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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

Coming down Season is over.

SJHL’s return to play bubble plan not approved.

PAGE A2

Exciting news ahead. Chamber of commerce talks outcomes and future plans.

PAGE A7

International Women’s Day

Women of Estevan. More nominations and stories of great local women.

PAGE A11 - A13

Committed to volleyball.

Alameda athlete agrees to play for Medicine Hat. PAGE A15

A grain elevator in Bromhead was torn down on March 17. The elevator was nearly 90 years old, but had to be brought down after sustaining damage during the wind storm that struck southeast Saskatchewan in January. For more on the story, see Page A6.

Photo by Kelly Tytlandsvik.

Ice being removed at Affinity Place

By David Willberg

The City of Estevan has started the process of removing the ice at Affinity Place.

Estevan city council voted at the March 22 meeting to shut down the building’s ice plant, starting the following day. Typically the ice would be removed in mid-April, but could remain longer depending on the length of the Estevan Bruins playoffs.

The ice has been out at the city’s other hockey rink, the Power Dodge Arena, since the end of February.

In a report to council, parks and facilities manager Rod March wrote that the city agreed to leave the ice in at Affinity Place in anticipation

of the SJHL finding a way to salvage a season through a type of bubble tournament.

The SJHL ultimately applied to have the bubble in Weyburn, but found out on Monday night that it was rejected by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

“Affinity ice has seen very little use since the beginning of March,” March wrote.

There have been sporadic bookings by Estevan minor hockey teams and the Estevan Figure Skating Club this month, but the city has seen equal cancellations versus actual use.

These bookings occur only because they have ice available.

The variable cost for Affinity to

G N I T A V O N N I S Y A ALW GET UP TO

4,000 +

$

IN REBATES

*

retain ice is approximately $1,000 a day; at the most they are recouping $200-250 a day in actual use, he said.

On top of this, the city has one potential booking for ice, starting March 28 for 27 hours for a Weyburn team.

“For us to hold the ice until the 28th, then run 27 hours for an out of town team, will cost the city upwards of $10,000 to $12,000, depending on how many days the 27 hours extend to potentially take in $3,100 in gross revenue,” March said.

The city has arena staff in place in anticipation of users on the ice, but the staff is better utilized outside now in various tasks within parks operations.

2.99 72

Mayor Roy Ludwig said the public shouldn’t be surprised that the ice will be coming out of Affinity a few weeks earlier than normal. “ We were hoping to know sooner if there was going to be organized hockey with the Bruins,” said Ludwig.

At $1,000 a day to run the ice plant, the cost adds up quickly.

Last year the ice plant was shut down on March 16, after the local ice sports season came to an abrupt end due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At that time, Affinity and the Power Dodge Arena were among numerous city facilities closed to the public.

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City hopes ice can be installed again in August « A1 wanted to know what kind of consultation has occurred with the user groups, and whether they seemed agreeable to shutting the ice down at this time.

Program manager Erin Wilson said before they thought about picking a day to remove the ice, they spoke with the user groups to get their thoughts.

“All of the groups were also well aware and hopeful that we may have been able to host the SJHL bubble,” said Wilson.

Councillor Lindsay Clark asked if the Estevan Lacrosse Association would be able to use Affinity Place, as long as they follow the current restrictions for team sports. Box lacrosse is already using the Power Dodge Arena, and Wilson said there has been discussion of using Affinity, based on when the ice removal happens.

“It has better spacing for all

of the teams,” Wilson said.

March said the plan is to put the ice back in around Aug. 3 of this year, based on the work that Wilson has done with user groups to see who wants ice.

“She has done extensive research and spoken with all of the groups about this,” said March.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, council gave second and third readings to the city’s amended cannabis bylaw. In addition to the areas in which a cannabis retailer is allowed, it will allow a business to open up anywhere within the city’s downtown area.

The downtown area has to be bounded within Fourth Street and Sixth Street from 13th Avenue to Souris Avenue South, and Souris Avenue South and 13th Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.

It means a retailer could open on Fifth Street or 11th Avenue, for

example, as long as its within the permitted downtown area.

A retailer could also set up shop on the designated area of 13th Avenue, King Street and Kensington Avenue.

A retailer still has to be at least 200 metres from a school, must be clearly visible from the street and close to the designated roads.

Councillor Shelly Veroba noted the province has opened up the cannabis retailing system, allowing other retail shops to open.

“It’s more opportunity for a bigger area. I think it’s been proven since our original cannabis shop opened up that there have not been issues,” said Veroba.

The Estevan Police Service also hasn’t had a large number of cannabis-related calls since possessing small amounts of the drug became legal in October 2018.

The ice is going to be removed at Affinity Place a few weeks earlier than normal.

SJHL’s proposal denied by Sask. Health The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) proposal to resume play under a bubble format has been denied by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, effectively ending the league’s season.

The SJHL created a return to play committee several weeks ago, which included Estevan Bruins head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. The committee was tasked with creating a plan to have the season resume.

Their plan included the

bubble format that would have been contested in Weyburn.The Bruins were among the teams that were willing to participate, but other teams had passed on the opportunity.

The bubble would have been similar to what has been seen at other levels of the game and in other sports, including the six teams who are part of the Western Hockey League’s East Division. That bubble is happening in Regina.

Athletes would be spending time at the arena

and in their hotels.

The British Columbia Hockey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League have received the green light to have bubbles in their respective provinces.

The league’s season began in November of last year, with teams limited to playing games against those in their own division. Only 150 fans were allowed to attend each night.

But the season was put on pause in late November when the provincial government halt-

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ed league play for team sports.

Only those under the age of 18 were allowed to practise, with numerous restrictions.

The Bruins were leading the Viterra Division with a 4-1-1 record when the season was halted.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority cited the rising number of variants of COVID-19 as the reason for denying the SJHL’s request.

Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.

WE ARE LOCAL WE ARE CARING WE ARE CO-OP

Anyone in need of clothing can always get help at the Clothing Exchange

Police arrest two in connection with an alleged sexual assault As a result of an ongoing investigation into allegations of a sexual assault and other offences, the Estevan Police Service (EPS) announced Thursday night it has laid charges against two people.

Andrew James Young, 39, has been charged with sexual interference, sexual assault, assault, forcible confinement, administering a noxious substance and uttering threats.

Lindy Erin Darling, 37, has been charged with sexual assault, assault and forcible confinement.

Both Young and Dar-

ling have made first appearances in court and have been subsequently released on undertakings with associated conditions.

They are presumed innocent.

The investigation is continuing and as a result, no further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding these or similar offences is asked to contact the EPS criminal investigations members Det. Const. Trevor Roberts at 306-634-1505, or Det. Sgt. Warren Morrical at 306634-1512.

Council takes another look at third party grants

Penny and Doug Deren were helping people in difficult situations to get clothes and shoes through a clothing exchange initiative operating out of the Estevan Church of Christ.

A willingness to support each other and ensure that nobody is falling through the cracks is what defines a real community, and there is no doubt that Estevan belongs to this category.

For over 25 years, a project that started as a clothing exchange out of the basement of the Estevan Church of Christ has been run by volunteers, who wanted to make sure that no matter what the situation is, anyone in the community could get clothes and footwear.

The initiative has been supplying whatever clothing items people need at no charge. And it doesn’t need to be an exchange.

It started as a congregation initiative, where anyone who had time would help organize clothing donations and then they had people come in and take whatever they needed. For many years, Estevan’s Diane Jocelyn ran the project, and in the spring of 2015, Doug and Penny Deren took it over.

Penny used to work for the Envision Counseling and Support Centre, where she came across many people in difficult life situations who did need all kinds of help.

“I worked for Envision before and I brought families here … so that they could get things. (There were many cases) where all of a sudden they had to leave their situation, took the kids and went with nothing because their partner was abusive or whatever,” Penny recalled. “I knew it was a really needed thing”.

“There’s always been a need, and you’re just trying to fill that need,” Doug said.

There is one more person who helps the Derens organize donated clothes. They open the big community closet to anyone from anywhere in the southeast who needs clothes for themselves or their families. They also have smaller household items, which some people may need depending on their situation.

While they can’t accept any bigger items, they did help to get donated furniture delivered to those who needed it.

“We’ll go pick it up and take it to people. Doug has a trailer,” said Penny.

Over the years the initiative helped out thousands of people in the area.

During the boom times more people would come in for help, and at some point, they even had to limit people to 10 items per person. But lately, the initiative sees a lot of donations coming and not so many people reaching out for help, so they currently have a great selection of all kinds of items and people can take as many things as they need.

It takes a lot of time to organize clothes, especially during seasonal switchovers, but as the need persists the Derens feel that it’s a very rewarding job and they only want to see more people utilize the service.

“I’d like more people to come right now, because I know there’s a lot of need out there,” Penny said, underlining that all their operations these days are done in the safest manner.

Before the pandemic, clothes viewing or exchanges would take place twice a month on designated dates, and on these dates, there often would be over 100 people coming in. Now with health and safety measures in place, people need to phone Penny and arrange a time for individual or one-family visits.

All incoming items are quarantined, the area is sanitized between visits, and all other COVID-19 related rules are followed thoroughly.

People can arrange for a visit to bring in donations or to pick up some items by calling or texting Penny at 306-421-9543.

Estevan city council is nearing the end of its discussion for how it will allocate third party grants for this year.

Council discussed the issue at a special meeting on March 17. Members of city council and city management were joined by representatives of the different agencies that receive grants from the city.

Mayor Roy Ludwig said there are a couple of organizations that the city wants to touch base with for clarification, and then they can bring closure.

“We had good communication between council and the various organizations, and I thought the dialogue went very well,” said Ludwig.

The discussion over third party grants started early this year when the issue was brought forward during budget deliberations in January. Council trimmed the grants to $1,322,771, which is the same amount

the different organizations received in 2020. The budget initially called for more than $1.4 million.

The agencies received the first quarter payment as was scheduled for this year, because they rely on the money.

Ludwig said the discussion has been interesting.

“With every new council, everything gets looked at a little bit closer, especially the first year, and I totally understand that. And then moving forward, I’m sure next year, and the successive years, there will be a lot less questions,” said Ludwig.

Ludwig noted council is looking at a new bylaw for third party grants, whereby all of the organizations would come in as part of budget deliberations and explain how they would spend the money.

Council would then approve the money for each organization following discussion.

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Covenant Energy prepares to meet new demand for renewable diesel Covenant Energy, a Saskatchewan-based renewable fuel company, continues to make progress with its planned renewable diesel facility.

In a press release issued Thursday morning, Covenant Energy said this renewable fuel processing plant would be built in southern Saskatchewan. It would produce 6,500 barrels a day and have 300325 million litres per year of production capacity.

Finished fuels would include renewable diesel, arctic-grade renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Greenhouse gas emission reductions would be in the range of 80-85 per cent when compared to fossil fuel diesel, and there would be a low carbon footprint, as recycled hydrogen would be utilized in the production process.

It would be the first stand-alone hydrogenationderived renewable diesel (HDRD) production plant in Canada.

The facility would also create the demand for 35 million bushels of canola seed (worth roughly $500 million) to produce 325,000-350,000 tonnes of canola oil feedstock per year.

Covenant said in the news release that current estimates of local labour market impact include up to 60 permanent full-time positions, plus hundreds of thousands of hours of employment throughout the project construction.

The company has com-

pleted initial pre-front end engineering and design (FEED) studies, as well as a marketing, demand, and pricing study.

Provided the project receives all the necessary approvals, it is slated to start production in the second half of 2023.

Covenant Energy president and CEO Josh Gustafson, who hails from Macoun, noted that the majority of canola products are exported out of the country.

“In 2019, when the price was at $9.40 per bushel for canola, it was really hard for farmers to make any money growing canola,” said Gustafson. “And so we thought ‘Man, there has to be something that we can do that adds some value-adding processing to our canola, something we can do in Canada to not have to rely so heavily on exports.”

He researched valueadded processing options for canola, and came across renewable diesel.

“At that point, the Lord gave me the idea for the company and for the opportunity, all pretty much within a week’s time, and since then we’ve been going hard at it,” said Gustafson.

Covenant Energy started with the purpose of bringing this facility forward.

In a news release, the City of Estevan said it is looking forward to a new partnership with Covenant Energy, City manager Jeff Ward says it’s exciting to see diverse business opportunities coming to the Energy City.

“Our economic development board has been working hard to foster an environment that encourages new and unique businesses to open in Estevan. Projects like this will play an integral part of our economy's success in the future,” said Ward.

While this project is advancing, Covenant said in the news release that it is important to restate that the right demand signal for clean fuels is imperative for the approval of this renewable diesel facility. The federal government’s Clean Fuel Regulations, published as a draft in December 2020, would be the key driver of demand for this project and is critical for its success.

Planned with the future in mind, the current design would enable Covenant Energy to invest in doubling the facility’s production capacity at a later time.

This renewable fuel processing plant would drive demand for approximately 80 per cent of the oil production capacity of a new one million tonne per year canola crushing site, creating the opportunity for a new crush facility to colocate with Covenant Energy.

While the ambition is to use predominantly Canaadian canola oil as the feedstock and send renewable fuels throughout Canada and Canada’s northern communities, Covenant’s proposed location would be situated on a Class 1 railway, giving the ultimate flexibility to access feedstock from across Canada and the

Covenant Energy is looking to build a renewable diesel facility in southern Saskatchewan. Photo submitted U.S., as well as providing the potential to sell product into the U.S. market.

Gustafson said the response to the project has been positive. There would be thousands of man-hours on construction, and there would be jobs once it’s completed.

“There’s lots of this product that has to be moved, so you’re looking at lots of logistics support, trucking, rail movement, lots of infrastructure that has to be put in place. It’s just really good for the Saskatchewan economy.”

It would be a significant project for the agriculture sector, because it would increase demand for canola oil, but it would increase crush capacity for the processors in Canada.

“It should help warrant the increase of acres and the increase of canola production in general in the country,” said Gustafson.

There would also be benefits for the oil and gas industry, he said. Since the market will develop through the fuel-blending mandates being issued by the federal government, fuel producers will have to blend a certain percentage of their fuels to renewable options in their fossil fuels.

It already takes place, since there are blend mandates already in place. Saskatchewan has a two per cent blend mandate for diesel.

“That ’s the big partnership. We’re going to be working closely with the fuel producers because they need a good product like this to meet these blend mandates. So this product, renewable diesel, is a premium biofuel, and because it is processed differently than conventional bio-diesel, it’s a much easier product to blend,” said Gustafson.

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel, he said.

Both are made from canola oil.

The technology for renewable diesel has been around for 10 or 11 years, while biodiesel technology has been around much longer.

“Biodiesel has a much higher oxygen content, and that’s really the limiting factor on it, because the oxygen content causes it to have a limited shelf life. It makes it not a very good product in the winter because it gets sludgy and gels up, whereas renewable diesel, when you process it, to really simplify, what you’re essentially doings is pulling the oxygen out of the product.”

It leaves a drop-in product, so you can run renewable diesel in any fossil diesel engine without any modifications or alterations.

Communities show support for Bienfait Fire Department Residents of Bienfait, Roche Percee and surrounding areas showed their support for the Bienfait Fire Department during a recent bottle drive.

