Marketplace 2023-05-19

McHappy Day

Ronald McDonald’s House Canada held their McHappy Day throughout locations across the country May 10.“A portion of proceeds from all McDonald’s menu items sold during the day went to help families with sick children,” according to an excerpt from RMHC’s website. “In an average year, RMHC’s across Canada supports over 26,000 families and we couldn’t do it without your help,” continued the excerpt.

Staff Photo by Tyson Off

USask research: Building pathways of healing and justice

SASKATOON

– A University of Saskatchewan (USask) sociologist is spearheading a research project that enacts a transformative vision of access to justice and prevention of gender-based violence.

Dr. Julie Kaye (PhD), associate professor of sociology in USask’s College of Arts and Science, and co-directors

Dr. Hadley Friedland (PhD), Dr. Val Napoleon (PhD), and Professor Patricia Barkaskas (JD), have been awarded a $700,000 grant by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada.

The project is called Building Indigenous Legal Lodges: Restoring Access to Justice and Preventing Violence

Against Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans, and Two-Spirit+. It is a partnership that includes researchers from USask, the University of Alberta, and the University of Victoria, and collaborators from Standing

Together, a community group working towards multi-generational healing and transforming

systems rooted in violence against Indigenous women and girls, YWCA Edmonton, the University of Windsor, and the University of Toronto.

“I think the heart of the project starts with how do we improve access to justice, safety and healing by and with Indigenous women and girls who continue to face relentless violence within the context of settler colonialism in Canada?” said Kaye. “Our goal is to honour personhood. We recognize the harms of the Canadian legal system, but moreso the potential and reality of Indigenous laws and known ways of creating safety and achieving justice that operated for thousands of years on these lands.”

The project places strong community practices, such as the work of Standing Together, at the centre of its efforts. Standing Together is a collective of survivors of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, relations of missing and murdered Indigenous women, survivors of residential schooling and the Sixties Scoop. Its work is focused on complex multi-gener-

We are proud of our community and that we continue to return equity and cash to our member-owners. Thanks for supporting our different kind of business, your local Legacy Co-op!

ational healing.

Co-founder of Standing Together, Lorette Goulet, looks forward to focusing on the healing aspect of this project, along with Kaye and fellow cofounder Prairie AdaouiDustyhorn. The group has already held several healing events rooted in ceremony, with survivors of violence and relations of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

“We found that the events we did really impacted the families, and so we know that our people heal by their connection to the land, by their connection to culture and ceremony,” said Goulet.

The project will continue running women’s sharing and healing circles and bring women and two-spirit+ persons together from multiple communities.

“It’s an opportunity for women to gather and learn from each other and find those opportunities to heal and be on the land through sweat lodge ceremonies, and other ceremonies,” said Goulet.

She said there needs to be a different approach to legal matters.

“So many horrible

things happen to us in the courts. With this project we’re hoping to try and make some change, so that this doesn’t continue to happen.”

“I’ve seen other cultures want to know more about Indigenous people. They want to walk with us, and that’s wonderful, because we are all part of that medicine wheel,” said Goulet. “It’s wonderful to have the support of some very hard-working legal minds and the other people who are supporting everyone affected by this violence. I think this project is going to go a long way to helping us create change.”

Friedland said Indigenous legal lodges are intentionally safer spaces where people with lived experience of colonial-gendered violence can collaboratively draw on their own wisdom and experiences, as well as Indigenous legal resources, to identify pathways toward greater safety, justice, and healing.

“Community-led research is essential to ensure Indigenous legal research is responsive to community goals and draws on the strengths and knowledges in com-

munity,” said Friedland. “Everyone brings their own gifts.”

Kaye agrees that the creation of safer spaces to talk and heal is a key to making significant changes in the system.

“When we’re talking about healing, we’re talking about complex, multi- and inter-generational healing work that is rooted in ceremony and land-based – and sometimes art-based as well – ways of creating that space,” she said. “And part of doing that is really reducing so many of the barriers that we’re aware of around being able to report violence, or having a safe space to talk about violence experienced, as well as really trying to effectively enact methods of justice and healing that don’t perpetuate the ongoing violence experience by and from the legal system.”

“We should all be aware at this point that the rights of Indigenous people, particularly within the Canadian legal system, continue to be violated.”

The project is structured over four years.

In the first year, the participants will put

together methods for analyzing and developing Indigenous law alongside the work of the healing gatherings and the work of creating safer spaces for survivors and relations.

They will analyze the resources that exist within the communities they will be working with, and in subsequent years will be holding the Indigenous legal lodges and working with communities and those who want to be a part of bringing their knowledge into the project, said Kaye.

The project will ultimately be active in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, with legal lodges in both urban and rural locations.

Goulet said it is a daunting undertaking but is optimistic for what this project can do for the future.

“It’s a big mountain we have to climb. However, there has to be a starting point. And from that starting point, we can create all kinds of new ways to look at what is there and to assist in overcoming those difficulties. Who knows how far we can go?”

IN BRIEF

A game fit for World Bee Day

One of the neat things about doing a weekly review you can go off on a tangent once in a while.

This will be one of those times, although we’ll get to a game before we are finished, so just read on.

In case you are not aware May 20 is World Bee Day.

“World Bee Day is a day of awareness about the importance of honey bees and why we need to protect them and other such pollinators,” explains www.twinkl.ca

“Designated by the United Nations, World Bee Day seeks to inform and educate people about honey bees and their impact on our biodiversity.

“For example, it is estimated that one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat depends on honey bees and the pollination process.

“But honey bees are facing extinction, with a 2021 report by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Bombus Pollinators Association of Law Students finding that American honey

THE MEEPLE GUILD (YORKTON)

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bees had decreased by some 89 per cent.

“World Bee Day is a day of awareness about the harmful effects of pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss on honey beesand what we can do to reverse this.”

So now we mark World Bee Day each May 20. The date was chosen as World Bee Day by the United Nations in honor of the birthday of Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping in the 18th century.”

Again from the website, “World Bee Day is a relatively recent holiday. This is in response to the ongoing climate change crisis, with more bee species than ever before being reported to be facing extinction

in the past 10 years. As a result, the committee of Slovenia appealed to the United Nations in 2017 to honor World Bee Day. In December of the same year, the United Nations approved the proposal, naming May 20 as International World Bee Day, with the first event taking place in 2018. In 2023, World Bee Day will celebrate its fifth anniversary.”

So as a way to focus your mind on the importance of -- and the plight of as well – of the bee, why not play a bee-related game on the 20th. There are several including relatively new offerings such as Honey Buzz, and the one we will discuss here Beez.

Beez comes from Next Move Games, a publish-

er best known for the now near classic Azul, and its variant releases such as Summer Pavilion, Stained Glass of Sintra and Queen’s Garden, as well as Reef, a recent addition to our collection that is excellent too.

Beez, from designer Dan Halstad was released in 2020, and has players taking on the role of bees out collecting nectar to make honey. Here you even get awesome little bee pieces to move around

U18 Expos open season in big way

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

It would be hard to script a better opening weekend for the Yorkton U18 Expos.

