Estevan Mercury 20230118

Babies of 2022

Cuties’ corner. Find babies born in the Estevan area in 2022 in our special section on PAGES A8-12

Estevan physician’s licence suspended

The College of Physicians and Surgeons in Saskatchewan has suspended the licence of Estevan physician Dr. Mehdi Horri.

It’s been a year.

Early Years Family Centre marks its first anniversary with new status and new place.

PAGE A3

According to the college’s website, the suspension took effect on Jan. 11. The college’s website did not give a reason for the suspension, a report on any recent incidents does not appear on Horri’s physician profile, and Horri’s name is not listed under the summary of upcoming or recently concluded disciplinary cases.

Big opportunity. Local skater to join team Canada in France for international competition.

PAGE A5

Brian Salte, the associate registrar and legal counsel with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, said a suspension hearing was conducted on Jan. 10 to determine whether Horri should be allowed to continue to remain in practice.

“The decision of the executive committee was that he would be suspended under our legislation,” said Salte.

The suspension will con-

tinue until it’s reviewed by the council at its next meeting on Jan. 27 and 28. Salte said members could decide to continue the disciplinary action or make some other decision.

Horri has been in Estevan since 2012, making him one of the most tenured

physicians in the community. His licence was revoked by the college for nine months in Saskatchewan in 2017 and 2018, after a similar action was taken by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Horri was found guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship

with a patient too soon after the termination of the doctor-patient relationship. Horri was still practising in Ontario when it occurred.

The first sexual encounter two weeks after Horri had stopped seeing the patient. At the time, there wasn’t a rule in Ontario stipulating how quickly a doctor could begin a relationship with a patient. Since then, the Ontario college has implemented a one-year rule.

Salte noted that ever since Horri’s licence was reinstated in June 2018, he is required to have a chaperone present during all interactions with female patients. The information presented to the college’s executive council recently is that was not happening.

Also, a patient has complained about the nature of an examination that Horri performed, Salte said. Further details were not provided.

Also, in 2020, Horri pleaded guilty to five charges

under the Medical Profession Act for unprofessional conduct. He was suspended for four months. Four of those charges occurred in 2017 prior to his licence being revoked in Saskatchewan, and the other charge was from 2018, shortly after he was reinstated.

Horri’s latest suspension has generated a torrent of discussion on social media. Most of those who have commented, including patients, have voiced support for him.

A number of people referred to him as the best doctor they have had in Estevan and one of the best doctors in the community. Others voiced concern about what they would do for a physician during Horri’s suspension and said they hope he will stay in Estevan.

Others suggested having a letter-writing campaign to the College of Physicians and Surgeons to have Horri reinstated.

Energy, day-to-day cost of living and more on agenda at chamber’s Coffee Talk

By Ana Bykhovskaia

That’s dedication.

RM of Estevan celebrates councillor’s three decades of service. Details in Agri News on

PAGE A14

Souris-Moose Mountain’s member of parliament recently visited with the local business community and brought them up to date on Ottawa’s latest happenings.

Robert Kitchen was a speaker at the Coffee Talk organized by the Estevan Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 11, with about 30 business leaders present. He touched on the government’s spending, the future of the energy sector and Canada, and took questions from the audience.

“A lot of what I see happening with this government is trying to push rural Canada into urban Canada. And they’re doing everything they can to basically shut down parts of Canada when they don’t understand that concept. They have this utopian idea of what’s going on,” Kitchen said.

While the vision for switching to electric power all across the country has a place, there are many steps between now and then, Kitchen said.

What a victory. Estevan Bruins beat the best of the best in a well-deserved win.

PAGE A15

Kitchen started by pointing out that over his eight years in Parliament, he learned that the Liberal government prefers to call their spendings “investments”. He also noted that there is a big gap in the government’s understanding of what his and some other ridings are about.

“We need an energy source. And we need reliable energy. And that base energy is what we provide here in Estevan and the southeast corner of Saskatchewan,” Kitchen said.

“The reality is, in order to electrify, we need four times the power source that we have here today. And in order to build that power source, number 1, we need five years to come up with the idea of what we are going to build. We

need three to four years to actually build it. And then we need another two or three years to get out all the kinks. That’s 12 years from now. And that’s maybe if we were to build a 100-megawatt unit. But ultimately, we will need 1,000 megawatts.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, and that’s

the big challenge. And the unfortunate part is what I see in Ottawa is people don’t understand that.

“Those steps aren’t happening in Ottawa. In my opinion, there’s this image that everything’s going to be beautiful, and it’s going to be great. But they don’t understand those steps to get there. And that is very

concerning for where we’re going to go.”

Kitchen added that when he tries explaining the carbon capture and storage technology and the concept of clean coal to people in Ottawa, be it politicians or national media, they just don’t want to listen.

Dr. Mehdi Horri

Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen updated the local business community during the latest Estevan Chamber of Commerce Coffee Talk. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Two out of Estevan’s three outdoor skating rinks are fully operational.

The Audrey Fichter Memorial Arena at Kin Hillside Park was flooded and has been maintained by the Estevan Kin Clubs volunteers since early January, while the rink at the Rusty Duce Memorial Park opened just before Christmas, thanks to the local Estevan Lions Club members.

While service clubs’ volunteers look after the ice surfaces, the city takes care of opening and closing buildings adjacent to the rinks at set times.

Both outdoor spaces depend on the weather, but Rod March, the city’s parks and facilities manager, said that currently both are available to the public. The buildings open between 9 and 9:30 a.m. and close at 9:30 p.m. by the city staff

“Please stick to the rules that are posted in there,” March asked the public.

He also noted that the Rusty Duce rink has a natural dirt and grass surface below the ice, while

the one at Hillside is cement, so the two rinks require different approaches to flooding and maintenance. They may need to be flooded several times throughout the season whenever required.

“It’s natural ice, so you are not going to get it as good as arena ice or artificial ice,” March said. “But they’ve got their groups of volunteers, and sometimes the city comes in and helps to clear any snow off if there’s a snow event, and then they’ll go and do a flood when it’s needed.”

March also noted that the city is grateful to the local service clubs’ volunteers, who put a lot of work into starting and maintaining the Estevan outdoor rinks every year.

“I want to thank all those volunteers. Without them, it’d be very difficult to have that outdoor natural ice. They put in a lot of hours over there,” March said.

“All that we ask is that people respect the signage out there, as those volunteers are putting in a lot of hours to try and get those rinks up and running. We’re fortunate to have all

those volunteers, and I just want to thank them again.”

The third Estevan outdoor rink, located in the Westview neighbourhood, is once again not going to be operational this season. Construction is currently underway at the site to put up a washroom facility.

“We’re putting in a new building down there, and the water system is tied to that building. So with the weather delays of doing the building, they couldn’t even start to flood down there. But it will be nice for next year,” March said.

By the time the construction will be completed, there won’t be enough season left to even try pouring the ice. But March noted that while construction was delayed due to weather, they plan to be completed in time so that the new building would be available for pathway users and the community comes spring.

The outdoor rinks will remain open to the public, weather permitting, until it’s no longer safe to skate on them. The city will inform the public when the decision to close the rinks for the season is made.

Manitoba man charged after collision north of Estevan

A three-vehicle collision that occurred last week north of Estevan has resulted in numerous charges against a Manitoba man.

At approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 13, the Estevan RCMP says it responded to the report of a three-vehicle collision on Highway 47. According to the RCMP, initial investigation determined a vehicle was travelling

southbound when an adult male passenger attempted to gain control of the vehicle, causing it to stop in the middle of the road.

A second vehicle, with one lone occupant, collided with the first vehicle. The RCMP said the adult male passenger from the first vehicle – who was injured as a result of the collision – then assaulted and attempted to rob the driver

of the second vehicle. The driver was treated at hospital with injuries described by the RCMP as serious but non-life-threatening.

The RCMP says the male suspect then armed himself with a shovel and made several attempts to stop and steal other passing vehicles. He climbed in the passenger window of one of the vehicles, which ended up in the ditch. Of-

ficers arrived on scene and told the man he was under arrest.

The RCMP said the man did not comply, rushed at one of the officers and attempted to pull the conducted energy device from their uniform. Another officer deployed their conducted energy device. According to the RCMP, the man continued to resist arrest and attempted to as-

sault the officers, but was arrested a short time later.

He was taken to hospital for treatment of the injuries sustained in the collision.

Highway 47 was closed for approximately two hours for initial response and investigation.

As a result of continued investigation, 19-year-old Justice Guillas from Ste. Marie, Man., is charged with four counts of as-

sault with intent to steal, three counts of assault, one count of resisting arrest, one count of disarming a police officer, two counts of mischief under $5,000 and one count of failing to comply with a release order condition.

All charges are under the Criminal Code.

He was to appear in Estevan Provincial Court on Jan. 16.

The Estevan Public Youth Centre has announced the hiring of Adam Elliott as its new executive director.

His first day on the job was Jan. 9. In a news release, he said he is excited to get to work and resume programming at the centre as soon as possible.

Elliott hails from Estevan and comes with both a Level 2 in early childhood education and a bachelor of arts in youth ministry.

He has worked at summer camps both as a counsellor and as a leadershipin-training director. He has worked with youth centres in the past, including Moose Jaw and Sundre, Alta. Before returning to Estevan, he was working with youths in Alberta in the community, meeting with many different people.

“I grew up here in Estevan, attending Hillcrest Elementary and graduating from the ECS. Since

graduating, I have always worked and volunteered with children and youth. Now that I am back, I am excited to be here helping a community that helped me when I was a teenager.

“As the new executive director of EPYC … I am excited for what this new year holds. I’m looking forward to talking with all the youth that come out and hearing about their ideas for this place because this is ultimately a space for them.

“I am also excited to hear from the volunteers as they are the ones who have been here before me, so I am looking forward to learning from them as well.”

Elliott replaces Juli Dzuba, who announced in December she was stepping down because she was relocating to another community. Dzuba was the first-ever executive director for EPYC, which started offering programming in the fall of 2021.