Daniyale Lalonde, who is a member of the fire department and the chairperson of the fundraising committee, said the support surpassed their expectations.

“We had a couple of trailers,” said Lalonde. “We got one from residents in Bienfait and we got one from residents out in Roche Percee.”

People in Roche Percee area circulated the village and the surrounding area March 12 to collect empty bottles and cans, and when they brought the trailer into Bienfait the following morning, it was filled with containers to be taken to the SARCAN recycling depot.

And, of course, they had a lot of support from Bienfait on March 13.

“We were overwhelmed,” said Lalonde. “We didn’t think they were going to come out the way they did, and they definitely surprised us.”

The fire department had to sort all of the bottles and cans on their own. Lalonde believes

they had more than 120 large bags filled with empties. One of the trailers was so full that they couldn’t have fit another bag in it, and the other trailer was filled to the point where they had to place a tarp over it to haul the trailer into Estevan.

The empty bottles and cans were dropped off at SARCAN in Estevan on March 18. The fire department hopes to receive a tally on how much money was raised within the next few days.

Lalonde believes this is proof that people see the need for the wildland firefighting unit that the fire department is currently fundraising for. It would help the department combat grass fires and other similar calls, which account for a lot of their activity.

The fundraising has progressed well for the unit, Lalonde said. They will also have a fundraiser in April. People can also support the fire department through a drop and go option that is offered at SARCAN. “We have noticed that some people are still dropping their bottles off at SARCAN and money is being donated to us,” said Lalonde.

A bottle drive for the Bienfait Fire Department’s purchase of wildland firefighting equipment was a success. Photo submitted

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Published weekly by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, 68 Souris Avenue N., Estevan, SK S4A 2M3.The Estevan Mercury is owned and operated

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Conditions of editorial and advertising content: The Estevan Mercury attempts to be accurate in Editorial and Advertising content; however, no guarantee is given or implied. The Estevan Mercury reserves the right to revise or reject any or all editorial and advertising content as the newspaper’s principals see fit. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an advertisement, and is not responsible for errors in advertisements except for the space occupied by such errors.

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Otherwise, any reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Advertisers purchase space and circulation only. Rights to any advertisement produced by The Estevan Mercury, including artwork, typography, photos, etc., remain the property of this newspaper. Advertisements or parts thereof may not be reproduced or assigned without the consent of the publisher.

Bubbles for some, but not all We really shouldn’t be surprised that the Saskatchewan Health Authority decided not to approve the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) request to have an abbreviated regular season under a bubble format.

Disappointed? Absolutely. Frustrated? Many of us would say so. And it’s agitating that it took the health authority so long to act.

The SJHL season lasted all of six games in November, when teams were limited to 150 fans a night. At the end of November, when the provincial government said it was pausing team sports, many thought that the season was likely finished. And each time the government extended the pandemic restrictions, it became less likely that the season would be resumed.

The SJHL season was suspended even though there had been just one case for a team, but there were cases popping up with sports teams and facilities elsewhere, so the SJHL went on pause with everyone else.

This wouldn’t have been so frustrating if it weren’t for the fact that we’re seeing bubbles work elsewhere.

We’re seeing it work (so far) in Regina for the six Western Hockey League teams. They don’t get the thrill of playing in front of fans, but at least they get the chance to play and showcase their skills.

The B.C. Hockey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League have received approval for their bubbles so that those teams can have some

measure of a season.

Who knows if those leagues will be able to complete their bubble seasons. They have rigid testing and they have to meet a lot of requirements to play. But at least they’re trying.

We’ve seen bubbles work for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the World Junior Hockey Championships and all of these national and international curling events that are happening in Calgary.

But Sask. Health says it won’t work for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, in Weyburn, a city in South East Zone 3, which had five active cases as of Monday. Yes, Weyburn had a surge in COVID-19 cases a few months ago, but they’re in a much better position now, and there have been days in which South East Zone 3 has had zero cases.

Weyburn was a safe place to have a bubble.

We think Estevan would have been the better place, but they couldn’t go wrong with Weyburn.

The SHA cites the growing number of variants of concern as the reason why the SJHL won’t be allowed to play. We should all be concerned about these variants. Viruses mutate. This version of COVID spreads easier than what we first encountered 15 months ago.

But if they’re going to block the SJHL bubble because of variants, then the WHL season should be put on hold, especially since the WHL is in Regina, which is a hotspot for variant transmission.

It’s unfortunate that the 20-year-olds will

essentially lose their final season of junior hockey.

And it’s also unfortunate that the Estevan Bruins won’t get a chance this season, because they had the potential to be a contender for a league title.

The government came out with support for the SJHL and its teams earlier this year, but they’re going to have to supply a lot more money for the clubs, most of whom are non-profit teams, but still manage to provide great entertainment and a significant economic spinoff for at least six months of the year.

It’s not just junior hockey teams and players we should be feeling bad for. The same goes for minor hockey teams. They were just getting their season going when they had their campaigns yanked out from under them.

And it’s tough for those in their last season of minor hockey to be unable to finish their campaigns.

We finally get the U18 AAA Bears team in southeast Saskatchewan that we so richly deserve, and they had two home games.

Of course, there are all sorts of activities and programs and events and celebrations that haven’t been able to happen over the last year. Junior hockey isn’t alone.

But it hurts that it can’t happen for the SJHL when other leagues are allowed to play, and do it safely.

The end of the pandemic can’t come soon enough.

When the system is compromised …

In this column, I decided to share a story from the Russian criminal world, which recently was brought back to the public's and my attention and shocked.

Unfortunately, up to these days, organized criminal gangs (OCG), which once were known all over the world as the Russian mafia, remain a rudimental but not least a real parallel universe existing in some distant areas of my home country. Please, don't take this case as a representation of all of Russia, as there are a lot of great people and good things and developments happening there. But the reminder of this ugly crime and a story of a corrupt and compromised system once again attracted my attention to the systematical failures that allow for things like that to occur and fruit. While this particular case is a "scary story from far-away Russia," systems of all kids do rot all over the world, and that's why I wanted to bring this case up.

That criminal story has been happening over the period of about 15 years and came to its culmination and then temporary conclusion about 10 years ago. But recently what was supposed to become history was brought back by brave journalists who decided to dig a bit deeper into what happened and why it still matters.

The Kushchyovskaya massacre (you can Google it for more details) took place when I just was starting as a reporter fresh out of the university. Twelve people, family of a wealthy local farmer, guests and bystanders, including four children were brutally murdered, stabbed to death, shocking the entire country and finally attracting some attention to what was going on in the village of Kushchyovskaya, Krasnodar region of southern Russia (the population of that village was 1,500 short of 30,000 people) for years. That crime highlighted the connections between an organized criminal gang named

Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About…

Tsapki (after the family that brought it together) and corrupt officials.

A decade later people who were silenced in fear for years started talking. Journalist Sasha Sulim conducted an investigation for Redaktsiya, telling a story of a compromised system that allowed for mass rapes, extortions, commandeering of land, murders and other crimes to happen and potentially continue happening.

The story told by quiet witnesses and victims was heartbreaking. The community, paralyzed by fear towards the criminals and assurance that many if not most officials sided with the offenders, for well over a decade was controlled by a small group that created a lawless environment in the village and built its own system inside the system, that benefitted the interests of the "family". Businesses were losing all they had with police standing by; people knew that women were being raped, but the community just stood by; people would work for the gang knowing that they were slayers, but that was Kushchyovskaya. Everybody knew, but no one could do anything. It took a mass murder to kick off consternation and start resisting.

Most masterminds standing behind this OCG were imprisoned, however, people who suffered from their actions never saw any reimbursement or resolution. Moreover, while the criminal life died down for some time, it seems that it slowly started coming back, as, according to Sulim's investigation, not all of the gang members were imprisoned, but what's more

important, people in the government structures that allowed for all that to happen remained in their positions.

The investigation concluded that not only there was no closure for the victims, but the lawlessness also didn't come to an end. The system that has been broken for years remained broken even when most toxic and extremist players were taken out of it. The rotten mechanism wouldn't heal and rather attracted new elements to keep the corruption and degeneration going.

Unfortunately, I'm sure there are many more such villages in Russia, where gangs are law and order, where officials are corrupt and where the system serves a few while making everybody else suffer. Criminal corruption is probably not that often a case in the western world, but corrupt systems exist everywhere. The closed systems are more susceptible to breaking and becoming inadequate. Corruption is like rust that destroys what seemed like the most durable materials.

Unlike individuals, corrupt systems are not that easy to uncover, break and get rid of.

It's easier to convict and punish a person than to break and deconstruct a system, that later would need to be rebuilt. In a compromised system people are interconnected by collective responsibility or conspiracy of silence. Power imbalance, fear and shame also play a big role.

And when government systems rot, it affects everyone in the society.

It takes an accident, a mistake or a power equal or bigger than the one operating to change a compromised system. While the public's opinion and pressure may start the process, it often takes some bravery to even direct the attention towards the well-known but silenced problem.

And unless the abscess is lanced people won't see any improvements.

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David Willberg Willberg’s World

Just say no to XFL merger There has been a lot of speculation about the future of our league, the CFL, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The league cancelled its 2020 season, and there’s no guarantee the CFL will have a 2021 campaign, either. People have wondered aloud whether the league will ever play again.

After all, it’s a gate-driven league, and it can’t make ends meet off of TV revenues and sponsorships alone.

The major pro sports leagues can get by without fans in the stands. The CFL cannot.

If the lack of revenues doesn’t kill the CFL, a loss of interest from fans after losing one or two seasons might do it in.

There’s been a lot of talk about a partnership between the CFL and the XFL, with many believing it could result in a merger.

I’m all for the CFL working with the XFL to some degree to better each league. But a merger? Absolutely not.

History indicates that the XFL will die within the next few years, and I have no interest in seeing the CFL die with it.

Every professional football league in the last 50 years that has tried to provide a U.S.-based alternative to the NFL has failed. The United States Football League in the 1980s was likely the most viable option; it lasted all of three seasons.

We’ve seen the World League of American Football, the original XFL, the Alliance of American Football and others start up in an effort to bring a different brand of four-down professional football to Americans. None of them lasted. A couple were only around for a season.

(For those who don’t remember, the 2001 version of the XFL happened after the CFL spurned WWF owner Vince McMahon’s efforts to buy our league and reinvent it.

Thankfully, the CFL said no. The original XFL lasted one season, while the CFL went on to have more than a decade of stability and growth).

As much as the CFL’s American expansion into the U.S. was largely a punchline, it still lasted three seasons, meaning it had as much longevity as any of the leagues mentioned above.

Version 2 of the XFL was actually doing pretty well last year. It was much more serious than what we saw in 2001, which placed a heavy emphasis the sex and violence within the game.

The 2020 version was a much better brand of football.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to the XFL’s rebirth. The league filed for bankruptcy and was solid to a group that includes mega star actor (and former CFL practice roster member) Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson.

I believe there could be a partnership without a merger.

The XFL could draw on the CFL’s longevity and experience.

The CFL could draw on Johnson’s celebrity and his social media following.

That might not seem like a big deal for us, but it is.

It would enhance the CFL’s profile, especially with young American players south of the border overlooked by the NFL, whether it be because they weren’t good enough or because they don’t fit the profile of an NFL player.

The CFL needs to find a way to reach out to younger fans in Canada as well, because its fanbase is aging, especially in the key markets of Toronto and Vancouver.

For all its struggles, we should be very proud of the CFL. Name me an independent, non-major league in North American sports that has had the success of the CFL? As far as calibre of play, it’s the No. 2 football league on the planet. As much as some like to diminish the league, a CFL team would trounce an NCAA Division 1 team. There’s a reason the CFL waiver wire is filled with former Division 1 players every year.

The CFL has had staying power that few independent leagues have had. Most leagues outside of the big four (NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA) that have lasted are affiliate leagues.

The CFL has lasted because it’s an alternative, because it’s unique. The rules are unique. The teams, with the exception of the Toronto Argonauts, are in markets that would never have a shot at the NFL. It gives Canadian players a shot, although I’d like to see more. And while the NFL has better players, those in the CFL are still terrific, capable of doing great things.

And until the past decade, the games tended to be more wide-open, exciting and offensive-minded than their NFL counterparts.

I’m opposed to the death of our league.

And that’s why I’d be opposed to a full-on merger with the XFL.

Jarrett Daoust, BComm Consultant 231 12th Ave. Estevan SK Tel: 306-634-0800 Mobile: 306-471-7196 E-mail: jarrett.daoust@ig.ca

Changes need to be made after officer’s passing The editor: So now what? The last call was recited; the flags are flying at full mast.

Do we just give a pass to Police Chief Paul Ladouceur, Deputy Chief Murray Cowan and the board of police commissioners (at the time) who were complicit in the prolonged, constant attack on the late Jay Pierson? I think Jay deserves better.

This administration didn’t just fail Jay, they targeted him and were relentless in their pursuit. Jay had an occupational stress injury; a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis from three mental health professionals that Ladouceur refused to accept and challenged at every turn. PTSD is treatable given proper acknowledgement, support and access to resources.

It is said that the best predictor or future behaviour is past behaviour. Based on that, Ladouceur and Cowan have clearly

demonstrated that they cannot be trusted.

I am concerned for any member who is currently struggling (or might struggle in the future) that they will suffer in silence because they feel they will be isolated, alienated or bullied by the very people empowered by the board.

You have an exceptionally well trained, professional police force that you expect to be at their best at all times, but they are not robots. They see, hear, smell and experience things that no amount of training can prepare them for. You should demand they are healthy and when they are not, they should not be ashamed or afraid to reach out.

There’s a reason why head coaches of major league teams get fired. It’s because the powers-that-be recognize the value and talent in their team and want to bring out their best. Shouldn’t the board and council want the same?

Perhaps the only words people want to hear from him and Cowan are, “I resign.”

If you’re so inclined, reach out to the members of the board of police commissioners and demand they do better. The current board consists of Roy Ludwig, Lindsay Clark, Shelly Veroba, Bernadette Wright and Geoff Thiessen. Meanwhile, if you encounter EPS members on the street, cut them some slack; they are all hurting, angry and grieving the loss of their friend and comrade.

To my brothers and sisters in blue, I’m only a phone call away.

Johannah Audet Estevan Editor’s note: Audet is a former member of the Estevan Police Service.

Rally in Estevan Saturday called for end to lockdowns

Protesters at a rally in Estevan on Saturday gather in front of the Estevan Court House to call for an end to pandemic restrictions. Photo by Angela Clements Photography A rally in downtown Estevan Saturday attracted about 40-50 people who were looking to see an end to pandemic-related lockdowns and restrictions.

They met up at noon for a caravan that saw vehicles travel throughout the city. Then they arrived at the Estevan Court House, where people stood in front of the building, holding signs and waving at passing motorists as part of what was labelled as a freedom rally. Many drivers supportively honked at the protestors.

People walked from the Court House to the intersection of Fourth Street and 13th Avenue, before returning to the

Court House.

Participant Emily Gillies said the rally was a chance to raise awareness about some issues related to the pandemic.

“That was evidenced by the variety of signs on the vehicles and the signs that people had, just asking for open debate and open discussion on all of the topics throughout the pandemic,” said Gillies.