The team hosted the North Battleford Beavers for a doubleheader at Jubilee Park and the home team plated 23 runs over two games.

In one game the Expos scored eight third inning runs on their way to a 15-2 victory. The big inning came via three walks, three singles, a defensive error and a ground out.

The other contest was also a lopsided affair as Yorkton won 8-1.

A singe by Brandon Spilchen in the first inning scored an Expos run, and the rout was on, including a four-run sixth.

Ty Ulmer was on the mound for the win, surrendering only the one run, while scattering five hits and striking out 10 over seven innings.

the board – a highlight of an amazingly detailed board and offering.

The pollen is represented by wooden cylinders that are nice aesthetically to collect. Players store the pollen on individual boards which have recesses for the cylinders – so the component quality is about as good as it gets, which if you have played Azul you recognize it is sort of a Next Moves Games signature.

Beez initially is a bit harder to grasp than say Azul, or Reef, but once you get the movement of the bee pieces down, it plays quick with easy to understand goals –the card variety means slightly different objectives game to game.

In the end this one looks nice, but won’t become a classic like Azul. Still, on bee day

it’s a perfect fit.

And to wrap up back to the website for five World Bee Day facts you won’t “bee-lieve!”

Bees are the most important pollinator in the world and have been for centuries. But here are some interesting facts you may not know about these winged creatures:

* The average honey bee will only make around 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime.

* A single bee visits 50 to 100 flowers on each pollination trip.

* Almost 75 per cent of the crops grown in the world rely on honey bee pollination.

* Bees have four wings!

* There are over 25,000 different species of bees - and many of them can’t even sting!

The Yorkton U18 Expos were in action Saturday.

EDITORIAL

Rattlers add Edmonton player to roster

The Saskatchewan Rattlers have added some more size to its roster for the 2023 season.

Recently inked by the Rattlers is Edmonton, Alta-native Adong Makuoi. The six-foot nine big man spent three seasons in the NCAA D1 program, playing with the Northern Illinois Huskies and the Tennessee State Tigers. Makuoi makes his professional debut in the CEBL this summer.

Makuoi said it feels great to have signed his first pro contract, telling Yorkton This Week he is happy with the opportunity being afforded him by Saskatchewan.

While one might have thought Makuoi would end up with the CEBL Stingers in Edmonton, he said the Rattler offer was ultimately a better fit.

“It was a big decision,” he said, but added it helped that he knew the Rattler GM and its assistant coach Eric Magdanz, which gave him a level of comfort joining the squad.

“It kind of made things a little more familiar.”

As for the hometown Stingers, they never made a pitch that fit, said Makuoi.

“They weren’t really serious,” he said adding by contrast the Rattlers “were the only team that took me seriously . . . That believed in me.”

Makuoi also has something of a previous connection to Saskatoon, home of the Rattlers.

Prior to entering college, Makuoi played for Archbishop O’Leary High school in Edmonton, noted a Rattler release. The Archbishop O’Leary Spartans made appearances in Saskatoon’s longest reigning invitational tournament, BRIT in 2015 and 2016, where Makuoi was named Dunk Champion.

Makuoi spent his last year of high school at The RISE Centre Academy in Brantford, Ontario and was selected that season to play in the 2018 BioSteel All-Canadian High School Basketball Game.

Rattler General Manager Barry Rawlyk said he believes Makuoi can be an impact player.

“We are looking forward to seeing Adong make an immediate contribution in our front court, even as a first-year player in the league. We anticipate him bringing

the same physical style of play and hustle that he displayed throughout his college career,” he said in a Rattler release. “I actually tried to recruit Adong when he was coming out of high school, so I am a real fan of how he plays.”

Makuoi said it’s a huge positive that the CEBL exists as a place for

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Canadians to play.

“It’s really great,” he said adding a stint in the CEBL has proven to be a stepping stone with various alumni playing in the NBA G League and in top European leagues.

Some such as Xavier Moon and Lindell Wigginton have played in the NBA too, noted Makuoi.

“Players from across the country are playing at a top level,” he said, adding the CEBL is an avenue “to getting feet wet as professionals.”

Makuoi comes to the Rattlers after a solid NCAA career.

Makuoi made his collegiate debut for Palm Beach State Junior College for the 201819 season, detailed the Rattler release. He started 29 of the 30 games as a freshman averaging 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the field. Makuoi transferred to Daytona State Junior College for the 2019-2020 season. Makuoi started all 30 games as a sophomore, averaging 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 69.8 percent from the field and 75.0 percent for the free throw line. Makuoi was named to the AllMid-Florida Conference Second Team.

Makuoi entered NCAA D1 as a junior with the Northern Illinois University Huskies for the 2020-21 season. As a junior, he started 14 of 17 games averaging 4.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 17.9 minutes per game. In

Celtic rock group entertains enthusiastic Canora audience

The Canora Arts Council concert at Canora Composite School featured the Derina Harvey Band, a five-member group where everyone hails from Canada’s east coast.

In addition to their wide-ranging musical talents, the band brought a refreshing dose of east coast enthusiasm and humour to just over 100 music fans in attendance in Canora on May 11.

Comments from concertgoers included: “Great entertainment,” “Wonderful, fun and humorous,” and “So enjoyable, great sound.”

“We have been happily touring all over the place, 13 shows in 15 days in Ontario, and now Saskatchewan with 10 shows in 12 days,” said Harvey. “You live in a postcard here in Saskatchewan, are you aware of this? We drive around in this province in our Dodge Caravan, and we’re forever stopping and taking pictures of barns, fields, sunsets and

The Derina Harvey Band thoroughly entertained the audience at Canora Composite School on May 11. From left, were: Scott Greene (harmony vocals, electric guitar, banjo), Steve Pinsent (drums), Derina Harvey (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Jessica Blenis (harmony vocals, fiddle, viola) and Ed Smith (harmony vocals, bass, piano).

all the other lovely scenery you have here.”

As the band opened the concert, Harvey encouraged those in attendance to join them for an evening of a musical “Excursion around the Bay” which happened to be the title of their first song, written by Johnny Burke.

She instructed the audience to echo back “Hey” when it came up

during the song, and was clearly quite impressed with their enthusiasm.

Portland Town by Schooner Fare was the next number. It was quickly evident that Harvey has a powerful and expressive voice, and is back by a talented and versatile group of musicians. In addition to lead vocals, Harvey also plays acoustic guitar. Other group members are:

Steve Pinsent, drums, who co-founded the group in in 2006 with Harvey; Scott Greene, harmony vocals, electric guitar and banjo, joined in 2009; Ed Smith, harmony vocals, bass and piano, also joined in 2009 and Jessica Blenis, harmony vocals, fiddle, viola, and she joined the group in 2018.

