Estevan Mercury 20240410

One person has been arrested after a shooting that occurred Monday night in Estevan.

Estevan Police Chief Rich Lowen said the Estevan Police Service was called about the incident in the 1700-block of Third Street just after 8:40 p.m. on Monday night. A short time later, it reported on its social media account that members were investigating a report of a firearm being discharged.

The public was asked to remain indoors and away from the area.

Police Chief Rich Lowen said one man was shot and was reported to be in stable condition.

An adult male suspect was being sought by police after the incident and was believed to be armed. While police were searching, Lowen said the suspect was observed

returning to his residence at approximately 11 p.m.

In an update issued late Monday night, the EPS said the suspect was contained in his residence in the 1700-block of Third Street. He was still in his home during the overnight hours. Lowen said he was arrested just after 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday and was being treated for minor cuts.

The 1600-1800 blocks of Third Street were closed Monday night and into Tuesday morning. There was still an increased police presence in the area. Classes at Westview School were cancelled Tuesday morning but were expected to resume in the afternoon.

In a post on social media, the EPS expressed gratitude to assisting police agencies, including the RCMP, Weyburn Police Service and

By David Willberg

The Concerned Citizens Estevan SK group says they have enough signatures on their petition that calls for a referendum on the downtown revitalization project in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street.

Appearing before Estevan city council on Monday night, spokesman Myles Fichter, who addressed council alongside Greg Wanner, said they had the support of 25 per cent of the city’s electorate. Speaking with the Mercury and SaskToday after the meeting, Fichter said they had just under 1,500 signatures.

In order for a referendum to take place, the petition needed to have the signatures of at least 10 per cent of the city’s residents; according to the 2021 federal census, Estevan’s population was 10,851 people, so the petition needed more than 1,085 signatures.

“The questions that we had came from the community, so when we see such an overwhelming concern of what the costs and the nature of this project are that haven’t been answered to the general people, that was our mandate to go forward and seek these petitions,” said Fichter.

Everyone who signed has

to be a voter of the City of Estevan and can only sign once. Fichter said they stopped collecting signatures on Saturday.

The petition was launched on March 13, two days after city council approved the revitalization project. Council moved forward with the project after the federal government authorized $7.75 million in support through the PrairiesCan Coal Communities Transition Initiative, and the city has to provide $1.5 million for underground infrastructure replacement.

The question on the petition would read “Should the City of Estevan proceed with the downtown revitalization project?”

Mayor Roy Ludwig said the city will have to talk to its legal department about the petition. The city has 30 days to decide the next step with the petition.

Some work has already taken place. Trees have already been taken down in the two blocks of Fourth Street, ASL Paving has been selected as the general contractor and Associated Engineering has been working with the city on a daily basis. “These contracts are in place, so there are certain liabilities in place in trying to break these contracts,” said Ludwig.

“And that will be a council decision after talking to legal.

“First off, we have to take a look at the petition when it comes forward, and then we have to check it out for validity, and then we have to go through council and our legal [team] and make of some decisions, because right now we’re on the hook contractually.”

Ludwig said council couldn’t wait until after a referendum to move forward with the work downtown because of the tight timelines. The city has until March 31, 2025, to spend the $7.75 million in federal money.

“You’re not going to get a lot of this work done, needed work done, in the winter. It’s going to have to be done between now and the fall,” said Ludwig.

The trees have to be done in early spring because if birds are nesting, then Ludwig said the trees couldn’t be removed until next year.

Both Ludwig and Fichter said they appreciated the tone of the meeting. Fichter was pleased with council’s willingness to answer questions.

“We felt that we were treated seriously and respectfully, and so I commend council for that and answering questions as much as they can with the information

available,” said Fichter. He would like to see the referendum happen as soon as possible due to the expediency of the project.

A large crowd attended Monday night’s meeting. Many of them were members of the Concerned Citizens, but there were also some members of the Downtown Business Association who support the project.

Fichter began by explaining the Concerned Citizens’ position. He noted that in January, a member of their group brought the downtown revitalization project to their attention. Considering the city’s current long-term debt and the capital overruns that have occurred with other major projects, they wanted to learn as much as possible. They emerged with more questions than answers, so they created a video with their concerns.

Fichter noted that Concerned Citizens conducted a survey of the businesses in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street, and found that approximately half of the businesses were not consulted about the project and roughly half were not in favour. Based on the responses, they proceeded with the petition calling for the referendum.

Regina Police Service. No further details, including charges were available as of the Mercury’s

Provincial investments into short line rail infrastructure help to keep it moving

By Ana Bykhovskaia

Highways Minister and Estevan MLA Lori Carr announced provincial funding Friday to support short line rails.

Representatives of the short line rail sector, along with local farmers and southeast RM reps, joined government officials at the Long Creek Railroad Company Inc. facility just west of Estevan’s city limits to talk about what $530,000 in provincial short line rail investments mean for the industry moving rural Saskatchewan goods.

“Short line railways play an important role in getting Saskatchewan’s food, fuel and fertilizer on their journeys to worldwide markets. This helps keep our export-based economy strong to sustain our quality of life,” Carr said. “A strong economy enables our government to invest in programs and services our residents need and deserve.

Transportation plays a pivotal role in achieving that.That’s why our government’s latest budget continues to invest in various modes of transportation, including short line railways.”

The province has 13 short line railways operating on 2,123 kilometres of track.

Under the Government of Saskatchewan’s continuing Short Line Railway Improvement Program (SRIP), funding will assist with track upgrades and expansion, improved crossing surfaces and sightlines, bridge maintenance, track rehabilitations and other projects.

SRIP allocations for 2024-25 and their operating locations are:

Long Creek Railroad (west of Estevan); Northern Lights Rail (west of Melfort); Red Coat Road and Rail (Ogema area); Southern Rails Cooperative (south of Moose Jaw); Thunder Rail (Arborfield area); Torch River Rail (Nipawin to Choiceland area); and Wheatland Rail (Cudworth, Wakaw area) – $25,000 each; Stewart Southern Railway (southwest of Regina to Stoughton) – $28,297;

Big Sky Rail, Delisle (Eston, Elrose region) – $87,035;

Carlton Trail Railway (Saskatoon to Prince Albert area) – $37,515;

Great Sandhills Railway (Swift Current to Leader area) – $43,089;

Great Western Railway (Assiniboia, Shaunavon, Coronach area) – $129,909;

Last Mountain Railway (Regina to Davidson) – $29,155.

Carr noted that the funding provides up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs and is determined based on how much track each short line owns. Networks with less than 80 kilometres of track receive at least $25,000. Larger networks receive a proportional amount based on how much track they operate. The railways are regularly maintained to meet the strict safety standards.

