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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit after finding out he had been officially declared elected for his fourth term. Ottenbreit increased his share of the vote overall compared to 2016, with a full three quarters of voters in the constituency voting for him.

Fourth term for Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit By Devin Wilger Staff Writer Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit has achieved his fourth term. After the vote on Monday, Oct. 26, Ottenbreit was quickly declared elected with approximately 75.6 per

cent of the vote, coming in above the NDP’s Carter Antoine and the Green Party’s Judy Mergel. Ottenbreit’s success was matched by his party, which formed its fourth majority government with 50 seats compared to the NDP’s 11.

In total, 3768 votes were cast for Ottenbreit, with 1068 for Antoine and 145 for Mergel. While this is a higher percentage of the vote for Ottenbreit, who had 73 per cent of the vote in 2016, a much lower number of votes were cast

overall in Yorkton. A total of 4,981 ballots were counted, compared to 6,318 in 2016. Elsewhere in the region Terry Dennis took Canora-Pelly for the Sask. Party with 4160 votes, compared to Stacy Strykowski’s 1431 votes

for the NDP, Robert Hayes gaining 356 for the Buffalo Party and Breton Gattinger’s 123 for the Green Party. In Melville-Saltcoats, the Sask Party’s Warren Kaeding took a healthy majority of the vote with 5023 votes overall. In sec-

ond was the NDP’s Bonnie Galenzoski with 1141 votes, followed by the Progressive Conservative’s Trever Ratti with 317 and the Green Party’s Jack Powless with 130.

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Christmas parade being held in reverse By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer COVID-19 may have led to the cancellation of numerous events in Yorkton this year, but one that will go forward, albeit in a different fash-

ion is the Santa Claus Parade. Friday, the Yorkton Business Improvement District held a press conference to confirm the 23rd edition of the parade would go forward. Parade Marshall

Andrew Rae said the decision was up in the air for a long time with the pandemic being a concern. “The parade has always been about safety,” he said. But at the same time

Rae said the parade “felt it was an essential service” that needed to be continued for the community. So the decision was made to go forward, but in different fashion, this year it will be

what is termed a ‘reverse parade’. A reverse parade has the floats stationary, with people driving by to look at them. Rae said people are urged to limit the people in a vehicle to a family

unit, but added “if individuals don’t have access to a vehicle,” the City of Yorkton will be providing a public transit option, under their current policies regarding seating,

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Council offers up $300 K to brick mill By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer The Yorkton Brick Flour Mill Committee once again appeared before the regular meeting of Yorkton Council looking for a commitment of $300,000 toward its proposed

build. At the July 29, 2019 Council meeting, the Brick Mill Committee requested additional funding from the City for further improvements and expansion plans for a Brick Mill Interpretive Center. The estimated costs of the

Re-elect Randy Goulden

to Yorkton City Council on November 9

entire project are $1,200,000 and the request was for the City to commit $300,000 to show support. The committee would continue to apply for grants and do fundraising. The request was referred to 2020 Budget deliberations. The request before Council

• Committed to making decisions which meet community needs, will have lasting beneﬁts and are mindful of the economic climate; • Longtime volunteer with many community organizations; • Working on boards provincially and federally, has brought $3.3 million of new funding to the city this year;

today is to acknowledge that the project can be sustainable and set aside $300,000 for the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society Inc. These funds would be used for future capital projects estimated at $1,200,000 providing that the committee complies with the above con-

ditions, stated a report circulated to Council and presented by City Manager Lonnie Kaal. Terry Tyson, General Manager of Grain Millers Canada Corporation is a member of the Yorkton Brick Flour

Continued on Page A2

• Works

diligently to ensure citizens receive full value for their tax dollars; • An experienced councillor in touch with Yorkton residents and the issues that aﬀect them.

I appreciate your support!

Call/text 306-621-3056 gouldenrandy@hotmail.com Facebook @CouncillorGoulden Twitter @randygoulden

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

OTTENBREIT Continued from Page A1 Ottenbreit said that winning a fourth term is exciting, and that election night doesn’t get old. “It’s quite humbling to look at the percentages we’re getting coming in, the amount of votes we’ve been getting even after three terms, into our fourth term.” The election result is

a confirmation that they have done good work over the past 13 years, said Ottenbreit, but also a vote of confidence in Premier Scott Moe, who has won his first election as Premier. “This is a pretty strong showing not only to the support of the Sask Party and the government in Yorkton, but I think prov-

ince-wide, the numbers we are seeing coming in that show that the people have a lot of confidence in Scott Moe but also in his leadership and it’s a pretty strong signal that he is definitely the very respected and strong leader of our province.” This election was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the

restrictions put in place, which limited gatherings and campaign events. Ottenbreit said that they’re used to a lot more interaction with people during an election, whether in the campaign office or by door knocking. “Obviously this time we couldn’t really do that much, but still we found

innovative ways to connect with people, to have them call in or you know, communicate with them in some way shape or form to hear their concerns… I think it’s a pretty clear indication with the numbers we’re seeing here theat, you know, some of the stuff that we did worked.” Ottenbreit also had

praise for how Elections Saskatchewan rose to the challenge of running an election in a pandemic. “Elections Saskatchewan did a pretty good job with the challenges they had… making sure that being able to vote was accessible to as many people as possible.”

reserve for this project with disbursements from this account subject to certain conditions, including that the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill Committee can demonstrate that they have the resources to complete each component prior to starting construction, and the concept and estimated costs be presented to City Administration for approval prior to proceeding. Council was generally on-side with the investment. Councillor Mitch

Hippsley called it “a nobrainer,” adding “you have my total support.” “I’m really astounded with what’s been before us,” said Mayor Bob Maloney. He added such projects “always take a bit of a leap of faith ... but I think you do have to invest in your history .... It’s something I think this city should be involved in.” Coun. Darcy Zaharia was also in favour, but his support initially came with some conditions, the primary one being a desire to see the mill in the hands of the committee not the City as a way to ensure the taxpayer would not be on the hook for potential operational cost shortfalls. Tyson said they are open to discussions of ownership, although at this point it is a city property and as a heritage site the municipality will always have some input and control.

Kaal added the specifics of operations, including who pays, could be laid out in a letter of understanding as well. “I’m really glad you’ve left the ownership open,” said Coun. Ken Chyz. Zaharia also worried the rental space would impact the already open location in the City’s downtown area. It was noted the space available will be small, and will be for generally niche businesses dovetailing with the site history experience. Ultimately, Council would be unanimous in its approval. The $300,000 would come from the City’s Rainy Day Fund, moved to a dedicated reserve until required for the mill project. Next up for the mill committee is to formally launch its capital campaign to raise their $900,000 towards the project.

MILL Continued from Page A1 Mill Committee and was in attendance at the Council meeting to answer questions. Tyson said the proposed project is a good one, noting that the plan was reviewed by Community Futures which looks at many projects. “They vetted it and consider it a viable plan,” he said. Tyson also noted the committee has already raised, and invested some $330,000 in the site. The financial projections noted by the Yorkton Brick Flour Mill Multi-Function Cultural Interpretive Centre Business Plan report estimates $5,000 in monthly income with $4,000 in expenses. Since volunteers are involved, the salary costs are low. Further, there would be no debt on the building and thus obtaining a break-even position is easier to achieve.

An artist rendition of planned brick mill project. Tyson said the plan for the building creates a flexible area which will be “favourable to capitalizing on some market opportunities. It’s also a project that will build on tourism, and people’s desire to learn about history. “We believe we can survive in a competitive market,” said Tyson, in large part by creating “a quality experience.” By formally allocating the $300,000 to the committee, they can proceed with their building plans, and continue to apply for grants and

raise funds. Future discussions will unfold regarding building costs and required funds on hand, prior to any City reserve funds being disbursed, noted Kaal. “Your support is so valuable in terms of momentum,” said Tyson. The recommendation by City Administrations was that Council set aside $300,000 for the Multi-Function Cultural Interpretive Centre project that the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society Inc. has planned, and these funds be placed in a

Safety Plan Review will continue By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer The Yorkton Council has unanimously given the go-ahead to continue a Community Safety Play Zone Review, after hearing an update at its regular meeting Monday. “In September of 2019, City Council directed Administration to develop a strategy to establish safe play zones at City parks. Unfortunately, this update was delayed due staffing changes and COVID19, because facilities were forced to close and community stakeholders were not available for discussion. However, this gave us the opportunity to review the request in more detail,” stated Darcy McLeod Director of Community Development, Parks and Recreation with the City at the meeting. “The goal of this review is to establish a consistent safety standard for play zones across the City to provide children and families

safe access to public play zones in our community. The results would be clearly marked safe play zones and a communication strategy that provide drivers with clear expectations of how to drive in these areas and ensure safe pedestrian access to these spaces.” McLeod did note this was something the City wanted to do, and was not a required exercise. For example, in Saskatchewan, no set law requires municipalities to have speed limits for parks and play areas. According to The City of Yorkton Traffic Bylaw, “the speed limit in any school zone or recreation area marked by appropriate signage is 40 km/hr between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm”, said McLeod. McLeod said other centres have done work in regards to safety. “After further research, Administration discovered that the City of Calgary conducted a study of their school and playground zones

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in September of 2017. The results from a survey showed that only 58 percent of respondents knew the exact start time of school and playground zones, whereas 73 percent knew the end time. More than 80 percent of the respondents find it easier to remember the zone times with singlezone type that is consistent throughout the year. For our review, it would be best to not only review our park and playground zones but also our school zones,” he said. Further, according to the City of Saskatoon’s School Zone Webpage, they have indicated the following when it comes to youth and vehicles: • Young children tend to think cars can stop instantly. • Children believe that if they can see your

car, you can see them. • Children under the age of 10 do not accurately judge vehicle speed or distance. • Vehicle-pedestrian accidents involving children tend to result in serious injury or death. It is important to remember that children perceive things differently due to their present stage of development, said McLeod noting: • Children are easily distracted. • Children do not always pay attention. • Children are small and are more likely to sustain fatal injuries when they are hit at any type of speed. • Children do not see cars coming. McLeod said it is important the community be part of the process. This is a community

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able School Community Councils, will be included to obtain input and feedback,” continued McLeod. A public engagement survey will also be developed, which would allow all residents the opportunity to provide feedback. “This report was presented to the Community Development, Parks and Recreation Committee (CDPR) at their Oct. 13, meeting, where they fully supported the process and intended outcomes. They did have some thoughts for consideration as part of the process,” added McLeod. Once the review is complete, the recommendations will be brought back to the CDPR Committee for feedback and then forwarded for Council consideration.

Virtual Halloween fun planned By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer Halloween is going virtual thanks to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yorkton and Area. The local youth organization will be hosting

a ‘Virtual Halloween Party’ via Zoom. Actually they are holding two parties, one for youth ages five-to-10 on Oct. 30 from 4-6 p.m., and then the same day from 7-to-9 p.m. there will be a party for those ages 11-17.

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safety issue and using a collaborative approach in this review will generate community buyin and a better chance of success. Therefore, Administration would continue with this review by working with the Yorkton Active Transportation Collaborative and further include the City’s Protective Services Committee, Engineering and Asset Management Department, Public Works Department, Bylaw Services and the R.C.M.P., he said. “In order to ensure consistency in play zones, a review of the school zones should be completed as part of this review. Therefore, the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division and Good Spirit School Division, along with their applic-

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The parties might be virtual, but they promise all the same activities one expects from Halloween including a pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, a decorate your room contest

and spooky games. Activity kits will be provided to those taking part. Those wishing to participate are asked to register by Oct. 26, by calling 306-621-3470.

PARADE Continued from Page A1 and having riders wear masks. While different, Rae said the reverse parade does provide “a lot of different opportunities to engage the community.” The community involvement includes the Boys and Girls Club coming on board to prepare goodie bags for each vehicle with products from Legacy Co-op and the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce. Those taking in the parade will have an opportunity to donate a non-perishable food item to the food bank, or make a donation to the ‘Save the Grandstand’ project and/or the Salvation Army. Those driving by will also have the chance to vote on the best commercial, best non-commercial, and best lit floats, said Rae. The Reverse Parade will be held at the Gallagher Centre parking lot, with people coming in off Bradbrooke Drive N., and exiting at the lights at the main entrance. The parade will be held Saturday, Nov 28, starting at 5 p.m.

Up Front

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 www.yorktonthisweek.com

Councillor candidates answer . . . . . . YTW questions Yorkton This Week submitted questions to the 15 people seeking Councillor position in the Nov. 9 municipal election. There answers follow in this edition. Question #1: Like most cities, Yorkton has an infrastructure deficit. Where do you believe this city should focus dollars on improvements?

Dustin Brears Infrastructure is expensive. We need to maintain our roads, water and sewer systems to sustain the standard of living we expect in a progressive community. With the massive amount of money that needs to be invested in our infrastructure, we need to partner with other levels of government to fund these projects. We cannot simply rely on the taxpayers of Yorkton to solely take care of it, as it just isn’t financially possible. We need to look at each project that needs to be completed, prioritize the critical ones, and aggressively go after the funding required to see the projects to completion. If we do not take action soon, the problem will only get worse and ultimately decrease the quality of life in Yorkton.

Ken Chyz Unfortunately, as in pretty much all urban centers, infrastructure is a major concern. Our roads and underground water and sewer pipes are the major issue. The problem is, to fix all our roads would cost approximately $150 million and the replacement of all underground water and sewer pipes are in that same price range as well. What we need is more provincial and federal infrastructure grant money to help us out. Currently all new projects (Mayhew & Darlington as an example) have maintenance costs built into the price and are part of the current budget. That money is put into reserves for future maintenance. This means that the dollars needed to maintain projects like these in future years would be in place and additional tax dollars for repairs would not be necessary. All new future projects will be set up the same way.

Dick DeRyk We need to maintain essential infrastructure -- roads, sidewalks, water and sewer. We cannot let it get in further disrepair. We should have learned that from our situation 15 years ago. But until we know the impact of COVID-19 on city finances, which

will be at least a year from now, I am not going to support any new infrastructure projects, including recreation facilities. We can get the plans ready in case the province or feds come up with a program that will pay the vast majority of the cost, but otherwise we set aside everything else until we know the city’s longterm financial situation. Yes, we have borrowing power, but it’s never a good idea to max out your credit card. For me property tax relief (which will require a leaner city operation) and essential infrastructure are the priorities.

Doug Forster Water and sewer services are probably the most underappreciated when it comes to critical infrastructure, as tax payers we just assume every time we open a tap the clean water will flow, and the waste water will disappear, but when there is an interruption in this chain of events it feels catastrophic. It’s no secret that many parts of our city have issues with aging water and sewer lines that need to be replaced in order to ensure that every household and business in Yorkton can continue to receive the same level of service that we have become accustomed too, these need to be a priority when it comes to planning and budgets. Roads are important, as are the sidewalks in every area of the city, I think we need to hold the line on things like expensive roundabouts, and concentrate on a broader area of road repair with those resources.

Randy Goulden Infrastructure investment has been, and must remain, a long-term project for Yorkton. Between 736 kilometres of pipes, roads, and sidewalks (that would reach all the way to Vegreville, Alberta if we laid it end-to-end), we also have recreation infrastructure, city buildings, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and more besides. To make fact-based decisions that consider the entire cost and lifetime of all our infrastructure, the City of Yorkton has a full asset management plan. I believe staying on track and investing our dollars as laid out in that plan will ensure we get the most

for every penny spent. Though big projects, with their big price tag, often get the attention, our asset management plan shows that spending small amounts to maintain can avoid big, more expensive repairs down the line—allowing us to do more work for less and providing value for your tax dollars.

Quinn Haider I am proud of the number of important infrastructure projects that we approved during my first term on Council. The work on Broadway was very successful, and we continued major drainage projects. While we helped close the gap somewhat, there is still much that needs to be done. Our city already has a review program in which every road, and every city owned facility is assessed based on its condition and its total usage. This assessment helps to determine which of our assets is in most need of repair. As fiscal stewards for our citizens, this data will be crucial as Council continues to rejuvenate our infrastructure. My number one priority would be to continue to advocate for funds from the provincial and the federal government in order to make the long overdue repairs to York Road an affordable option for our residents.

Cam Mehling There are many areas of infrastructure that need attention and I believe the focus, over time, can be spread out to cover a few major projects. Most citizens tell me that roads need to be the priority. I believe that many of our roads are great, but some do need attention. The most glaring issue is York Road. This is a massive project that the city cannot fund on its own and a co-pay agreement must be established between the city and the province as York Road is a highway connector. It is imminent that Yorkton will need a new hospital in the future. We need to be planning our finances accordingly to make this project attainable. There are many infrastructure needs that can and will be budgeted for and implemented. The two mentioned above are massive projects that will require highly intelligent planning to execute.

Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes I believe that the City’s infrastructure dollars need to be prioritized and focus on the water, sewer and garbage handling systems.

These services aren’t always visible or flashy but essential to the wellbeing and everyday life of the citizens and businesses in Yorkton. Additionally, the City must weigh the importance of policies and strategies relating to the transportation infrastructure in and around the city, which includes the Yorkton Regional Airport.

Jordan Rosluk When I ran for Council in 2016 I made a commitment to addressing the need to upgrade the 100-year-old drainage and sewage system underneath the city, and my commitment remains the same in 2020. For me this is a priority. We must address what’s underneath the city first before we can fix or build on what’s above the ground. When these original infrastructure systems fail it will cost the city even more to repair, not to mention the inconvenience to the property owners affected by these failures. I believe in being proactive, fixing a problem before it happens, instead of being reactionary. Once the older systems are replaced then we can focus on building new infrastructure. If elected to the Yorkton City council I will do my best to put Yorkton back on a strong foundation.

CV Sastry York Road- an urban connector, for which we get 70 percent funding from the province, will be a good investment for our growth. Broadway street water and sewer mains also are in requirement of repairs. Families are requesting for additional recreational or sport center in the city with an ageing Kinsmen arena. Then there are projects which might not require too much funding from us but will be beneficial to our city like cultural structures with historic significance which will increase the vibrancy of our city. Another focus will be on infrastructure spending which might promote future business growth. We should spend tax payer’s money wisely to enjoy minimal tax increases. When we develop area, like the lot near Tourism Yorkton or housing development in the North where the infrastructure is deteriorating with ZERO tax revenues being gener-

ated, it does not build the confidence of our tax payers.

Terry Schneider Council should plan for a weekend retreat shortly after the fall election to create a 4 year plan for infrastructure spending and post this plan as public information on the City of Yorkton website. Priority areas for spending should include need to have items: Replacement of aging water/sewer lines Paving of streets Installing sidewalks where required to allow for pedestrian mobility Ensuring the Fire Department has vehicles and equipment required to respond effectively and safely to emergency situations Signage for School/ Playground Zones to allow for enforcement of speed zones Completion of Public Works shop Recreation facility upgrades where the focus is on functional use

Scott Sharpe This is an extremely hard question as infrastructure is one area you can never totally afford but somewhere that you must spend on. The work on the roads and sewage system must be continued; some of our main streets are in bad shape. There is always going to be a desire to save money by patching them but in the long run, it costs more. As an electrician and working with lighting upgrade at the Saskatchewan Health Authority, I know the improvement in the quality of light that LED outdoor lighting provides as well as the future cost savings in power. I have noticed there is little to no foot traffic in most areas of the city after dark other than the properly lit areas.