The signs called for an end to the lockdowns and promoted people’s freedom.

Gillies said she wasn’t surprised with the number of people present.

“I think there are a lot of people who

are considering some thoughts,” she said.

“They’re becoming a little bit unsure of the government’s motives, unsure if there’s transparency in the legal system regarding Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and a lot of people are silently questioning this to themselves, and people are starting to look for community around that.”

She hopes that people will do research using a variety of sources, and think for themselves.

The gathering was planned in conjunction with worldwide events in 40 countries on March 20, calling for an end to lockdowns associated with COVID-19.

Family centre preparing to host important fundraiser The Estevan Family Resource Centre is getting ready for what it expects will be its largest fundraiser of the year.

The centre will be selling beautiful plants and flowers from a company named Growing Smiles to help raise money for its programs. The fundraiser will launch on April 1, at which time the community will be able to find the link to order from on their Facebook page.

They will be accepting orders until May 4.

Flowers and other products will be delivered to the family centre at a time to be determined on May 19. The community will come to collect their orders that day.

They have no way of knowing what specific time the delivery truck will come, so the day of delivery, once orders are ready, they will notify those who made a purchase.

Last year the family centre had a similar fundraiser, and the products offered this year will be similar. They decided to do this for a second time, as they had great support

from the area and it is a fundraiser they are able to do within all of the COVID-19 guidelines.

Their goal is to raise $5,000. All funds will be used for their operations and free programming.

“We are so proud that all programs and use of our facility are free, allowing all members of our community equal opportunities to utilize our resources,” said Misty Pennington, who is the organizer for the fundraiser.

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www.estevanmercury.ca

A6 March 24, 2021

Grain elevator demolition attracted people back to Bromhead

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A grain elevator that was nearly 90 years old was demolished in Bromhead on March 17. Photo submitted Kelly Tytlandsvik said it was tough to see an old grain elevator come down in Bromhead last week.

The structure, which was built in the 1930s, was demolished on March 17. Tytlandsvik, who took numerous photos and a video of the building being torn down, said it had been abandoned for some time.

“I know with the wind storm in January, it had tilted the cupola a little bit at the very top of the elevator. You could see it shifted a little bit to the side,” said Tytlandsvik, who grew up in the Bromhead area.

There was concern that the cupola would fall onto the neighbouring railroad tracks and cause a problem for the track, which is now used by the Long Creek Railroad.

The building was also rotten in one corner, Tytlandsvik said.

Tytlandsvik was there throughout the day, waiting for the building to be pulled over.

There was roughly 40-50 people who passed

through the community over the course of the day to see if it had gone down. He didn’t see anyone crying, but they were sad to see the end of the elevator.

“It’s a landmark from when you were a kid, and you hate to see it go down, but at the same time, you don’t want it to be a liability, either. You might as well take it down before it falls down,” said Tytlandsvik.

Tytlandsvik wasn’t sure who owned the building when it came down, but it was owned by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool at one time.

There’s still one more grain elevator in the community, owned by the Forrester family of Bromhead.

Tytlandsvik noted that the wind storm in January that damaged the elevator also brought down the hamlet’s old arena. The old machinery dealer and lumberyard are still standing, in addition to the Forrester elevator.

“It used to be a thriving community when I was young,” he said.

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Estevan businesses and organizations recapped 2020 at chamber annual general meeting

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Last year was a tough and different one, but it seems that things are starting to change and 2021 will bring more light.

The Estevan Chamber of Commerce summed up the results of 2020 and announced some plans for 2021 at their annual general meeting (AGM), joined by about 30 people on March 17.

Incoming president Daniel Betnar opened up the meeting.

"I'd like to say first and foremost to our members, 'Thank you.' 2020 was a strange year, to say the least.

Our membership has been great throughout and showed great patience and understanding, as we as a board pivoted and tried to implement the best vision that we could," Betnar said.

He pointed out that while nothing about living through the pandemic has been easy, the chamber's executive director Jackie Wall and office manager Cathy Empey did a lot for the membership.

"A lot of our advocacy this year has been COVID-related. We have been having just about weekly calls with the Saskatchewan chamber executives, bringing our concerns to one another and to the Sask. chamber, and we've been having the Sask. chamber do a lot of lobbying with different organizations in different levels of government,” said Wall.

“We've also been in contact … with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, with a lot of the health care organizations, the hospitality industry, and trying to maintain open businesses within the parameters of what

we can do as far as COVID restrictions. We also continued our role with the economic transition committee and also the economic development committee and there's a lot of exciting things happening in those areas."

She also summarized some of the activities and achievements the chamber had despite the pandemic and also shed some light on their 2021 plans.

"We were able to hold a golf event and I could not believe the enthusiasm at that golf event. It was a breath of fresh air. It worked out really well, and that's our plan again for this year is to do a golf event as well.

"Farm family was postponed.

We were hoping that we would be able to do it in the fall last year. And of course, that didn't happen as far as an in-person event. So the farm family committee – and I want to recognize Lori Naka as being on that committee – has decided we're doing it virtual this year. Huge support from sponsors, and I really want to say thank you for that.

“The farm family was contacted.

They were very excited and pleased with how we decided to roll out recognition of them and you can watch for that on March 30," Wall said.

Chamber will post the ceremony, recognizing the latest Farm Family of the Year, on their social media.

Wall also pointed out that during trying times, when government support programs had to be rolled out in a hurry, chambers were viewed as a good venue for that, and the Estevan chamber was also a part of those programs.

"It was a labour market program focusing on the areas of our labour

market that have been most hard hit by COVID. We chose to focus on three segments of the market which was youth, newcomers and gig workers."

The program is wrapping up at the end of March, but the chamber will continue with several initiatives.

Wall also said that they are going to revamp the biennial Estevan Business Excellence Award (EBEX), in which they plan to celebrate the Estevan business.

"There is not going to be the usual nominations and a winner chosen because as far as we're concerned, anyone who is still in business and is still working to maintain and keep their businesses going are winners …

It's also in combination with another program that I can't say anything about yet until next month, it's another government program.

“It's going to be very, very valuable. It's going to be very digitally based, very video based and very focused on getting a message out about your business to the larger community.

So please watch for those that will go hand in hand and we'll be launching both of those in April."

The chamber also invited members to register for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) virtual luncheon, which will provide an update on the state of oil and gas on April 14.

Board member David Hammermeister of MNP presented the financial statements. The chamber came to the end of the year with some surplus, "but a big chunk of that is …

COVID money, related to different federal programs that came out,"

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The Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s incoming president Daniel Betnar and past president Cathy Welta, along with other members, partook in virtual annual general meeting.

Hammermeister explained.

The members also wished farewell to retiring board member and past president Cathy Welta.

"It's been about six years that I have had the pleasure of being on the board, starting as a director and then moving through all of the executive roles. When I started with the chamber we were in a boom, which quickly turned into a bust or the second Great Depression, if you ask some of my oilfield friends. But it is through this downturn that I was lucky enough to see Estevan in action," said Welta in her speech.

"The resiliency and adaptability of the board executive director and staff through the downturn and a pandemic has not ceased to amaze me yet. Please believe me when I say to you that this chamber and its memberships are second to none in this province. I've seen in the last couple of years a real shift in our business community. No longer do I hear all

of the complaints with no resolution.

Now I hear our community coming together to create solutions and I can see the changes.

"I believe fully and wholeheartedly that the chamber has been a driving force in this. I'd like to wish the board, Daniel and Jackie, nothing but the best in the future because I believe the future of Estevan is bright."

Four board nominations were approved and the board now consists of past president Welta, president Betnar, vice president Joe Billesberger, treasurer Linda Mack, and directors at large Twyla Bauman, Cory Casemore, David Hammermeister, Lori Naka, Sheena Onrait, Jeff Pierson and Denise Taylor.

Before the end of March, all members of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce are asked to express their ideas and visions through the online survey posted on the chamber's website. It will help the board with strategic planning for the year.

A8 March 24, 2021

www.estevanmercury.ca

Key aspects of education shared with Cornerstone If you don’t have a curriculum, you don’t have a school.

It’s as simple as that.

Perhaps with that key component and concept in mind, the governing trustees of the South East Cornerstone Public School Division (SECPSD) were absorbed what Michael Graham had to say on Wednesday.

Graham is the curriculum co-ordinator for the sprawling SECPSD that embraces 37 school facilities plus a variety of other educational opportunities for approximately 8,300 students engaged in the learning processes from kindergarten to Grade 12.

His presentation to a mostly virtual/remote audience through an online public board session carried an interesting load of information they could absorb over the one hour allocated.

Graham is now in his fourth year of leading the curriculum and career development teams that include three on the curriculum side and seven on the career side of the

educational equations.

He explained what the duties include and how they go about the process of assuring student success at various levels of their elementary to secondary school adventures.

The co-ordinator’s tasks include budget planning as well as rolling out reams of information regarding subject matter, resources and materials being made available and who delivers them.

He noted how such things as the Math Up program for kindergarten to Grade 8 students has been highlighted.

The Ministry of Education-approved sessions provide various paths that can be used for lesson presentations, assessments of activities and consolidation.

Professional learning communities within the division, consisting of groups of teachers, take ownership of professional development opportunities, he explained. There are just five such groups this year, whereas in previous years there has been as many as 15 to 40. He noted the COVID

pandemic situation had temporarily reduced this otherwise popular set up.

He said they group around such topics as student tasking, treaty education plans, French programming or handling multi-grade primary years classrooms.

Then there are collaborative – alike teams to support teachers during supplemental learning exercises. These teachers connect with others who have similar teaching roles, thus enhancing their skills while easing pressure on the individual educator.

There is a mentorship program as well, said Graham.

There were just three applicants this year whereas in other years there might be as many as 1215 new teachers, or veteran teachers entering new subject areas, seeking the mentorship and support of others who have been there.

Planning subject materials and delivery is a key ingredient so assistance is welcomed by all teachers, especially with the installation of a lot of virtual

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Graham said Alamedabased Jeff Cameron is helping the division as a program facilitator as he plans career events and then facilitates them in association with the Regina and District Industry Education Council.

The Alternative Pathways programs give students options to seek careers as power engineers or agriculture equipment technicians, emergency responders. These are credited courses offered through partnerships with provincial corporations. They attracted 100 to 300 students yearly.

Michael Graham There are special credit learning devices and techniques courses now available in 16 in the last part of the previous schools in the division. school year and continuing into “Nine are completed and this academic year.

56 more are projected to be The Student First pro- completed,” said Graham, addgram is a data driven sector and ing that there is a strong enrolindicates continuous growth ment in these classes that offer and improvement, he added. three credits.

Graham introduced Apprenticeship courses Maryanne Kotylak in a vir- offer four credits and eight tual manner, noting she is schools have signed on to them now providing support of the with 22 courses completed and burgeoning home-schooling a further 19 projected to be program that now embraces completed.

291 students, a 30 per cent in“Last year there were just crease over the previous school four schools involved,” said year, again, due in large part to Graham, noting how interest the pandemic. has now doubled.

He said Kotylak has beCareer and Work credits is gun reading and math assess- yet another program that offers ment programs and is planning four credits. This year shows a home-schooling learning fair. 70 successful applicants earnThe seven career devel- ing credits with another 105 opment counsellors provide projected to achieve. occupational advice and assist There are also credit restudents entering into trades covery opportunities wherein programs or seeking scholar- a student is given a 30-day ships.The scholarship page, list- window in which to attempt ing the 116 scholarships on the to recover a credit or credits division’s web site has become after a class ends. The causes popular with over 3,000 views are generally seen as missed since September. classes or assignments, or a need

to rewrite or revise following further instructions. He said 35 students have used this avenue to recoup credits.

Graham also noted that Raquel Oberkirsch, the First Nation, Métis and Inuit consultant, has been restricted to virtual lesson delivery so far and has been joined by Curtis Bourassa for social studies and treaty education activities that include Grade 7 and 8 building tasks in Minecraft.

“Raquel is also doing research projects for teachers doing work on treaty education in rural Saskatchewan,” Graham said.

A growth in French immersion programming has brought former ECS French instructor Lori Meyer into the fold as a consultant for the addition of French immersion in two elementary schools.

The classes will be offered in Assiniboia Park Elementary School in Weyburn and Pleasantdale School in Estevan, beginning this September for kindergarten to Grade 2 students, and will move forward from that starting point. The current program in SECPSD offers French immersion in Estevan Comprehensive School as well as core French programs across the system in a variety of schools.

Also gaining ground and approval are curriculum renewal projects in the French and arts education areas and financial literacy courses, something new for nine schools in the division for students in Grades 7 -12.

So, as noted earlier, school isn’t just about readin’, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic these days.

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Local company moved quickly after positive test An Estevan area oilfield company responded swiftly to maintain the safety of its employees following a recent positive case of COVID-19.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) revealed on March 18 that an outbreak had been declared at Sun Country Well Servicing. Rob Stables, the safety manager for the company, didn’t divulge the number of cases, citing privacy, but the Government of Saskatchewan says on its website that it only takes two.

The first positive test came a few days before March 18, Stables said.

After the first positive, Sun Country heeded the guidelines from the SHA. Stables, who is on a committee with the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC), said they also followed the CAODC guidelines

for both the drilling and service rig industries.

“We have been implementing both of those prior to, and then post-tests,” said Stables.

If employees are sick or have been exposed to COVID, they stay home.

“Anybody who was considered a close contact with that first (positive) test was put on self-quarantine,” said Stables.

Sun Country is tracking employee testing results, and possible exposure dates and isolation timeframes to make sure those who may have been exposed are cared for properly.

Before the first positive, Sun Country was taking a lot of precautions. There was hand sanitizer, masks and surface cleaner on all of the rigs. They ask employees to ride in separate vehicles instead of one, while wearing masks.

They have restricted access to the area referred to in the industry as the dog house – the room

adjacent to an oil rig floor.

They also have to do the safety sign-ins, so they try to have the sign-in sheet outside.

“That goes in concert with the consultant and what their wishes are, too, because they’re just as susceptible as anybody else. In fact, they might be more susceptible.”

In the office, Sun Country Well Servicing employees are in separate offices. The receptionist is moved into an office, and they have hand sanitizer and sign-in sheets and surface cleaner.

Checklists are in the office for when surfaces should be cleaned.

For non-essential personnel, when they make a delivery, they’re allowed in the back shop, and they leave after the delivery.

“There’s been a lot of distancing type measures and cleaning type measures to make sure that we’re as safe as possible, and meeting

Saskatchewan and CAODC guidelines,” said Stables.

The company used to have safety meetings once a month with everybody in attendance, but now they’re happening via email and video conferencing with the Estevan and Calgary offices. When he goes out for an inspection, he makes sure that he drops off the information for a safety meeting.

Training is happening online as much as possible, and if anything is in-person, they follow the guidelines for social distancing and mask use.

Stables said the employees are feeling the strain of the pandemic, but everybody is respecting what the guidelines say and they’re doing what they’re supposed to, so they can keep working without an issue. He’s pleased with how the company handled this situation.

Facebook auction to support Mason Wigley now has more than 100 items donated Items are needed for an online Facebook auction that will be happening to support Mason Wigley, a young man from southeast Saskatchewan who has recently been diagnosed with lymphoma.