Throughout the evening there was spontan-

his final season with the Huskies, Makuoi made it into the starting line-up 25 of the 30 games played. He finished the season averaging 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 16.9 minutes per game while shooting 53 percent from the field. Makuoi transferred to Tennessee State University for the 202223 season. In his final NCAA season, he started all 32 games averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 22.4 minutes per game while shooting 62 percent from the field. Makuoi lead his team in total rebounds (175), rebounds per game (5.5), total blocks (35), and blocks per game (1.1). In his final year, he set new career-bests with 18 points (Dec 20), and four blocks (Jan 12).

Now stepping up to the pro level Makuoi said he just hopes to bring effort to whatever role he earns with the Rattlers.

“I’m just going to try to bring some energy,” he said. ... I just like playing basketball. Competing is all I want to do, Now my main focus is I want to be a professional basketball player.”

The Rattler season begins May 31, hosting the Vancouver Bandits.

eous applause, often in the middle of a song.

The first original Derina Harvey Band song of the concert was Grow, which we all do in different ways, according to Harvey.

She encouraged the audience to continue to support the local music scene.

“Thank you so much for supporting your local

entertainment committee and for keeping the lights on,” she said. Continued on Page A5

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Adong Makuoi

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Continued from Page A4

“Driving in Ontario, often we’d come over a hill and around a curve, and the town would be right in front of you. Not here in Saskatchewan, here you’ll see the town lights, but then you quickly figure out it’s a long way in the distance and it’ll be a while before you get there. But that’s OK, it’s an enjoyable ride.”

Humour is a big part of a Derina Harvey Band concert, and Harvey figured that “Sometimes we need a song that’s just plain foolish.”

Sarah , a traditional Newfoundland folk song, certainly qualifies. The lyrics include:

“One night a little after eight, I crept up to her door, and I whispered ‘Sarah, darling’ as I’d often done before.

‘Sarah! Sarah! I’ll give you Sarah!’ said a voice as down I fell a-flop and her mother saying, as she kicked me all around the shop. The old woman thought she’d killed me and I let her think so, too.

“As I lay there on the floor I scarce knew what to do. At last she said, ‘Is he live or dead? My girl I’ll let him wed.’ Then up I jumps, says ‘Thank you ma’am.’”

Another original Derina Harvey Band composition is Fallen Man’s Daughter.

Harvey said it was written in tribute to the fishermen who died in a powerful storm in 1994 and “to all those who take care of their loved ones, farmers, fishermen, miners and others.”

As it says in a line of the song, “I’m the fallen man’s daughter and you are the lighthouse I saw.”

Harvey said their current tour across Ontario and Saskatchewan has been very much a typical Canadian experience.

“Touring Canada in the spring, you never know what you’ll get. We started this tour about a month ago and it was snowing. Now, it’s like summer here in Canora.”

The band played Irish River by Joseph Crofts, which includes the lyrics: “We had three million sides of blind horses’ hides, We had four million barrels of bone and five million hogs, six million dogs.”

It was around this point in the song that band members suddenly started howling and barking. As Harvey put it, “This is one of my favourite things to do on stage. Wait, why am I barking like my Dad’s old dog?”

Bass player Ed Smith quickly replied, “Your Dad’s dog was named Irish, that’s what we were just singing,” and just like that, they finished the song as if nothing strange had happened.

A highlight of the concert for many was their rendition of Orange Blossom Special by Ervin T. Rouse, which they started fast and seemed to play faster and faster right until the end, led by Jessica Blenis, who made her fiddle sound just like a train.

Harvey said she grew up surrounded by music.

“I remember two telethons and I would have been five or six years old. With cameras rolling, in a legion in Western Labrador I sang Puff the Magic Dragon with a full country band (drum kit, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin backup singers; this was the family band along with a few friends). The microphone in my hand was swaying back and forth. During the sound check I fell asleep in my dad’s guitar case.”

The history of the Derina Harvey band goes back to 1998 at the College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, N.L.

“I met Steve Pinsent –my husband, drummer and Canadian Booking Manager,” said Harvey. “We also met guitarist Scott Greene there as he was studying recording arts. Around the same time Scott’s High School band-mate, Ed Smith was attending St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. After graduation, we found ourselves migrating one

by one to Edmonton in pursuit of careers in the music industry. We were working in sound production, lighting, teaching music lessons, instrument and audio sales and management, all while performing in different performance and recording projects. I was performing as a solo artist at one of my favourite East Coast Themed venues and the manager needed a band on short notice… so I formed a band made up of my friends back in 2006.

“Out of all the other projects we were working on, all the other genres we performed, this fun, back to our roots, weekend bar band had the best reception from audiences. They could see how much fun we were having and that attitude became cyclical.

“So in 2012 we started to take this Derina Harvey Band project more seriously and we released our debut self-titled CD in 2013. We started applying for showcase spots across the continent and began writing our own music. In 2016, our second CD Rove and Go was released and our touring schedule was busy enough to allow us to focus on music full time. Jessica Blenis (Graduate of MUN Music Program) joined us in 2018.”

Harvey describes the band’s music as “an energetic, heart-

felt Celtic rock show full of your favourite Celtic covers and traditional tunes that we hope will transport you to a windswept coastline. We will bring you an authentic kitchen party complete with original songs all layered with harmonies, driving rhythms and soaring solos from both electric guitar and fiddle! Ballads, and shanties, stories through songs all wrapped up in a few laughs… maybe a few tears… and we’ll be sure to have a few more laughs before we send ya home.”

The group has performed across Canada and the U.S. for crowds of up to 10,000 people. Even so, the five of them still find something special about playing for folks in small towns such as Canora.

“I love crowds of all sizes but the cozy intimate rooms feel like home,” shared Harvey.” All of the band members, we are all from relatively small and somewhat remote communities. Even though we call Edmonton home these days, our roots are rural.”

The Derina Harvey Band recently completed recording a new album where “eight of the 11 tracks are original dHb songs and we are very excited about that. The new CD will be released this summer.”

For more information, visit derinaharvey.com

USask-led Global Water Futures marks the end of an era and looks to the future

SASKATOON –Hundreds of scientists and researchers from across Canada have gathered in Saskatoon for the finale of the world’s largest university freshwater research program, a seven-year initiative led by the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

The research coming out of Global Water Futures (GWF) is being presented at an open science meeting over three days from May 15–17, and will highlight some of the best science and knowledge addressing solutions for Canada’s water futures, including advancements in the forecasting and modelling of snow, glaciers, water quality, soil moisture, floods and droughts, in monitoring of water quality, in detection of the COVID-19 virus in com-

munity wastewater, in Indigenous co-creation of knowledge, and in how national and international policies could achieve water sustainability.

“Global Water Futures is ambitious, and it has become the most scientifically productive freshwater research program in the world,” said Dr. John Pomeroy (PhD), GWF director and Canada Research Chair in Climate Change and Water Resources at USask. “In seven years, GWF has worked with hundreds of partners to dramatically increase the knowledge and science capacity needed to improve freshwater security in Canada and around the world.”

In his opening remarks at the GWF Finale, Pomeroy applauded the advances made through

tremendous efforts by the 65 research teams and nearly 2,000 researchers, students, staff, and personnel whose research benefited from GWF funding and support.

“When we look at what GWF has accomplished, it is very satisfying and achieves more than we hoped for back at its launch in September 2016,” said Pomeroy.

