Yorkton This Week 2023-05-24

YFBTA plants trees at mill for Arbor Day

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – The Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association took part in Arbor Day celebrations May 21 at the site of the Yorkton Brick Mill.

“Since we began through YFBTA, when

we began one of the things that we did was to arrange for a signal event...where with YFBTA members we’d gather to ceremonially plant one or two or three or four trees,” said Walter Farquharson, board member for the YFBTA, in an interview with Yorkton This Week.

To commemorate Arbor Day the YFBTA planted evergreens along the south side of the Brick Mill property and will also give trees away to those who might have their own Arbor Day plans.

“It’s all part of a promotion so that as many people as possible would

find ways to get involved in planting or caring for trees and appreciating their importance within our communities and our world,” said Farquharson.

Farquharson said he was happy with the turnout for the event and encouraged adults to help youths get involved,

“the whole hope is that more and more people will get involved planting trees,” said Farquharson.

“I think that when adults plant trees with young people — with kids from the school or kids in your family or neighbourhood — they’ll remember that and they

begin to understand the importance of and the joy of planting trees,” said Farquharson. For those wishing to join the YFBTA, they can do so through the organization’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/yellowheadflyway.birdingtrail or by contacting a member.

Saskatchewan mining soars to new heights

SASKTODAY.ca

lion. Contributing factors included increased production and higher prices in response to supply disruptions, along with ever-increasing global demand.

Mineral sales for 2022 were over $19.4 bil-

The reopening of the McArthur River mine in northern Saskatchewan

allowed for increased production volumes of uranium, while gold saw the highest production numbers in over 30 years with a record 136,000 ounces extracted from the Seabee mine. The potash industry achieved record value

of sales and record production, stepping up to alleviate global food insecurity concerns due to geopolitical instability that continues to impact global supply. The potash industry in the province has committed to continue to invest

in increased production to meet global demand.

Securing the Future: Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy, will further drive investment in the province to increase exploration and grow the mining sector, according to a press

release.

Saskatchewan is home to occurrences of 23 of the 31 critical minerals on Canada’s list, nearly half of the world’s known reserves of potash, and the world’s largest high-grade uranium deposits.

YFF partners with city for luncheon

The Yorkton Film Festival is proud to announce that the Friday Luncheon May 26 will be hosted through partnership with the City of Yorkton.

“Yorkton has been home for the festival since 1947 and a major part of why the festival continues is due to the support that we receive from our city,” said Randy Goulden Executive Director of the YFF.

“Both from the municipality itself and the wonderful people who call this city home, our community support is what keeps us strong and

allows us to host such a world-class festival each year,” added Goulden.

The luncheon serves as a networking opportunity for festival delegates, who are able to forge meaningful connections with funders and fellow filmmakers, throughout their time in Yorkton.

come to great reputation for hospitality, and we do our best to ensure that every delegate gets to experi-

Yorkton on behalf of the city and the festival to our delegates, who travel here ence what Saskatchewan and Yorkton has to offer.” said Goulden. – Submitted

Staff Photo

Members of the the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association and other guests planted trees at the site of the Yorkton Brick Mill May 21.

Props to You year end dance recital

Extravadance Studio presented their year-end show May 20 and 21. Over 40 choreographed performances were showcased during the events ranging from tap dance to hip hop.

TheatreOne hardware handed out

Yorkton’ s Paper Bag Players hosted Theatre Saskatchewan’s

TheatreOne Festival ‘A Theatrical Battle Royale’ May 10-13.

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Among the festivities were several workshops, including directing, puppetry, clowning and script work.

Five theatre groups from Saskatchewan performed at Sacred Heart

Theatre and were adjudicated by Skye Brandon.

The award winners were: Technical Merit - Smokescreen Productions (Prince Albert)

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Best Performance in a supporting role - Jennifer Maier Paper Bag Players and Heather Derowiz Odyssey Productions (Prince Albert) with honourable mentions to Kelly Kacsmar Paper Bag Players and Pagan Racette Breaking Down Barriers (Regina)

Best Performance in a lead role - Cara Stelmaschuk Tale Spinner Theatre (North Battleford) and Dave Mulgrew Smokescreen Productions

Best Director - Ian

Dickson Smokescreen Productions with honourable mention Dannyll Challis Tale Spinner Theatre runner up to best entry - Kafka’s Monkey Tale Spinner Theatre Best Entry – ‘I’m on a Train’ Smokescreen Productions. Paper Bag Players thanks everyone who attended and sponsored to help make this event a success.

Next year’s TheatreFest will be held in North Battleford April 21-27, 2024.

Up Front

YFBTA launch road allowance program

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Road allowances can be an important habitat for wildlife.

To promote preserving the habitat, and to invite people to use and enjoy the public land the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA) has launched a Road Allowance Project (AKA ‘Skip the Ditches’).

The official launch of the project took place Wednesday, May 17, at the Morley Maier farm south of Yorkton.

The event saw those gathered tour the roads being marked with signage culminating in the installation of one of three signs on the roads.

The idea for the project emerged out of the 2022 YFBTA Annual General Meeting when

“a committee was struck to look into what could be done to bring the public’s attention to the importance of preserving and having access to road allowance habitat within rural municipalities,” detailed the February issue of the organization’s newsletter.

People should also recognize that the recent ‘Trespass to Property Legislation’ does not include road allowances.

The importance of road allowances has been noted by others too.

“Every scrap of public land is precious in a province that has privatized 85 per cent of its prairie ecozone (and is working hard to sell off the rest). One type of public land that gets little attention is the undeveloped road allowance, a strip of natural landscape that is

supposed to run along the edge of many sections of farmland in Saskatchewan,” wrote Trevor Herriot in his online blog.

“. . . Historically, road allowances formed ribbons of nature around cultivated land, a wild kingdom belonging to no man where anyone was free to hunt, walk, camp, pick berries; where badgers, meadowlarks, and burrowing owls thrived, and where the lady slipper and the monarch butterfly took refuge.”

The YFBTA committee met and after discussion it was decided to install a sign at each end of a designated road allowance promoting the value of road allowance habitat and inviting ‘All to Enjoy’.

The signs are installed on road allowances with the permission of the rural municipal-

ity in order to bring attention to the valuable habitat that lies within the road allowance boundary.

The YFBTA has funded the creation of 80 signs to-date which have been installed at road allowance location in for east central RMS; Saltcoats, Orkney, Wallace and Cana.

“Rural Saskatchewan is changing. Land prices are high and going higher. Land speculators and farm corporations are buying land, clearing the land of bush, clearing old farmsteads and draining sloughs and potholes to enhance the value of the land. Road allowances have not escaped the bulldozers and the trac-hoes. In some cases road allowances have lost much of the habitat within their boundaries,” detailed the YFBTA news-

letter.

“Road allowances are not owned by corporations or land speculators. They are controlled by the Rural Municipality and thus all ratepayers within the municipality. They provide access to all when passable. They provide valuable native habitat for many diverse plants and animals.

“Road allowances are important. Signs are installed as a reminder that road allowances should be preserved for ‘All to Enjoy’.”

YFBTA received a number of donations to defray expenditures. Additional donations are invited and may be directed to Monique Smith SecretaryTreasurer YFBTA, Box 252 Saltcoats, Saskatchewan S0A 3R0.