On Feb. 4, Mason, the 21-year-old son of Dean and Christie Wigley of Estevan, had surgery to remove what was thought to be a benign cyst from the side of his neck. The surgeon informed

the family and Mason it didn't look like a cyst once they started the surgery. A 45-minute operation soon extended to two hours and 45 minutes.

On Feb. 19, Mason was

informed he had diffuse BCell lymphoma.

W ithin a few shor t weeks, Mason and his family have made four trips to Regina and one trip to Saskatoon.

He had a number of different tests, including a pet scan and bone marrow tap. His first round of chemotherapy was March 10.

Mason and his family lived in Carnduff for a few years, where his dad worked for local trucking companies, while Christie worked in the lounge of the Royal Canadian Legion. He and his brother attended the Carnduff Education Complex.

This past year Dean and Christie started their new venture. With the crash of the oil patch, they ventured into the food truck industry, creating Elephant Ear Emporium, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's been a tough year for the family, so a few of their friends have decided to put together an online auction to try to help offset some of the expenses they will see in their future.

More than 100 items have already been donated, with donations coming from individuals, businesses and more. If you would like to donate anything for this auction, please contact Chris

A fundraiser will benefit Estevan resident Mason Wigley. Photo submitted

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Jones at 306-482-8212 or Kayla Petterson at 306-4219181, or message them on Facebook with your items and a picture for donations.

Most of the items are now on display at the mall, in the old Simons Jewellers store. They will stay there until after the auction and then people can pick them up there.

All auction items will be paid via e-transfer.

The auction will start on March 30 and run for 48 hours. More info will

be posted on the auction’s Facebook page just prior to the fundraiser starting.

The deadline to submit an item is March 29.

Cash donations can now be accepted. E-transfers can be sent to masonsfundraiser@ outlook.com and they will be automatically deposited into the trust account that has been set up. Alternatively, you can go to the Bank of Montreal in Estevan and inform the teller you want to make a deposit to the account in trust of Mason Wigley.

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A10 March 24, 2021

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YOU DESERVE THE BEST REAL ESTATE SERVICE WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE IT Josh LeBlanc REALTOR®

Terry L. Germain REALTOR®

International President’s Elite

International President’s Elite

#1 for the most number of transaction ends in the Estevan Market (Source MLS, 2021/01/07)

Sold the highest volume amount in the Estevan Market.

(Source MLS, 2021/01/07)

Meigan Wilhelm REALTOR®

Diane Jocelyn REALTOR®

International Diamond Society

International Sterling Society

a l u t t i o a r n g s n to o C TERRY L. GERMAIN

Celebrating 30 years in real estate Terry Germain has seen a lot of changes in real estate in the Estevan area during his career as a Realtor.

Terry recently celebrated his 30th anniversary as a licensed real estate agent, which is even more impressive when you consider the average real estate agent has a five-year career.

He ventured into real estate because he believed he needed a change in his life. So he moved to Estevan from Alida in 1990, and started with NRS Border Real Estate, earning his licence in 1991. The late Dennis Moe, who was a big part of the local real estate market for many years, was the NRS broker and Germain’s mentor.

“He showed me a lot of what to do and what not to do. I miss him.

When I get in trouble every now and then, I always think back to what would he do, what would Moe do to get this deal done.”

He went to work building up his name and reputation in the community, not only through his work, but through playing sports such as hockey and golf, and by supporting local initiatives.

In 1995, Border Real Estate became a Century 21 broker. Terry would remain with them for another 22 years.

“I had some really good years, and of course, in any business, you have bad years,” said Terry.

In 2012, Terry was the No. 3 agent in the country for Century 21 in terms of the number of properties sold. He noted that it reflected how busy all of the agents in Estevan were, as the community was in the boom times.

It’s the type of market he hopes to see again before he retires.

Terry joined Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate in 2017, and he has been working under their banner ever since.

“I enjoy the flexibility,” said Terry. “The biggest thing is finding families a home on their biggest purchase of their life. It’s very gratifying to me.”

He’s been through the boom and bust cycles that have hit Estevan.

Terry noted those usually last about seven years. The late 1990s were a tough time to be in the real estate market. And the construction that occurred in Estevan from 2006-2014 created a lot of change.

“We have good industries in this corner,” said Terry. “I’m very fortunate I chose Estevan to make a career.”

When he first came to Estevan, he didn’t know anyone, and he didn’t know his way around town. Now he knows all the quickest ways around the city.

Terry has seen other changes as well. When he first started, the interest rates were at about 13 per cent. Lower interest rates are a big benefit for the real estate sector.

When he first started, they used to hand-deliver offers for purchases for clients, whereas now they will use email, and they’re using cell phones and other forms of technology to keep in contact with clients.

Thirty years ago, there was just one form to fill out to complete a purchase. Now they have to complete as many as 12.

“Real estate is not a 9-5 job. You’re on call 24-7,” said Terry. “You have clients that are on shift work, and of course, when they’re on shift work, you have to go on shift work.”

He noted on the day of the interview that he had a showing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. that night, The interview occurred on a Friday morning.

Another showing was scheduled for two days later on a Sunday morning.

There is also an educational component that every agent needs to complete each year.

In the community, Terry has supported the Estevan Humane Society, Ducks Unlimited and the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch, and he’s part of the Estevan Strippers hockey club. Earlier this year, Coldwell Banker launched the Homes for the Hospital initiative, in which part proceeds from every home sold by a local Coldwell Banker agent will be directed to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.

There have been times in which he’s thought it’s time to move on to something else, but he’s toughed it out, and he still enjoys the work.

He is glad he went into real estate, an industry he called “gratifying,” and he looks forward to remaining in it for a while yet.

“Listers last,” said Germain. “If you have the product on the market, you’ll make a go of it.”

Terry specializes in commercial, multi-family, farmland, and of course residential real estate. For all your real estate needs Text/Talk to Terry 306-421-2021.

Terry Germain

1210 4TH STREET 306-634-9898 WWW.COLDWELLBANKER.CA Each office independently owned and operated

www.estevanmercury.ca

March 24, 2021 A11

International WomEn’s Day #ChooseToChallenge, Women of Estevan The Mercury is wrapping up its March Women of Estevan special.

Following International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021, we received dozens of nominations, celebrating local women.

We also talked to some outstanding women living and working in this and surrounding communities.

This week is the final week of our special, but we’ll still have one more beautiful story about another great Estevan woman in our next week’s paper, so that the entire month of March would

be dedicated to the topic.

The theme of this year’s IWD was Choose to Challenge.

An IWD website states, “A challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. So let’s all #ChooseToChallenge. So, hand up high to show you’re in.”

This year everybody celebrating and supporting IWD is asked to raise their hands “to show that they are in and that they commit to choose to challenge and call out inequality.”

BROUGHT BY: Verdeen Mathewson was born and raised in Carnduff.

Coming from a family of volunteers, Verdeen learned early on to give back to her community. She has always been one to jump in to help, it could be with the local figure skating club or when Carnduff hosted the Moose Mountain Winter Games not once but twice. Verdeen Verdeen Mathewson saw the need to be involved with education which led her to a school division board. During her tenure on the school board, Verdeen was an integral part of making a user friendl y library, by combining the public library and the school library in the Carndu ff Education Complex. Verdeen was an integral part of making this vision become a reality. In 2010, a group of people led by Verdeen saw the need for a safe and functional daycare. After discussion and support from council, the Carnduff Community Daycare was formed. This project involved a lot of volunteer work, painting and setting up as well as hiring staff. Verdeen was an actively involved member of the Carnduff District Business Organization (CDBO).

Her involvement in the annual Canada Day Celebration and the Downtown Christmas and the many other promotions of the CDBO have not gone unnoticed. Verdeen was a councillor for the Town of Carnduff for 15 years. After retiring from council, Verdeen has stayed involved with the daycar e and the planning of the Carnduff tree replacement program. There is no doubt that Carnduff is a better place because of the dedication and volunt eerism of Verdeen Mathewson.

Esther Bangsund not only sits as a member on several boards but can also be found sitting at a table taking tickets. She is an active volunteer who spends hours behind the scenes making sure things go smoothly. Music and the arts thrive in Estevan in part because of Esther. She believes that music is an essential part of a child’s life. Students at Spruce Ridge School have fond memories of the many musical Esther Bangsund productions that were directed by Esther. Esther is a longtime member of the Estevan and District Music Festival. Under her leadership and because of her determination, the 2021 festival will go ahead virtually.

Esther was an essential part of the 2020 provincial election. She spent countless hours getting things ready to ensure that people were able to vote safely during a pandemic. Her patience and ability to remain positive and flexible was a definite asset to all involved. Esther strives to make things better and is someone you can always count on. She is the person who shows up with coffee or supper just when you need it most. She constantly thinks of others.

Esther doesn’t aspire to be in the limelight, although she sure deserves to be.

Esther is an extraordinary woman that inspires others.

Judy Pratt

Kyla Durr

Judy Pratt is a mentor, a volunteer, a sorority sister, church pianist , Juice Plus+ entrepreneur, a healthy lifestyle advocate, a friend, a mo ther, grandmother and wife. Jud y does it all with a smile and a sen se of kindness that you feel immediately upon meeting her.

Kyla Durr teaches Grade 1 at Spruce Ridge, and she has gone above and beyond with helping children adjust to school life and just being an outstanding teacher. She is a caring and overall amazing lady.

Wendy Godf rey is on many boards. She is on a board of St. Giles’ Anglican Church; she is on the board of Souris Valley Theatre; she is on the board of Warm Welcome Kitchen.

Every Tuesday and Thursday they provide warm suppers to people in Wendy Godfrey the community. She is a supervisor at Walmart and she just never stops. She also volunteers for Access Communications. She is just a good one.

Kathryn Gilliss

Kathryn is a trailblazer and a lawyer. She also recently became a mediator. Kathryn also is an official with Skate Canada, sits on provincial A? » boards, sits on the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum board, all while being a wonderful mother to a toddler. « A?

All Creatures

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Go to All Creatures’ Facebook page and vote for your favorite! ** The top 10 photos were chosen by the Estevan Mercury and public voting will take place on All Creatures Training & Boarding Facebook page March 22 - 26.

Winner will be announced in the Estevan Mercury March 31, 2021.

Training & Boarding Follow us on 306-421-6155

A12 March 24, 2021

www.estevanmercury.ca

International W

Women of Estevan: Story of love for sport that k

By Ana Bykhovskaia The world is full of opportunities, which slowly but steadily become equally available for men and women. Some areas are not there yet, but one thing is certain – the world is getting more inclusive every year.

Within our Women of Estevan special, the Mercury continues to share stories of outstanding local women who shape our community and who, by example, prove that nothing is impossible. This time we turned to sports.

Golf has been a male-dominated sport way longer than women have been allowed to play, which makes it more difficult for women wedging their way into the game, as they often face prejudice, even these days. But for our latest respondent – who is one of 29 female head professionals in the country, and one of the very few holders of both head pro and GM titles, according to the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Canada – this and any other sports have never seemed to be men’s prerogative, and even if someone doubted her she just kept doing what she liked.

Amanda Minchin grew up in Estevan playing all kinds of sports. Basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, curling, you name it, she was in love with them all until one day she met her real sports love.

“I’ve played everything. I was very fortunate that my parents gave me that ability to play a tonne of different sports. When I was about 16, I fell in love with golf, which is very odd because I’d always loved team sports,” Minchin recalled.

She wasn’t one of those kids who’d follow their parents’ steps playing golf, as her parents never had an opportunity to get into the game.

Thanks to Karen for all you do!

Celebrating Women's Day Taking care of you from the inside out.

Amanda Minchin is the head pro and general manager at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club. Photo submitted Minchin says one day she just felt that she had to try it and her parents did what they could to help her follow her curiosity, which later turned into passion and a career.

“My dad found me some second-hand clubs, that’s what we grew up on, my brother and I had second-hand stuff, that was fine. We came down here (to Woodlawn), I got into a group junior lesson and I just was hooked.”

At the age of 13, Minchin was working at the golf course as a range kid and would spend every spare minute golfing. The competitive part of the game was the only thing that she didn’t like in the beginning.

“At 14, I played my first real tournament and I hated it … It was too stressful, I didn’t like it. Being the competitive kid I was, it was really hard to admit and really hard to grasp in my head.”

Minchin says quite often, especially with female golfers, the qualitative changes occur quickly starting around the age of 15, when the level of play almost instantly goes up. Once these changes happened, the competitive part of the game wasn’t a problem anymore and at 16 Minchin finished fourth at provincials and made Team Saskatchewan.

“I got to go to Toronto to play in the Canadian Junior Girls. And that was just amazing. That was my first time on a plane. I had to go by myself with the team, it was just a huge, momentous thing. I remember it still to this day. And we got to go play at the super-private golf club in Toronto, where the grass is like a carpet. It was just an eyeopening experience.”

With this experience in hand, Minchin started setting goals more definitively. Her parents’ motto was, “Learn to be good at lots of things,” and Minchin did her best growing and developing in the sport she chose.

The love for sport saw her pursuing a bach-

elor of science in kinesiology from Eastern Illinois University – “one the best decisions in life” – where she played NCAA Division 1 golf.

Minchin came back after graduation, still playing amateur golf for Team Saskatchewan. But she felt she needed more, she knew she could get it, and so she chose to challenge.

“I wanted to turn pro and try to take a swing at that. I started playing mini-tour events all over Canada and the U.S., toured around and lived a little bit of a gypsy lifestyle. Came back in the winter and worked some jobs, saved up some money, found some sponsors, and then did it all over again.”

That period lasted for about three years. That “great experience” brought her across many interesting people, beautiful golf courses, some adventures and allowed her to do something she loved – playing golf and growing in it.

She fell a bit short of making it to the national team, and since the love for golf was still as real as ever before, she decided to take a different approach to her career.

“I joined the PGA of Canada and became an apprentice. I worked here (at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club) under Brian Dueck. You have to put in so many hours, and training, and extra schooling on top of my degree. So, I did that and fell in love with teaching. I did a tonne of teaching as an assistant, and coaching, while still working here. It was crazy busy long days, but I loved it,” Minchin said.

She became a head pro in 2015. Teaching and coaching were still a big part of life. She continued working with Golf Saskatchewan’s high performance and provincial teams. In 2018 Minchin took on the GM role at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course, something she didn’t foresee.

“I didn’t see myself becoming a GM, at least not the year I did. It was down the road that I wanted to do that because I always thought, when I become a GM, I’ll have to step aside from

The logo on Amanda Minchin’s cart pays tribute to her parents, who were her great supporters. Photo submitted

Estevan Market Mall | 306.634.9577 |

Char Seeman

“Well behaved women rarely make history.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt 1339 4 St, Estevan www.trobertlaw.ca

Jolie Bayda

Char Seeman and Jolie Bayda have a tremendous handle on how they run the Community Hamper Association. They know which people really need food, and which just need toys, and which don’t need to be on the list. They get to know people they are working with and the relationship they build with them is amazing. And they have an understanding of what kids may want or people they help may need. They just have it.

They really care about what they do and they don’t get paid for all their work. Char has been in it for many years, Jolie joined later, but they do such an amazing thing for this community. They are really great!

