All you need to know. Mayoral and councillor candidates get a chance to speak on how they see the future for Estevan.
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Christmas for everyone. Estevan Community Hamper Association and Angle Tree are gearing up for the holiday season.
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Latest from the court. Find the recent updates on local resonating cases.
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Celebrating the talent. Local umpire is recognized at provincial level for her skills in softball.
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It’s a lot of history. Estevan Market Mall celebrates 50th anniversary along with the community, completes major renos.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024
People in Estevan come together to honour veterans at Remembrance Day service
By David Willberg
Hundreds of people came together at the Estevan Comprehensive School’s gymnasium on Nov. 11 for Estevan’s annual Remembrance Day service.
e Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion once again organized the ceremony, giving people the chance to honour Canada’s veterans. e event featured various songs, prayers and tributes, including the playing of the Last Post, followed by two minutes of silence and then Rouse.
Estevan legion president Jim (Frosty) Forrest read the roll of honour – the list of people from the Estevan area who died while serving their country during the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and the Afghanistan War. Forrest and his son Willie then placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. e poem In Flanders Field was read.
Capt. Craig Bird, a local military historian, gave a video presentation on a trip that he and his wife Tina took to France in June for ceremonies that marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in France.
e Birds arrived in Paris
on June 4 and then boarded a train to go to the Normandy coast.
“Some of the views from the windows of the train were spectacular, seeing poppies growing along the train tracks, looking out into the countryside and seeing the elds of crops, just like you see here,” said Bird in his presentation.
While in Caen, they looked around and saw some of the old architecture
and cathedrals in the city, as well as monuments that paid tribute to Canadians for the liberation of the city. en they ventured to Bretteville, where a ceremony took place to commemorate the liberation of the town. Bird noted the town centre has a central area called the Place du Canadiens, where the town’s cenotaph is located. Plaques commemorate the war dead and a statue is dedicated to
the Regina Ri es Regiment.
“Walking around the town prior to the ceremony, you could see the welcoming attitude of the people visiting and the Canadian ags all over,” said Bird.
A Canadian ag ies proudly at the monument, Bird said.
“ e plaque on the left reads ‘Free men from all nations remember that in June 1944, brave soldiers from the Regina Ri es Canadian reg-
iment died for your freedom in this village.’ e other side is the same, but in French.” People from around the world attended, including Second World War veterans. Among them was Estevan’s Jim Spenst, who is one of Estevan’s last surviving veterans from the war. Spenst’s son Daryl, a former Estevan resident who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, also attended the ceremony.
A2 » WREATHS
Lori Carr’s latest ministerial role involves rural health and other responsibilities
By David Willberg
Lori Carr’s latest role in the provincial cabinet is a diverse one that will see her keep close tabs on a couple of high-pro le projects in the Estevan area.
Premier Scott Moe announced ursday the MLAs who will be in cabinet posts to start the new four-year term, and Carr, the MLA for Estevan-Big Muddy, was named the minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health.
Carr, who has been a cabinet minister since 2018, said she wasn’t surprised that she was shu ed to a new cabinet post, and there were a number of di erent spots she thought she could have been moved to. She believes her new role is “ap-
propriate” for the region.
“I never expect I’m going to stay there [in cabinet], because obviously other people do get the opportunity to come in, but just with the nature of seniority and all of the new members coming in, I was
very hopeful that I would get the opportunity to stay,” said Carr in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday. “I’ve worked hard in the portfolios I’ve been in, and I think I’ve had success in there.”
Moe didn’t talk to Carr about her latest appointment before the announcement. Carr recalls that at one time, he had consulted with her to nd out her cabinet interests.
Carr has some familiarity with the various components of her new role. She believes mental health and addictions likely impact every person in the province, either directly or indirectly.
“We all probably have a loved one, whether it be a family member or a friend, that is touched by mental health and/or addictions,
so I think, really, no matter who you put in that portfolio, you can understand the needs that will be there,” said Carr.
Estevan is already “fully immersed” with the addictions eld, she said, thanks to the treatment and recovery centre that returned to St. Joseph’s Hospital four years ago and has patients from across the province. She said she has had the opportunity to visit with some of the people who work there, and she expects to build on those relationships.
In terms of rural and remote health, she said it’s important to build on what is already in place in rural communities and small cities. Carr cited the MRI scanner that will be coming to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan “within the next year or two”, which is expected to reduce wait times not only in the southeast but elsewhere.
“How can rural Saskatchewan help alleviate some of those pressures in the cities, and make it a better patient experience for everybody?” she asked. e other big project happening in the area that falls within her new portfolio is the construction of a new Estevan regional nursing home. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in September, just before the provincial election was called. Her appointment to a new cabinet post won’t impact the e orts to bring the MRI scanner to St. Joseph’s or to bring a new nursing home to Estevan, she said.
Estevan-BigMuddy MLALoriCarr
Estevan city council candidates share thoughts
By David Willberg
e candidates who are hoping to be part of Estevan city council for the next four years had another chance to share their views Wednesday night during an all-candidates’ forum hosted by the Estevan Chamber of Commerce.
A large crowd packed the main hall of the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for the event. e candidates not only had prepared statements and responses, but were put to the test during question-and-answer sessions.
It started with the three candidates for mayor –Rebecca Foord, Anthony Sernick and Zacch Vandenhurk – speaking to the crowd. ey o ered a brief prepared opening statement and wrapped it up with a closing statement, and they also answered a prepared statement from the chamber about economic development and the economy, and the e orts they would take to enhance it.
But they also answered a question that they didn’t
know in advance from the chamber on how they would de ne their leadership style and how they would build the team at city council.
en they faced questions from the oor. Topics included if they are in favour of an incremental tax increase to o set rising costs; what they would do to improve communication from the mayor’s o ce; how they would improve preventative maintenance on facilities and infrastructure; would they review existing management and force them to reapply for their positions; and what are their ideas for reducing taxes, particularly for the business community.
After a brief break, the 10 candidates for councillor – Kevin Andrew, Stephen Daniel, Matthew Dubowski, Dave Elliott, Rhyan Hagel, Brian Johnson, Tom Mauss, Shelly Veroba, Kirsten Walliser and Robin Wog – had their opportunity to speak.
ey also delivered their opening and closing statements and answered the
prepared question from the chamber about the economy and economic development.
But due to the number of councillor candidates, the 10 hopefuls were divided into two separate groups to get their response on the unknown question from the chamber and the questions from the oor.
Andrew, Dubowski, Johnson, Veroba and Wog were asked by the chamber on how they would represent the diverse needs of the citizens. ey also faced questions from the audience about the construction of new sports facilities in Estevan such as a third ice surface or a eld house; how they would make it
Bird noted he snapped photos of Spenst with the Regina Ri es camp ag and the City of Estevan ag.
At the end of the day, they took a train to Trouville, which was their base of operations for the next few days. On June 6, at Courseulles-sur-Mer, home of the Normandy landing beaches and the Juno Beach Centre that pays tribute to Canadian forces, there was another ceremony.
“French citizens love that there were Canadians there and wanted pictures with us,” said Bird.
Canada House at Bernay-sur-Mer became part of Canadian military history on June 6, 1944, Bird said, as on that day, it became the rst house to be liberated during Operation Overlord, which was the Allied military operation to liberate France. On June 6, 1977, members of the Queen’s Own Ri es of Canada Regiment and their relatives placed a bronze plaque in front of the house.