“GWF has made advances in modelling and forecasting that will help protect and inform tens of millions of people in Canada, and potentially billions worldwide. There is new science helping farmers become more efficient and better stewards of the land and water. We understand better what is likely to happen to mountain glaciers, northern permafrost, forests, lakes and

river flows in the future, with enough time to adapt our policies and practices to mitigate the effects.”

And this is only a small handful of what has been accomplished, said Pomeroy.

“This legacy will benefit Canadians for generations through some fundamental changes in how we apply solutions to water problems in Canada. The fuller engagement of Indigenous communities in water science and management, creation of the federal Canada Water Agency, and new federalprovincial conversations on streamflow forecasting are partly thanks to the efforts of GWF.”

GWF was established in 2016 with a $77.84 million grant from the Canada First

Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) and featured a unique partnership between the program’s lead institutions: USask, University of Waterloo, McMaster University, and Wilfrid Laurier University, that works with over 500 user groups and supports the research of more than 200 professors at 23 universities across Canada.

While the initial CFREF program is wrapping up, GWF research will continue thanks to facility research funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Major Science Initiative (MSI) grant for the Global Water Futures Observatories (GWFO) network, an initial $15.25 million grant for 64 water observatory sites and several major water laboratories across Canada.

The new funding will help strengthen GWF’s ongoing reputation. The efforts of GWF have been lauded internationally, with GWF scientists being called to the United Nations (UN) headquarters to speak at the UN Water Conference in March 2023.

The expertise shared with the UN global community has led to advancements in the role of women, girls, and traditionally marginalized groups in water policy and water rights, an internationally recognized UN Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (2025), identification and awareness

of at-risk freshwater rivers, lakes and streams, and the proposal for the Intergovernmental Panel on Global Water Assessment, the next step following the highly cited Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that also features GWF researchers.

Dr. Corinne SchusterWallace (PhD), GWF associate director and USask professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, is the liaison lead for the GWF Indigenous Engagement Committee which has worked over the course of the program to create better ways of learning across disciplines, genders, and cultures.

“GWF is an example of how important it is for researchers to properly engage with and support Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations in their research in ways that weave traditional and western sciences towards better evidence-informed policies when it comes to water,” said Schuster-Wallace. “It has been a real honour to work beside so many knowledge keepers and decision makers and I am excited about the new ideas and networks that are developing through GWF research. The framework being presented at the GWF finale by our Indigenous colleagues is a critical step forward in how we as non-Indigenous researchers engage in research.”

Schuster-Wallace said that while the program is coming to an end, the work of GWF is only a stepping-stone towards the future.

“There is so much work to do, but with a shared network the size of GWF, I feel our momentum propelling us towards a better, more equitable and sustainable, water future.”

Talking Stick app fills the gap of personal supports for Indigenous people in Sask.

By Crystal St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (Windspeaker.com)

The use of the Talking Stick app has grown tremendously since its launch last June, and it will continue to grow as individuals throughout Saskatchewan learn to trust the technology.

The Talking Stick app provides a safe and anonymous space for Indigenous youth and adults in the province to text with peer advocates about their personal struggles by sharing their private thoughts and feelings. The important thing about this app is that once a text conversation has ended, it auto-

matically deletes from the history of the app.

“Since the fall (of 2022) it has really picked up and we are really starting to expand our network,” said Robert Gladue, a regional manager with Talking Stick.

“I want to emphasize it’s not just an app. It has grown into a community; sort of a community movement. We have people that are from all over the province. They are in the communities. They are doing presentations to the schools and to community events, and we are really pushing to really give that support that has been well needed.”

The app was developed through a

partnership between the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Canadian health tech company, TryCycle Data Systems.

“It’s completely free,” explained Gladue. “We needed a support that was culturally sensitive. What I like about the peer advocates that we have on our team is you can find culturally sensitive relevant information in terms of being a guest user. When you are logging on and using our service, it is tailored to (Indigenous) people and that’s something that was lacking, something we didn’t have prior to the Talking Stick.”

The peer advocates are individuals from

around the province living in various communities, and all are of Indigenous descent and are available to text with those who want some help.

Gladue stressed these are individuals who are not crisis counsellors or necessarily health professionals, but who have been trained to listen to the issues of the anonymous person and provide compassion and support from a cultural perspective in a non-judgmental way.

“Without knowing or without asking, I know what it’s like to live on a reserve. I know the hardships and I know the barriers between the haves and the have-nots.

I know the difference,” said Burton O’Soup, a peer advocate for Talking Stick. He lives in Saskatoon but originates from The Key First Nation. “There’s no one to talk to sometimes in the communities.”

O’Soup is a licensed social worker, mental health worker and has the life experiences that provide him with the ability to help others who may be dealing with situations he has faced in his own life.

“When somebody has the same life experiences as you it’s easier to talk to them and open up about what you are going through. When they look like you, they sound like you and they have the same lived experiences, when you live on the reserve or living in the city dealing with racism, discrimination. Being asked why you look funny or how come you dress funny, it doesn’t feel good. Those aspects of shame start to filter into your mind over time,” O’Soup explained.

This past year O’Soup experienced the loss of one of his daughters to suicide. The 56-year-old said it has been a difficult journey dealing with the grief from such a significant loss.

“For First Nations, the services aren’t really there for the most part when you live in the communities, and that’s why I think Talking Stick is absolutely necessary.

It gives people an outlet, especially our young people, somewhere to turn to to talk to somebody.”

People who use the app might be dealing with grief, bullying, addictions, financial hardships or have a variety of other issues.

Users of any age are welcome to use Talking Stick, as long as they are able to download and use the technology.

Currently, Gladue and his team are researching ways to encourage elderly individuals from the communities to use the platform.

“We are looking at how we can reach our elderly audience because a lot of them aren’t fluent in English or tech savvy,” Gladue said.

Members of the peer advocate team spend 40 hours per month being available to users; as well, they travel to schools and community events to share information about Talking Stick.

“If it gets them through today and they wake up tomorrow, it’s a success because they are talking, they are sharing, no more hiding,” said O’Soup, adding he participates in as many events as he can.

There are two ways to access the platform. Get Talking Stick from the app store on any smart phone, or go to the Talking Stick website at https://my.talkingstick. app/#/guest/home

Ella Kozak tops Estevan event

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Lion Olufemi Asa 431-557-9719

Lion John Bauman 306-521-0027

Lion Todd Allan 306-620-9056

Lion Dave Blommaert 306-620-9990

Lion Vern Brown 306-621-1015

Lion John Den Brok 306-621-5133

Lion Ross Fisher 306-621-2071

Lion Glen Gelowitz 306-621-9495

Lion Al Greschuk 306-783-8107

Lion Randy Kachur 306-782-1543

Lion Brad Klassen 306-621-5567

Lion Tricia Klassen 306-621-1954

Lion Allan Konkin 306-783-7669

Lion Shelley Krecsy 306-495 7807

Lion Peter Legebokoff 306-783-6109

Lion Reagan McLelland 306-641-4492

Lion Heidi Miller 306-821-6520

Lion Dennis Nesseth 306-641-5301

Lion Terry Ortynsky 306-782-7431

Lion Kellsey Stabner 306-620-8799

Lion Don Reed 306-621-9295

Lion Andrew Sedley 306-621-5437

Lion Denny Vachon 306-570-4120

Lion Andy Van Heerden 306-782-3038

Lion Nadine Wagner 306-641-6580

Lion Corey Werner 306-621-9680

Lion Connor Waldbauer 306-316-4069

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak has added another win to her impressive golf resume.