Local take on World Bee Day

On Saturday, May 20 the world celebrated some of the smallest and hardest working creatures on the planet – bees.

This year, under the theme ‘bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production,’ World Bee Day calls for global action to support agricultural production that protects bees and other pollinators.

For one Yorkton family, this weekend feels like a good time to celebrate bees.

In 2021, the Hunter family successfully ran an urban beekeeping pilot for the city, inspired by their eight year old son. This spring, they celebrate their first successful overwintering of a hive of honeybees.

“All through the winter we had bees coming out of the hive on warm days, many dying in the snow,” said Allison Henderson Hunter. “We thought there was a problem because there were so many dead bees in front of the hive.

“We learned not to

to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and of the many challenges they face today.

May 20 was selected to acknowledge one of the pioneers of beekeeping, Anton Janša from

Slovenia, who was born on May 20, 1734.

So this Saturday, let’s all do our part to celebrate and help out the small and mighty, incredible bees. Without them, 75 per cent of the world‘s crops producing fruits and seeds, including canola, would not thrive. To

find out

more about the buzz on World Bee Day, visit www.fao.org/worldbee-day/en And for more information on beekeeping in Yorkton, visit https:// www.yorkton.ca/en/yourcity/urban-beekeeping. aspx — Submitted

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bring frozen half-alive bees into the house, and that these cleansing flights are a normal part of winter behaviour -- dead bees on the snow is a good sign of a strong hive.”

And a strong hive it has been - producing roughly 15 gallons of honey last year.

In the winter of 202122, beekeepers across Canada experienced devastating losses due to mites,” noted Henderson Hunter.

“We are really learning the importance of careful pest management, even in a small hobby beekeeping operation,” she said. “Without careful management, we could lose our bees like last winter and possibly impact other nearby hives.”

As a result of the 2021 pilot and the ensuing bylaw change, Yorkton residents can legally keep one hive of honeybees in their backyard.

“It’s a fun way to connect as a family and a great way to boost your flower and veg production,” said Henderson Hunter.

World Bee Day was first established in 2018

Members of the YFBTA install signage promoting the value if road allowance habitat.

Moe is right — Net-zero impossible for SaskPower

MURRAY MANDRYK

Politics

Not all Premier Scott Moe’s fights with the federal Liberal government have been completely necessary … or even all that productive.

Of course, there are dyed-in-the-wool supporters of Moe and his Saskatchewan Party who would take umbrage with this.

And there are many more casual political observers in this province who have their own valid reasons to oppose most everything Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done. There are reasons why the Liberals and the name Trudeau are not popular here.

As such, it’s been good politics for Moe to simply oppose most everything Trudeau does — whether it’s the carbon tax that Liberals do keep raising because they believe it’s somehow good for them or opposing single-use plastics that local rural and urban municipalities support because they are clogging up landfills.

But while politicians know the value of telling people what they think they want to hear, the collective wisdom out there is usually wise enough to figure out what does make sense and is in their interests.

Maybe Moe and his Sask. Party ministers haven’t exactly been known to pick their spots, but there are times when the battle it chooses with Ottawa is the right one.

Last week’s opposition to federal government’s goal of requiring electrical grids to be net-zero by 2035 — something Moe described as “impossible and unaffordable” — is clearly the fight to pick.

To make his case (or perhaps to clearly distinguish this fight from the usual political fights) Moe let SaskPower President Rupen Pandya do the initially talking.

Pandya explained SaskPower now generates 65 per cent of its current 5,437 megawatt current generating capacity from non-revenue fossil fuels.

Only 25 per cent from coal, but a perhaps surprising 40 per cent from natural gas that contribute less to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The remainder comes from the following sources: 16 per cent come through hydro; 11 per cent through wind; five per cent power agreements like buying hydroelectric power from Manitoba, and; three per cent from solar and other sources like netmetering.

While we could buy a little more green power from Manitoba, Pandya noted that province only have 100- to 200- more megwatts sell before it reaches its capacity.

Pandya further noted renewables are also exceedingly expensive and less reliability on calm, cloudy and cold days when SaskPower must still maintain 80 per cent of its baseload power from more reliable sources.

Moreover, that baseline continues to grow and Pandya suggests which Saskatchewan will need more than 7,000 megawatts by 2035, given its current population and economic growth.

To simply replace that 65 per cent of power generated from fossil fuels (net-zero by 2035) SaskPower would require $46 billion in capital spending — something that would hike your power bills by 107 per cent.

That is, of course, if SaskPower could do things like build small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in that short 12-year period, which Pandya said is an impossibility.

Hearing the word “impossibility” from Pandya carried more weight than hearing it from Moe, who generally sounded more reasoned last week.

“We will not risk plunging our homes, our schools, our hospitals, our special care homes, our businesses into the cold and darkness because of the ideological whims of others,” Moe said.

Well, maybe there was a little political taint. Old habits are hard to break.

But Moe is surely not wrong to call the yet-tobe-released clean electricity standards “unrealistic”.

As an alternative, Moe released a “Saskatchewan’s plan” calling net-zero at SaskPower to achieve net zero by 2050, with Ottawa covering 75 per cent of the cost of Saskatchewan’s first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) and 50 per cent of any further new low-emission renewable power.

That does sound reasonable. And in this era where politics is defined by sometimes-lessrational fights, it was a welcomed approach.

Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics since 1983.

Editorial◆

What a difference a year makes

David Willberg Editor of the Estevan Mercury

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since the Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship was held in Estevan.

The tournament was, by anyone’s standards, an incredible success. It was a showcase of our community, its people and the magnificent venue at Affinity Place. The hockey was great. The host committee and the Estevan Bruins did a fantastic job of pulling off the biggest, and arguably best, tournament in the Centennial Cup’s 50-year history.

And it was just great to have a tournament like this again after the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lot has certainly changed, though, for the tournament and for Hockey Canada.

It was last year on May 26 – the off day for the tournament, between the end of the round robin and the start of the playoffs – that a story broke about an alleged sexual assault in London, Ont., involving eight players from the Canadian Hockey League, including members of the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship team that won the gold medal a few months earlier.

The fallout resulted in serious consequences for Hockey Canada. It lost federal funding for nearly a year. The CEO was forced to step down after just a few months on the job. The entire Hockey Canada board stepped down. Corporate sponsors backed out, includ-

ing Tim Hortons, who sponsored last year’s tournament in Estevan.

Hockey Canada has spent the last year trying to emerge from this scandal and all of the associated revelations and consequences.

And now there’s uncertainty about how junior A hockey will look in the coming years, after the B.C. Hockey League decided to withdraw from Hockey Canada. The BCHL decided in 2021 to pull out of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, which is why they didn’t have a representative at the Centennial Cup in Estevan last year or Portage la Prairie, Man., this year.

Now the B.C. league has decided to withdraw from Hockey Canada all together. When making the decision, one of the primary and recurring reasons is to be able to have players at the U18 level from outside of the province playing in their league.

You could still see 16 and 17-yearolds playing in B.C., as long as they were residing in that province.

Now, a 16-year-old from Saskatchewan could conceivably play in B.C.