“ e plaque reads ‘ is house was liberated at rst light on D-Day, June 6, 1944, by the men of the Queen’s
Own Ri es of Canada, who were the rst Canadians to land on this beach.’ It may have very well been the rst house on French soil liberated by seaborn Allied Forces.”
Within sight of the house, over 100 men of the Queen’s Own Ri es were killed or wounded in the rst few minutes of the landing.
e Birds performed a small ceremony at the beach in front of the Juno Beach Centre, placing photos and Canadian ags, and having the Estevan ag above the photos, which were of Jim Forrest’s father Gerard For-
rest, Spenst’s brother Arnold and Anthony Blondeau. All three participated in the D-Day invasion. Blondeau died in the liberation of Caen.
ey also placed Gerard Forrest’s issue cap badge in the sand.
Bird noted a plaque beside the Juno Centre reads “From these Normandy beaches, traced by our Canadian liberators, begins Remembrance Way.”
e Birds also travelled to the Canadian war cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer. Men who died during battles on
easier to get around the city for those with a disability; and whether the city should continue to provide third-party grants for organizations.
Daniel, Elliott, Hagel, Mauss and Walliser were asked by the chamber about their decision-making process and how they would handle disagree-
ments with other council members. eir questions from the oor included the full cost of the downtown revitalization project on Fourth Street; the ve-year and 10-year plans for the city and how to get them to the public; and the implementation of public transportation in Estevan. e forum aired live on Access Now TV and was streamed live for those who couldn’t attend. It was the second forum for the civic election. e other was hosted by the Concerned Citizens of Estevan SK group in October. e civic election date is slated for Nov. 13. Advanced polls have already happened; they took place Oct. 29 and 30, and a drive-thru poll happened on Nov. 2. For updates throughout election night and articles following the civic election for Estevan and other communities, be sure to check out our provincial news hub at sasktoday.ca. Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have comprehensive coverage of the election.
the beaches and in the bitter bridge battles are buried there. e cemetery contains 2,049 headstones, including Blondeau’s. e Birds planted ags and left his picture. Bird also showed footage and photos of the beach where troops landed on the D-Day invasion. e Estevan ceremony concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony in the gymnasium. Dignitaries, as well as representatives of the legion, protective services agencies, service groups, non-pro t organizations, schools and
businesses, placed wreaths. Members of the No. 30 Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadets Squadron and the No. 2901 Estevan Army Cadets Corps served as sentries, guarding the cenotaph. People were invited to place poppies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to wrap up the event. Lunch was served at the legion following the service, and then additional wreaths were placed at the outdoor cenotaph in Estevan.
For additional photos, please visit our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.
Carr heard a lot of concerns about health care
“Obviously with me being in this role, I’ll maybe be able to keep a closer eye on it if I feel like maybe something is getting held up for whatever reason. It might come to my attention sooner than if I didn’t take the portfolio,” said Carr. Also, Carr wants to focus on ensuring everybody has a practitioner, whether that be a physician, a nurse practitioner or a care team that one has to go to.
“Does it always have
to be that doctor in rural Saskatchewan?” she asked.
“ ey’re hard to come by, and we’ve been ghting for them to come. Slowly but surely, we’ll get there. In the meantime, how can we serve the people of rural Saskatchewan so that they can get their health-care needs met?”
Carr believes there is added pressure on the ministry given the current challenges. ere has been a lot of discussion about emer-
gency room closures and service disruptions in the southeast and elsewhere.
“I know when I was door-knocking, if I would hear something at the door in a negative tone, or people wanted to see improvements, it absolutely was in the health eld,” said Carr. e work that they do will have to be focused. Targets will have to be set and measured to meet the levels they want.
Carr said she has not had the chance to talk to her predecessor, Tim McLeod, about the portfolio. She predicted she would be working very closely with Jeremy Cockrill, the new minister of Health. She was also named the deputy house leader, a role she has held previously. She temporarily moved into the house leader position late in the previous term after Jeremy Harrison was forced to resign from the position after a controversy involving his dealings with former speaker of the legislature Randy Weekes.
Carr’s cabinet post before the recent election was minister of Highways and Infrastructure, her second time holding the portfolio. She has also held the posts for Government Relations, Social Services, and SaskBuilds and Procurement, among others. Also on ursday, Moe revealed that Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison is the new minister of Agriculture. It’s the rst cabinet post for Harrison, who is entering his second term as Cannington’s MLA. For an interview with Harrison, please see page A5.
Estevan Community Hamper and Angel Tree programs now underway, taking applications COMMUNITY
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
As the festive season approaches, the Estevan Community Hamper Association has o cially launched its annual Christmas hamper campaign and the Angel Tree initiative, accepting applications from local families in need since Nov. 1.
is holiday program, annually supporting hundreds of families across the Estevan area, provides essential food and gifts for children, to ensure a warm celebration for everyone, regardless ofnancial circumstances.
With a strong history of community impact, the Hamper Association and Angel Tree campaign distributes Christmas hampers lled with festive food items and children’s gifts to families who apply.
“Our applications have been open since Novem-
ber 1, and we’ve had about a normal amount of people applying so far,” shared Jolie Bayda, co-chair of the Estevan Community Hamper Association. “It will pick up closer to the deadline for sure. We are expecting just
slightly more than last year
… According to the Salvation Army and their numbers, we may have 15-20 more [applications].”
Last year the association distributed 293 Christmas hampers.
Food packages this year will be a bit di erent from how they were before. ey will still include turkey, oranges and chocolate, but will allow for more variety and exibility based on recipients’ needs.
e programs are entirely donation-based, with contributions from both businesses and individual residents.
Bayda noted the currentnancial support but acknowledged the ongoing need as the season progresses.
Families seeking support can apply until Dec. 1, with essential information needed to complete the application, including family details.
Angel Trees will be set up at locations like Estevan Walmart from Dec. 7-15 and other places in December to collect toys and kids’ gift donations for the toy store.
“Stay tuned for other locations,” Bayda said, noting that they expect to have businesses that haven’t helped them directly before joining the e orts this year.
e Estevan Fire Rescue Service is doing their annual fundraiser for the Angel Tree’s Toy Store on Dec. 7 at Canadian Tire in Estevan.
e Toy Store, which will take place in mid-December, allows parents who applied to “shop” for Christmas gifts for their children free of charge. With the assistance of the Southern Plains Co-op in packing fresh items into the hampers, community support and a team of dedicated volunteers, the Estevan Community Hamper and Angel Tree programs aim to ensure that everyone who needs it receives festive support for the holiday season. For those interested in helping make the holidays brighter for local families, donations are welcome and Bayda is the contact to arrangements. Applications for hampers and kids’ gifts can be submitted to the Estevan Community Hamper and Angel Tree through the Facebook page, by phone at 306-471-7181 or the Salvation Army at 306-634-2074.
Community Wellness Committee continues efforts
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e Estevan Community Wellness Committee, a group devoted to enhancing quality of life and fostering connections among residents, hosted its second community board games night on Nov. 4 at Michael’s Co ee Shop and Bakery.
e free event was open to all ages, o ering an array of games to encourage interaction and a break from routine. Around 15 residents gathered to enjoy games.