The Estevan Public Youth Centre’s vision is to be the space in the community where youths explore their passion, purpose and potential. The organization said it values integrity, generosity, innovation, harmony and respect for all.

If anyone would like to be involved with EPYC through partnership, volunteering or sponsorship, you can find more information on their website at www.theepyc.ca.

Ottawa doesn’t want to listen, Kitchen says

“I talk with [national media reporters] about the great things that we’re doing, and I said, ‘Is it the industry you want to kill or the emissions?’ And they said, ‘The emissions, we don’t want to kill the industry.’ I said, ‘Well, in my hometown, I’ve got a unit that captures 98 per cent of the emissions. Why are you trying to kill it?’ ‘Oh, no, no, we want them, we want them to keep working.’ The moment I said it was BD3

and basically coal, they walked away from me,” Kitchen shared.

“They don’t understand how it is to live out in this part of the world. Those are challenges that we deal with day in and day out. My colleagues are on board with the aspect of recognizing where that power source is. And we will continue to push on that.”

On another note, Kitchen pointed out that since the House of Commons

reconvened in September and the Tories elected Pierre Poilievre as their new leader, the party has been going after the current government on the costs of day-to-day living for businesses and individuals, along with the government’s approach to taxes, and they plan to continue with that.

Answering questions from the audience, Kitchen indicated that they see how mainstream media ignores stories they don’t want to tell, and Poilievre’s program still assumes the end of funding for media.

Kitchen was also asked what the Conservatives’ changes would be if they

hypothetically win the next elections. He said their plan is a work in progress. They are developing policies to address climate change needs and other important issues. But the information on particular plans is usually not given out until election time so that someone else wouldn’t steal concepts and ideas.

Kitchen added that he is working on a document that will underline the need to focus on killing the emissions, not industry. Another challenge they are dealing with is the electoral system in Canada that gives power to some regions while leaving others with less.

“Where the party will go on that, that’s above my paygrade. But in discussions that I’ve seen around the table I haven’t seen anything even talking about changing … We know that we need to win in a lot of ridings,” Kitchen said.

Responding to a question about why the government is investing in supporting Ukraine instead of trying to bolster the Canadian economy, Kitchen pointed out that in his opinion tax dollars should, first of all, be going to help people in Canada. Later in the meeting he also said he sees an asset in people coming to Canada from

Ukraine and other countries, as a lot of whom believe in the same values as Conservatives and if they decide to stay, they will help this country succeed.

“They [new Canadians] have been indoctrinated to believe that the Liberals are the ones that are going to listen to them. And they’ve managed to turn around and say, Conservatives are bad. We have to change that aspect because new Canadians are such a great value for us,” Kitchen said, adding that there are many jobs to be filled in rural Canada, which new Canadians are willing to take, and the language barriers can be overcome.”

Adam Elliott

Rusty Duce Memorial Park skating rink is operational and maintained by the Estevan Lions.

The Audrey Fichter Memorial Arena at the Kin Hillside Park is flooded and can be used, thanks to the work of Estevan Kin Clubs volunteers.

Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre marks one year since some big changes

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Time goes by fast, but it flew even faster for the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre (EEYFRC), which is reaching its first full year in operation at its current location and with its new status.

At the end of January 2022, board members cut the ribbon at their new space at the Estevan Comprehensive School, marking the beginning of a new era for Estevan families.

The expansion of the previous Estevan Family Resource Centre, along with the following move to a new permanent location a year ago, became possible with funding through the Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning and Childcare Agreement for the creation of a new early years family resource centre in Estevan, which offers a range of dropin and scheduled programming for all families with young children aged zero to five.

For the following year, the centre, which focuses on enhancing early years develop-

ment, has been establishing and growing its offering.

“The first year in our new space has been great,” said EEYFRC executive director Sydney Wanner. “We’ve been able to work out all the kinks of moving and have settled in nicely. Now that we are attached to the Estevan Comprehensive School, and lucky enough to share the neighbourhood with two elementary schools, we’ve definitely seen an increase of families visiting the centre.”

Moving into a new space allowed for the creation of different development opportunities and also for diverse programming. Kids coming to the centre have many ways to play and learn. There is a great play area and a special sink for sensory experiences, a fully-equipped classroom and a kitchen for different programs involving food.

Since opening, the centre added a lot of new toys and changed the toy area quite a bit. A local business donated a magnetic sheet for patrons to experiment with. The centre also added a new wall structure for play.

Their programming has been enhanced extensively as well, as now they have more staff available. The community has also been great about coming in and doing different pop-up programs throughout the first year of operation. They had anything from toddler Zumba to a dentist offering a talk about children’s teeth health, from Dr. Rebecca Holman talking about the pelvis and the effects of pregnancy with moms, to a speech therapist’s and a financial planner’s presentations.

The centre always welcomes community members who are interested in doing a pop-up program or sharing ideas with them, and if someone would like to offer a workshop or an idea for one, they are asked to call or email the EEYFRC.

The centre is really appreciative of the partnership with the provincial government, as it allowed them to focus on their programming more, ensuring it’s accessible for everybody and not worrying as much about grant writing and fundraising.

Even in their first 12 months, the EEYFRC was able to reach hundreds of kids and their caregivers.

“In our busier months, October to June, we are fortunate in being able to work with around 650 children and caregivers monthly. July through September are always a bit slower as people are enjoying their summer breaks, being outside and getting back into the swing of the new school year,” Wanner said.

“The things we’ve been most excited about are seeing families come back on a weekly basis while continuing to welcome new faces to the centre every month.”

The centre has also been putting efforts into introducing its programs to the community and attracting new families. They currently have an incentive to help new people learn about them and encourage them to come and start using the space.

From Jan. 9-Feb. 10, if someone brings a friend that has never been to the family centre before, both get entered to win a prize, which is a felted crewneck and a $100 gift card to Recharge Massage for each caregiver.

The centre has diverse programming for those ages zero to five happening every day. They have prenatal classes and children’s CPR and Baby and Me for the youngest patrons and their caregivers, some different toddler activities, as well as pre-K yoga, stations, sensory events and much more. They have messy plays, which are usually really popular.

They do different dramatic plays every month, where they change their classroom into something like a grocery store or Santa’s workshop for kids to come in and explore. They also regularly host different information sessions for caregivers. Besides, they have their drop-in and play open.

Heading into their second year, the EEYFRC is incorporating outside play for their families into their schedule starting in January. They are also planning on doing more family night events and bringing in as many programs and thirdparty facilitators as they can.

They are currently working on their postpartum wellness boxes, which they hope to launch in February for everyone who may want to have one. If anyone in the community has products

or services they want to be included in the EEYFRC’s boxes, they are asked to reach out to the centre. The boxes will include information about the centre’s programs, different resources that they have available, relevant coupons, different

products and services available in the community, etc.

For more information about programming, events and incentives or to contact them, visit Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre Inc. Facebook or Instagram pages.

Tickets available for Whiskers and Wine Gala

The Estevan Humane Society is getting ready for its annual Whiskers and Wine Gala.

The biggest fundraiser of the year for the shelter will take place Feb. 11 at the Estevan Exhibition Hall.

The night will feature live music, an auction and a buffet-style supper catered by a local restaurant.

“We’re super excited,” said Estevan Humane Society president Tayja Lakusta, noting that the event will be a great night out for any kind of company or group.

“It’s right before Valentine’s Day, but it’s not an evening of just you and your special someone. We’ve got lots of people that get their girlfriends together and buy a table

or enjoy mom’s night out or a group of couples and stuff,” said Lakusta.

“It’s definitely not super romantic or tailored just to an evening out based on Valentine’s Day, but it’s definitely a fun, quieter, more sit down and more intimate supper and night to enjoy with friends, family or your loved one.”

Tyler Lewis will be their headliner for the night. Lewis is a Canadian singer from Rockglen who was a top-three finalist on the 2006 season of Canadian Idol. He is known for his deep rock-sounding voice.

Lewis will be joined by another local performer that will be announced at a later date.

The night will also see a silent auction, helping to

raise money for the local non-kill shelter. The board is currently collecting bid

items. Lakusta said they are grateful for any support, and if a business or

individual wants to donate goods or services for the auction, they can contact her or call the shelter.

“We’ll be looking for silent auction items for the gala night. Usually, that’s a pretty big portion of our proceeds for the night. And it gets people out moving and bidding on items from local companies,” Lakusta said.

“We’re open to anything – gift certificates, services, products, items, anything really that can be auctioned off and that people are going to want.”

They will also be looking for volunteers. Lakusta said if someone wants to help at the gala, they can keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates on their needs.

Tickets are now on sale.

They are sold individually and by tables and cover supper and live entertainment. Lakusta noted that there are only so many tables available, and they usually go fairly fast. A table is $550 and includes a complimentary bottle of wine. Individual tickets are $75. There are about 200 seats available for the night.

Tickets can be purchased through the Estevan Humane Society Facebook page or from Lakusta.

Money raised at the gala will go towards the shelter’s general operation, including spaying/neutering and other medical bills, supplies and taking care of the animals. It could also go to building maintenance and improvements.

Young patrons are enjoying winter stations offered at the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre.

Photos sourced from Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre Inc. Facebook page

Stay organized friends.

The House of Stationery has filing cabinets, office furniture, planners, laptops, file folders, and so much more. They help you to stay organized.

Spencer Vaughn was among the performers for the Whiskers and Wine Gala for the Estevan Humane Society in 2022. File photo

Briana Robinson from the Souris Valley Museum was at the centre for History and Play Day when kids got to try to wash clothes by hand, make bowls, work with fabric to make mini quilt pictures and even make their own butter.

The centre invites other community organizations to host workshops for their patrons. Recently Tracy Mathieson from the Estevan Public Library stopped by to read a few stories and help kids make a fun craft.

Sales Manager

Pat Pasloski - ppasloski@estevanmercury.ca

Sales Assistant

Christine Jones - cjones@estevanmercury.ca

Editor David Willberg - dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

Editorial Staff Ana

- abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Bykhovskaia

Production Manager

Ana Villarreal - avillarreal@estevanmercury.ca

Production

Morgan Hodgens - mohodgens@estevanmercury.ca

Laura Kish - laura.kish63@gmail.com

Administration Vaila Lindenbach - admin@estevanmercury.ca

EDITORIAL

An invitation would have been nice

The latest spat between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe seems to be over a phone call, or lack thereof.