Kozak topped the 15-19 Girls Division at the recent Re/Max Blue Chip Realty Classic in Estevan which is part of the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour.

Kozak, 17, shot a 78 then followed that with a 71 on the Woodlawn course for a 149 finish, 12 strokes up on the field.

Tyler Powell of Melville was in the Junior Boys Division shooting 180, well back of Dryajon Sparvier of

the Ochapowace First Nation who topped the Division shooting a 150 then taking a playoff over Assiniboia’s Davin Karst.

In the MJT Mini Tour at Estevan Woodlawn held May 6 Maxwell Sieffert of Churchbridge shot a 126 for second, 31 strokes back in the Boys 8U Division.

Caleb O’Brien of Melville was second in the Boys 9-10 Division with a 91, seven strokes off the pace.

Keaton Kreklewich of Melville topped the Boys 11-12 Division with a 72, while Owen San Martin of Melville finished third with an 89.

Preeceville Legion marks milestone year

Courtesy of Preeceville Progress

The Preeceville Legion marked its 90th anniversary with a banquet and special program on April 28 with Bill Lesko, president as master of ceremonies.

Lesko kicked off the program with reciting the Act of Remembrance, followed by the introduction of the head table with guest Cathay Wagantall, Yorkton-Melville MP and her husband Martin, pastor Hein Bertram and Adrienne Larrivee, pastpresident and veteran. He went on to introduce the youth ambassadors: Camryn Nelson, Amber Spray and Fiona Pinaroc.

He also gave a brief history of the Legion prior to the banquet.

“On March 1933, a group of First World War veterans got together and decided a Legion was needed. The Preeceville Legion #188 was born and the club was chartered on April 28, 1933. The members first met in the back of Kzakewich’s store and later rented space in the Stitz’s store. The club would eventually purchase the Stitz store in 1935 for a sum of $500.

“In 1950, they purchased the current building from the airbase in Yorkton. During the Second World War, Yorkton was one of many airbases that were part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (a massive plan to train air crew.) After the was over there were many surplus buildings. Preeceville purchased one of those buildings and moved it to Preeceville but while moving the building it ran into problems and the move was suspended until the following year.

The Preeceville Legion has had its ups and downs and in 1979 they were faced with financial difficulties. The building was turned over to the Preeceville Lions Club on a 10-year agreement. The Legion took back possession in 1990 but membership declined and the hall was turned over to the Town of Preeceville in October 2007.

“Three years ago, the Legion had a serious discussion about giving up the charter and disbanding the Preeceville Legion as the club was down to only four members. Now, the club has rebounded and has 19 members involved. The Legion provides a Remembrance Day Service, runs the poppy campaign, oversees the poster and literacy contest at the Preeceville School, and promotes the Youth Track and Field program.

“When the Legion began, an individual had to be a veteran to join but the rules changed through the years as veteran numbers declined. As long as Canada has a

military and as long as we continue to send our military to fight, there will be a requirement for the Royal Canadian Legion.”

After the banquet, a toast was made to the King and to the Fallen. A round table was set up at the back of the hall in recognition and pay tribute to the Fallen Comrades and the following information was given to help explain the significance of the settings on that table.

“You may have noticed the small table set for one that is off on its own. It is reserved to honour our fallen comrades in arms. This symbolizes that they are here with us in spirit. We should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation’s call and served the cause of freedom in a special way. We are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we

enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured the agonies of pain, deprivation and death.

“I would like to explain the meaning of the items on this special table.

“The table is roundto show our everlasting concern for our fallen comrades.

“The tablecloth is white - symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

“The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of our fallen comrades, and the loved ones and friends of these comrades who keep the faith.

“The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to remember our fallen comrades.

“A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return.

“A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by the families

Jack Maciborski, a Preeceville Harvard 606 Air Cadet, received $1,000 Legion bursary. From left, were: Legion President Bill Lesko, Maciborski and Blaine Medlang, Legion member. Maciborski is the great-grandchild of Second World War veteran Dennis Hugh McAllister and has been accepted into the University of Saskatchewan enrolled in engineering.

of those who have sacrificed all.

“The Holy Book represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country.

“The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time.

“The chair is empty because they are no longer with us,” explained Lesko.

Lesko recited a letter of congratulations from

Terry Dennis, CanoraPelly MLA and the Zone Commander Halley Hilts.

The Legion presented Jack Maciborski, a Preeceville Harvard 606 Air Cadet with a $1,000 Legion bursary. Maciborski is the greatgrandchild of Second World War veteran Dennis Hugh McAllister and has been accepted into the University of Saskatchewan enrolled

in engineering. The bursary was made possible through The Poppy Fund with special criteria required.

Cathay Wagantall, Yorkton-Melville MP, was in attendance and brought special greetings and presented the Legion with a special plaque.

The evening concluded with a draw for door prizes and silent auction items.

Lethbridge College receives greenhouse funding

By Justin Sibbet, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (Lethbridge Herald)

Lethbridge College has received a grant of over $350,000 to begin research on a three-year initiative to discover highefficiency greenhouse lighting.

The money comes from the Agriculture Funding Consortium, a group that has funded 38 other research projects across Canada with over $11 million spent.

Megan Shapka, director of applied research operations at the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Lethbridge College, says the funds will be spent primarily on hiring

researchers.

“Most of the money actually goes toward people. So, it’s to pay for the researchers and bring in other technical staff that we need to actually run the project,” said Shapka.

She says there will be money used for materials and supplies as well, but the majority is already available at the greenhouse.

“The infrastructure is already here, we already have all of the lights,” said Shapka.

She says the greenhouse industry in Alberta is still its infancy, so this research will help industry professionals better understand growing techniques in this environment.

“The high-tech com-

mercial vegetable and fruit production industry is quite new,” said Shapka.

She says traditional greenhouses do not have artificial lighting, so they rely on sunlight yearround.

“In Alberta, especially in the winter, that’s hard, it’s dark at five,” said Shapka.

As a result, she says the new program should enable growers in the province to operate more successfully in every month of the year.

“The point of the project is to explore different types of supplemental light and find the most energy efficient lights and also find the lights that improve your crop,” said Shapka.

Furthermore, she says the greenhouse is outfitted with several other technologies that will allow researchers to understand plant growth beyond the lighting effects.

“We can see what is going on with the plants before symptoms start showing up,” said Shapka.

Although this greenhouse is operated by the college, few students will be involved in the new lighting research.