“It was a good turnout. It was also a good venue,” said Shelly Veroba, who co-chairs the committee alongside Heidi Hesselink.
“It was a good chance to get our name out there again to show people what we’re doing. We had a lot more interest in it, not only people who attended, but we also had people texting, emailing, just sending us messages saying they wish they could have come but it just wasn’t the right night.”
Going forward, the committee is considering making the games nights weekly and nding a permanent location to allow more people to join consistently.
“Our goal for this whole night is to get the community out meeting each other, but also interacting, not just hanging out, but actually doing something. And by playing board games you can always generate that kind of interaction with people,” Veroba said.
e community board game nights are just one part of the committee’s broader mission. Originally launched as a pilot project, the Community Wellness Committee has honed its focus on four
key areas: mental wellness, substance abuse, victimization, and education and employment.
“Our initiative is to identify and enhance what is already available in our community. en we’d like to increase education for all our priority areas. We want community building. And then, of course, we’re looking for funding,” Veroba explained.
“So [game nights] t into our initiative of community building. We’re just starting it out by getting the community to come back out and interact with each other more, especially after the last few years when people don’t seem to go out as often, and also creating a low-cost event. We didn’t want to create an event that had people having to feel like they had to spend money.”
In its rst phase, the committee conducted a survey to gather community insights, which helped de ne its core focus areas. Now, members are working on several initiatives. ey have a partnership with Lemon Wedge Marketing to create a media plan that will raise awareness about resources and events.
One of the committee’s rst initiatives for 2025 is a mental health awareness dinner that they are looking into hosting on Jan. 20. e dinner is designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and open a dialogue in the community.
“ e focus is on mental health awareness,” Veroba said, noting that similar events in other towns, like Carlyle, have been well-received. “It is also to create a base, a starting point to be able to fund a few di erent projects and initiatives. With
hosting the dinner, we’ll be able to apply for some di erent grants, as well.”
e committee’s e orts extend into ongoing collaborations with local schools to provide educational support.
“We’re nding out which speakers would resonate with the youth,” Veroba explained, noting that if resources or speakers don’t t the school’s programming, the committee considers hosting them at other venues, such as the Estevan Public Youth Centre (EPYC).
Additional future plans include potentially reviving or creating a new version of neighbourhood safety programs like Block Parent and Neighborhood Watch, which were popular in previous decades. Veroba noted that while these programs may need to be adapted, they could be valuable for fostering safety and vigilance in the community. Other concerns brought up by survey participants are also on the committee’s radar.
Other committee mem-
bers are secretary Melenee Mehler, James Jones, Catherine Hiltz, Laura Melle, Rebecca Foord, Sydney Wanner, Deputy Police Chief Warren Morrical and Kevin Smith. Members li-
aise with a network of agencies across the city for broader collaboration.
“Di erent agencies that sit at our table will bring different things and ideas to our meetings, and then we gure
Geoff Alexander
February 26, 1982 - November 12, 2015
Missing You always
You never said “I’m leaving”
You never said Goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why.
In life we loved you dearly
In death we love you still,
In our hearts we hold a place
That only you can fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
A part of us went with you
The day GOD took you home.
CREATIVE FOOD DRIVEFOR
out if there’s a way that we can support that,” Veroba noted. “But we also don’t want to reinvent the wheel, if something is already happening.
“We’re still in the early starting stages of this, but we’re committed to moving forward to work collaboratively across all the sectors to create and enhance community safety and well-being in Estevan. Our vision is that our community will sustain safety and well-being for all generations,” Veroba said.
For the latest updates, follow the Estevan Community Wellness Facebook page
“ e more people that we have liking our Facebook page, the more information will come across their feed,” Veroba said.
“And if anyone has a venue that they think would be a good t for games night, we would love to entertain that conversation with them.”
Geoff you’re Greatly missed
Love Mom, Dad, Kiryana, Angela (Brandon, Nathaniel, Janayah, Zoe) Amber (Jayden, Mya, Cale), family friends and special friends Byron, Dawn & family
TheEstevan Mercuryisparticipating in acompetition with otherlocal businessestomakea creative displayofdonated non-perishable food items donatedbythe community We arecollectingitems betweenNovember1st andNovember28thatthe EstevanMercury Office -68SourisAvenueN.Our creative displaywillbephotographedonNovember29th. Alldonations will be broughttoThe SalvationArmy- EstevanFood Bank by December6,2024
Please call (306)634-2654tomakearrangementstodropoff if outsideofregular business hours.
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We
What does Trump’s victory mean for us?
Few elected leaders create a more polarized reaction than U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
e combative, divisive celebrity billionaire-turned-president evokes nearly equal amounts of criticism and admiration. He’s heading back to the White House, which he occupied from 20162020, after winning the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.
Unlike his victory in 2016, this election win wasn’t close. And he won the popular vote this time, which he didn’t do in 2016 or 2020, when he lost.
Millions were hoping that his vast misdeeds, not just during his term as president but before and after, would keep him from the White House this time around. His supporters ignored his agrant snubs to democracy – his bogus claims the 2020 presidential election was rigged, his failure to participate in a peaceful transition of power and his stoking of animosity prior to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington.
Many of his supporters will believe everything he says, no matter how outlandish, and they’ll tell you he’s being railroaded by the justice system.
Criticisms of the Democrats’ failed leadership during the past four years are far more legitimate. ey’ve mismanaged the economy. Joe Biden was a good steady hand as a vice-president during Barack Obama’s eight-year reign as president, but
he wasn’t suited to being president.
If Kamala Harris had been given more opportunities to be in the public eye during her time as vice-president, she likely would have had a better chance to defeat Trump. But you didn’t hear much about her since Biden won the 2020 election, leaving her as a great unknown for voters.
And the Democrats should have never given Biden a chance to seek a second term as president. It’s a damning statement of the party that all they had to oppose Trump was Hilary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, and if not for his embarrassing performance in the initial presidential debate a few months ago, Biden would have been the candidate again.
A Trump defeat might have brought an end to his grip on the Republican Party. While he won’t be able to seek another term as president in 2028, it will still be his party beyond the next four years.
Trump’s victory means a return to the chaotic leadership that we saw from 20162020. Abrasive, unpredictable and often without direction. For Canada, it means a rockier relationship with the global superpower to the south and our largest trading partner.
During Trump’s rst term, his relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was actually pretty good for the rst 12-18 months; ironically, it was likely better than the relationship that Trump would have had with Trudeau’s predecessor, Stephen
Harper, who was ousted as PM in 2015. But Trump’s relationship with Trudeau deteriorated over time, which was predictable. Don’t expect Trump and Trudeau to be on friendly terms for as long as Trudeau is prime minister.
Trump has already said he wants to impose 10 per cent tari s on Canadian goods imported to the U.S., to create a better deal for the U.S., and he has said he wants to once again renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.
Trump’s election should be good news for the oil and gas sector, although his victory will undoubtedly hinder Canada’s competitiveness even more, thanks to policies introduced by the Government of Canada under Trudeau’s leadership. ere’s also no guarantee that Canada’s relationship with the U.S. will be better than it is now, even if the Conservatives win the next federal election.