Long Creek Railroad (LCR) CEO Adriaan Lievaart noted that last year the LCR spent about $110,000 on rail ties and other spare pieces to maintain the track.

“The funding only cov-

ers a portion of the significant expense that short line railroads invest in their infrastructure each year. Our dream would be to see the funding program grow even larger. But we are certainly grateful,” said Rachel Mackenzie, communications and government relations director for the Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association (WCSLRA), an industry association of short line builders and railway supplier businesses across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

While secondary to major railroads, short lines add flexibility to the transportation industry and provide broader opportunities for rural Saskatchewan.

“Short lines are crucial in Saskatchewan and … we’ve created so many opportunities for trade, export and import in this province. Short lines offer the first and the last miles … First mile is when we put that freight in the car and it goes to port, and the last mile is when that rock, sand, steel or whatever else comes here and gets unloaded,” Lievaart explained. “We are an integral part of logistics in the province.”

He recalled the LCR was created 12 years ago by a small group as an experiment. Now they have three full-time employees, they move different kinds of freight from southeast Saskatchewan and also create other opportunities.

“We are and still remain a safe, reliable alternative for exporting/importing commodities in southeast Saskatchewan,” Lievaart said. “Last year alone,

our shippers along with the fellas that loaded their own grain reduced the traffic on our highways by 2,500 super Bs … just in one fiscal year and that was on the grain side alone.”

Mackenzie outlined the many opportunities short lines provide for their communities.

“Short rail railways service loading sites and elevators are off the main line so it provides alternatives, drives the more competitive grain pricing and allows farmers … to spend more time on their farm and less time on their truck should they choose to do so. Short line railways also provide a really specific type of rail freight opportunity,” Mackenzie said.

“If you are a small business owner and you’re looking

to explore rail as a form of transportation, in the case of Long Creek, you pick up the phone and you’re one call away from the general manager, who does amazing customer service and can really walk you into the world of rail.

“There’s a level of flexibility with short line railroad around the type of service you’ll receive and the frequency of service you’ll receive. … And if you’re a business wanting to build on a railway, the cost of building on a short line railway and the infrastructure requirements to do so are a lot more flexible.

“So, short rail railways create the opportunity for rail freight for small and mediumsized Saskatchewan businesses,

Mayor doubts future phases will proceed

« A1 Those they spoke to about the petition felt they were ill-informed or completely unaware of the project; they wanted to know how much this will cost the taxpayer; and they weren’t sure if replacing the underground infrastructure was necessary.

“Why is it pressing that only these two blocks need to be replaced. Aren’t many other streets in the same area the same age, such as the courthouse block?” asked Fichter. Fichter added many thought the project deserved its own mailer from the city or information could have been inserted within utility bills. Council members agreed that a mailer could have been sent

for the project, although there were three open houses and three surveys issued, and plenty of information was provided on the project.

“We saw 168 responded to somebody putting out an unscientific survey. One hundred and sixty-eight people out of 11,000? And the response to it was 75 per cent were on board, but if you actually read it, that’s not true,” said Wanner.

When the topic of phases 2-8 came up, Wanner asked if anything in Phase 1 that would

force the city to do Phase 2 or other phases.

City manager Jeff Ward replied electrical conduits would be installed, but those wouldn’t be for Phase 2. Concerned Citizens members have also heard questions about maintenance and upkeep costs, and the expected return on investment.

Ludwig stressed the work on Fourth Street is the first phase, and he’s not sure the other seven phases would occur.

“For this council, this is it,” Ludwig said adamantly. “The new council, will they go to stage 2? Probably not. Will they get the money

for which otherwise the barriers to entry might be too large,” Mackenzie said.

She noted that the funding helps the Saskatchewan short rail lines to do the regular maintenance that often falls between the cracks of projectoriented grants, but is vital to the industry.

“The program design lets railroads determine what it is that they most need to spend money on and to prioritize in their infrastructure programs,” Mackenzie added. “A lot of it is not very glamorous – ballasts, ties and rails. It’s rock, wood and metal but those are the things that you really learn to keep maintaining and keep improving to keep your rail infrastructure safe and efficient.”

[from the feds]? Probably not.” For updates to this story, please visit our provincial news hub at sasktoday.ca.

The provincial government announced investments into short line rail infrastructure. Participating in the event were, from left, Marlin Cogswell and Lincoln Wanner track specialists and locomotive engineers with Long Creek Railroad; Rachel Mackenzie, communications and government relations director for the Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association; Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison, Estevan MLA Lori Carr; Adriaan Lievaart, Long Creek Railroad CEO; RM of Estevan Reeve Jason LeBlanc; Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig; Tara Struthers, business development with LCR; and Darwin Daae, vice-president of the LCR and Reeve of the RM of Cambria.

Downtown business owners and members of the Concerned Citizens Estevan SK group attended Monday’s meeting of Estevan city council.

24042BS1

Community

support

translates into tens of thousands of dollars for wildlife federation

The Estevan Wildlife Federation hosted its 38th annual fundraising dinner, raffle and auction on April 6. The event brought in close to $30,000, which will help with the organization’s many projects and undertakings.

A fishing trip for four at Thompson’s Resort in northern Saskatchewan was among the many great prizes and auction items, supplied by local businesses and individuals, helping raise funds for the EWF.

Monica Eagles, who cochairs the dinner and auction alongside Kendra Lainton, said in their message that they appreciate the generous support of Estevan and the surrounding area.

“Without the numerous cash and merchandise donations, this function would not be possible,” the committee said. “Your support will help the Estevan Wildlife Federation carry out our many programs.”

Many people turned out to enjoy the night and support the EWF’s initiatives.

“Overall, the night went really well, it’s always so much fun. We had a great turnout again, and the whole night really wouldn’t be possible without such awesome support from the community. Companies and individuals are always so generous to us. We don’t have the final totals yet, but we expect to raise close to $30,000 which will

go a long way to helping us with our various projects,” Eagles said.

About 30 items, donated by local businesses, organizations and individuals, were available for bidding through a silent auction at the WylieMitchell Hall that night. Thirty-five more exciting and often unique pieces were up for the live auction. Bid items included décor, fishing, hunting and camping gear, silver bars, Estevan Bruins’ tickets, a paddle board tandem load of gravel, a spotting scope, tanned silver fox and mitts, jewellery, a firepit and more.

The evening also saw an ice shack raffle, two raffle tables with 26 items each, a booze buggy raffle, jewellery raffle, a pick of the litter draw, a 50/50 draw and mystery key item draw. Six guns were on display for a ping-pong ball auction.

“The ping-pong ball auction is always fun and exciting, and the 50/50 winner took home over $1,000. We also raffled off a pop-up ice shack and some beautiful jewellery,” Eagles said.

The committee also took time to remember a special member, Athena Hryhoriw, who passed away in January at the age of 34.

