Yorkton This Week 2020-06-10

Page 1

Stacy was our selling agent. In a time when the market was tough, I was stubborn and didn’t listen to her price suggestions, she was patient and waited for me. It took awhile, but that’s on me. Stacy continued to push and show and work hard.

I love the SOLD sign! Barb G.

BLUE CHIP REALTY

Stacy Neufeld Yorkton and Area

306-621-3680 Volume 46, Issue 43 Price - $1.52 plus GST

Your Community Connection

Return undeliverable items to: Yorkton This Week 20 Third Ave. N., Yorkton, SK S3N 2X3

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The Black Lives Matter candlelight vigil at City Hall was a call to end racism and racist violence in Canada.

Black Lives Matter vigil held at City Hall By Devin Wilger Staff Writer A group of approximately 20 people gathered next to City Hall for a vigil in honor of George Floyd, and the Black Lives Matter movement. A moment of silence was observed for eight minutes and 45 seconds, the length of time that Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck. Irene McArthur, who attended the event and held a sign

reading “I Can’t Breathe” said that Floyd’s death needs to be a wakeup call. “Right then and there I knew it was time for change. Everybody knows, everybody’s seen it.” For her, the most difficult part was explaining what happened to Floyd to her sons. “My two youngest sons watched that video, they were traumatized by it. “Why is it like that all the time?” they said. And I said, you know

what, this is how it is. It’s a harsh reality son. It’s a harsh reality for Indigenous communities to face racism every single day, even as a young child. I had to explain all of that to him, it’s traumatizing for kids, it’s traumatizing for everybody and it has to change, it has to stop. The systemic racism is never-ending in Canada, in the United States, everywhere.” Linda Osachoff was another attendee. She said she drove an hour to join people in

Yorkton, who are joining people around the world, to share solidarity and call attention to racism that exists in our country. “I think we, as Canadians, often feel as if we’re kind and polite, and we’re not racists, that’s enough. But it’s very clear that’s no longer enough at all, we have to be very thoughtfully and purposefully anti-racist, and stand up to the injustice that exists against our black and indigenous brothers

and sisters. Not just in everyday actions, but in policies and procedures that need to change as well.” Osachoff points to the lack of action on the report of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and she believes that concrete action on that report is something Canada needs to do. “So often, we can report and investigate and research an

Continued on Page A2

Charities sought for ECSF funding By Devin Wilger Staff Writer The Emergency Community Support Fund is a federal initiative to get funding dollars to vulnerable people within our communities, as they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by local community foundations, and the Yorkton & District Community Foundation will be distributing $75,000 to charities in

Yorkton and area to support their COVID-19 response. The funds are distributed in a partnership between the Community Foundations of Canada, of which Yorkton is a member, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. The ECSF itself is part of a $350 million investment to support vulnerable populations in Canada. Sharon Tropin with the Yorkton and District Community Foundation said

the types of programs that are eligible are those that address a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19 for a vulnerable population. A vulnerable population is one that is at greater risk due to the pandemic, and can include youth, seniors, those with disabilities, caregivers, new Canadians and homeless people. “While we recognize that while things are somewhat

returning to normal, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are going to be felt for some time yet to come, most notably among our vulnerable populations.” Speaking with local charities, she said that in the area food security is a big issue for some individuals, particularly in rural communities. Another big issue is finding ways to get services to people easier, as they have been interrupted. She also notes that COVID-19

has made technology a major way that services are continuing, and some supports are needed to assist people accessing that technology. “We’re hoping that the local charities will identify the needs that they are seeing and apply for granting to set up programs to address those needs.” Tropin emphasizes that they are not only a Yorkton foundation, but Yorkton and district,

Continued on Page A2

Bomok earns U of S teaching honour By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer A former Yorkton student has been presented a major teaching award at the University of Saskatchewan. Alynn Bomok, daughter of Al and Cathy Brischuk has received the Provost’s College Award for Outstanding Teaching for the College of Kinesiology. “For me I was really surprised honestly,” she

told Yorkton This Week while home visiting her parents. Bomok said for her teaching at the college is simply something she is excited to be doing. “I’m really passionate about doing it. I love doing it,” she said, adding the award was not something she expected. Bomok, who graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 2001, earned her Bachelor of Kinesiology at the U of

Alynn Bomok S, and then spent some time with Gymnastics

Saskatchewan before returning to the university for her Masters. She became a sessional instructor in 2013, while still in the Master’s program, which she completed a year later. With the award inhand Bomok said she isn’t sure what it may mean to her career, but she knows it is an important milestone for her to be chosen from among about 40 instructors at the college.

“It really is an important moment for me to be recognized,” she said, adding the award could help if she pursues becoming a full-time instructor at the college. The award is usually presented at the University’s Celebration of Teaching, along with other college awards, but due to COVID-19 that was not possible. “It was kind of bittersweet that way,” said Bomok. “We didn’t get to

have a formal presentation.” Instead, the certificate simply arrived in the mail, with the university posting the award to social media sites. “It was kind of bizarre,” said Bomok, although the significance of the award was not lessened by the process. The award is Bomok’s second, having earned one in 2016 which was voted on by students.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.