We’ve been through Trump’s leadership before, but the world is in a much more unstable position than it was eight years ago, thanks to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the war between Israel and Hamas, and other global con icts taking place. ere’s always going to be strife in the world, but right now feels more di cult. Trump isn’t the type who’s going to step in and di use these situations.
So buckle up. e next four years won’t be easy.
The day the junior hockey world changed
Nov. 7 will go down as a historical day for junior hockey in Canada. We don’t know the scope of the impact just yet.
For years, young men who skated in the three major junior hockey leagues in Canada were ruled ineligible to play in the NCAA, because the NCAA regarded them as professionals. If a member of the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears played one game of major junior hockey as a 16-yearold call-up, he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA.
ose days appear to be over. e NCAA has ruled that Canadian major junior hockey league players – or those who have played major junior – can start playing in the U.S. college circuit’s Division 1 starting next season. Division 3 is not a ected as of yet.
e days of 16 and 17-year-old hockey players being forced to decide between playing major junior hockey and the NCAA appear to be over. A young man can play anywhere from one game to ve seasons of major junior hockey and then go to the NCAA with a scholarship. ose two levels of hockey are going to be the real winners.
As for the impact on everyone else, including the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins and other teams in the SJHL, we don’t know yet how much this will hinder the league, but on the surface, it’s not great news.
It’s been a tumultuous time for the SJHL and other junior A hockey leagues in Canada. For years, junior A leagues falling under the umbrella of Hockey Canada were a destination for young players who opted for the NCAA scholarship route.
But in 2021, the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) disassociated itself from Canadian junior A, going its own way with its own rules in an e ort to attract even more NCAA prospects and scouts. Five teams
David Willberg
Willberg’s World
from the Alberta Junior Hockey League bolted to the BCHL midway through last season.
We’ve seen the trickle-down e ect on not only the SJHL. ere are fewer top-end players in the SJHL. It’s still really good, entertaining hockey, but it hurts. And since the BCHL can sign players from other provinces under the age of 18, it’s hurting U18 AAA leagues, too.
We’ll see how the BCHL’s gambit works out now that a player from major junior hockey can go to the NCAA. is change will also impact the U.S. Hockey League and the North American Hockey League, which have accounted for much of the NCAA talent from American junior hockey leagues.
We’ll probably see fewer players from the SJHL getting NCAA scholarships. Sure, you’ll still see some scouts at the rinks during the season, but not as many as when I moved here in 2000.
at’s not to say the league should fold.
ere are a lot of options for young players beyond the NHL, major junior and the NCAA. Canadian university hockey is excellent. It’s likely one of the most under-appreciated levels of hockey on the planet. So you’ll likely see more junior A players opting for that route. ere are options with minor and independent professional leagues in North America and Europe.
e NCAA’s decision to allow major junior players puts a further emphasis on the
need for the SJHL to promote itself and its players. is is actually an area where progress has occurred in the past few seasons. e league struggled with promotion for decades. When I moved here, the league had a simple website, and it was still faxing box scores on a nightly basis. Until the past few years, the SJHL had maybe taken two steps beyond those measures.
It’s up to everyone, from the league to the teams to the players themselves, to create awareness. It’s important for the league and its teams to invest in better production, additional camera angles and just create an overall better game-day experience. Relationships with IKS Media and Flo Hockey have been a step forward, but often there’s just one camera or two zoomed-out camera angles.
When a player does something great, promote the hell out of it. (Millions of hockey fans in Canada saw Alameda’s Jayden Davis score a must-see goal in 2019 while playing for the Estevan Bruins. Why? Because within minutes of it happening, the Bruins sent it to every sports newsroom in Saskatchewan and the national sports broadcasters in Canada).
And the league needs to showcase all of its players, not just the elite. e recent showcase with Manitoba provided an opportunity for 20 players. at’s less than 10 per cent of the league.
Just because NCAA will start recruiting major junior players doesn’t mean the SJHL is going to be relegated to a Junior B-level loop in a couple of years. It just means the NCAA Division 1 will continue to be a diminishing option.
And it’s going to be several years before we see the true fallout of this change for junior hockey.
Flashback
Nov. 14, 2001
Students at Estevan Comprehensive School were busy rehearsing for the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Performances took place in the cafetorium in mid-November 2001.
From left, Kathleen
and Brad Vermeersch
The production also included a choir of 12.
Harrison “honoured” to be new agriculture minister
By David Willberg
Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison says it is an honour to be the new minister of Agriculture for the provincial government. Harrison was named to the role on Nov. 7 when Premier Scott Moe announced his cabinet to start the new term. Harrison replaces David Marit, who is now the minister of Highways and Infrastructure and the minister responsible for SaskBuilds.
It’s the rst cabinet post for Harrison, who was initially elected as Cannington’s MLA in the 2020 provincial election and re-elected in the Oct. 28 election. He said he couldn’t say enough good things about the previous agriculture ministers, in particular Marit, who Harrison described as a
“great friend and mentor”. e two have spoken brie y since the cabinet posts were announced.
“Minister Marit’s now got other duties, so there will be opportunities going forward [to talk], and I’m very appreciative of that,” said Harrison.
Since the appointment was announced, Harrison has been learning everything he can about the role and more about the portfolio.
He voiced an interest in being in cabinet following the election, and was hopeful he would get an appointment, but he wasn’t expecting it and there wasn’t discussion of him being in cabinet during his rst term.
“When the opportunity arises, I’m honoured to pick up that role,” said Harrison.
Agriculture has long
been a big part of Harrison’s life. He is a rancher and a cow-calf producer, with about 160 cows on an
All Holy Family trustees elected by acclamation
e nine trustees who will be part of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division’s board for the next four years were elected by acclamation.
Karen Melle and Virgilito (Gil) Sotto will be the city of Estevan’s two trustees on the board for the next four years. Melle was an Estevan trustee for the past four years, and has nearly 25 years of school board experience dating back to the late 1990s. Sotto spent the previous four
years as the rural Estevan subdivision trustee.
Kristy Phillips, who is Melle’s daughter, will now be the trustee for the Estevan rural subdivision, known as Spruce Ridge. As for the rest of the division, Bruno Tuchscherer and Jerome Sidloski will be the Weyburn city trustees on the board, and Rocky Sidloski is the trustee for Weyburn rural, known as the Queen Elizabeth subdivision.
Teresa Van De Sype will
be the representative for the town of Radville and Radville rural, Kathie Yanko is the trustee for the town of Milestone and Wilcox rural, and Kate McLean will represent the village of Wilcox on the board.
Phillips is the only newcomer to the board for the upcoming term.
While there weren’t any elections needed for Holy Family this year, there wasn’t a second call for nominations needed in any subdivisions, either.
operation near Alida. His mother and father were farmers, and his grandparents on both sides of
the family were involved in farming. e Harrison family’s operation has grown over the years.
“ ere’s always lots to learn, and there are some great stakeholder groups, great producers across the province,” said Harrison.
“It’s probably one of the industries that uses technology, or grows technology, more than a lot of others,” said Harrison. “ ere’s a lot of technology in just a new tractor or combine, let alone the additional technology that you can add to your existing eet.”
e “leading-edge” technology that is created for agriculture can be expanded to other sectors later, he said.
Agriculture remains a backbone of the Saskatchewan economy, and Harrison said growing it and keeping it strong and vi-
brant is a top priority. Supporting producers with a business-risk management program is critical, and encouraging producers to participate is important.