So sta is eq ro lis Katie Burham or classes in four com She also has develop in an additional six English language t Katie is responsibl education to newc training for the pro students, and learni is building commun providing opportun

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March 24, 2021 A13

Women’s Day

knows no gender boundaries

Amanda Minchin is teaching kids of different ages to play golf. Photo submitted working with kids and teaching,” Minchin said.

But things played out to her advantage, as she was able to continue teaching, while also taking on the new role.

The signs of recognition kept coming her way through the years, but the one that brought back the sense of a team meant the most.

“Winning my national award (the PGA of Canada’s Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year in 2016) … was very special. And especially because it was really a team effort that kind of goes back to my love of team sports, it was a huge team effort. The support I have here and in the help I had here, it really was a team effort the award probably should have a bunch of names on it.”

Teaching and introducing kids to golf is a big part of Minchin’s life. The love for the game that she’s been playing for over 25 years now, also saw Minchin trying to open this world to more people.

“We’re a positive place to be. And I probably sound biased, but I think the things you learn out here are going to help you in life.

“We are trying to diversify. We just want anybody who wants to golf, no matter your colour, age race, socio-economic background, I want to make golf accessible to everybody. That’s my goal and that’s the goal of our organization,” Minchin said.

She added that the golf course is considering offering introductory nights for people who are interested in taking up golf but don’t know where to start or feel that the game is intimidating or exclusive.

And while there are still more boys than girls playing golf these days, Minchin, who is currently the president of the PGA of Saskatchewan, said she’s never felt any gender-based inequality.

Besides, her experience working with kids shows that in sports kids don’t know this learned construct.

“Kids don’t know the difference, especially that five-six age. Most of them don’t care if it’s boys and girls together, why would they? That’s

only a kid. That’s another good golfer,” Minchin pointed out.

While the difference in golf engagement persists, the gap in numbers of men and women involved with golf keeps closing.

Even though Minchin says she never felt off in the world of golf because of being a woman, concurring this statistically men-led and dominated sphere and taking a lead role in it, was big, but nevertheless it’s not the only challenge Minchin took upon herself. About 2 1/2 years ago she joined the Estevan Fire Rescue Service – another opening-up but still predominantly male industry.

“It was something I wanted to do for a long time. It’s very much out of my comfort zone,” Minchin said.

“I like learning new things. And that was, again, another way to help the community. I knew it was going to be a huge, huge commitment. But I was intrigued by it.

“I’ll admit, there were times when we were training or doing things, and I thought, ‘Can I actually do this? Am I going to have the ability to do this?’ I’m trying to always question myself and always trying to be better at everything I’m doing. So, those thoughts did creep in there. But then you go, and you have another training night where you learn a lot, and you do it, and you feel great.”

Minchin’s experiences working in male-dominated industries have always been positive. And while it’s not expertise on the state of the society, Minchin’s experience suggests that a lot depends on individuals.

“All the guys on the fire department are great, they’re awesome. All the guys on our PGA are great. I don’t want to say (the work is) genderless to me, but it feels like that. I realize that’s not other people’s experiences and I don’t mean to discredit (other cases) by any means. That’s just my experience. I think if you belong to a group of people, and they’re really good people, it’s not going to matter who’s a man and who’s a woman,” Minchin shared.

Not too long ago, Minchin also became involved with the Estevan Bruins, helping the local team to navigate through rough waters of the pandemic, and before, she also coached an atom girls hockey team for three years, thus paying a tribute to her second sports love – hockey.

Being involved with the community is Minchin’s way to give back to the place that’s always been good to her. She saw life in different places and had opportunities to move elsewhere, but she felt that her hometown had all it takes to grow, build a career, self-actualize and be successful and prosperous in what you like doing.

“Getting to do GM stuff, but also getting to do head pro stuff, also getting to still teach, work with kids, that’s a very unique situation that I have and always had here. I feel very fortunate for it and I’m not ready to give that up.”

“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”

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Debbie Hagel’s devotion to helping others reaches far beyond Southeast Advocates for Employment Inc., which she helped set up and works tirelessly bettering its ability to help those who have disadvantages. Not shy of hard work she has and continues to devote a fair portion of her spare time to Debbie Hagel helping our community either using her own initiative or as a member of our Inner Wheel Club of WE and also with our Rotary Club Estevan. Always with smiles and plenty of enthusiasm, she helps, whether it’s to collect and/or deliver food, clothes and toys for those less fortunate including our First Nations kids during lockdown; prepare or serve food at events or with the Warm Welcome Kitchen; or flogging charity fundraising tickets. She’s a real gem. Debbie can be counted on to put her hand up to help in one way or another, both in the community and with her friends. Debbie you are a good example to us all, thank you.

Ka t i e B u rh a m f ro m outheast College is an outtanding local woman who a community builder for quality and inclusion. Her ole in the college as an Engsh as Another Language cordinator is to oversee our EAL mmunities in the southeast. ped Language Circle Classes communities to make sure training is accessible to all. le for providing language comers in our community, ofessionals who teach our ing resources as needed. She nities through learners and nities for equity and inclusion.

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A14 March 24, 2021

www.estevanmercury.ca

Creighton Lodge happy spring is coming Submitted by Shelly Veroba

I decided to write the January and February column together, since the weather was so cold it stopped us from having much going on around the lodge. Well, the weather and COVID restrictions both had a hand in ensuring we didn’t go too far.

Since our last column, we welcomed a couple new faces to the lodge. Jenny and John McKelkie have made their new home at the lodge. They are a lovely couple and we can’t wait to get to know them better. We have 50 residents that now live at the lodge, since we have four married couples. This is the most residents we have had since several RMs took ownership of the lodge in 2010.

Unfortunately, we also had to say good-bye to a few of our residents. Jan Leonard has lived at the lodge since May 2015. Jan made the decision to move to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home and is making quite a few new friends, while meeting up with some old ones.

Jan will be missed at our weekly Bingo games and we wish her continued happiness in her new home. We can’t wait until we can see her again.

Mary Kowalski came to Creighton Lodge in August 2020 and we quickly fell in love with her contagious smile, quick wit and beautiful personality. Mary passed away in February and she is greatly missed. Our condolences to her family.

Our condolences are also extended to Benita Brennan’s family. Benita passed away in February. She was a resident at the lodge from 2010-2020 when she moved to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home.

Benita was a special friend and will be missed. Benita’s sister Alma McGill still lives at Creighton Lodge and we enjoy sharing memories of Benita.

Our cocktail hours were enjoyed by all who attended.

We had a few good romance movies to watch and our Bingo games had some good laughs.

But the most fun we had all month was the trip to the COVID vaccination clinic.

Art Beselt drove the SMILE van in the morning and transported 14 of us to get our shots. Then the phone started ringing that there were openings for more, so our families started to show up and give us rides throughout the day. A few of us even drove ourselves and took a neighbour, too.

The final call came at 5:15 p.m., we were able to get the final 11 vaccinated if we could make it to the clinic quickly. Art showed up and next thing we knew we were all vaccinated. The smiles and laughter that was heard that night will forever be in our hearts. There was a sense of freedom that hasn’t been felt since March 2020.

We know it will take time until all of our loved ones will be vaccinated, but this is a

great start. A huge thank you to everyone at Public Health and the vaccine clinic who made it all go so smooth. You were kind when you reminded us to pinch our masks at the nose, to use our hand sanitizer or when you guided us to the next available nurse that could provide our shot. You are all appreciated and are true heroes in this pandemic.

There were a few birthdays in January: Marie Bonokoski, Deloris Mehler, Lucille

Bonokoski and Nancy Kleebaum. We celebrated with donuts and they were enjoyed by all. The ones with the jam are the best.

February birthdays were Marion Mack, Donna Wilson, Dodie Kuchinka, Phyllis Phillips and Herman Kleebaum.

Dee’s Balls created hot chocolate bombs for our celebration and we sure did giggle watching them explode in our cups.

Since our 2021 spring fundraiser dinner has been

cancelled, we wanted to announce that the Creighton Lodge Trust Committee is having a raffle. Tickets go on sale March 18 and the draw will be held on May 20. There will be almost $2,500 in prizes to win. Please contact a member of the trust committee or call 306-634-4154 to get a ticket. They are only $10 each and only 1,000 tickets will be sold. The money raised goes to complete future capital projects at the lodge.

City Hall: 1102 4th Street 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1800 Leisure Office: 701 Souris Avenue 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1880

A Message From The Mayor Parks are open please enjoy our many amenities.

DROP IN RECREATION

SCHEDULE Saturday, Apr. 3&10

TY FACILSIED CLO AY

FITNESS SCHEDULE

WEIGHT ROOM

FRID ND APRIL 2

Tuesday, Apr. 6

Wednesday, Apr. 7

Thursday, Apr. 8

Friday, Apr. 9

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

SURF & SWIM 10:30 am - 11:30 am

SURF & SWIM 10:30 am - 11:30 am

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

FAMILY SWIM 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm

FAMILY SWIM 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm

FAMILY SWIM 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm

FAMILY SWIM 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm

FAMILY SWIM 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm

LANE SWIM 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm

LANE SWIM 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm

PUBLIC SWIM 7:15 pm - 9:00 pm

PUBLIC SWIM 7:15 pm - 9:00 pm

LANE SWIM 9:00 pm - 9:45 pm

CLOSED

CLOSED

6 am - 10 pm

6 am - 9 pm

6 am - 9 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

FAMILY SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

FAMILY SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

LANE SWIM 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm

LANE SWIM 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

PUBLIC SWIM 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm

LANE SWIM 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

REGULAR PROGRAMMING

CLOSED

CLOSED

LANE SWIM 9:00 pm - 9:45 pm

9 am - 9 pm

9 am - 9 pm

6 am - 10 pm

LANE SWIM 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am GRIT 9:10 am - 9:50 am EASY STRETCH 9:10 am - 9:50 am

SPIN 9:10 am - 9:50 am

SPIN 9:10 am - 9:50 am SPIN/CORE 9:10 am - 9:50 am

CLOSED

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm FAMILY SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm LANE SWIM 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm PRIVATE BOOKING LANE SWIM 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

WEIGHT ROOM

CLOSED

Monday, Apr. 5

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

Sunday, Apr. 11&18

FITNESS SCHEDULE

Sunday, Apr. 4

ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE - EASTER BREAK 2021

PUBLIC SWIM 7:15 pm - 9:00 pm

6 am - 9 pm

SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am 9:10 am - 9:50 am 10:15 am - 10:55 am 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm 6:30 pm - 7:10 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

CORE BARRE ABOVE 9:10 am - 10:15 am 10:30 am - 11:15 am

SPIN 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm

Tuesday, Apr. 13

Wednesday, Apr. 14

Thursday, Apr. 15

Friday, Apr. 16

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

LANE SWIM 6:00 am - 6:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am 10:15 am - 11:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am 10:15 am - 11:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am

AQUA AWE 9:15 am - 10:00 am 10:15 am - 11:00 am

A.I.S. 11:15 am - 12:00 pm

A.I.S. 11:15 am - 12:00 pm

A.I.S. 11:15 am - 12:00 pm

A.I.S. 11:15 am - 12:00 pm

A.I.S. 11:15 am - 12:00 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

SURF & SWIM 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm A.I.S. 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm SURF & SWIM 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

SURF & SWIM 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

PRIVATE BOOKING

PUBLIC SWIM 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm AQUA AWE 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm A.I.S. 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm SURF & SWIM 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

CLOSED

LANE SWIM 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

LANE SWIM 9:00 pm - 9:45 pm

LANE SWIM 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

9 am - 9 pm

9 am - 9 pm

6 am - 10 pm

6 am - 9 pm

6 am - 10 pm

SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am GRIT 9:10 am - 9:50 am EASY STRETCH 10:10 am - 10:50 am SPIN 12:15 pm - 12:45 pm SPIN/CORE 5:10 pm - 6:10 pm

GRIT 6:10 am - 6:50 am SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am 9:10 am - 9:50 am 10:15 am - 10:55 am 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm 6:30 pm - 7:10 pm

Don’t see what you are looking for?

Do you have an idea for something we should try?

Please contact the Program Manager at 306-634-1880.

We would love to hear your ideas!

CORE BARRE ABOVE 9:10 am - 10:15 am 10:30 am - 11:10 am SPIN 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm

?

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

SURF & SWIM 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING PUBLIC SWIM 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm

SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am 9:10 am - 9:50 am 10:15 am - 10:55 am 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm

AQUATIC SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE - February 22 - April 1, 2021 Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM

6:00 am - 6:45 am 6:00 am - 6:45 am 6:00 am - 6:45 am 6:00 am - 6:45 am 6:00 am - 6:45 am

LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM

7:00 am - 7:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am 7:00 am - 7:45 am

LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM

CLOSED

8:00 am - 8:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am 8:00 am - 8:45 am

AQUA AWE

AQUA AWE

AQUA AWE

AQUA AWE

AQUA AWE

AQUA AWE

A.I.S

AQUA AWE

A.I.S

AQUA AWE

CLOSED

9:15 am -10:00 am 9:15 am -10:00 am 9:15 am -10:00 am 9:15 am -10:00 am 9:15 am -10:00 am 10:15 am -11:00 am 10:15 am - 11:00 am 10:15 am -11:00 am 10:15 am - 11:00 am 10:15 am -11:00 am

A.I.S

GRIT 9:10 am - 9:50 am 11:10 am - 11:50 am

EASY STRETCH 10:10 am - 10:50 am

Monday

A.I.S

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

A.I.S

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

AFTERNOON

LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm

Monday, Apr. 12

LANE SWIM 9:00 pm - 9:45 pm

SPIN 9:10 am - 9:50 am 10:10 am - 10:50 am

SPIN 6:10 am - 6:50 am 9:10 am - 9:50 am 10:15 am - 10:55 am 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm

ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE - 2021

PRIVATE BOOKING

Saturday, Apr. 17

CLOSED

AQUA AWE AQUA AWE LANE SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm LANE SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm LANE SWIM pm - 2:00 pm 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm 1:15 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm A.I.S A.I.S 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm & SURF & SURF & SURF & SURF & LANE SWIM SURF SWIM SWIM SWIM SWIM SWIM 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm FAMILY SWIM

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

LANE SWIM 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm PUBLIC SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

PUBLIC SWIM 7:15 pm - 9:00 pm

6 am - 9 pm

6 am - 9 pm

GRIT 6:10 am - 6:50 am 9:10 am - 9:50 am

SPIN 9:10 am - 9:50 am

EASY STRETCH 10:10 am - 10:50 am GRIT 11:10 am - 11:50 am

Schedule Subject to Change. Please visit www.estevan.ca for updates on closures and cancellations. Proper footwear and exercise wear is required to participate. Please note during school breaks, (Teachers Convention, Spring Break and Christmas Break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and Arena schedules may vary. Please visit our live schedules at www.estevan.ca

PRIVATE BOOKING

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

FREE SWIM 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm “Sponsored by the Estevan Lions Club

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

RED CROSS RED CROSS RED CROSS RED CROSS RED CROSS LANE SWIM LESSONS LESSONS LESSONS LESSONS LESSONS 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm EVENING

DEEP WATER POWER 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

PRIVATE BOOKING

PRIVATE BOOKING

PRIVATE BOOKING

LANE SWIM

PRIVATE BOOKING

LANE SWIM

PRIVATE BOOKING

9:00 pm - 9:45 pm

9:00 pm - 9:45 pm

LANE SWIM

FAMILY SWIM

6:15 pm - 7:00 pm *NOT FEb 26 or MAR 26

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

PRIVATE BOOKING

PUBLIC SWIM

7:15 pm - 9:00 pm

PLEASE NOTE - Due to the pandemic-related protocols fitness registration has moved to a PRE-Registration process. Users must pre-register online or by calling the Information Desk.

