Yorkton This Week 2023-05-31

Library deal said complete in April

By Calvin Daniels Staff Writer

The sale of the current library location in downtown Yorkton is a done deal according to Yorkton City Manager Lonnie Kaal.

“April 24, the offer (of $1.5 million) was accepted. The deal is done,” Kaal told Yorkton This Week May 29.

A Public Notice was placed in Yorkton This Week, but Kaal said it was only to allow anyone else who might be interested in acquiring the property to step forward with a higher offer, which the city could have then accepted.

“It’s a safety net,” said Kaal noting the Public Notice on price ensures the city receives the best value for a property.

The Public Notice was not to provide the public with an opportunity to voice opposition to the sale, said Kaal, reiterating it was already sold.

But that did not stop many from attending the May 15, meeting of Yorkton Council, and more than 20 were allowed time to address council, all with concerns about the sale and move of library services to the Gallagher Centre.

The public appeared to have had an impact, at least with some on Council.

At the May 15 meeting Councillor Darcy Zaharia said he has been opposed to the sale, a position he said fits with the calls he has fielded since the possibility of a sale was made public.

“I don’t see any benefit going to the Gallagher Centre,” he said.

Zaharia also suggested the matter “wasn’t handled in the right way” in terms of the community being made aware of the sale.

Ashley Stradeski, director of finance with the city did note the deal is not complete and the building has not been sold. The final decision is likely to be

Oscar nominated film wins Best of Fest at YFF

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – The Yorkton Film Festival Best of Festival Award went to The Flying Sailor, a film directed by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis.

The short animation has received several awards and nominations including Best Canadian Film at the Ottawa International Animation Festival and an Oscar nomination at the 95th Academy Awards under the category Best Animated Short Film.

“Who needs an Oscar,” quipped Tilby upon accpeting the award to the cheers of the audience.

The film was the recipient of several Golden Sheaf Awards throughout the evening, including awards for best Aninmation and Director.

“Wendy’s right,” said David Christensen, Producer of The Flying Sailor, “who does need an Oscar?”

“The difference being is that this award — and I mean this honestly — is that this is from the heart,” said Christensen.

made at the next regular meeting of Council in three weeks.

Mayor Hippsley said the process at the May 15 meeting “was a real eyeopener.”

While suggesting the city needed to look at the offer to buy the building, something that fit his election campaign platform of watching city finances, “what’s best for the city community wise,” must also be considered.

In the case of the library situation, “there is no benefit to moving to the Gallagher Centre,” said Hippsley.

But, Kaal admitted Monday the impassioned presentation however, never really had a chance to change things because the deal was accepted in April. She said after accepting the offer April 24, the city “was legally obligated,” to the sale, and if Council were to try to opt out of the sale now they would likely face legal action and end up having to pay significant compensa-

tion.

Kaal, who was not in Chambers May 15, said it was unfortunate the public believed they were having an impact in making their presentations, and that the sale might not go through pending a suggested decision by Council at its next regular meeting June 5. She said with the offer accepted there is no decision to be made on the fifth.

The situation is one where a lot of misinformation ended up being circulated, admitted Kaal.

Kaal cited the concerns of a 16,000 square foot library being pared down to 10,000, but she said it’s not exactly as dramatic a downsizing as it seems, with kitchen, janitorial, mechanical and washroom space already at the Gallagher Centre. She also noted there are spaces at the Gallagher Centre to accommodate groups. In the end the actual change will be about 8,400 existing square feet down to 6,000.

Deaf led film wins Ruth Shaw at YFF

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – The Deaf Crows Collective film, ‘Fable Deaf’, was presented with the coveted Ruth Shaw Award at the Yorkton Film Festival’s Golden Sheaf Awards Gala May 27.

“This is just a tremendous honour to receive this award,” said Dr. Joanne Weber, Producer of Fable Deaf and Artistic Director of Deaf Crows Collective, speaking through an American Sign Language interpreter as she addressed the audience upon receiving the award.

“This is our first film with the Deaf Crows

Collective,” said Weber, adding, “it’s deaf lead, it’s an entire deaf cast and it’s 100 per cent filmed in Sask.”

“I’d like to say thank you to the Yorkton Film Festival for recognizing our work,” said Weber, “it’s the skilled actors who have done all the work.”

Weber went on to thank the Chrystene Ells, Directorof the Production.

“Such a skilled director and did so much work for our crew,” said

Weber. “We’d also like to thank our producer and production manager and that is Michelle Grodecki and the stage manager,” said Weber, adding, “these our the people that made our movie shine.”

“This is the first film that was lead by deaf people in Sask, probably most of Canada,” said Weber, “this opens the door for people who are deaf actors, deaf artists,

Continued on Page A2

Wendy Tilby, David Christensen and Amanda Forbis accepting the Golden Sheaf for Best of Festival at the 2023 Yorkton Film Festival.

Cast and crew of Fable Deaf accepting the Ruth Shaw Award at the Yorkton Film Festival.

YTW brings home SWNA awards

Yorkton This Week was recently awarded two top prizes in the 2023 Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Better Newspaper Competition.

In Class B, YTW was awarded first place for ‘Best Front Page’ then added the plaque for Best Overall Newspaper in the same division.

“It is always gratifying when you are recognized for your efforts,” said YTW editor Calvin Daniels. Daniels said the awards are reflective of a community where there are always inter-

esting stories to be told.

“When the public lets us know, we try to be there to cover what’s happening,” he said. “It’s our job as a community newspaper and we work hard at fulfilling our role as chroniclers of what happens in Yorkton.”

The awards of course are also very much a team effort.

“I’m very proud of the entire team here at Yorkton This Week and it is great to be recognized for the efforts of putting out a quality paper every week. We could not do it without

the efforts of our editorial team Calvin Daniels and Tyson Off as well as all of our contributors including Kathleen Gibson and Debbie Hayward, our sales team Julianne Thom and Casey Shields-Graf, our prepress team of Kristin Jordens, Diane Miller and Wayne Remanda and our mailroom team of Darcy Burkart, Ernie Forjan, Barb Isaac, John Keller, Len Loster and Sheila Williams. Special thanks to all of our carriers that get our product to you each week in all types of weather,” said manager John Bauman.

Bowl for Kids Sake does well

The Big Brothers And Big Sisters of Yorkton and Area recently held its Bowl For Kids Sake fundraiser.

The annual event raised $21,830.

The top individual pledgers were Edward Irvine $1,984.55, Janet Kristjanson $1,581, Cynthia Wolkowski $1,100, Brandee Scraba $535 and Bill Yaremko $525.

The top challenge winners included;

• Business Challenge: Hearn’s Pharmacy $1,985

• Financial Institution Challenge: Cornerstone Credit Union $3,245

• Service Club Challenge: Knights of Columbus $675

• Media Challenge:GX94 & The Fox $80

• Theme Team Challenge: SaskAbilities $2,512

• Organization Challenge: Parkland College $2,765

DEAF

Continued from Page A1 directors — this is really starting to be a good stepping stone.”

“This weird and beautiful film was sponsored by the Sask Arts Board, Canadian Council of the Arts, and the Sask Film Pool — we couldn’t have the film without those groups and without all of you hats off to you — thank you.”

“Fable Deaf is a pioneering film, being the first Deaf film made in Saskatchewan, and we believe, in all of Western Canada. It is also the first Deaf film to be nominated for the Best of Saskatchewan Award. This recognition of a Deaf film serves as an affirmation for our highly marginalized Deaf community in Saskatchewan,” said Weber in an interview with Yorkton This Week prior to winning the award.

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

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

The top individual pledgers were Edward Irvine $1,984.55, Janet Kristjanson $1,581, Cynthia Wolkowski $1,100, Brandee Scraba $535 and Bill Yaremko $525.

YTW manager John Bauman, left, and editor Calvin Daniels with recent SWNA awards.

Up Front

Foaling season

In what was a definite sign of spring at Bighorn Clydesdales, a number of mares have foaled. Bighorn Clydesdales are breeders of black

Submitted Photos

Clydesdales. The farm located near Swan Plain, Sask. has exported Clydesdales worldwide in past years.

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Sound bite political debates unhelpful

MURRAY MANDRYK

Politics

If only we could reallocate all time and energy that’s spent in politics thinking and selling popular things to actual solving the problems at hand

Consider all that time and energy exerted in the last 10 years in the political fight over manmade climate change.

Let’s accept that manmade climate change is reality — an issue that takes up far too much time and energy as it is.

Then the issue becomes how much a vast, sparsely populated country like Canada representing a fraction of the world’s population should have to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), knowing that most anything we do requires difficult change and that’s expensive and will likely cost jobs in the natural resources sector.

National goals are set that, at first glance, might seem modest because they measured in decades, like the federal government “goal” to reduce electricity produced by fossil fuels by 2035.

With options like hydroelectric and nuclear production along with the increase in wind and solar, it might seem attainable. And it is a more reasonable option to burning coal.

But what if you are a jurisdiction like Saskatchewan where electricity has meant burning lignite coal for 94 years of SaskPower’s existence because this province has never had easy access to hydroelectric power? In fact, coal still accounts for 25 per cent of SaskPower’s annual 5,437 megawatts production with another 40 per cent from natural gas.

Is it fair that the Saskatchewan public — already, paying among the highest electrical bills in the nation — should absorb the costs of abandoned massive infrastructures before we get maximum value out of them? Can we afford this?

Is it fair, given that Canada contributes a small fraction to global GHG emissions and Saskatchewan — albeit, having one of the highest per capita GHG emissions in the country — still only adds a small fraction to our country’s GHGs?