Shapka says some students will be hired as assistants, but the bulk of

the work will be done from professional researchers.

“Our facility is really focused on industry-driven projects, so we’ve got commercial partners in all of our projects,” said Shapka.

She says the greenhouse was fully completed in 2021 and is designed almost exclusively to research new technologies or practices.

“Mostly this is industry-focused because we’re testing different technologies, we’re validating practices so these commercial greenhouse grow-

ers can apply the learnings,” said Shapka.

As well, Shapka says the greenhouse is designed just like a standard industry facility, which will ensure an easy transition of research to real-world use.

“That’s exactly why we built it, it very much mimics a commercial greenhouse. It’s smaller in scale but that’s the point of research. You do it at a small scale and then you scale it up to the commercial operation,” said Shapka.

However, she says the

smaller greenhouse is still more than capable of producing a significant yield.

“When we did peak harvest last year, when this was full, I think they did 3000 cucumbers that week,” said Shapka.

She says the industry is becoming larger in the province, so the college was eager to help.

“There seems to be a lot of interest and excitement for the potential of the greenhouse industry in Alberta and we’re happy to support that,” said Shapka.

She also says the college greenhouse can be defined as a living ecosystem and no pesticides or chemicals are used.

Once the yield is ready to be picked, the college donates the crops to a variety of locations around Lethbridge.

Shapka says the Lethbridge College students’ foodbank, Lethbridge foodbank and the college culinary program all receive the donations.

With the hot temperatures of summer fast approaching, the college will wait and begin work in the fall, focusing on peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Spring action

Young gridiron players are back in action in Yorkton. Yorkton Minor Football has a spring season under way for its teams made up of players in Grade 5/6 and Grades 7/8. On the weekend Yorkton was in Fort

Qu’Appelle to play games against both the host team and Southey. “It was a Mother’s Day treat for the football moms to watch their kids play exciting tough nose grit Gridder football,” said coach Jason Boyda.

Pepper and cucumber plants at Lethbridge College. Justin Sibbet, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Photo Courtesy Jason Boyda

On May 2, there was a vegetation fire north of town on Highway 8. The cause was believed to have been careless smoking material from a passing vehicle.

On May 6 at 9 p.m. the fire department was alerted to a vegetation fire at the trackside gardens. The cause of the fire is believed to be malicious in nature, as someone set off a flare that landed by the CN tracks.

Kamsack firefighters earn NFPA certification, respond to two vegetation fires in May

Courtesy of Kamsack Times

Four firefighters from Kamsack have achieved their NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1001 Level 2 Professional Firefighters certification, according to an announcement made

on March 22, 2023. The firefighters who have earned this certification are Captain Jordan Guenther, Captain Ryan Lambert, Firefighter Darrell Lomenda, and Firefighter Dillan Chernoff.

Meanwhile, local firefighters continue to respond when their ser-

vices are needed.

On Saturday May 6, at around 9 p.m. the Kamsack Fire Department received an alert about a vegetation fire that had broken out at the trackside gardens. Investigations revealed that the fire was malicious in nature, as a flare was intentionally set off

and landed by the CN tracks. The fire rapidly spread to the west due to extremely dry conditions. Fortunately, the Kamsack Fire Department, with the help of the Cote Fire Department, was able to contain and put out the fire by 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

On Tuesday May 2, the Kamsack Fire Department was alerted to a vegetation fire on Highway 8 north of town. The cause of the fire was believed to have been careless smoking material from a passing vehicle. The wind quickly fanned the fire, which spread into the Fort

Pelly Street of town and the surrounding farms to the east and north. However, a combined effort by the Kamsack Fire Department, RCMP, Cote First Nation Fire Department, Sask Power, and area farmers prevented a major disaster. Some farm machinery was lost in the fire.

Captain Jordan Guenther with his certificate.

Captain Ryan Lambert with his certificates.

Firefighter Darrell Lomenda with his certificates.

Firefighter Dillan Chernoff with his certificate and son Frederick Chernoff.

Organic farmer touts conservation

By Miranda Leybourne, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (Brandon Sun)

Conservation and agriculture have always gone hand-in-hand for organic farmer Colin Bialkoski, so partnering with Ducks Unlimited Canada to conserve part of his land just made sense.

Seeing Mother Nature as a partner rather than a force to contend with has been the ethos that drives him on his farm, which is located near Rossburn, 145 kilometres northwest of Brandon.

“You should be trying to align yourself with nature, rather than working against it,” Bialkoski said.

Last year, Bialkoski took his concern for nature a step further

by aligning with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) to protect nearly 50 acres of land dotted with marshes and bluffs of trees on his farm.

His decision to work with DUC was motivated by the amount of wildlife already abundant on his farm.

“We love having the birds and seeing the deer. We have no desire to bring a bulldozer in here and plow down the bush and drain the sloughs and make it all ‘productive,’” he said.

Registering their farm as organic in 2021, Bialkoski and his wife Cheryl were following in his father’s footsteps.

“My dad had been organic farming for quite a while at that time, by that point. He had been doing really well,” he

said.

Even while he was living in B.C., Bialkoski would come home every harvest to help out. He ended up learning more and more about organic farming.

“As far as getting certified, my dad had already done that, so I could learn off of him how to do it. I kind of used his experience and knowledge, and piggybacked on what he had done.”

Currently, all organic farms in Manitoba must comply with the Canadian Organic Standards and be inspected to these standards annually by a federally accredited certification body.

On organic farms, there are certain standards based on food, feed and seed products

that are represented as organic in import, export and interprovincial trade, the website for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.

Prohibited substances can’t have been used for at least 36 months before the harvest of an organic crop. Measures must also be taken to minimize the physical movement of prohibited substances onto organic land and crops from adjacent areas and equipment used for both organic and non-organic crops. If unintended contact with prohibited substances is possible, distinct buffer zones or other features sufficient to prevent contamination are required.

Organic seed, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, annual seedlings, transplants and planting stock must be used. Best practices for soil health that must be adhered to include maintaining or increasing levels of soil organic matter, promoting an optimum balance and supply of nutrients, and stimulating biological activity within the soil.

Instead of using synthetic fertilizer, Bialkoski replenishes soil nutrients and improves fertility with organic management techniques.

“It’s all part of this ecosystem,” Cheryl said. “It’s the way nature intended.”

Trout stocking

Recently the Melville Wildlife Club restocked the Melville Trout Pond with 200 rainbow trout and 50 brook trout. The trout pond is a fully stocked catch and release pond that provides a natural ecosystem with educational opportunities . Local

Melville youth were involved in the effort which took place May. 1. Pictured were Braxton Graves, Adlur Manum, Jacob Nelson, Kaiden Karius, and Halie Karius helping Wildlife Member Ken Somogyi.

Practices to control pests such as insects, diseases and weeds must focus on organic management practices that enhance crop health and reduce losses. These include crop rotations, use of resistant varieties, mulching and grazing and more.

Substances that are prohibited from use on organic farms include all products and materials from genetic testing, irradiation — the use of

high-energy radiation to protect from pests, cloned livestock and its descendants and fungicides, preservatives, fumigants and pesticides.

