but we also had many of the ‘classics’ (scrabble, risk, monopoly, etc).”

But times do change too.

“Currently my family does not have an extensive game collection but we do have several we enjoy playing regularly.

My favourite small group game is probably Ticket to Ride, mainly because i have young children and the game is fun and requires strategy yet it still fairly accessible to younger players,: said Shaw

“I still do also play chess with my kids, and if I’m being honest, I use them extensively for playtesting Tactigon.”

So what was the idea which led to Tactigon’s creation?

“There were two first thoughts I had that inspired Tactigon,” said Shaw. “Both struck me at about the same time, this would have been about 12 years ago while I was at US Army Flight School in Fort Rucker, Alabama.

“The first thought I had was that it would be a neat mechanic in a game to have the shape of a piece have some relation to its movement.

“The second thought was slower pieces should

be more powerful, so that every piece was important but in different ways.

“From these two thoughts I slowly started to form a concept for the game we now know as Tactigon. . .

“Personally, my favourite aspect of Tactigon is the relationship between speed and strength of the pieces. I have always disliked the notion of “throwaway” pieces in games and wanted to make each piece valuable but in different ways.

“In Tactigon, pieces are all valuable in their own ways. Players who best employ the entirety of their pieces will have the most consistent success.”

Shaw said he wanted a fun game, but also something in the vein of his long-loved chess.

“Firstly, my goal was to create a game that is thoroughly enjoyable to

play,” he said. “Being a lifelong chess player, I have a natural affinity towards abstract strategy, and the general concept of the game I initially came up with worked well within that genre.

“As development progressed, I kept a few major goals in mind. The game needed to be easy to learn. I’m a minimalist and wanted to keep the ruleset for Tactigon very straightforward and as intuitive as possible.

“Also, the game pace should feel ‘right.’ This was mainly accomplished with the board design. It took several evolutions of the board to get it sized right to keep the action tight and keep games from becoming unnecessarily drawn out.

“Lastly, it had to be unique, clever, and stand apart from other games within the genre. Some of the mechanics, and especially the different win conditions, accomplish this goal.”

Having multiple win conditions is not unique to Tactigon, but from a Guilder’s perspective it is a plus as it opens-up varied in-game approaches to victory.

“The most unique aspect of this game, especially compared to most other abstract strategy games, is that there are two completely unique ways to win,” offered

We wish you a very Happy Holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Wade Windjack 306-620-6905

Glen Kozak 306-621-6777

May your life be filled with warmth and good cheer this holiday season and throughout the New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

As the New Year approaches us with hopes anew, here is to wishing you and your family a wonderful year ahead blessed with good health, prosperity and most of all happiness.

Bill Harrison 306-621-8007

Mark Zawerucha 306-641-9406

I am grateful for the opportunities to work with you and your families throughout the year. Thank you for the trust you have placed in our services at RE/MAX Blue Chip Realty.

Thank you to my past and present clients for trusting me with your real estate goals. My hope is that 2023 brings you all great health, excellent adventures, and a happy home!

May your coming year be filled with joy, good health and prosperity.

Happy New Year and Thank you for your continued support.

Robby Bear 306-641-4977

Safe Travels over the holiday season, and I look forward to working with you again in 2023!

I would like to thank all my past clients for allowing me to help their families through the years.

I also look forward to meeting and providing extraordinary service to new clients in 2023.

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Wishing you and your family a happy new year filled with hope, health, and happiness - with a generous sprinkle of adventure and fun!

Darren Balaberda 306-621-2515

I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year. To my Ukranian clients and friends З PiЗДbom Xpиctobиm!

Katherine McDowell 306-620-8898

Continued from Page 6

Shaw. “This forces both players to craft their strategy to constantly account for both possibilities. Taking two critical points in the middle of the field is a unique challenge that pulls both players into immediate conflict, but leaving your pentagon open to attack will end the game.

“Players must balance both objectives and also remember to exploit weaknesses to either one if their opponent makes a mistake.”

As noted earlier, Shaw too noted “players can expect a fairly easy learning curve. Usually after reading through the rulebook and playing through one (sometimes) two games, people have a good handle on the game. I find that many people like having the combat page of the rules open for easy reference during those initial games.

“Once the mechanics of the game are understood, players will find there are a lot of different approaches to the game.”