Calvin Tokarchuk I feel our Water and Sewer on Broadway should be our cities’ main infrastructure focus. That said putting focus on any one or two key points of infrastructure items will only help to deteriorate the many others that need to be addressed and continue to keep us in the same position we currently find ourselves. We must have a need vs want mentality when deciding where infrastructure funds are used. Addressing the most needed areas, regardless

of the area of the city it is located. One idea, holding off on flowers in the boulevards for a year and utilizing the extra labor for road maintenance, and putting the extra money from that towards our Broadway project. As with debt, some sacrifices of “Wants” even for one or two years will need to be made to better the City as a whole going forward.

Chris Wyatt I believe there needs to be emphasis on street resurfacing other than just our main streets. There also needs to be pressure put on the province to finish the truck route around our city so we can repair roads like York Road. I also support building a new RCMP detachment in the empty commercial area behind the tourism building. That would hopefully spark further development in the area, it has been vacant long enough and the city has failed to market it or work with businesses to build there. Just imagine what a new detachment building could spark? A vibrant business/professional building type of development with retail to follow the new construction. City Hall could use the space for future growth and community based group office space.

Darcy Zaharia Municipalities are about delivering the services that support safe, healthy and prosperous communities, and council’s role in this process is to decide what services are needed, what level they need to be delivered at, and what methods of delivery best fit the needs of our community. We need to look after all of our assets that provide these services. Note: No tax increase now widens the capital infrastructure deficit. I would prioritize water, sewer and roads. “Green infrastructure” including water and wastewater systems. The City began the first phases of a large scale drainage/flood mitigation plan that is something we should continue to plug away at. Engage our community. Devise a long-term plan that includes life cycle costing (costs including investment, operation, maintenance and disposal) for projects. Communicate that plan. If infrastructure grants are received for other project areas (i.e. rinks) then this plan would be revisited at that point.

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Perspective Sask. election aftermath worrying

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 www.yorktonthisweek.com

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Politics Barring the most unexpected upset in Saskatchewan political history we will be seeing this week a Saskatchewan Party government carry on with a fourth term. And in the winner-take-all world of politics it becomes easy to write off any misgivings with the winning party as irrelevant. But maybe that’s why we are always so frustrated with our politicians and the political process. Maybe this is where our problems begin. Of course, the problem is that there are no easy fixes. If an election doesn’t produce a minority government or at least a very close race, governments wind up pretty much doing what they want. As has been previously mentioned in this space, the Sask. Party went into this election having won 31 seats in the 2016 campaign by 2,500 votes or more. On only six occasions in the 115-year of our province has a party that won a seat by 2,500 votes or more then lost that seat in the next election. Unseating government was always a hopeless unrealistic for the NDP. And it can surely be argued that the New Democrat campaign didn’t do all that much help its cause. Many will legitimately argue that the NDP didn’t deserve to win because it virtually wrote off half the seats in the provinces before the campaign started. Sure, the NDP ran candidates in all 61 seats — many of which deserve credit for putting up a feisty fight in rural seats where some of them didn’t stand much of a chance. If we are ever to change the system to something better, it likely begins with the re-establishing the recognition that anyone who puts up his or her name for public office deserves respect for doing so. That said, it did not go unnoticed that leader Ryan Meili’s Ford campaign van hardly veered off Highway 11 between Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. And if it did, it was only for short detour to Moose Jaw. One can accuse Sask. Party leader Scott Moe of pretty much the same tactics, but why would the Sask. Party spend much time in seats it was guaranteed to win? Moreover, the NDP’s “People First” campaign can rightly be criticized for offering rather little to people in agriculture, oil and mining that have also been hard hit by the COVID-19 economic downturn. It’s costly $2.1 billion in new spending was largely aimed at increased hiring in schools, hospitals and nursing but also at those economic disadvantaged. By its own admission, the NDP platform would leave Saskatchewan with massive billion-dollar-a-year deficits and still $600 million short of a surplus after four years. But maybe it’s about here where we need to begin and rethink what we want out of a process that leaves us stuck with the lesser of evils after an election. After all, the Sask. Party promises of only slightly smaller deficits and $849 million in new spending over the four years is clearly deserved of the criticism it received. And we will soon be left paying for all this — a road we’ve been down before as recently as four years ago. After the 2016 election that saw far less generous platforms from the two major parties, we were hit home with 2017 Saskatchewan budget that hiked taxes and tripled the deficit to $1.2 billion. It hammered us by increasing the provincial sales tax to six per cent and broadening it, shuttering the Saskatchewan Transportation Company and doing away with the 44-year-old Saskatchewan Hearing Aid Plan that supported preschool children with cochlear implants. It wasn’t what voters signed up for, but there’s now a very realistic possibility — with a large majority Sask. Party government — we’ll be in for this again. Until we can somehow improve government accountability, it’s, unfortunately, the system we’re stuck with. Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics since 1983.

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◆Editorial◆

Zero tax increases would have a cost W hen Yorkton voters head to the polls Monday (Nov. 9), municipal taxes are likely to be an issue many will have seen as important in terms of their decision of who to vote for. At least the 15 candidates for the six councillor positions and the two running for mayor have spent some effort in focusing on taxes in the run up to the vote. There are a number of candidates calling for zero per cent increase in municipal taxes in 2021, citing COVID19 as a key motivating factor in that position. Others have gone as far as to suggest zero increase for the next four years, a position taken by mayoral candidate Mitch Hippsley on the day he formally announced he was running. Others among the candidates are taking a more cautious approach to a tax break moving forward. So, what exactly would zero tax increases mean? Well, to start with just because the municipality opts for zero per cent does not mean taxpayers won’t pay more in 2021, or beyond. When tax notices go out the amount owing includes the school side of property tax and the City has no control over that, being strictly the tax collector on that side of the ledger. If school taxes rise, so too will people’s tax bills. Another question that needs to be asked is whether COVID-19 is the great bugaboo some suggest? In terms of City taxes the impact seems negligible so far, with City Manager Lonnie Kaal telling Yorkton This Week at the end of September tax collections were on track with what they have been in previous years.

That should not surprise many, the candidates included as often property taxes are paid as part of mortgages, and are generally budgeted for by most. In terms of businesses obviously COVID has hurt some, a lot, while the opposite is also true, with some businesses doing quite nicely, depending on products and services offered. That is pretty much the norm when facing disasters. It was the same in the wake of the two great city floods of recent memory. It would be the same if farmers were not able to harvest a crop. Whether crop failure, flood, or pandemic, the municipality cannot cure the ills of all. And zero per cent municipal tax increase might appear an oasis of help, but a closer look turns it into something of a mirage. Tax increases have been 2.9 per cent in 2019 and 2.9 per cent in 2020, with the City currently targeting a three per cent hike in 2021, pending new direction for the new Council of course. A three per cent increase would be $61.20 per year or $5.10 per month on a $250,000 home, which is hardly the sort of saving that buffers any homeowner from the impact of COVID. But, for the City those dollars add up, and are required to keep pace in terms of service and capital works. Without a tax increase the City must either do less, cut services, or draw down reserves, because their costs will rise, through general inflation, (about two per cent a year in Canada), and increases in costs that automatically include firefighter and CUPE contracts, and the potential of energy, power and insurance hikes. Continued on page A5

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Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Big honkin’ election win for Saskatchewan Party By Brian Zinchuk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Estevan Mercury Regina, Saskatoon – The Saskatchewan Party was re-elected to its historic fourth majority government on Oct. 26, taking 50 of 61 seats as of late Monday night, and giving Scott Moe his first “big honkin’ election win,” as he put it, as leader of the Saskatchewan Party and now premier-elect. It was a gain of four seats for the Saskatchewan Party. The New Democratic Party, led by Ryan Meili, won 11 seats, a decline of two. The 2016 election had the Saskatchewan Party winning 51 seats and the New Democratic Party winning 10, but by dissolution, due to byelections and vacancies, the Saskatchewan Party had 46 seats, the NDP had 13, and there were two vacant seats. Late into the night it looked like not much at all had changed, with similar the seat counts and leaders of both of the major parties retaining their seats. But that changed late into the night, after the TV stations shut down their coverage. The Saskatchewan Party kept picking up additional seats, and an upset came in for New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Ryan

Meili. With 50 of 50 polls reporting in Saskatoon Meewasin, he was behind the Saskatchewan Party’s Rylund Hunter by 83 votes. However, that could change in the coming days, as there were 1,656 vote by mail ballot issued by Elections Saskatchewan for Saskatoon Meewasin. Due to the pandemic, votes by mail received by 8 p.m. on election day will be counted by Elections Saskatchewan on Oct. 28, instead of on the date of the final count. Even then, the final result may not be known until the final election count, Nov. 7, 12 days after the election. That’s because votes received in the mail from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 won’t be counted until the final count. Additionally, some voters may have chosen to vote in person instead of by mail, or have chosen not to vote at all, so how many of those vote by mail ballots issued are actually in play is an open question. Usually not an important factor, the COVID19 pandemic led to an extraordinary increase in both requests for mailin ballots and participation in advanced polls. Advance voting was up substantially compared to 2016, with 185,061 votes cast this year compared to 110,716 cast four years ago.

The Saskatchewan Legislature, as seen on election day, awaits its new members. Those vote by mail ballots could be the deciding factor in several races. There were 61,412 vote by mail ballot kits sent out by Elections Saskatchewan, a record number by a factor of more than 13. Most of the seats in the closest races had substantial numbers of vote by mail ballots issued – ranging from 568 to 2,674, easily enough to sway the final numbers. Meili’s seat wasn’t the only race which could be impacted by the extraordinarily high number of mail-in ballots. Saskatoon University had the NDP’s Jennifer Bowes leading the Sask. Party’s Eric Olausen by 105 votes, with 1,296 vote by mail ballots issued. Saskatoon Eastview saw NDP candidate Matt Love ahead of Sask. Party candidate Chris Guérette by 102. That riding had 1,555 vote by mail ballots issued.

An upset came in Saskatoon Riversdale, where the Sask. Party’s Marv Friesen beat the NDP’s Ashlee Hicks by 274 votes. Saskatoon Riversdale has long been an NDP stronghold, represented by past NDP Premiers Roy Romanow and Lorne Calvert. But that riding also had 920 vote by mail ballots issued.

Awash in with Sask. Party green The map was awash with Sask. Party green across all of rural Saskatchewan save the two northern seats of Athabasca and Cumberland. Other than the north, only the more central and western portions of both Saskatoon and Regina went NDP orange. While there were six parties running and three independents, it was really a two-party race. As of midnight on

election night with 99.88 of ballot boxes reporting, the Saskatchewan Party improved its share of the popular vote by 0.6 per cent, from 62.4 per cent in 2016, to 63 per cent. The NDP’s share of the popular vote declined, from 30.2 per cent in 2016, to 29 per cent. That makes the third time the Sask. Party had received over 60 per cent of the vote. The brand-new Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan outdid all other minor parties, scoring 11,050 votes for a 2.9 per cent share. That was accomplished with just 17 candidates running. They beat out the Saskatchewan Green Party, which fielded 60 candidates but only gained 9,091 votes, or 2.4 per cent. The Progressive Conservatives had 31 candidates, and garnered 7,935 votes, or 2 per cent. The Liberals, with just three candidates, received 338 votes, or 0.09 per cent.

Incumbents keep winning This is the third provincial election since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and in each case, the incumbent government won, with a stronger showing either in seats or vote share. New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservative government under Blaine Higgs was the first, moving from a minority to a major-

ity government. A similar pattern happened just days ago in British Columbia, where a minority NDP government lead by John Horgan won a majority. In each case, the voters trusted the incumbents to continue on. That was the central theme of Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe’s campaign. He started the election by asking “Who do you trust?” and it was his mantra throughout the campaign, asking who the voters would trust to lead Saskatchewan through the recovery from the pandemic. Moe consistently brought up the NDP’s record of cuts during its 16 years in power from 1991-2007 under austerity budgets to eliminate a deficit in the earlier years. He said the NDP were a party of decline, while the Sask. Party was one of growth. Conversely, NDP Leader Ryan Meili often focused on what they said the Sask. Party would do – make severe cuts to social programs under austerity budgets. Meili’s repeated phrase that such cuts, during uncertain times, were “downright dangerous.” Their campaign focused on “People first,” and included a “Sask. First” procurement strategy, smaller class sizes in schools, and a restoration of STC bus service.

Meili concedes, and loses his own seat, but maybe not? By Brian Zinchuk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Estevan Mercury Saskatoon – In a campaign unlike any other in Saskatchewan, the climax, and anticlimax, were also unlike any other. Instead of speaking to rooms of cheering supporters, Premierelect Scott Moe of the Saskatchewan Party and defeated Leader of the New Democratic Party Ryan Meili spoke to largely empty rooms, and to cameras in Saskatoon hotel meeting rooms. Public health orders restricting gathering sizes to 30 or less was a key consideration throughout the campaign, and it was evident when both leaders gave their election night speeches. Meili spoke before he

even knew if he had won or lost his own seat of Saskatoon Meewasin, as the race was neck and neck all night. Only when the last poll came in was it determined that he had lost by 83 votes to the Sask. Party’s Rylund Hunter. Even then, the result could change due to the 1,656 vote by mail ballots issued for that riding, the final count of which won’t be determined until Nov. 7. His comments were brief, just four minutes. He said he had heard from Saskatchewan people, their fears, frustrations and hopes. He thanked his family, his campaign team, and the 61 candidates who ran for the party. “For the people of Meewasin, it has been an honour to serve as your MLA, and I’d like to con-

NDP Leader Ryan Meili on Oct. 5. tinue to do so. We’ll find out more about that later tonight,” Meili said. “We know IT wasn’t enough this time. And I’ve just got off the phone with Scott Moe and congratulated him on remaining Premier, and I offered him, as we are both in service of the people of Saskatchewan, where we

can agree, where we can work together, I’m always here. And where we disagree, he knows well, and I will be straight with him, and the people of Saskatchewan about those different visions.” Not the end Meili said, “My message tonight is for those who voted for change,

because there are thousands upon thousands of people across Saskatchewan, who voted for change tonight. I want to tell you, this is not the end. This is the beginning. Do not give up, because we can, in Saskatchewan, we can do so much better than what we’ve seen. This is our home. And we can do the work to make it better. He went on, “Yes, we’re going to be an opposition. And I believe it’s going to be the strongest opposition this province has seen in years. And we will fight for you.” He added, “We will stand up with you. And we’re asking you today to work with me to work with us over these four years, tell your story. “Share your story, stand up for what

Saskatchewan truly needs. So that together, four years from now, we can bring the people of Saskatchewan, the kind and generous people of our home. What they deserve what we deserve a government that puts people first.” Unlike the Saskatchewan Party, which livestreamed their leader’s speech and posted it, and photos, online, there were no videos, photos or livestreams posted on either Meili’s or the Saskatchewan NDP’s Facebook or Twitter pages after the polls closed on election night. Indeed, there were no posts on any of those pages after the polls closed, marking an end of a campaign where social media had to stand in place of in-person campaigning.

This has been an election like no other: Moe By Brian Zinchuk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Estevan Mercury Saskatoon – They couldn’t fill halls, they couldn’t shake hands. But at the end of the campaign, both the NDP and then the Saskatchewan Party figured out they could have drive-in rallies and honk. The Saskatchewan Party called each of theirs a “Big Honkin’ Rally,” and now the party could celebrate a big honkin’ win on Oct. 26, taking 50 of 61 seats and 63 per cent of the popular vote. Premier-elect Scott Moe started his victory speech saying, “Last week we had a couple of big honkin’ rallies for a strong Saskatchewan, and tonight we’re celebrating a big honkin’ election.” There wasn’t a big honkin’ crowd in the Saskatoon hotel meeting room, however. With

ZERO

Continued from page A4 Drawing on reserves is an option, but frankly the City has been lax in socking away money even when they know a big project is on the horizon. There IS almost no money dedicated in reserves for a

Screengrab from Scott Moe Facebook Page

Saskatchewan Party Leader and Premier-elect Scott Moe spoke to a largely empty room, despite a massive win. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions limiting gatherings to just 30, Moe was principally speak-

ing to the cameras. There was no applause, no cheers, and no laughs at his jokes. The

room was mostly empty. As he walked off stage, there was silence; surely a first for a vic-

Kinsmen Arena replacement, or a new hospital, but both are projects Council has known about for years. Council could chop services of course. The City could cut grass less often, could remove snow less often, reduce the

compliment of RCMP officers, firefighters, or clear sidewalks less often, but does that really make our city better for the sake of a zero per cent tax hike? And of course in the end, taxes have to go up, unless

we as a community are satisfied with more potholes, more trip hazards on sidewalks, and fewer services as above. The increases can be two or three cent a year to limit the impact and allow taxpayers to adapt their budgets, or it

tory speech in a Saskatchewan general election. With a win of his own under his belt nearly identical in scale to those of his predecessor, Brad Wall, in terms of both popular vote and seat count, Scott Moe solidified his place as leader. Moe said, “I want to start by thanking the people of Saskatchewan. For a fourth time you have placed your trust with the Saskatchewan Party. You’ve given us a great responsibility. And we take that responsibility very seriously. We are humbled by the task that lies before us, and we are ready to go to work on your behalf. We are eager to build a strong economy, strong communities, strong families, and a strong Saskatchewan for everyone, for everyone in this green province. “This has been an election, like no other, in our lifetime,” Continued on page A18

can be much bigger hikes coming after brief periods of no increases. The vote on Nov. 9 may very well come down to which way taxpayers want to see it unfold locally.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

Councillor candidates answer . . . . . . YTW questions Dustin Brears Taxes need to stabilize. To simply rely on tax increases year over year to fund the city, is the wrong approach. We need to find efficiencies and spend wisely. We need to increase our number of taxpayers, rather than increase our taxes. While tax increases are unavoidable in some circumstances, people are struggling to make ends meet and should not expect an increase every year. I have confidence we can find ways to get taxes under control.

Ken Chyz If the average Yorkton household was paying $2,000.00/year in taxes in 2016. With the tax increases implemented they would have paid almost $425.00 more in 2020 than they did in 2016. That works out to over 21 percent in four years. This has got to stop. I believe we need to keep taxes to minimum and if I am elected for another term, I will propose a zero percent tax increase for a minimum of one year. Going forward, depending on our economic times, we may have to continue that trend at least until we know what effects COVID-19 has on our community.

Dick DeRyk We need to examine taxation and city fees, particularly as COVID19 affects all aspects of our community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to carefully examine everything the city does and the money it spends. City revenues will suffer next year. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t collect taxes and fees from businesses that are no longer there or from families who have lost jobs or have seen their income curtailed. A zero percent tax increase does not go far enough. I propose reducing taxes to assist homeowners and business owners while we maintain essential services. With onethird of all residences in Yorkton being rental properties, along with many business locations, property tax relief needs to be done in such a way that the benefits flow through to those who pay the rent, so that our local residents and businesses get the direct benefit. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy but can be done if the will is there.

Doug Forster No tax increases are a risky proposition and the statement is often thrown around to attract voters into believing they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to pay more than

they already do, but what happens to services that we have come to expect. Will they be cut in order to save money? Can we expect to pay higher fees to make up for no tax increases? Does it mean when the dust settles, we will have an enormous increase to make up for the lack of a reasonable plan right now? I believe council has to work together as a team to ensure they exhaust all options in finding dollars outside of a tax increase that will not affect our level of services, and it starts with the elimination of wasteful spending, we all have wants, but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concentrate on our cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs during these uncertain times, and work to keep taxes stable.