Contact us: (306) 634-2654 68 Souris Avenue N. Estevan, SK S4A 2M3 www.estevanmercury.ca @Estevan_Mercury facebook.com/EstevanMercury

Subscription Rates:

In Saskatchewan - $105

In Canada - $126

The PM was in Saskatoon on Monday to tour a rare earth metals processing facility. That’s good. The more opportunities we have to promote this province and all that it has to offer, the better. And rare earth metals, such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper and more, are a real asset for the province.

You might not like the current prime minister, and you might criticize him, but it’s beneficial when he chooses to come here and learn about what we have to offer.

But it seems like the prime minister didn’t take the time to inform Premier Scott Moe of his plans to come to Saskatchewan, much to the chagrin of the premier.

We’re not sure what would have happened if the premier would have received sufficient advanced notice of Trudeau’s visit, but a phone call would have been nice.

Does the prime minister’s office typically notify a provincial government when coming for a visit? That’s probably the case. Has the PM’s office advised the Saskatchewan government when it opts to make a rare visit to this area? Judging by the premier’s reaction to this apparent snub, he’s used to knowing before others are informed.

It’s not exactly a secret that Moe and

Trudeau don’t have a warm relationship. You could tell during the Sask. Party’s leadership campaign in 2017-18 that it wasn’t going to be friendly. Remember when Moe was elected leader of the Sask. Party in January 2018? His message to Trudeau was “Just watch me”, drawing from a quote by the prime minister’s father, Pierre, to address the younger Trudeau. They haven’t mended the relationship since then.

You have to wonder how much of Moe’s reaction on Monday was genuine frustration at being snubbed by the PM, and how much of it was an effort to score more political points with his supporters and with others who just simply don’t like Trudeau.

And perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Trudeau wasn’t going to reach out to Moe, given the fractured state of the relationship between the two. How much do these two really want to be in the same room together, regardless of the circumstances?

The Saskatchewan First Act brought forward by the provincial government last year is a direct response to the policies of the federal government over the past seven years and the impact they have had on Saskatchewan.

It would be nice if Trudeau would have actually spent more time in the province, toured other facilities and communities, and saw what is happening in this province when it comes to clean energy.

He is long overdue to tour the carbon capture and storage facility at the Boundary Dam Power Station, so he can see how coal can be both a baseload power source and a source of clean energy. While he’s at it, he could take a long, hard look at the efforts of oil and gas companies to reduce their environmental footprint.

And it would be good for him to see the environmental practices that farmers in Saskatchewan are employing.

The prime minister’s understanding of how people live in rural communities has long been lacking.

The sad part is that now we’re talking about Trudeau’s failure to call and Moe’s reaction to it, rather than what Saskatchewan is doing in rare earth minerals and other clean energy efforts. This should have been a showcase of these efforts and the people who are making them possible.

A visit from the prime minister is a big deal and affirmation of the good work that is happening. A visit from both the prime minister and the premier would have been even better.

We could have had Trudeau and Moe talk about their mutual admiration for these efforts.

Instead, we received the latest chapter in the tensions between two leaders who seem to have no interest in mending their rift.

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

Advertising rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice.

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.

The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for manuscripts, photographs, negatives and other related material that may be submitted for possible publication.

All of the Estevan Mercury’s content is protected by Canadian Copyright laws. Reviews and similar mention of material in this newspaper is granted on the provision thatThe Estevan Mercury receives credit. 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.

Back when I was preparing for entrance exams for the faculty of journalism, I was once tasked with an essay about my vision of a media business model, which would allow for truth and accuracy, independence, fairness and impartiality, humanity and accountability – the main principles of ethical journalism. I was asked to describe a business model that would allow for a “good” and reliable media outlet.

It’s been almost 20 years since then, and I still haven’t found or seen a perfect system.

I’ll start by saying that here at the Mercury, we exist thanks to our business community advertising with us. Yes, any government, be it municipal, provincial or federal, can buy an ad in the paper or trust us with their advertising campaign, and we appreciate it when they do, but if they don’t then we just have to find someone else to advertise.

What does it mean? It means that no one dictates what we have to or mustn’t write about. But at the same time, most outlets that choose this model end up stuck trying to survive with very limited resources to allow for good reach and higher quality, and many end up folding.

As hard as it is to imagine looking at today’s Russia, back in the late 1990s-early 2000s there was hope for democracy there. I was raised believing in freedom of the press as one of the essential pieces of a successful, free and just community. I was also raised understanding that achieving independence for media is one of the toughest jobs ever.

To have strong reporters and high-quality articles, you need time, access to technology and resources, skills and talents, and much more. To summarise – you need money. And the better the product is, the more money it takes.

Since the introduction of the concept that “the information wants to be free”, every year,

Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About…

it becomes more and more difficult to explain why people would need to pay for the information. It’s available everywhere at no charge, one may say. But to get facts straight, to ensure that your story is unbiased and true, to get the details, you have to have great employees, you need to cover their time and expenses, you need to support them with resources, you need technology and more. So you need someone to pay for everything. If it’s not the reader, it’s someone else. And unfortunately, he who pays the piper calls the tune.

If that’s an individual or one business, even if they start with good intentions, eventually it will be their vision that will be manifested through the media. People are biased, it’s our nature and information is a power we can’t resist using.

If it’s a government, again, intentions can be good – to support an industry which is vital to democracy and is a must-have to successfully co-operate in any kind of group or community greater than a couple of hundred people. Also, to use the taxpayers’ dollars to supply people with information, which is supposed to be unbiased as it’s paid by everyone rather than one entity.

But the reality is that most governments end up falling for pushing their agenda via information resources available to them. They may manipulate or threaten, but they actually don’t have to. We all know not to bite the feeding hand, right?

Back in the day, when I worked as a journalist in Russia, I could see first-hand what even partial government funding meant. In one of the outlets I worked for, even back in early 2010s, we’d receive directional emails explaining how we should/shouldn’t cover particular events or topics. I hear from my former colleagues that now the government regularly produces workbooks explaining exactly what reporters have to say, even if it has nothing to do with what’s happening, and there are measures to keep any government-funded media compliant.

(Well, in contemporary Russia there are measures to keep any media under control, no matter what source of funding they use, but that’s another story.)

I’ve never been in a position to learn firsthand how it works here, but it seems that government funding may affect what some media see and don’t see even in Canada.

The media’s main duty is to serve the people by providing them with facts and allowing them to come up with their own conclusions. How to achieve that? There are different ways to try – advertising, donations, mixed models, but I believe the taxpayers’ money can work as well if the distribution system is changed. In the current model, taxpayers’ dollars are accumulated in hands of the elected government and they make decisions on what the people need, what people should hear and how they should move forward.

But I believe that to keep the government accountable, the media has to be separate and not afraid to bite the government’s hand, as it’s the citizens that journalists serve and are paid by.

Whether the latest is achievable is another question.

Is there a business model that can guarantee “good” media?

All great streaks must come to an end

David Willberg Willberg’s World

Back in November, the Battlefords North Stars came to Estevan to visit our hometown Estevan Bruins.

The Stars had already beaten the Bruins twice handily in North Battleford. And they beat the Bruins again 7-4 that night. But the Bruins controlled much of the play that night against a Stars team that has spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the country.

Prior to that November game, the Stars were unbeaten in regulation. And entering Saturday’s game at Affinity Place, they still hadn’t lost in regulation. Thirty-six games, no regulation losses. Two losses in overtime. One in a shootout. It was an incredible feat.

But all good things must come to an end.

The Bruins shut out the Stars 5-0 on Saturday night. Full credit to all for the win. The Bruins came out flying. The Stars were lucky to be down just 1-0 after the first period. Goaltender Justen Maric bailed out Canada’s top junior A team repeatedly.

Battlefords outplayed the Bruins in the second period, but couldn’t beat Estevan goaltender Jackson Miller. Miller had help from his teammates; they blocked a number of shots, and if there was a rebound, the defence was quick to clear it. But Miller was terrific in the period and throughout the night.

When the Bruins needed a goal to give themselves some breathing room in the third, they earned it. And not only did they get the 2-0 goal, but they scored twice more within a couple of minutes to lead 4-0. One more tally would round out the scoring.

It likely wasn’t a very fun bus ride home for the Stars.

Given how the Bruins played against the Stars in their last meeting, and since it was the Stars’ third game in three nights, I thought the Stars might be vulnerable Saturday night, and it could be the night in which they’d finally lose in regulation. But I never thought it would be a 5-0 decision.

It was particularly great to see Miller earn the shutout. After his struggles in his first two appearances of the season in September, a lot of people were questioning whether he was good enough to play at the junior A level.

He started to answer the critics with his play before Christmas. He’s played five straight games since the Christmas break due to an injury to No. 1 goalie Cam Hrdlicka. And Miller has been great the last three games.

The game against the Stars was his best, but it wasn’t his only good game since Christmas.

You could see how happy his teammates were for him after the game. Not only were they celebrating a big win, but each one skated up to Miller to hug him and congratulate him. The longest embrace was from Hrdlicka.

When Miller was named the game’s first star, the season-high crowd of 1,244 fans applauded the local product. And you could see how happy Bruins’ head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic was for Miller after the game.

Battlefords deserves credit for the streak they had. As the torrid run grew, each team they faced was going to be fired up to play them and try to hand them a loss. Hockey fans across Saskatchewan were watching each night to see if it would be the night the Stars would lose.

It’s good for the league to have a team this strong. And it was great for the Bruins to be the team to knock off the Stars.

This league is often known for its parity, which is fine, but a powerhouse team creates interest. This is likely the best team in the SJHL since the Battlefords team that went 12-0 in the playoffs in 2017; it might be the best since the Yorkton Terriers squad that won the national title in 2014.

As a bonus, the Stars have a hearty contingent of local products on their roster.