Games are generally not overly long either.

“Whether you win or lose a game you almost always learn something that you want to incorporate into the next game,” added Shaw.

“One important lesson new players will learn is that this game is not very forgiving to playing ‘cautious’ or overly defensive. The victory tiles in the center force the action to the middle of the board, which is where the tension and excitement come from when playing.

“What players will not find is a game that gets ‘stale.’ Minor mis-steps can lead to defeat and honing your strategy while adjusting to your opponent is a never ending process that

keeps the game fresh and fun each time it’s played.”

So what was the most difficult aspect of designing the game?

“The single most difficult aspect of designing the game was finding a way to pull the action to the center,” said Shaw. “Originally there was only the traditional win condition of capturing the ‘king,’ or in our case the Pentagon piece. I started with a layout that included 12 circle pieces, and no victory tiles in the center. This led to what was at first a very slow ‘slog’ where neither team was inclined to push into the other team’s territory.

“In a flash of inspiration, the idea for the victory tiles hit me, and my problem was solved. I also cut the number of circle pieces in half to avoid a lot of redundant and unproductive piece trading and get ‘right to the good part’ of the game.

“There was some serious

play testing to do to hammer out the exact mechanics of the victory tiles but once that was settled, Tactigon basically was in its final form.

“Besides the challenges, I will admit that designing the game was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience. Even delving into the production aspects of publishing and dealing with manufacturers was something I’d had experience in before and was fairly painless.

“What has been an incredible challenge is building a community of supporters for the game. I never quite appreciated the difficulty of the work marketing people have in trying to make their product stand out in the crowd. Often it seems it has far less to do with how good the product actually is -- and I believe Tactigon is a very good product, which certainly does help -- but rather

FCC provides funding for Fort Pelly-Livingstone Museum

is intended to support rural capital projects, said a release from FCC.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is helping the Fort PellyLivinstone Museum at Pelly get its furnace fixed.

Through its FCC AgriSpirit Fund, 85 community groups across Canada are receiving a total of $1.5 million which

The Pelly museum is to receive $10,000 for the upgrade of the building’s furnace.

“At FCC, we applaud all Canadian non-profit groups that invest time and energy to support their fellow citizens,” said Shannon Weatherall,

FCC senior vice-president of Prairie operations. “Through the AgriSpirit Fund, FCC supports causes that contribute to a sense of community and help improve the quality of life for rural residents.

“It’s one of the ways FCC

This year, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund awarded between $5,000 and $25,000 for various community improvement initiatives that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000

Over the past 19 years, the FCC AgriSpirit Fund has

everything to do with being memorable and interesting enough in the messaging to get people to want to know more.

“That is the problem space we currently are trying to solve.”

So where does Tactigon fall in terms of abstract strategy games?

That will remain to be seen in terms of the larger gaming world, but it enters an increasingly crowded field so percolating to the top will not be easy.

The game isn’t a Hive, or Yinsh, or a bunch of other games we could mention, so this one won’t suddenly break into a top-10 list, and maybe not even a top-25 but in a genre where there are hundreds of offerings this one has enough to suggest it will find its fans –those who like quick, strategic, and fun games.

supported 1,529 projects, an investment of $19.5 million.

The next application period opens April 1, 2023. Registered charities, municipalities, First Nations and non-profit organizations interested in funding can visit  www.fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements, to apply online and view past projects.

Courtesy of Preeceville Progress

Funding approved for construction of 23-bed health care facility at Keeseekoose

Construction of a new 23-bed health care facility is to begin at Keeseekoose First Nation in April.

With funding now confirmed, the Saulteaux Pelly Agency Health Alliance’s $30 million proposal to construct a multipurpose health facility can now move forward to the tendering phase, said a release from Indigenous Services Canada. In a recent meeting with The Key, Keeseekoose, and Cote First Nations leaders, Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, shared the good news.

“The Saulteaux Pelly Agency Health Alliance’s (SPAHA) goal with this project is to integrate the delivery of health services for three Saskatchewan communities while closing the infrastructure gap in Indigenous health care,” said the release. The SPAHA is comprised of The Key First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, and Cote First Nation.

When the health facility is completed, community members will have access to an exten-

sive suite of services in a culturally relevant environment, including primary health care, mental health programs and services, long-term care, palliative care, and child and family services, it said. In addition, the facility will grant community access to the Keeseekoose First Nation public health space.