“Hryhoriw was an adventurous, world-travelling city girl who got the taste of the great outdoors and fell in love with a very different kind of adventure,” the

committee said. She enjoyed fishing, capturing nature and wildlife, and always helped at the EWF awards banquets, fundraisers and camps, they added.

The Estevan Wildlife Federation runs several programs throughout the year, and the funds will help with the expenses.

“We have our 20th annual walleye tournament coming up on May 11, our youth camp from Aug. 8-11, the Fish in Schools program, maintaining the Rafferty Marina, our clubhouse and shooting ranges, as well as handing out awards to showcase our members’ achievements,” Eagles said.

“Things have been going well with the EWF, and we always look forward to hearing from our members. We have our meetings the first Wednesday of every month, and all our members are invited to come,” she added.

The 2024 dinner committee co-chairs also thanked everyone who made the event a success. “Kendra and I want to say a huge thank you to the businesses and individuals that support the EWF fundraiser every year. We really would not be able to do what we do without them. And thank you to our committee members and volunteers who helped plan the night and made it run so smoothly. See you all next year,” Eagles said.

Oungre park to upgrade pool, thanks to successful fundraiser

By Ana Bykhovskaia

The Oungre Memorial Regional Park opened a new season with another successful Dr. Brown Fundraiser.

About $75,000 will go into park operations and maintenance, thanks to the ongoing support of local businesses and individuals, said fundraising committee chairwoman Loran Tosczak.

“This year, a lot of the money is going to go into the swimming pool. We are going to update the changerooms and the tile in the hot tub, install new diving boards – the structures and the platform itself,” Tosczak said.

“Summer is very busy for us. I think one of the biggest attractions to the park is the pool. So, it’s nice to be able to put some money into it and keep that pool [up to date]. We offer swimming lessons every summer, so a lot of campers come year after year for swimming lessons. Our pool is shaded, it’s

heated, it’s indoors.”

This year’s fundraiser theme was Decades, and many guests took an opportunity to dress in their favourite historic era.

“Quite a few people came dressed in different decades attire. We had hippie style, we had millennials, the ‘90s and early 2000s clothes, I was dressed in a poodle skirt,” Tosczak said. “It was fun to see participation and everyone dressing up.

“Our meal was delicious. We tried something new this year – a Ukrainianthemed supper with sausage, cabbage rolls and lots of yummy salads, that was catered by Spilchuk Meats from Estevan. That delicious meal started everyone off in a good mood for our auction, which went very well.”

About 150 people showed up for the event on Saturday. While it wasn’t a sold-out crowd, Tosczak said people were very supportive. “It was a very busy

weekend, but we are very happy with what we made and what will get back to the park,” Tosczak said. “The rink was full, and it was great. We had lots of support.”

The committee received 111 silent auction items and 95 live auction items.

New this year was the VIP table sale, which was donated by the park manager and allowed the buyer to eat

first. Richardson Pioneer out of Weyburn was the winner.

On behalf of the organizing committee, Tosczak thanked everyone involved. “Thanks, everyone for coming and donating the items. It’s pretty awesome to have our small-town fundraiser year after year that we can get in 200 items to sell for an auction. That’s great community support,”

Tosczak said.

The Oungre Memorial Regional Park was founded in 1968 on a site that had been a gathering place named Foster’s Grove, which was a spot for school events and church picnics for people from miles around. The OMRP remains a vital part of the surrounding communities, and the Dr. Brown committee strives to promote community involvement where families and future generations can gather through activities offered at OMRP. The committee members for the past 30 years have volunteered countless hours to raise funds for their community park. The funds raised always go directly back to the park to help pay their capital expenses and continued maintenance.

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Peyton Van De Woestyne helped the Estevan Wildlife Federation with displaying live auction items.

About 30 items were available for bidding at the EWF Fundraising Dinner through the silent auction.

About 150 people came to support the Dr. Brown annual fundraiser for the Oungre Memorial Regional Park. Photos courtesy of Loran Tosczak

The labour dispute between the union representing Saskatchewan’s teachers and the provincial government began prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year.

You might remember the billboard campaign that the provincial government launched last summer to create awareness of teacher salary demands. That was an early salvo in a protracted dispute that has spanned months.

While most Saskatchewan people were thinking summer fun, the government had an education collective bargaining agreement on its mind.

While this has never been a quiet labour dispute, the measures by teachers started to escalate early in 2024. There have been a few province-wide, one-day strikes, including one in January in the midst of an extreme cold warning. They also went on strike the same day the provincial budget was released.

We have seen rotating strikes in different school divisions and the withdrawal of noon-hour supervision. While these were an inconvenience, teachers had other steps in their arsenal that could have been much more significant.

They finally played one of those cards when they withdrew extracurricular activities in March, forcing Skills Canada provincials to be cancelled and the Hoopla provincial basketball tournament to be significantly altered.

Implementing work to rule was their biggest move yet. Not only does it mean extracurricular activities are off and they aren’t providing noon hour supervision, but they show up shortly before the start of the school day and they leave shortly after the final bell of the day.

Outside of a longer strike, this is the boldest move the teachers can take.

You can be sure that work to rule is not something that teachers want. Most of them enjoy extracurricular activities, whether it be sports teams, clubs or anything else they would be involved with. They take pride in the students’ success and progress, just as they are proud to see classroom achievements.

While we might think it’s part of their job to coach a basketball team or plan a musical or run a club, it’s not. They volunteer to do it because it’s something they genuinely enjoy doing.

This is legitimately a sacrifice for them, although it’s ultimately the students who suffer because they don’t get to have this involvement. And while many clubs have been operating since the start of the school year and have completed a lot of their work, others would just be getting started in April.

Like any other labour dispute, the battle between the teachers and the government is going to have a lot of “he said, she said” mo -

ments. Each is going to provide their side, and it’ll be rife with spin.

The teachers’ supporters are going to be quick to side with them (and make no mistake, there are a lot of teacher backers). But there are also a lot of people who are on the government’s side, whether it be because they genuinely support the government, or because they think teachers are asking for too much.

Regardless, this dispute dates back to before the start of the school year, and there’s no end in sight. Both sides have dug in, both are making claims about what they’re offering, but they are also talking about what the other side isn’t providing.

Labour negotiations between the teachers and the Saskatchewan Party government have been difficult in the past. In 2011, teachers went on strike for two days, the first instance of this happening in Saskatchewan in 78 years.

Four years ago, the teachers enacted work to rule measures in early March. Few remember the move, because days later the COVID-19 restrictions started to be enacted. The two sides quietly reached a resolution.

Now, after months of taking smaller actions, the teachers’ federation has taken a much bigger step.

Perhaps the only surprise is it didn’t happen earlier.

“I really worry for the young generation. How can they afford anything in this day and age?”