“I’ve never really wanted to be involved with a bunch of chemicals and stuff like that,” Bialkoski said.

Rotating crops and other best management practices that Bialkoski uses on his farm means that, despite not employing any chemicals or other prohibited substances, he has had a high degree of success protecting his crops from pests and other threats.

“The land is quite fertile. We have no weeds. We have no problems with disease or pests because we’re rotating things all the time. We’re not going to have the same crop two years in a row.”

Taking time in the rotation for cover crop also leads to good yields that are consistent and reliable, Bialkoski added.

Management practices on organic farms must also include measures to promote and protect ecosystem health on the operation and incorporate one or more of a pollinator habitat, insectary areas, a wildlife habitat, maintenance or restoration of riparian areas or wetlands, or other measures that promote biodiversity.

Partnering with DUC allowed Bialkoski to support wildlife habitat while still effectively managing their farmland.

“It’s important to preserve land for wildlife, but you don’t want to take away from cultivated land that a person can make a living from,” Bialkoski said.

Since he and his wife signed the agreement

with DUC in 2022, they’ve noticed benefits to wildlife and their farming operation.

“Trees and grasses help take up moisture from the ground in lowlying areas close to marshes, so the land besi de it doesn’t become so saline that you can’t even [grow] a crop,” Bialkoski said.

Working with DUC has been a very straightforward, producerfriendly experience, the Bialkoskis said.

Kiera Senkbeil, a conservation program specialist with DUC, explained how setting aside some land for conservation would benefit their farm as well as local wildlife.

“She was not trying to push to get more land,” Bialkoski said. “She was looking out for my interest as a farmer, my farming operation, and she was very good at explaining how it would all work and making suggestions.”

It’s important that farmers feel as though they have DUC’s support every step of the way, Senkbeil said.

“We make sure that they know what’s going on and keep everybody in the know.”

Producers have a huge role to play in conservation, especially since up to 70 per cent of wetland ecosystems have been lost to agriculture across the Prairies, Senkbeil said. More and more, producers who care about conserving land for the future generations are stepping up and making the Prairies healthier, she added.

“I think it’s so important that we work together in the future.”

Producers who would like to learn more about working with DUC can visit ag.ducks.ca.

Submitted

Photo by Janine Graves

Arbor Week event set for city

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Arbor Week is upcoming and the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association is planning to celebrate the event May 21.

The YFBTA will be planting evergreens along the south side of the Brick Mill property in Yorkton, and will also have trees to give away to those who might have their own Arbor Day plans.

“The establishment of Arbor Day in Canada is credited to Sir George W. Ross, later Premier of Ontario, when he was Minister of Education (1883-1899). Ross established Arbor Day ‘to

give the school children an interest in making and keeping the school grounds attractive.’ The planting of trees and of having school gardens soon became an important part of the life of many schools across Canada,” wrote Walter Farquarson in a YFBTA article.

“It is unclear when the celebration of an Arbor Day gradually lost importance within the Province of Saskatchewan. It is fair to say that some of the factors included the closing of rural schools, urbanization, and the autumn celebration of National Forestry Week combined with the unfortunate false assumption that to have both days honoured was unnecessary. National

Forestry Day’s emphasis was primarily on the economic value of forestry throughout the country. The Saskatchewan Forestry Association has been an encourager in the work that has culminated in the commitment of the Province of Saskatchewan to make the proclamation and promotion of Arbor Day/ Arbor Week an annual event.”

The YFBTA then became involved.

“The campaign to have an annual proclamation and promotion of Arbor Day was begun (2018) by YFBTA (Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association aka Yellowhead Nature Society). SOS

Trees of Saskatoon, Nature Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Forestry Association all added their support to the call,” wrote Farquarson. “The support of Hon. Warren Kaeding, MLA for Melville-Saltcoats constituency, was enthusiastic and very helpful. The first such proclamation,

made in 2020, by Hon. Dustin Duncan, Ministry of Environment, was followed by the proclamation made in 2021 through the same Ministry, then headed by Minister Hon. Warren Kaeding. In 2022 it was announced by Minister Kaeding that the proclamation and promotion would be an annual

event.”

The proclamation this year, 2023, was made by Minister Hon. Dana Skoropad.

The event locally will be held at the brick mill site in Yorkton from 2-4 p.m. in cooperation with the City of Yorkton and the Yorkton Tribal Council.

For Mother’s Day

It was a musical treat for Mother’s Day as the Yorkton Community Band held its season-ending concert at the Anne Portnuff Theatre. The band has had a busy season including performing at Lions Winefest last September, a show at the Painted Hand Casino and performing at local Remembrance Day

ceremonies in November and a Christmas concert in December. In the current year the YCB’s efforts have included performing at the Yorkton Music Festival in March, a concert at the Brick Mill, and Football Night in Yorkton in May. 14. Yorkton’s All That Jazz Big Band were special guests Sunday.

Staff Photo by Calvin Daniels

Classifieds Classifieds

1100 Cards of Thanks1120 Announcements

333 MORRISON POINT II

1130 Coming Events

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

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

METIS LOCAL #13

But as God takes us one by one

The chain will link again.

Meeting for the election of executive and board members.

— Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by brother Ed, sisters Sylvia & Lorraine and their families.

Friday, May 26 at 5:00PM at the Yorkton Public Library

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

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

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Top floor corner suite; Wrap around balcony; Windows with extensive view facing south east; 1200 sq.ft plus; 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. Phone 306-782-6145

SUMMER SANCTUARY: 1,120 sq.ft 1986 mobile home at 58 The Plateau, Ricker’s Campground, Lake of the Prairies, MB. Open concept: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. Includes appliances, interior furniture, HUGE deck, and 8’x10’ shed. 2023 lease paid. Asking $47,900. 2004 Yamaha gas golf cart and patio set may sell separately or as a package. Call 204-648-3054

ACCOMMODATIONS WANTED: Female mid-50s non-smoker seeking a room in private house. Prefer Parkland Mall area. Phone or text 306-316-1285

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.”

Advertisements and statements 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

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

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;

Buy Locally Eat Fresh Parkland Mall

— With healing hearts, tears in our eyes, Wendy, Brandi and Dana Neibrandt.

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

1120 Announcements

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MUSIC MAKERS - Music & Movement classes for children birth through age 4; PIANO

LESSONS for all ages & styles. Call Diane at 641-9887.

Every Thurs. and Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

FRESH VEGETABLES, PLANTS, CRAFTS, BAKING, CABBAGE ROLLS, PEROGIES & MEAT

For bookings phone Lorraine Sully at 782-7374

MELVILLE - NEW - 141 ACRES: 100 cult., 40 fenced pasture, soil class "H", 3 minutes NW of Melville!

1170 - Public Notices1170 - Public Notices

MELVILLE/YORKTON - REDUCED - 159 ACRES: 60 cult. (hay), balance pasture, 101,100 assess., between Melville & Yorkton just off pavement!