Randy Goulden As a city councillor, my biggest focus on property taxes has always been ensuring value for the investment the people and businesses of Yorkton make in our community. Municipal governments donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of options to bring in the revenue it takes to run a city, so I focus on making sure your dollars are spent wisely. I also know the importance of building relationships to ensure Yorkton has access to funding from provincial and federal programs. My election to council, then to the Municipalities of Saskatchewan (formerly SUMA) board and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has given Yorkton a voice at the provincial and federal level. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been involved in the push for fair municipal revenue sharing for 20 years, and will keep working to protect the City from downloadingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; when other orders of government give us their work without the funding to do it.

Quinn Haider While I am certainly willing to explore the option of tax relief, we need to ensure that we are continuing to invest in our infrastructure. Like most other cities in North America, we have an infrastructure deficit. What this means is that the roads, pipes, sewers, and buildings that we count on are deteriorating more rapidly than the current level of funding can sustain. So, we need to get creative with our spending, making sure that every single dollar is used to its maximum potential, thus minimizing the effect on our taxpayers. Furthermore, I really like what we did regarding funding the Mayhew and Darlington project. We set aside additional funds so that

money required for future maintenance is already there, thus giving our children a break on their taxes later in life. I would be in favour of continuing this practice with any new projects going forward.

Cam Mehling I am dedicated to keeping taxes as low as possible and would like to attempt to keep taxes the same for 2021. The issue with not raising taxes for multiple years, or for an entire four-year term, is that the next increase will be massive in order to keep up with inflation and rising costs. My other belief is that the city needs to be proactive and look for ways to create sustainable revenue, so the city is not as reliant on tax increases to cover inflation.

Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes If elected, I will represent the citizens of Yorkton. So, as I prepared to answer this question, I engaged Yorkton residents and asked for their thoughts on property taxes. Some people are opposed to any tax increase. However, the majority of the people I talked with stated that, in order to have infrastructure systems and amenities, taxes are necessary. No one wants to pay more but, in general, people in Yorkton are prepared to accept reasonable increases provided that better fiscal management is evident. People want an accountability as to how their tax dollars are being spent and, if elected I commit to fiscal accountability.

Jordan Rosluk My position on property taxes is I would keep property taxes the same for 2021 until weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve assessed the financial effects of COVID-19 on our residents and business community. I would not support any non-essential building projects until after 2022. By not committing tax payersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; money to big building projects we will not have to raise property taxes or find cuts elsewhere. I am committed to the City of Yorkton employees by keeping them employed. The Gallagher Center is also nearing being paid off completely so that will free up capital which I would like to use to upgrade the aging sewage system in incremental stages, as well as fixing some of the rougher roads. I would also like to partner with our business community leadership to discover what Council can do to help them through these difficult times.

CV Sastry Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attractive to say â&#x20AC;&#x153;zero per cent tax increase.â&#x20AC;? But we have not seen growth in population recently or new revenue sources in our city which will reduce tax burdens. As a home owner, I have seen a 15 per cent tax increase in past years, which is unacceptable to many locals. My strategy would be to raise taxes minimally and look at areas where we can save money from within the city. When times are tough, we need to trim some fat in our expenditures. Coming from an industry with low margins, I have the skill set to be diligent in using our money wisely while planning towards future development and growth. I am also up to the challenge of finding and attracting new revenue sources for our city to reduce our personal taxes and hopefully achieve the zero percent or a realistic minimal tax increase.

Terry Schneider For 2021, a zero percent increase in property tax increase needs to be the goal to provide COVID-19 relief to residents and businesses. In the years 2022 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2024, raising taxes by the national inflation rate is in order to keep up with the rising costs of goods and services and allow the City to operate in an effective manner.

Scott Sharpe Looking four years into the future is even harder to do post COVID19 than it was pre COVID -19. My position on property taxes would be to propose two years with no tax rate increase to help families and businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; keep more money in their pockets as they try to make ends meet. COVID-19 hit hard for a lot of people and they need some relief. To make this possible, we must watch spending and ensure the citizens are getting value for every tax dollar spent. Making Yorkton a business friendly city will be key during this time to increase the tax base with both commercial and residential properties.

Calvin Tokarchuk After the past four years of continued increases, I would love to tell everyone thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it, no more increases for at least four years. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry, I cannot promise that. Not only is that unrealistic but would most likely regress any positive steps we have made as a city. I would like to see a more responsible spending mentality by

both Council and City Management. Also being more aggressive with filling our empty residential and commercial properties, by bringing in more businesses and residents, we can then lessen the burden on our current population. Property taxes are a means to an end. We all know that they provide our city with the basic amenities that make our lives better. I feel most of our citizens are ok with paying taxes. The current frustration is how those taxes are being spent.

Chris Wyatt The city needs to hold the line for at least this year and be prepared for the repercussions from the COVID-19 virus. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has already predicted a 20 billion dollar shortfall for municipalities, how will that affect Yorkton? People are concerned about their property taxes costing them $200, $300 or $400 a month or more. This city council will need to make extremely tough financial decisions in the next four years. Continually raising property taxes three-six percent a year every year without making changes is unacceptable. An independent, external review of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget and operations should be undertaken. Council needs a fresh perspective on where taxpayer dollars are being spent in all departments.

Question #3: With COVID-19 being an issue both in the present and far into the future, what can the city of Yorkton do to mitigate the damage and help recovery?

Dustin Brears COVID-19 has created challenges that no community or business normally plans for, and it happened quick. We need to steer the city through the worst of the pandemic and support our citizens and businesses as they navigate this uncertain time. After the pandemic has passed, it will be a different landscape in our city that will require continued support. We need to look at all options including taxes, spending, government programs, marketing and just simply being a shoulder to lean on as we move forward. We need to act in the best interest of the residents and businesses in Yorkton and do whatever it takes to get to the other side of this pandemic.

Ken Chyz

Darcy Zaharia Recent history has shown that each year taxes are raised two percent to solely address rising operational costs (achieve same amounts of services and levels of service in 2020 as was received in 2019). Note: One percent property tax increase approximately $250,000 in property tax revenues. Disregarding any rise to accommodate additional capital expenditures, this means that taxes will increase a total of eight percent minimum over the next four years to maintain the current services and levels of service that we enjoy today. I would advocate to bring in an outside firm to review our operations and see if any efficiencies exist (this has never been done before). At that point, I would have discussions with the residents asking if they want to continue paying that increase to maintain the current service levels. If not, then derive a course of action. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in favor of reasonable increases that are communicated to our residents.

In the 2020 taxation year there were 582 commercial businesses that paid over $10.5 million in taxes. This works out to an average of over $18,000.00/year per business. This cannot continue to happen and must be dealt with quickly. There are ways to increase revenue without raising taxes. Our city has commercial property (beside the Chamber of Commerce building) that is fully developed has been sitting empty for over 10 years. It is time to get things going there, even if we must sell at a discount. Think of the additional tax dollars that would be generated for our city if that development were filled with new businesses. A few years back we used to have what was called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Showcase of Homesâ&#x20AC;?. This was a project where the city would give property to Yorkton home builders with no up-front costs and no property taxes. This would encourage a lot of new building as well.

Dick DeRyk The city does not have many tools available to address the COVID19 pandemic, and our options are limited. My proposal on property taxes and city fees is one way to assist those families, individuals and businesses that are adversely affected. I also believe the city should mandate the wearing of masks in all indoor areas accessible to the public. Continued on page A7

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Continued from Page A3 Question 2: What is your position on property taxes over the next term?

2020-09-23 2:00 PM

Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Councillor candidates answer . . . . . . YTW questions Continued from page A6 We know that’s one of the good ways to prevent the spread of the virus. It’s not complicated if you believe the science -- wear a mask and you protect others. It’s simple, and particularly relevant in view of the spike we had this month. I fear that may not be the last one. To me it’s not about freedom, it’s not about your rights. It’s about looking after your neighbours. It’s common sense.

Doug Forster The world as we know it has changed, even the experts have no idea where we will end up as this pandemic continues its attack, and it’s evident that the damage has already begun to affect small business. The city needs to embrace the importance of our business community and their contributions to Yorkton, and it starts with contracting local, and spending local to ensure that our Yorkton dollars stay at home. Spending at home can help our small business’s meet their payroll requirements to keep their employees working, earning, and in turn spending that money in Yorkton. When safe to do so, a well-placed campaign that promotes Yorkton’s business community, service groups and Tourism, could encourage people from our extensive trading area and beyond to visit, stay, enjoy our events and spend, we have an amazing city and should share with the nation why Yorkton is the place where good things happen!

Randy Goulden I talk a lot about relationships and working together, because that’s what it takes to get through challenges, and COVID-19 has shown us that once again. We need to continue working with other orders of government to support those who are struggling, and to work within our community to understand what everyone needs and how we can help one another. We are due for a new strategic plan, so this is our chance to engage with our community. No single person or group could possibly know all the pieces it will take to make Yorkton the best it can be, so council must seek out feedback and listen to all interested parties as we develop the plan. We will be setting goals and figuring out how to get there, together.

Quinn Haider I am extremely impressed with the resiliency, flexibility, and creativity our local business owners have demonstrated during our new reality. As a Councillor, I would like to find ways to subsidize costs to upgrade our buildings in order to help attract customers to new and existing businesses. Furthermore, I believe Council could work with Administration to create a temporary tax relief fund to help businesses get through this tough stretch. Yorkton has no shortage of creative, hardworking people who can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it. For example, when it appeared that Remembrance Day services were not going to happen in our schools, I teamed up with mem-

bers of the Legion, and some of our elected leaders to film a virtual service to be shared with schools and seniors residences in our area. The world has changed, but together we can continue to thrive.

Cam Mehling The pandemic is a real concern that needs to be taken seriously without it absolutely controlling our lives. We need to continue listening to the Saskatchewan Health Authority for recommendations and best practices. The city should promote safe environments and safe practices throughout our community and the businesses within our community. The city can safely continue to drive our economy and limit the number of businesses and people feeling the impact of the pandemic. Lastly, the city needs a comprehensive and creative shop local campaign like never before. We need to support our peers in order to persevere through these difficult times.

Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes Our world has changed because of the pandemic and I believe that we have not yet realized the full impact economically. As a city, we need to have a strategy to support people and businesses to recover from the effects of the pandemic. I believe that it is incumbent on City Hall to set the table for businesses to transition and diversify post COVID. There is a lot of potential for business growth in Yorkton and I envision Yorkton to be a place where innovative products are created and services originate in a post pandemic economy. Further, it has been said that municipalities are on the front lines of recovery for businesses post COVID. That is a heavy burden and that kind of front-line work cannot be assumed through property and business tax dollars alone. Therefore, it will be imperative to explore and forge innovative and collaborative strategies with other levels of governments and stakeholders.

Jordan Rosluk I believe the City of Yorkton can provide much needed relief and stability to the business owners and citizens of Yorkton by avoiding property tax increases until after 2021. I also believe that in these uncertain times halting any major building projects will keep us from committing the City to any long term debt. It will take some time before we in Yorkton, in Canada and across the globe will understand the full extent of the aftermath of COVID-19, and I believe Yorkton will be in a stronger position having not spent money unnecessarily on huge building projects.

CV Sastry In my guest centric job, I ensure that I lead my team from the front, coming to work every day and ensuring the safety of my guests and staff. I think the city needs to be more responsible with rules and guidelines with respect to COVID-19 as regulators. Strong leadership is required to see our city through these unprecedented times. I see some

individuals/businesses following rules diligently and paying the price for it while others have acted as if there was no issue with little or no consequences. I believe in fairness and consistency will guide citizens to take COVID19 more seriously without creating animosity amongst each other. With the ever changing dynamics of this pandemic, we need to strategize our growth and recovery with everyone’s safety and wellbeing in mind. If planned properly, damage control, recovery and growth all can happen simultaneously, not one after the other.

Terry Schneider The City can assist with economic recovery caused by COVID-19 by: Being a catalyst for economic, population and taxable property Growth. Significantly lowering the sale price for vacant residential and commercial property the City has in inventory can serve as this catalyst measure. York Colony and Riverside Terrace residential lots are currently priced at $66,500 to $135,000 per lot and the commercial Round House subdivision lots by the Chamber of Commerce office are priced at $1.3 Million to $1.8 Million Reducing the price of these lots will allow for new builds which equates to Construction Jobs, Sales of Materials at local hardware stores, Population Growth, Increase Enrollment in Schools, and grow Yorkton’s Taxable Property Base Please refer to my website TerrySchneider. ca to learn more about this initiative

Scott Sharpe COVID-19 effects are going to be felt for some time into the future. It has been so amazing to see the resiliency of local businesses and residents. I genuinely believe the best way the city can limit the damage is by supporting the citizens and local businesses and listening to their needs as they know best what they need to succeed. By doing this we promote business growth and that will drive the job growth and bring new people to this great city. We need to find new ways to support our local charities and non-profits as they protect some of our most vulnerable citizens. As a city, we must look after the people so the people can look after the city.

Calvin Tokarchuk Promotion, Creativity and Support is how we will weather this storm called COVID-19. We have already gotten a glimpse of the creativity of our Local business owners during COVID, by expanding their presence online and online sales as well as offering more COVID safe shopping options like curbside pickup or home delivery. With large gathering restrictions on events like Sunflower, Rhythm and Ribs and so many more, that bring people to Yorkton. We now are tasked with finding new, innovative ways to keep our events going. We can and we will. It will take our entire City and the surrounding communities working together, supporting and promoting our

The city does not have the resources to financially help businesses or residential homeowners, it just doesn’t. The city can work with our taxpayers to defer taxes over a set period of time with no penalty. As for health and safety precautions the city will be looking to the province for leadership and help enforce the rules in place. Personally I believe extra precautions should be in place for our most vulnerable, nursing homes and retirement communities. In saying that, the rest of us have to keep working and living our lives. We cannot afford another shutdown of our businesses, the cost of that would be devastating.

tional facilities. I feel that facilities like the Gallagher Centre, Deer Park Golf Course and Jubilee Park have the highest economic spinoff of any city facility. I just feel that a replacement of the Kinsmen Arena is something our city cannot afford at this time. We need to make sure that the current Kinsmen Arena is brought up to standard and can be maintained to last for several more years. There is a current levy in place that was used to pay for the Gallagher Centre improvements. That will expire after the 2020 year. If we were to put those levy dollars into a special reserve fund with the understanding that this money should be used strictly for recreation facilities, it would give us a good start-up down the road for a future new facility connected to the current Gallagher Centre.

Darcy Zaharia

Dick DeRyk

Communicate with residents, businesses and associations such as YBID and the Chamber. These partners each have their own networks to draw on for expertise, experiences and ideas. Collaborate with all participants to develop a plan that fosters support and growth. Partners can provide support through sharing expertise or the City could possibly provide some level of support in order to help businesses survive, maintain or thrive. Rejuvenate downtown through incentives or tax relief. Help strengthen operations of current businesses and encourage growth from within as well as attract new commercial interests. Have all participants help develop a Shop Local Strategy and communicate that plan. Dollars spent in Yorkton would be recirculated within the community by these local businesses. Those dollars would result in investment in the community and that would turn into increased tax revenue. Revisit, revise and expand the plan to make Yorkton a destination for all of Canada!

As I stated in answer to your question about infrastructure, we can get the plans ready in case the province or feds come up with a funding program that will pay the vast majority of the cost. But everything else, including recreation facilities, is put on the back burner until we know the city’s long-term financial situation, and that won’t be for a year or more. Nor will I support using the city’s borrowing power for noncritical infrastructure. Two reasons for that: we need to keep funding in reserve for unforeseen situations like the two major floods we’ve had in the past 10 years, and I do not want to leave a large debt to future generations.

Businesses, Non Profits and Events to show the rest of the world we will not just get through COVID but we will succeed regardless of COVID.

Chris Wyatt

Question #4: What is your stance on a proposed replacement for the Kinsmen Arena?

Dustin Brears It is unfortunate that the Kinsmen Arena has not received the necessary fixes over the years to make it sustainable. I grew up playing hockey in that rink. I am not in favour of bulldozing an arena and building a new one to replace it, only to net out at the same two ice surfaces. The Kinsmen arena in its basic sense is a concrete and steel structure that in my opinion, could be stripped down to its bones and refurbished to a better, more sustainable design, at a fraction of the cost of new. If the citizens of Yorkton want a 3rd ice surface, and are willing to pay for it, then I would support a 3rd ice surface. Adding an ice surface to the Gallagher Centre would make a great facility even better. I am not in favour of spending a fortune to simply replace a building.

Ken Chyz As I have stated before, I am a big proponent of recrea-

Doug Forster The world as we know it has changed, even the experts have no idea where we will end up as this pandemic continues its attack, and it’s evident that the damage has already begun to affect small business. The city needs to embrace the importance of our business community and their contributions to Yorkton, and it starts with contracting local, and spending local to ensure that our Yorkton dollars stay at home. Spending at home can help our small business’s meet their payroll requirements to keep their employees working, earning, and in turn spending that money in Yorkton. When safe to do so, a well-placed campaign that promotes Yorkton’s business community, service groups, and Tourism, could encourage people from our extensive trading area and beyond to visit, stay, enjoy our events and spend, we have an amazing city and should share with the nation why Yorkton is the place where good things happen!

Randy Goulden Yorkton is the hub in our East Central Saskatchewan, and council has been proactive in looking at what we need to do to ensure our recreation infrastructure helps us maintain our reputation as a great place to visit. That second ice surface is vital to our city, which is why we included the Kinsmen Arena in our asset management plan and have given this issue

such careful consideration. With an estimated cost of more than $20 million, we will need to review the scope of this project and the projected lifespan of the Kinsmen Area before we decide how to move forward; to ensure the project meets both our financial and our infrastructure needs.

Quinn Haider As principal I often meet with many families new to Yorkton. Many times they have shared that our job market and business opportunities are what originally attract them to consider moving here, but it is our family amenities and recreation facilities that finalize their decision. So, I am in favour of an eventual replacement for the Kinsmen Arena. While we will certainly have to take a much closer look at the proposed scale of the project, I know that two ice surfaces will be required to meet the needs of our user groups. Active engaged citizens are an important part of a healthy community. I believe that we need to ensure that we take the steps necessary to provide recreational opportunities. With an improved facility, the opportunity to host more tournaments or concerts in our city could exist. Such events would bring additional people, and their dollars, to Yorkton.

Cam Mehling At the last Council Meeting that I attended, quotes for the construction of the new ice surface were presented. Based on three different proposals, the quotes came in around $15-20 million. My campaign is based around fiscal responsibility and I believe spending $20 million on an ice surface wouldn’t be fiscally responsible at this time. However, there are many questions to ask and explore. Can this price be brought down closer to $10 million? Is there an opportunity for this facility to generate more revenue to assist in paying for itself? What does the current Kinsmen Arena look like if $3 million was spent renovating the building and fixing the ice plant? Further exploration is required in order to find the best solution and provide a safe and adequate ice surface in Yorkton. I’m all for providing a safer, more reliable ice surface but executed in a fiscally responsible manner.

Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes Our City has an infrastructure deficit which must be prioritized over recreational amenities. I realize the social value of the Kinsmen Arena but believe that all options need be explored before replacing the facility. With that said, if a sound business case was presented and if a solid return on investment could be realized for the City of Yorkton, I would propose a specific levy and put the question to people before proceeding with a replacement project.