These are difficult questions. So what is the answer?

Well, we all know there seldom are easy answers to tough problems.

However, most of us facing complicated dilemmas affecting others, try and sit down and have a rational conversation, weighing the pros and cons.

But in combative politics — especially in today’s world when the Internet and social media puts even more emphasis on sound bites — complicated matters now boil down to who can provide the best short quote.

Sometimes, three-word catchphrases are what now pass for debate, like Saskatchewan Premier’s Moe’s recent from comment: “Come get me.”

In fairness, to Moe, his entire response to federal Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault’s suggestion that jurisdictions like Saskatchewan could be criminally prosecuted for violating the Criminal Code if they were still running coal-fired electricity after 2030, was more nuanced and profound.

“If where we’ve come to in this country is when individuals in this province, or any other province, they flick their lights on or their furnace fan kicks in and that’s deemed illegal and cause for someone to go to jail, come get me,” Moe said.

And in fairness to Guilbeault answering a similar question asked by a reporter in Ottawa, his answer was similarly more complex:

We’ve regulated the ban on coal through CEPA (the Canadian Environmental Protection Act), which is a criminal tool that the federal government has,” Guilbeault said. “So not complying with this regulation would be a violation of Canada’s Criminal Code.”

Guilbault further qualified that “we have to decarbonize our grid” that “it’s about jobs” and “of course, we want to do that in a way that is affordable for Canadians.”

Admittedly, the media did the politicians few favours, but today’s politicians favour these terse, combative quotes because it’s all that voters demand.

Sadly, it’s what now happens instead of sitting down and actually discussing a problem.

We all need to do better.

Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics since 1983.

◆Editorial◆ Library sale process badly handled

Right about now if you are one of the people who felt the Yorkton Public Library should have stayed in its current location you are at the very least feeling disappointed, and some no doubt feel outright betrayal.

Certainly the process as it unfolded was at best mishandled.

When the offer was made Council took the matter in-camera, which is the norm when discussing property matters where public debate might influence offers in a variety of ways.

According to City Manager Lonnie Kaal the offer was accepted April 24, and that was it. The decision was to accept the offer. The downtown building would be sold, and the city would backfill a space now empty at the Gallagher Centre.

It was at that point a pretty straight forward process.

But, the waters around this decision would soon be a muddy quagmire.

A single offer is not always an assurance of a good price – something that has been noted by this Council when a single tender is received.

So the city ran a Public Notice and suddenly citizens realized the library was up for sale – or so they thought.

The Public Notice was after the deal was done, and was only the city shaking the tree to see if they could get a better offer. Kaal explained with a better offer the city could have rejected the initial deal and went for the better one, but without likely huge compensation could not walk away from the initial deal agreed to in April.

The Public Notice wasn’t exactly detailed in that limitation, and a full council chamber greeted the May 15 meeting.

Now here things get a bit confusing

because it ended up a tad smokey in terms of process.

Council allowed people to speak against the sale based on the Pubic Notice which was never about allowing input into whether the building should be sold. That decision was already made.

So more than 20 Yorkton citizens spoke, many with a great deal of passion – extolling Council not to sell the building.

Council sat and listened knowing the deal was already done. Citizens thought they were having a say, that they could make a difference – but it was already too late.

And it gets worse, Mayor Mitch Hippsley suggested they had heard the concerns and assured the final decision was still to be made – expected at the June 5 meeting of Council.

Since the May 15 meeting people have been vocal online, with petitions, with calls to Council believing they were making a difference.

Not according to Kaal, though, who repeatedly told Yorkton This Week it was a done deal dating back to April 24.

It is simply put a horrible way to treat citizens. Someone on May 15, the mayor, the councillor with experience as a former mayor, the president of SUMA who sits on Council, the long-serving director of finance, needed to have told those in attendance thanks for showing concern, but we made the deal already.

They didn’t, and that is messy at best, and made worse by an edition of Council often talking about the need for greater transparency.

Well on this one the window of transparency was badly muddied over, and that should worry even those supportive of the sale.

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Welcome

Public Library, (including Slo the friendly sloth), and appearing here courtesy of Yorkton This Week. Happy Wordy Wednesday! Adumbrate is the word of the week, a formal verb with several meanings that all have to do with figurative shadows. It can mean “to foreshadow vaguely,” as in “a childhood interest in ants that adumbrated a career in biology”; it can mean “to suggest or outline partially,” as in “a few sentences that adumbrate the plan”; and it can mean “to overshadow or obscure,” as in “a cheerfulness not adumbrated by difficult circumstances.” For instance, the movie's most impressive feat was to pull off a plot twist perfectly adumbrated by one rather forgettable scene. (Merriam-Webster.com) Yorkton Public Library: growing along with you.

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SENIORS

Our Monthly Feature

...For Seniors and about Seniors

Local author has sixth story published in book series

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

YORKTON – A local author had her sixth story published in the popular book series Chicken Soup for the Soul

Brenda Leppington of Yorkton said the first time she had a story published in the series was in 2016 and recounted her experience in an interview with Yorkton This Week

“It was actually a friend of mine — who is an author and has several published books — that told me to write a story about one of my cats,” said Leppington, “I didn’t know why she wanted me to but I wrote a story and I sent it to her and she said, ‘now send it to Chicken Soup’ and I thought ‘I don’t want to do that’.”

“But anyway — I did — and they rejected it and then that made me mad so I re-wrote it and tried again and the next year they published it,” said Leppington, adding, “since then I’ve had [other stories] that I’ve submitted and they haven’t acknowledged and haven’t been published and then other ones that they do.”

Leppington’s most recent story, ‘Living Life at 90-9’ appears in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Advice That Changed My Life and centres around a neighbour of Leppington’s, Kay Bortnack, who’d passed away but taught Leppington to appreciate the little things about life.

“It was about my neighbour — she passed away 20 years ago — but

it’s now that I’m 20 years older I’m sort of understanding the things that she was saying and realizing how true that was — her little words of wisdom.”

Though Leppinton had written plenty of published stories for the book series, she said this was her first endeavour into writing about someone that wasn’t close to her.

“This is the first time that I’d written a story about somebody else,” said Leppington, “my stories up to that point were about my life, my family, my past...I had no idea if any of her family was still around.”

“As the way life happens sometimes — a friend of mine recognized who I was writing the story about and happens to be best friends with her grand-daughter [Sharon Loster].”

Leppington said her friend was able to get a copy of the book into Loster’s hands through their mutal friend.

“She was so thrilled that a total stranger had that many fond memories of her grandmother,” said Leppington, “to me that was almost more exciting than having the story published — was the fact that I was able to connect with her family and got to share some of that.”

“Then I was worried and I thought, ‘what if she thinks I misrepresented her grandmother’, but she said I nailed it,” said Leppington, adding, “she said it was so nice to read and know that it was somebody that was special to her had that much of an impact on somebody else’s life.”

Leppington remarks in the story that Bortnack, a woman in her 90s, would spend time at a park on a swing, stating that the wind felt the same on her face at 90 as it did when she was nine, something that reminded her of youth.

Leppington said she’s taken that wisdom in her senior years and opts to go kite-flying, something she enjoyed doing in her own youth.

“I don’t care what people think...it’s my life and if it makes me feel good and young again — go for it,” said Leppinton.

Leppington said that writing about a person, outside of family, who touched her life was something new to her.

“I guess it was a little more meaningful to me from that perspective,” said Leppington, “the fact that my other stories primarily impressed my family...this one sort of has made a difference in somebody else’s life.”

“That’s the whole thing of writing and communication — to know that you’ve been able to connect with somebody,” said Leppington.

“Previously — the book before this one — it was called Navigating Elder Care and Dementia,” said Leppington, noting that she had two stories published in the book that centered around her mother.

“I couldn’t believe how far that went,” said Leppington, noting she was asked to appear on a podcast and write an article for the Sask. Alzheimers Assocation due to the success of the stories.

“You appreciate how

much just getting the information out there can make a difference to other people,” said Leppington, “you may not realize it at the time, but just knowing that getting information out there really helps other people.”

However, Leppington

said she isn’t interested in self-publishing anything on her own for the time being.

“I’ve kind of toyed with that idea as one of my friends said, ‘I keep wondering why you don’t write a story of your life, but on the other hand I guess you are, one

story at a time’”, said Leppington, noting it’s easier to submit her stories through established book series. “They put out titles and if you think you’ve got a story that fits with their title — and it has to fit very closely to their theme — then I submit it.”

Low vision: what it is and what you can do about it

vision, you may have trouble seeing things in the centre of your vision, out of the corners of your eyes or at night and in low light.

CAUSES OF LOW VISION

Low vision is a symptom of one of several eyerelated diseases, including:

• Cataracts

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Glaucoma

Older adults are more susceptible to low vision because the diseases that cause it are more common in older people.

LIVING WITH LOW VISION

you see better. Moreover, wearing polarized lenses when it’s bright can help filter glare, improving your vision.

Talk to your doctor or optometrist if low vision is preventing you from doing everyday tasks. They may advise using

a magnifying glass for reading and other activities or rearranging your home so you can move about easily.

Low vision is an agerelated eye condition that can make doing everyday tasks like driving and reading difficult. There’s no treatment or cure for low vision. However, there are things you can do to adapt and continue doing the things you love.