In hockey, anyone can beat anyone on any given night. You run into a hot goalie, or you get a couple of bad bounces at inopportune times, and suddenly you suffer a loss. But this wasn’t a fluke win for Estevan. They outplayed the Stars in all facets of the game and deserved the victory.

On Saturday night, the best junior A team in the country wasn’t good enough to beat Estevan’s Bruins.

Estevan athlete chosen for Team Canada in roller derby

By David Willberg

Ella Gudmundson’s skills in roller derby have earned her a spot on Team Canada for an upcoming international competition.

Gudmundson, who spent years with the Estevan Junior Coaler Rollers program, has been selected to compete at Junior Roller Derby World Cup in Valence, France, from July 28-30. Nearly 100 people attended tryouts in Red Deer, Alta., and in Ontario, in an effort to make the team. Seven of them were from Estevan.

Thirty-five players were picked, including Gudmundson.

“Everyone was looking pretty good,” said Gudmundson. “But I still felt confident in myself as I’ve played high-level roller derby for years now.”

Other teams entered for the Junior World Cup are from France, the U.S., Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Australia and the U.K. There will also be a team comprised of players from countries that didn’t have enough players to enter a team.

Gudmundson started playing with the Coaler Rollers nine years ago when she was in Grade 4. At that time, she gained her roller derby moniker of Killer Ella. Fittingly enough, she has worn the number of 911. She was drawn to the sport because she loves the people who are involved.

“Everyone is very welcoming, and I really like the contact and the com-

petitiveness of it all,” said Gudmundson. “I like the fact that you get to travel a lot with it, and it’s a unique sport.”

Roller derby makes her feel strong and powerful, but the people are her favourite part.

“Some of my best friends I’ve met through roller derby,” she said.

After leaving the Coaler Rollers, Gudmundson joined the Gapland Smashers, which is a provincial team that allowed her to compete at a higher level. Then she moved on to play with the Miss Demeanors out of Regina, and she also played with senior teams such as the Weyburn Straightjackets.

“Throughout everything else, I played when they needed a pick-up skater, just an extra skater, so I’ve always been looking for opportunities to play.”

She knew a few players on Team Canada before tryouts, and became acquainted with a few others during tryouts. She’ll get to know a few of them better in April prior to the international competition through a practice in Toronto and a couple of exhibition games, including one against Team France and another against a U.S. team.

Once they arrive in France, they’ll get one more chance to practise together before their first game.

Gudmundson is grateful to the Coaler Rollers for their contributions to her development.

“I wouldn’t have been

She has been coaching the program for the past year as well, including the other players who were in Red Deer for tryouts. She hopes that these kids see the opportunities that can exist in the sport.

“I think 2025 will be the next opportunity for

Gudmundson has found a passion for the sport, and she expects to continue to play roller derby, whether it be with Team Saskatchewan, in senior roller derby or with anyone else that will give her the chance to play.

EPS issues warning about fentanyl

The Estevan Police Service is alerting the public about the possibility of fentanyl in the community and the extreme risks associated with the drug.

The EPS said in a news release that it suspects a supply of fentanyl may be present in Estevan with high potency.

The EPS says fentanyl and related compounds are a serious danger to public safety. These substances can come in several colours and forms, including powder, blotter paper, tablets and spray.

“Fentanyl can look similar to cocaine and crystal meth and may be

mixed into these illicit drugs. These substances can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled if airborne powder,” the EPS said in the release.

Estevan Deputy Chief Murray Cowan said the EPS has responded to nine overdose calls for service in the past year. Out of the nine, they had five suspected overdose fatalities, but the EPS can’t say with absolute certainty that these deaths were caused by fentanyl or carfentanil, which is even more potent.

“Without toxicology and drug results to say yes, in fact, it was a fen-

tanyl overdose, I just can’t say that is 100 per cent,” said Cowan.

The EPS seized 30 grams of fentanyl during arrests last year.

In the last couple of months, EPS members have “definitely” used naloxone kits to treat people who have overdosed from fentanyl, although Cowan did not have the exact number available.

Cowan noted the EPS’s belief about the rising amount of fentanyl in the community comes from the drug-intelligence unit and the criminal investigations division, based on work they’re doing in the community.

Fentanyl’s effects can work very quickly, so in cases of suspected exposure, the EPS says it is important to call EMS immediately and seek medical help.

The EPS is advising the public not to consume illegal street drugs. If anyone locates a suspicious substance, do not touch or handle it in any way and contact police immediately.

Anyone with information about the presence of fentanyl or other illicit drugs in Estevan is asked to contact the EPS at 306-634-4767 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477.

involved with roller derby at all if it weren’t for local roller derby starting up,” said Gudmundson.

Team Canada. I believe that I will see more Estevan players showing up,” said Gudmundson.

Ella Gudmundson will skate for Team Canada at an upcoming international roller derby event in France.

Photo by Starr Mercer Photography

I’m a high-energ y, fun-loving goofball My fa vourite things to do is playing fetch and tug of war I’m also a big fan of the sno w! The staff a t the shelter say I’m a good learner, and will thrive with someone who can help me reach my fu potential With proper introduction I could get alon with dogs or ca ts I’m a ha ppy, healthy bo y and ca wait to meet my new family!

More than 40 southeast Sask. residents honoured with Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals

By Stephanie Zoer

People from all walks of life gathered at the Arcola Prairie Place Complex to witness the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal ceremony on Tuesday night.

All the chairs were filled with spectators to watch their family, friends, co-workers and neighbours to receive this prestigious award.

The recipients reside within the Cannington provincial constituency, which covers the southeast corner of the province.

This high honour was given for contributions to volunteer services, politics, business/commerce, religion, education, agriculture, sports, arts, philanthropy, environment, posthumous, health care, contributions for women and protective services.

Thirty-eight recipients were present to receive their medals. Three others couldn’t attend.

As part of the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascending throne as the Queen of Canada, this tradition of creating commemorative medals continued.

In the absence of the Federal Platinum Jubilee Medal program, six provinces established a Jubilee Medal of their own, each with the same ribbon, overall design and criteria.

The design of the medal was approved by Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle on May 17, 2022.

Major Jason Quilliam, chief of protocol and secretary of the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council, was the master of ceremonies for the evening.

Rein De La Pena, a 13-year-old young woman, opened with the singing of O Canada.

Quillian, who also served in the military, said it was an honour to be at the ceremony to recognize the medal recipients for Cannington.

MLA Daryl Harrison said it was an extremely difficult task to select the recipients and there were so many deserving of this medal. People from all walks of life are receiving this medal, from young to the elderly.

Tim McLeod, the MLA for Moose Jaw North and the provincial secretary and legislative secretary to the premier, addressed the crowd by saying the Queen had a great sense of humour and integrity, the same as what the people of Saskatchewan have.

He continued to say there are a lot of remarkable individuals receiving this medal. They are very deserving of the honour bestowed on them, and this is for the betterment of the province.

Seven thousand people across Saskatchewan will be awarded this medal. McLeod hopes that this will encourage others to

follow and make an example. The youngest recipient is 10 years old and the oldest is 108 years old.

McLeod said, “The Queen is now in our history, but she will never be forgotten.”

Quilliam returned to the stage and called each person’s name. A few times, his microphone malfunctioned, and he told the crowd he would instead use his military voice, so everyone could hear him.

As each person came forward and received their medal, Harrison congratulated them, while McLeod positioned the medal. A professional photographer was on hand to capture the special moment for life.

Travis Keisig, an MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood, said: “Our children, and our grandchildren will never get one of these medals. We are pretty special. This is a pretty amazing award, and we will most

likely be the last generation to receive it.”

Mayor Scott Tesser said, “I am honoured to be a part of a community with such dedicated individuals. Congratulations to all of them on behalf of the Town of Arcola.”

The recipients were: Joan Adams of Kenosee Lake, Allan Arthur of Alida/ Redvers, Jim Boettcher of Alida/Redvers, Nicolaas Botha of Oxbow, Shelley Boyes of Glen Ewen, Allan Brigden of Kisbey, Catherine Burton of Arcola, Jeff Cameron of Alameda, Jadon Carnduff of Lampman, Richard Chicoine of Storthoaks, Sandra Dalziel of Oxbow, Vi Day of Carnduff, Brent Dunnigan of Alameda, Terry Gunderman of Oxbow, Grant Hale of Kisbey, Rhonda Halliday of Carievale, Christine Hill of Redvers, Rob Hill of Maryfield, Kevin Kay of Wawota, Jim Lawrence of Kennedy, Chris Lees and

Don Lees of Arcola, Teagan Littlechief of the White Bear First Nations, Cindi McAuley of Kenosee Lake, Regan Miller of Carlyle, Lori Moncrief of Alameda, Michelle Moore of Manor, Elaine Morgan of Gainsborough, Carter Morrison of Carlyle, Darlene Olsen of Arcola, Lynette Peet of Alida, George Rowley of Manor, Judy Swallow of Alameda, Jean and Lloyd Thompson of Northgate/ Alameda, Jack Twietmeyer of Oxbow, Maureen Ulrich of Lampman, Carol Urban of Fillmore, Winston Van Staveren of Creelman, Velda Weatherald of Kenosee Lake/Wawota and Jeff Young of Carnduff

As the ceremony came to a close, God save our King was sung, and a group photo was taken.

A social of coffee and tea followed for everyone to have the chance to congratulate the medal recipients.

Mayor asks snowmobilers to stay off pathways

Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig is asking snowmobilers to stay off the city’s integrated pathway system.

Speaking after the Jan. 9 meeting of Estevan city council, Ludwig said the city has received complaints about snowmobiles being on the pathways. While there are a few designated areas in the community that snowmobiles can access, pathways are not among them.

This is not the first time the city has had to contend with issues involving unauthorized users on pathways. In the past, there have been complaints about all-terrain vehicles and even horses on the paths.

•••

Council has joined the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) in calling for a change to the dates for the next civic election.

In a letter to council, SUMA noted that urban municipalities encountered problems in 2020 due to the close proximity of the provincial and civic votes.