Many times, I’ve heard such questions as part of conversations about young people not being able to afford their first houses anymore, not only in money-juiced places like Vancouver or Toronto, but even here in Estevan or Saskatchewan in general. Inflation, the pandemic and economic recession are all to blame for our new reality.

My Boomer friends told me many times that they worry about the new generations since everything is so expensive now. Oftentimes people point out that the cost of living is so high that especially Generation Z or Zoomers (born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s) have a really hard time managing.

But is it indeed that, or is there more to the changing way of life we see with younger generations?

The recent research on American Zoomers shows that more and more young adults chose trades over college and university degrees. Young Americans are turning away from traditional career paths, favouring jobs that offer more freedom and autonomy.Trades like plumbing and electrical work are gaining popularity as they provide opportunities without the need for extensive formal education or corporate barriers.

While the research explores the situation in the U.S., I notice similar trends in Canada – today’s young adults don’t want to simply be part of the system, they want to be valued by employers off the start, and they also want to have more freedom. The same applies to some millennials.

The consequences of economic crises and the pandemic have dashed the hopes of many older generations, such as millennials, for stable

income and home ownership. This example, among other factors, led to disappointment in the idea of hard work paying off.

With this new generation, the traditional North American workaholism – which for decades was portrayed as the path to the American dream, and which distinguished this continent from the more laid-back old world – starts fading. To summarize, Gen Zs want to work to live rather than live to work, researchers note, which strongly differs them from many generations before them.

The first-generation immigrants were always the hardest at it. Those Polish, Ukrainians, Germans, Lithuanians and others working at the Taylorton Mine near Estevan didn’t have anything easy. I believe hardly any local millennials or Zoomers would survive life the way it was 100 years ago.

Boomers grew up with hard-work ethics inherited from their older generations that knew not only how to survive (a lot of them made it through two world wars) but how to find their way to strive.

I definitely don’t want to diminish the role of the latest economic changes as they certainly play a huge role in what anyone can and cannot afford today. No matter which generation we belong to, we all feel it. (My latest shock: olive oil seems to become a luxury, sitting at about $20 on sale in at least one of the stores). We

felt it before the pandemic, but those two years made it much tougher, and I’m afraid we are to feel more aftereffects for a while.

But since the way many people overcome economic challenges has changed, it’s also not fair to blame the results solely on the economy.

Look at young, first-generation immigrant families now. Some of them are two to three to five years into their Canadian journey, and believe it or not, they are buying their first houses. (Of course, not all of them, and unfortunately, not all of them will likely be successful in it, but some will succeed.)

As an immigrant, I can tell that those first years are more difficult for newcomers than they are for most families’ kids, graduating from school and starting an adult life. Newcomers often face language barriers, have no real support system, have no clue about how the systems work here, have no credit histories or references, etc. There are a lot of challenges to overcome.

Nevertheless, I see some newcomers (not wealthy by any means, as all some of them brought was just a suitcase) buying into real estate. How? There are many factors to it, including the value of “home” for those who left everything behind for whatever reason. Those families I know work hard, work several jobs, and save all they can on the way to their dream. They live to work like previous generations did, and a lot of them end up where previous generations did as well.

So, while the economy definitely changed what people can afford these days and pushed many of us back in our plans and dreams, the changing values and approach to work also play a role in where Gen Zs are finding themselves.

Flashback – Feb. 28, 1979

EPS arrests man for assault with a weapon

The Estevan Police Service dealt with 62 occurrences from April 5-7.

On April 6, members arrested and charged a 35-yearold man for assault with a weapon, uttering threats and breach of conditions after a call for service in the downtown area.

The EPS also assisted the Estevan RCMP with an impaired driving investigation in which charges were laid.

Due to another traffic stop, a drug-impaired driving suspension was issued. A number of checks were done on individuals that are on release conditions. Members also attended to several wellbeing and assistance calls over the weekend.

In other recent police news, members arrested a 22-year-old woman on April 4. She is facing multiple charges including assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and two counts of mischief to property. She was held in custody overnight to appear in court at a later date.

• • •

The Estevan Fire Rescue Service reached out to the community on April 2 about a reported scam, saying they are not currently fundraising or seeking support.

“It has been brought to our attention that people are receiving calls requesting financial support/donations for our department,” the EFRS wrote on their Facebook page.

“The Estevan Fire Rescue will never call you and ask you for a financial donation. If you received a call, please do not give them any information, hang up and report the call to the Estevan Police Service.

“Stay safe out there; please spread the word.”

• • • The Carnduff RCMP is investigating a complaint of suspicious people and vehicles in the RM of Moose Creek, in close proximity to the Moose Creek Regional Park and Moose Creek Golf Course.

According to a post through the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network, the incidents are reported to have taken place on April 4 at approximately 3:30 a.m.

The suspicious vehicles were described as being a black Dodge truck and an oldermodel compact car, which was silver with four doors and a white Browning decal on the back window.

The first suspect was described as being a heavier-set Caucasian female with dark hair. She was reportedly driv-

ing the black Dodge truck. The second suspicious person was described as being a Caucasian male with light-coloured eyes, wearing a black toque, black hoodie and black pants. He was driving the silver car.

The Carnduff RCMP is encouraging community members to be on the lookout for the people and vehicles, along with any other suspicious activities. Further, in light of the favourable weather that is opening up road accessibility to recreational areas, the RCMP encourages the seasonal residents and users of these properties to inspect their camping sites and golf storage facilities.

The RCMP says its investigators did take proactive steps to inspect and patrol the recreational areas and conduct neighbourhood inquiries. They did not uncover any instances of property damage or theft.

Also, the RCMP reported seasonal users of the recreational spaces seemingly responded to encouragement to inspect and take an accounting of their seasonal campsites and golf storage sites.

If anyone has information related to this advisory, call 310-RCMP for an immediate response, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Rollover near elevator

None reported injuries to police, and Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies said there wasn’t an entrapment.

RCMP, along with the

Fire Rescue Service, Estevan Police Service and Estevan EMS, all responded to the incident.

According to an email from the RCMP, there were four occupants in the vehicle.

As a result of investigation, the driver, a 25-yearold man from Estevan was charged with one count of impaired operation of a conveyance, and one count of operation of a conveyance while exceeding .08. Both charges are under Criminal Code. He is scheduled to appear in Estevan Provincial Court on May 13.

Southeast leads the way for June land sale

The Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown petroleum and natural gas rights public offering, held on April 2, has raised $15,454,748 in revenue for the province, with the southeast region generating the most cash flow.

Of the 147 parcels posted for this sale, 123 received acceptable bids, which covered 16,065 hectares. Six parcels received bids that were rejected as unacceptable after a technical review, and no bids were submitted for the remaining 18 parcels.