SYMPTOMS OF LOW VISION

Low vision can’t be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, surgery or medicine. You may have low vision if you have difficulty:

• Reading

• Driving

• Recognizing people’s faces

• Telling c olours apart

• Seeing your television or computer screen clearly

Besides blurry or hazy

• Age-related macular degeneration

If you have minor low vision, using bright lights at home or work may help

Brenda Leppington’s most recent published work centres around the wisdom of her former neighbour.

New cycling program launching in Neepawa

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

NEEPAWA — The Neepawa Kin Club is launching a new bicycle service aimed at helping seniors and people with low mobility by providing them with free rides around town, fresh air and socialization.

The club is opening a Cycle Without Age program, where volunteer drivers will cycle on a specialized three-wheel, electric pedal-assisted bicycle called a trishaw that can carry up to two passengers at once.

It can be difficult for seniors and people who experience mobility challenges to move around the community, which can lead to isolation and loneliness, said Kin Canada vice-president Amanda Naughton-Gale.

“It’s kind of a great way to get out and about and go for a coffee or go somewhere that’s a little bit different than where you might go on a drive,” she said.

Denny Phillips, who has volunteered with the Neepawa Kin Club for nearly 20 years and currently serves as its secretary, said the positive impact of getting outside and socializing for seniors and people of all ages can’t be understated.

The Cycling Without Age program, she added, is a great way to have those needs met.

“It’s contact with other people. The volunteer that’s riding the bike can have a conversation and discussion with the seniors,” Phillips said.

Getting outside and into green space can

ease depression in older adults, according to Active Aging Canada, a national notfor-profit organization that promotes healthy aging. A recent review of research that included older adults showed that outdoor-based activity therapies reduced depression and anxiety and enhanced a person’s positive experience, owing to a connection to nature, social support, physical activity and purposeful behaviour. Thanks to local donations, including $40,000 from HyLife Foods, the Kin Club was able to purchase the trishaw bicycle

and open a Cycling Without Age chapter in Neepawa. The bike itself cost around $8,000, and the Kin Club used the rest of the money for other programs, including their annual scholarship and seasonal activities.

A pair of volunteers who are former Kin Club members, Alex Jarema and Naughton-Gale’s husband Steve Gale, put the bike together this month. The program, set to launch in May, will be free of charge. Organizations like seniors residences and care homes can book the bike, as can private citizens of Neepawa.

All that is needed now, Phillips said, are volunteers to sign up to operate the trishaw.

“We’re going to be doing a display of the bike and having volunteers come out and hopefully sign up for times they can do that,” she said.

Naughton-Gale is encouraging people to come and check out the bike for themselves once it’s on display.

“It will be something that will be easy to ride and easy to navigate,” she said. “You don’t have to be a triathlete.”

Volunteers can sign up for regular times they

are available and be “on call” for those times, Naughton-Gale said.

Based on feedback Phillips has already heard from people interested in the Cycling Without Age, she is hopeful plenty of people will want to sign up to help take people where they’d like to go.

Cycling Without Age, a non-profit organization that runs chapter nonprofits worldwide, was started in 2012 by Ole Kassow of Denmark, who wanted to help elders get back on their bicycles. He began offering free bike rides on his trishaw to local nursing home

residents.

Since then, 39 countries have opened a combined 2,050 chapter locations, where more than 39,000 trained cycle pilots ride 4,900 trishaws. The program has offered more than three million rides and has served more than 650,000 people since its inception. The oldest trishaw pilot is currently Jørgen Hass, 90, of Denmark.

Currently, Cycling Without Age chapters exist in Thompson, Lundar, Pine Falls, Winnipeg and Morden, with the Neepawa chapter being the newest in Manitoba to open.

Vitamins and minerals for older adults

As you get older, your nutrition needs change. Your body needs more of certain vitamins and minerals. Here’s a list of some essential nutrients for older adults.

• Calcium is found in foods like dairy, tofu and dark-green leafy vegetables. Older people at risk of bone loss need calcium in their diets. Men between 51 and 70 need 1,000 milligrams daily, while women over 51 and men over 71 need 1,200 milligrams daily.

• Vitamin B6 helps your body form red

blood cells and is found in foods like bananas and potatoes. Men over 51 need 1.7 milligrams, while women of the same age need 1.5 milligrams.

• Vitamin B12 is found in meat and keeps your red blood cells and nerves healthy. Older adults may have trouble absorbing this vitamin from food and require a supplement. Aim for 2.4 micrograms per day.

• Vitamin D helps your body retain and use calcium and phosphorus. Only a few foods, like fish, contain it. Your skin also produces Vitamin D in sunlight. Therefore,

if you live and work indoors, a supplement may help you get the recommended amount. People between 50 and 70 require 600 international units (IU), while people over 71 require 800 IUs.

• Sodium in high doses can lead to elevated blood pressure, which can result in a heart attack or stroke. Men and women over 51 should limit their sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day.

Talk to your doctor before taking supplements, as some may have severe side effects.

Alex Jarema (left) and Steve Gale (right), both former members of the Neepawa Kin Club, put together a trishaw bicycle for Neepawa’s Cycling Without Age chapter on April 11.

(Miranda Leybourne/The Brandon Sun)

Library move seen as a mistake

Dear Editor: Regarding the Yorkton Public Library I strongly believe that it should stay where it is. To move it to some obscure location in a small cubby hole on the second floor of the Gallagher Centre would be a huge mistake.

The library has been in its current location for many, many years and I’m sure it’s location was chosen for several reasons. It is well set up with it’s large main area, history room, pARTners Art Gallery, the meeting rooms at the back and the

offices along the west and south sides. It is set up perfectly and to change any part of it just wouldn’t work on so many levels.

To think that someone would offer to buy the building doesn’t make sense for as far as I know

the library building has never been for sale in the past nor is it for sale now. If any group or individual is looking for a location for a business there is the old Marks Work Warehouse building that has been vacant for a few years and is a good size.

Or there is the old Holiday Inn/Ramada vacant lot on which to build or the large empty lot by the Holiday Inn Express at Smith and Dracup. I’m sure there are other potential locations as well.

I have used the Yorkton Public Library many

times in several different ways and would be devastated if it were moved. It would be under used then the city would be scrambling to move it again or build new – which would cost a fortune.

— Mitchell T. Wlock, Yorkton

Many reasons to leave library where it is

Dear Editor: A few thoughts on the proposed move of the Library to the second floor of the Gallagher: Several times the “safety issue” has been brought up. I’ve never had an issue at the present location but I am absolutely positive that if I was going to have any problems I would be infinitely safer at the present location than the Gallagher Centre.

1) It’s only 50 feet from the parking lot at the present location, I’m pretty sure I could holler, shriek or make enough noise that the staff would hear me.

2) Even if not, there is so much traffic, both foot and vehicles, that it’s almost certain someone would note a scuffle.

3) Neither is true at the Gallagher where staff is at the very least several hundred feet away in a noisy echo chamber, the main paved area is invisible from Broadway and there is no foot traffic. It could be hours before anyone knew I’d had a problem.

4) It would be little effort on the part of the RCMP to drive through the present parking lot, or even by it a bit more frequently than at present. If indeed the issues are with people involved with drugs, it’s a surprise the RCMP is waiting to be asked. The Gallagher is out of the way for them as for

everyone else.

5) Moving to the Gallagher would only be successful in the unlikely event that none of the troublemakers would follow the library. Experience suggests that people intent on making trouble follow people they see as potential victims. So like every other rationale offered by council it seems misinformed wishful thinking.

At the meeting there was a fine confusion regarding the value of the building. SAMA says it’s worth around $2.5 million (assessment), the agreed sale price is apparently $1.5 million or a million dollars less. Council offered the information that SAMA was wrong, the assessment was outdated and incorrect and doesn’t apply to commercial buildings anyway. They said recently done assessments (no mention of by whom or when or exactly what their assessment was) made the offer of 1.5 million more accurate, and business decrees when someone wants to buy you sell and when someone wants to sell you buy. Well another axiom is act in haste and regret at leisure.

If SAMA assessment was so far out of sync with reality why was the assessment not appealed? If it was so long ago it no longer is apt, might it not now be that value? Real estate prices have not gone down over the past few years, rather the

opposite.

Several people at the meeting mentioned the haste and furtiveness of this whole affair. Somewhat modified by the public hearing, almost nobody knew about it. Virtually everyone there had heard only by word of mouth and was unanimously opposed to the sale. It all does not add up to an atmosphere of trust.

As opposed to both the Canadian Charter of Rights and the Sask Government published Human Rights guidelines, it takes a service which is very accessible and moves it to a space which is decidedly unfriendly/difficult for anyone with difficulties ranging from mobility to vision, hearing or orientation issues. The parking lot is hundreds of feet further just to get to the elevator. People without cars will not be going to the Gallagher library and many who have cars will find it too cumbersome. Another tenet of business is location-location-location.

In those terms a second floor Gallagher library is a decided no.

That brings up the time factor. Right now a person can swing into the parking lot, get into the library and drop off books, catch up on emails on the computer, check out a book and be out and on their way in the time it will take just to get to the proposed new library

location.

This appears to be a decision made from privilege. Only two of council admitted to ever using the library. So it appears because they may have 24/7 access to the internet and can afford to buy books and they have been in Yorkton long enough that they have a large social circle, they assume everyone else has those things too, and the library is therefore a dismissable whimsey. This is not the case. For any of those things and more.

The Provincial government suggests that 10,000 sq. feet is appropriate for a library in a city the size of Yorkton. So the present library is considerably more than that.

But it is all used.