The province held its election in late October 2020, forcing the municipal election to be pushed back from its traditional late October date to Nov. 9. A storm rolled through parts of the province that day, pushing some municipal election dates back.

Ludwig noted having

two elections in short order caused confusion for some.

SUMA is calling for the towns and villages to have their vote in September 2024, and for cities to go to the polls in the spring of 2025.

“We have requested the province to give us a spring election date three times,” said Ludwig. “As of yet, they have not agreed.”

The mayor noted that in the final report on the 2020 election, chief electoral officer Michael Boda called for a change in the date for the civic election.

Councillor Lindsay Clark, meanwhile, said that since SUMA has been rejected three times, the or-

ganization might have to focus on other things.

“I know the larger cities are adamant that this take place, because it is a big inconvenience for them,” said Ludwig in response.

He’s not sure why the province continues to fight the cities on an election date.

Councillor Rebecca Foord noted SUMA pushed to have the cities vote in May 2024, which would have cut the current council’s term short by about six months. When the province said no, SUMA offered the spring of 2025 instead. •••

The building permit report for December showed there was one commercial permit for $150,000 issued, bringing the total for the year to 40 permits worth more than $6.14 million.

In 2021 there were more

permits issued at 47, but the value was $5.47 million.

Last year in Estevan saw two single-family permits issued worth $1.42 million, two multi-family permits worth $2.85 million, three commercial permits worth $475,000, 10 garages for $375,000 and 23 miscellaneous permits for $1.02 million.

Council gave first reading to a bylaw to officially rename the Highway 47 North service road to Dryden Road, in honour of the city’s first police officer, S. Dryden, who arrived in Estevan in 1906.

The change is expected to reduce confusion for emergency services personnel and delivery drivers, among others.

Snow removal came up repeatedly during the inqui-

ries portion of the meeting.

Councillor Shelly Veroba asked about removing snow from sidewalks along King Street and Souris Avenue South, as those are areas used by those who have limited access to transportation to reach other areas of the community. She noted the sidewalks are higher, and she wanted to know about equipment needs.

Clark wanted to know about clearing snow from pathways. City manager Jeff Ward said he would get a report to council, and Ludwig said the city had to take care of roads first.

Councillor Kirsten Walliser, meanwhile, praised snow removal efforts because it took about 60 hours to clear the city’s streets of snow following each December storm, which she said was much quicker than some other cities.

Forty-one people from the southeast corner of Saskatchewan receive the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in Arcola on Jan. 10. Photo by Stephanie Zoer

Communication emphasized at oilfield safety event

The importance of safety in the workplace was emphasized during the annual Safety Stand Down on Jan. 10 at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus.

Nearly 200 people attended the event, which was organized by Independent Well Servicing (IWS) and Crescent Point Energy Corp. The audience listened to a presentation from Calgary’s Gary McDougall with Conflict Solutions.

“Gary is a retired Calgary police officer. He worked in SWAT and he also was a specialist in hostage negotiation and crisis management. So, he brings a lot to the table in regards to dealing with difficult conversations at work and at home and at anywhere,” said Brian Crossman, a field supervisor/sales with IWS.

Thanks to his law enforcement background, the organizers of the Safety Stand Down thought McDougall would be a good

person to discuss resolving conflict.

People who attended the Safety Stand Down came away with tools, such as the importance of tone in conversation. McDougall explained the importance of saying “Why not?” instead of “Why?” or “What else?”, and he emphasized the importance of validating other people’s opinions to diffuse a situation.

“Instead of using the word ‘but’, say the word ‘and’. Things like that. Telling people to chill out, calm down and take a pill are usually not effective, and can escalate a situation, so you’re better off to find other ways to converse with people instead of using that kind of language,” McDougall said.

Crossman described McDougall as a very good speaker who wasn’t afraid to incorporate humour into his speech, so it was worthwhile to bring him to Estevan.

The safety Stand Down

message might not be directly connected to safety this year, he said, but it is safety related because a heated conversation can turn into something worse.

“Some days at work, we have difficult moments, and this hopefully gives everyone some tools to keep

a situation from escalating to something worse, and hopefully we can all learn from that and be safer in our workplaces,” said Crossman.

The event attracted people from various areas of the oilpatch, plus the Workers Compensation

Board and the provincial Ministry of Energy and Resources. All service rigs working for Crescent Point and IWS shut down for the day, allowing the employees to attend during the afternoon.

“That’s the goal is to get the guys who are out work-

ing in the field to attend these things.”

Crossman had not heard McDougall speak before, but a friend recommended McDougall. They met in Calgary on business a few years ago with the intent of bringing McDougall to Estevan, but then the pandemic hit, cancelling the Safety Stand Down for 2021 and 2022 and delaying McDougall’s visit.

“I kept him in the back of my mind, and so when we thought it was safe to do so … I contacted him and he was happy to do the event with us,” said Crossman.

It was nice to be able to have everyone come together again and hear a speaker to make the industry better, Crossman said.

“I think it’s important that we all try to do better, and this is our way of trying to make the industry safer, for everything from Worker’s Compensation claims … to serious injuries and worse,” said Crossman.

Backyard rink is among the largest in Estevan

Keith Cassidy has built what is likely one of the largest backyard rinks in Estevan.

The outdoor skating area measures 60 feet long by 40 feet wide, and has fourfoot boards at each end and two-foot boards on each side. His wife Becky has added lighting so that the rink can be used at night, and she did “a great job”, Keith said.

The Cassidys live on a big double lot, giving them lots of room for their rink. They have had one, whenever possible, for six or seven years.

“It’s one of the reasons that we bought the house is for the size of the backyard,” said Keith.

The rink was finished in the first week of January.

“I think the kids will get a lot of use out of it, and we should be able to use it for at least a couple months,” said Keith.

Becky’s oldest child Boston Tait has been out on the ice regularly, as has Becky and Keith’s son Jack, who is playing for the Estevan Cubs hockey program. Their daughter Isla has her first pair of skates and will take some tours on the ice.

“We’ve got some pretty good use from it so far,” said Keith. “It’s probably time for me to resurface it, but that’s another challenge.”

A few of Boston’s teammates with the Estevan TS&M U15 AA Bruins have been by to make use of the rink already.

Keith said he continues to create an outdoor rink because he always wanted one when he was growing up, but only had it once or twice. His kids love being able to skate outdoors.

“It’s something that works well with our family,” Keith said.

The weather has been great for the rink, and it looks really good for the coming weeks, too.

“One of the thoughts, when we were putting in

rinks previously, is a lot of times it’s either too warm to go skating on it, or it’s going to be -40 and nobody wants to go out and skate. But the weather is

set up pretty nicely for everything,” said Keith.

The snow that Estevan received just before Christmas delayed the ice installation process, and they had to remove all the snow.

“We had about three feet of snow in our backyard, and took everything our old snowblower could do to get it out of the way,” he said.

It takes patience to build a rink of this size, Keith said, and they had to build it in bits and pieces.

“The biggest thing for us was trying to get enough water on it, because of the size of it, and that took quite a while.”

A backyard rink is a great way for kids to build their skill level, he said. It’s good for them to be out there as much as possible, especially for Jack who’s finding his love for the game. As for Boston, it offers good opportunities to work on skills that he might not be able to work on in practice.

Rig Report

-

good communication and record keeping skills

- Must be self-motivated and be able to work unsupervised

Qualifications and Requirements include:

Experience in machinery operation and maintenance

Water and Wastewater Treatment and Collection Class II or ability to obtain

Valid First Aid/CPR, H2S, Confined Space, Ground Disturbance or any other Safety Certification is a valuable asset.

13-29-4-4

Drilling Midale Petroleums 12-27-6-7 263339 Stampede Drilling Whitecap Resources 14-12-6-6 263712 Stampede Drilling Harvard Resources 4-16-6-15 2666152 Stampede Drilling Harvard Resources 3-17-6-15 258405 Betts Drilling Burgess Creek 6-15-3-30 267650 Stampede Drilling Tundra Oil & Gas 12-32-4-4 125823

Drilling Triland Energy 1-31-6-4 257312

Whitecap Resources 10-27-5-13 263319 Ensigns Drilling Whitecap Resources 15-7-6-6 264577 Ensigns Drilling Whitecap Resources 1-15-6-7 266656 Alliance Drilling Midale Petroleums 3-32-6-7

From left, Jerry Mehler with Independent Well Servicing, Carrie Elias (All-in One Safety), Brian Crossman (IWS), guest speaker Gary McDougall (Conflict Solutions), Tim Huber (IWS) and Shirley Huber (IWS) at the Safety Stand Down. Photo by Brian Zinchuk with pipelineonline.ca

Boston Tait, Jack Cassidy and Keith Cassidy on the backyard rink at the Cassidy home. Photo courtesy of Becky Cassidy

B a b i e s Babies

f of 2 0 2 2 2022

Estevan bowlers thrive at 10-pin provincials

Several members from Estevan Bowl were at the Youth Bowl Canada 10pin bowling provincials in Saskatoon earlier this month.

Danyck Belanger won the gold medal in the senior boys’ competition, finishing with a five-game total of 987, or an average of 197.4. He had three games above 200, including a top score of 227 in his second contest. Belanger was 10 pins ahead of Brayden Kennedy of Saskatoon-Fairhaven, who was the only other bowler to have a five-game total of at least 950.

Belanger had a onepoint lead entering the

final game and clinched victory by outscoring Kennedy 213-204 in Game 5.

Also at provincials, Kadence Kraushaar of Estevan won a bronze medal in bantam girls with a fivegame total of 534. Her best game was a 147 in her fourth contest. Teal Bramham of Estevan was right behind her in fourth place, finishing with a total score of 454.

Louis Ley won bronze in bantam boys with a five-game score of 596, highlighted by a finalgame score of 167 that allowed him to move into third place.