There’s also rampant speculation about whether some of the more highprofile teams in Alberta – including the Brooks Bandits, who won last year’s tournament in Estevan – would abandon the Alberta league and join this new rebel league.

There are also questions about the eligibility of players who play in the

Continued on Page A13

Welcome to ‘Wordy Wednesday’ brought to you by our friends at Yorkton Public Library, (including Slo the friendly sloth), and appearing here courtesy of Yorkton This Week. Happy Wordy

Wednesday! Unctuous is the word of the week, which is a formal word used to describe someone who speaks and behaves in a way that is meant to seem friendly and polite but that is unpleasant because it is obviously not sincere. For example, politicians are often at their most unctuous during election years, full of empty promises made solely to win over certain voters. Unctuous originally meant “fatty,” “oily,” and “smooth and greasy in texture or appearance.”

Unction can mean "anointment" or it can name something used to anoint, such as a soothing or lubricating oil. That idea of oiliness led to unctuous, which can describe a person’s slickness of false sincerity, which leaves an unwelcome residue—much like that of some ointments. (Merriam-Webster. com).

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Blasting off with planned Rocket Day

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Ever wanted to blast a rocket into the clouds?

Well you can this June as Skies the Limit hosts ‘Rocket Day’ which is a chance to build a rocket model kit and then have help launching it into the sky, explained Joe Schmeider, store proprietor.

“I’m trying to make an event for kids,” he said, then adding anyone interested can participate. “It doesn’t matter what age you are.”

Schmeider said he hopes the activity is one

where adults will help youngsters build the rocket with the kids and then come out June 4 to help with the launch activities.

While there are more expensive model kits Schmeider said for beginners they are typically $15-$25, and of course they need to be purchased ahead of time to build.

The actual ‘Rocket Day’ registration is $25, with Skies the Limit supplying the rocket engines, and the equipment to launch. Registration can be done at the store loca-

tion at #12 First Ave. North.

Schmeider said he is hoping for good weather so that a couple of ‘special’ events can take place. He said there is a local rocketeer he has spoken to with he hopes will bring out a rocket which stands 6.5 feet tall, and can hit a speed of 700 miles per hour. It has a built in GPS to aid in recovering.

There are also some radio-control airplane enthusiasts Schmeider hopes are on hand too.

Schmeider said plans are for a second Rocket Day Aug. 13.

YBID reports to City Council

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

Yorkton’s Business Improvement District made its annual presentation to Yorkton Council at its regular meeting Monday, May 15.

“We know that the YBID projects and sponsorships are a crucial part of beautifying our District so we have a great and prosperous district,” detailed material circulated to Council.

In making the presentation YBID executive director Donna Brothwell noted most of the organization’s funding comes through the city via funds that are collected by the levy as well as the matching Grant of up to 100,000 each year which has not been increase since inception in 2004.

To increase funds available for projects Brothwell added YBID’s now investigating grants to help with the ever increasing costs and to be able to bring new projects such as June Days

to fruition. Brothwell said the funds are used to both sponsor programs and to undertake projects of benefit to businesses in the business district and the city.

The projects include June Days which return in 2023.

In 2022, the five days hosted in June brought out some 1200 people and the resulting activity in the downtown.

Brothwell also noted YBID has assumed all fiduciary and maintenance responsibilities for the mural since the Renaissance Group dissolved a few years ago. With the Mural restored in 2021 by the original artists plus two local artists Tonya Vermette and Angelina Cardinal it continues to be a beautiful addition to the City.

In 2022 the Clock was moved to the Old Mill location in which YBID is grateful for the placement, said Brothwell.

“With Commitment from the City to help move and restore it to

working it makes a beautiful addition to this historic site,” noted the YBID report.

In terms of sponsor-

ships YBID donated $1000 to the Film Festival, and in partnership with SIGN the Mobility Car continues, and continues

to sponsor this much needed service.

Looking ahead YBID will undertake some strategic planning, said

Brothwell, noting the last Strategic Planning session was in 2017 which developed a plan for 2018 – 2020.

Rocket Day is slated for June

Patrons purchasing goods during YBID’s Ukrainian themed June Day in 2022.

Thank You!

We are raising funds to purchase equipment for key areas of the Yorkton Regional Hospital. Some of this equipment will allow new services to be provided in the hospital; the equipment is: An echocardiogram machine – we currently do not have echocardiogram services and we need this

An ultrasound machine – this is a replacement piece of equipment

An isolette for maternity – we do not have a current isolette, and we need one if our pediatricians are going to expand services

Lab – a number of items, including: a cytospin, an orthogel, a centrifuge, a transfusion medicine fridge and phlebotomy chairs.

We are also raising funds to purchase equipment to help Parkland College deliver new healthcare courses for positions we need. For example the college will begin delivering a Medical Lab Assistant course in August. We need to raise the funds to purchase that equipment.

Thank you – to the nurses, doctors, technicians and all hospital staff who participated in the interviews. You did a great job explaining how you use the equipment we have purchased and what benefit buying this new equipment will provide to patients who need health services. You do a great job explaining the work you do and people clearly responded strongly.

Thank you to these businesses and community organizations who donated:

Thank you – To everyone who made a donation. This was the most successful Radiothon we have had. While we raised a record amount of money during the Radiothon we need to raise just over $1 million to put all of this equipment in place.

We hope those of you who haven’t made a donation yet can do so over the next few months.

The GX94 and Fox FM Radiothon was a huge success, raising $343,232.

Agriculture

Mingling good way to learn things

There are times when journalists can get overly-desk bound.

That it is a condition that seems even more likely to occur these days when the job is increasingly about posting articles to the web, promoting posts via social media, and of course often turning to a web browser to aid in story research.

But, the best place to learn things, especially about local things which are the bread and butter of community newspapers, is out mingling with people.

Recently I attended the launch of an effort to promote preserv-

ing the habitat, and to invite people to use and enjoy the public land by the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA).

The effort, a Road Allowance Project (AKA ‘Skip the Ditches’ seeks to mark road allowances on little used roads as a way of indicating the trees and shrubs along the road are indeed wildlife habitat which can be enjoyed by people.

Certainly on the short wagon ride to ‘officially’ install a sign – a photo op for the program launch – we saw a number of different birds; a Canada goose

Agriculture THIS WEEK

Calvin Daniels

nesting on a round bale, a coot out for a swim in a slough, a green-winged teale taking flight, and a robin’s nest in a tree.

While I am not a birder, I at least understand the concept of enjoying a hobby of which I have a few too many myself.

And the idea that the

road allowances should, for the most part be left as wild and natural as possible for wildlife to use and the public who own the lands to enjoy, is a rather common-sense approach to preserving nature.

While the wagon ride was actually rather

relaxing, no computer keys to punch, or email to check on, it was also interesting and not for the few bird species I sort of knew among those seen or heard.

It was about the conversations.

It did not take long after my arrival to be asked if I thought the full house gallery at the most recent meeting of Yorkton Council had collectively said enough to convince Council not to sell the building that currently houses the Yorkton Public Library? It was a question which fostered some healthy discussion.