None of it is idle space. But council thinks that it’s too much so should be shoehorned into a space that is well BELOW provincial guidelines. This is like throwing the Mona Lisa out because it doesn’t fit in the artificial criteria some bureaucrats have settled on. The Yorkton Library is a testament where it is of the forward thinking of previous councils and the dedicated hard working staff who serve thousands of visitors from slightly frazzled young moms to slightly feeble seniors and young adults looking for a place to study, do research and visit with friends ... and just maybe, have a ref-

uge where they can go to get away from troublemakers.

This decision seems to be about the vision council has for Yorkton. Does it stay small town determined that even complicated questions have simple answers and that anyone who doesn’t have what they want/ need probably doesn’t actually deserve or need it? Or does it become a city which caters to all sorts of people because if people have the resources they need they can progress?

If ‘fiscal responsibility’ is the rallying cry, perhaps council can explain why, last summer, after York Road was torn up for water main repair, the road had its potholes and broken pavement carefully replaced so that this summer they could tear it all up again and repair it. One would hope there was a good reason for this but it certainly isn’t obvious. Yet they are willing to gut one of the better libraries in Saskatchewan.

It’s a shame the some council members can’t appreciate what we have in the blind rush to fill an empty space, no matter how inappropriately, and discard one of the best things Yorkton has going for it. Cities around the globe boast of the libraries, museums, art galleries. Not one, anywhere, has boasted about having an inadequate or no library. Ever.

Pamela O’Neill, Yorkton

Library sale seen as good business

Dear Editor, Although I attended the May 15th meeting of City Council, I did not, on behalf of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce address Council that evening as the Chamber did not expect the impassioned and sometimes uninformed opposition to the sale of the library. The Chamber’s understanding is that the City was interested in selling the library and a local business person made a fair offer on it. While the building is sold, it means only that the

library will be relocated – not abolished.

The sale of the library is viewed by the Chamber Board and many Chamber members to be a positive move by Council. The board of the Yorkton Chamber supports the sale of the library to a business for the following reasons:

1) Efficient resource management. By selling the library, the City will begin collecting about $60 thousand in taxes per year. It will reduce the operational and maintenance costs

for the building by an additional nearly $200 thousand per year. The city will be utilizing what is currently vacant space in the Gallagher Centre. Further, it is not uncommon for public libraries in this province to be located in city sports and recreation complexes. The Council has claimed repeatedly that it is focused on gaining efficiencies and saving tax payers money. Selling the library to a business makes economic sense.

2) A new business on

Broadway West will enhance the traffic and visitors to neighbouring businesses thereby revitalizing the neighbourhood.

3) The parking pressure on Second Avenue and neighbouring streets will be alleviated with the movement of this business to the space formerly occupied by the library.

Yorkton residents should be proud that a business in this city has grown so much that it requires a larger space. Such business growth and expan-

sion should be applauded, not stifled. Council, too, should be applauded for enabling such expansion to occur and for understanding that by relocating the library to another city owned facility is economically prudent. Council made the decision to sell the library and accepted a fair price. It’s now time to move forward.

Sincerely

Juanita Polegi Executive Director and card carrying member of the Parkland Regional Library)

Library process seen as flawed

Dear Editor: Well that’s the end of this city council. It might not officially be the election until next year, but they won’t make it past then.

I would even suggest that city management get their resumes updated, because their involvement in this disaster, and the continual miscommunication surrounding it, is not going to be conducive to maintaining employment. They are likely going to be sacrificial lambs as council does what it can to save face in this mess.

The sale of the Yorkton Public Library has to be one of the most mishandled deals in the history of the city, a cascading pile of bad decisions that managed to fill the council chambers with angry voters before telling them that, surprise, they have no actual say in the matter and the deal was done long before they found out.

This might have been okay if the plan didn’t involve a dramatic downsizing and move to a location that isn’t remotely central. The Gallagher

Centre is a cheap place to locate a library, it’s also a hilariously bad one. There are major accessibility concerns, significant traffic concerns, space issues and so on. Plus, it would put the library next to a swimming pool. Because, as we all know, putting books right next to a major source of humidity is a great idea and will not damage the paper in any way.

The Gallagher Centre is the kind of location you pick when you have put in no thought towards the requirements and use cases for the facility. Which isn’t surprising, since absolutely no thought was put into this deal in the first place.

But at least there was no chance of public feedback about what should happen with this vital public resource. And then they pretended there was a chance for about a month - enough that people showed just how much they wanted to keep this resource viable, before going “well actually the deal is done anyway, oops!” The flagrant lack of respect for

the residents of Yorkton and users of the public library is not something you want to see from the people in charge of a city.

There are two options going forward, neither of them cheap. One, kill the deal, take the loss, bear the burden of the legal price tag that would inevitably come with such a bad decision. The

financial burden is going to be severe, but that’s their own fault. Maybe the inevitable financial loss should come out of the pockets of the people who made the decision.

Two, find an alternate home that’s actually viable, which would mean a major real estate deal that is going to wipe out the $1.5 million from

the sale. The Gallagher Centre is not viable for reasons I outlined. While I don’t have an alternative myself - is the former liquor store up for grabs? - it should be a central,

easily accessible location that doesn’t have a major source of humidity right next to it, and it’s going to have to be roughly the same size as the current

Continued on Page A15

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Agriculture still reason Sask. exists

For anyone who pauses for even a couple of minutes to reflect on what drives Saskatchewan the answer is quite obviously agriculture. The same is largely true for the rest of the Prairies too.

Yes today the economies are more diverse, oil and gas, and potash being examples, but take away agriculture and the region would be a mere shadow of what it is today.

In that regard it was interesting to attend a recent Arbor Week event held at the old brick mill location in Yorkton.

During the event it was noted how the mill was once a hub of activity locally. Farmers would bring wheat in and take home flour and the time spent at the mill made it a place to share stories and create friendships.

The rather unassuming box-like building which has stood for decades hardly looks like it could have been so integral to the early days of Yorkton, but it was.

People populated the area to farm, and a flour mill was an important market which helped Yorkton in it’s path to being an agricultural service centre.

Agriculture THIS WEEK

Calvin Daniels

Flash-forward to today and that has not changed.

As was pointed out the city is very much a farm-service hub albeit more diverse than a wheat flour mill.

We know the importance of canola crushing the city, and how major expansion to both the

Richardson and Louis Dreyfus crush facilities are impacting the local economy in a major way through construction jobs and ultimately new plant jobs.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley regarding the LDC expansion announcement.

Hippsley said the city will get a short-term construction boost and then long-term jobs when completed.

“It will add all kinds of new lifeblood to the city,” he said, adding construction will be a two-to-three-year process and that means construction crews spending dollars while in Yorkton.

But canola is just one facet of the processing done locally, with oat processing, flax crushing, and meat processing all contributing in a major way to the city.

Then of course are the implement dealerships, and fertilizer

distributors and other businesses which exist only to serve farm customers.

Yorkton is certainly not unique in being a farm service hub community, but it is a very obvious example of how agriculture is critical in terms of business development in the province.

It is simply the province remaining farmbased at its core, and communities reaping the benefit as businesses develop to serve the ag sector. It has been that way for more than a century and will no doubt remain so for decades to come.

Seeding lags behind five-year average

Producers across Saskatchewan continue to make tremendous progress with their seeding operations. Currently, 68 per cent of the 2023 crop in the ground. This is still behind the fiveyear average of 76 per cent, but it is a very good sign that many producers in the western half of the province have wrapped up seeding or are only a few days away from finishing. Some producers would like to see some rain to ensure their crop has the moisture needed to emerge evenly and not be held back by dry conditions.

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

Warm, dry weather this past week allowed many producers to seed without delay.

Seeding progress has reached 58 per cent, up from 21 per cent and is on par with the five-year average, which is very reassuring for producers in the region.

The early seeded crops that have emerged look very good, but producers also report that weed growth has been rapid, they will be busy performing infield herbicide applications to ensure weeds do not compete with their crops.

Very few parts of the

region received rainfall over the past week and some producers in the drier part of the region are concerned about the lack of moisture.

The Kenaston area received 15 mm of rain, the Allan area 13 mm and the Craik area 11 mm. This moisture will help emerging crops and pasture grasses for a brief time.

Hot, windy weather has quickly dried out soil across the region.

Cropland topsoil moisture is now rated as 65 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and five per cent very short.

Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 56 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Pasture conditions are rated as three per cent excellent, 38 per cent good, 38 per cent fair, 16 per cent poor and five per cent very poor.

The majority of cattle are now on pasture with the remaining herds expected to be moved in the next week.

Overall, most of the crops are at the normal stages of development for this time of year due to the cool wet conditions in April and early May which delayed seeding for several weeks.

Most of the crop damage this week was from frost and flea beetles, which have been reported to be a large issue in some parts of the region. Some garden crops have been decimated by the pest since very little canola has

emerged. Producers will be very vigilant of their canola and will spray the flea beetles if their population reaches economic thresholds.

Provincially

Producers in the northwest are almost done seeding with 84 per cent of their crop now in the ground followed by the west central with 81 per cent, the northeast with 76 per cent, the southwest with 73 per cent, the east-central with 58 and the southeast with 51 per cent. Producers in the southeast and east-central are still struggling with excess moisture hindering field operations. There were small to moderate rain showers across the province over the week with close to an inch falling in some areas. The Rosetown and Livelong areas received 21 mm, the Kenaston area 15 mm, the Hafford and Hazenmore areas 10 mm, while other parts of the province received anywhere from one to eight mm. For the most part, the rain was not enough to relieve the dry conditions that some producers are facing. This issue is greatest in the west central region where topsoil moisture has quickly dropped after weeks of minimal precipitation. After another warm, windy week, topsoil moisture ratings have continued to drop in many regions. Province wide, crop land topsoil moisture is rated as two

per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 59 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. The driest regions are the northwest, west-central and southwest, where some producers are worried their newly emerging crop will not have enough moisture to make it through the heat of July without a good soaking of rain.