Construction on the project is expected to begin before April 1, 2023, and to be completed approximately 15 to 24 months later, it said. The facility will provide more than 4,000 square metres of space and will be located on Keeseekoose First Nation.

“This new multipurpose health project is the result of years of advocacy by leaders and com-

munity members in The Key, Keeseekoose, and Cote First Nations,” said Patty Hajdu, “Through their collaboration with the Saulteaux Pelly Agency Health Alliance, this facility will provide a wide range of health services that are culturally sensitive and First Nations-led. This will help close gaps in care and benefit the entire region.”

“The agreement by Indigenous Services Canada to fund the capital and the negotiations with the Saskatchewan provincial government to fund part of the operations are great examples of reconciliation in action and demonstrate ISC’s and the province’s commitment to working with Indigenous partners to close First Nations health infrastructure

gaps,” said Theodore (Ted) Quewezance of Keeseekoose, CEO of SPAHA.

“Our vision given to us from our Elders and community members and prayers have come to fruition,” said Cote First Nation Chief George Cote, chair of SPAHA. “We will be given an opportunity to provide the care, whether it be traditional or western methods, to serve our Nations.

“It has been a long process, but the work we have done on this multi-purpose building, with the blessing of Canada, will be a way to heal together from past traumas to make the next generations healthier Nations amongst Cote First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, and The Key First Nation,” Cote said. “This is our time to be moving forward in truth and reconciliation with the fulfilment of our Treaty right to health care.

“We are thankful to Canada for this great moment in history as we come together in unity.”

“The announcement of this significant milestone for our new multiuse health care facility is really great news,” said Chief Lee Ketchemonia of Keeseekoose First Nation. “Our members from the three First Nations communities will benefit from this project greatly.

“Securing primary health care for our members has always been

the end goal, and we are extremely excited to be one step closer to achieving this goal,” Ketchemonia said. “We have had so many leaders that dedicated many years of service to make this dream come true for our communities.

“This multi-use health care facility will stand as a symbol for independence, healing, health and well-being,” he said. “Our people will benefit for many years to come.”

The goals of the facility are to improve access to various programs and services to members; improve the well-being of all communities involved; and to enhance Indigenous control over the delivery of services, the release said. The health facility will serve a combination of over 2,500 on-reserve and over 8,500 off-reserve members throughout the three communities.

The project has capital funding for 18 continuing care beds for patients with long-term health problems; two palliative care beds, and three transitional beds for patients awaiting release plans, said Chris Lafontaine of Regina, the project manager, who said he has spent about nine years in the community.

The building will also contain a suite of four offices for doctors, facilities for Telemedicine assistance, a pharmacy, a suite for Indigenous Child and Family Services; a mental health area where Elders will be utilized for assistance, and space to incorporate the Keeseekoose Health Clinic, Lafontaine said, adding that he expects the building will be completed in about two years.

“We’ve been discussing such a project for many years,” said Theodore Quewezance. “We’ve had so many deaths; six funerals this week.”

Explaining that the

facility will also include an ambulance bay within the hospital, Quewezance said that the project is an example of the three communities putting their minds together to work for the community.

“It’s a positive sign for the communities, but it will need a lot of work,” he said, adding that the group is working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the MLA and the minister of health.

Asked how it is planned to staff a new facility when staffing concerns forced the closure of the nearby Kamsack Hospital this summer, Quewezance said the provincial health service cannot be depended on and is “currently designed to fail.”

The biggest problem with SHA is the toxic environment where people are working, he said. Employees are expected to work more for less. The system is designed by policy makers that don’t want it to work.

“We’re trying to solve health problems,” Lafontaine said. “The health system is not working for First Nations people nor for non-First Nations people.”

Lafontaine said there exists an opportunity for people to talk.

“We are interested in making things better, but it will take an attitude change,” he said.

As it now is, politicians are running the health system, but politics don’t work in health care, Quewezance said.

“The system is not broken, as some people may say, rather it is working the way it was designed,” Lafontaine said. “We have to look at changing the design of the system.”

“There is money for health care, but the provinces don’t want to be accountable,” Quewezance said.