Other local bowlers who competed at provin-

cial were: Sonja Kraushaar, junior girls, five-game total of 687; Kelsey Magnien, senior girls, 491; Zach Belitski, bantam boys, 476; Tristan Boles, bantam boys, 459; Charles Smith-Howa, bantam boys, 423; Soren Peterson, junior boys, 642; Kohen Brandon, junior boys, 557; Ty Thompson, senior boys, 804, Jameson Magnien, senior boys, 647; and Nicholas Young, senior boys, 600.

Coach Blaine Boyle was pleased with the athletes’ performance.

“It’s nice to medal, but all of the kids in general bowled well. It was good. We had a lot of new

youths in the tournament, and everybody bowled above average, pretty well, so it was good to see, especially with the new ones who have never competed outside of Estevan before. It’s quite a new experience when they go to a different centre,” said Boyle.

Bowlers from Estevan, Saskatoon and Regina were entered, and Boyle was pleased with how Estevan fared against the larger centres.

“We’re a small program. We don’t have as many kids as some of the big cities. There’s a lot of good competition out there … and Estevan did really well this year,” he said.

U18 AAA Bears drop two against Prince Albert

The first

was

4-3

Keen scored to give the Bears a 2-1 lead after the first period, and Zawatsky added another early in the second for a 3-1 advantage. The Mintos scored twice in the second and added the winner early in the third.

Kaden Perron stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced.

The following day, Estevan lost 3-1. Blaze Gutzke had the Bears’ lone goal in the second period. Perron made 27 saves on the day.

The Bears (7-16-0-5) sit 10th in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League standings. They will visit the Tisdale Trojans on Jan. 20 and 21. •••

The Estevan TS&M U15 AA Bruins lost 7-1 to the Regina Monarchs – the top team in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League – on Saturday afternoon at Affinity Place.

Nathan Gardiner had the Bruins’ lone goal.

Jaxon Kuchinka made 36 saves in the loss.

Estevan (4-12-2-1) will visit the Regina Pat Blues on Jan. 21.

The Estevan Meter U13 AA Bruins lost two close games, 6-5 to Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday and 3-1 to the Melville Millionaires the following day.

Estevan trailed 5-0 and 6-1 to Moose Jaw, but scored four times in the second half of the third to pull within one.

Kyson Dangstorp, Kaleb Crossman, Owen Light, Kohen Brownridge and Marek Wilhelm had Estevan’s goals. Wilhelm’s goal, a short-handed marker with less than a minute to play, pulled Estevan to within one.

Nathan Quennelle made 36 saves in the loss.

Light had the only goal the following day, scoring with 17 seconds to play in the second to leave Estevan down one at that point. Easton Pushie made 31 saves.

Estevan (2-17) will visit the Regina Blues on Jan. 20.

The Estevan Ironside Energy U11 AA Bruins dropped a pair of highscoring games with the Yorkton Terriers, 11-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday.

Ethan Phillips had three goals and an assist in the first game. Kolter Snell scored twice and Tyson Stubel also scored.

The following day, Penn Tytlandsvik and Brooks Cote scored two goals each. Phillips had the other goal.

Ty Blackburn was in goal for both games.

Knox

Ensley Zimmerman

Sofia Dawn Watchman February 13, 2022

Eloise Katherine Jane Vezina

Proud Parents are: Brody Wallington & Shelby Tytlandsvik

Dominick Walker Wallington August 3, 2022

Proud Parents are: Ryan Tokarchuk & Alannah Threinen

Alyvia Ryan Threinen June 4, 2022 Proud Parents are: Brayden Tierney & Simone Menard

Eve Alexis Tierney July 24, 2022 Proud Parents are: Jason & Loran Tosczak

Hallie Tosczak

Emili Elle Turnbull May 10, 2022

Souris Elementary School, th

‘SECPSD Property Bid’ Thursday, February 2, 2023.

Danyck Belanger captured top spot in the senior boys’ division at the provincial 10-pin competition.

Photo courtesy of Blaine Boyle

The Estevan Steelhaus U18 AAA Bears returned to the ice after the Christ-

mas break, and lost two road games to the Prince Albert Mintos.

game

a

decision Saturday night. Jye Zawatsky and Kole

To Hear your voice and see you smile, To sit with you and talk awhile, To be together in the same old way, Would be our greatest wish today.

There will always be a heartache And often a silent tear, But always a precious memory, Of the day you were here.

We hold you close in our hearts, And there you will always stay, Remembering you is easy, We do it every day. But missing you is a heartache That never goes away.

Loved, Remembered, and deeply missed by Mom and Dad, Barry, Emma, Barrett, Gabbie, Bradley, Sophia, Kayla

You never said I’m leaving, You never said goodbye. You were gone before I knew it, And only God knew why.

A million times I needed you, A million times I cried.

If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly, In death I love you still. In my heart you hold a place, That no one could ever fill. It broke my heart to lose you, But you didn’t go alone.

For part of me went with you, The day God took you home.

Love: Arlette, Talon and Barrett

Also

I

TO: RAYMOND MONTEYNE of the Benson District of Saskatchewan:

TAKE NOTE THAT South Country Equipment Ltd. is requesting the removal of your 1998 John Deere 9600 Combine from the Weyburn area lot, within 14 days of this Notice. Collection arrangements can be made by phoning the Weyburn area office at 1-306-842-4686, or by attending the office located at Highway #39 North, Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Failure to remove the Combine or make suitable arrangements within the 14-day period will result in your property being deemed abandoned, and further action to dispose of the property may be taken.

Barristers & Solicitors

Paul Elash K.C. Aaron Ludwig, B.Sc., LL.B. Genevieve Schrader, B. Mgt., J.D. Gainsborough: Thursday a.m. Carnduff: Thursday p.m. 1312 - 4th Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0X2 P . (306) 634-3631 • F. (306) 634-6901 • www.kohalyelash.com

TOUGH MIXED GRAIN SPRING THRASHED WHEAT... OATS PEAS... BARLEY CANOLA... FLAX “ON FARM PICKUP” WESTCAN FEED & GRAIN 1-877-250-5252

Saskatchewan

Doug

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.

Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www. swna.com or call 306-649-1405 to find out how!

TRITICALE mastinseeds.com 403-556-2609

AGPRO SEEDS LTD. BUYING HEATED, DAMAGED OFFGRADE CANOLA & FEED GRAINS. #1 buyer on the prairies, top price paid! Call/text: 306-8730481, AgPro Seeds bids: agproseeds.com, Email: sales@agproseeds.com

PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 51 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306-649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT HIRING: AG Equipment Techs, Heavy Equipment Techs - Journeyman, Apprentices, and CVIP/Truck Techs. View Open Roles www.rockymtn.com/careers. Relocation and Signing Bonus Offered.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

St. Joseph’s Hospital relies on donations to fund equipment purchases. Your Memorial Gift honours your loved one and makes it possible for our hospital to continue providing quality care for Estevan and area residents.

A letter will be sent to the family acknowledging your gift; please include their name and address as well as your own. You will receive an income tax receipt.

Please send your donation to:

St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation 1176 Nicholson Rd, Estevan, SK S4A 0H3

Phone: 306-637-2474

Phyllis Violet Wheeler 1934 - 2023

Phyllis’ family sadly announces her passing on January 11, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan, Sask. at the age of 88.

Phyllis will be loved and remembered always by her family: son Terry Wheeler and family: Justin (Katelyn) Wheeler and their children, Jayden and Riley; Austin Wheeler (Shiane Goodwin) and their daughter Miley; daughter Linda (Shane) Hygard and family: Tagan Hygard (Danisha Decker) and their children, Jayda, Kinsley and Lelan; Rylan Hygard (Jessie Bainbridge); daughter Carla (Fritz) Baxter and family: Megan Baxter (Darcy Caine); Breanne Baxter (Jordan Cook); Cole Baxter; daughter Barbara (Jason) Gartry and family: Tyson Wheeler, Cameron Steeves and Kaelyn Steeves; Amber’s son, Levi Hirsch; Terri-anne and Dallas’ daughters, Mischa and Aljena. She will also be missed by her identical twin sister Eleanor (Bruce) MacGillivray; sister Joanne (George) Lamb; brothers: Amil (Delores) Minken and Neil Minken, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Douglas Wheeler; grandsons in infancy: Michael and Andrew Wheeler; granddaughters: Amber Wheeler and Terri-anne Krupka; and her parents: Alice and George Minken.

A public visitation was held on Monday, January 16, 2023 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. and the Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. with Sandy Dalziel officiating. Both were held at Hall Funeral Services in Estevan. Interment followed in the Bienfait Cemetery, after which a luncheon was held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Bienfait, Sask.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Phyllis via a donation in her memory may do so directly to Lung Saskatchewan Inc., online at https://donate.lungsask.ca/.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to the Wheeler family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Valerie Marie Granberg, nee Christenson Sept. 19, 1939 - Jan. 13, 2023 With sadness, the family of Valerie Marie Granberg wishes to announce her passing at the Regina General Hospital on January 13, 2023 at the age of 83.

Valerie is survived by her sister Gloria Pastachak; daughter Cindy Beaulieu (Daniel); son Scott Granberg (Melina); 6 grandchildren, Dylan Beaulieu (Lisa), Tawny Beaulieu (Brett Cluett), Cole Beaulieu, Miley and Addison Granberg, and Karli Kittleson, 4 great grandchildren, Lyric, Ari and Nile Beaulieu and Remy Cluett.

She was predeceased by her parents, Irven and Hazel Christenson, nee Torgunrud, husband Stan Granberg, son Glenn; great grandchild Beau (in utero); brother Doug Christenson. In keeping with Valerie’s and her family’s wishes, a family graveside service will be held on a later date, at the Estevan City Cemetery.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Valerie via a donation in her memory may do so directly to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home Auxiliary, 1921 Wellock Road, Estevan, SK S4A 2B5. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for the Granberg family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Winnifred Gonos 1926 - 2023

Wynne passed away at the St. Joseph’s Special Care Home, Estevan, Sask. on January 11, 2023 at the age of 96 with family by her side. She had been well cared for and loved by many over the past nine years at that very special home.

Wynne was born and raised in Frobisher, Sask and was the oldest of the four children of Bill and Barbara Whatmore. Wynne was convinced that Frobisher was the best place in the world to live and raise her own family.