Pasture conditions have improved this year from previous years due to some late spring storms bringing much needed moisture. Overall provincial pasture conditions are rated as six per cent excellent, 45 per cent good, 29 per cent fair, 14 per cent poor and six per cent very poor. Livestock producers are happy to see their pastures green up and improve after two challenging years in many parts of the province. More livestock pro-

ducers will be moving the remainder of their cowcalf pairs out to pasture as they wrap up seeding operations.

Early seeded crops have emerged and are looking good across the province. Producers are reporting that crop development is around 70 per cent normal for spring cereals, oilseed and pulses. In parts of the west-central and northwest, some are behind in development due to dry growing conditions, while in the southeast and east-central crops are delayed due to the excessive moisture conditions.

Most of the crop damage this week was due to minor flooding, light frosts, drought conditions and flea beetles. Some producers have reported short term delays in seeding due to an inability to access phosphate fertilizer. However, as supply increases, they have been able to proceed

with seeding as planned. Now that seeding has wrapped up for some producers, they will be busy conducting their infield herbicide applications, as well as scouting for pests that pose a risk to their crops.

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 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 producers, Toll Free at 1-800-6674442.

A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at https://www. saskatchewan.ca/cropreport Follow the 2023 Crop Report on Twitter at @ SKAgriculture.

— Submitted

Sask Wheat approves unprecedented $1.6 million funding to Saskatchewan AgriARM sites

SASKATOON, SK (May 15, 2023) – Sask Wheat has approved $1.6 million in funding over two years to the eight Saskatchewan AgriARM sites. Each site will receive $200,000 which is going towards extension capacity, purchasing new equipment and furthering agronomic research which can increase wheat and whole-farm profitability.

AgriARM is a network of producer-directed applied research and demonstration organizations located across Saskatchewan. Each site operates individually and strives to collaborate on a broad range of projects to generate results relevant to growers over a wide area. AgriARM sites are supported by core funding from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and receive the majority of funds through project-based funding from governments, commodity groups and private industry.

“The AgriARM research sites have conducted important research for Saskatchewan farmers over the last few years, from testing the effects of postanthesis UAN on wheat protein to evaluation of row spacing and seeding density on the crop development and yield,” said Sask Wheat Chair, Brett Halstead. “Sask Wheat is pleased to provide AgriARM researchers with the funding they need to continue their research and provide Saskatchewan farmers with unique, Saskatchewan-based and regionally specific agronomic tools and techniques that will provide benefits to their farms.”

“The research and extension activities performed at the AgriARM sites have been valuable to Saskatchewan’s crop producers, leading to the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and techniques,” said Constance Chiremba, Sask Wheat Research

Program Manager. “This investment in the equipment and capacity of the research stations is an investment in the future of Saskatchewan’s wheat producers, as we will allow AgriARM researchers to continue their excellent work and communicate their results across the province.”

Sites:

• Indian Head Agri Research Foundation

• Conservation Learning Centre

• East Central Research Foundation

• Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation

• Northeast Ag Research Foundation

• Southeast Research Farm

• Wheatland Conservation Area Inc.

• Western Applied Research Corp

— Submitted

May 31 - June 6, 2023

Monday, June 5, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

GENERAL INQUIRIES: 306-786-1700

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After Hours Emergency..............306-786-1760

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374 impaired drivers caught in April

Last month, SGI put the spotlight on a program that encourages everyone to Report Impaired Drivers (RID), but the results from the April spotlight show that we haven’t been able to get RID of the idea of “one more for the road.”

Police recorded 374 offences related to

impaired driving in April. This includes:

• 179 people were issued Criminal Code charges

• 195 people given administrative roadside licence suspensions

All impaired driving offences come with immediate licence suspensions, vehicle

impoundments, impaired driving education programs and Safe Driver Recognition demerit points. The consequences become more severe if the driver exceeds Criminal Code limits, is a repeat offender and/or causes a collision that injures or kills someone.

The weather is ideal for sitting on a patio, but when the bar tab is paid, find a safe ride. Call a sober friend or family member, or take a bus, cab, rideshare or designated driving service. Driving impaired is not an option.

Other results from April’s traffic spotlight

included:

• 448 tickets for seatbelt and occupant restraint offences;

• 4,991 tickets for speeding and aggressive driving offences; and

• 730 tickets for distracted driving, including 649 for using a cellphone while driving.

Impaired driving is

also our Traffic Safety Spotlight in May. Follow SGI on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.

May 31 - June 6, 2023

Next Council Meeting

Monday, June 5, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Request for RFQ

Name of RFQ: Chemical Shed

RFQ must be received before 2:00 p.m. on June 9, 2023

Please submit RFQ through Biddingo

Details of Proposal:

The City is soliciting quotes for the purchase of one (1) Chemical Shed to be placed at the City of Yorkton Cemetery.

Specifications are available at: www.biddingo.com/yorkton

RFQ shall remain open for acceptance by the City and irrevocable for thirty (30) calendar days following the date specified for closing.

Information Contact

Enquiries regarding the proposal procedure and particulars can be directed to: parksandrec@yorkton.ca

The City reserves the right to reject any or all RFP Lowest or any proposal not necessarily accepted.

New Yorkton Lions and Sports Hall of Fame award recognizes sports supporters

The Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (YSHF) has established a new award, the Support for Sports Award, sponsored by the Yorkton Lions Club.

The award will be presented annually to individuals, businesses, clubs and organizations who have displayed a long-term and significant commitment to sup-

porting amateur sports in Yorkton. The support can take many forms, including volunteerism, financial or in-kind support, organizational assistance, traditional or new media excellence or other ways that have benefitted sports organizations or athletes.

It also provides an opportunity to recognize those who otherwise do

not qualify for induction into the Hall of Fame but are deserving of recognition by the community.

The recipients will be recognized at the Sports Hall of Fame annual induction event, which this year will be held Saturday, September 9. Recipients will be guests of the Sports Hall of Fame at the induction, where they will be intro-

duced and presented with a plaque by representatives of the Lions Club and Sports Hall of Fame.

“The Yorkton Lions are pleased to sponsor this new award. We feel that people who give back to their community in many different ways, as the recipients of this award will have done, deserve recognition

and our appreciation,” Yorkton Lions president Todd Allan noted.

Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame board chair Dick DeRyk said the organization welcomes the participation of the Yorkton Lions in this award.

“Their support makes it possible to honour the recipients by inviting them to attend and take part in the induction

evening,” he added. Nominations may be submitted anytime at www.yorktonsportshalloffame.ca/support-for-sports-award. Deadline for nominations for the first presentations is Friday, August 11, 2023. Nominations received after that date will be considered for presentation in 2024. — Submitted

Many rinks supported by program

The Government of Saskatchewan has reported that more than 580 skating and curling rinks across the province received funding through the Community Rink Affordability Grant in 2022-23.

“Whether it is skating, curling, or playing hockey, these rinks are important to communities, and their residents,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. “Winter is part of our life in Saskatchewan, which is why our rinks are so relevant to our quality of life. They allow people to stay active year-round.”

The program is administered by the Saskatchewan Parks and

Recreation Association (SPRA), who distributed grants up to $2,500 for 581 surfaces during the last intake period, including 376 skating rinks and 205 curling rinks.

“The Community Rink Affordability Grant program plays an important role in ensuring the operation of rinks in Saskatchewan,” SPRA President Jody Boulet said. “We are grateful for the government’s sustained support for these recreation facilities, recognizing their significance as vital community spaces that enhance the overall quality of life in the province.”

The Community Rink Affordability Grant pro-

vides funding to help offset the costs of operating indoor skating and curling rinks in Saskatchewan.

Communities, First Nations, schools, and non-profits are eligible

and encouraged to register for an annual grant per indoor ice surface.

“The Community Rink Affordability Grant helped provide the opportunity to have

lights on and a warm facility to create a safe, fun venue for the community to gather and be active,” Village of Leask Administrator Yvette Hamel said. “The physical activity along with the sense of comradery is so beneficial to mental health. During the Christmas season, parents and grandparents brought their children and grandchildren to skate where they once skated as children, this was priceless.”

“Our arena is the hub of our community,” Town of Wynyard Director of Leisure Services Dana Stefanson said. “Our regular user groups keep the facility busy all win-

ter long, but the increasing costs of operating an arena of this size puts pressure on these important groups. This grant helps to ease that financial pressure on families and organizations.

Perhaps one of the best developments this winter has been the surge in public skating participation. Our Sunday Public Skate times have seen 50-60 participants weekly, with the majority of skaters being newcomers.”

The SPRA will be accepting grant applications for this year in fall 2023. To learn more, visit https://www.spra.sk.ca/ funding/our-grants/. — Submitted

Del Bianco twice honoured by NLL

Calgary Roughnecks

netminder Christian

Del Bianco has grabbed two major season-end awards from the National Lacrosse League. The first award saw Del Bianco take home his first Goaltender of the Year trophy earning the award ahead of Nick Rose and Matt Vinc. He is also the first Calgary goaltender to win the award since Mike Poulin in 2012.