Courtesy of Kamsack Times

This is an artist’s rendering of the Saulteaux Pelly Agency Health Alliance’s proposed $30 million multipurpose health facility that is to be constructed at Keeseekoose First Nation, beginning in April.

Say it ain’t snow! SaskEnergy shares tips on staying safe this winter

Winter has officially begun! People are staying inside to escape the cold, and furnaces, heaters and other fuel-burning appliances are running more often.

Here are SaskEnergy’s top three natural gas safety tips to keep you and your family safe from Old Man Winter.

1. Sometimes you just need to vent: Keep outdoor vent openings free of frost, ice and snow.

USask guide aims to help put the welcome mat out for pets

SASKATOON

– University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have developed a pet-friendly rental housing guide for Saskatoon—part of an initiative to explore the benefits of welcoming companion animals in places where they wouldn’t normally be allowed.

PAWS in Places, led by Dr. Colleen Dell (PhD), is a collaboration between Royal Canin, Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), USask One Health and Wellness office and the Saskatoon pet community. Its goal is to share evidence-based knowledge that will raise awareness about the potential benefits of allowing pets in the workplace, rental housing and other establishments.

“[The guide] has lots of links in it to help people navigate the rental housing market,” said Dell, a professor in USask College of Arts and Sciences and the Research Chair in One Health and Wellness.

The new guide includes information about pet-friendly places in the city, rental policies in Saskatoon and the province of Saskatchewan, tenant rights, older adult residences, and regulations for both service and emotional support animals. It also provides templates and fillable resources for pet resumés and pet references.

Unlike elsewhere in Canada, rental housing in Saskatchewan can deny prospective residents if they have pets. Each year, the Saskatoon SPCA cares for about 4,000 animals. Of those animals, many are surrendered by owners who

are moving and can’t take their pets with them to their new rentals.

“There needs to be awareness raised in the community about the importance of pets in housing to the people who are renting, as well as landlords,” said Dell, whose team developed the guide with input from over 50 people including landlords, tenants and representatives of housing organizations and animal shelters.

People who reside in pet-friendly rentals tend to stay for longer periods of time. The addition of more pet-friendly housing in Saskatchewan has the potential to be helpful not only for people looking to rent, but for their pets as well.

Dell’s collaborators included USask post-doctoral fellows Dr. Holly McKenzie (PhD) and Dr. Linzi Williamson (PhD). WCVM professor and small animal internal medicine specialist Dr. Liz Snead (DVM) served as the veterinary college’s project lead.

WCVM veterinary students Kaylyn Kubes, Erynn Buhr, Breeze Agar and Catherine Beaupre worked on the guide’s development, along with USask social science students Kayla Arisman, Maryellen Gibson, Alexandria Pavelich and Aliya Khalid. Ben Carey, a researcher in the One Health and Wellness Office, was involved in co-ordinating the project.

“It was really great to work between the vet students and sociology and our students in the One Health office because everyone’s bringing in a different view and everyone has a different background,” said Dell.

— Submitted

Saskatchewan winters can be windy, causing snow and ice to build up in nooks and crannies. Your home’s exterior appliance vents are no exception.

Blocked vents can cause appliances to malfunction, but they can also have much more deadly consequences.

When these external openings are obstructed, it can cause a dangerous buildup of the silent killer— carbon monoxide.

Odourless, colourless and tasteless, carbon monoxide can go undetected until it’s too late. Low exposure can cause flu-like symptoms. Continued exposure can lead to unconsciousness, loss of muscle control, brain damage or even death.

Any appliance that burns fuel can cause carbon monoxide to build up—including furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters and gas stoves. To avoid tragedy, ensure you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home and that vents are clear.

2. Break the ice: Keep your meter clear of snow and ice.

Once the snow starts to fly, that means months of scraping vehicle windows and shovelling driveways. But have you ever thought about keeping ice and snow off and away from your gas meter?

Take caution when removing snow and ice from

meters. Don’t use shovels or other tools, never hit or kick your meter and keep hot water or chemical deicers away. These methods could damage your meter.

Avoid using a snowblower around your meter and maintain a clear path for accurate meter readings and emergency situations.

If your meter is covered in snow, safely remove it using a soft-bristle brush or broom. You can also gently sweep it away by hand.

By following these simple steps, you can help ensure your natural gas equipment runs smoothly when you and your family need it most.