The southeast region brought in $13,795,439 for 84 leases and two exploration licences covering 9,797 hectares. Those leases generated

more than $10.67 million, covered 7,704 hectares, and the average value was $1,385.08 per hectare. Ninetythree leases were available.

The two licences covered 2,092 hectares and generated $3,123,533. The average value was $1,492.84 per hectare.

The highest bonus bid received on a parcel in this area was $2.2 million, or $11,357.12 per hectare. This 193.711-hectare lease was awarded to Hummingbird Energy Inc. and is located six kilometres northeast of Midale, within the Midale Central Frobisher Beds Oil Pool. Hummingbird Energy Inc. also picked up two other leases in this same area, with bids of $1.89 million for

a 259.214-hectare lease and $1.24 million for a 129.055-hectare lease.

Crescent Point Energy Corp. was awarded both exploration licences posted in this area. One licence totalling 1,416 hectares received a bid of $2,114,416, or $1,492.84 per hectare, and the second licence totalling 675.971 hectares received a bid of $1,009,116, also $1,492.84 per hectare.

These exploration licences are located in an area ranging from 10-20 kilometres northeast of Lampman and are also within the Viewfield Bakken Formation Oil Pool.

The Lloydminster area brought in $1,425,234, generated from bids

on 32 leases totalling 4,841 hectares. Of the 45 leases available, 32 were sold, amounting to 4,841 hectares, or $294.37 per hectare.

Synergy Land Services Ltd. bid $408,366, or an average of $5,045.99 per hectare, for a lease located 10 kilometres west of Paradise Hill near the Tangleflags North Oil Pool. This was the highest bonus bid and highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in the Lloydminster area. This 80.929-hectare lease is prospective for heavy oil in the Mannville Group. Meanwhile, bids in the Kindersley area generated $234,074 in revenue. Of the seven leases available, five were sold, encompassing 1,426 hectares, or $164.13 per hectare. The highest bonus bid and highest dollars per hectare received on a lease in this region was $136,125, an average of $525.98 per hectare. This 258.803-hectare lease was awarded to Synergy Land Services Ltd. This lease is located 11 kilometres

Fireworks cause the first grass fire of the season

Estevan firefighters responded to the first grass fire of the season on April 4.

The fire occurred within the city limits in the valley along Valley Street. The call for service came in at about 8:20 p.m.

Fire crews responded to the location. Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies said they were able to quickly get the fire under control and extinguish it, spending less than an hour at the scene.

"It wasn't a very significant area that was burned, so the fire was quickly knocked down and then we just wet the whole perimeter and made sure everything was extinguished," Davies said.

"Reports that I received from talking with eyewitnesses and talking with EPS was it was caused by the use of fireworks," he added.

In 2023, the City of Es-

tevan amended the bylaw and allowed fireworks to be sold within the city, however, Davies reminded the public that the use of fireworks remains prohibited within city limits. The fire didn't result in any injuries or damage.

Also last week, fire crews responded to a commercial fire alarm occurring at a building located on the east side of the city. The call came in on April 4 at about 11:20 a.m. Firefighters responded and quickly determined there was no emergency, and the alarm went off due to a system issue.

On April 7 just after midnight, the EFRS was alerted to another commercial fire alarm occurring in a building in central Estevan. The duty officer responded, investigated, determined there was no emergency and assisted with resetting the system.

BUSINESS

Irrigation, value-added ag and infrastructure projects among priorities to move SE forward

The representative of the Southeast Sask. Economic Partnership (SSEP) – which is working with the RMs of Estevan and Coalfields, as well as the Town of Bienfait to bring new economic opportunities to the region – spoke at the latest Estevan Chamber of Commerce Coffee Talk on April 3.

The conversation with Tim Keating, managing director of the SSEP, was focused on their initiatives and rural regional economic development. Keating, who was born and raised in the Estevan area, started with a brief overview of the organization.

The SSEP is a partnership of the two southeastern RMs and Bienfait. Each member offers diverse investment opportunities to start, grow or expand a business. As a region, the southeast offers the strength of combined knowledge, land, transportation logistics, low business costs, a skilled workforce, and abundant natural resources, according to SSEP's website.

"Through the coal transition and the focus on economic development, the group was formed to represent rural southeastern Saskatchewan's needs, concerns, its priorities, initiatives and

work with the city and work in partnership to grow the region," Keating said. "You have to work together. That's it. It's not complicated. It's not rocket science. It's as simple as that. If you decide to work together, things will work for you and you'll get achievements."

One of the first things the newly created group did was the establishment of a five-year regional economic development plan, which sets out their vision, goals and priorities for the future. The plan is posted on their website at ssep.ca. The goal was to find ways to advance the local economy. "This economy runs on four cylinders - agriculture, oil and gas, mining coal, power, boom. With the announcements of the closures, how many of those cylinders are shut down? Two, for sure, right? So, we're running an economy on half the engine. So, we have to come up with different cylinders for that engine? How are we going to do that?" Keating said. "So, our group sat down ... and we came up with pillars. We looked at what we can do that we might have a chance in succeeding and helping to alter that."

One of their pillars was municipal infrastructure, since good roads and infrastructure create a positive environment for investment, make communities safer, create more employment opportunities, etc.

"For example, under the municipal infrastructure, we achieved high north of 10 million in infrastructure projects just for the subregion, not counting what's been achieved within the city," Keating said.

Examples of recent projects include the airport road, Bienfait's new fire hall, the 605 Primary Grid upgrades and more.

Another outlined pillar was value-added agriculture.

"That one we feel we have a really strong advantage on," Keating said, noting that the region already has agriculture-focused infrastructure, which is an advantage when it comes to attracting and developing value-added ag projects.

"There's definitely excellent infrastructure here. So, we want to connect that infrastructure.

"With value-added processing, we're working on two major grain processing projects right now. They are confidential, but one is in the neighbourhood of the $100

million-plus range. The other one is in the north of $300 million. Looking at about 150 new jobs in value-added ag processing," Keating said.

The third pillar is water, Keating said.

"This, to me, is the most exciting out of all the pillars for our economic development strategy. This is about taking water and repurposing it for economic development purposes," Keating said.

He pointed out that the water used in coal mining and at the power plant, if not used to produce electricity in the future, might be reused.

"Our first biggest priority is irrigation. It's a massive opportunity," Keating said, noting that the area has potential similar to Lethbridge for growing a variety of vegetables. "This area has a massive, massive, massive, massive, massive, massive opportunity in the multibillion, with a capital B, dollar range opportunity to get irrigation happening here ... We're looking at either surface water irrigation, or well water irrigation."

Tourism is another pillar, and SSEP is looking at the potential for building

a recreational community probably with a geothermal SPA resort at Rafferty.