Jordan Rosluk My priorities are providing relief to business owners and home owners of Yorkton during these difficult times by being fiscally responsible. Continued on page A8

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

Councillor candidates answer . . . . . . YTW questions Continued from page A7 My stance on the Kinsmen arena and the proposed renovation of the Gallagher Center is that if elected I will not support this non-essential project at this time. The Yorkton Terriers have a $130,000 debt and they may or may not survive the coming years, and if we were to lose them that will free up ice time at the Gallagher Center. I also know people who drive to the outlining communities to rent ice space because it’s cheaper than renting in Yorkton. Simply put, a new ice arena and renovations of the Gallagher Center are not urgent, but what is more important is keeping businesses open, and people employed with homes to live in.

CV Sastry I have heard from multiple families and organisations for the need of an additional space in Yorkton for other sports and activities, other than Gallagher. Raising my son in Yorkton, I personally believe that a community is only as good as its facilities. I

don’t think we can stop looking at any facilities that encourage sports and recreation. This is what attracts families to our community along with our hospitals and schools. I am in favor of potential opportunity to invest in our youth with an additional hockey/ figure skating facility, which could also hopefully cater to other sporting needs as well. I am also aware of the costs and will look into better options before I commit to this replacement during these economic times. If it is being tendered, accountability from the contractors will be a priority as cost overruns typically have hurt us in the past.

Terry Schneider I understand the state of the existing Kinsmen Arena. It is a tired old building that has served the community well, but is clearly outdated and showing its age and now costing the City operational repair expenses. There is demand for ice time and ice availability needs to be maintained or expanded going forward. An upgraded

Gallagher Centre where: * One Zamboni can serve two (and in the future three) ice surfaces * One Ice Plant can be used to serve the same Staff resources can be combined in one facility * One set of utility bills can be managed * Snow clearing can focus on one facility * A community hub is expanded * Makes solid operational sense Busy Arenas in Yorkton equate to busy motels, restaurants and other tourism visitor services that are hurting and need a boost. That said, the design scope should be focused on basic measures that include structurally sound construction, public safety and functional use.

Scott Sharpe I believe this is a decision that goes beyond the Kinsmen. People travel to our water park from the bigger cites all the time. They say we are lucky to have a facility like this. If the focus of this project is not to: a) have an amazing sports and rec facility in the city and

b) create economic spin off through tourism than an amazing opportunity could be lost. With that said, the cost of this facility will be felt for quite some time so due diligence must be done on the research stage and a clear direction chosen by the people of Yorkton. This will ensure the facilities will be supported by the people of Yorkton.

Calvin Tokarchuk Pre COVID, not only was I in favor of a new rink, I personally would love to see a twinned arena with a proper Catering Kitchen between them. It would be a building utilized for hockey 7-8 months of the year and could also be used for hosting events like Weddings, Grads, Conferences Etc. We have needed more than two ice surfaces for many years, and the current Kinsmen’s best days are long past. Unfortunately because of COVID, the gathering restrictions and restrictions implemented by Minor sports, negates the opportunity to create profit from a new building.

From a business perspective only, the city has major infrastructure needs in sewer and water that I feel would be higher on the priority list.

Chris Wyatt I believe the Kinsmen arena should be built on the same site as the original. An important part of rebuilding the Kinsmen is to remember the contributions of the Kinsmen club to that building and incorporate that history into the new rink! Keep the original open until the new rink is built. Part of the new rink should be a lobby that is large enough to house the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame so that our local sports heroes can be displayed proudly for all of the public to see. When the original Kinsmen arena is taken down, the space could be used for parking not only for the rink but for the college across the road or Century Field activity parking. With the money saved, the Gallagher Centre locker room renovations could finally begin.

I am a firm believer that amenities help draw people to our community. The Gallagher Centre Renewal Project includes a new ice surface and many upgrades for a cost of approximately 22.1 million. The rink alone is approximately 13.7 million. Neither of these figures includes PST or associated interest charges. The current Kinsmen Arena is structurally sound and has 10-15 plus years of life remaining as per adobt. This issue is replacing the current ice plant (1-1.5 mill) and retro-fitting the ice plant to work at the Kinsmen (another 1-1.5 million). Currently, the Kinsmen Arena is a preferred option to most surrounding community ice surfaces. My choice would be to invest money into the Kinsmen Arena. If Federal/Provincial grant money was received, I would revisit my stance. I would recommend that the expiring $100 Gallagher Center levy be re-directed towards a recreational reserve for future amenity projects.

Darcy Zaharia

Student Vote educates kids about voting By Devin Wilger Staff Writer

Students in the History 30 class at YRHS.

Adults weren’t the only ones casting a ballot in the most recent provincial election. Schools across the province also placed their vote through Student Vote Saskatchewan. If the kids were in charge, the Saskatchewan Party would retain their majority government with 37 seats, while the NDP would gain the remaining 24 seats. The Green Party, Progressive Conservative Party, Buffalo Party, and Liberal Party would all be shut out. This was a smaller Sask Party majority than the actual vote, where they won 50 seats to the NDP’s 11. In Yorkton, the student vote went to MLA Greg Ottenbreit, who took 207 votes to the NDP’s Carter Antoine’s

83 and the Green Party’s Judy Mergel’s 33. In the region, Terry Dennis won for the students and the Sask. Party in Canora-Pelly, and Warren Kaeding won for the Sask. Party in Melville-Saltcoats. This year was different from previous Student Vote programs, said YRHS teacher Perry Ostapowich, because COVID-19 restrictions meant that they didn’t hold a school-wide election like normal. Instead of the History 30 class administering the election for the entire 800-strong student body, they instead voted within their own class. Student Vote is a program administered by CIVIX. The goal of the program is to increase engagement from students for the electoral process, with videos, activities and materials

Casting a vote in the 2020 Student Vote. for teachers to teach parliamentary democracy, the different facets of elections and how they work along with sending

materials for students to use in the classroom ballots, voting stations, teacher resource guides.

Council slows Deer Park Clubhouse plan By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer Yorkton Council had a look at a very basic concept plan for a new clubhouse at Deer Park Golf Course, but then referred it to strategic planning in 2021, basically putting the brakes on furthering the plan. The plan came about after another project grew in scope. “In 2019, the City of Yorkton engaged aodbt architecture + interior design to consolidate a number of smaller studies, and requests from the community, into a broader Recreation Facilities Master Plan. The scope of the work was to develop and present a priority list of projects for the City to consider as part of future planning. The Plan was limited to indoor infrastructure, which only accounts for a portion of a community’s recreation infrastructure,” explained Darcy McLeod Community Development, Parks and Recreation with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.

“Considered within the indoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan, dated October 10, 2019, was a condition assessment of the Deer Park Clubhouse. The Plan concluded that the Deer Park “club house has reached the end of its useful life. The club house was experiencing leaks, and there are a number of accessibility and code violations throughout.” Following discussion on other recreation infrastructure during the May 11, 2020 Council meeting, Council directed Administration to engage aodbt to further investigate the options for replacing the aging clubhouse at the golf course. A steering committee including course users, Council and Administration members was struck. The Steering Committee worked with aodbt to conduct a user engagement process to obtain feedback from users on conceptual design options for replacement of the clubhouse, said McLeod. “As has been mentioned as part of other

community projects, a user/community engagement process is an excellent way to determine community need and receive feedback on concept designs, however the drawback is that the scope of the design may creep beyond the intended outcome. The direction from Council, as has been noted on other projects, is “if we are going to do anything we are going to do it right.” This was also echoed in our engagement process. In this case, the intent was to consider options for replacing the existing clubhouse, however other options were explored to ensure that the process was considered as “doing it right” since we are building, not only for today, but for the future as well,” he said. Aodbt presented three conceptual design options for the clubhouse replacement with different levels of service accommodations. Different locations were also explored as part of the process. The cost of the project could vary significantly depending on location

Deer Park Golf Course, and size and available such as golf cart storage, and whether City water and sewer is taken to the facility, leaving a range of $2.5 to $4 million or more, details further planning would iron out. The recommendation of Administration was that Council refer the Deer Park Clubhouse Replacement project

discussions to a 2021 strategic planning session of Council to determine the preferred option, and further direct Administration to allocate $185,000.00 in the 2021 capital budget to engage a consultant to continue through 100 percent detailed design of the preferred option, once selected by Council.

While Council would debate details at length, their visions will not be acted upon, at least in the short term as the matter was referred without an allocation of dollars for further planning and will not be initiated until at least sometime in 2021, and most likely 2022 as the funds will need to be budgeted for.

Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020 - November 3, 2020

INAUGURAL COUNCIL MEETING Friday, November 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Effective October 1, 2020 Mandatory Masks/Face Covering while using Transit In the interests of public health and reducing the spread of COVID-19, Yorkton City Council approved the following requirements for City Transit and Access Transit at their September 14, 2020 meeting to become effective October 1, 2020. 1. Passengers must supply their own masks or face covering* and be wearing them prior to boarding the bus/van. Cloth masks or disposable masks can be purchased at many local stores in Yorkton. 2. If a passenger is not wearing a mask they will be denied boarding. The following passengers will be exempt from wearing a non-medical mask or face covering: a. Anyone with an underlying medical condition or disability which inhibits the ability to wear a mask or face covering – substantiated in writing, by a medical practitioner; b. Children under 5 years of age; 3. It will be the driver’s responsibility to enforce the mask/face covering requirement; 4. If a passenger removes their mask/face covering during a trip, they will dropped of at their stop and told that if it happens again they will be banned from accessing transit for 2 weeks before being allowed to access the service again; 5. Drivers will be required to wear a mask for the duration of their entire shift, even if social distancing can be maintained; 6. A supply of disposable masks will be on-hand for passengers wanting to ride the bus but do not have one for their trip. Supplying a mask is meant to be a one time occurrence and not for repeat occurrences. 7. Passengers wanting to discuss this requirement can call the Transit Supervisor at 306-621-6580 or the City of Yorkton at 306-786-1752.

*To be considered a proper face covering, the following conditions must be met* x x x

Be made of at least 2 layers of tightly woven material fabric such as cotton or linen Fit securely to the head Be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping

SaskAbilities operates the City Bus and Access Transit on behalf of the City of Yorkton 162 Ball Road, PO Box 5011 YORKTON SK S3N 3Z4 Tel: 1-833-444-4126, Fax: 306-782-7844

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2020

ALL PASSENGERS MUST WEAR A FACE MASK TO USE CITY TRANSIT AND ACCESS TRANSIT SERVICES

Please note face shields are NOT approved face coverings.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE!

Candidates Information - Yorkton Municipal Election Did you know you can review the list of candidates running for office in the Yorkton Municipal Election November 9? Just visit www.yorktonvotes.ca and click on the Candidates tab. A final list of candidates will be published October 9, 2020, following the close of nominations. Did you know.....all City News is also accessible on the City of Yorkton website. Just go to our website at www.yorkton.ca and scroll down to view the “City News” links.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

October 28, 2020 - November 3, 2020

INAUGURAL COUNCIL MEETING Friday, November 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Request for Proposals Notice of Poll [Section 81 of the Local Government Election Act]

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Gallagher Centre Security Services Proposal must be received before 4:00 p.m. on November 6, 2020 Please send sealed Proposal clearly marked with the above proposal name to: Department of Community Development, Parks & Recreation City of Yorkton Box 400 Yorkton, Saskatchewan S3N 2W3 Details of Proposal: The City of Yorkton is requesting proposals for the supply of security services for the Gallagher Centre. Specifications are available at: www.yorkton.ca/tenders Proposal shall remain open for acceptance by the City and irrevocable for thirty (30) calendar days following the date specified for closing. Proposal received after the date and time specified for closing will be marked late and returned unopened. Contact Person Enquiries regarding the proposal procedure and particulars can be directed to: Taylor Morrison, Gallagher Centre General Manager Community Development, Parks & Recreation City of Yorkton Phone: 306-786-1750 Email: cdpr@yorkton.ca The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. Lowest or any proposal not necessarily accepted.

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Did you know.....all City News is also accessible on the City of Yorkton website. Just go to our website at www.yorkton.ca and scroll down to view the â&#x20AC;&#x153;City Newsâ&#x20AC;? links.

Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020 - November 3, 2020

INAUGURAL COUNCIL MEETING Friday, November 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Mayhew/Darlington Project Darlington Street from the new roundabout at Mayhew Avenue to Dracup Avenue reopened to traffic Saturday. Due to the onset of cold weather, the contractor was unable to complete reconstruction of this section of Darlington Street this year. It will remain graveled until Spring, and the contractor will ensure maintenance of the roadway throughout the winter, at no additional cost to the City, until construction work can begin in 2021.

Fall Street Sweeping Started October 13, 2020 City of Yorkton Street Sweeping Map

YORKTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION ADVANCE POLLS INFORMATION

Fall Street Sweeping gets underway Tuesday, October 13, starting at the southwest corner of the city in Section 1 and moving eastward.

ADVANCE POLLS for the YORKTON Municipal Election will be held: • October 27th, noon to 8 pm and October 31, noon to 5 pm at the Gallagher Centre Flexi-Hall • November 3rd and 4th Drive Through (map below), Noon to 8 pm, Ag-Pavilion, Gallagher Centre Exhibition Grounds • November 5th, 12 noon to 8 pm, Gallagher Centre Flexi-Hall. Remember to bring government issued identification that includes your name and current address, or two other pieces of identification like utility bills, which include your name and address. Visit www. yorktonvotes.ca for complete Municipal Election Information!

It is very difficult to predict how quickly areas will be swept as conditions vary and equipment breakdowns sometimes occur. If possible, please do not park on the street until you see that your area has been swept, that will assist in efficient cleaning. Watch for updates on the areas currently being swept on FB. Please contact the Public Works Department at 306-7861760 if you require further information.

GENERAL INQUIRIES: 306-786-1700 Mayor’s Office ............................................................ 306-786-1701 After Hours Emergency .............................................. 306-786-1760 Building Services ........................................................ 306-786-1710 Bylaw Control ............................................................. 306-786-1725 City Clerk .................................................................... 306-786-1717 City Manager .............................................................. 306-786-1703 City Parks & Green Spaces .................................... 306-786-1780 City RCMP.................................................................. 306-786-2400 Communications ........................................................ 306-828-2424 Community Development, Parks & Recreation.......... 306-786-1750 Economic Development ............................................. 306-786-1747 Engineering Department ............................................ 306-786-1710 Farrell Agencies Arena Booking ................................. 306-786-1740

Fire Hall ...................................................................... 306-786-1795 Gallagher Centre Water Park & Meeting Rooms/Convention Centre Booking .......................... 306-786-1740 Gloria Hayden Community Centre .......................... 306-786-1776 Godfrey Dean Meeting Rooms Booking .................... 306-786-1780 Kinsmen Arena & Blue Room Booking ...................... 306-786-1780 Library Rooms Booking ............................................. 306-786-1780 Property Sales ............................................................ 306-786-1747 Public Works .............................................................. 306-786-1760 Sports Fields & City Centre Park Bookings .................................................................... 306-786-1780 Tax Department ........................................................ 306-786-1736 Water Billing Department ........................................... 306-786-1726

Did you know.....all City News is also accessible on the City of Yorkton website. Just go to our website at www.yorkton.ca and scroll down to view the “City News” links.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

Be grateful voting is as easy as it is in Sask While I promised to ignore the election happening south of the border, I saw a short video clip from the vote happening down there that I think is important for us here in Canada. The clip showed a line of people who went to vote, it wrapped around the block, and the person who uploaded it to the internet declared that it was what democracy looks like. As I type this, I just returned from voting in the most recent provincial election, and I was not standing in a line that stretched out around the block. Indeed, I was not in any line at all, as I arrived at the polling station it was nearly empty. There are two reasons for that.

One, because of COVID19, advance polls and mail-in ballots were promoted much more heavily for voters in Canada - contrast that with south of the border, where the veracity of mail-in ballots was called into question numerous times. Two, the people who were running the polls are actually really efficient, and if I was in the place for more than five minutes I would be very surprised. The previous federal election, which was conducted under much more normal circumstances, I was in a line, but that line was short, extremely well managed, did not extend out the door and stretched my time in the polling station to maybe 10-20 minutes.

DEVIN WILGER

Thinking I do with words... I’ve never had much of a wait when I’ve voted, it’s usually a very quick process in this province. While this year was undoubtedly the quickest I’ve ever gone in and out of a polling station since I began voting at 18, it’s still never really slow, and elections across Canada are very well run and efficient. As a result, this is what I personally think dem-

ocracy looks like, instead of a massive line around the block. Nice, efficient, quick and easy. A system designed around moving people through the polling station as quickly as possible, and to give each poll only a small number of people. It works extremely well, and I’d argue that if any country wanted to set up free and fair elections they would do well to sit

in with Elections Canada during a Canadian vote. The elections here are simple, they’re effective and they work. Since we’ve got two elections running concurrently to the elections south of the border, in Saskatchewan we’re seeing a stark difference between how well they are run in Canada and how strangely poorly they are handled in the US. It seems, somehow, that south of the border they try to make elections work as poorly as possible. People talk about how they are worried that their ballots won’t count, they talk about how they have to double and triple check voter registration to make sure they even can vote, they talk about long lines in

the cold and inefficient polling stations and doubts about whether or not their vote even counted. Things that we have no issues with here in Canada. There’s clearly no reason why America can’t have an efficient, easy to handle system designed to get people through the polls as quickly as possible. Unlike other Canadian services that Americans don’t have for some reason, they also have elections and need a way to actually do them. They really need to look to the north and realize that it doesn’t have to be as bad as they have it. But when we look to the south, we should realize how lucky we are that voting here is as easy and as simple as it is.

City seeks COVID dollars to pave path By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer The City of Yorkton is hoping to access some federal dollars to pave another segment of path-

way. The program is new, explained Darcy McLeod Community Development, Parks and Recreation with the City at the regular meeting of

Yorkton Council Monday. “The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are adapting the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to respond to

October 28, 2020 - November 3, 2020

INAUGURAL COUNCIL MEETING Friday, November 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

CITY OF YORKTON PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED LIBRARY BOUNDARY CHANGE

the impacts of COVID-19. The Program, delivered through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, is being adjusted to add some flexibilities, expand project eligibility and accelerate approvals,” he reported. As a result a COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream has been announced with the following priorities: • Retrofits, Repairs and Upgrades for municipal and Indigenous buildings, health and educational infrastructure. Please note: Projects should clearly demonstrate that the retrofits, repairs or upgrades are directly related to a building or asset housed within a building. Work undertaken outside of a building (not directly related to the walled and roofed structure) would be considered ineligible. • COVID-19 Response Infrastructure including measures to support physical distancing. • Active Transport-

ation Infrastructure including parks, trails, foot bridges, bike lanes and multi-use paths. • Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation including natural infrastructure, flood and fire mitigation, tree planting and related infrastructure. Pathway designated for hard surfacing (asphalt) in Logan Green has been selected. This portion of pathway starts at the corner of King Street and Gladstone Avenue south and runs along the north side of Logan Green connecting it to the east side of Logan Green adjacent to the Cemetery. This is approximately two kilometres of pathway, including lights with an estimated budget of $885,000.00, said McLeod. “This portion of pathway has been designated a priority in the Cycling Network Plan, which was originally approved in 2009 with on-street bikeways being completed in 2010. Pathway building started in the years that

Happy 65 th Anniversary Elgin & Agnes McLelland

The City of Yorkton hereby gives public notice pursuant to Section 4.1 of The Public Libraries Act, 1996 of its intention to change the library boundary. Details: On June 22, 2020, City Council approved a motion to establish a municipal library in Yorkton. The current Yorkton Public Library operates under the Parkland Regional Library system even though Yorkton residents pay for all of the operating costs. The objective of this change is to enable the City of Yorkton to directly manage and control the budget, set priorities and establish levels of service delivery for the Yorkton Public Library. In that regard, the City will be applying for a boundary change for the Yorkton Public Library by proposing the boundaries of the new municipal library be those of the existing City limits as outlined in the map below

We are h honoured d tto announce the th h 65 6 th Wedding Anniversary of our parents (grandparents). Elgin & Agnes McLelland were married on October 28th, 1955 in Margo, SK. Dad and Mom, thank you for the years of support, guidance and endless love. Congratulations on celebrating this wonderful milestone! With love from your family.