Patrons will be screened upon arrival and asked a few questions as per the Operational Health and Safety Guidelines. Drop in is available for the weight room. Space between workout stations have either increased or a machine has been put into 'not in use.' Water fountains are not available.

Don’t see what you are looking for?

Do you have an idea for something we should try?

Please contact the Program Manager at 306-634-1880.

We would love to hear your ideas!

?

Schedule Subject to Change. Please visit www.estevan.ca for updates on closures and cancellations. Proper footwear and exercise wear is required to participate. Please note during school breaks, (Teachers Convention, Spring break and Christmas break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and Arena schedules may vary. Please visit our live schedules at www.estevan.ca

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Southeast athlete Keira Rutten signs to play Volleyball with Medicine Hat College

By Olivia Grandy Alameda athlete Keira Rutten will be joining the Medicine Hat College Rattlers women's volleyball team this fall.

Rutten will be working towards a diploma in the area of occupational therapy and physical therapy while playing volleyball.

She explained that she was initially attracted to the specialized program and was offered the opportunity as a result of her outstanding athleticism.

"I didn't reach out to the college until January. Then, I decided that I wanted to play volleyball and made a highlight video. Within a few days, they told me I had a spot on the team," she told the Mercury.

Rutten has spent her high school career playing for Oxbow Prairie Horizons School’s Black Knights. In 2019, her team won the 3A provincial championship. Through winter

and spring, she has played Black Knights Club Volleyball.

Although she did not get to play in her senior season in high school, she has continued to train regularly throughout the pandemic.

"We've been training twice a week since September, so I find that I am getting better as a volleyball player."

Rutten admitted that missing out on this season's competitive gameplay did present some challenges during the recruitment process.

"They couldn't see the player that I am today, but I had a good season last year, so it really helped."

Rutten's versatility as a player was also appealing to Medicine Hat College. They shared in the announcement of her signing that she will be playing on either the left or right side next season.

"I mainly play as a right side, but I've played as a left side,

and this last year due to all the injuries we had, I stepped in the position to be a setter."

Rutten has been involved in numerous other competitive sports, such as softball, figure skating, and track and field.

She believes that these experiences have benefited her as a volleyball player, both physically and mentally.

She feels that her competitive nature and tendency to be a team leader fuel her success.

"I find I take on a lot of leadership on the court. I like to be that leader and be in control a lot."

Rutten also gives credit to the quality coaching she has received throughout her career.

"Good coaching really helps. We've had a lot of commitment from our coaches," she expressed.

Rutten's high school coach and club coach, Riley Singleton, reflected on his experience of watching Rutten grow into a forceful, well-rounded player.

Teaching the game

Keira Rutten, currently enrolled at Oxbow Prairie Horizons School, has committed to play for Medicine Hat College. Photo submitted "She can play all positions on the court in all 6 rotations.

She has become such a versatile athlete for us, and because of that, I know that is she is going to be a welcomed asset to Medicine Hat College in the fall."

Additionally, he pointed out Rutten's dynamic presence on the court.

"She is willing to hit the

E E R

F

Estevan Lacrosse Association president Braydon Krahn teaches the fundamentals of box lacrosse while a young player watches during a clinic Saturday afternoon at the Power Dodge Arena. The clinic was not only a chance for returning lacrosse players to brush up on their skills, but they were invited to bring a friend to learn the game. Several sessions were held during the afternoon, and more occurred on Sunday.

floor, play after play, with the utmost effort. She makes plays that other athletes can't. This fearlessness has helped to develop her into a great leader both on and off the court," he commented.

Rutten is also a trained developmental coach and is currently assisting with the Black Knights Club Volleyball

15U team.

"She's a fantastic role model for our younger athletes," Singleton said.

Rutten is looking forward to finally seeing the campus and meeting her teammates and coaches; these steps will only be the beginning of her exciting journey as a college athlete.

Start

Buy Grow Sell

Bruins announce first two commitments for next season The season isn’t officially over for the Estevan Bruins, but they have already announced the commitment of two players for next season.

The first is 2003-born Regina forward Brenden Holba. Holba, who is five-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds, joins the Bruins after playing the last two seasons with the Regina Pat Canadians U18 AAA program.

Holba’s list rights were acquired on Nov. 8, 2020, from the Nipawin Hawks in exchange for defenceman Kersey Reich.

“I am extremely grateful to the Estevan organization for taking interest in me this past year, and I’m very excited to play for the Bruins and show what I am capable of,” said Holba.

“Brenden is an excellent all-around forward who competes very hard. We really like his work ethic and we feel with his heavy shot he can chip in offensively for us. We are really happy he has committed to us for next season and if we are approved to play this season, Brenden will join us,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic.

The Bruins have also announced that 2002-

born defenceman Zachary Smith of Pembroke, Mass., has committed.

Smith, who stands five-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds, joins the Bruins out of the Boston Advantage 18U program, where he tallied three assists in seven games played. In 2019-20, Smith played for Hebron Academy in the US High School Prep league and put up 10 points (one goal, nine assists in 30 games.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to play for the Estevan Bruins and looking forward to being a part of such a great organization,” said Smith.

“Zachary is a smooth skating defenseman with a very good skill set,” said Tatarnic. “He has the ability to make nice little plays that make a difference on the ice in all three zones. We really like his gap control, which allows him … to defend the blue line very well.

“We feel he will develop into a very solid junior player that has the potential to be college player. We’re really excited to have Zach join our team next season and we look forward to helping him achieve his dream of playing college hockey.”

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A16 March 24, 2021

www.estevanmercury.ca

Crimes were down in February, as were calls for service for the Estevan police

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Estevan Police Service saw a 15 per cent decrease in call volume on a year-to-date basis for the first two months of the year, and also a general decrease in various crimes.

The situation was discussed during the Estevan board of police commissioners' latest meeting held on March 17.

The only area that saw an increase in Criminal Code numbers was the Controlled Drug and Substances Act with four cases of possession of drugs registered in February 2021 as opposed to just one drug trafficking case in February 2020.

On a year-to-date basis, there were seven charges in 2021 as opposed to five in 2020.

Other areas saw a decrease. There were only five crimes against the person reported, with one sexual crime and four assaults in February 2021, as opposed to 17 the year before. On a year-to-date basis, EPS saw a 58 per cent decrease in crimes against the person, from 24 to 10.

Crimes against property are also down 58 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2020 (from 62 to 26). In February 2021 there were two break and enters into businesses, one theft of other motor vehicle and four thefts under $5,000, for a total of seven occurrences, as opposed to 21 crimes against property in February 2020.

There were zero Cannabis

Act violations last month and this year.

Criminal Code Traffic Violations were down 52 per cent from 21 cases last year to 10 this year. In February there were three impaired/exceed related offences, one impaired by drug case and three dangerous driving cases.

EPS received 610 calls for service last month. On a year-to-date basis, their calls are down from 1,459 to 1,241.

"We are seeing a downward trend, which is nice to see. Whether that's a COVIDrelated downward trend or whether it's a true downward trend, that will be hard to say for sure until the restrictions start to lift," Chief Paul Ladouceur said. * * * Special Constable Morgan Prentice, who is the bylaw enforcement officer, was busy throughout February with 12 animal calls, 20 parking violations, two animal violations, two animal impounds, six parking complaints, two calls related to cat traps, 19 unkempt property inspections, eight snow removal notices, one summons, six other bylaw and four taxi bylaw calls.

On a year-to-date basis, the bylaw enforcement officer dealt with 47 parking violations, as opposed to 49 last year. She also conducted 40 unkempt property inspections as opposed to 13 up to the end of February 2020.

In comparison to the same period in 2020, there was a significant increase in animal

calls (31 this year versus one last year), other bylaw (10 vs. one) and taxi bylaw issues (22 vs. 3).

Ladouceur explained that issues with taxi bylaw had to do with the renewal of taxi licences, which were due. He also pointed out that unkempt properties are a big focus right now with the weather getting nicer, which resulted in an in-

crease in numbers.

Board member and City Councillor Shelly Veroba brought up a concern voiced by a resident living in 1300-block of Fourth Street, who received a parking ticket for being parked for over two hours by their house. The resident was wondering if something could be done to allow residents and

their guests to be able to park by residents' houses for as long as needed. They also complained about the inconsistency of ticketing, pointing out that if there are no exceptions then everybody should be ticketed.

The board agreed to forward the information to the traffic committee for further decisions.

Another board member,

Councillor Lindsay Clark also voiced a suggestion to move one of the digital speed panels over to the west part of King Street.

It was brought to him that there is a lot of fast traffic there, and a panel can help to remind drivers to check their speed. Ladouceur said that it's time to rotate the two panels Estevan has and the location will be considered.

Super sliders

Jaiden Wilson reaches the bottom of the slide and Noah Landry pauses halfway down the play structure at the Churchill Playpark in south-central Estevan on March 13. Estevan has been blessed with beautiful weather this month, especially on the weekends, providing people of all ages plenty of opportunities to spend time outside. Residents have enjoyed time in playgrounds and other facilities in Estevan.

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Flashback – Wednesday, March 13, 1996

Cheers Cheers to the number of people who were once again out and enjoying the beautiful weather on the weekend. It’s great to see people out going for a jog, taking their dog for a walk or spending time with their children at a park.

Cheers to the fact that the Estevan and District Music Festival has found a way to have a festival this year, so that they can give local youths a chance to showcase their musical talents.

Cheers to the opening of the driving range at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. It’s yet another sign that we had an early spring, with temperatures warmer than normal.

Cheers to the Estevan Lacrosse Association for hosting clinics on the weekend, giving kids a chance to brush up on their skills or try the sport out for the first time.

Cheers to Ashlyn George for her recent visit to Estevan, and for placing a spotlight on all that you can do in Estevan in the winter. Hopefully she is invited to come back in the summer months.

Cheers to George Foord on his letter to the editor in a recent edition of the Mercury, regarding it being the time to lift restrictions.

Jeers Jeers to not emptying garbage carts because they were set out too close together. Neighbours set their carts too close and none of them were emptied.

Jeers to dog owners who let their dogs bark continuously in their backyard and do not do a thing about it.

Jeers to the telephone scammers. A local resident had four calls one day and 12 the next. Their phone is now on mute and the person is ignoring all incoming calls. The not-so-clever scammers can still evade global policing quite easily and the communication servers themselves are toothless providers when it comes to their end of the deal.

Jeers to all of the dog walkers who don’t pick up after them. It’s disgusting. If you can afford a dog, you can afford bags.

To submit a cheer or a jeer, please email it to dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca, or visit www.estevanmercury.ca.

Two members of the Estevan Bruins Hockey Club joined forces with a number of children on Spruce Drive for a game of road hockey in March 1996. Gathered around for a team photo with Shawn Collins and Darcy Haugan were, from left, Brady Henderson, Dustin Brown, Dylan Bowerman, Marcus Scheerschmidt, Cole Bowerman, Andrew Scheerschmidt, Naston Dzuba, Kevin Lausch and Taylor Stark.

Holy Family students doing well in mid-year academic results

By Greg Nikkel of the Weyburn Review

Students in the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division are doing well in the mid-year academic report, and have responded positively to being back in school since September.

Superintendent Terry Jordens presented a report on the academic student data for the 2020-21 school year to the Holy Family board of trustees at their March board meeting, held via Zoom on March 10.

The report covered three main areas, including readiness of kindergarten students for entering their elementary school education; progress in reading, writing and math for Grade 1-9 students; and engagement of Grade 4-9 students in their school.

For school readiness, the objective set out by the Ministry of Education is that 90 per cent of kindergarten students will be ready to enter Grade 1 next year, according to the Early Years assessment.

As of mid-year, 67 per cent of kindergarten have been assessed as ready to move on, with 90 per cent being the yearend target, said Jordens, noting this is one of the lowest numbers for this assessment in the past seven years.

Broken down, students are 77 per

cent ready with gross motor skills; 80 per cent ready with fine motor skills; 88 per cent ready in language and communication; 61 per cent with cognitive skills; 81 per cent with social skills and approaches to learning; and 87 per cent with awareness of self and their environment.

Compared to other school divisions in the province, Holy Family is one of the top divisions for this mid-year number, noted Jordens, with the provincial average at 59 per cent.

In reading skills, the Holy Family students in Grades 1-8 overall are at 51 per cent of reaching the year-end grade level, and for writing, Holy Family is at 71 per cent for Grade 1-9 students writing at or above their grade level.

Jordens pointed out that Grade 8 students are at 87 per cent reaching their grade level or higher in writing, which is the highest score in the last four years.

In math, Grade 1-9 students are at 82 per cent of their grade level achievement, which is above the year-end provincial target of 80 per cent.

The report touched on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and how they feel about being in school again, after the schools were locked down and closed a year ago from mid-March to the end of June.

Students in Grades 4-9 were asked

to indicate, on a scale of 1 to 10, how COVID makes them feel, with 1 indicating “sad” and 10 indicating “happy”. Overall, the highest number of students (24 per cent) marked down 5, halfway between happy and sad, while in Grades 7-9, 19 per cent were on the “sad” end of the spectrum, and 13 per cent at 5.

Overall, the students said they felt their school kept them safe from COVID, their school prevents the spread of COVID, and they had access to technology for remote learning. Also, the majority of students felt comfortable going back to school, said Jordens.

In relation to Deep Learning, 43 per cent of students were able to explain how technology improves their world, environments and cultural knowledge, and can explain how technology makes their world better.

About 46 per cent can think about how to find a solution when they have a difficult task and can work through any challenge and help others to do the same.

“We are seeing the hard work of our staff and the effects of having supplemental staff available,” said Jordens.

Director of education Gwen Keith agreed, saying that Holy Family had “the gift of additional staffing this year” which greatly helped them get through this past year under COVID-19 restrictions.

CROSSWORD ANSWER

City-wide registration adapts this spring The City of Estevan’s leisure services division has announced that city-wide registration will not be held in typical fashion this spring.

Instead, the city will be producing the traditional flyer with user group information, distributing it throughout the community and assisting user groups by providing a location inside the Estevan Leisure Centre if they choose to hold a registration or information night on their own.

Erin Wilson, program director for the City of Estevan, said: “We know this change isn’t ideal for some user groups but wanted to provide an avenue for our residents to be informed of the many great activities that are available to them in the community.

“If organizations choose to book a registration night, they will be responsible for the promotion and will adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines that will be in place at that time.”

The RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre will have the annual maintenance shutdown at the swimming pool changed from midApril to mid-May. Spring maintenance was completed early last year because the facility was shut down due to the pandemic. This allows for continuing the annual shutdown without limiting valuable pool time.