And there was talk of ticks – nasty critters that they are – and fancy pigeons and Oberhasli goats, and how through the years farmers have at times planted trees as a farm asset and at times cut them down as a farm nuisance. There isn’t likely a story to be written from any of the conversations but that doesn’t matter. It was a time where, as a journalist I simply mingled and chatted out among rural people. It was a reconnection of a sort that all of us in the weekly newspaper business can use with our readers on a regular basis.

Seeding makes good progress

Producers have made substantial progress in seeding over the last week. Seeding is currently 38 per cent completed in the province, up 29 per cent from last week. This is behind the fiveyear average of 53 per cent, but it is close to the 10-year average of 44 per cent. Currently, seeding is more advanced in the western half of the province. Rain in the southeast has provided moisture relief while halting seeding operations for a few days.

East-Central Saskatchewan:

• Crop District 5 –Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas

• Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas

Producers have made great seeding progress this week and the region has 21 per cent seeded. This is ahead of last year of 13 per cent and behind the five-year average of 33 per cent seeded. Field peas and durum are both 52 per

cent seeded and are leading the overall seeding progress.

Barley is 36 per cent, lentils 34 per cent and spring wheat 31 per cent seeded.

Flax is the furthest from completion with only two per cent in the ground.

There were no significant rain events this past week in the east-central region of Saskatchewan.

The Esterhazy and Craik areas received 18 mm of rain this past week. Other parts of the east-central region received trace amounts of rain.

Cropland topsoil moisture conditions is 83 per cent adequate while hay and pastureland is at 80 per cent adequate.

Fourteen per cent of topsoil moisture is short in both.

Producers are busy spraying when not working with cattle or seeding.

Producers are concerned regarding potential dry spells impacting soil moisture levels and are hoping for rain soon.

Provincially

The northwest is currently furthest along

Whiskers & Tails

with 55 per cent of crop in the ground. The westcentral is at 54 per cent and the southwest 43 per cent. The southeast region has the least amount of acres seeded in the province with 18 per cent of crop in so far. Wet fields in the southeast and east central regions have slowed fieldwork.

Field peas are the crop with the most seeding progress, with 54 per cent seeded. Lentils (50 per cent) and spring wheat (43 per cent) are leading the crops in seeding progress. Oats (19 per cent), canola (19 per cent), flax (10 per cent), and soybeans (7 per cent) are the crops with the least amount of seeding progress.

Pockets of rain moved through the province last Friday and replen-

Cat quirks decoded

Cats demonstrate fascinating behavioural traits that us humans often have a hard time wrapping our heads around. To better understand our feline friends, here are three common behaviours decoded.

1. Why don’t adult cats meow to each other?

Did you know that kittens only meow to communicate with their mothers? Once they’ve been weaned, however, the role of mother shifts from feline to human, who now becomes the sole recipient of a kitten’s soft meows. While males in situations of rivalry and females in heat do vocalize their intent, these sounds are quite different than the gentle meow of a housecat.

2. Why do cats circle your feet when you come home? Sorry to break it to you, but cats that rub their heads against your ankles as you pass through the front door are acting from a place of authority rather than affection. It’s called olfactory marking, and here’s how it works: our feline friends possess a number of sebaceous glands, the majority of which are found on their heads and on the ends of their tails. These glands emit pheromones that have a familiar and reassuring scent. Because cats feel most comfortable when everything within their territory is marked with their own scent, they habitually rub against objects and humans as a means of transferring their odour and staking their claim.

3. Why do cats purposefully make things fall?

Do your cats drive you crazy every time they make one of your household items fall off a table — on purpose? Well, you’ll be surprised to know that they learnt this trick from none other than you — yes, you. Every time you drop something — a fork, for example — you pick it right back up. So, in hopes of attracting your attention and forcing you off the couch, your sneaky feline throws items on the floor!

ished many dry areas in the southeast. The Bienfait region received the most with up to 78 mm of rain. Other notable rain in the last week includes the Vanguard area receiving 24 mm and the Marengo area receiving 22 mm of rain. Rain was also received

in the northern region of the province, with a maximum of 13 mm reported in the North Battleford region.

Provincial topsoil moisture levels have shifted slightly from adequate to short this week. Topsoil moisture for cropland is reported as 69 per cent adequate and 24 per cent short. Pasture and hayland topsoil moisture follows a similar pattern with 63 per cent being adequate and 28 per cent short.

Producers are busy seeding while watching their early seeded crops begin to emerge. Many are busy applying pre-seed herbicide

applications and preworking their fields ahead of seeding. Cattle are being moved out to greening pastures and branding has started. With the dry conditions, producers are reminded to stay vigilant about fire risk and to have fire prevention equipment at the ready. Stress is high this time of year for producers and producers are reminded to take safety precautions in all the work they do. The Farm Stress Line can help if you are managing farm difficulties by providing support for farmers and ranchers. Toll Free: 1

800 667 4442

Stop kochia from setting seed

By Shawn Senko

Kochia that survived pre-seed burnoff needs to be taken out before it drops seed later in the season. The big weeds can produce at least 15,000 seeds per plant –often many more – so letting them set seed and then spreading that seed with the combine can move a herbicide-resistant population across a field very quickly.

Kochia with resistance to both Group 2 and Group 9 herbicides is found all across the Prairies in big numbers.

Agriculture and AgriFood Canada weed scientists have also confirmed kochia populations with resistance to Group 4 and Group 14 herbicides.

The best practice is to control small kochia plants in the pre-seed window with a tank mix of effective herbicides. If kochia is still alive after crop emergence, growers have fewer options in canola fields.

The only in-crop herbicide option that works on Group-2 and Group-9 resistant kochia is an early application of Liberty on Liberty Link canola cultivars. Group-

10 glufosinate in Liberty will control all resistant kochia populations as long as plants are not too large to kill at the time of spraying.

Roundup Ready, TruFlex and Clearfield systems based on Group9 and Group-2 weed control are no longer effective on most kochia across the prairies.

In all cases, scout after spraying. If kochia plants survived pre-seed burnoff and the first in-crop spray, use these other measures to stop them.

Physically remove kochia plants. Options include mowing areas where kochia is the dominant species and crop yield expectations are low. Hand weeding could be worthwhile in areas where individual resistant (or likely resistant) plants are present.

Use combine seed destroyers. Combine weed seed destroyers, the mechanical hammer mills that pulverize all seeds in the chaff, can effectively destroy at least 90 per cent of kochia seeds – as long as harvest is not delayed to the point where major seed drop has begun.

Apply Edge in the fall.

This won’t stop seed set this year, but could be part of the solution in fields with a lot of resistant kochia. Group-3 ethalfluralin (Edge) applied in the fall on fields planned for canola the following year can help manage kochia resistant to glyphosate and other herbicides.

Canola growers with herbicide-resistant kochia may want to look at other long-term management strategies. They could seed kochiainfested areas to salttolerant perennial forage rather than continue to throw inputs at acres with no hope of profitability. They could diversify the crop rotation with earlyand late-seeded crops, including winter cereals and forages that provide early season competition. If poor drainage is at the root of salinity problems, localized tile drainage may remediate low productivity areas where kochia tends to thrive. Farms that prefer Roundup Ready or TruFlex canola may want to consider cultivars with stacked systems – TruFlex and Liberty Link – to give them flexibility to manage herbicide-resistant kochia.