“ e agriculture research that goes on in this province is just second to none. I just can’t say enough about that technology and the research that is conducted here within the province,” said Harrison. Serving as a cabinet minister will mean a lot more work and travel for Harrison. e agriculture sector is spread throughout the province, so Harrison knows he’ll have to meet with lots of people and stakeholder groups.
“It’s a fabulous industry and I look forward to meeting some new people and reacquainting myself with some old friends,” said Harrison.
Woodhouse (Lucy), Aron Willock (Schroeder), Jena Martin (Snoopy), David Cundall (Charlie Brown), Chelsi Seeman (Sally)
South East Butcher Block Co-op hosts grand opening
By Stephanie Zoer
For the South East Butcher Block (SEBB) Co-operatives directors and stakeholders, it was a year of anticipation to nally hold their grand opening on Nov. 2.
Each of the 250 people in attendance could take a tour of the facilities and enjoy beef on a bun and a celebratory cake.
According to Jen Cobham, one of the 17 employees, most people were impressed with the building
Rural Municipality of Benson No 35 OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
NOTICE OF CALL FOR NOMINATIONS -BY ELECTION RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF BENSON NO. 35
Public notice is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the offices of:
Councillor: Rural Municipality of Benson No 35, Division No. 2. Number to be Elected: 1 will be received by the undersigned on the 11 th d ay of Decem ber 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Municipal Office located at 370 – 1st Avenue, Benson, Saskatchewan.
Nomination s will also be received during regular business hours November 13th to December 11th, 2024, at th e m unicipa l offic e at 370 – 1st Avenue, Benson, Saskatchewan.
Nomination forms may be obtained at the following location: RM office located at 370 – 1st Avenue, Benson, Saskatchewan.
Nom inat ion for ms mu st be pr op er ly ex ecu ted and accom pan ied by a completed Public Disclosure Statem en t an d a cu rren t Cr imin al Record Check from the RCMP as per R.M. of Benson No.35 Bylaw 2 016-006 – A Bylaw to Require Criminal Record Checks with N omination Forms.
Dated this 13th day of November 2024.
Chantel Walsh Returning Officer
and thought it was a beautiful addition to the town.
All the employees had the opportunity to move over to the new building after Davis Meats was shut down.
“It was amazing to see so many people come out,” said Cobham.
As people came and went throughout the afternoon, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place with Murray Carndu . He was the owner of Davis Meats and now is the manager at the SEBB. e directors were also on hand, including president Ryan Hull, and Trent Dorrance, William Brown, Marlowe Brown, Jeremy Brooks and Carri-Lee Rutten. Absent was Justin Marcotte.
Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison was also in attendance. T.L. Penner Construction from Virden, Man., the builders of the establishment, came out to join in on the festivities.
Trent Dorrance had a short speech to welcome everyone and to thank everyone for coming out. He also thanked all the directors and volunteers that put in thousands of hours to make this project happen, and the shareholders that have made this project possible. e provincial govern-
ment was also a big contributor to getting things going through the Saskatchewan Lean Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM). is program is for purchasing or upgrading equipment to expand processing to a new product complimentary to existing primary inputs. With spending a million dollars in equipment, this allowed the SEBB to receive half of this back through the program.
Four years ago, the plans for the SEBB began and a groundbreaking occurred Sept. 26, 2023, for the 5,000 square foot building that is located on the south end of Alameda. It houses a full
store front and abattoir.
While they had hoped to have the grand opening in the spring, this was not possible as they waited for equipment, including the smoker. e old smoker did its job, but the new one was to get things rolling in a quicker fashion.
e old Davis Meats Shop was closed down and purchased by the SEBB, and the old Davis Abattoir still stands beside the new building. It will be demolished in the future.
Right now, they are busy with wild game and pork processing, but Dorrance said they have met expectations and are genuinely
happy with the way things are going.
ey will not be processing any fowl at the plant, but pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, bison, deer, moose or elk are all part of the animals they will handle.
e store front is packed with meat for purchasing, o ering a wide range of meats.
ey believe the outcome of the day was a huge success and they are extremely happy with how it all turned out.
e directors, sta and shareholders look forward to a future of providing top quality meat and service through the SEBB.
e southeast region is going to get another annual dose of Christmas spirit, thanks to a visit from the CPKC Holiday Train on Dec. 18.
People will once again be treated to a visit by the midwest U.S. version of the train. It will cross into Canada from the U.S. at North Portal on Dec. 18 at noon. en it will continue to Estevan for a performance that is slated to start at 3:15 p.m. at the CPKC station between Sixth and Seventh Streets in central Estevan. e Holiday Train has a series of brightly-decorated rail cars. People who attend are asked to bring a donation for the Estevan Salvation Army’s Food Bank. Seaforth and Alana Springsteen will be the entertainment. Seaforth is an Australian country-pop act originally comprised of childhood friends Tom Jordan and Mitch ompson. According to the bio on their website, the tandem was named after their hometown of Seaforth in Sydney.
Man
“ e duo became known for their smooth harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and catchy melodies that blend country and pop in uences. eir breakout single, Love at, introduced their signature feel-good sound, quickly earning them a devoted fanbase in both Australia and Nashville.”
In 2024, Jordan departed to pursue solo ventures. ompson has continued to carry the Seaforth name. Springsteen gained acclaim with her debut album Twenty Something a few years ago and has a sophomore album in the works. Also delivering crossover collaborations with Tiësto and William Black, she’s surpassed 221 million career streams globally. She was recently featured on National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk series, is among the roster for the 2024 CMT Listen Up, and is viewed as a rising star in the country music industry.
e 2024 CPKC Holiday Train will tour Canada and the U.S. from Nov.
accused in
e latest docket day for Estevan Provincial Court on Nov. 4 was a busy one.
Among the cases heard was Tyler Neil Shaw, one of the men accused in connection with the death of Oxbow’s Briana Hayes in April. Shaw, who hails from Gainsborough, is charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact. His matters were set aside until Nov. 18, with the hope there will be an election at that point as to the nature of Shaw’s trial.
e co-accused in the case, Taylor Japp of Oxbow, is charged with second-degree murder. He will return to court in Carlyle for a preliminary hearing in June 2025.
Both men were released from custody with condi-
tions earlier this year. ***
Also on Nov. 4, the four people who were charged in connection with a drug bust in August in Estevan had their matters heard.
Cody Blaine Klyne, Devon William Martell, Brennan Stephen McKeen and Jessica Louise Rutter-McKeen had their matters set aside to Nov. 18 as well. Judge Mitch Miller said he hopes the various legal counsels for the four accused can come together and determine the next step.
Klyne’s attorney has previously said Klyne wants a trial by judge and jury in Court of King’s Bench. e four accused individuals were charged with possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose
21-Dec. 20, raising money, food and awareness to support food banks across its network. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated
train’s stage, which, in Estevan, typically faces Seventh Street. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attend-
Oxbow woman’s
of tra cking (cocaine); possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of tra cking (methamphetamine); tra cking a schedule 1 substance (cocaine); tra cking a schedule 1 substance (methamphetamine); and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Klyne is facing two charges of violating the conditions of his release order, stemming from a prior o ence. e street value of the illicit drugs recovered exceeded $150,000.