Ed & Minnie Kuspira

ćH %OXH 6DSSKLUH $QQLYHUVDU\ Information: You can view this notice online at www.yorkton.ca Questions regarding the proposal can be directed to: Lonnie Kaal, City Manager Telephone: 306-786-1703 Email: citymanager@yorkton.ca

65 Years of Marriage and Love Married on October 29, 1955 at St Mary’s Parish in Yorkton.

followed and continue through 2020, with more pathways targeted for future capital budgets,” added McLeod. The cost to complete this portion of pathway was also a factor in selecting it for this grant application, noted McLeod. McLeod said pathways are an increasingly important part of the City’s recreational opportunities. “Pathways have become an important aspect in our community prior to COVID, but their importance has become even more so during the pandemic as people look for ways to stay active and healthy in the outdoors,” he said. “Further, our community is a winter city, experiencing cold weather for six months or more each year. Providing hard surface pathways allows for snow clearing in the winter months and encourages people to get out and stay active when it is too easy to choose staying in their house. Hard surface pathways support different modes of human powered wheeled active transportation options such as roller blades, wheelchairs, skateboards and strollers. This provides low cost or no-cost options for people to choose to be active and stay healthy. This is especially important during a public health emergency like a pandemic.” Projects funded under the program must begin before September 30, 2021 and be complete by December 31, 2021. Municipal government projects are eligible for up to 80% funding of the total cost of the project. Council was unanimous in authorizing Administration to submit an application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) grant through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream.

Their life has blessed them with 4 children, g 8g grandchildren,, 7 g great grand children.

Public hearing: Prior to applying for a boundary change and in accordance with Section 4 of The Public Libraries Act, 1996, City Council will hear all persons who are present and wish to speak to the proposal and all written submissions will be read verbatim unless the submitter is in attendance to speak on the submission on December 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, Yorkton, SK. If you wish to provide written comments for Council’s consideration, they must be submitted by 9:00 a.m. on November 18, 2020. Written submissions must be directed to: Jessica Matsalla, Director of Legislation and Procedures (City Clerk) In Person: 2nd Floor, 37 Third Avenue North, Yorkton, SK Via Mail: P.O. Box 400, Yorkton, SK S3N 2W3 Via Email: cityclerk@yorkton.ca

Dated this 8th Day of October, 2020 Jessica Matsalla, City Clerk

Did you know.....all City News is also accessible on the City of Yorkton website. Just go to our website at www.yorkton.ca and scroll down to view the “City News” links.

You have gathered a lifetime of memories together. May these years, the events, the blessings and joys be near and dear to your heart. Your marriage, love, devotion and lives have inspired all who surround you. May you enjoy and be blessed with all the gifts that life has to offer.

Wishing you both a Wonderful 65th Wedding Anniversary! Love Your Family

4-H Saskatchewan

email: info@4-h.sk.ca Phone: 306-933-7727

Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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just for

SENIORS Our Monthly Feature ...For Seniors and about Seniors

Couple celebrates 75th anniversary While the bride and groom of a 75th wedding anniversary are traditionally expecting diamonds, it is family that brings sparkle to the lives of Bill and Anne Shewchuk. And on this approaching November 1st, 2020, because of the pandemic spreading across the world and even crawling into the prairie city of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, there won’t be a big family gathering that the Shewchuk’s are so well known for. Anne was born on October 5, 1924 in the Galician region of what is now western Ukraine. She and her mother joined their father in Canada when Anne turned 6 years old. They settled near Stenen, Saskatchewan and began the exhausting days of creating a farmyard, garden and fields. Bill’s family came from the Bukovina region of Ukraine and homesteaded near MacNutt, Saskatchewan. Bill was born here on December 22, 1921. As God plans, in June of 1945, Bill had an aunt and uncle who lived near Anne. They invited her to go for a Sunday drive to attend a church service in MacNutt. The two youth met at church, met a few more times, and by mid-October, Bill asked Anne to marry him. Anne laughs as she recalls them walking back into the house. Her dad took one look at her happy

Bill and Anne Shewchuk are celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary this year, just as they did their 70th seen here. expression and said, “Ya, when’s the wedding?” Well, both their fathers believed in quick engagements and winter was fast approaching. World War II was coming to a close, making a dress, veil and ring tough, but not impossible, items to find. A church was booked. Two weeks later, they were married and their guests were treated to a blustery, but festive November 1, Ukrainian wedding. As the guests entered the Shewchuk home, Anne nods. ‘You’ve been to Ukrainian wed-

dings. There was clapping and dancing and singing. The villagers were greeted to folk songs, polkas and kolomyjkas from the accordion, fiddle, and tsymbaly. We ate, sang, danced and celebrated. My one regret is that I have no picture of my wedding day.’ Celebrations came and went and so did hard work and hardships. They used their backs and know-how to create their home, tend animals, work fields and plant gardens. The most heart-wrenching day

of their life came when their first baby passed away from pneumonia in his first cold winter. Looking back, they grew their family into five beautiful children, who then gave them 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. For parties, plates are now set at the Queen Elizabeth Court dining room for over 50. Bill and Anne, 98 and 96, laugh. ‘What keeps us going? There is always another event to look forward to! Ukrainian weddings, Christmases, Easters,

holidays, first days of kindergarten and then graduations. We even have two great grandchildren being born in the next few months!’ There is no space to tell of the difficulties this

couple has overcome. Nor is there time to paint a picture of a couple who has loved their family unconditionally and instilled honesty, hard work, and integrity into this large group. They have no time to complain of what wasn’t, only thankfulness for what they’ve received. When asked what wisdom they can offer to us, Anne takes in a breath and out comes a flow of poetry. ‘Well…. We had sunshine and rain, tears and laughter. There was sickness and feeling good. Life is a mixture. You have to take these things as they come. But the secret is God’s blessing. Ask God for help for everything. And the Virgin Mary, she has done a lot for me. Don’t ever neglect her. She is the mother of God.’ Bill, Anne’s husband of 75 years, nods, and says ‘Yes, Mom (Anne) knows. Tell the world we thank everyone. Thank God also for all the health we’ve got.” — Submitted

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

just for SENIORS

October 2020

Evelyn Pidhorney donates $150,000 to The Health Foundation The Health Foundation received an extremely generous donation of $150,000 from Evelyn Pidhorney. The donation will be used to assist the purchase of the new operating room and lab equipment that is critically needed in the hospital. “This is an exceptional and generous donation, that we are very grateful to receive,” said Ross Fisher, Executive Director of The Health Foundation. “The equipment Mrs. Pidhorney is helping us purchase will be used every day, and benefit thousands of people every year. Literally thousands of people will benefit directly and her generosity will also have a very positive impact for the community generally.” “I’m in my 80’s now and thought since I’m in a position to make larger

are planning your estate or getting to a stage in your life where you can make larger donations,” continued Pidhorney. “I hope other people think about how they might help their community as well.” “We are very fortunate at the Foundation to meet people like Evelyn who genuinely want to help others and receive nothing in return. Donations like this are remarkable as they are so selfless; Mrs. Pidhorney obviously wants to help her community and the people who live in this area,” said Fisher. Submitted Photo

Evelyn Pidhorney, left, with Ross Fisher, Executive Director of the Health Foundation. donations, now is a good time. I would like to see how my money is used and know it will benefit my community,” said

Pidhorney. “The important thing to me is that I want my money to be used locally, to benefit the community I’ve lived

in.” “I think it is important to consider what you can do to help your community when you

“This donation covers half the cost of the equipment we need to buy, and I trust we will raise the remainder of the money needed quickly. People respond to this kind of leadership, it will lend momentum to our

fundraising campaign,” continued. Fisher. “Of course, this equipment will be able to move to the new hospital when it is built.” Evelyn Pidhorney faced many challenges in her life, but she didn’t let those challenges impede her or define her. Evelyn had Polio when she was very young which left her with mobility challenges and she needed braces and crutches most of her life. Mrs. Pidhorney was a very determined woman, she knew she would face challenges in her life and wanted to put herself in a position to deal with them. She took correspondence courses to obtain her accounting degree and was eventually able to open her own business – E & P Agencies, and provided people with income tax, insurance and investment advice and service.

How to avoid drug interactions Hundreds of millions of people across the globe rely on medications for their survival. In fact, the percentage of people using prescription medications may surprise people who work outside the health care industry. According to the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-16, nearly 46 percent of the population of the United States used prescription drugs in 2015-16. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that prescription drug use is similar in Canada, where the Canadian Health Measures Survey found that roughly two-thirds of adults between the ages of 40 and 79 used at least one prescription drug in a 30-day period. Prescription drugs may be vital to many people’s survival, but they also can prove deadly if mismanaged. That’s especially true for people taking more than one medication. Taking multiple medications each day may be necessary, but it’s equally necessary that people taking more than one medication every day take steps to

avoid drug interactions. • Discuss all medications with each of your doctors. Primary care physicians and specialists should be kept in the loop regarding which medications their patients are taking. Patients should never assume their doctors know every medication they’re taking. When pre-

scribed a new medication, mention to your prescribing doctor what else you are taking. Include prescription medications but also over-the-counter, or OTC, drugs, supplements and even vitamins. Use a notes app on your smartphone to create a running list of your medications so you can easily access it during doctor’s

Getting your

appointments. • Read all labels. Prescription drugs and OTC medications list potential side effects in different ways. Each prescription medication comes with a lengthy list of potential side effects, while OTC labels cite potential side effects in the “Warnings” section on their labels. Familiarize yourself with all potential side effects of a given medication prior to taking it. Err on the side of caution and wait to speak with your physician before taking an OTC medication you’re unfamiliar with. • Order all prescriptions from the same pharmacy. Ordering all prescriptions from the same pharmacy makes it easy to access all prescrip-

tions. Pharmacists can look up all prescriptions and crosscheck interactions that may result from taking certain medications at the same time. This safety net can be useful and convenient. • Utilize online resources. The Drug Interactions checker at www.drugs.com/drug_ interactions.html is a

convenient way to learn about the potential interactions that can result when taking more than one medication or even mixing it with certain foods or beverages. Drug interactions can be deadly, which only underscores the importance of being careful when taking more than one medication at a time.

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Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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just for SENIORS

October 2020

Phase 2 of YDCF Masks for Seniors Project in 20 Communities As a continuation of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Masks for Seniorsâ&#x20AC;? project, Yorkton & District Community Foundation members will deliver 3,060 masks to residents living in seniors housing units in twenty district communities. During phase 2, Yorkton & District Community Foundation connected with corporate donors to prepare mask kits for 279 seniors in housing author-

ity properties in Langenburg, Churchbridge, Kamsack, Preeceville, Norquay, Bredenbury, Ituna, Buchanan, Sturgis, Stenen, MacNutt, Springside, Saltcoats, Pelly, Tantallon, Grayson, Invermay, Dubuc, Calder, Theodore. Each kit contains a reusable cloth mask, ten disposable masks and information about care and proper use of masks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone involved in this project wants

seniors in our communities to know that their community cares about them,â&#x20AC;? said Bailey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope that having masks readily available will support seniors living in housing authority properties if they wish to use a mask when out in the community or when six feet of separation canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be maintained.â&#x20AC;? Phase one saw delivery in July of 6,600 masks to 600 seniors, residents of Good Spirit Housing

Getting your flu shot is MOST important this year! With our healthcare system being stretched to deal with COVID-19, we need to do all we can to help keep ourselves and our community healthy this winter. The flu shot has proven to be effective in reducing illness, hospitalization, and death. The flu vaccine is recommended to EVERYONE six months and older but is particularly important for people at high-risk of influenza complications: â&#x20AC;˘ seniors;

â&#x20AC;˘ people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems; â&#x20AC;˘ children; â&#x20AC;˘ pregnant women; and â&#x20AC;˘ caregivers and contacts of people at high risk. Healthy people can spread the virus to others before they start showing any signs of illness. Vaccinating healthy people can decrease the risk of transmitting the flu to those that are most

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vulnerable. Getting your flu shot will look different this year as physical distancing and sanitization procedures will need to be implemented. The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy will be offering flu shots on a by appointment basis. Appointments will help to ensure we can get patients in and out smoothly with the lowest risk to both patients and our staff. Key points for flu shots 2020: â&#x20AC;˘ COVID-19 screening will be required upon arrival for your flu shot. â&#x20AC;˘ Masks will be required to be worn by the person getting vaccinated. â&#x20AC;˘ Your pharmacist will be wearing all required PPE and sanitizing between patients. â&#x20AC;˘ You may be able to prefill a consent form. â&#x20AC;˘ Wear loose clothing or short sleeves. â&#x20AC;˘ Arrive on time, not early, for your appointment. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community this winter and Fight the Flu! Tricia Klassen Pharmacist/Owner The Medicine Shoppe

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Authority and Yorkton Housing Corporation properties, in Yorkton, Canora and Melville. During discussions with residents and charities about needs, the lack of masks for seniors living in smaller housing authority properties was identified as a further concern. Yorkton & District Community Foundation works with local charity groups to identify needs in the community, uses that information to make it easy for donors to connect with causes that matter to the donor, and builds endowment funds generating grants to support local charity pro-

jects, year after year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yorkton & District Community Foundation was launched last year to build a legacy of support in our communities,â&#x20AC;? said Yorkton & District Community Foundation president, Ray Bailey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Seniors Mask Project and the Community Emergency Fund are two ways to connect donors for immediate support during the pandemic.â&#x20AC;? Donating to the project are Grain Millers, Legacy Co-op, Canadian Tire, Baileys Funeral Home, Southern Document Solutions, Inc (Xerox Canada, Ltd.), Yorkton Rotary Club,

Does something not look right?

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) wants to educate family members and caregivers on how to protect seniors from financial scams and frauds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As financial abuse affects many seniors in Canada, we want to provide information and resources that will help family members and caregivers identify and avoid exploitation of their loved ones,â&#x20AC;? the FCAA Securities Division Director Dean Murrison said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Senior financial abuse is not always easy to recognize.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that family members and caregivers stay actively involved in a seniorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day-to-day life and tell them to call someone they trust before making any financial decisions.â&#x20AC;? Here are some red flags that may indicate a senior is being targeted by a fraudster: â&#x20AC;˘ A senior starts talking about a new â&#x20AC;&#x153;friendâ&#x20AC;? and their helpful financial advice. â&#x20AC;˘ A new friend, relative, or caregiver starts conducting financial transactions on behalf of the senior without proper authorization or through an unexpected

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and seamstress Judith Stewart. The Yorkton & District Community Foundation continues to welcome donations to the Community Emergency Fund from interested individuals and businesses. Yorkton & District Community Foundation members Andrew Rae, Rob McDill and Ray Bailey will deliver the kits which were put together by Victor Surjik and Evelyn Surjik. In total, the Yorkton & District Community Foundation, Seniors Masks Project will have distributed more than 9,600 masks to housing authority properties in 23 communities.

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power of attorney. â&#x20AC;˘ The senior expresses excitement over a financial windfall or prize cheque. â&#x20AC;˘ Noticeable changes in banking habits, such as NSF (non-sufficient funds) activity or inconsistent transactions. â&#x20AC;˘ They withdraw large sums of money from their bank accounts. â&#x20AC;˘ Suspicious signatures on cheques. â&#x20AC;˘ Behavioral changes such as depression, fear and/or memory loss. Here are some steps you can take to protect a loved one from financial scams and frauds: â&#x20AC;˘ Tell them not to give out personal or banking information if someone emails, texts or calls asking for it. â&#x20AC;˘ Make sure antivirus software is installed and up-to-date on their computer. â&#x20AC;˘ Tell them not to reply to sweepstake offers and unsolicited mail. â&#x20AC;˘ Stay actively involved in their dayto-day life and ask what happened during their day. â&#x20AC;˘ Tell them to call you or someone they trust before they make a financial decision. For more information about senior financial abuse visit: https:// fcaa.gov.sk.ca/financialliteracy/seniors/seniorfinancial-abuse.

just for SENIORS - IN PRINT AND ONLINE MONTHLY We want your feedback. Do you have a story idea or know a senior who should be highlighted? Contact us by phone 306-782-2465 or email sales@yorktonthisweek.com

OUR NEXT FEATURE - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25

Kaleidoscope

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 www.yorktonthisweek.com

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ART • ENTERTAINMENT • COMMUNITY

Frightfully good decorations It might be scary at the best of times in 2020, but many Yorkton residents have brought some fun frights to city streets, decorating homes for Halloween. Pumpkins, ghosts and giant skeletons

are showing the city’s Halloween spirit and are a reminder of the much more fun scares that can happen on the spookiest day of the year. Staff Photos by Devin Wilger

Your news is our news! Hosting an event, a fascinating human interest story, it matters. Call us for details on coverage!

PHONE: 306-782-2465 EMAIL: editorial@yorktonthisweek.com “Local people, local news.”

Only the King can fix us Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Staff Photo by Wayne Remanda

Ravens on the hunt Ravens here are trying to chase out a pigeon hiding by the inner front tire under a SUV that is parked in a local parking lot in Yorkton. Being very aggressive to get to their prey they would not be intimidated to move out when people would pass by on this Sunday afternoon.

LEAGUE NAME

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m grateful for democratic elections, for national assistance programs and government watchdogs. But more than a restoration of what we had before COVID, Canada needs God. We need changed hearts. Too many other countries have demonstrated what happens otherwise... No trick or treaters, those. Blows rattled our friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; door in the dead of the Zimbabwean night. Obscenities flew through fragrant air. Dark chanting goshawks stilled and grey go-away birds raised the alarm. Go away! Go away! Canadian-born Diana met Tim at university. Zimbabwean-born Tim studied agriculture; Diana, music. They fell in love, married, moved back to Zimbabwe and began crafting their life. Holding tight to their shared love and faith in God, they bought land, had babies. Under Timâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expert hand, their farm produced abundanceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; maize, lentils, oranges, mangos. Soon they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do the work alone, and hired help. The Preacher and I met Tim and Diana when they visited Canada dur-

happen to them. But it did. Tim drove taxi in the streets of Harare awhile. Finally, Zimbabwe rejected them altogether. They fled to England to start over. Their great sadness sat heavy on Tim. He became sick with it; finally died of it. Diana took a tiny flat in Hampshire and taught music. But when we last spoke, she told me her faith in God remained unshaken. She spent her days looking forward in hope, not back in regret. I think of our friends when I see similar tensions rising in my beloved country. We can blame COVID-19 for increasing some, but a country doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t crumple overnight. Without God, cells of destruction clog its arteries for decades beforehand, and Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great heart has weakened. King of Heaven, restore us.