For more on this topic, please read “How to contain herbicide-resistant kochia” and “Integrated weed management: Best practices” in the Weeds section at canolawatch. org/fundamentals.

–Shawn Senko is an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. Email senkos@ canolacouncil.org.

Sp orts

U14 Blitz do well in Winnipeg

Yorkton Blitz

Volleyball Club had their 14U Women’s Elite Summit Team compete at Volleyball Canada’s National Competition in Winnipeg May 12 -14. The Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals are the premier domestic, national event for the Canadian Volleyball Community, related Heidi Russell in a release.

Winnipeg hosted 88 teams from the western part of the country including B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

The 14U Summit that represented Yorkton Blitz at this national competition, following their team name, advanced at each tournament they competed at provincially ending their regular club season at provincials at number-six in tier 1

out of 38 Saskatchewan teams.

Throughout the season there was notable growth in all players as some players had only started volleyball this last fall. Worth mentioning as most teams competing at this national level had players with volleyball skill of two seasons or more, offered Russell. Being able to compete

AirBadminton fresh take on old sport

What is AirBadminton?

Badminton as we know it is a popular, fun and inclusive sport with more than 300 million active players globally, encouraging participation and excitement around the game of Badminton.

AirBadminton is an ambitious new development project designed by the Badminton World Federation to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds and beaches around the world.

“It’s a new direction kind of,” offered John Li who was part of the Canadian men’s team competing at the Pan Am Qualifier of the ANOC World Beach Games 2023.

Li, who hails from Edmonton said AirBadminton is looked at as a way to attract and include “more people in the sport.”

While there have been ‘lawn’ badminton sets available for years – I myself played some 50 years ago in our yard – Airbadminton offers a recently designed shuttlecock better suited to outdoor conditions.

AirShuttle is the new shuttlecock optimized for the outdoor badminton game, AirBadminton, notes www.badmintonalley.com

“The development of the AirShuttle has been a five-year project. It all started with a vision to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased resistance to wind, to allow people to have a more positive experience of badminton outdoors.”

The main considerations were that it must be played with the same rackets and have good flight performance, spin response and durability, detailed the site.

The basic criteria of AirShuttle were:

*The shuttlecocks must have similar trajectory, acoustics and play feel to that of a traditional indoor shuttle.

*Similar flight properties with limited influence from humidity variations.

*Minimal impact from side and axial wind.

*Needed to be able to be played in winds up to 12 km/h.

*The shuttlecocks be durable and cost-effective.

During the period 2015-18, over 30 prototypes were developed and subject to rigorous testing.

“A preferred design

CALVIN DANIELS Sports

was confirmed in early 2018 and prototypes were then tested in independent studies by the University of Alicante and the Universiti of Malaya as part of the pilot program, using groups of players from beginner level through to Olympiclevel athletes,” explained www.badmintonalley.com

Results from this testing were analyzed and patents posted for the key design elements.

In March 2020, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) introduced the shuttlecock, AirShuttle, to the global market.

Li said the approved shuttlecock for AirBadminton is heavier than the familiar feathered ‘bird’ which helps it deal with some wind outdoors. Holes in the plastic bird “allow the wind to go through it” too, he added.

Since the bird is heavier, racquets need to be strung more loosely for AirBadminton, noted Li.

But, even with less tension the bird flies fast.

“I would say the birds are moving quite fast,” said Li, adding the weight might actually increase some shot speeds above those typically seen with the indoor game.

At the Pan Am Qualifier of the ANOC World Beach Games 2023 men’s and women’s triples were showcased, with games played on sand.

Li, however explained there is no reason AirBadminton can’t be played on grass, or other outdoor surfaces, which he said is great as that broadens the opportunity to “attract more people to access the sport.”

For international play the sport looks to connect to the growing range of ‘beach’ sports which include everything from the now well-recognized beach volleyball, to beach versions of rugby and handball.

While singles and doubles are played the triples are something rarely seen outside of some fun at practice, said Li.

Badminton is generally seen “more as an individual sport,” but

at the National level was a great privilege, and was made possible through the club, spon-

sors, coaches, families, and public supporting fundraising efforts, she said, adding the the team

did not disappoint and won gold in tier 6, which was 41 out of the 88 teams involved.

with three on-court players and a fourth player on the roster, Li said it felt much more like a team sport. That was aided by the rule a player is not allowed back-to-back hits so players really need to work as a unit.

“When you play on the beach it’s a whole different dynamic,” said Li, who admitted he is more of a traditional player, but said being part of the Canadian team “was really fun.”

“. . . It’s another opportunity. I’d be happy to go play some more AirBadminton.”

The potential is certainly there, even the Olympics one day, offered Li.

“I do believe there is that vision for the sport,” he said, adding the caveat that the game is “so new: so it will take a year or two “to see where Airbadminton trends.”

The Pan Am Qualifier sets the stage for the upcoming ANOC World Beach Games which is an international multi-sport event organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). The games are held biennially in oddnumbered years, with a focus on non-Olympic beach and water sports.

It was first held in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

The second edition of the ANOC World Beach Games will take place in Bali, Indonesia on 5-12 August 2023.

“Following the great success of the inaugural edition of the Games in 2019, many of the same dynamic and exciting sports which thrilled fans in Qatar will return for Bali 2023,” noted www. anocolympic.org. “There will also be the addition of some new water and beach sports which will give NOCs and their fans something new to cheer about.”

The sports programme at Bali 2023 comprises: aquathlon, beach handball, beach soccer, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4×4, beach water polo, beach wrestling, individual kata, open water swimming 5km, 3x3 basketball, AirBadminton, surfing, beach sprint rowing, and WingFoil racing.

Expos best Broncos in weekend games

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – The Parkland Expos bested the White Butte Broncos in back-to-back games May 21.

It was a 9-0 victory for

the Expos in the first of their two game series with Colton Hubic throwing a shutout for the team.

The Expos had nine runs in the fourth inning to contribute to the final score. The Broncos took an

early lead in the second game of the day, but the Expos managed three runs in the third inning and lead on the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, coming away from the match with a 12-7 win.

14U Women’s Elite Summit Team competed at Volleyball Canada’s National Competition in Winnipeg May 12 -14

The Parkland Expos outscored the White Butte Broncos 9-0 and 12-7 in consecutive games.