"This is under our tourism strategy. We want to develop a full-service deep marina on Rafferty. We've looked at 13 sites; we hope to have one or two sites narrowed down and do some public consultation this summer and get access to that land from the Water Security Agency," Keating said.

More information about the SSEP strategy, projects and funding can be found on their website.

Report from the Legislature

The 2024-25 provincial budget delivers the largest-ever increase in health care funding. This investment will expand patient care and services, increase access to primary care, support health professionals, and fund key infrastructure projects like new hospitals and long-term care homes across Saskatchewan.

This year’s Ministry of Health budget is $7.59 billion, an increase of $726.4 million, or 10.6 per cent, over last year. The Saskatchewan Health Authority will receive an increase of $248.3 million, or 5.6 per cent, for a total highest-ever budget of $4.68 billion – another record investment.

This budget will increase patient access to primary and community-based care, supporting Saskatchewan residents in receiving care closer to home and alleviating pressures on the acute care system through investments totaling $59.4 million.

The budget includes an increase of $5.1 million for specialized medical imaging services to add essential CT and MRI capacity in the province. This expansion will help increase access and reduce waitlists for these important diagnostic procedures.

A $16.0 million total increase will be distributed across several primary, public health and community care initiatives, including increasing access to nurse practitioners and other allied health professionals through integration into primary care teams, funding to support Healthline 811 and added supports for Chronic Pain Clinics in Regina and Saskatoon.

An investment of $71.4 million focuses on increasing the capacity of the acute care system. This includes $30 million for the Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressures Action Plans, as well as an increase of nearly $10 million for the Regina Urgent Care Centre. Funding is also directed to continuing to reduce the surgical waitlist, working to achieve a three-month wait time target years ahead of schedule.

The budget includes an increase of $29.2 million for the Health Human Resources Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain health care professionals in the province. This includes $11.6 million to fully fund the commitment to add 250 new or enhanced permanent full-time positions in rural and remote locations. A $6.7 million investment for the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive will fund existing recipients of the program and extend this initiative for another year. This year’s budget includes $214 million for the recent Saskatchewan Medical Association contract agreement, including increased physician compensation and new programs to support the province’s efforts to recruit and retain physicians.

A record budget of $574 million will be invested into mental health and addictions programs and services, which represents more than seven per cent of total health care funding. This includes an increase of $34 million to expand access to targeted initiatives focused on children and youth, addictions and vulnerable populations across the province.

The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency will see an increase of $26.1 million for a total record budget of $248.9 million to ensure patients can access the most effective and cutting-edge treatment options.

The budget includes investments to deliver timely, exceptional cancer care services for Saskatchewan women. A $3.5 million increase for breast cancer care and screening includes technology enhancements and new diagnostic imaging equipment, as well as the establishment of a Breast Health Centre in Regina. A continued investment of $1.0 million will be designated for important ongoing ovarian cancer research.

Targeted seniors’ care initiatives will receive a $43.4 million increase to stabilize services and programming so seniors can live safely and comfortably in their home communities for as long as possible.

To provide high-quality care, meet the needs of a growing province and ensure our health professionals have the appropriate facilities to provide care to the people of Saskatchewan, the budget invests a record $516.8 million in health infrastructure, such as new hospitals and health care centres. This is an increase of $179.3 million from last year.

The capital budget includes $2.5 million for the Estevan Long-Term Care redevelopment project. The new facility will include 167 beds, an increase of 59 beds from the existing home. The project is currently in the pre-design and design work phase.

Tim Keating was the guest speaker at the chamber's latest Coffee Talk. Photo by Kimberly Ball

Estevan couple to participate in 250-km, seven-day marathon in the Sahara Desert

Lloyd and Roanna Sehn know a thing or two about pushing the limits of physical and mental endurance.

Last July they competed in the two-day Maah Daah Hey Trail Race, which was an ultra marathon in North Dakota. But that was just a prelude for their next challenge: the Marathon des Sables, a 252.8-kilometre, six-stage, seven-day run through southern Morocco’s portion of the Sahara Desert.

The couple flew to Paris on Sunday, and they will arrive in Ouarzazate, Morocco, this week through a charter offered by the race organizers. The time in Paris is giving them a chance to ensure their gear arrives, adjust to the time change and enjoy the city’s attractions.

On April 12, they will take a six-hour bus ride into the Sahara. The following day will be dedicated to technical checks for food, gear and more. The race will begin on April 14. It’s expected to end on April 21.

“Many years ago, a

friend of mine actually participated in it, and that’s how I first learned of it,” said Lloyd. “And I’ve always been enthralled with it ever since.”

Approximately 900 runners will participate, and there are roughly 1,000 support people for the race.

Lloyd said entrants have to be self-sufficient, carrying food, gear and supplies on their back for the whole week. Race organizers will refill water bottles and provide sleeping quarters –an open-air tarp tent with a stick.

“The Moroccan Army sets up the camp, so they’ll set the tents up because they’re going to house a thousand runners. There are 400 people from the Moroccan Army, and they’ll tear down the tents and move them to the next location while the runners run all day. In about 50-plus Celsius heat,” said Lloyd. Their goal is to finish the race, Roanna said, and to be as healthy as possible once the event is over.

Heat exhaustion, foot

injuries, viral bugs and gastrointestinal issues are among the factors that can take them out of the race.

The first day is 31 kilometres, the second is more than 40 kilometres and the third is 85 1/2 kilometres in an overnight stage.

“If you get past those first three days, most of those people will go on to finish,” said Lloyd.

To get ready for the competition, they have been running, lifting weights, rucking with weighted vests, and using machines like stair climbers and treadmills.

“We’re just at the pack and panic stage. But it’s exciting as well,” said Roanna. “We’ve got all our training under our belts, and now you just have to trust the training and go make it happen.”

They have a lot of support from people in Estevan, and look forward to continued support during the run.

They are slated to return home to Estevan on April 27, after decompressing and sightseeing on the French Riviera.

Vimy anniversary to be commemorated

The South East Military Museum and the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be commemorating the 107th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge with a number of different activities.

It will begin at 10 a.m. on April 13 with the annual Vimy presentation, which is free to attend. Museum founder Craig Bird said it will be more interactive than what he has held in the past.

City Hall: 1102 4th Street

“We have kids coming down on the bus from Regina, Moose Jaw and some other places this year as well,” said Bird. “We received some feedback that because of the long bus ride for them to come down, they weren’t really keen on sitting on a bus for two hours-plus, and then sitting through and listening to my presentation for two hours.”

Bird will still deliver a speech and show a brief video during the morning to help

8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1800

Leisure Office: 701 Souris Avenue

8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1880

the audience learn more about the famed battle during the First World War, but it won’t be as long as it was before. He has secured some aids for the event.