KATHLEEN GIBSON

Sunny Side Up has inspired readers of faith since 2001. Read more at www.kathleengibson.ca or reach Kathleen at sunnysideup.press@gmail.com

Sunny Side Up ing those good years. Our children were roughly the same ages. Our short acquaintance began a friendship that lasted years. Back in Zimbabwe, they sent letters and photos. We sent our own back. Tim devoted himself to developing his plantation and his employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives. He put in a dam and a hydro-electric plant. He stocked the resulting lake. Purchased boats and equipment for those who wanted to fish. He built a school for their children. Brought in teachers. Diana taught piano in her home. They provided homes and garden plots. Blue-cheeked bee eaters clucked and hummed. Ah, sweet life. Years passed. The Berwick letters grew sad. Their country, they wrote, was poised for a great

tear. Its dictator, Robert Mugabe, had made it clear: white farmers had no place in Zimbabwe, even those born there. Not even Tim, whose family had lived there for generations. Then the letters from Africa stopped. Years later we learned why. That awful night came during a long string of dark days in their beloved country. The intruders robbed them of everything. Existence. Land. Home. They fled with their daughters, taking nothing, not looking back. Maybe theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d wondered, naively, if they were exempt. Perhaps they ignored the rumors that all white farmers would be evicted from their land by government order. Perhaps theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d thought it would never

Sports This Week BOWLING STATISTICS MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HIGH SINGLE

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Gordon SaraďŹ ncian 230 Jorden Rodin 184 Bill Sullivan 272 Cam Louttit 293 Gordon SaraďŹ ncian 292 Cody Lacelle 245 Jerry Gromnisky 261

Regan Kitz 307 Trent Aichele 403 Jakob Dobson 281 Adam Becker 260

Jerry Gromnisky 620 Roman Campeau 517 Bill Sullivan 634 Cam Louttit 738 Gordon SaraďŹ ncian 655 Cody Lacelle 602 Jerry Gromnisky 614

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A17

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Ruth Loucks 231 Jessica Nielsen 137 Kathryn Fullman 209 Bernie Draper 228 Jean Dierker 202 Lisa Gibler 226 Rosemary Mandzuk 190

Ruth Loucks 565 Jessica Nielsen 363 Jeanette Schendel 576 Bernie Draper 611 Jean Dierker 501 Tracy Horneman 560 Brenda Blommaert 517

Ruth Loucks +69 Roman Campeau +28 Bill Sullivan +125 Bill Sinclair +86 Gordon SaraďŹ ncian +111 Cody Lacelle 52+ Jerry Gromnisky +73

Karen Mehling 205

Karen Mehling 565

Marjory Antony +46

Angie Mcphee 204 Jennifer Haas 335 Rio Sakal 96 Emma Hodgkinson 257

Angie Mcphee 553 Jennifer Haas 1037 Rio Sakal 241 Ashley Schrader 625

Regan Kitz +114 Trent Aichele +147 Jakob Dobson +63 Emma Hodgkinson +101

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A18

For the love of the turnip

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

If you love turnips, get in line! The sturdy turnip is a member of the brassica family, related to radishes, and it started its horticultural history thousands of years ago in Asia and Europe, even reaching Japan. In time, it became a staple in the new world. No doubt it was popular for a number of reasons: it kept well, it could stand colder weather, and it could be used to feed not only the farmer but his valued livestock as well. For gardeners, turnips like cooler weather, just like their cousins the radishes and cabbages. Those cool temps make the turnip sweeter. Let’s pretend it’s spring. We get the veggie bed ready to be planted, rake it to smooth it out, then make

a row to plant our turnips. Plant them about half an inch deep and not too thick. They like a location with full sun. Water them in, mark the rows, and hopefully in about 50 days we can start to enjoy our turnips. And guess what, if we start another row in a week or ten days, these later turnips will be ready by fall and these are the ones we can use over winter. Here’s an interesting experiment, if you want a gardening challenge. If we wanted to have our turnips produce seeds, it’s a two year process. Yes, they are biennials, which mean they take two years to grow, get big and strong, and finally produce seeds in their second year. So to enable our turnips to go the dis-

DEBBIE HAYWARD YORKTON AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Gardener’s Notebook tance, we’d have to pull the turnips out in the fall, store them over winter, then plant them back in the ground in the spring. Now: guess what “neeps” are? They’re the smaller, white and purple turnips, with lighter flesh. (If we were in beautiful Scotland, we could enjoy “neeps and tatties”, turnips and potatoes). Guess what “swedes” are? They are Swedish turnips, and are

the larger, thicker fleshed yellow turnips. And here in North America, the big turnips are also known as “rutabagas”. Turnips are not only delicious ( yummy, please pass the butter and lots of pepper!) but they are good for us, too, since they are full of vitamins, full of fibre, and even have omega 3 fatty acids and protein. They are extremely versatile, because we can eat them

steamed, baked, mashed, grated, cooked or raw! And they are a beautiful vegetable: Sweet Pea always used to say that we “eat with the eyes first”, and on a chilly fall day, a pile of steaming mashed rutabagas on a dinner plate, with a rivulet of butter and a generous sprinkle of pepper is wonderful comfort food! But now…dim the lights and gather round… with Halloween just days away, let’s go back, back in time to beautiful Ireland where Halloween began… where turnips were carved the way we now carve pumpkins. The carved turnips were hollowed out and a light was placed inside to chase away any naughty goblins that might be lurk-

ing around. Keep that in mind if you are decorating the area around your front door: the turnips would look beautiful in a display with cheery bright orange pumpkins, and very welcoming to any little goblins that might come to call on Halloween! Visit the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society at www.yorktonhort.ca and see what’s new. There are still has no meetings planned; but visit us at our website and we’ll keep you posted on gardening news! Thank you to our friends at Yorkton This Week, keep up the wonderful work! Let’s pray for health for all, and brighter times ahead. Happy Halloween, and Happy Birthday, Keith!

Sweet use of dice in Roots of Mali While dice and I get along slightly less well than a wild dog and a feral cat, there is still something about the colourful cubes that catches my attention. Like most gamers I have far more dice in drawers, boxes and bags that I ever need, although it’s a fair bet I will over time acquire more. Of course that is the familiar numbered dice I am referring to, that rarely roll the number I need for whatever game I am playing. I have seen my skaven gutterrunners sprawled across the Bloodbowl pitch when I merely needed to roll a two or better, and an ace ended up staring at me. I’ve seen my giant robot in Monsterpolcalypse miss everything but air, when no hit dice showed even though I was rolling a fist full of dice. And, so goes a long list of woeful dice tales. There are times though dice ascend from

mere tools of luck, mostly bad luck I repeat. There are times dice become the pieces in a board game, the best of these with unique faces; think back to the days of Dragon Dice. And, more recently of DiceWar, and in particular of the expansion Roots of Mali. Roots of Mali, is a tactical combat game for abstract strategists that uses big chunky, awesome looking dice for pieces in a game that reminds greatly of chess or Terrace. “Enter a fascinating fantasy world where ancient tribes are torn apart by internal strife,” states the game intro. “Fierce power struggles and cunning strategies lead to epic confrontations, deciding over total supremacy in the Warlands.” So yes there is a backstory, but in the end each face of the six-sided dice has its own movement and/or ability and

THE MEEPLE GUILD (YORKTON) meeple.guild@gmail.com players move the pieces around a grid (again like chess) trying to achieve the win condition. Each player has the same set of dice. Roots of Mali is a standalone game and 100 percent compatible with all

other editions, (such as Light of Dragons, Bond of Demons and Rise of Xeladron). Tribes from all games can be combined for new challenges and even greater replayability. Each tribe consists of six different crea-

Mr. Meili’s love for this province. I’ve never disputed his commitment to making Saskatchewan a better place to live.” Moe thanked his family, noting his children are why he ran for office in the first place. “I want my children, I want your children, to have the chance to build a career and to start a family and to build a good life right here in the province of Saskatchewan. That’s what motivates the Saskatchewan Party more than anything else, and that’s why I get out of bed each and every morning, building a strong Saskatchewan.” Moe said the last few months have been difficult as the province has dealt with the pandemic. “But we’re coming

through this better than most places in the nation. Thanks to what all of you are doing. Each of you are doing to control the spread of this virus. Today, most of our economy is open in this province,” he said. “We have the lowest unemployment rate in the country. And the recovery is well underway in our province. So the ballot question this election was: Who do you trust to lead to Saskatchewan’s economic recovery? What do you trust to ensure that Saskatchewan continues to recover, continues to move forward and continues to grow? “That was the question, and this evening, we got the answer, and we got the answer loud and

tures with unique abilities and distinct power levels. You win by defeating an opposing creature you gain victory points equal to the creature’s power level. So for example if the two face is showing and you capture that piece you get two VPs. The first player to collect 10 victory points wins. “This is by tactically moving creatures and exercising their special powers to outwit your opponents, eliminating their character dice from the board, the Warlands,” notes the rulebook. There are a couple of variants too. With ‘The Camp’ at the beginning of the game each player places his Camp in the Supply Zone as he places creatures: • If you move a creature in your own tent this creature die is put back into your reserve. • If you move during the game a creature in your opponent’s tent you sacrifice the creature die

instantly into your exile and your opponent has to put creature dice from the reserve into the exile equal to the power level of the creature you sacrificed. With ‘The Ruins’ at the beginning of the game and before placing the creatures, the ruins are placed. If a player occupies all three Ruins with his own creatures of power level two or higher, he immediately wins the game. The game can still be won by reaching 10 VPs. The variants are a real bonus to an already nifty game. So too is the ability to mix and match the various expansions, adding much more to explore. This will not be for all, but with a fairly modest learning curve, nice pieces, and easy to transport to play, it is wellworth a look at www.suncoregames.ch Thanks to Adam Daniels for his help in playtesting.

clear. And it is a great honor. And it is a tremendous responsibility to know that Saskatchewan voters answered that question by saying, ‘We trust the Saskatchewan Party.’ “Tonight I would offer you this: We will work every day to be deserving of your trust to lead a recovery that is worthy of your trust, and to build a great province that is also worthy of your trust.” He referred to campaign promises of cutting SaskPower bills by 10 per cent for a year, a home renovation tax credit, reducing business taxes, scholarships, support for seniors and people with autism, diabetes and disabilities. “As we manage through this ongoing pandemic together, it’s the balance of keeping Saskatchewan people safe while at the same time keeping our economy strong and preserving the jobs in our province. Saskatchewan has already shown that we know how to find that right balance. We can protect lives and livelihoods, and we can do it at the same time,” he said. Moe became most animated when obliquely referring to the performance of the upstart Buffalo Party, but he did so without naming them. The Buffalo Party came from nowhere to garner a distant third place in the popular vote, with 11,055 votes as of late Monday

night. Moe said, “There was a number of voters, many of them in rural constituencies, that used their vote this election to express their frustration with the federal government. And to those voters I want to say, ‘I hear you.’ I want to say, ‘This government hears you.’ “We share your frustrations, and we share many of your objectives. We are not happy with the federal government either. And you have my word that we will continue to stand up for Saskatchewan, as we have always done.” He pointed out the Saskatchewan Party’s fight against the federal carbon tax, Bill C-69, the “no more pipelines bill,” and C-48, the “no more tankers bill.” Agriculture, energy, mining and manufacturing drive growth in Saskatchewan, and allow the province to invest in schools and hospitals, he said. “We will stand up for Saskatchewan, because there is simply so much at stake in this province.” Moe concluded, “We can build a strong growing and vibrant Saskatchewan. Thank you so very much for the trust that you placed in us. We will work each and every day to ensure that we are worthy of that trust, and to be worthy of the honor of governing the great province of Saskatchewan.”

Moe Continued from page A5 Moe said, thanking Elections Saskatchewan, the candidates and volunteers of all parties in dealing with the complexities of a campaign during a pandemic. Moe noted that several candidates wouldn’t know for several days if they were elected or not, due to the high number of mail-in ballots still waiting to be counted. He said, “I know it’s nerve racking waiting for just a few hours for those results, and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like waiting for a couple of days, but I guess that is the way it’s going to be. And it’s going to work in this year’s very unusual circumstances.” Indeed, several races

were so close, it wasn’t until much later in the evening that the Sask. Party picked up several more additional seats, including that of NDP Leader Ryan Meili. Moe said, “Tonight I would give you my word that we will be a government for all of the people, whether you support us with the Saskatchewan Party or whether your support laid with a different party. We will govern for all. And we will work to build a strong Saskatchewan, for all of us.” Moe congratulated his principle opponent, NDP Leader Ryan Meili, on running a very strong campaign. “We obviously have our differences when it comes to policy, but I have never doubted

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GOGOL - Daniel Warren. June 29, 1976 - March 29, 2020. It is with sadness the family of Daniel Gogol announce his passing on March 29, 2020 in Saskatoon, SK. Daniel was born on June 29, 1976 at Thompson General Hospital, Thompson, MB. He took his schooling at Deerwood Elementary School and RD Parker Collegiate in Thompson, MB. After completing high school, Daniel attended (RRCC) Red River Community College in Winnipeg, MB and graduated as a Certified Computer Programmer. After completing RRCC, Daniel worked at Converges call center and at IPSOS Reid call center in Winnipeg, MB working as computer Technical Support. Daniel attended the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Bio Chemistry and minor in GMO plant research. While attending university, Daniel worked on numerous construction jobs during the summer months. He enjoyed travelling, and enjoyed seeing different parts of Canada. If time permitted, Daniel would occasionally spend some summer time on Vancouver Island camping with his friends. Skateboarding and snowboarding were Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest sports. As soon as winter began, Daniel was already planning his next winter snowboarding trip. Daniel would travel to Banff, Alberta or Whistler Mountain, BC and spend as much time as he could, snowboarding and challenging the most difficult slopes he could find. During the summer months Daniel liked to go fishing with his father, and he would always catch the first or biggest Walleye. Surviving are his parents Shirley and Warren Gogol and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Daniel was predeceased by his brother Nathan Gogol, grandparents Mary Gogol and Lasko Gogol, and Percy Kobe, uncle Ed Gogol and uncle Percy Kobe. Due to Covid-19 there will be a Private Family Service held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Teen Challenge. To send online condolences, visit www.parkfuneral.ca â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obituaries-Guestbookâ&#x20AC;?. Arrangements entrusted to Greg Lalach of Park Funeral Home, 306-244-2103.

ROUSAY - Peter Garry Rousay. 1943 - 2020. It is with a great sense of loss that the family of Peter Rousay announce his passing on Oct. 17, 2020 at Jowsey House, Yorkton and District Nursing Home, Yorkton, SK. His son Jeffrey, who - over the past 12 months - has provided Peter with a finely balanced combination of attentive 24/7 care, patience and plenty of humour, was at his side. Peter was born Aug. 3, 1943 in Yorkton Queen Victoria Hospital to Peter and Margaret Rousay. His elementary and secondary education was completed in the Yorkton District. Post secondary education was obtained at Calgary General Hospital (Radiological Technician) and the University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan (Administration of Rural Hospitals). In 2003, after a lifetime of working in health care in ON and SK, Peter retired and relocated to Yorkton and Crystal Lake, where he spent many happy summer days. He also volunteered locally with a variety of groups including Citizens on Patrol, Paper Bag Players and Knox Presbyterian Church. As a proud descendant of Orkney District settlers, he was deeply committed to the Orkney Historical Society and served as President for some 10 years. He loved gadgets, golf, grandchildren, lakeside living, and time spent in Texas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not necessarily in that order. Peter was predeceased by his father Peter and sister Gayle in 1980, his mother Margaret in 1983 and his stepfather Bert Hepburn in 1988. He is survived by his sons Jeffrey, Yorkton, SK and Jonathan (Lyn), Boerne, TX, grandchildren Claire and Victoria, and his spouse Joy as well as nieces Tanis, Melissa, Jolene, Coleen, a nephew, Kris and brothers-in-law Mervin Gabert and Ed Schoenhofen. He will be greatly missed by his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;almost a brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Cousin Bob Copeman. The family also wishes to acknowledge the exceptional care Peter received from Dr. Chang and other physicians and staff at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina, Dr. Van Heerden and staff at Yorkton Regional Health Centre, as well as the outstanding palliative care staff at Jowsey House. Your professionalism and sincere dedication are deeply appreciated. In lieu of flowers, and for those who wish to do so, donations may be made to the Orkney Historical Society, Box 165, Yorkton, SK S3N 2Z7 (or by e-transfer to orkneyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com) or the Canadian Cancer Society. A private service was held in the Chapel of Christieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Home with internment in Orkney Cemetery, Orkney, SK.

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SCHMIDT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Herbert â&#x20AC;&#x153;Herbâ&#x20AC;? Schmidt passed away on October 19, 2020 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre, the day after he turned 90 years of age. Herb was born on October 18, 1930 in the Theodore District of Saskatchewan to Otto and Alfrieda (nee Werner) Schmidt. After meeting Iris as a young man, Herb and Iris were united in Holy Matrimony on March 7, 1964. They were blessed with three children, Janie, Darren, and Sheldon; five grandchildren, Janine, Melissa, Megan, Chad, and Casie; and two great-grandchildren, Zoey, and Benson. Herb and Iris lived most of their married life in Springside amongst family and friends. Herb and Iris loved camping, fishing, travelling, and spending time with family and friends. Cremation has taken place and any services will be announced at a future time. Kopanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Service is honoured to have been entrusted with funeral arrangements. 306-783-0099. www.kopans.ca.

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â&#x20AC;˘ SKEA - Daniel Alexander Skea was born on the family farm in the Beaverdale District on November 26, 1923. He was the youngest of seven children born to William and Betsy (Patterson) Skea. Daniel grew up on the family farm and attended Beaver School which was situated right across the road. He enjoyed school and after graduation attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. He was very proud of the high marks that he received there. On November 24, 1951 in Victoria B.C. he was united in marriage to Alice Mary Betts. They moved back to Saskatchewan living and working on the family farm. They were blessed with two children Brenda and Donald. The family moved back to Victoria in 1956 were Daniel worked for the B.C. Government until his retirement in 1976. Following Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retirement Alice and Daniel moved back to the family farm. Sadly Alice passed away on December 27, 1994. Daniel continued to live on the farm until he moved to Kamsack, SK to live with his second wife Frances Lazar whom he married on June 14, 1997. After Frances passed away on April 14, 2012 Daniel continued to live in their home until January 2015 at that time he moved into The Eaglestone Personal Care Home, taking with him his keyboard. Daniel was self-taught and played music by ear over the years learning to play cords on the piano, accordion and the keyboard. One of the songs that he learned was â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five Foot Two and Eyes of Blueâ&#x20AC;?. In March of 2019 Daniel moved into the Kamsack and District Nursing Home where he continued to live until his passing on October 18, 2020 at the age of 96. Daniel was predeceased by his father in 1938 and his mother in 1956; brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Francis 1921, Kenneth 1929, Atholl 1996; sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hazel 1990, Jessie 1990, Bella 1994; wives Alice 1994, Frances 2012; and great grandson Easton 2019. Those left to celebrate his life are his daughter Brenda (John) Weber Yorkton, SK, son Don (Virginia) Skea Williams Lake, B.C.; 8 grandchildren Dennis (Cindy), Thomas (Jenn), Joanne (Mark), Brian (Shannon), Hayley, Jeff (Chanel), Melissa and Kevin; 16 great grandchildren Michael, Ashley, Brendon, Lane, Carly, Ashley, Tamara, Brendan, Victoria, Amelia, Analise, Jayke, Aiden, Sabrina, Joah, and Ethan; 4 greatgreat grandchildren Ava, Luke, James and Easton. A funeral service was held on Saturday October 24, 2020 from the chapel of Christieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Home and Crematorium with Rev. Jen Dresser officiating. Interment followed at the Springside Town Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Christieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Home and Crematorium.