She began dating Tub Mursell and soon after, he went off to Europe to serve in the second world war. After many love letters from the battle field, Tub returned to marry his “Darling Win”

She was a homemaker and Mom to three children while she also worked outside the home at the Whatmore farm dealership.

She valued family above all else, yet was always heavily involved in her church and community.

Wynne’s strength and resilience was put to the test when she became a widow at the age of 36. Soon after, her only son was killed in a car wreck. Her family and friends rallied around Wynne and her daughters and she began a new chapter in life when she met a farmer at the curling rink in Frobisher. She remarried Joe Gonos, her daughters left the nest, and she became a farm wife. Joe and Wynne became grandparents who loved to spend time with her five grandchildren. Whitebear Lake had always been Wynne’s favorite place to visit. Precious memories were made with the grandchildren and even great grandchildren at the Cottage.

Wynne lost her second husband when she was 73 years old and by this time, she was well known in Frobisher as everyone’s “Gramma Wynne” . She was a talented seamstress and painter.

She loved crafting and playing cards. She enjoyed gardening and recording memories. Most of all, Wynne loved people. She was a friend to so many. She was caring and kind and funny and proud. Wynne loved to help others. She was a generous soul that never complained. Her home and her heart were welcoming to many. To know her was to love her.

Wynne will be loved and remembered always by her daughter

Debby Knight; son-in-law Gordon McClelland; grandchildren: Marni (Tony) Forster, Brant McClelland, Kyle (Tracy) McClelland, Richelle (Kevin) Perkins and Rhonda Knight; great grandchildren: Tyler Halvorson (Sabrina), Keon Forster (Jen), Levi (Bailey) Steffins, Kelsey (Jarrett) Phillips, Monty Hirsch (Tierleigh), Carson Perkins, Hunter Perkins, Noah Perkins, Devin McClelland and Tory McClelland; two great great granddaughters; sister Darlene Mayer; brother Wayne (Margaret) Whatmore, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Bill and Barbara Whatmore; first husband Norman (Tub) Mursell; son Norman Mursell; daughter Brenda McClelland; second husband Joseph Gonos; sister Mick (Raymond) Holmes; brother-in-law Bob Mayer.

A Public Visitation was held on Sunday, January 15, 2023 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. The Funeral Service was held on Monday, January 16, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Frobisher Union Church, Frobisher, Sask. with Sandy Dalziel officiating. Interment followed in the Frobisher Resthaven Cemetery, after which a luncheon was held at the church.

Those wishing to pay tribute to Winnifred via a donation in her memory may do so directly to the Frobisher Union Church.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Winnifred’s family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

In Loving Memory of (Baine) Blaine Simon October 20, 1978 January 14, 2010

Kelly Avery 1957 - 2020 YOU NEVER SAID GOODBYE

The family of the late Albert Daniels appreciates and would like to thank those who sent sympathy cards for our great loss.

to those who brought food.

will try to keep the beautiful plants alive with my “green thumb” Thank-you to the ERNH for their care over the years.

God Bless You All.

Sincerely Irene, Karen, David Daniels and our families.

Saskatoon Farm Toy & Collectible Show at the Saskatoon Western Development Museum, January 20 - 22, 2023. Friday 5pm-9pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-4pm. Special features: Farm toys and scenes, construction equipment, vintage toys and much more!

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca

RM of Estevan recognizes councillor’s 30 years

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The RM of Estevan celebrated one of its long-term and “very special to all” of them members recently.

Lorne Jahn, councillor for Division 1, has dedicated 30 years of his life to serving the needs of the people in the RM of Estevan. The surprise celebration took place during their latest meeting on Jan. 11, but the exact 30th anniversary came on Jan. 12.

To recognize his dedication and impact, the RM named the road where he resides Lorne Jahn Road. During the celebration, Reeve Jason LeBlanc handed Jahn a commemorative sign. And even though he had some hints ahead of time, he didn’t catch it and the dedication came as a surprise.

“I was shocked, very shocked,” Jahn said.

Talking to the Mercury about his years in local politics, Jahn, first of all, noted that the current council is the best one he’s ever seen.

“Today our council is the best council we’ve had in all the time I’ve been here,” Jahn said. “There’s a lot of common sense in this room.”

He added that the current council consists of members coming from different paths of life and bringing a lot of diverse knowledge to the board, including successful business experience, which helps a lot. And he, “the historian”, adds to that.

Jahn won his first election in October of 1992 but started his first term only in January 1993. Since then, he’s participated in and won all elections, remaining councillor for Division 1. He said there was always something that he wanted to get done and he al-

ways felt respected, so he kept running and getting elected.

During the latest election, Jahn said he was running since there still were some issues that he thought had to be addressed. For example, he hoped to see taxes going down. But he added that it would be his last term before he retires from council work. At the end of the current term, Jahn will have dedicated 32 years to the people in the RM of Estevan.

And while 32 years will be a long time, he still will come one year short of his grandfather Paul Jahn, who was the councillor for Division 1 for 33 years from 1929-52. His grand-uncle August Jahn also was a part of the RM council from 1911-13, and altogether so far, the Jahns have held their position as councillors for Division 1 for 65 years by 2023.

A lot has changed throughout Lorne Jahn’s 30 years on council. Many roads and bridges were built, and many projects were completed. Jahn said as he was looking through his first minutes, he was surprised to see the prices back then and realize how much more everything costs nowadays. He also remembered some of the moves he was a part of throughout his time, which proved to be successful. “When Peterbilt went out there, John Bachorcik (councillor for Division 6 in 1993) said, ‘Why would you let them go onto farmland?’” Jahn recalled. “Well, that farmland was sitting out there, it was alkaline, it wouldn’t go six bushels to the acre.”

He said trying to keep taxes down and fair was another long-term goal that he’s been

working on and continues to work on. However, he noted that quite often there is not much the RM can do at their level.

“That’s a real sore spot for me – the taxes,” Jahn said.

Jahn spent about 40 years working for the mines doing different jobs and holding different positions. He raised buffalo for 25 years with an over 200-head herd at one time and he also raised cattle. But he also recalled that there were times when what kept him alive was beaver trapping.

Jahn said throughout his life he had many dreams, which tended to come true.

“All my life I’ve had dreams about different things. They all had come true,” Jahn shared.

Many years ago, in his dream, he saw marrying a

young woman he had just recently met and hardly knew. Soon after that, he asked her out and they were married for 58 years until she passed away in 2020. They raised three children.

Jahn said through his life he’s learned to listen and sometimes bite his tongue, but he’s always gotten along with everybody.

“You got to realize that you’re no better than the next guy and try to get along with everybody. And by doing that you can accomplish something,” Jahn shared.

His jobs taught him a lot, preparing him for three decades on the RM council. He said there are a few things that the current council is working on and wants to accomplish, and he likes being a part of that.

4H KID OF MONTH

Matthew Van De Woestyne hasn’t been in 4-H for very long, but he’s glad he joined. Van De Woestyne is in his second year with the Browning Multiple 4-H Club. He said he joined because he wanted to learn to ride horses and show cattle. He has been able to do both, and he has enjoyed the experience.

His equestrian skills have improved a lot, he said, and he has learned how to show and groom cattle and how to halter break the animals

He had a heifer in the Estevan Rotary Regional 4-H Show last year, too.

Among the fun activities was a recent Christmas party that he said was great, and he has met some good people. He is looking forward to being part of the 4-H public speaking competitions this year; they were cancelled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Van De Woestyne believes young people would have a lot of fun in 4-H if they give it a chance.

“I would recommend joining 4-H to anyone who is interested in learning about animals, or learning to ride horses or show cattle,” he said.

The RM of Estevan recently celebrated the service of Lorne Jahn, middle, councillor for Division 1 who dedicated 30 years to the area. Photo courtesy of Michelle Dickie

presented by

Matthew Van De Woestyne, pictured on the left riding with Kaylee Boettcher, loves being part of 4-H. Photo courtesy of Ashley Kerslake

Name: Matthew Van De Woestyne Club: Browning Multiple 4-H Club

Van De Woestyne has also enjoyed the fundraising. Last year the club sold hotdogs and hamburgers at a local vet clinic, and this year they are selling 4-H bags.

Bruins hand Stars their first regulation loss

The Battlefords North Stars are no longer unbeaten in regulation this season.

The Estevan Bruins blanked the Stars 5-0 Saturday night at Affinity Place. Jackson Miller made 30 saves in the Bruins’ crease to record his first SJHL shutout, and Keagon Little scored twice to pace the Bruins’ attack.

Estevan led 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Gabriel Filion. The Bruins had a Teddy Bear Toss promotion for the Children’s Miracle Network, so many fans tossed bears on the ice after the goal.

The promotion caused a slight delay, but it didn’t stop the Bruins’ momentum, and they outshot the Stars 16-8 in the first period.

The Stars, who have been the top-ranked team in the country for most of the season, regrouped in the second and outshot the Bruins 15-7, but couldn’t beat Miller. The Bruins defenders helped out their goalie, too, by blocking shots and clearing rebounds.

The Bruins had chances to score, too, with the best likely by Ilia Chmelevski late in the frame.

Battlefords hit the post early in the third period, and the Bruins would take over from there. Kade Runke scored on a power play 6:43 into the third. Little added to the lead 44 seconds later, and Evan Forrest made it a 4-0 game 62 seconds after Little’s goal.

Little would get one more on a power play with 5:31 to play in the third.

“I thought they had a strong second, and I thought the difference in the game was that third period. I thought we came out really hard. We could have sat back but we didn’t want to sit back, we wanted to go at them and we did,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic.

Miller had to make a few more saves after Little’s goal to preserve the shutout.

“It’s unreal, especially against those guys. Everyone played well tonight,” Miller said after the game.

Miller was mobbed by his jubilant teammates once the game was finished, with the biggest hug coming from fellow netminder Cam Hrdlicka. And the

fans cheered loudly when he was announced as the first star of the game.

“I’m extremely proud of Miller,” said Tatarnic. “There’s always nay-sayers out there, but this kind of reminds me of that movie Good Will Hunting. How do you like those apples?”