Wilson noted, “Red Cross swimming lessons will open at a later date because of the change in the pool shutdown schedule.”

kids speak Why are you happy spring is here?

Hailey

Age: 13 “Because I don’t really like the cold, and because the sun is so nice and makes me happy.”

Grace

Age: 13 “Because of the nice weather and all of the plants and flowers.”

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A18 March 24, 2021

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Fishing derby at Alameda was a success

By Lisa McCullough O ver the weekend, the Souris-Moose Creek Wildlife Federation had their third annual fishing derby on Grant Devine Lake. There was a contest for the largest pike, the largest walleye and a 50/50 perch pot.

According to Cory Rucks, the event was a success.

"It was a good day, we had excellent attendance, more than we expected anyways. No wind and plus temperatures. Lots of fish were caught," Rucks explains.

The winners of the event are as follows. For largest pike caught, Dave Carriere got first place with a fish measuring in at 36.5 inches. Second place went to

Lynn Hrywkiw with a pike measuring at 35.5 inches, and there was a three-way tie for third, so they drew a name out of a hat and Craig Cameron was picked with a pike measuring in at 33 inches.

The winners of the largest walleye caught are Derek Campbell with a fish measuring in at 22 inches. Second place was Brady Fidierchuck with a fish measuring 20 inches. Third place was Aaron Downing with a fish measuring at 18.25 inches.

There was also a 50/50 perch pot and the winner of that was Aaron Dowing with a perch at 13 inches. He won $1,225.

The wild life federation would like to thank everyone for their support and congratulate everyone who participated.

Aaron Downing was the winner of the 50-50 perch draw. Photo submitted

Cornerstone and Holy Family school divisions release calendar for 2021-22 school year The boards of education for the Holy Family Roman

Catholic Separate School Division and the South East

Cornerstone Public School Division have approved the

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as Sept. 1.

The last day of classes before the Christmas break is Dec. 17. Christmas holidays will run from Dec. 20-31, and the first day back will be Jan. 3.

There will be a winter break in February 2022. The last day of classes before the break will be Feb. 18. Classes will resume on Feb. 28.

As for spring break in 2022, the last day of classes will be April 14. Good Friday will be the following day. Classes will resume on April 25.

The final day of classes is slated for June 28, 2022.

The calendar includes holiday breaks for the regular, statutory holidays such as Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Family Day and Victoria Day. The school year calendar still needs approval from the Ministry of Education.

In keeping with legislative and regulatory amendments, calendars must ensure that a minimum of 950 hours of instructional time is provided to all students. These legislative and regulatory amendments were implemented to ensure that there is a consistent minimum amount of instruction time.

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2021-22 school year calendar, which will be used by both divisions.

The first day of classes is slated for Sept. 1, which would be before the Labour Day long weekend.

Educators and administrators will begin work as early as Aug. 25 as they prepare classrooms and formulate plans to again offer in-school lessons.

In a press release, the Cornerstone division said that since Labour Day is Sept. 6, the provincial government has provided school divisions the direction that students may start as early

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Obituaries

Farm ServiceS Jay Everett Pierson 1971 - 2021

It is with great sadness that the family of Jay Pierson announces his death in Estevan, Saskatchewan on Friday March 5, 2021 at the age of 49 years.

Jay was predeceased by his parents, Jerry and Sallie Pierson. He is survived by his son, Jude; Jude’s mom, Amanda; sisters Kelly (Logan Martin) and Darcy; aunts Melody, Jan, Elaine, Laraine and Kelly; numerous cousins; his godfather Ingi Ingalson and godson Jordan Pierson.

Jay was born in 1971 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He grew up in the Fort Richmond area before the family moved to Estevan, Saskatchewan when Jay was thirteen years old. After graduating from grade 12, Jay attended Brandon University where he met his group of lifelong friends. Jay returned to Estevan where he began working at The Beef (which is now Days Inn) and then joined the Estevan Police Service in July of 1998. Jay spent the majority of his career as a Forensic Identification Officer but also held the positions of Detective in Major Crimes, Acting Sergeant and 2 IC on platoon, Community and Traffic Services Officer. Jay was the president of the Estevan Police Association and a board member with the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers from 2003 - 2013.

In February of 2017 Jay was placed off work due to problems related to his mental and physical health. Jay was diagnosed with PTSD in March of 2017. Jay’s recovery and quality of life were further impacted by having to repeatedly fight to defend his diagnosis in order to receive WCB benefits which were essential to support his family. Jay felt that the lack of support, both financially and with regard to his mental health struggles, took an enormous toll on his health and personal relationships. Jay’s family would like to thank the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers for their unwavering support during Jay’s appeal process which ultimately was ruled in his favor.

Jay was a complicated person on the one hand and simple on the other. He struggled with his mental health and tragically it affected his ability to find happiness and peace within himself and affected his relationships with people who cared for and loved him. Jay’s family would like to thank those friends, colleagues and mental health professionals who stood by Jay and continued to support him.

Jay was always very active in the community with his volunteer work. Prior to his illness, Jay loved spending time with his family, especially Jude. Jay’s life was forever changed when he became a father and he loved Jude above all else. His entire being would light up every time he saw his son and it was a joy to witness. Jay also enjoyed travelling, camping and spending time socializing with his friends and colleagues, especially if there was craft beer and a game of poker available.

Jay’s PTSD diagnosis significantly impacted his ability to take care of his physical health. He also suffered from underlying medical conditions. Both appear to have contributed to his sudden passing due to natural causes. If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Movember in Jay’s memory.

A private memorial service was held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 19, 2021 in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, with The Very Reverend Mike Sinclair officiating.

PTSD is not an illness of the weak, it is the result of ongoing exposure to horrific events in one’s job.

The lack of acknowledgement of the validity of this diagnosis only adds to the trauma experience. In Jay’s memory it is crucial to acknowledge the toll it takes to be part of the policing and first responder community, which includes members as well as their families.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for the Pierson family – Deb Heidinger, Funeral Director.

LOOKING TO SELL YOUR MINERAL RIGHTS OR OTHER OIL & GAS RIGHTS? E-mail Paul Clark, Land Manager, with details and a legal description, at: pclark@bountydev.com.

We will evaluate your property and consider making you an offer, Calgary, AB. pclark@bountydev.com (403) 718-7427

Feed & Seed

Joseph Zieglgansberger 1941 - 2021 Joe Zieglgansberger passed away surrounded by the love of his family on Monday, March 15, 2021 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan, Sask. at the age of 80.

Joe’s memory will be forever cherished by his loving family: wife of 54 years, Myrla (née Needham); sons: Eugene (Becky) and Scott (Rayann Perkins); granddaughter Coral (Mackenzie Fichter); sisters: Pat (Alan) Murphy, Marie (Al) Manship, Ann Skorlatowski and Gyaneshia Reda Zieglgansberger, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Charlene; parents: Ludwig and Barbara (née Schell); brothers: Robert and Johnny; sisters: Fran Mosley and Margaret (Lawrence) Schmidt; brotherin-law: Steve Skorlatowski; sister-in-law Helen Needham and parents-in-law: Frank and Josephine Needham, as well as his special canine companion Rocky.

The Funeral Mass for Joe will be celebrated on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Estevan, with Rev. Sathiadas Antony presiding. Due to current Covid restrictions, attendance is by invitation only. However, you are invited to join Joe's family virtually by using this link: https://vimeo.com/525103464/405238568a The live stream will begin at approximately 9:55 a.m. If you are unable to join at that time, a video recording of the Funeral Mass will be available afterwards, using the same link.

The Rite of Committal will take place privately at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, immediately following the Funeral Mass.

If you have been invited to attend the Funeral Mass and plan on receiving holy communion, please bring some hand sanitizer to use before you receive.

If family and friends so desire, donations to a charity of choice in Joe’s memory would be appreciated by his family. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for the Zieglgansberger family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Thank You

We, the family wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Pannu and all the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital for the wonderful care you gave to Joe. Special thanks to Connie Wheeler, Fr. Antony and Hall Funeral Services for your care. We have so appreciated every expression of sympathy and support that we have received from our family and friends – your love and kindness will never be forgotten.

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

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

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Patty J. Berday 1959 - 2021 Patty passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Estevan, SK at the age of 61 years.

Patty’s memory will forever be cherished by her loving husband Doug Berday; her three children, Sarah Eide (Salee Scott) of Jasper Indiana, Justin Eide of Minot, ND and Ariel Schroder (Jordan) of Epping, ND as well as her 3 grandchildren, Ashton Eide of Estevan, SK and Brennan and Olivia Scott of Jasper Indiana.

Patty will also be dearly missed by her 3 sisters, Debi Messersmith of Williston, ND, Sandra (Todd) Schefstad of Lignite, ND and Bobbi Jo of Messersmith of Williston, ND. Patty was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Karen (nee Leholm) Messersmith.

The memorial service for Patty will be held at a later date.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

Hall Funeral Services, Estevan is caring for Patty’s family - Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Notices / NomiNatioNs

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Adele Gervais 1946 - 2011 (March 26) Mom It’s been 10 years since we saw you smile, heard you laugh or felt your embrace.

Know that each day since we have longed for all those and more.

With love from your family

Expert Help:

1-844-453-5372 LAND FOR SALE

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ERNIE Schmidt December 2/36 - March 26/18 Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

In loving memory of the one we love, May your brightness always shine down from above.

Forever in our hearts, as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Josie, Gail and Brent, Russell and Colleen, Darcy and Carol, grandchildren/spouses and great-grandchildren

FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc.

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BREAKING

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Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com

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306.421.2021

A20 March 24, 2021

Late model, clean CAT, JD equip; winch, dump, gravel trucks, and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided Wage negotiable.

Clean drivers abstract a must.

Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca The World-Spectator in Moosomin, SK is seeking a full-time reporter to join our team producing three growing, independentlyowned newspapers covering Southeast Saskatchewan and Southwest Manitoba with a focus on solid journalism and community news. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits plan available. Please send resumes and writing samples to kevin@world-spectator.com

Now hiring CROP HAIL ADJUSTERS for the 2021 hail season (Jul-Oct).

Competitive salary, expenses & mileage paid, health spending account and pension plan. Continuous training using our industry leading CHAP tablet program. Looking for seasonal summer employment? Retired or semi-retired - this job is for you! Join our team and start your new career.

Email: dtiefenbach@smhi.ca for more details and application form.

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BREAKING

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ESTEVAN MERCURY.CA

Public Notice Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5 Notice of Intent to Amend the Zoning Bylaw Pursuant to Section 207 of The Planning and Development Act, 2007, the Council of the Rural Municipality of Estevan No.5 hereby gives notice of its intention to amend Zoning Bylaw 5-2014 by passing bylaw 2021-02.

Intent: The proposed bylaw will add shops and garages as a discretionary use and reduce the minimum site frontage for NonFarm Residential in the Agricultural Resource District (AR).

Reason: The reason for the text amendment is to allow for shops and garages to be principal use buildings in the Agricultural Resource District (AR), as a discretionary use. The amendment also makes it less restrictive by reducing the minimum site frontage from 46 meters to 30 meters for Non-Farm Residential sites in the Agricultural Resource District (AR).

Public Inspection: Any person may inspect the proposed bylaw at the R.M. of Estevan Municipal Office at #1 – 322 – 4th Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Copies are available at cost.

Public Hearing: Council will hold a public hearing to receive submissions, written or verbal, on the proposed bylaw at 11:00 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 in the Council Chambers of the R.M. of Estevan No. 5, #1-322 4th Street Estevan, Saskatchewan. Those wishing to make verbal representation are required to register with the municipal office due to limited space in Council Chambers and COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

Please contact the municipal office at (306) 634-2222 for details prior to Friday, April 9th, 2021.

Dated at Estevan, Saskatchewan this 17th day of March, 2021.

Michelle Dickie, Administrator

Careers

KIPLING - 148 ACRES: 60’S BUNGALOW W/ADDITION AND ATTACHED GARAGE,ON HWY. #48, GOODEN SHED STOUGHTON - 120 ACRES: 91 CULT. ACRES, LOCATED DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO STOUGHTON

Duties: Prepare and cook complete meals or individual dishes and foods.

Experience: 3 years Wage: $15/hour Send email to Jason Fang at jennyk8889@icloud.com

SRI HOMES’ Estevan Facility SHELTER HOME SYSTEMS is currently accepting applications for

PRODUCTION WORKERS • Required Immediately

Duties include:

• Assembling and installing modular components Send, fax, e-mail or drop off resume to:

H

O

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SHELTER

Box 845 #200 Hwy. 18 West, Estevan, SK S4A 2A7 Fax: 306-634-7597 jobs.shelter@gmail.com www.shelterhomes.ca

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION CERTIFICATE

WINDTHORST - 43.7 ACRES: 1310 SQ FT HOME, DOUBLE DET. GARAGE, SHOP, BARN, CORRALS For all your buying or selling needs contact Jason Beutler

PHONE: (306) 569-3380

LANE REALTY

Saskatchewan’s Farm & Ranch Specialists™ PH: 306-569-3380 EMAIL: lanerealtycorp@sasktel.net WITH OVER 39 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS!

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NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF CYMRI NO. 36 Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Cymri No. 36 for the year 2021 has been prepared and is open to inspection from, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Friday, March 26th, 2021 to May 25th, 2021.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal, accompanied by a $50.00 appeal fee which will be returned if the appeal is successful, with: The Assessor, R. M. of Cymri No. 36, Box 238, Midale, SK. S0C 1S0, by the 25th day of May, 2021.

Dated this 26th day of March, 2021.

Sarah Leck Assessor

The RM of Souris Valley #7 Requires a Fulltime Seasonal Grader/ Equipment Operator Potential start date of middle/end of April, 2021 Wage will be based upon experience We thank all applicants for your interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please forward your resume by e-mail to rm07@sasktel.net, by fax 1-306-456-2480, by mail to Box 40, Oungre, SK S0C 1Z0, OR in person to the RM Office.

Deadline to apply is 3:00 p.m.

Monday, April 12, 2021.

Careers

Learn more. uregina.ca/cce

LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER R.M. of Coalfields #4 NE 09-03-04-W2 – Parcels #108085361 & #108046290 NE 10-03-04-W2 – Parcel #108085383 only NW 10-03-04-W2 – Parcels #108085372 & #108046324 SW 10-03-04-W2 – Parcel #108046313 NE, NW, SW 10 have been farmed as a field.

Prefer to sell as a package, however tenders may be submitted for one or all parcels.

Interested parties should submit tenders ON OR BEFORE April 9, 2021 addressed to: Kohaly Elash & Ludwig Law Firm LLP 1312 – 4th Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0X2 (306) 634 – 3631 All tenders must be in writing, without conditions, and must be accompanied by a deposit of $5,000.00 per quarter (1/4) section payable by certified cheque to: Kohaly Elash & Ludwig Law Firm LLP in trust.

Deposits for all rejected offers will be returned forthwith after April 9, 2021 Land transaction to close between April 9, 2021 and April 30, 2021.

Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

All existing oil and gas surface leases will be reserved indefinitely by Vendor and successors.

Vendor will not accept bids for the oil and gas surface leases.

For land particulars, please call Ramona Quinn 306-486-4908.

Job Posting Job Title: Location: Closing Date:

is looking for a FULL TIME COOK

Interested in working in rural government?