Certainly Del Bianco put together an outstanding season with the best save percentage among goalies with at least 120 minutes played and finished fourth in total saves. His 9.28 goals against average was second to Nick Rose, the only two players with a sub-10 goals against average.

With Del Bianco in net, he helped lead Calgary

to a franchise best 13-5 record, playing a league record 1080:19 minutes between the pipes, noted an NLL release.

“Obviously the award means alot with how many great goalies we have in the league-- how many big names have won it in years past so it’s definitely something years from now I will look back on and really appreciate,” Del Bianco told Yorkton This Week.

The award is at least in part about resiliency at a position where goals will be scored on the netminder.

“I think personally, something I pride myself on is being able to play out of a rut -- bounce back when stuff isn’t going great for me,” said Del Bianco. “With so many great players in the league you’re bound to have off nights or slow starts and I think the best guys are able to maintain confidence and play through it.”

Then Del Bianco became the first netminder since 2006, to be presented the league’s MVP award. He becomes just the second goaltender to ever win the MVP award (Steve Dietrich, 2006) and third non-forward to win the award since its inception in 1994, (Jeff Shattler, transition, 2011).

According to an NLL release Del Bianco set a record with 1,080:19 minutes played this. He is the fourth Roughneck to win the MVP, the first since Dane Dobbie in 2019. He edged out other finalists, Dhane Smith, who won the MVP award last season and sophomore standout and NLL leading scorer, Jeff Teat.

“It’s crazy to think that I’m only the second goalie but I’m glad that people see the impact and value goaltenders have on the game,” said Del Bianco. “It’s a huge honour when the other two finalists

were players like Dhane (Smith), who could win it almost every year and a guy like Teater, (Jeff Teat), who has already established himself as one of the best in only his second year in the league.”

Del Bianco was also quick to share the award with teammates.

“I think it’s really a byproduct of the guys around me also having success without guys like (Shane) Simpson and, (Josh) Currier have crazy years in transition I don’t have as many assists, (19), as I did and without defenders like (Eli) Salama, (Jeff) Cornwall, (Curtis) Manning, (Liam) Leclair locking down other teams best players I wouldn’t have has the season I did stopping the ball.”

But the awards are not likely to change how Del Bianco approaches what he does.

“One award doesn’t change who you are on the day-to-day,” he said.

“I’m not a crazy vocal guy but I think our dressing room has so many quality people who lead by work

ethic and showing how invested they are in the team’s success.”

And it is team success Del Bianco hopes for next season.

“I think we have to build off the foundation we established this past season and keep improving as a whole,” he said.

“I think we have the

answers within the dressing room so the first step is getting everyone back and then just continuing to put in the sweat equity.

“Nothing’s ever a guarantee with so many great teams but I have 100 per cent confidence that we will put in the work to reach this teams full potential.”

It’s time to dig out your favourite sports jersey and wear it for a good cause.

As part of Kidsport Month which is celebrated in May staff, students and the general public are encouraged to wear their favourite jersey and then donate $2 to Kidsport.

Donations to Kidsport support support the worthwhile children’s charity which helps children of families facing financial obstacles participate in sport.

Christain Del Bianco

Many rinks in province received provincial grant dollars.

Photo courtesy Calgary Roughnecks

Bongos 14U teams wrap up season

YORKTON – The Yorkton 14U Bongos Volleyball teams had a great season. This year saw the club

gain more athletes than ever before, resulting in the creation of two 14U boys’ teams, Bongos Green and Bongos Blue.

The teams participated in three tournaments throughout the season, culminating with both groups representing the club at

Provincials in Saskatoon on April 21 and 22. The Green team finished fourth in tier one and the Blue team fin-

ished seventh in the tier two division.

Coaches and volunteers said they were proud of the Bongos and the accom-

plishments of each team and the individual skill development of their athletes.

–Submitted

ECD Track and Field Championships

Yorkton played host to the East Central District Track and Field Championships May 24 and 25. The championships featured athletes from the surrounding area competing in long jump, high jump, discus, shot put, hurdles, and more.

Many students will go on to compete in the SHSAA Provincial Track and Field Championships in Saskatoon June 2-3.

Submitted

Team Blue Back Row (L to R): Treyton Roussin, Nicholas Burback, Karter-Jett Delorme, Emrey Lozinski, Coach Brandon Needham Front Row (L to R): Jacob Baron, Jens Vincent, Caleb Banks, Toby Reminek, Linden MacLean

Submitted

Team Green Back Row (L to R): Assistant Coach Brandon Needham, Kale Bolme, Caleb Delorme, Nash Wandy, Greyson Angove, Kadrick Guthrie, Head Coach Darren Wandy. Front Row (L to R): Matthew Koberinski, Brody Nelson, Blake Needham, Cash Yurkiw.

Staff Photos by Tyson Off

ANDRYCHUK - With great sadness, the family of the late Michael Andrychuk announce his passing at the Yorkton & District Nursing Home, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the age of 91 years. Michael was born on the family farm in the Veregin District on April 11, 1932. He was the 8th child born to Alexander and Paraska (Polly) Andrychuk who had 10 children. Michael was raised on the farm and attended Rona School. As a young man, Michael helped on the family farm and met Verna Prokopchuk, who he married on October 15, 1955. Michael and Verna took over the family farm, which they operated with pride. They were blessed with two children, Dwayne and Colleen. They had a mixed farm, with an immaculate farmyard with a large garden, fruit trees and many beautiful flowerbeds. They farmed until they retired to their present home in Yorkton in 2005, until he was moved to Melody Manor in May 2021. Michael and Verna enjoyed travelling to Hawaii, Europe, Florida, Mexico and spent many winters in Arizona. They loved crosscountry skiing, dancing, playing cards with friends, and entertaining by hosting many barbeques. Michael was predeceased by his parents, sisters Anne (Fred) Oystryck, Nettie (George) Achtemichuk, Mary (Ivan) Uhryn, Kay (Frank) Klos, Elsie Holowatuk and his brothers Nick and George. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 67 years Verna, son Dwayne and his wife Shelly, their son Branden and great grandchildren Ivy and Eve, and daughter Breanne and her partner Jordan, and his daughter Colleen and husband Dennis Kaminsky, and their children Terrin, her husband Adrian Daemen and great grandchildren Hayden & Hatley, Caitlin, her husband Dylan Oneschuk and great granddaughter Olyvia, and twins Evan and Carlynne. Michael is also survived by his brothers Peter and Danny, brother-in-law Peter Holowatuk, and sisters-inlaw Pearl Andrychuk and Elsie Andrychuk, as well an many nephews and nieces. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Prayers were held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton and the Funeral Service on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Rev. Fr. Michael Faryna officiating. The cantor was Jason Kopan. Serving as cross bearer was Dennis Kaminsky. Michael’s grandchildren all gave tributes to their Gido. The interment followed in the Garden of Crucifixion at Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Marvin Klos, Brian Holowatuk, Richard Prokopchuk, Curtis Prokopchuk, Breanne Andrychuk, Carlynne Kaminsky, Branden Andrychuk and Evan Kaminsky serving as the casket bearers. Verna, Dwayne, Colleen and their families wish to extend their thanks for the kindness, prayers and support during this time of sorrow. Condolences to the family can be posted at baileysfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations in memory of Michael may be made to a Kidney Foundation as gifts of remembrance.

ANDERSON - It is with great sadness that the family of Skip (Stanley) Anderson of Yorkton, SK, announce his passing on Monday, May 22, 2023, at the age of 78. Skip was born and raised in the Preeceville/Sturgis area. His career with the Government of Canada started at the Orcadia Radar Base and he retired from the Armouries in Yorkton. While at the Radar Base, he met the love of his life, Helen, whom he married on March 27, 1967. Along with her came his daughter, Brenda, whom he raised as his own. He is remembered by his family and friends as a loving, kind and dedicated man. He loved to laugh and make others laugh, therefore pulling many pranks on those closest to him. His laugh was contagious and he had a good sense of humour. Not only were he and Helen inseparable, but he was a huge part of his daughters life, devoting much time and energy to her and her family. The grandkids remember him driving them to their activities, always making them feel like it was the absolute best part of his day, then taking them out for a treat afterwards, just the two of them. He spent lots of time with them and taught them how to fish, camp and play cards. He would sometimes take them to work and let them experience new and exciting things no one else ever could. He took his daughter and then grandkids gopher shooting and let each of them learn to drive at a young age, sitting on his knee. As fishing was one of his passions, there are many stories with family and friends that bring back fond memories for each to cherish. To his great grandchildren, he was always ready for a snuggle in his big comfy chair and maybe a tickle or two. Being around him, one had that intangible feeling, a sense of peace, joy and love, where everyone knew they were welcome. His loyalty, devotion, dependable and loving nature will be greatly missed by his family. We will be forever thankful for the role model he has been to us and the life lessons he taught us through his actions. We cherish every moment we spent with such an amazing man and his influence will continue to be felt and help our family long into the future. He leaves to mourn his wife, Helen, his daughter Brenda (Wayne), his grandchildren; Lucia (Brenden), Ryan (Angela), and Tyler (Mandee), along with his great grandchildren; Addi, Dax, Kolby, Brooks, Sadie, Lincoln, Kash, and Mila, his sisters; Diane and Bonnie (Peter) and many other family members and friends. May he continue to have the best seat in the house for his hockey games with all the sweets he wants, and his dream vehicle in immaculate condition with a spot saved for the love of his life right beside him. We are happy to have you free of pain and suffering looking down on us and guiding us in our daily lives. Out of respect for Stanleys wishes, there will be no funeral service