“We want to get them a little more involved, and I think it will be a little bit better for their knowledge retention because they’ll be able to participate and ask and answer questions about certain things. We have it broken down into a few little groups

and segments, and we’ll make it more of an interactive class scenario,” said Bird.

Each of the presentations has been a little bit different each year, but this year is a dramatic shift.

People will be able to view displays before and after the presentation.

Lunch will be served, and then a brief ceremony and wreath-laying will take place at the city’s cenotaph. Then the activity will shift back to the

Mayor’s Message

legion with awards presented for the annual Remembrance Day poetry, essay and poster contest involving local school students. The legion will hold its annual Vimy Awards Night, when it will recognize members for years of service in fiveyear increments. Other recognitions are also presented. “It’s the 107th anniversary this year of Vimy, and we have to keep those memories alive. The whole point of the

museum and the legion is to educate our youth, and to keep all of that in our memory,” said Bird. The Battle of Vimy Ridge occurred from April 9-12, 1917. Members of the Canadian Corps succeeded in dislodging German troops from the ridge, a key strategic point in France, after British and French troops had failed. It is widely regarded as Canada’s greatest military victory.

We are excited to announce April 14, 2024 the Dallas Arcand Hoop Dancer 2:30 at Westview School the Concerts for Kids series and also the Bruins Sportsman Dinner April 13, 2024. Please come out and support the community activities.

Pursuant to subsection 187(1) of The Cities Act, notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the City of Estevan for the year of 2024, has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the Assessor from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days: March 18, 2024, to April 17, 2024.

Bylaw No. 2023-2066 required under section 184(2) of The Cities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment or classification to the Board of Revision is required to file notice of appeal with: Secretary to the Board of Revision – City of Estevan 1102 Fourth Street Estevan, SK S4A 0W7

On or before 4:30 pm on the 17th day of April 2024.

For further information, please contact the Tax Department - City of Estevan (306) 634-1811. Trina Sieben, Tax Assessor, City of Estevan

Lloyd and Roanna Sehn are ready for their next daunting test of endurance. File photo

Strippers tournament brought lots of hockey

The 40th edition of the Estevan Strippers’ Molson Spring Bust Tournament was a hit with teams on the ice while having an impact on the community.

Thirty-six teams entered the tournament from April 3-7. Games were played at Affinity Place and the Power Dodge Arena each day, and at the Bienfait Memorial Arena for the final three days.

Eight teams were entered between the two women’s divisions, and 14 teams competed in each of the men’s over-30 and over-45 circuits. Six of the 10 divisions had four teams each, and those divisions used a round robin to crown their champions. The other four divisions had

three teams each, so they played the other teams in their group, and also played a team at random from the other three-team division in their age class.

With approximately half of the teams from outside of the Estevan area, the tournament carries a considerable economic spinoff.

In the Murray GM Division, which is for women’s teams, the Weyburn Oil Queens finished first with a 2-0-1 mark. The Reston Westman Fusion were second at 2-1, the Moose Mountain Chill were third at 1-1-1, and the Bienfait Bulldogs were fourth at 0-3.

In the other women’s group, the Certified Energy Division, the Bienfait Bitches

(3-0) finished first, followed by the Estevan Wildcats and the Melville Moneybags, who were 1-1-1 each. The Wildcats won the tie-breaker because they allowed fewer goals. The Oxbow Hot Dawgs (0-3) were fourth.

Four divisions were offered for over-45 teams. In the Ray Frehlick Division, the Woodley Whites were first at 3-0, the Energy City Wings (2-1) were second, the Regina Old Slow Shots (1-2) were third and the Estevan Viking 45s (0-3) were fourth.

The Fort Qu’Appelle Combines went 2-0-1 to win the Bill Dutton Division. The Estevan Tower Wolves 45s and the Portage Plainsmen finished tied for second at 1-1-1, but the Wolves won the tie-breaker. The Estevan Capitals (0-2-1) finished fourth.

In the Preston Meyer Memorial Division, the Weyburn Ambassadors and the Melville Moneymen were tied for first at 2-1, but Weyburn won the tiebreaker. The Regina Blackouts were third at 1-2.

The Regina Hooters won the Terry Germain Division with a 3-0 mark, finishing ahead of the Yorkton Old Relics (1-2) and the Brandon North 40 (0-3).

The remaining four divisions were in the over-30 age group. The Estevan Flyers won the Westmoreland Mining LLC Division with a 3-0 mark. The Estevan Eclipse (2-1) were second, the Souris Valley Sioux (1-2) were third, and the Reston Rockets (0-3) were fourth.

The Estevan Red Army and the Alameda Dam Sharks finished tied for first in the

Einar/Rod Fagerheim Memorial Division at 2-1, but the Red Army won the tie-breaker. The Carnduff Chiefs (1-1-1) were third and the Estevan Tower Wolves (0-2-1) were fourth.

The Estevan Chiefs and the Estevan Tap House Rookies were tied for first in the Days Inn Division at 2-1, but the Chiefs won the tie-breaker. The Torquay Hoppers (0-3) were third.

The Regina Piranhas (30) won the Tap House Division, followed by the Weyburn Thrashers (2-1) and the Estevan Broken Arrow Bruins (0-3). Several awards were handed out. Greg Scharf, a 73-yearold who plays for the Portage Plainsmen out of Portage La Prairie, Man., won the Frank John Oldest Player Award. Scharf and the Plainsmen were playing in the tournament for the first time. The club had an

average age of 56.7 years. Scharf is a long-time hockey player, and is listed among the alumni for the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, having played with the team in 1970. His son Jamie is also on the Plainsmen. It’s believed to be the first time a father and a son have played on the same team in the over-45 division.

A player can only win the award once.

This year marks the first time the award has been named after John, a former Estevan resident who was an original member of the Strippers and who played hockey in Estevan for well over 70 years. He was the second winner of the oldest player award, having captured it in 1992 while playing for the Estevan Viking 45s.

Teams were also recognized for sportsmanship

during the weekend. The Tap House Sportsmanship Award is presented to the team in the women’s divisions and men’s over-45 divisions with the fewest penalty minutes during their first two games. The Chill, the Capitals and the North 40 shared the award with no penalties.

The James Schroeder Memorial Sportsmanship Award goes to the team in the over-30 division with the fewest penalty minutes in their first two games. The Flyers and the Sharks were tied with no penalties. Cabarets were held on April 5 and 6 at the Power Dodge Curling Centre, attracting large crowds each night. Crossroads provided live music the first night, and Third Degree Birnz played the second.

The tournament has raised more than $230,000 for various groups and charities since 1997.

Estevan gymnast to compete at Western Canadians

A member of the Estevan Gymnastics Club has been selected for Team Saskatchewan at the upcoming Western Canadian Championships.