ANTONIUK – The family of Anne Antoniuk of Yorkton sadly announce her passing on May 13, 2023 at the age of 102 years. Anne was born March 22, 1921 to Mike & Sophie Andrusiak (nee Boychuk) in the Donwell district. Anne received her education at Mazeppa School. On October 24, 1943 Anne was united in marriage to Nick Antoniuk at Donwell West Church. The couple farmed in the Rhein District until 1976 when they retired to Yorkton. Anne was a faithful parishioner of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. These included St. Mary’s (Boychuk’s) Church in the Rhein district, All Saints Church in Rhein and the Holy Transfiguration Church in Yorkton where Anne was a member of the Parish Choir and a dedicated volunteer of the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium. Anne sold her house in Yorkton on Collacott Street in 2004 and moved to an apartment on Dalebrooke Street until she moved into the Yorkton Nursing Home in March 2017. Her hobbies at the nursing home included Bingo, Adult Coloring Books, and Word Search. Anne was predeceased by her husband Nick in 1993, her father in 1950, her mother in 1969, her sister Elsie Oystryk in 2002, brother-inlaw John Oystryk in 2005 and their children (Anne’s nephews) Harvey & Alan Oystryk in 1975, also by her sister Mary Boychuk in 2001, brother-in-law Stephen Boychuk in 1998 and their children (Anne’s nieces) Linda in 1971, Virginia in 2013 & their son-in-law Ivan Johnson in 1975. Anne leaves to cherish her memory her 3 nieces Alicia (Orest) Hubic and their son Darcy (Kat), Shirley Major and her daughter Charlene & grandson Zachary, and Sandra Boychuk, 2 great-nieces (Virginia’s daughters) Cheryl (Jamie) Switzer and their family, and Faye Johnson, Virginia’s husband Jerry Hamm, Olga Antoniuk (Anne’s sister-in-law) and her son Robert. Also to cherish her memory are several special cousins as well as many long-time friends. Anne will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her family and friends. The Funeral Service was held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Rev. Fr. Michael Faryna of Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton officiating. The cantor was Jason Kopan. The interment followed in the Garden of Crucifixion at Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Dennis Schneider, Tammie Onslow, Kerry Perepeluk, Dustin Perepeluk, Charlotte Filipchuk Gardulski and Sebastian Gardulski serving as the casket bearers. Memorials were directed to a Charity of Choice. Condolences to the family can be posted at baileysfuneralhome.com

NEWMAN– Itiswitha heavyheartthatweannouncethesuddenbut peacefulpassingofRonald CraigNewmanonThursday,May11,2023,atthe ageof75years,withhis daughterKirstenandson-inlawIanbyhisside.Hewas predeceasedbyhisparents, FrankandJeanNewman; brotherStuart;uncleand auntWilliamandJoyceMcMurtrie;andauntMaeMcMurtrie.Craigleavesbehind hisdaughter,Kirsten;son-in -lawIanClark;andgrandsonsKeatonandLachlan. CraigwasbornonApril7, 1948,inYorkton,SKand grewupprimarilyinPrince AlbertandYorkton,moving asanRCMPfamilywithhis father,StaffSargentMajor FrankNewman.Craighad manyhobbies,whichincludedhismostproudpassion forracingaclassicAustinMini.Hespokeoftenofracingbothoniceandon atraditionaldirttrack.Healsoenjoyedgolfing,woodworkingandhadalove forbuildingmodelairplanesandboats.Heworkedinsalesmuchofhislife, proudlyworkingforFiat,BensonandHedges,TheNuttyClub,Blackwood HodgeandNevadaBobs.Heownedalandscapingcompanyforaperiodof timeandmostrecentlyretiredasaCommissionairewiththeReginaPolice Department.AlthoughCraiglivedafairlyprivatelife,thosewhoknewhim sawCraigasanincrediblykindandintelligentmanwithaheartoflove.In hislateryears,hesurroundedhimselfbyphotosofhisgrandsonsandloved theirvisitsandhearingabouttheiractivities.CraigwillbeCelebratedinaPrivateFamilyServiceinYorktonatalaterdate.Toleaveanonlinemessage ofcondolence,pleasevisitwww.speersfuneralchapel.com.

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Obituaries

SLATER - Ross Slater, born on June 25, 1946 in Russell, Manitoba passed away on May 14, 2023 at the age of 76. Ross was the only child of John and Amelia (Marion Rice) Slater. The family moved to a farm 3 miles south of Binscarth, Manitoba, where they lived til 1957, at which time Marion got a job at Shoal Lake Hospital as Matron/Administrator. Ross played hockey and played other winter sports for years. They had a house by the lake and he took up water skiing. They had a half section of farmland to the west, feeding approx. 50 animals during the winters. Summer holidays would bring work within the construction industry, operating bulldozers, scrapers, graders, truck driving and operating associated equipment. Ross spent the 1962-63 school year at the Notre Dame College playing hockey and football. 1963-64 was spent at the Shoal Lake School. In 1965 the “construction bug” bit, and Ross bought a new TD20B Cat and went building roads in western MB. and eastern SK. 1972 saw Ross settling in Yorkton, SK., purchasing a house and living there until his death. Ross married Holly (Myer) in 1993. In 1994 they happily greeted their son Fred and in 1997 Silken made the family complete. An attempt at raising cattle and custom haying was tried for about 12 years but then abandoned and construction took over full time. When John died, the road building seized and trucking and excavating became frontline, which lasted until 2013 when 3 heart attacks halted all operations. A sale was held and construction was at an end after 48+ years. Ross leaves his wife Holly and children Fred and Silken (and partners) to mourn his passing, as well as numerous cousins from both Ross’s and Holly’s side, and many friends that were considered family to all of the Slaters. Ross will forever be remembered and loved. A private family funeral will be held at a later date. Donations are kindly asked to go to two of Ross’s favorite charities; Brayden Ottenbrieit Close Cuts for Cancer (of which Ross took part for many years), and Telemiracle. Condolences may be left for the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com.

Notice to Creditors

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the estate of Estate of Frank Yaholnitsky, late of Yorkton, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased; All claims against the above estate, duly verified by Statutory Declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 9th day of June, A.D. 2023.

STEPHANIUK LAW OFFICE Barrister & Solicitor #5 — 5 Avenue North Yorkton, Saskatchewan S3N 0Y9

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM ALLAN BAILEY LATE OF YORKTON IN THE PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN, DECEASED. ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE, DULY VERIFIED BY STATUTORY DECLARATION AND WITH PARTICULARS

nominations for celebrating seniors Provincial volutneer awards

mechanism.ca OR phone 306-359-9956 Deadline for nominations is June 1, 2023

Coming Events METIS LOCAL #13

Meeting for the election of executive and board members.

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

Notices / Nominations

Notice of Call for Nominations

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the office(s) of:

Councillor: Rural Municipality of Wallace No. 243

Division No. 3

will be received by the undersigned on the 19th day of May, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to June 14, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at 26 – 5th Ave N, Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Nomination forms may be obtained at the following location(s):

26 – 5th Ave N Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Dated this 12th of May , 2023.

Feed & Seed

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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.

Tara Harris Returning Officer

For

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Garage Sales 14 Caldwell Dr. Area Fri. June 2 + Sat. June 3 9am-5pm. 6 households. Household items, furniture, gardening tools, etc. 31 Rae Ave East of Haas Nissan. Thurs., Fri. May 25, 26 8am-7pm Saturday May 27, 8am-3p. Large Multi Family Sale Bedding plants, resin crafts, table paint, vaccum sand blaster. Something for everyone.

43 Assiniboia Ave: May 27 + 28 9am-6pm Playpen and kids items, household, plants, sofa bed, tvs, chairs, sealers, nailer, and many items all must go rain or shine. Not on site 27’ Jayco camper and never used roof trusses

Friday May 26 and Saturday May 27 Friday 1-7, Saturday 10-2. Toys, books, games, movies, cook books, sump pump, household items & more. 95 Marquis Cr S Gigantic antique and collectables sale continues due to demand ffrom a vast area of customers. Our sale will continue until May 26th 9am to 6pm. All items are $2 cash only bring bags and boxes. 531 8th Ave W Mellville Multi Family Garage Sale May 26 and 27 9-5. 97 Caldwell Dr. Misc. household, adult clothing, teacher materials, books and puzzles, perenials, tires.