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SOLONENKO - The family of Sylvia Solonenko of the Stornoway district sadly announce her passing on May 15, 2023. Sylvia was born March 12, 1943 in Dauphin, MB. Daughter of John and Ann Ficzycz. She attended school in Dauphin and after graduation she then completed her dental hygienist program. She worked up north as a dental hygienist and then in Yorkton. She met her husband Dennis and was united in marriage August 20, 1971. Ten years later they welcomed their first of three children Cortney, Coralie and Devin. She and Dennis farmed with his family in Stornoway for many years. She was quite the farm wife and took on many roles on the farm as a gardener, housewife, looking after cows, raising chickens and her beloved job of grass cutting. She was very passionate about maintaining the farm yard with her flowers galore and keeping her lawn lush and green. Her riding lawn mowers have had many hours put on them as you could usually find her riding her lawn mower around the yard even if she wasn’t cutting the grass. After Dennis passed, she took on the role of the farm boss. She knew exactly what was happening on the farm and who was coming and leaving. She was happy living on the farm. She was most proud of all of her grandkids. It was very important to her that she was active in their lives and activities and always tried to attend all of Jordann’s dance recitals and any school functions for the kids. She always enjoyed stories and any pictures of the kids. She would never tell you if they had been misbehaving and definitely doing something they shouldn’t have been doing because in her eyes they can do no wrong, they were just innocent kids being kids. Jordann’s Ukrainian dancing was very precious to her and she always talked about all of her costumes and how good she was at dancing. Damien had many sleepovers over the years and made many memories over those years. He kept her entertained these last few years and she always enjoyed having him over. Sylvia enjoyed her weekend girl trips to Regina with her good friend Sindy. They were always ready to go shopping and shared coffee dates for many years. She and her good friend Betty made many memories together as Betty became her taxi later in life taking her to many farmers markets, hair appointments and bowling games. She had made some travels in her lifetime including Paris, Europe, Hawaii, cruises, and trip to the U.S. She was a member of the Rhein Lions Club for 20 years and enjoyed her time in the Ladies Bowling League for a couple years. She leaves to cherish in her memory her son Cortney (Crystal) children Jordann and Lyric, daughter Coralie (Jason) and children Parker and Holdyn, and son Devin (Sarah) and child Damien. Her sister Shirley (George) Dauphin, brother Morris (Gail) of Winnipeg, sister Mary Ann (Cliff) of Dauphin and Jane (Argyle) of Dauphin. Sylvia was predeceased by her late husband Dennis, her parents, sister Diana and brother Wayne. Sylvia will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered for her smile, caring heart, her willingness to always lend a hand and her motherly advice. May she and dad polka again. The prayer service was held on Friday, May 26, 2023 and the funeral service on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey, Certified Celebrant officiating. Serving as cross bearer was Holdyn Nott. The interment took place in the Garden of Crucifixion at Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Rob Fisher, Sean Mehling, Parker Nott, Lyric Solonenko, Tyler Kindiak and Blaise Zrudlo serving as the casket bearers. Memorial donations may be made to the Rhein District Lions Club, Box 4 Rhein, SK, S0A 3K0 or the Health Foundation for Cancer Care, 41 Betts Ave, Yorkton, SK S3N 1M1 as gifts of remembrance. Condolences to the family can be posted at baileysfuneralhome.com

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NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE MUNICIPAL HERITAGE PROPERTY

1979-80, c.H-2.2 s. 11(2)(b)

2012HarleyDavidsonRoad KingClassic-$15,500 103(1690cc)enginewitha6speedtransmission,ABSbrakes, Boomsoundsystem,cruiseand LEDsignals.Notradesorswaps.

306-744-2920

Farm Implements

Mining Week in Sask

Notice

Copies of the reasons for the designation are available on request. Any person wishing to object to the proposed designation must serve Council with a written objection stating the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts not less than three (3) days prior to consideration of the Bylaw, which shall be on July 11, 2023. Dated this 25 day of May, 2023.

Land Wanted

Land Wanted

Apartments / Condos-For Sale

27 ERICHSEN PLACE 50 plus Condo for Sale. Second floor - facing SW. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. 1150 sq.ft. Many improvements. Phone 306-783-3049

333 MORRISON POINT II CONDO FOR SALE

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

Apartments/Condos for Rent

INDEPENDENT ADULT LIVING apartments in Martensville, SK.

Spend your retirement years in a community close to family/friends in the Saskatoon area that has large city services and small town safety and charm. 2 bedroom suites available. More information at www.chateauvilla.ca, 306-2814475 or chateauvilla@sasktel.net

For Sale - Misc

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

Beautiful sturdy, well built brand new garden shed 8’ x 12’. Outside totally finished with vinyl siding and shingles. Phone Ralph 306621-1398 Saltcoats

BOOKLETS REVIEWING SOME HIDDEN BIBLE WORDS: GOD IS LOVE, PSALM 91, NORTH

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The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 28 to June 3 as Mining Week in Saskatchewan, a chance to celebrate the strength of the industry and the hard-working people who support it across the province.

“This is an exciting time for the Saskatchewan mining industry, coming off another year with record sales numbers and the launch of Securing the Future: Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy,” Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter said. “For the third year in a row, we rank in the top three globally as one of the best places for mining in terms of investment attractiveness, according to the Fraser Institute.”*

Building on the momentum of the province’s critical min-

erals strategy, the theme for this year’s Saskatchewan Mining Week is “Saskatchewan: A Growing Critical Minerals Hub.” The province is home to 23 of the 31 critical minerals on Canada’s list. Saskatchewan has an opportunity to contribute to meeting the global demand for critical minerals including potash, uranium, helium, lithium, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements.

“This year’s theme showcases the critical role Saskatchewan mineral production has in the value chain of providing clean energy and global food security through our world-class production of potash and uranium,” Saskatchewan Mining Association Board Chair Nathaniel Huckabay said. “Our near-term production of other critical minerals,

General Employment General Employment

Rural Municipality of Saltcoats No. 213

Mower Operator

The RM of Saltcoats No. 213 is now accepting applications for the position of seasonal full-time Mower Operator for the 2023 right of way mowing season. This position will be a seasonal full-time position for approximately 900 hrs commencing on or about June 26th, 2023.

Applicants must hold a valid drivers license. Experience and maintaining and operating tractors and mowers along with Powered Mobile Equipment(PME) training would be an asset. A vehicle to haul fuel and blades would also be an asset.

Applicants are invited to submit a resume stating experience, along with 3 references on or before June 13th, 2023.

For more information please contact the R.M. office at 306-744-2202.

Please submit application to: Ron Risling, Administrator R.M. of Saltcoats No. 213 Box 150, Saltcoats, Sask., S0A 3R0 E-mail: rm.saltcoats@sasktel.net

like copper, lithium and processing of rare earth elements that are essential for the transition to a greener, digital economy is putting Saskatchewan on the map as a growing critical minerals hub.”

Saskatchewan has long been a top global producer and exporter of potash and uranium and is now home to a growing helium sector and to the first-of-its-kind, minerals-to-metals rare earth processing facility in North America.

Saskatchewan is a sustainable producer of minerals with a stable regulatory environment, attractive incentives, and highly competitive tax systems that support exploration, mining, processing and manufacturing. You can find a full list of Saskatchewan mining activities at http://saskmining.ca/.

*Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2022.

LIBRARY

Wanted

For Sale - Misc

18 Quart G.E. electric roaster new $45.00 Call 306-783-2717 8x12 BARN style garden sheds, vinyl siding, asphalt shingles, 60 inch vinyl covered door. $2100. Can deliver. Sheho 306-849-4501

WILL OFFER. Contact: Sandy Marteniuk svmartenuik@gmail.com 1-306-786-7721 Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306-6491405 to find out how! PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 49 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306- 649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details SET OF 4 Michelin Latitude Tour Summer Tires 235/55R19.

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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.

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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!

Be a Yorkton This Week Carrier!

• No early mornings

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• We pay by direct deposit on the last Friday of every month

• Weight bonuses

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• Any age welcome

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If you would like a route, please e-mail us at: circulation@yorktonthisweek.com or telephone circulation at: 306-782-2465

The buyer should also be looking for an out. It’s a toxic property nownobody wants to do business with the people who destroyed the library. They’re now the villains in a kids movie, in fiction their plans would have already been foiled by a plucky dog. They might have made the offer in good faith, with the assumption that the city had any plan at all if the sale proceeded. But now they’re probably watching their back for any Jack Russell terriers or skateboarding preteens. Municipal elections are famously poorly attended. As a result, if you have an issue which makes people passionate, they are going to turn out in huge numbers to make their desired result happen. The library issue filled the council chambers. It’ll empty it too.

— Devin Wilger, Regina (formerly Yorkton)

Smart shoppers find the best buys in

the Yorkton This Week Classifieds.

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

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS & LABOURERS WANTED

Auctions QUICK SOLD AUCTION serving SE Saskatchewan. Let us help you get the best price in the least amount of time. Get Canada and USA wide coverage on our Online auction. Specializing in estate, antiques, collectibles and vintage sales of all kinds. Certified antique and personal property appraiser. Bonded and insured. Don’t throw anything out until you talk to us. Free consultation Phone: 306-7307310 www.quicksoldauction.com PL#508277. Career Opportunities Career Opportunities Career Opportunities

23055GP0

Continued from Page A7 location. The current library was the right fit for Yorkton, because of this absurdly stupid deal, it’s time to scramble to figure out if an alternative even exists.