Lila Hale will compete at the event in Langley, B.C., on April 18-20. She will compete in the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor exercise. According to a post on the Estevan Gymnastics Club’s Facebook page, she is the first-ever member of the club to be picked for Westerns.

Hale started in gymnastics when she was six and is in her ninth year of competition. She has worked her way through the club, starting with recreational gymnastics, and then moving to pre-competitive and competitive levels. She is currently in Level 8 for the Canadian Competitive Program (CCP) for women’s artistic gymnastics.

She qualified for Westerns after attending a trial in Regina in March. Hale had to finish in the top seven in her age group to advance to Westerns, which

hosts CCP levels 8, 9 and 10.

Hale said she hopes to hit all of her routines and have fun while at Westerns.

“I think it will help me develop quite a bit since it’s a great opportunity to meet people higher up in the gymnastics community and train with different coaches and athletes,” she wrote in an email to the Mercury and SaskToday.

The Estevan Gymnastics Club allowed her to find her love for the sport from a young age. Some friends challenged her to be at her best and coaches supported her through everything.

Hale’s mother, Jesse Mantei, pointed out that as a gymnast in Estevan, Hale trains 12 hours a week and travels to Regina two to four times per month to train for four hours each time at the Queen City Gymnastics Club.

Hale suffered a concussion and a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season in

September, which stopped her from training for eight weeks. She was eventually allowed to resume partial training. She continued to have vision therapy for 20 weeks due to the concussion’s impact on her eyesight.

“She lost a lot of training time at the beginning of the season,” Mantei said. “It was long and frustrating and she wasn’t sure she’d be ready in time for the trial competition.”

The Estevan Gymnastics Club purchased its current building in May 2019, and Mantei said this facility has given athletes the opportunity to grow. Gymnastics equipment takes up a lot of space. The club was previously located in the much smaller Doug Third building.

“This new space offers more square footage to allow for more equipment to train higher-level skills,” said Mantei. “Without this building, she never would have gotten to this point.”

Prolife Estevan & Area

Makes the Announcement that:

April 2024 is Respect for Life Month

With the recognition of the inherent dignity of each member of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in a society and with the lack of respect for human life has historically resulted in acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind and since all human life is sacred and anything which violated this principal indicated lack of respect for human life within our society and therefore it is essential to renew in society the inherent value of each human life, and thereby disarm the attacks made upon it.

Hale said she likes the people she has met through the sport and the community of gymnasts is so supportive. “We all work together as one big team,” she said.

The Estevan Capitals faced the Tower Wolves 45s in an over-45 game at the tournament.

Lila Hale, middle, pictured after winning a gold medal in the vault, will represent Saskatchewan at the upcoming Western Canadian gymnastics event. Photo courtesy of Jesse Mantei

The Bienfait Bulldogs and the Weyburn Oil Queens squared off in a female division game.

Estevan volleyball team wins Regina tournament Redvers wins provincial U13 hockey title

The Estevan Extreme under-14 male volleyball team was the class of the SaskCup No. 2 tournament in Regina on the weekend.

Estevan opened with three straight convincing victories, winning 2-0 against the Regina Volleyball Club White (25-12, 25-10), Yorkton Bongos (25-17, 25-6), and Moose Jaw (25-12, 25-10). Then they lost 2-1 (14-25, 25-20, 15-8) to the Huskies Premier entry in the crossover game.

Estevan recovered to win 2-0 (25-18, 25-13) over the Lloydminster Rustlers in the quarter-finals, and 2-0 (25-17, 26-24) over the Regina Volleyball Club Green in the semifinal round to reach the final, which was a rematch with the Huskies. This time Estevan won 2-0 (25-21, 25-22). The tournament was a qualifying event for provincials, which will happen in early May.

The recent run of success for minor hockey in Redvers continued this season.

The Redvers Rockets won the provincial U13 C title last month after defeating the Watrous Hawks 2-0 (5-3, 5-3) in the bestof-two provincial final.

Coach Dana Carlsen said the Rockets had excellent depth throughout the season, and then they added four players – two forwards and two defencemen – from Carlyle, which only enhanced their team. According to Carlsen, those players from their Highway 13 rivals fit in nicely with the Rockets, both on and off the ice.

“We had really good goaltending. It was our backbone, especially down the stretch,” said Carlsen. “The last couple of games, we got outshot, and our goalies did darn good in net for us.”

The players were thrilled to win the provincial title, especially after all of the hockey they played during the regular season, provincials and league playoffs.

“It’s a grind. There’s two practices a week with the kids, and all of that hard work,” said Carlsen. “It was very rewarding in the end for that to happen.”

The Rockets opened with a win over the Esterhazy Flyers. Redvers won Game 1 106, but lost 6-4 in the next game, so the two teams had to play a tie-breaking mini-game, which Redvers won 2-0.

Redvers didn’t lose again in provincials. They won 2-0 in respective series against the Carnduff Red Devils, the Wawota Flyers and the Wynyard Monarchs to reach the provincial final.

Carlsen noted Carnduff gave them a really good series, and he told a couple of the coaches afterwards that it was too bad it couldn’t have been a best-of-seven clash.

“It was definitely exciting hockey to watch, back and forth,” said Carlsen.

Most teams they played had two lines, he said, but Redvers had three strong lines and lots of good defencemen after adding players from Carlyle.

“We didn’t seem to wear down where teams running the two lines, in the third period of games, they would wear down,” said Carlsen.

Carlsen noted that after they won the provincial final, Hockey Sask president Kelly McClintock told them he was impressed with how they were able to get every kid into the game for shifts, rather than having a few players sitting on the bench.

The Rockets knew they had a strong team from the start of the season. They finished first in the Moose Mountain Minor Hockey League with a 17-3 record, and reached the league final, which they lost in three games to Carnduff.

“We were hoping to be right in there for a championship run, and we fell short on the league, had a bad injury at the wrong time, but the kids played well. We’re proud of them,” said Carlsen.

The Rockets will have seven or eight players eligible to return next season. The majority of the team will move up to the U15 level.

“The U15 team was really strong this year as well, so they have the potential to have a really good run next year,” said Carlsen.

In the past decade, Redvers also won the provincial U18 D championship in 2018, 2019 and 2022, and the U15 C title in 2016. Carlsen said the kids are willing to stay in the community, and Redvers Minor Hockey has good coaches, volunteers and support from the community.

The Estevan Extreme 14U male volleyball team gathers for a group photo after winning a tournament in Regina. Photo courtesy of Kristin Dupuis

The Redvers Rockets celebrate after capturing the provincial U13 C championship. Photo courtesy of Lane Carlsen

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME TO VOTE

We have organized all of the votes, and will be contacting the winners.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Winners will be announced in our May 1, 2024 edition.

SILVER

BRONZE