IS&T Field Support Analyst Estevan, SK April 5, 2021

Job Overview Reporting to the Lead, IT Business & End User Services, the successful candidate will provide operational support to Kingston Midstream’s corporate, field and SCADA/ICS environments. This field support role will be exposed to all facets and functions of IT operations and will be responsible for supporting end user computing devices, meeting room technologies, Microsoft 365 services, servers, networks, IT security and field communications.

Position Responsibilities • Develop and maintain credible and effective working relationships that demonstrate an understanding of business problems, IT strategies, issues and priorities • Install, configure, maintain, troubleshoot and support desktop hardware, software and critical technology including field communications • Perform on-site and/or remote analysis, diagnosis, and resolution of complex technology problems; recommend and implement corrective solutions • Administer and provide support to Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint, Teams and InTune • Partner with the Infrastructure, Control Center Operations and vendors to support SCADA/ICS Environment • Provide IT training to end-users; ensure successful use of IT equipment • Create and/or facilitate documenting business/technical processes and support documentation • Follow and promote IT standards, policies and procedures • Support critical services through 24x7 on-call rotation • Travel to field sites within SE Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including remote rural field sites and SCADA/ICS environments Skills and Qualifications • Post-secondary degree or diploma in Computer Science or related IT discipline • Minimum 10 years of industry experience in IT Systems, support, deployment, and associated functions • Proven client computing experience, including desktops, laptops, tablets, multifunction devices • Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 with a focus on SharePoint Online, Teams, and OneDrive • Working knowledge of networking concepts, protocols and services including routing, switching, TCP/IP, MPLS, VLAN, DNS, DHCP, VPN • Experience supporting field operations, specifically PLC, SCADA/ICS, radio and wireless communications • Proven experience documenting business requirements, system design, test cases, production changes, along with developing end-user training and reference materials • Effective verbal and written communicator; with the ability to communicate with individuals at all levels of technical and non-technical skills • Works well under pressure, time constraints with the ability to prioritize competing priorities • Demonstrated ability to self-manage, self-motivate with eagerness to learn • Thrive working in a high performing, team-oriented, dynamic and evolving IT team environment • Possess valid drivers’ license and a clean drivers’ abstract We thank all interested candidates; however, only qualified candidates will be contacted, please submit your resume to Careers@kingstonmidstream.com

Estevan’s Source for News!

HEAVY DUTY MECHANICS & 1A TRUCK DRIVERS REQUIRED:

ESTEVAN - 159 ACRES: 137 CULT., BUNGALOW W/ DETACHED GARAGE, 3 BED,1¾ BATH, GOOD OUTBUILDINGS

Career OppOrtunities

SK Farms & Ranches

Career OppOrtunities

www.estevanmercury.ca

www.estevanmercury.ca

March 24, 2021 A21

When will children be vaccinated in Saskatchewan?

By Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter As Saskatchewan moved into Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccination plan on March 18, nearly all the talk, to date, has been about getting shots into the arms of adults, particularly the elderly first. But what about children – the students filling schools and kids in day cares?

Earlier that day, the Ne w D e m o c r a t i c Pa r t y again raised concerns about schools, with Education critic and MLA Carla Beck calling for “the deployment of rapid testing, particularly in light of the variant outbreak in Regina that we've seen moved into other schools and other communities across the province.”

As currently there are no vaccines approved for

children, vaccine approvals for children aren’t expected until the summer, at the earliest, and children may end up getting their shots in the next school year.

Asked what the province’s plans are for children, Minister of Health Paul Merriman said, “As far as I know, Moderna is approved to 16, and Pfizer to 18,” referring to the vaccines made by each of those companies.

Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said: “Right now, the allocations that we are receiving are for 18 and older and the vaccination program is primarily for 18 and older; two doses, hopefully by July, as supplies allow.”

He pointed out that clinical trials are working on the 12 to 18 age group, as well as in some cases they have started in the under-12 age group.

He said, “There is an

assessment that want to have achieved population level immunity in adults, which we will hopefully do by July.”

As for children, Shahab said of the ongoing trials, “Likely the trials will show that they're as safe and effective in children as they are an adults.”

The vaccination program for those age groups will start once the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) makes the recommendation for those age groups and vaccines are available for those age cohorts, Shahab said.

He added, “No country in the world right now has approved vaccines for, as far as I know, that under-16 age group, but obviously, both the approval of vaccines in that age group, as well as the further benefit of vaccinating that age group is important.”

He noted that schoolaged children may get as-

ymptomatic infection in many cases, but it can be an issue with those who have comorbidities.

Shahab said they will be watching as the trials progress, and NACI will make recommendations in the summer. “We don’t expect anything earlier than summer,” Shahab said.

When there are approvals, how will the province implement a vaccination program for children?

Shahab pointed to the previous experience with the H1N1 virus in 2009. That virus impacted younger people more than older people, the inverse of how COVID-19 operates. He said Saskatchewan had a vaccination program that was very successful in that case.

Whenever there is a vaccination targeted for school ages, he said, “We already have a strong infrastructure through school-based vac-

Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab cination programs and public health clinics.”

He said there is the capacity to vaccinate all children fairly quickly, but other avenues, like pharmacies, can

also assist.

“Certainly, the capacity would be easily there to vaccinate children 18 and under, once approved and the vaccine is there,” Shahab said.

Firefighters fought wildland, shop and other fires

By Ana Bykhovskaia The Estevan Fire Rescue Service (EFRS) members dealt with the first wildland fire of 2021 on March 17.

The call came in at about 1:30 p.m. The fire occurred southwest of the city in the RM of Estevan. The fire started on an acreage and spread into the Water Security Agency wetlands.

“That led to some accessibility issues there for some of our equipment. However, we were able to deploy our Kubota ATV to get in there and start initial suppression operations as well as one one-tonne truck to go in and knockdown (the fire),” Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser.

With changing wind, firefighters had to adjust their suppression efforts accordingly several times. It took a considerable amount of time, but they were able to bring the fire under control and then fully extinguish it.

“There was a lot of manpower labour required as a lot of the firefighters had to walk in and use old school suppression tactics with brooms, coupled with water for extinguishment efforts,” Feser said.

Crews were working on the scene for about two hours.

Nobody was injured as a result of the incident.

It turned out that the homeowners were burning a pile of leaves when the wind changed direction and blew

sparks over to some old dry vegetation.

“Even though the day previous we had what looked to be a fairly significant amount of moisture that fell in the area, the vegetation is still pretty dry out there and the ground is frozen,” Feser said.

With no snow cover left and generally dry conditions, the wildland fire season now can be considered open. So if burning anything, people are asked to always assess the wind conditions and exercise extreme caution.

After a relatively long quiet streak, the fire department received a surge of calls on March 22. The first call for service came in at about 11 a.m. from the central part of Estevan, where an electrical motor caught on fire at a business.

“Crews did respond nonemergent as it was reported that the fire did extinguish at that time,” Feser said.

“When we did arrive on scene it was found that an electrical motor for conveyor belt system had overheated and suffered a mechanical failure. So crews were able to ensure that there was no additional fires or emergencies that would occur, isolated power to this particular item and turned the scene back over to the management and staff there in order to contact an electrician for repair.”

The next call came in at around 3 p.m., when crews

were called out to a residential fire alarm that went off in the south-central area of the city.

There were no visible signs of fire on the exterior of the building. The homeowner met firefighters at the door and explained that it was a cookingrelated incident. There was not enough smoke to warrant any ventilation efforts on behalf of the fire service. The rest of the trucks were stood down, and the homeowner was reminded that if a residential fire alarm goes off, the homeowner should be the first point of contact prior to dispatching the EFRS crews.

Just as firefighters returned to the station, they were called out to a shop fire occurring just outside of the city limits to the west.

“Crews did arrive on scene to find the flames licking up the back of the large shop occupancy approximately 30 feet in the air,” Feser said.

The fire started on the outside and was making its way into the shop. Once the exterior fire was brought under control, the second crew was assigned interior structural attack firefighting duties. They entered the building as the fire had progressed inside and started some of the contents on fire.

“Crews were able to bring that quickly under control and stop loss of property on that particular occupancy,” Feser said.

Crews spent about two

hours on scene. There were no injuries as a result of the fire.

The operation was efficient and successful, thanks to the joint effort of first responders.

“We want to extend a thank you to our emergency services partners, the Estevan Police Service for providing traffic control and assistance on scene, as well as to the EMS as they had a crew out there on standby in case anybody should have suffered any injuries whether it be the homeowners or the firefighters,” Feser said.

The subsequent investigation looked into the causes of the fire.

“It was found that the homeowner was burning some refuse materials on the property, when a sudden change in the wind had displaced some ambers from the original burn site and put them into some unwanted vegetation and burnt it right up to the shop. There was also a lot of stored wood which is used for fireplaces right against the shop itself,” said Feser, adding that it’s never a good idea to store flammable materials close to buildings.

Damage to the property was kept to a minimum. The homeowner lost a garden shed, a lot of firewood and a few antique car parts, but most of the property was saved.

Crews returned to the station for a quick break before a report of smoke in a building saw them driving out to a

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restaurant in central Estevan.

Upon arrival, crews found that a roofing company was doing some repairs and tarring the roof.

“They were still on site doing some fire control when an off-duty firefighter and patrons were able to smell some smoke and observe a burning car smell inside the occupancy itself. So the restaurant was quickly evacuated and everybody was encountered.”

Roofing crews immediately found a small fire that just started. They were able to quickly extinguish it prior to firefighters’ arrival.

“We did remain on scene for approximately an hour just to ensure complete extinguishment and that there was no other fires that were occurring.

Once the scene is deemed safe, it was turned back over

to the restaurant staff and the roofing crew. The roofing crew remained on site for a few hours afterwards just to do fire watch to ensure no other issues would come up,” Feser said.

Most members of the EFRS were involved with the calls on Monday, and Feser was grateful to the employers for allowing volunteer firefighters to be there.

“A huge thank you to all the employers that allow our paid-on-call firefighters to attend to these types of scenarios and emergencies that are occurring because obviously there’s a loss of production at the workplace where these individuals work as well. So we can’t say thank you enough to the local businesses that support the city of Estevan by allowing the firefighters to attend these emergency calls.”

Hold on but cast off

Linda Wegner Words of Worth

Now how’s this for a thought-provoking introduction to this week’s article?

“An antithesis is a figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as ‘hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.’”

Hmm, “love is the antithesis of selfishness.” So easily spoken but not always so easily lived out. I’m sure we can all think of terms that fit into that category, but this week I’ve been musing on the admonitions of Scripture that both fit that description of antithesis as well as describing the best way to draw our resources from God. During this past year, I, like everyone else, have both cast off and held on to a variety of emotions and situations such as isolation and loneliness. For some, finances have been massacred. Thankfully, the Lord has opened my eyes to the

strength and blessing that’s found in learning to more fully trust Him. 1 Peter 5:7 (Phillips) “So, humble yourselves under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.”

1 Peter 5:7: (TP T ): “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.”

Then, in contrast with giving something up, we’re exhorted to hold fast to Him and to His promises.

Proverbs 4:4 (Amplified Version) “He taught me and said to me, ’Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live.’”

Too many times I’ve mixed up the casting and the holding. They may be opposites but as we put them together in the right order, we gain a new understanding of God’s peace.

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A22 March 24, 2021

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Cargill purchases southeast company Precision Ag Following a successful 22-year joint venture, Cargill has announced it will purchase southeast Saskatchewan crop inputs retailer Precision Ag in a move that deepens its commitment to farmers in the region.

The business will continue to operate as Precision Ag, based in Griffin, and according to a news release, there will be no changes for Precision’s 23 employees or at its four locations in Griffin, Carlyle, Carnduff and Odessa. Precision Ag’s leadership team will stay in their current roles for the next three years to ensure a seamless transition of the business.

“As we thought about

our most strategic succession plan, we quickly agreed that selling to Cargill was the best decision given our shared values and interest in providing quality crop input services to farmers throughout Western Canada,” said Precision Ag general manager Jay Gerry.

“We’re excited for our employees and customers as they will continue to receive the very best this long-term partnership represents, as well as the world-class professional services and resources Cargill brings to the future of our business.”

The acquisition of Precision Ag expands Cargill’s network of grain and ag service businesses through-

out Canada, including an integrated mix of crop inputs, grain marketing and consulting services for greater access and customer service with area farmers. “ We look forward to carrying on Precision Ag’s legacy of outstanding service and building on the expertise and trust our long-term partnership represents,” said Blaine Duncan, Cargill regional commercial leader.

“As a global ag leader, we’re strategically positioned to advance Precision Ag’s business model in such dynamic market conditions. We’re honoured the Precision Ag leadership team turned to Cargill to lead the next chapter of this business.”

Precision Ag, which has four locations in the southeast, has been purchased by Cargill. Photo submitted

Emergency crews called to collision south of Alameda Emergency crews were called to a collision in southeast Saskatchewan on Thursday night.

Members of the Carnduff RCMP detachment and other first responders were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision around 10:30 p.m., involving a semi-trailer unit and a truck on Highway 9 south of Alameda.

The lone adult male driver of the semi was not injured. The lone adult male driver of the truck, who is from the Oxbow area, was transported to hospital with undetermined injuries.

Police were on scene for a period of time after the collision occurred, and the highway was closed at one point, but later reoponed.

• • • Members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) received a complaint on March 15 in which a driver failed to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. The EPS reminds the public that the

pedestrian has to clear the crosswalk completely prior to vehicles being able to drive through. This matter is still under investigation.

Police also received a complaint regarding an individual walking on the CP Rail tracks. The individual was located and warned that it is an offence to trespass on the property. The only place pedestrians and vehicles are allowed to cross the tracks is at the marked crossings.

Officers are investigating three reports of individuals breaching their release conditions. The matters are related to reporting and residence conditions. The matters are still under investigation.

Police are investigating a complaint in relation to criminal harassment via text messages.

The matter is still under investigation.

A traffic stop was made in east central Estevan on March 16, which resulted in a 37-year-

old Estevan man being arrested and charged for breaching the conditions of his release order in regard to his curfew, and for possession of drugs.

He was also charged with possession of methamphetamines. He was held in custody pending his court appearance the following day.

Police received a Report Impaired Drivers call on March 18. The vehicle was located by police and the driver was found to not be impaired.

The motorist was warned about the manner they were operating the vehicle.

Members arrested one person on March 19 for violating release conditions. During a traffic stop, members apprehended the driver of the vehicle. He was on conditions to have no contact with one of the occupants of his vehicle. He was released on further conditions and will make a court appearance in May. Police issued a 72-hour driver’s licence

suspension on March 20 to an Estevan man who had consumed drugs and then operated a motor vehicle. His vehicle was also seized as a result of the stop.

Officers stopped an Estevan man who was suspended from driving. He was issued a summons for court and his vehicle was seized for a minimum of 30 days.

Members received a complaint of mischief to a motor vehicle in the 500-block of Fourth Street on March 21. A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged. He was released with conditions for court in April.

Police conducted a check on a local person on conditions of a release order. He was found in breach of multiple conditions and was subsequently arrested. He was held in custody and appeared in court on March 22. The police continue to investigate and more charges are pending.

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