*** Timothy Irwin had his latest appearance on Nov 4 as well. e Oxbow man’s matters were also adjourned to Nov. 18, as his attorney is awaiting disclosure.
ees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation. Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised
more than $24.3 million and collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S.
death returns to court
He is charged with one count each of sexual assault, administering a noxious substance, possession for the purpose of tra cking (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine [crystal meth]), and unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles).
*** Brandon Tremblay will spend a few months in jail after his conditional sentence order (CSO) was revoked.
Tremblay, a 27-year-old from Lampman, was arrested in Estevan on Oct. 27. He has been charged with ight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving while impaired by drug, possession for the purpose of tra ck-
ing, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000 and breach of a conditional sentence order.
Tremblay allegedly ed from police after he was spotted driving a vehicle in an erratic fashion. e vehicle did not stop for police and departed at a high speed. Police did not pursue, and Tremblay was arrested later that day.
Tremblay was on a CSO after he pleaded guilty in February 2023 to charges of tra cking ketamine and meth, and one count of breaching his release conditions, following a drug bust in 2022. Tremblay and a co-accused were issued a
CSO of two years less a day. During a court appearance by phone on Nov. 4, Tremblay’s lawyer Joelle Graham said he admits he violated the terms of the CSO to be of good behaviour, so Tremblay will spend approximately 100 days in prison to nish the rest of his sentence. is was the second breach of his CSO. Tremblay has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will stand trial for the drug o ence on July 8, 2025. It’s expected to be a one-day trial. As for his other matters, they were adjourned to Dec. 9 for a bail hearing.
Take our Kids to Work Day a chance to learn
e annual Take our Kids to Work Day on Nov. 6 gave Grade 9 students from the Estevan Comprehensive School and elsewhere the chance to enjoy some on-the-job learning.
Lennox Hodgens spent the day with his mother Morgan working at Estevan’s oldest business, the Estevan Mercury. He said the experience was pretty good, and he found the Mercury to be an interesting place to work. His mother and her co-workers helped make the day enjoyable. He helped his mother out with
8amto4:30
her administrative duties, including answering phones, working with the newspaper carriers and entering the ads that came in from the Mercury’s sales team. He also learned the process of putting together a newspaper each week.
Lennox said Take Our Kids to Work Day is a good program, and he thinks the media would be an industry of interest in the future. Morgan added it was good to have Lennox around, as he’s an “easy-going” young man who followed directions that day.
EstevanCity Hall |11024th Street, Estevan, SK, S4A OW7
•Tuesday, October29thfrom4:30to7pm •Wednesday, October 30th from 4:30pm to 7pm
EstevanFireHall 80113thAve Saturday, November2nd 11am to 1:30pm
Get your Mail-In Ballot online at www.estevan.ca/elections or email arequestto elections@estevan.ca
Election Information
Website: www.estevan.ca/elections
Email:elections@estevan.ca
306-634-1800
° 1920 Wellock Road
° 9am-8pm SudsZone
° 238 4th Street
° 9:30am-6:30pm
EstevanFireHall
° 80113th Avenue
° 9am-7pm
AppendixC FORM DD
[Subsection148(1) of theAct]
Ballotfor Vote on Resolution Plebiscite
Note: Mark your ballot fororagainst thebylaw or resolutionbyplacing an “X”inthe circle to theright of thewords that expressyour intention. Do not write anywordorother figureonthisballot.
Vote on theResolutionasstated:
Wouldyou supportthe constructionofa thirdindoor icefacility in the City of Estevan Yes No In theCity of Estevan
Datedthis 10 dayof September ,2024
Judy Pilloud ReturningOfficer
LOCALGOVERNMENTELECTION [Section81ofthe Act]
Notice of Poll
PUBLIC NOTICEisherebygiven that:
1A pollhas been grantedinthe City of Estevanfor theelectionof: Mayor Councilor
SoutheastCornerstone School Division No.209 /Acclaimed Holy Family Separate School Division No 140 /Acclaimed
2Votingwill take place on Wednesday the13thday of November,2024, at thepollingplaces listed below.
3I will declarethe result of theelectionatCity Hall, 1102 4thStreet,Estevan on the14thday of November,2024.
PollingAreaPollingPlace Address
#1 Church of God(9:00 am -8:00 pm)1920 Wellock Road #2 Estevan Fire Hall Drive-Thru (9:00 am -7:00 pm)801 -13th Avenue
#3Suds Zone Drive- Thru (9:30 am -6:30 pm)238 4th Street
DatedatEstevan this 10thday of October, 2024.
LennoxHodgens
Speedway hands out awards, salutes volunteers SPORTS
| Wednesday, November 13, 2024 |
e Estevan Motor
Speedway placed the nishing touches on the 2024 season during its annual awards night and fundraising supper at the Beefeater Plaza on Saturday night.
Track championship trophies and other mementos were handed out to Kody Scholpp in the modi ed class, Gabriel Deschamp (sport modi eds), Connor Hanson (hobby stocks) and Brogan Wagner (slingshots). Austin Daae won the title in the stock car class but was unable to attend. All classes except for the slingshots are a liated with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA).
Runners up were Steven Pfeifer (modi eds), Kyle Scholpp (stock cars), Leevi Runge (sport modi eds), Landon Runge (hobby stocks) and Gunner Raynard (slingshots). All of the runners up are from Lampman ,with the exception of Pfeifer.
Jake Skjerdal (slingshots) and Dustin Skjerdal (hobby stocks) won top rookie awards.
Cam Stepp and Larry Mack were named the speedway’s volunteers of the year. President Brad Pierson said it’s not dicult to nd someone deserving of the award, especially with the grandstand
project that has happened in the past couple of years. Stepp helps out with track clean-up before and after the season, while Mack is on the track preparation crew. Pierson recalled the speedway was supposed to hold its year-end work bee in early October, but it had to be called o due to the strong winds that day. He drove out to the track to make sure nobody showed up to work, and Stepp and Mack were there to brave the conditions.
Pierson noted the track doesn’t exist without its volunteers. ey help out with preparing the track, collecting tickets, working at the pit and vehicle gates, selling 50-50 tickets, serving in the concession, working as on and o -track o cials, and handling other duties.
Marcus Tomlinson, a modi ed driver from North Dakota, was named the most sportsmanlike racer of the year, thanks to his e orts to help other drivers.
In his remarks, Pierson noted the track has long had a really good hobby stock class, which is a good way to get drivers into racing and advance them to another level.
“I think there’s ve very good young drivers moving out of that class, four … into stock cars and one
into the sport mods,” said Pierson.
He’s sad to see the hobby stock division losing drivers, but he hopes some of the young slingshot drivers will shift into hobby stocks.
“I thought we had a good racing program,” said Pierson. “I thought things ran well. We like to run on time and have as little drama as we can.”
When he watches racing from other tracks online, he sees issues come up elsewhere that don’t occur in Estevan. e EMS isn’t perfect, but things are run well.
A live auction followed the awards, bringing in money for the speedway.
e awards and auction night is the track’s top fundraising of the year.
Pierson said the night is a big one for the speedway, not just to honour the drivers, but to keep the speedway’s books in the black. He applauded the drivers who brought at least one sponsor to the awards night, because those supporters play an important role in keeping the drivers on the track and keeping the facility open.
e speedway also hosted its annual general meeting on Tuesday night. Pierson urged people to attend and share their thoughts on what they like or don’t like, or what they think should be changed.