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Anniversaries ARLENE, You are the love of my life. Thank you dear for 40 plus years. -Love always, Blaine

Phone 306-782-2465, and we will help you place your ad in This Week.

Birthdays

Cheers to 60 Years, Bev! Happy 60th Birthday, Mom! Love, Your Family

2019-04-05 3:41 PM

A20

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week Card of Thanks

Adult Personal Messages

The family of the late Russell Wilson would like to Thank everyone for the love and support given to us in our time of sadness and sorrow. Thank you for the phone calls, visits, cards, donations and prayers. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to express our gratitude to the following people: Officiants Jenelle Gregg, Vera Morrow, and Mary Roper for the lovely service, Melanie Goodfellow (granddaughter) for reading the Eulogy, Len Kennedy for the Psalm reading and kind words, Jann Cobb for playing the lovely hymns and the quartet Len & Marlene Kennedy, Jenelle Gregg and Lynn Higging for singing them. Thank you to the Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (dear friends) and Jenelle and Vera for their many visits which meant so much to Dad. Thank you to Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandsons for being casketbearers and Mary Roper for leading the interment. Thank you to Ray and Crystal Bailey and staff of Baileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Home for all their kindness, compassion and guidance during this difficult time. Thank you to the Yorkton Crossing staff and Jowsey House at the Yorkton Nursing Home for all the care and kindness given to our Dad. He was a special man to so many and will be dearly missed. -Our Deepest Gratitude Joce & Bob Payne Val & Gene Rybka Deb & Richard Prybylski Barb & Evan Werner

Single Male from Melville 5 ft. 7, 155 lbs, looking for smaller woman

between 50 & 65 for companion who likes outdoors and blue jean type woman. I like to get out of Melville 3 or 4 days a week, just go for a drive. Social drinker okay & cigarette smoker okay. The days and nights get pretty lonely. Please call

FULLTIME CAREGIVER Required for elderly woman in Canora, SK. To apply or receive details of the position, please email CanoraCaregiver@shaw.ca

MALE (46), from Yorkton, looking for female with or without children, for companion. Likes movies and going dancing. Call 306-641-6234 no texts.

Meghan Bucsis ÍžZÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x161;ĆľĆ&#x152;ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ? KÄ¸Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Íż

Meghan Bucsis

NOTICE OF ADVANCE VOTING Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244 Municipal Elections 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the R.M. of Orkney No. 244 will be holding advance voting. Advance voting will take place on Wednesday, the 4th day of November, 2020 between the hours of 9:00a.m. and 3:00p.m., at 137 George Avenue, COLLACOTT SUBDIVISION, R.M. OF ORKNEY No. 244. Dated at Yorkton This 9th day of October, 2020. CLINTON MAUTHE, RETURNING OFFICER

NOTICE OF VOTE

THE RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ORKNEY NO. 244 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2020. PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that:

(1) A vote will be held for the election of Councillor for Division No. 1, Councillor for Division No. 3, and Councillor for Division No. 5 for the Rural Municipality, (2) The vote will take place on Monday, the 9th day of November, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at:

ADULT 45+. Renovated, furnished one bedroom suites for rent in Canora. Must have references. Phone 306-6412489.

Division No. 1, POLL AT: 137 George Avenue, Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244 Division No. 3, POLL AT: Willowbrook Community Centre, Willowbrook, SK Division No. 5, POLL AT: R.M. Public Workshop, Orcadia, SK

BEAUTIFUL 2 or 3 bedroom townhouse; 1200 sq.ft., close to schools & hospital. Pictures can be viewed on Kijiji under Houses For Rent Yorkton. Call George at 306-537-3228 or Trevor 306-3166878.

(3) I will declare the result of the voting at the

Legal/Public Notices

R.M. of Orkney No. 244 office on Tuesday the 10th day of November, 2020, at the hour of 10:00 a.m.

Notice of Abandonment of Poll Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243

Dated at Yorkton, this 9th day of October, 2020. CLINTON MAUTHE RETURNING OFFICER

The Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243 Municipal Elections 2020

[Section 82 of the Act]

Notice of Advance Poll R.M. OF ST. PHILIPS NO. 301 PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that provision has been made for an advanced poll for electors who:

Meghan Bucsis

Division 1 Councillor: Joseph Zarowny Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ĺś Ď Ĺ˝ĆľĹśÄ?Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻĹ˝Ć&#x152;Í&#x2014; DÄ&#x201A;ĆŠ Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ç&#x2021; Division 3 Councillor: Dale Hackman Division 3 Councillor: Ronald Mehling Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ĺś Ďą Ĺ˝ĆľĹśÄ?Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻĹ˝Ć&#x152;Í&#x2014; sÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺś ÄŤÄ&#x201A; Division 5 Councillor: Myron Horvath Dated at Yorkton This 9th day of October, 2020. CLINTON MAUTHE, RETURNING OFFICER

1. are physically disabled; KDYH EHHQ DSSRLQWHG DV HOHFWLRQ RIÂżFLDOV RU 3. anticipate being unable to vote the day of election.

Voting will take place on Saturday, the 31st day of October, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the Pelly Community Hall, 101 2nd St. East, Pelly, SK. [Section 81 of the Act]

Notice of Poll RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ST. PHILIPS No. 301 PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that 1. A poll has been granted for the election of: Reeve: Rural Municipality of St. Philips No. 301 (1 to be elected) Div. 3 Councillor: Rural Municipality of St. Philips No. 301 (1 to be elected) 2. Voting will take place on Monday, the 9th day of November, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Pelly Community Hall, 101 2nd St. East, Pelly, SK. 3. I will declare the result of the election on the 10th day of November, 2020, at the hour of 9:00 a.m at the 5XUDO 0XQLFLSDOLW\ RI 6W 3KLOLSV 1R 0XQLFLSDO 2IÂżFH 205 Main St., Pelly, SK. Dated at Pelly this 9th day of October, 2020. )UDQFHV 2OVRQ 5HWXUQLQJ 2IÂżFHU

Notice of Poll Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243

(Returning Officer)

At Your Service BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY Handyperson CARPENTRY & HANDYMAN SERVICES. 25 years experience. Phone 306-621-5715. WHATEVER NEEDS DONE. Carpentry, plumbing, painting, yard work, garbage hauled away. Phone 306-621-7538, leave message.

Health Services

HIP/KNEE Replacement?

2 AND 3 Bedroom Apartments Available. 2 bedroom $900, 3 bedroom $950. Includes heat & water. Available Immediately. Phone 306621-8203.

Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244 List of Candidates Ä¨Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; ĎŽĎŹĎŽĎŹ ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśĆ?

Reeve Friday November 6, 2020 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Rural Municipality of Wallace Council Chambers 26, 5th Avenue North, Yorkton, SK.

Dated at Yorkton, SK. this 13th day of October, 2020

Apartments/Condos for Rent

ÍžZÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x161;ĆľĆ&#x152;ĹśĹ?ĹśĹ? KÄ¸Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Íż

Public notice is hereby given that provision has been made for DQ DGYDQFH YRWLQJ IRU WKH EHQHÂżW RI YRWHUV ZKR KDYH UHDVRQ WR EHOLHYH WKDW WKH\ ZLOO EH QHFHVVDULO\ DEVHQW IURP WKHLU SODFHV RI residence on election day.

Division No. 3 Friday November 6, 2020 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Rural Municipality of Wallace Council Chambers 26, 5th Avenue North, Yorkton, SK.

BEAUTIFUL 2 or 3 bedroom townhouse; 1200 sq.ft., close to schools & hospital. Pictures can be viewed on Kijiji under Houses For Rent Yorkton. Call George at 306-537-3228 or Trevor 306-3166878.

Dated at Yorkton, SK. this 13th day of October, 2020

Notice of Advance Poll Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243

Dated at Yorkton, SK. this 13th day of October, 2020

Houses for Sale

Whereas Ervin Stricker, QRPLQDWHG IRU WKH RIÂżFH RI Councillor 'LYLVLRQ IRU WKH 5XUDO 0XQLFLSDOLW\ RI :DOODFH 1R LV WKH RQO\ FDQGLGDWH , KHUHE\ JLYH 3XEOLF 1RWLFH WKDW No Voting IRU WKH RIÂżFH RI &RXQFLOORU 'LYLVLRQ ZLOO WDNH SODFH RQ 1RYHPEHU DQG WKDW Ervin Stricker LV HOHFWHG E\ DFFODPDWLRQ

Tenders

Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $2,500 yearly tax credit and up to $50,000 Lump sum refund. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide!

Expert Help:

1-844-453-5372 GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. Do you or someone you know Have any of these Conditions? ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, COPD, Depression, Diabetes, Difficulty Walking, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowels, Overweight, Trouble Dressing...and Hundreds more. ALL Ages & Medical Conditions Qualify. Have a child under 18 instantly receive more money. CALL SASKATCHEWAN BENEFITS 1-800-211-3550 or Send a Text Message with Your Name and Mailing Address to 306-992-5527 for your FREE benefits package.

Houses For Rent FOR SALE OR RENT. 3 bedroom home. 86 Alexandra Ave. Fridge, stove, washer, dryer, central vac, water softener. $1,200/month. 306-783-6240 SPRINGSIDE HOUSING Authority is currently accepting applications for a 3 bedroom home. Fridge and stove included. Well kept, clean and quiet neighborhood. Rent is based on income. For more information and applications please call Morlie at 306-792-2222 or 306-621-7815. TAKING APPLICATIONS for Four bedroom + office. 2 bathrooms, W/D/F/S, No Pets Available Nov. 1. References and damage deposit required. 90 Gladstone Ave. S. Phone 306-782-2363 or 306-6216415.

Suites For Rent SPRINGSIDE HOUSING Authority is currently accepting applications for 1 & 2 bedroom Senior Suites at the Heritage Place. Fridge and stove included. Central laundry with two washers and dryers. Well kept, ready for rent. Rent is based on income. For more information and applications please call Morlie at 306-792-2222 or 306-621-7815.

USE THE CLASSIFIEDS 306-782-2465 Tenders

Tenders

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that: 1. A Poll will be held for the election of Reeve and Councillor for Division No.3, for the Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243 Voting will take place as follows: Reeve Poll Monday November 9, 2020

9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Divisions 3 & 6 Rural Municipality of Wallace Council Chambers WK $YHQXH 1RUWK Â&#x2021; <RUNWRQ 6. Divisions 4 & 5 5KHLQ +DOO Â&#x2021; 5KHLQ 6. Divisions 1 & 2 7RQNLQ &XUOLQJ 5LQN Â&#x2021; 7RQNLQ 6. Division No. 3 Poll Monday November 9, 2020 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rural Municipality of Wallace Council Chambers 26, 5th Avenue North <RUNWRQ 6. , ZLOO GHFODUH WKH UHVXOWV RI WKH YRWLQJ DW <RUNWRQ 5 0 2ŕľśFH RQ 7XHVGD\ WKH WK GD\ RI 1RYHPEHU 'DWHG DW <RUNWRQ 6. WKLV WK GD\ RI 2FWREHU Meghan Bucsis 5HWXUQLQJ 2ŕľśFHU

Legal/Public Notices

Voting will take place as follows:

Houses For Rent

Legal/Public Notices

Whereas Bryan Upshall, QRPLQDWHG IRU WKH RIÂżFH RI Councillor 'LYLVLRQ IRU WKH 5XUDO 0XQLFLSDOLW\ RI :DOODFH 1R LV WKH RQO\ FDQGLGDWH , KHUHE\ JLYH 3XEOLF 1RWLFH WKDW No Voting IRU WKH RIÂżFH RI &RXQFLOORU 'LYLVLRQ ZLOO WDNH SODFH RQ 1RYHPEHU DQG WKDW Bryan Upshall LV HOHFWHG E\ DFFODPDWLRQ

RM of Saltcoats #213 $266,000.00 1 quarter of grain land for sale in RM of Saltcoats #213. Contact Ted Cawkwell, The Cawkwell Group, RE/MAX Saskatoon. 306-986-7253 www.cawkwellgroup.com

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 Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

Adult Personal Messages

The Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243 Municipal Elections 2020

Farms for Sale

Home Care Wanted

Legal/Public Notices

Notice of Abandonment of Poll Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243

306-728-3238 cell 306-921-3456

Notices / Nominations

PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.

Legal/Public Notices

R.M. of Orkney No. 244 For Sale by Tender: Tax Title Properties located in Willowbrook as follows: Surface Parcel No. 141900195 141900139 141900128 141900117 141900106 & 141901253 141901242 & 141901231 141901220 & 141957467 141901219 & 141901028 141900937 141900948 141957412 141900960 141901040 & 141901174 141901185 & 141900296 145303017

Title No. 152427595 151218042 151671360 152619521 152619587 & 152619600 151671382 & 151671438 151671483 & 151671494 151671517 & 151671539 151671551 151671562 151671584 151671595 149485001 & 149485012 152619543 & 152619565 152906687

Legal: Lot 5, Block 1, Plan AJ1223 Lot 2, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 3, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 4, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 5 & 6, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 7 & 8, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 9 & 10, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 11 & 12, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 15, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 16, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 18, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 19, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 20 & 21, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 Lot 22 & 23, Block 2, Plan AJ1223 PT NE 32-25-06 W2

Highest of any other offer not necessarily accepted. May be subject to certain provisions under The Tax Enforcement Act. Offer to be clearly marked as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Offer on Tax Title Propertyâ&#x20AC;? and must be received by: The Administrator, R.M. of Orkney No. 244, 26-5th Ave. N., YORKTON, SK S3N OY8 by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2020

Travel SNOWBIRDS! Osoyoos, BC Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warmest climate. Very special weekly & monthly rates available through April, 2021. Choose from studio, 1 & 2 bdrm luxury condos from $36/night! www.osoyoossnowbirds.com 250-495-5070.

Musical Instruments 120 BASS Accordion, Sonola Special. Mint condition. Asking $700. For further information phone 306896-2721.

For Sale - Misc

FOR ALL YOUR GARDEN SUPPLIES

YOUNGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PLANT WORLD LTD. /634&3: t ("3%&/ $&/53& t (30$&3: 4503&

Highway #9 North, Yorkton 306-783-8660

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. 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. Yorkton This Week is owned and operated by The Prairie Newspaper Group LP, a division of GVIC Communications Corp. 1 John Deere 32â&#x20AC;? cut snowblower 8hp John Deere engine in very good running working order. Phone 306-782-9131 or 306-6219783. FOR SALE: 2 adjacent cemetery plots at Yorkton Memorial Gardens. A total price of $1,700 includes transfer fees. Phone 306744-2934 in evening.

Collectibles & Classic Cars LUXURY TT 1987 T-bird coupe, low mileage, great shape. Asking $7,000 OBO. Phone 204-9372907.

Parts & Accessories FOR SALE: 4 steel rims and nearly brand new Nokian Nordman5 winter tires. 205/55R16 94T XL. Fits Honda Civic. $500. Phone 306-783-5286.

RVs/Campers/Trailers WANTED: SMALL, OLDER Camper trailer to convert to storage. Call 306-542-7106.

Farm Implements 2009 MACK, just safetied, 485hp, 18spd, diff lock; 2001 Westward 9350 swather w/2004 36ft. headder; 1997 TR97, just gone through, field ready. Phone 778220-9285. GOODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S USED TRACTOR PARTS (204) 564-2528 or 1-877-564-8734 Roblin, MB

Feed & Seed

Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Feed & Seed

A21

Trades Help Heavy Duty Mechanics, Heavy Equipment Operators and 1A Drivers required: Late model, clean CAT, JD equip: winch, dump, gravel trucks and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided. Wage negotiable. Clean drivers abstract a must.

NORTH EAST PRAIRIE GRAIN INC. BUYING: FEED BARLEY, SOYBEANS, DAMAGED CANOLA. On Farm Pickup, Prompt Payment! PH:306-873-3551 WEBSITE: neprairiegrain.com “In Business to Serve Western Producers.”

Livestock

Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction )V_ (YIVYÄLSK :R : , ( " Fax: 306-769-8844 ,THPS! brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca Trucking & Transport

FOR SALE: Polled Purebred 2 year old and yearling Charolais bulls. Some red factor. Phone 306435-7116. King’s Polled Charolais.

C & G SHUTTLE 1-306-647-3333 1-306-620-3521 (Cell) Airports, medical or shopping trips, up to 5 people.

Steel Buildings / Granaries

Business Opportunities

Integrity Post Frame Buildings SINCE 2008

Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More sales@ Integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678 www. integritybuilt.com

*K’AWAT’SI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS NOW HIRING*-Red Seal Carpenters -Third and fourth year apprentices -Experienced Carpenter’s helpers. If you are interested in this great career opportunity, please send your resume at hr@kedc.ca or call us at 250-2305498.

Staff Photos by Calvin Daniels

From left; Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney, YBID Executive Director Donna Brothwell, Yorkton Exhibition manager Barb Woytas, and YBID Board members Andrew Rae and Ken Chyz.

Grandstand support The Yorkton Business Improvement District has come to the support of the Yorkton Exhibition Association in its effort to raise money to retrofit the grandstand. Noting

that the presentation was on behalf of all YBID members, the organization’s Executive Director Donna Brothwell announced a $10,000 donation to the ‘Save the

Grandstand Fund’ at a press conference Friday. “We are proud to be able to donate this money on behalf of all YBID members,” she said, adding it was felt “this project fits

with our mandate to support local events in the district that will enhance our shopping experience by bringing in shoppers and visitors.”

Auctions QUICK SOLD AUCTION. Online Auction House. Downsizing & Estate Sales. Free Consultations. Certified Personal Property Appraiser. www.quicksoldauction.com 306-728-5552 or 306-730-7310. PL 508277. Too tired to walk? Too tired to drive? Too tired to move? Well, if you’re not too tired to read, shop Yorkton This Week and Marketplace Classifieds.

General Employment

YORKTON

NOW HIRING FT Sales Associates PT Sales Associates FT Office Clerical PT Office Clerical APPLY WITH RESUME TO MARK’S #26 - 230 Broadway St, E. Yorkton, SK S3N 4C6 ATT: John Bueckert Full Time Cook Required. To prepare and cook all menu items in a fast paced environment. Work with specialized cooking equipment (deep fryer, pizza ovens, dough mixer, etc.) Clean kitchen and work areas. Apply with resume to Trifons Pizza Yorkton, 290 Broadway, Yorkton or email trifonspizza_yorkton@outlook.com Offer your special service with a low-cost, effective This Week Classified Ad. There’s always a sale in progress — in the Classifieds.

General Employment

Seniors, Parents, Children! Earn some extra cash (possibly of up to $400/month depending on route size), get exercise and work only a few hours a week too!

If you would like a route, please e-mail us at:

circulation@yorktonthisweek.com or telephone circulation at:

306-782-2465

App delays mean Sask. trespassing law not yet enforceable Evan Radford - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (The LeaderPost (Regina) Development delays for a mobile phone app General Employment

McMunn & Yates Building Supplies Ltd., a leading supplier of building materials and construction products, is currently accepting applications for the position of Yard Manager at our Yorkton, SK Branch.