Earlier in the season, the Bruins gave the Stars one of their toughest tests, a 7-4 game at Affinity Place on Nov. 4. It was a game the Bruins controlled for long stretches.

“I thought we deserved a better outcome in that game, too,” said Tatarnic.

“I thought we played really well against them. We made some mistakes and they capitalized. Tonight we did a good job of sticking to the game plan of

where we wanted to protect guys.”

Miller had played against the Stars in the previous meetings this year, and that gave him some confidence.

“I knew what was coming at me. I knew they were going to come hard and were going to try to outplay us, but they didn’t have us tonight. We outplayed them.”

Earlier in the week, the Bruins picked up a pair of 5-3 wins, beating the Yorkton Terriers last Wednesday and the Notre Dame Hounds on Friday.

Filion scored twice against Yorkton, and Little, Chmelevski and Salvatore Collora also scored.

In Friday’s game, the Bruins jumped on the Hounds early, with Jagje-

evan Phangura, Runke and Little scoring in the opening period for a 3-0 lead. Little had his second of the game for a 4-0 margin, and Runke added another in the third.

Miller was in goal for both games, stopping 28 shots against Yorkton and 19 shots against Notre Dame.

“I had a good break. Lots of time to reset and rethink about how I wanted to play … and all I had to do was execute,” Miller said.

Little, who rejoined the Bruins after the Christmas break, had five goals in three games last week.

“I love this place. Great community. Great fans, and I’m really pumped. I can’t wait to go deep in the playoffs,” said Little.

Estevan hosts table tennis tournament

Table tennis players from throughout southern Saskatchewan were in Estevan on Saturday for a tournament at the Estevan Comprehensive School.

Forty-five entries were received, with athletes from Estevan joined by those from Carlyle, Stoughton, Regina Beach, Balgonie, Weyburn and Sintaluta.

Estevan competitors were Lindsay Collins, Jaime Collins, Dallas Kickley, Jamie Fitzsimmons, Derek Mercer, Hannah Mercer, Connor Mercer, Jacob Donauer, Christa Kurtz, Sierra Burback, Geetarth Patel, Geetanshu Patel, Erica Gener and Moksh Robari.

Games were contested in the junior division, which is for high schoolaged players; open, which is for all entrants; U150, which is for beginners; and U600, which is for more competitive athletes. Everyone receives a rating

from Table Tennis Canada based on their skill level, with all players beginning at 100.

Gold, silver and bronze medallists in each division were:

Junior A: Emmanuel Pallarca (gold), Carter Morrison (silver) and Jaxon Burback (bronze);

Junior B: Wyatt McLeod, Brayzon Eashappie and Leif Clark;

Junior C: Brayden Hottum, Finley Clark and Beetarth Patel;

Open A: Dallas Kickley, Jamie Fitzsimmons and Emmanuel Pallarca;

Open B: Carter Morrison, Leif Clark and Bryden Trakalo;

Open C: Jacob Donauer, Lindsay Collins and Justin Serdon;

U150 A: Brayden Hottum, Wyatt McLeod and Will Grainger;

U150 B: Erica Gener, Dawson Laird and Porter Breault;

U600 A: Ysmael Pallarca, Dallas Kickley and Emmanual Pallarca;

U600 B: Jaxon Burback, Bryden Trakalo and Brodi Garbowicz;

U600 C: Ryan Salteaux, Vigo Orpiano and Jacob Donauer; There was also a doubles division. In Doubles A, Jamie Fitzsimmons and Dallas Kickley won gold, Derek and Connor Mercer silver, and Ismael and Emmanuel Pallarca bronze.

In Doubles B, Hannah Mercer and Brendon Owatch brought home gold, Leif Clark and Vigo Orpiano took silver, and Brayden Hottum and Will Grainger captured bronze.

While there are only a few players back from last year’s championship team, Little is pleased with the group of players this season.

“All the boys are all gelling, and you can see it out there. They’re all playing for each other, and we have to keep going.”

Tatarnic believes they have regained their legs after the Christmas break. They gave a game away against Weyburn and lost another to the Red Wings, but they have been strong since then.

“I thought we played really good the last three games,” said Tatarnic. “We know we have the potential in our dressing room, and we believe we have some really key pieces in that dressing room, and we believe we’re as good as anybody in the league.”

The game against the Stars was the Bruins’ last at home for several weeks, as they will be out of Affinity Place due to upcoming curling provincials. They will visit the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Jan. 20 and 21. •••

The Bruins were quiet at the trade deadline on Jan. 10. Tatarnic said he was pleased they could keep everyone.

“I know these guys like playing here and we like having them here,” said Tatarnic. “We made a bunch of moves prior to the deadline. We really like the group that we assembled.”

With the return of Little and the expected return of Cody Davis from injury, it means they didn’t have to make a move up front. And they’re happy with their defence and goaltending.

Estevan Bruin players celebrate after defeating the Battlefords North Stars Saturday night.

Emmanuel Pallarca kept his eye on the ball during the tournament.

Flashback –Wednesday, Jan. 18, 1984

Fire fi ghters responded to multi-semi collision

Estevan fire crews spent about six hours at the multi-semi collision scene on Highway 39 on Jan. 15.

The accident occurred northwest of Estevan just before 9 a.m. Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies said crews responded a little bit slower than usual due to the road conditions after the freezing rain.

“Multiple semis were involved, no entrapments, no injuries. So crews just stayed on scene and dealt with traffic until the area

was cleaned up and reorganized,” Davies said.

He noted that three semis were directly involved in the collision, but a few more ended up in the ditch on both sides of the road.

Traffic was down to one lane for the first few hours.

The Estevan Fire Rescue Service was assisting with traffic control on the east side of the incident, while the Midale/Cymri Fire and Rescue & First Responders regulated the flow on their side.

“Tow services were very busy too. So, for the safety of everyone involved and due to the road conditions, we just wanted to make sure that everything was good until that site was cleaned up,” Davies said. “So, we worked in conjunction with Midale Fire Department to control traffic until we got one semi and some of the debris removed.

“And then we were able to open up two lanes of traffic but kept everyone

on a very reduced speed and remained on scene doing that until tow services arrived and removed remaining semis off the highway.”

Earlier last week, firefighters were also called to a semi rollover. The incident occurred on Jan. 10 at about 11:30 a.m. west of Estevan near the Village of Torquay.

“No entrapment, believed to be minor injuries, no hazardous materials or anything like that on scene.

So crews assisted RCMP and EMS,” Davies said.

The same day at about 5:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to a residential house on the northeast side of the city. The occupant of the building reported a burning smell but couldn’t find the source and turned to the EFRS for assistance.

Firefighters investigated and found a problem with one of the appliances in the house.

On Jan. 12 at about 8 a.m. a commercial fire alarm went off in a build-

ing on the northeast side of Estevan. The incident command responded. Building management was on scene, but they had nothing to report, and nothing was found, so the alarm was deemed false.

At about 11 p.m. the same day, crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision north of Estevan.

Firefighters assisted Estevan RCMP and EMS.

One driver with injuries was transported to hospital, Davies said.

Police arrest a person on three counts of drug possession

The Estevan Police Service arrested a person for possession of three types of drugs on the weekend.

Police received a complaint on Jan. 15 of a man unconscious in a bathroom at a local business. He was arrested for public intoxication and was transported to the police station, where he was assessed by EMS. A search led to officers locating controlled substances.

The 22-year-old man

is now facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and possession of fentanyl, all under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. He was held in custody overnight for his safety and was released for court in March to answer to the charges.

In other recent police news, officers performed a well-being check on an Estevan individual on Jan.

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

14. Police initially weren’t successful in locating the individual but later learned the person was at the hospital. The caller was contacted by police and updated that the individual was okay.

Police received a report of someone possibly uttering threats to a number of different individuals. The matter is still under investigation.

Police charged a

37-year-old Estevan man for failing to comply with a condition of his probation.

The EPS is advising the public about a scam involving someone claiming to be with Sunwing Airlines. Police received a report Jan. 13 of the fraud. A person called to offer refunds and then requested banking information. No data was given. The public is reminded to not share private or personal infor-

mation over the phone to unverified callers.

As a result of a traffic stop in the 1200-block of Fourth Street, a 37-yearold Regina man has been charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and operation of a conveyance while over .08. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days and his driver’s licence was suspended indefinitely.

Police arrested and charged a 48-year-old Es-

tevan man on Jan. 12 with uttering threats to cause bodily harm and failing to comply with a probation order. He was released on conditions of no contact with the victims and not to attend the place of business of the victims. He will appear in court in March to answer to the charges.

Police received a report of criminal harassment on Jan. 10. The matter is still under investigation.

The Council of the City of Estevan pursuant to the Cities Act that the Council of the City of Estevan, gives notice of its intention to implement a bylaw

On January 9, 2023 meeting the first reading of this was passed and the final readings is expected to be on January 23, 2023.

The proposed Bylaws 2022-2062 may be inspected by any person in the City Clerk’s Office, on the main level of City Hall, between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Dated this 10th day of January, 2023.

Traffic Bylaw 2016-1963

Depositing Substances

(1) No person shall deposit any natural substances on any highway, public sidewalk, boulevard or ditch within the City of Estevan (3) The occupier of property in the City of Estevan shall remove any snow, ice or other obstruction from the public sidewalk adjacent to such property within twenty-four (24) hours of the time such snow, ice or other obstruction appears on such public sidewalk. * In the event that this subsection is not complied with, the City may remove such snow, ice or other obstructions at the expense of such occupants or owner, and in the event of the non-payment of such expense, such expense may be charges against the property as a special assessment to be recovered in like manner as and with the taxes.

Five two-man team were off to Weyburn mid-January, 1984, to compete in a snooker tournament. Representing Estevan Arcade & Billiards were, from left, Greg Zimmerman, Mike Briltz, Brad Barker, Ray Hood, Dominick Zimmerman and Jim Ehrmantraut. Missing from the picture were Ken Kendall, Doug Cairns and Ken Cairns.