Award-winning Estevan umpire loves softball
Prysm Gooding has been recognized for her commitment to softball in Estevan and throughout the province.
Gooding was presented with the Marilyn O’Driscoll Junior Umpire of the Year Award during the recent Softball Saskatchewan awards night in Saskatoon. She said she was surprised to be saluted, but she has enjoyed the work and has o ciated games in a sport she loves.
“I enjoy meeting new people. ey’re people who are into the same hobby as me. I’ve played softball since I was four years old, so I know the rules of the game, and I thought I might as well show some respect for people who are doing it [o ciating] for me,” Gooding told the Mercury and SaskToday.
Gooding, who is now 17, started umpiring when she was 11, calling games for younger players. She noted she was the only girl who stepped forward to help at that time. She started working with Bienfait’s Barret Fleck, who was recently named the top junior umpire in the province for baseball, and he helped her out. Estevan Softball Association president Wade St. Onge also helped
her progress.
As an umpire, she was selected to o ciate the Western Canadian U15 Championships in North Battleford for both boys
and girls, and she was assigned the third base umpire job for the girls’ gold-medal game. She also worked at provincials for the U13s in Moose Jaw.
She recalls that earlier this season, she was not only umpiring games in Regina, but she was playing in other contests the same day.
“It was a pretty hot weekend. ere was a younger age group and then there was my group. So, I would play and then I would umpire, play and then I’d umpire,” said Gooding.
Gooding said Softball Saskatchewan told her they were impressed with her ability to work “by the book” when o ciating, and were pleased with her love and knowledge for the sport, having played it for so many years.
“I’ve become more con dent through my whole year this year.
I’ve got a boost of con dence.”
Her introduction to softball came thanks to a couple of aunts who used to play the game, and her father was part of the softball
board at one time. She took up the game, enjoyed it and kept looking for ways to be involved.
Gooding is a Level 3 umpire. An o cial is eligible to move up a level every two years, but she has to be evaluated by the umpire-inchief in North Battleford in order to graduate. She has also been to the national skills camp in Regina, where there were two umpiring representatives from B.C. “ at’s what gave me the boost to go to the U15 westerns, and I’m hoping to go to another one or a couple more next year,” she said. She hopes to continue umpiring and remain involved in the sport. She encourages others to consider working as an umpire, as even though the money isn’t great, it’s a fun way to spend a couple months in the spring and summer months.
“I enjoy doing it by myself, but also when I’m with people who can teach me new things, it’s pretty neat. Every game is not the same; they’re all di erent in a way,” she said.
Elecs’ senior boys advance to volleyball provincials
e Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs’ senior boys’ volleyball team is heading back to the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association’s (SHSAA) 5A provincial championship.
e Elecs defeated Yorkton Regional High School 2-0 (25-12, 25-19) to win the bronze-medal game of the regional quali er Saturday at Moose Jaw Peacock, and claim the third andnal qualifying spot for provincials, which will be Nov. 15-16 at Balgonie Greenall.
Estevan opened with a 2-0 (25-7, 25-22) win over the host Peacock team, and then beat Yorkton Regional 2-0 (25-17, 25-15) to nish the round robin with a 2-0 record and earn a bye to the semi nal round.
Estevan lost 2-0 (25-20, 25-20) to Balgonie, but recovered to defeat Yorkton
Regional for the second time at regionals and nish third.
As for the senior girls, their season came to an end at regionals in Yorkton on Saturday. Estevan opened with a 2-0 (25-21, 25-16) victory over Moose Jaw Peacock, but then they lost 2-0 (25-23, 25-15) to Balgonie.
Estevan defeated the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles 2-0 (25-13, 25-19) in the quarter- nals, but lost 2-0 (25-19, 25-14) to Swift Current in the semis, ending their season. Since only two teams from the regional tournament advanced to provincials in Weyburn, the third-place game between Estevan and Yorkton was not played. It was still a successful season for the senior girls. Among the highlights, they teamed up with the
e Estevan Bruins had a couple of divisional games on the weekend, winning 5-3 at home over the Melville Millionaires on Friday but losing 3-0 to the host Weyburn Red Wings the following night.
e win over Melville ended a four-game losing streak for the Black and Gold, and was their rst win in four tries over the Mills.
Estevan notched two power-play goals late in the rst period to take a 2-0 advantage, with Kaelen Whittingham opening the scoring with 4:55 to play in the frame and Luke Hogan notching his rst of the game with 30 seconds remaining in the stanza.
Hogan added his second of the game midway through the second period during a prolonged 5-on3 advantage to put Estevan up by three.
“I think our power play has been good all season,” said Hogan. “We’ve been burying a lot. So, it de nitely felt really good.”
Melville cut into the lead when Caden Drury – a former member of the Estevan U18 AAA Bears who leads the SJHL in scoring with 28 points in 18 games –notched a power-play goal, and then Simon Parini pulled Melville to within one when he scored with ve seconds remaining.
Liam Rodman tied the game for Melville on a power play 3:44 into the third period, but Reed Gramlich put the Bruins back in front midway through the frame. Melville had a glorious opportunity to tie the game with an 80-sec-
ond two-man advantage late in regulation, but Bruin goaltender
Kyle Kelsey and the penalty killers stood tall. Cade Kennedy nished the scoring with an empty-net goal with 42 seconds remaining.
Kelsey made 24 saves for Estevan, while Nick Genette (Melville) had 20 stops.
Hogan said it was important for the team to get a win over Melville.
“We gave one up, last time we played them, with ve minutes left to play the game, so it felt really good to get that back,” said Hogan.
Minor hockey hosts annual U15 tournament
Eight teams were entered in the Estevan Minor Hockey Association’s annual U15 tournament, which ran from Friday to Sunday at A nity Place and the Power Dodge Arena.
e Estevan Baker Hughes Bruins nished in fourth spot, as they lost 5-4 in overtime to the Esterhazy Flyers in the B championship game. Esterhazy had a 4-0 lead early in the second period, but Estevan fought back to tie and force extra time.
Estevan nished second in their pool, as they opened with a 6-4 win over Manitoba’s e
Pas Huskies. en they lost 5-0 against the Radville Nats, but recovered to win 4-3 over the Deloraine Royals.
e Estevan Western Star Bruins lost 5-1 against Deloraine in the D championship contest. ey went 0-3 in the round robin, falling 9-1 to the Flyers, 12-0 to the Whatford City Oilers from North Dakota, and 4-1 to the Assiniboia Rebels. e Estevan team was without some players due to injury.
e Oilers defeated the Nats 4-2 in the A nal, while the Rebels outscored the Huskies 7-5 in the C nal.
Head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic noted that while Melville managed a couple of power play goals, when special teams really mattered, the Bruins came up big.
Forward Brady Wilson had two assists in his season debut. He missed a couple of months due to injury.
“It’s tough in the rst game. A lot of guys are in game shape. ere’s a di erence between practising and playing games. It’s going to take him a little time. But he’s a veteran player. He’s smart and he did a great job for
us tonight,” said Tatarnic. e loss to Weyburn was the rst matchup of the season between the Highway 39 rivals.