Motorcycles

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Livestock

2 YEAR OLD Black Angus semen tested bulls for private sale. Bar H Land & Cattle Co. Langenburg, SK. 306-743-7490

GROWTHY YEARLING & 2 year old dehorned Hereford bulls. Semen tested. Call Wes 306-7435105. Langenburg, Saskatchewan. www.vcherefordfarm.com

Career Opportunities

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Send resume and work references to:

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ing welcome serving and storage space, and is separated from the kitchen by a prep island. The kitchen’s L-shaped counter configuration spells efficiency for the cook, who will also appreciate the deep-silled window over the double sink. Two pantries flank a linen cupboard.

The master bedroom also includes sliding glass doors to a patio at the back, and has an ensuite with double sinks. The tub and separate shower stall occupy a bayed-out space with a window. A roomy walk-in closet completes the lay-out.

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A clever two-way coat closet can be accessed from both the foyer and the laundry room, which includes a shelf for sorting and folding. The laundry room, with access to the double garage, can

Contiued from Page A4

new BCHL. If a 17-yearold player from Saskatchewan were to go play in B.C., only to have it not work out, would that player then be able to play in another Hockey Canada-sanctioned league, whether it be U18 or junior?

The B.C. league also expects to attract talent from the U.S. and even Europe.

There are concerns about how this will impact the calibre of hockey in other provinces. Will there be an enormous out-migration of talent to this new league? Probably not. But even if it’s one or two top players per team, that’s still going to make a difference in the calibre of play.

If you have fewer talented players here, would that impact the number of scouts coming to watch games in Saskatchewan?

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WHATAnd if B.C. is able to bring in more U18 players, would that impact the calibre of hockey in U18 AAA leagues in Canada?

Lots of questions to be asked. I liked it a lot more last year when the big question was whether anyone would be able to beat Brooks.

Meanwhile, the Centennial Cup is continuing with this uncertainty. The people in Portage la Prairie, Man., are getting treated to some pretty good hockey right now. And they get to enjoy the economic spinoff associated with this tournament.

Hopefully, the players aren’t too worried about the direction of junior A hockey in Canada. Instead, their focus can be on the game and the rare opportunity to win a national championship. But it will be interesting to see what the junior A leagues and the national tournament will look like in a few years.

Kaleidoscope

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

The Yorkton Film Festival begins May 25 and features productions submitted from all over the world.

For productions produced in Sask the Ruth Shaw Award is up for grabs. The winner of this award is determined by a panel of jurors chosen by the film council to select the best overall film of the festival produced in Saskatchewan, according to Wikipedia.

The CBC documentary ‘Golden

Opportunity’ focuses on two baseball players from the 1950s who competed with the Indian Head Rockets, an all black baseball team.

“To me this is a story about a pair of black gentlemen who came up here and...had an opportunity to play ball,” said Producer Bryan Eneas in an interview with Yorkton This Week, adding that it was an opportunity they may not have had at the time while in the United States.

“It’s a little piece of Sask. baseball history I really wasn’t too aware of or familiar with,”

said Eneas, adding, “I wouldn’t call myself a sports historion or a baseball historian but I do know a lot about the sport and it’s kind of neat to see this little chapter of its history taking place here in the province.”

Eneas said his interest in the story came by

way of a media release and the documentary took about eight months to complete from start to finish and noted that a lot of help came from the Indian Head Museum when it came to making connections and contacts.

“It was so cool to be part of such a big team

project,” said Eneas.

As for the Ruth Shaw nomination, Eneas said he was honoured to be a part of a production up for the award.

‘Golden Opportunity’ a piece of Sask baseball history Ruth Shaw Best of Sask. Finalist 2023

“To have a feature here and to be nominated for this award...it’s so cool,” said Eneas.

“I never go into projects thinking of the awards or what could come out of them in the end — I just want to tell great stories — to see enough folks throw themsevles behind this and believe that the project deserves to be here — it’s so cool to be a part of it.”

“I’m very critical of the work that I do and it’s one of the few that I look back at really fondly, really proud of what’s out there what’s circulating now,” said Eneas, adding it’s one of his projects he can’t look back on and pick apart.

“We pulled this off way better than I thought we could.”

The Yorkton Film Festival runs from May 25-27 and features multiple events throughout the city. For more information and to view the festival’s program visit YorktonFilm.com.

Summer Fair grandstand line-up announced

returns to the Yorkton grandstand stage with “an upbeat Musical Theatre presented by a cast of performers, accompanied by a live band. Killer singers, talented dancers, and spectacular musicians performing an original show with songs you’re sure to know and love,” notes the release. “This is the perfect entertainment for the whole family.”

Wrapping up the 2023 Summer Fair, the Yorkton Exhibition “is thrilled to announce the artist TEBEY will be taking the stage for an unforgettable performance presented by GX94,” continued the release.

The Yorkton Exhibition Association has announced the grandstand entertainment slated to per-

form on the Legacy Co-op Main Stage at the Yorkton Exhibition Summer Fair.

Friday night will see

Who Made Who perform at 9:00 p.m. They perform a tribute to AC/DC! The band has been extensively touring Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and absolutely everywhere in between. “Who Made Who takes pride in having the largest stage production with all the exacting gear to reproduce the sights and sounds of an AC/DC concert. This is a must see show,” notes a YEA release.

On Saturday, July 8 , at 7:00 p.m. SaskExpress

“Tebey, a Nashville resident and Canadian native, is a platinum selling artist, award winning producer and accomplished songwriter with multiple number one songs in his repertoire of hits.”

Some of Tebey’s biggest successes to date are his #1 gold single ‘Who’s Gonna Love You’, ‘Denim On Denim’ (certified Platinum) and ‘Good Jeans’.

Overall Tebey has four official top-five radio singles, five top-10 singles and five top-20 singles as a recording

artist and his music and videos have amassed over 85 million streams.

“This is one of the most well-rounded grandstand lineups we have ever had as there is definitely something for everyone and the best part is that all of this outstanding entertainment is free with your paid gate admission,” notes the release.

Advance tickets for the fair which runs July

Submitted photos

5-8, are available at the Yorkton Exhibition office, Legacy Co-op Yorkton Gas Bars and Food Store, Legacy Co-op Kamsack Gas Bar and Legacy Co-op Churchbridge Food Store.

For more information, visit www.yorktonexhibition.com It’s all happening at the 2023 Yorkton Exhibition Summer Fair presented by the Yorkton Tribal Council.

A robin made me smile early this morning. I’m not prone to smiling early in the morning. But there it was, hopping jauntily on the front lawn. Its mate soon joined it.

Neither bird had a song that early. I didn’t blame them—this chick didn’t either—rough night. But their cheerful manner as they went about their breakfast grub-gathering informed mine as I did the same on the other side of the window.