YORKTON - 2358 ACRES: 1589 cult., ~12 quarters fenced for Bison, 1 quarter paige, balance electric, 63,000bu. grain storage, 3 homes, great mixed operation with Bison setup, West of Yorkton

For all your buying or selling needs contact: Jason Beutler

Saskatchewan's

be rezoned is legally described as NW 24-25-4-2 twelve proposed 3.5 acre parcels shown within the bold dashed outline on the following map.

Proposed parcels on the NW 24-25-4-2

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP

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.

8x12 BARN style garden sheds, vinyl siding, asphalt shingles, 60 inch vinyl covered door. $2100. Can deliver. Sheho 306-849-4501

SET OF 4 Michelin Latitude Tour Summer Tires 235/55R19. Call 306-621-7641

210 ROSLYN AVE, Canora, SK May 19, 20 and 21 9AM-5PM daily New 5gal. primer paint, New 8gal. air compressor with accessories, Drywall texture machine, Drywall lift, miscellaneous drywall, and lots of Elvis Presley memorabilia.

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

378 MYRTLE AVE Plant Sale

Thurs. May 18 & Fri. May 19 9AM6PM, and Sat. May 20 9AM-2PM

78 ELIZABETH AVE. May 18 - 20

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

Thurs. 9AM-6PM, Fri. 8AM-6PM, Sat. 8AM-3PM. Multi-Family Moving Sale. 6ft ladder, table saw, wireless headset, speakers, lots of tools, toolbox, shelves and lots of good stuff.

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.

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.

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.

Gigantic antique and collectables sale continues due to demand ffrom a vast area of customers. Our sale will continue until May 26th 9am to 6pm. All items are $2 cash only bring bags and boxes. 531 8th Ave W Mellville

Yorkton This Week is owned and operated by The Prairie Newspaper Group LP, a division of GVIC Communications Corp.

Issued at the R.M. of Orkney No. 244 this 21st day of September, 2012.

Donna Westerhaug, Administrator

2005 JAYCO trailer. Asking $12,500. Excellent condition. Air conditioning. Oven never used. Needs canopy. Sleeps 7-9 people. For viewing contact 306-782-9519

Fable Death among Ruth Shaw finalists

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

The Yorkton Film Festival begins later this month with five films vying for the coveted Ruth Shaw Award for Best of Saskatchewan.

Among this year’s finalists is Fable Deaf

“We were thrilled to learn of the nomination of Fable Deaf for the Ruth Shaw award,” said Dr. Joanne Weber, Artistic Director Deaf Crows Collective. “This is an incredible honour, and makes history in many ways.”

“Fable Deaf is a pioneering film, being the first Deaf film made in Saskatchewan, and we

Ruth Shaw Best of Sask. Finalist 2023

believe, in all of Western Canada. It is also the first Deaf film to be nominated for the Best of Saskatchewan Award. This recognition of a Deaf film serves as an affirmation for our highly marginalized Deaf community in Saskatchewan.”

As such it is also the collective’s first film with its world premier planned for the Yorkton Film Festival.

Weber said the nomination is also important in terms of validating the film and helping market it.

“The Ruth Shaw award would be extremely validating for Fable Deaf. It would be a prestigious launch for the film’s festival run, and provide marketing exposure both for the film and for the Deaf artists involved. Fable Deaf stars an all-Deaf cast,” she said. “Its entire production was overseen by a Deaf consultant. The writing team was a collaboration between Deaf and hearing writers, and the crew was a mix of Deaf and hearing designers and technicians.

the film industry in the province.

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“This award would serve as validation for uniquely Deaf expression, creativity and storytelling. It would acknowledge and recognize Deaf artists, actors, and filmmakers, and affirm the significance of Deaf art collectives making work that resonates with both Deaf and hearing audiences.

“Last but not least, this award would highlight that award-winning, world-class, beautiful films are made right here in Saskatchewan.”

In broader terms the YFF is simply good for

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“The Saskatchewan film industry is alive, but in order to really thrive it needs the kind of investment that comes from incentives like a film tax credit,” said Weber. “There are so many talented, highly creative film artists in Saskatchewan, some of whom made brilliant and innovative contributions to our own film.

“Showcasing Saskatchewan films by YFF underscores the importance of this industry for Saskatchewan, in creative and financial sectors.”

In the case of Fable Deaf itself, the story is a unique one, offered Weber.

“Fable Deaf is a magical realist myth, set in a world of visual, rather than spoken language, where anger can bring a storm, and tears of frustration can become a monsoon,” she explained.

“The story follows Hugo (Allard Thomas), a Deaf elder, stubbornly rooted in history and tradition, whose rigid system of artifacts and memories is jeopardized by the unwelcome arrival of Jaul (Mustafa Alabssi), an illiterate and languageless young Deaf traveller.

“The plot revolves

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around the conflict between the two men, the interventions of Hugo’s young mentee, Devi (Fatima Nafisa), and the isolation of the Deaf child, Jasper (Oscar Grodecki), whose future in the Deaf community is at stake.”

And the film was shot and created entirely in Saskatchewan, said Weber.

The film features an all-Deaf cast of four Saskatchewan actors between the ages of 12 and 74 who all identify as culturally Deaf and communicate using American Sign Language, and who have contributed to the film’s narrative.

“Created by Deaf Crows Collective, Fable Deaf is a highly unique short film with lush and stunning visual effects that examines the threat of cultural devastation, and offers an invitation for its preservation,” noted Weber.

When looking at the film now as a YFF nominee has Weber’s view of it changed?

“Now that it’s a YFF nominee, we are even prouder of Fable Deaf than we already were; the nomination affirms the quality and impact of the film for both hearing and Deaf audiences,” she said.

“Fable Deaf has been a labour of love for us.

“Our writing process began in 2018, with plans to film at various rural locations across Saskatchewan during the

summer of 2020. However, like many other projects, the pandemic put a halt on our plans for the cast and crew to travel and live together on location.

“We had to devise a new approach to making the film, so the script underwent numerous rewrites as we adapted to changing circumstances and protocols.

“Ultimately we developed a plan to shoot on greenscreen with a minimal crew, and during a brief easing of provincial COVID assembly rules in August 2021, the film was shot at the Saskatchewan Production Stage under provincial pandemic restrictions. Our dedicated crew built a greenscreen and set while the actors rehearsed at the stages. It has been a challenging journey, but one that we are immensely proud of.

“We have spent the past 18 months working with a team of Saskatchewan post-production artists: colourist Jason Rister, visual effects artist Jack Hilkewich, composer Jason Cullimore and sound design by Roman Empire Studios, and we are now so excited to share this Saskatchewanmade Deaf story with the world!”

After its world premiere at the Yorkton Film Festival, it is expected Fable Deaf will spend the next couple of years on the festival circuit, including screenings at Deaf film festivals in the United States and Europe.

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Photos Courtesy Dr. Joanne Weber, Artistic Director Deaf Crows Collective

Nancy Johnson nancjohnson@me.com

306-745-7578

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Gladys Secondiak

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306-620-9700

Residential, Agriculture Specialist Yorkton, Canora, Preeceville, Kamsack and surrounding area.

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