Yard Manager – Yorkton Branch Get ready to build your career as we continue to build our company. As a valuable member of our team your duties will include: • Communicates with coworkers and customers, in an effective manner, to organize efficient delivery and pickup schedules • Ensures orders and packages are ready for delivery • Ensures merchandise is loaded and unloaded in a manner that suits space requirements and eliminates any damage to merchandise • Assists with deliveries when necessary following safe job site procedures • Ensures receiving procedures are followed for paperwork, including packing slips and POS • Ensures merchandise has proper and functional storage locations with appropriate signage The successful candidate will: • Create an enjoyable and team-orientated work environment for staff by effectively communicating the company vision, mission and values • Show a commitment to delivering outstanding customer service • Be physically able to repeatedly lift/carry over 75lbs • The ability to work in a team environment is essential • Previous experience is preferred and knowledge of building materials is an asset but not required • Must enjoy a fast paced team environment • Valid Class 5 Drivers License required We offer a competitive salary & benefit package. If you would like to build your career with our company, please forward your resume with cover letter, in confidence to: McMunn & Yates Building Supplies

Yorkton Branch | 175 York Road West Yorkton, SK S3N 3Z4 Attn: Curtis Pelletier | Email: cpelletier@mcmunnandyates.com We thank all candidates in advance; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

geared to land owners is causing a legislative delay for a controversial Saskatchewan law regulating how people can access farmers’ privatelyowned lands. Almost two years after it received first reading in the legislature, the Trespass to Property Act has yet to be enforced as law. First sponsored by Justice Minister Don Morgan in November 2018, the act’s intent was to slow or stop rural crime on farmers’ lands. It requires anyone wanting to go on a farmer’s land to first get permission from the owner. “A reasonable delay” is what Ray Orb, the president of the Saskatchewan Association Rural Municipalities (SARM), calls it. “We would have hoped it would have been in place for this hunting season, 2020, … (but) we need to get this right,” he said, referencing the app’s current development stage. Western Heritage, a data and geotechnical company with offices from Alberta to Ontario and one in Chile, first pitched the app to Innovation Saskatchewan in June last year. Now its start-up company, SaskLander, is piloting the app (with the same name) in the RM of Shellbrook, west of Prince Albert. SaskLander co-founders Aldo Scribante and Sauvelm McClean said

they aim to introduce a live version, provincewide in the spring. Right now, the pilot version allows owners to identify their land in the app, “and put and specify your access permissions,” they said. The pair is now building the request side of the app for “recreational land access and we intend to expand to more RMs.” The proposed law change emerged out of the the shooting death of Colten Boushie in 2016. Farmer Gerald Stanley was charged and acquitted at a jury trial. The case also sparked a discussion around rural crime and small-town RCMP detachments’ response times. As the government took the law through its paces in the legislature, hunters, lobby groups and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said they disagreed with or had concerns about it. Arcola-area farmer Clint Brownridge has his feet in both worlds, hunting and allowing hunters onto his farmland. “I’m still for the oldschool way, that if you really don’t want people on your land, you should post it as No Trespassing,” he said. “I’m a hunter; I phone lots of people for permission, I get phoned for permission.” Once enacted, the law would remove the requirement for a property owner to post signs indicating if their land is open or closed.

Continued on pageA24

Sports

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 www.yorktonthisweek.com

A22

Yorkton and Melville face-off again this weekend in preseason action.

Terriers win two preseason tilts By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer The Yorkton Terriers hosted the Millionaires Saturday in a weekend home-and-home to start the preseason. Kolton Leslie started the scoring, with the first goal of the Melville Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League preseason 6:48 into the game. The rest of the opening frame belonged to the host Terriers as Steven Norum knotted the contest at 8:28 of the first.

Ethan Robson gave the Terriers the lead at 10:03, then at 11:10 Kaeden Taphorn made it 3-1. The teams would settle into more of a defensive effort in the second period with neither team managing a goal. Philippe Bond was in the Terrier net facing 25-shots in the contest.

Friday action The Yorkton Terriers played their first game of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League preseason Friday with a trip down Highway #10 to

face rival Melville. The game was scoreless through the first period and nearly through the second with Terrier Ryan McCleary finally breaking the tie with a goal at 19:50. In the third Colby Vrani made it 2-0 for the Terriers, with McCleary adding his second on the contest at 19:39. Jacob Herman recorded the shut-out in the Terrier nets stopping all 35 shots he faced.

Coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view Terrier head coach

Mat Hehr said it was a solid first weekend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anytime you only let one goal in in two games youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be happy,â&#x20AC;? he said. But, as any coach generally is in preseason, Hehr quickly pointed out aspects of the two games he was not happy with. The issue was defence, especially Friday as Herman was earning his shut-out, often singlehandedly, said Hehr. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We definitely didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play good in front of him. Herman stood on his head,â&#x20AC;? he said.

It was a better effort Saturday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We settled down and helped him (Bond) out a little more than we did Friday,â&#x20AC;? said Hehr, adding his netminder still made some big saves in the 3-1 win. Saturday, getting down early, but responding with three quick goals, them shutting down the Mills the rest of the game was a big positive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it was a character win,â&#x20AC;? said Hehr, adding it was the sort of win he anticipates the Terriers will need this

year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be as high scoring,â&#x20AC;? he said, so the Terriers will need to be able to â&#x20AC;&#x153;lock downâ&#x20AC;? other teams once they are up a goal, or two. That will mean the Terriers need complete team efforts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to need lots of our depth guys to step up and have a big year for us,â&#x20AC;? said Hehr. The two teams face off in preseason action again this weekend, Friday in Melville then back to Yorkton Saturday.

Jamieson one of NLLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best Being a fan of lacrosse in Saskatchewan means you are going to be very aware of how the arrival of the National Lacrosse League Rush was initially thought to be a bit of a flyer that would fail to find a fan base. While hoping that the Rush would be a success, driving home from Saskatoon Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll admit the discussion was whether the team could hold the rather modest opening crowd. Of course they held the crowd, and in fact grew it through the early part of year-one with the sport, and the Rush proving the naysayers wrong. The Rush have been a success story, growing a strong Prairie base for a sport that was not widely played here pre-Rush. The NLL is hoping the same success can be found in Halifax where the Thunderbirds were launched in their first season last fall, pre the COVID-19 league shutdown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was always part of the vision,â&#x20AC;? offered

Thunderbird star Cody Jamieson, adding team ownership have always been dedicated to taking lacrosse to more people, the move from Rochester to Halifax an extension of that vision. It should be noted Rochester were not left without a team, with the NLL giving new owners an expansion team also launched this past season. Jamieson, a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Turtle Clan at Grand River, said the response to the Thunderbirds had been very encouraging up until the COVID shutdown, adding that he had anticipated good things in Halifax. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t call it surprising,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding he had played in the city at the 2007 world indoor lacrosse championships with the Iroquois, so he had a sense there was interest in the sport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And, I got to go the Memorial Cup,â&#x20AC;? he added, noting it was not a Moosehead game he has attended, but two non-

CALVIN DANIELS

Sports local teams, and it was a sell out with fans cheering for goals for both teams. He said that experience showed fans just wanted a good experience and to be entertained, and indoor lacrosse provides both in large doses. Jamieson said he has always said â&#x20AC;&#x153;youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to see our sport, see us play ... Come watch a game and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be hooked.â&#x20AC;? Certainly it is a bit more complicated than that, Jamieson said, adding the game is fast, with a lot happening, so fans need to learn the game, but the speed is also the big draw too. Once the intricacies are learned Jamieson said new fans will love

the goals, the hits, the passing â&#x20AC;&#x153;so many thing syouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to stand forâ&#x20AC;? that a seat becomes little used. It helps in the case of the Thunderbirds to have a veteran like Jamieson to watch. He was selected first overall by the Rochester in the 2010 NLL draft, when he had 53 points in his rookie season and finished second to Curtis Dickson in the Rookie of the Year voting. And, Jamieson was with Rochester when they won back-to-back-to back championships in 2012-2013-2014, which he said was likely his career highlight, although playing internationally with

the Iroquois has been special too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re representing an entire group of people all over North America, all over Turtle Island,â&#x20AC;? he said. Of course Jamieson was playing lacrosse at an early age. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody in my family plays, my brother, my dad. My grandfathers, uncles, cousins, they all played,â&#x20AC;? he said. That is not surprising since the Mohawk culture has lacrosse interwoven with their creator stories that relate how the game was given by the creator to the people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not how, or why I fell in love with the sport,â&#x20AC;? said Jamieson, adding for him it was more of following a family tradition to play, and he became hooked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was like my first love. It was all I wanted to do,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding living in the country he recalls â&#x20AC;&#x153;playing catch with my imaginary friend. My stick was my best friend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was also looking for somebody to play catch

with me.â&#x20AC;? That intense interest in lacrosse only grew in Jamieson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always felt ... in my heart this was the best sport in the world,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding he played the others, but none captured his interest like lacrosse. That love of the sport remains, so seeing the NLL season ended prematurely was not easy, made worse by the fact Halifax were looking good. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt like we were on a roll,â&#x20AC;? said Jamieson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was really confident in the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability .... That we could do something special, but at the end of the day the whole world stopped. You have to take it as it is and remember the good memories.â&#x20AC;? Moving forward, Jamieson hopes the NLL continues to expand, and especially in Canada, where he feels a couple of more teams can entice a network such as TSN to broadcast games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The league needs a big TV deal,â&#x20AC;? he said.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Due to the upcoming Remembrance Day Holiday, the deadline for Yorkton This Week Wednesday, November 11th will be Thursday November 5th at 3:00 p.m. and the deadline for Yorkton Marketplace Friday, November 13th will be Monday, November 9th at 3:00 p.m. Our office will be closed Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

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Agriculture

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 www.yorktonthisweek.com

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Always bumps to marketing grain Canadian grain farmers can have a smooth year in terms of production – this fall went generally well for producers thanks to relatively good weather – so it should be a relaxing time for producers as combines are shedded. But that is rarely the case for grain farmers. There are simply so many pitfalls that can open overnight to cause issues. While one can understand the uncertainties of Mother Nature introducing production obstacles ranging from bugs to disease to frost to too much rain, or too little, those uncertainties continue once the grain is safely

in the bin. One of the ongoing concerns Prairie producers have is getting their production to international buyers. In recent years there have been issues in terms of simply getting railcars when required. It got to the point that a new law was passed in 2018, requiring Canada’s major rail companies to publish winter plans and can be forced to pay up if they fail to deliver on certain promises of rail cars. That such a law was needed reflects the fact that grain delivery is frankly pretty low down in terms of pecking order when it comes

Agriculture THIS WEEK

Calvin Daniels to the allocation of railcars, without some strict regulations in place. Oil and potash and other commodities just make better sense for rail companies. So maybe moving forward the railcar allocation will be better maintained. But, as one pothole on

the road of grain delivery is hopefully filled in, another appears on the horizon. If grain is not exactly a preferred commodity for rail companies to haul, it may not be the most lucrative product to be taking up port space either. The area to build

export ports is of course finite, and while the grain facilities are in place, they have to pay rates competitive with what other facilities do – which can be handling higher value products. In a recent www. producer.com article Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevators Association, said rent on federal property at the Port of Vancouver went up 13 to 30 percent this year. Those are significant increases, and in the end producers will be paying it in some fashion. It will not be a direct bill, but increased costs in the system will

ultimately be reflected in what farmers are paid for their grain. Farmers are very much captives of the systems with very limited options. Grain companies have generally carved up the Prairie map with less and less service overlap, limiting delivery options. The country has been basically split between the two rail companies. There are limited port accesses, east and west. And so a good harvest or not, farmers have worries to face still. Calvin Daniels is Editor with Yorkton This Week.

Willowbrook producer focused on heritage pigs By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer Lacombe pigs are rather unique among a myriad of swine breeds. To begin with it is the only breed developed in Canada. The breed is also considered critically endangered by Rare Breeds Canada. And, that brings us to Robert Somogyi who operates a small farm southwest of Willowbrook, SK. On that farm Somogyi is one of a small group across Canada raising Lacombes in hopes of saving the breed. “We got into them about three years ago,” said Somogyi during a recent visit to his farm by Yorkton This Week. “The Heritage (Breeds) Society of Canada found them. We got them out of Alberta.” Initially Somogyi was to get two females and a boar, but was asked to look after two additional females while a home was found for them. “They never found another home so they stayed here,” he said. So what are Lacombe pigs exactly? The breed was developed in 1947 in Lacombe Alberta, hence the name, explained www.heritagelivestock.net Lacombes were developed crossing Berkshire sows to boars of Danish

Landrace and Chester White ancestry. The foundation stock was top Berkshire sows obtained in Canada which were mated to Landrace-Chester White crossbred boars secured from the United States Department of Agriculture. The breeding program that founded the breed was conducted at the Canadian Department of Agriculture Research Station at Lacombe, details www.thepigsite.com “Starting in 1947, twelve years of selective breeding and testing included 258 sires and 840 dams - all highly selected for performance,” notes the site. “All Lacombes that entered the herd after 1954 were backcrossed with purebred Berkshires and those that produced any pigs with black hair were discarded. This insured genetic purity for the white colour, because in swine, the white colour is dominant to black. From 1954-57, Lacombes were evaluated in 60 commercial Yorkshire herds in Alberta and proved to have the performance, capabilities and meat qualities that were sought.” So, the Lacombe was unveiled to pork producers in 1957. They quickly grew to be a popular breed. 1,743 were registered in 1981, of which 648 were boars and 1,095 were females, states

www.heritagelivestock.net. “The Lacombe is a white, mediumsized pig with a docile temperament. It has large, drooping ears, is long bodied and rather short of leg, and is quite meaty in conformation. “The breed has been specially selected and noted for its rapidity of gain and docility, especially the sows. Much attention has been paid to litter size, weaning weight, growth rate, the efficiency of feed conversion, carcass quality, and physical soundness.” Today, only scant remnants of the breed remain, with a few producers trying to keep it alive. The few sows Somogyi has are an example. So why bother? Somogyi likes the Lacombes he has. “They’re good pigs,” he said. “They’re long. They’re meaty. They’re quiet. They’re like little kids.” That all said there are challenges raising a rare breed. To find a new boar Somogyi had to go to Ontario, the animal arriving sight unseen. “We talked on the phone for 45-minutes,” said Somogyi, adding he recalls he was driving to his brother’s and had to pull over for the extended conversation. The boar comes from Horizon Hog

Farm at Lancaster, ON. Somogyi said a truck was found that delivers west and the boar was loaded and sent his way. The truck brought it only part way though. “I went to Brandon and picked him up,” he said. There is an option to use artificial insemination, there are vials in storage in Alberta. “It’s something in the future I might look at,” said Somogyi, adding it is only available for breeding females which have had a litter. A first-time gilt is too big a risk of not becoming bred given the rarity of semen. So what does Somogyi do with his stock? Some have gone out as weanlings to be raised for meat. Others are sold for butcher. And, moving forward a few of the best females will be kept, as Somogyi said his plan is to “have at least six (sows).” Others have been and will be sold to others for breeding stock; something he sees as having more potential with the new boar in the mix. Anyone interested in the breed, or wanting stock can find Somogyi on Facebook, or may call 306-621-7426.

UBC team designs autonomous ag robot Vancouver, British Columbia, October 15, 2020 – A University of British Columbia student design team is developing a fully autonomous agricultural robot, driven by their belief that Canada can lead the world in sustainable farming. The UBC AgroBot aims to precisely exterminate weeds and fertilize crops as well as record data from a farmer’s operation. The team has grown from four to 40 plus students with backgrounds in various engineering disciplines and many with no prior exposure to agriculture. The AgroBot project involves four teams of students. The chassis team designs the mechanical body, structure and driving system. The extermination team works on the mechanics and chemical design to target weeds. The

navigation team develops the autonomous software to navigate crop rows and the image recognition team uses machine learning technology to allow the robot to identify crops and weeds. “To sustainably produce enough food for the world, there is an urgent need for innovation in the field of agriculture,” says Wendie Wu, AgroBot team member. “Engineering students are drawn by the technologies we see working in other industries and they’re eager to apply them in agriculture and help operations be as sustainable as possible.” The UBC team was the only Canadian university design team planning to attend the AgGrowBot Challenge hosted by Indiana’s Purdue University last May, however the COVID19 pandemic prevented the

AgroBot team from attending. Still, their success has been noticed at UBC where they were granted official engineering design team status and have received financial support from various organizations, including Farm Credit Canada (FCC). “Agriculture continues to be one of the most innovative and agile industries in Canada, says FCC marketing vice-president Fred Wall. “In order to feed a growing world population, we need to focus on sustainability and technology. FCC applauds the UBC AgroBot students for seeing the opportunity to apply their skills in agriculture and make a real difference for the food sector.” The interest and success of the AgroBot project has UBC supporting an aquaponics project as well, dubbed AgroPonics. It involves apply-

ing similar machine learning, image recognition and automation technologies to building an autonomous indoor garden system that is functional without soil. Team member Seline Choe is motivated about what agritech can do for agriculture and food in Canada. “The agritech industry is growing fast. I see the opportunity to use more image recognition and data collection for the benefit of everyone. There are a lot of companies in the research phase and we can be a part of the talent pipeline that will evolve those technologies,” Seline adds. “I can see hydroponics becoming bigger, from commercial use to homes, it can be a more efficient way to grow food by optimizing growing conditions. We need to come up with new ways to support the world’s population

with the food it needs.” The UBC students are continuing to work on both the AgroBot and AgroPonics projects. They hope to implement their products on local farms and on the university campus in the near future. FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture and food lender, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $38 billion. Our employees are dedicated to the future of Canadian agriculture and food. We provide flexible, competitively priced financing, management software, information and knowledge specifically designed for the agriculture and food industries. As a self-sustaining Crown corporation, we provide an appropriate return to our shareholder, and reinvest our profits back into the industries and communities we serve. Visit fcc.ca.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week

APP Continued from page A21 Brownridge said he does understand the need to protect land from potential damage caused by vehicles. Blair Mitchell, who farms north of Yorkton and works as an outfitter guide for hunters near Hudson Bay, says online discussion forums show people are confused about the law change. “(They) still think

it went through, but it actually hasn’t so it’s not enforceable … It’s kind of not a good thing, because a lot of land owners think they don’t have to post their land anymore (as No Trespassing),” he said. He and Brownridge questioned the need for the SaskLander app, when hunters already use the iHunter app, available on Apple

devices. It’s free to use, but its developer charges users for downloading maps and landowners’ contact info in each wildlife management zone (WMZ). Scribante and McClean said their app is owner-focused and hence more applicable to a wider range of recreational uses beyond hunting, like snowmobiling, hiking and ATV-driving.

“Grateful for the people at Revera The Bentley who care for us in every way. Every day.” Julie & Zoe

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From the friendly and dedicated staff to the residents who brighten up your day, our people are the ones who make retirement living so rewarding. Call 306-782-5552 today to learn more about our limited-time offers and why it may be time to consider retirement living.

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Season finale It reminded of a gridiron game encased in a snow globe as the Yorkton Lady Gridders played host to Estevan at Century Field Saturday afternoon. The Yorkton team had travelled to Estevan to face the local Viragos a week earlier, improving their record on the season to 2-0 with a 65-6 win

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94 Russell Dr, Yorkton

over the first-year Estevan team. It was much the same in terms of result Saturday with the Lady Gridders rolling over the visitors 68-7. The game wraps up a shortened season for Yorkton, finishing with three straight victories.

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Members of Yorkton Minor Football, parents and friends were out in the snow Saturday collecting garbage to make sure local parks are clean. The group began its efforts at Tupper Park, with plans to move to the skateboard park, and then on to Weinmaster Park. The park cleaning is a way for the young footballers to give back to the community which supports their program.