Sometimes we must learn to swing on our bars

I heard my own voice talking on radio this morning. God used an earlier me to give the current me a simple message: Get swinging.

Let me explain. Years ago, a local radio station, the Rock 98.5 FM, invited me to write and record a few short radio spots for airing on his station. Words of faith, words of encouragement, words that reflect life and how Christian faith intersects with our experiences. Shorter versions of these columns. I’d previously done some freelance work for CBC Radio, which I’d enjoyed tremendously. I like radio and believe Christian radio can

change lives. A year or more earlier, unknown to the station, I’d begun praying about doing more broadcasting. I can still see the yellow sticky I’d posted on my desktop: “Pray about doing radio spots.”

Recognizing the involvement of a Higher Hand, I said yes. We called the 90 second spots Simple Words and recorded several hundred. They still air a few times a weekday on that station. It astounded me that for several years other stations in other locales, as far away as New Zealand, picked them up as well. (God blesses our yesses. Even when we say them scared out

Sunny Side Up

of our skulls.)

I said all that to explain why, while driving to the hospital this morning, I heard my own voice speaking.

The hospital is only a short walk from home, but I had stuff to bring, hence the vehicle. My “stuff” consisted of a small DVD player, several DVDs, a carafe of

Plant sale Friday at mall

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! Visit our site at www.yorktonhort.ca for details.

Just a little update: we chatted recently about a friend sowing seeds in the fall; it’s exciting to hear from her that her peas came up very nicely, and she has had success with volunteer lettuce for years now. Another gardener had great success with spinach planted last fall and was looking forward to a delicious early salad; but the birds visited the “salad bar” before she did! But we’ll have to keep this interesting planting idea on our “to-do” list this fall!

Are you familiar with “tabletop gardens” or dish gardens? The look of these was very interesting and made me want to learn more about them. It is a common thing to picture our outdoor space as an extension of our living space; our patio tables can become a thing of beauty with a dish garden as a “‘centrepiece”.

The dish gardens often use succulents. What are succulents? They are not a type of plant, but plants that have certain characteristics: their ability to store water in their leaves and stems. The plants are fleshy looking and a gardener’s favorite because they don’t mind dry and hot conditions. Succulents come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and colors, making them wonderful candidates for a most

DEBBIE HAYWARD

YORKTON AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Gardener’s Notebook

interesting and beautiful dish garden. Choose a container that is low and wide, so that we can easily see their textures and colors. Most important rule: soil that drains well, preferably soil that is on the sandy side. These plants do not like to have wet feet and will be much more forgiving of us forgetting to water them once in a while, rather than watering them too much. We should water them only when they are dry. While we like the look of a full and tightly packed dish garden, when we are just getting them started, we have to be sure to give them room to grow and fill in. Plant all the plants at the same level in the container. We can give them a weak fertilizer every four or five weeks.

Good plant choices?

The much beloved hens and chicks; burrow’s tail; echeveria (stonecrop), or euphorbia crown of thorns. Don’t forget to add little accent items like a small piece of driftwood, shells, rocks, or small terra cotta pots, laid on their side as if the plants are tumbling out.

For gardeners with limited space, dish gardens can be a lovely way to add an accent piece when there is not a lot of space for larger things like statues or fountains. There is still lots of room for beauty and interest in a small gardening space, just keep things in proportion.

Keep in mind, too, that dish gardens can be made with other favorite plants; careful selection is the thing that makes them different from an ordinary collection of plants in a container. We might choose one marigold and trim the bottom leaves to five the impression of a tree; thyme can be the “groundcover”;

hot water, teabags, my laptop, our sofa, our microwave oven and a few days’ worth of food (just kidding about the last three). But I had everything I’ve learned from long practice to be necessary during a daylong vigil beside someone’s hospital bed. The Preacher’s hospital bed. In this morning’s

Simple Words, I spoke of different pets we’ve had over the years, particularly the caged ones. How they have modelled contentment to us, even learning to swing on their bars for fun.

Like it or not, life builds cages around disabled people and their families. People like my husband, who has, until now, never stopped preaching.

People like our friend Scott Fitzsimmons (also associated with 98.5 TheRock). After cancer treatments and a stem cell transplant, Scott became legally blind. He is (thus far) unable to resume his prior radio career—but that hasn’t stopped him from speak-

TelCare support

and a unique grass or the shapely rush can add interesting textures. Some sparkling glass pebbles and rocks to finish, and it’s an amazing conversation piece!

Thank you to our friends at YTW for their wonderful work; have a great week!

The Grade 3 Tuesday/Thursday PM class at the Yorkton Nursery School Co-Operative, (with special guest of one lady bug) was happy to accept a cheque from a SaskTel Telcare Employee. Support from the TelCare program will help provide school supplies for the cooperative, including technology and specialized resources for kids needing a bit extra. Telcare is a non-profit organization funded by

ing and writing. People like another friend, Don (a well-known farmer who contracted West Nile Disease in the same summer as my husband).

Like Irwin, a rancher friend who lost both legs in a tragic farm accident. After rehab, both returned home and continued farming. Swingin’ on their bars. All those people. Perhaps you’re doing the same.

It seems that once again, a virus has caged the Preacher. But this morning my own voice (and lots of life experience) reminded me that God is in the cage with us. And like before, with his help, we’ll learn (again) to swing on its bars. So can you.

Submitted Photo

employee participation. The money raised in each district remains there to support local organizations. The Yorkton Nursery School Co-Operative is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a positive first-school experience for children in the Yorkton area. We offer a play-based program that encourages each child to develop to their highest potential.

The Stages of Life

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, June 4 at 10:30 am Online (Zoom/Facebook/Youtube) and in person!

Church of God in Christ Mennonite

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

Sun. Jun. 4: Divine Liturgy - 9:30 am - Sheho Town

Sun. Jun. 4: Provody - 2:00 pm - Insinger Town

Mon. Jun. 5: Parish Council Meeting - 7:00 pm - Yorkton

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 June 3rd - Vespers 6:00 PM

Sunday June 4th Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM Feast of Pentecost

Priest: Rodion Luciuk Phone: 306-786-6216 Cell: 306-621-5341

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

First made-in-Saskatchewan satellite to be launched to the International Space Station

SASKATOON –Students at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have developed a cube satellite that will launch into orbit on June 3. The team believes it is the first made-in-Saskatchewan satellite that will be sent into space.

The cube satellite, dubbed RADSAT-SK, will be launched to the

International Space Station (ISS) via the SpaceX CRS-28 rocket. From the ISS, the satellite will be sent into its own orbit where it will remain for approximately one year. During that time, the team will collect experimental radiation data from a ground station located on the USask campus.

“The RADSAT-SK cube satellite began development in spring 2018 with about 20 engineering undergraduate students on board,” said Dr. Sean Maw (PhD), principal investigator and Jerry G. Huff Chair

in Innovative Teaching in the USask College of Engineering. “Since then, the project has grown immensely, with hundreds of students involved in some capacity over the years.”

The creation of the satellite is part of a project for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Canadian CubeSat Project (CCP), a program developed by the CSA to increase student interest in STEM across Canada while involving them in real space missions that contribute to the scientific community.

“Finding out as a stu-

dent at USask that I could be a part of a project that would send a research satellite to space was an opportunity that fulfilled one of my life’s earliest goals,” said Dustin Preece, one of the technical project managers, adding that the cube satellite project has been a life-changing experience for him and many other students involved.

The RADSAT-SK satellite’s payload – what it is carrying as it orbits the Earth – focuses on radiation-based research. USask electrical and computer engineering professor Dr. Li Chen (PhD)

and his team developed a dosimeter board to measure radiation from space. Dr. Ekaterina Dadachova (PhD) and her team within the USask College of Pharmacy and Nutrition developed a fungal melanin coating that has been placed on part of the board.

Melanin pigments are found in many diverse fungal species which can inhabit some of the most extreme habitats on earth. The research goal of Dadachova’s work is to test the feasibility of melanin as a cosmic radiation shielding method in space, while

the goal of Chen’s work is to measure radiation at a reduced cost compared to current methods.

The RADSAT-SK project partners include the CSA, USask Space Design Team, USask College of Engineering, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic. The industry partners are Calian Advanced Technologies and Galaxia Mission Systems, along with numerous individual donors. Dr. Brian Berscheid (PhD) of the USask College of Engineering also contributed mentorship for the team.

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June 15th Ukraine Theme

(Wear Ukraine shirts and or blue and yellow, bring lawn chairs)

4:00pm – Food Trucks open Papa R Mini Donuts

4:30pm – Quick welcome and rundown of the day

4:30pm – Cultural activities, games, word play, Dances,

– Music by Choir and local entertainers.

– Bouncy House

– Face Painting by Big Brothers and Big Sisters

– Food booths by Joe Beavers with Ukraine Menu and Yorkton Navy League #103 Margaree Cadets Food Sale

– Kids Activities, Axe Throw, small bouncy house, crafts and other activities

– Temporary Tattoo booth – Rolling Thunder car show

– Fire Truck Rides 5:30pm – National Anthem, Flag Raising and Dignitary welcome 6:00pm – Cultural activities and kids activities continue

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June 21st National Indigenous Day

(See YTC website and fb page for more information)

June 22nd South Asian Theme

(Wear white t-shirt and bring lawn chairs and water guns)

4:00pm – Food Trucks are; Papa R Mini Donuts and Tea Pro

4:30pm

– Food booths by SPCA Fund raiser

– Popcorn and balloons by Kinnettes