“This is the day the Lord has made,” I often hum, in mornings. “We WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” And I WILL, I decided, as I popped in the toast. (I’m of the

Let the robins teach us

“It’s easier to act yourself into a way of feeling than to feel yourself into a way of acting,” school. Sometimes, I admit, it takes a fair bit of acting before the feelings catch up.)

The Preacher’s shingles work the night shift. An even more painful medical condition has hopped on. But our prayer list of friends and family who have also been assaulted by life’s brutal blows lengthens daily—the latest addition, a sweet friend who unexpectedly lost a young granddaughter. Followers of Jesus Christ are not immune to trials. We understand that. We know God cares. Sees our pain. But

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

sometimes, even with that knowing, it feels we walk alone in shadowed lands. Faith comes by hearing, the Bible says— I’ve learned that when we face what can’t be healed, faith also comes through being heard. By spilling our guts to God, yes, but also to a few others with skin on.

People who will

Spring Plant and Bulb Sale June 2

Just in time for spring

planting! The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their annual Spring Plant and Bulb Sale on Friday, June 2 starting at 9:30 at the Parkland Mall, Yorkton! There will be a good variety of plants and bulbs, and eager gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions. We look forward to seeing you there! We have many gardening friends who are there waiting when the sale begins at 9:30; they know that if you have a particular plant you are looking for, best to be there when the sale starts! The sale is scheduled to go till 4:00 PM but is actually while plants last. If we run out earlier, the sale is done! Another good reason to come early!

Thank you to Frank Woloschuk who spoke to us about perennials at our meeting last week. Frank is a wonderful gardener, and shared lots of valuable information with us, thank you, Frank!

Did you know that International Compost Week was May 7 – 13? This project is worth talking about anytime, because compost is so important. The Compost Research and Education Foundation website (compostfoundation.org/ICAW) tells us what the week is all about. I’ll quote them here, but look at the site when you have time, it’s got great information.

“International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry. It is celebrated nationwide and in other countries each year during the first full week of May. The goal of ICAW is to work together to raise public awareness on why we all should be composting our organics recycling and using compost….events are held to encourage and celebrate composting - all types of composting – from backyard to large-

Gardener’s Notebook

scale.”

This international event had the theme “For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!”.

This theme came from the fact that, sadly, every nation of the world experiences hunger. The UN Sustainable Development Goal is called “zero hunger”, working towards ending hunger, improving nutrition, work on food security and promote sustainable agriculture. It is a huge goal, but compost can help. How?

The site explains it this way. “The chosen 2023 theme best reflects the goal of focusing on how compost can have a role in helping feed the world, by making our soil healthier which produces healthier food. How does compost help? By recycling organics into compost and using it on our farmlands we create healthy soils that produce healthier food and higher yields. It also reduces the need for fertilizer and pesticides, improves water quality and conserves water, as well as stores carbon in soil - helping to reduce climate change. Compost not only helps the environment but also helps to decrease food shortages experienced around the world. For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!”

Gardeners, we all know that value of compost in our soil: it makes healthy soil by providing extra nutrients, aeration, improves the structure of the soil, helps to retain moisture, and also adds beneficial organisms to our soil. And most important, it is free, using organic scraps that we would

otherwise just throw away! Everybody wins! We’ll have to talk about trench composting, an easy no fuss-no muss way to compost! Thank you to our friends at YTW for their fine work. Gardeners, visit the hort society at www.yorktonhort.ca and hope to see you at the plant sale! Have a good week

gather round, hold up our arms. Pray with us. Wait as we wail and rail. As we thirst for hope. People who will bring Living Water. Who will remind us that God has a history with us. That what we believe is still true and always will be: God is faithful. All the time. All the time, God is faithful.

A few weeks ago, just when spring had appeared over winter’s long white horizon, an untimely blizzard blanketed our region. While watching the wind toss our largest pine, I noticed a robin—the first I’d seen this year, sheltering amongst its snow-tufted branches. Then I saw another, and another. Dozens huddled in the same tree. Whenever the wind stilled, the pine erupted in a flash of red as they launched to search for food. Rushing to the kitchen, I prepared a goop of peanut butter, raisins and flaxseed and gathered our leftover suet cakes.

They came by the

dozens, those winged things. Perched shoulder-to shoulder on the tree branches nearest the kitchen window. Peered in when the feed got low.

The storm lasted two days. Then the robins scattered.

I visited my griefstricken friend the day following her granddaughter’s death. Her house overflowed with friends and family. Weeping. Hugging. Consoling. Bringing food in her storm. I had to stand in line.

God made those redbreasts so wise in many things, perhaps none more than this: during storms, we’re better together.

Gift of quilts

On behalf of the residents at The Yorkton District Nursing Home, Betty Popowich and Olga Stupak recently received six beautiful quilts made by the ladies of the St Andrews Church. When the

Submitted Photo

residents put these beautiful quilts on their beds, it feels like home. Thank you to the church ladies, for their gift to YDNH residents. It is very much appreciated.

Getting Our Lives in Order

PRAIRIE HARVEST

CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTRE

72 Melrose Avenue • PHONE 306-786-6840

Senior Pastors Des & Cheryl Klingspon Employment Program 306-786-1840

Online Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. will be on our Facebook page

• Contemporary Worship • Children’s Ministry • Youth Ministry phclc.org

“Changing our world with the love of God.”

Destiny International Christian Assembly

Establishing Ministries and Releasing Destinies

109 Maple Avenue, Yorkton

Senior Pastors Dag & Bukky Lawale

Every Sunday - Worship Service at 10:30 a.m.

Every Wednesday - Bible Study at 7:00 p.m.

Last Friday of each month - Prayer Meeting at 7 p.m.

For more information please phone 306-782-2427

“A Place of New Beginnings”

St. Andrew’s United Church

SECOND AVENUE AND SMITH STREET

OFFICE 306-783-4157

MINISTER REV. JEN DRESSER

Website: http://www.standrewsyorkton.ca

Facebook: St. Andrew’s United Church

Join us Sunday, May 28 at 10:30 am Online (Zoom/Facebook/Youtube) and in person!

Church

AT SALTCOATS

SUNDAY SCHOOL EVERY SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE AT 11:00 AM

EVERYONE WELCOME

Pastor Laurel Wiebe -- 306-898-2099

Pastor Tim Warkentin - 306-217-8222

Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church

89 Bradbrooke Drive, Yorkton, SK S3N 2Y2 • 306-782-2998

Father Michael Faryna 306-601-9043

Westview United Church 355 Bradbrooke Dr. 306-783-3063 westviewuc.ca

Worship Sundays @ 10:30am

Minister : The Rev. Deborah Smith

Everyone is welcome!

St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church 155 CATHERINE STREET 306-783-4594

Conducted by Ukrainian Redemptorist Fathers Phone 306-783-4594 or 306-783-7778

Saturday - 5 p.m. (English)

Sunday - 9:00am (Ukrainian) 11:00am (English)

SICK CALLS ANYTIME—BAPTISM AND MARRIAGE BY APPOINTMENT

St. Mark The Evangelist Orthodox Church

160 Betts Ave., Yorkton, Sask “Services In English” www.stmarkyorkton.ca

Saturday May 27th - Vespers 6:00 PM

Sunday May 28th Divine

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”