3. The heat is on: Have your furnace inspected every year.

Don’t wait until there’s an issue to get your furnace checked—schedule an annual inspection by a qualified professional. Annual furnace maintenance helps keep your home cozy and safe all winter long and can save you money on your heating bill.

You can book a Home Heating Tune-Up with a qualified SaskEnergy Network Member online on SaskEnergy’s website. As a bonus, customers who book a Home Heating Tune-Up will receive a free carbon monoxide alarm at their appointment.

Finally, don’t forget to change your furnace filter every couple of months.

— Submitted

Agribition trip huge opportunity for Hazel Dell farm family

Courtesy of Preeceville Progress

The Spray family of Triple S Cattle Company had the experience of a lifetime when they attended and showed three of their purebred Gelbvieh cattle at Agribition in Regina at the end of November.

The family lives and farms 12 miles west and one mile south of Preeceville, and have a successful purebred

Gelbvieh cattle operation.

“Every year we go to Agribition to see the show, but this year we decided to participate in the Gelbvieh show portion of Agribition,” said Brett Spray. “We showed an open heifer, a bred heifer and a bull calf in the ring. All three of the projects had been a 4-H calf at one point and were used to being showed and halter broke.

My daughter Amber

was a huge help as I had never shown any cattle in the ring before, while she, being a part of the Kelvington 4-H Beef Club, had knowledge on how to successfully show animals in the ring,” said Spray.

Amber Spray showed in the junior showmanship team grooming with her friend Anne Wilgosh. Both Amber and her dad Brett placed in the middle of the group and have made plans to work toward a better showing next year.

Rebecca Spray showed in the peewee category and placed first in her age category. Hailey Spray placed second in the Gelbvieh junior grooming showmanship competition. Amber, Hailey and Rebecca are all active 4-H members who have accumulated valuable experience in showing animals.

“We all learned so much and this was the 50th anniversary of the Gelbvieh Association.

We received positive encouragement from other breeders. The Gelbvieh bred is growing

in Saskatchewan and that is a very positive thing for the livestock industry, concluded Brett.

This individual is often the first point of

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are needed in order to effectively and confidently assist with a wide range of needs. Past experience in a direct customer service role working with a diverse range of clients is required. Related duties will be assigned. These may include support to the sales and editorial departments, accounting tasks, and data entry projects. The ideal candidate will also possess good computer skills and good keyboarding skills. A proven ability to work independently with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality on multiple duties is an important skill for this position.

Record population growth in Sask.

Saskatchewan enjoyed record population growth of more than 10,000 people in the third quarter of 2022 and more than 22,000 people over the past year, boosting the province’s population to over 1.2 million people for the first time ever.

From October 1, 2021 to October 1, 2022, Saskatchewan’s population grew by 22,135 to 1,205,119 people. This is the largest annual population growth in more than a century - since 1921. The quarterly population growth of 10,316 people is the largest ever recorded since Statistics Canada began releasing quarterly population estimates in

1971.

“Saskatchewan has now grown by nearly 200,000 people since our government took office in 2007the longest period of sustained growth since the earliest days of our province at the start of the 20th century,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Saskatchewan is a great place to live with plenty of jobs and opportunities, vibrant communities, and affordable housing and cost of living compared to many places in Canada. That’s why Saskatchewan today is growing at its fastest pace in more than a century.”

Saskatchewan’s record population growth in the third quarter of

this year was driven by net international migration of 10,553 and a natural increase (births minus deaths) of 1,261 offset by net interprovincial outmigration of 1,498.

Moe said at the current rate of growth, Saskatchewan will reach its Growth Plan goal of 1.4 million people by 2030.

“More people, more jobs and more opportunities means more investment in important services like health and education and a better quality of life in our province,” Moe said. “That’s growth that works for everyone.”

— Submitted

Rebecca Spray of Hazel Dell won first place in the peewee class at Agribition.

The Spray family of Triple S Cattle Company had the experience of a lifetime when they attended and showed three of their purebred Gelbvieh cattle at Agribition in Regina at the end of November.

Amber Spray of Hazel Dell showed one of her parents’ purebred Gelbvieh heifers in the junior category of Agribition in Regina.

Brett Spray of Hazel Dell showed one of his purebred Gelbvieh heifers and a bull calf in Agribition for the first time.