Weyburn opened the scoring on a power-play goal by Turner McIntyre 8:34 into the rst period. e Red Wings outshot the Bruins 11-2 in the stanza and 13-5 in the second, but only managed the one goal in the rst 40 minutes.
Max Chakrabarti scored 8:37 into the third period to put Weyburn up by two, and Braigh LeGrandeur nished the scoring with just over two minutes to
play in the third with an empty-net goal.
Kyle Kelsey stopped 31 shots for Estevan, while Dazza Mitchell had 20 saves to get the shutout for Weyburn. irteen of his saves came in the third period.
Estevan played the game without forward Kent Moors, who was injured midway through the game against Melville. Moors had just returned to Estevan after playing for the SJHL entry at the recent showcase competition against the best from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
In o -ice news, the Bruins announced forward Odin George has been dealt to the Kindersley Klippers for future considerations, and forward Jacob Hu y is awaiting a trade. Both are 20 years old, and Tatarnic said they were caught in the numbers game due to the number of 20-year-olds a team can dress. e Bruins now have 24 players on their roster, including eight 20-year-olds.
“We like our core, and especially our 19-year-olds. at’s a really strong group there,” said Tatarnic.
Forward Cole Robertson, acquired from Kindersley last month, is expected to make his Bruin debut shortly now that his playing rights have been sorted out.
Up next for the Bruins (5-7-11) is their second northern road trip of the season. ey will visit the reigning SJHL champions, the Melfort Mustangs, on Nov. 13, and the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Nov. 15 and 16.
Cougars upend Huskies to open Big Six season
e Carlyle Cougars defeated the Oxbow Huskies 5-1 on Friday night in the opening game of the Big Six Hockey League’s regular season for both teams.
Jon Gaudet recorded the Cougars’ rst goal of the campaign with just under nine minutes to play in the opening frame. Ty Brown and Taysen Holt scored less than three minutes apart in the second to build the advantage, but Colton Schell notched Oxbow’s rst goal of the season less
than a minute after Holt’s goal.
Marc Shaw and Ben Johnstone scored in the third to dash Oxbow’s hope for a comeback.
Curtis Meger (Carlyle) and Cody Levesque (Oxbow) were the goalies.
e Moosomin Rangers won the other two games played on the weekend. Up rst was a 9-3 victory over the Midale Mustangs on Friday night – the second time Moosomin defeated Midale in eight days.
Bud Holloway scored four times and added an assist for Moosomin. Carter Sawchuk had two goals and two assists, and Chad Hebert, Koby Morrisseau and Collin Paull had Moosomin’s other goals. Levi Horn was their goalie.
Steven Lindenbach scored twice for Midale and assisted on the Mustangs’ other goal by Cain omson. Talen King was in goal for Midale.
e following night, Moosom-
in routed the Carndu Red Devils 10-1. Holloway had his second straight ve-point game with two goals and three assists, and Morrisseau also had ve points with a goal and four assists. Sawchuk notched two goals and two assists for the second straight night. Ryker Cole and Taylor Sanheim each scored twice, and Drayson Skulmoski also scored. Mark Moriarty had Carndu ’s lone goal. Horn was in goal for Moo-
somin, while Cody Dumaine and Mason Plews shared Carndu ’s goaltending duties. Four games are scheduled in the upcoming weekend. Oxbow will visit the Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings and the Redvers Rockets are at Carlyle on Nov. 15, and Midale is at the Wawota Flyers and Carlyle is at Carndu on Nov. 16. All games are slated to start at 8 p.m. e Flyers’ game will be their rst contest of the season.
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CLASSIFIEDS
Elenore Brosinsky
Elenore Brosinsk y age 89 passed away on November 1 2024 after a long and wellloved life Or iginally of Stettler AB and for mer ly of Estevan Elenore was dear ly loved and will be greatly missed by family and fr iends Elenore and Nor man marr ied in 1954 and moved to Estevan where they raised four daughters in a kind and loving home A lifelong clothes designer and dressmaker Elenore’s amazing talents were sought after by many In 1984
Elenore realized a dream of becoming a business owner when she and Nor man purchased Bastian Ladies Wear on Fifth Street Elenore loved fashion and ser ving her customers and fr iends for near ly t wo decades Dur ing that time they purchased a second clothing store on Four th Street and daughter Jennifer ran the newly named, Jenny Joans Elenore and Nor m s home was the gather ing point for over a half centur y always making children and grandchildren feel like the most special people in the wor ld Elenore s devotion to her family was deep and her loving care of Nor man in his final years was admirable In addition to family, Elenore had several passions including br idge, golf (her last game at 88), birdwatching, gardening, music volunteer ing and helping others Scrabble was always on the table and as kids, she let us win just to keep us playing, but as we got older, all bets were off As a creative soul, people would often come to Elenore with challenging projects and she would come through ever y time
Elenore was a source of comfor t and wisdom to her family, always the voice of reason and reassurance (just don t use her sewing scissors to cut paper) She and Nor m shared a love of bird-watching and enjoyed their back yard and all the wildlife that visited Her grapevines were of par ticular joy and she took pr ide in the abundance of fr uit and making “Gramma’s Grape Jelly ” Elenore s people adored her and each held a special place in her hear t Elenore is sur vived by daughters Susan Jackson (Don) Tami Zurakowsi (Darwin) Karen Edwards (Tom) Jennifer Pettitt (Mar k) grandchildren Shar i Kolke Ben Kolke Kylie Jackson, Janel Edwards (Sk ylar), Sydney Edwards, Max Pettitt and great grandchildren Evelyn Kolke Nico & Holden McGonigle
A search for a photo for Elenore s obituar y led to the realization that we have had an abundance of fun over the years and we are grateful for so many wonderful memor ies with her – it’s great solace to know we had her for our ver y own
A pr ivate family gather ing and no funeral at Elenore s request
Ross McLaren Carnduff
The wor ld lost one of it s largest Saskatchewan Roughr iders fans (both literally and figuratively) when Ross McLaren Car nduff passed away unexpectedly at Chinook Regional Hospital at 75 His children Leanne Haslam (Kassy and Car thew) Grant Mac Car nduff and Cur tis Car nduff (Anna Alex and Landon) were by his side Ross was bor n in Car nduff Sask Sept 21, 1949 where he lived the far m life until he and his Rider pr ide moved to Alber ta for wor k on the r igs in the late 60s Over time his career evolved into tr uck dr iving and equipment operations His family was ever ything to him and he raised his t wo boys alone and with his daughter joining them in Water ton where he wor ked from 1984 to 1994 as an equipment operator for Par ks Canada and occasionally bootlegged His love for family was fur ther demonstrated when he moved back to Car nduff to care for his mother until her passing In 2000 Lethbr idge became his final move where he ran the night haul from Lethbr idge to Calgar y for 12 years until his retirement Ross enjoyed watching spor ts and socializing at Bully's and always carr ied a toothpick in his pocket like many a Saskatchewan far m boy His common complaints about his meals were epic and he would often suggest his "hash-browns and bacon were not cooked enough and there was too much lettuce in my salad "
His dr y wit (another Saskatchewan trait) was always evident with one of his classic lines being: I ve dr iven more miles backward than most people have forward "
As a father he was respectful of his children and always told his grandson Car thew to "Listen to your mother " Ross was pre-deceased by his father Peter McLaren Car nduff and his mother Elizabeth Bett y (Farr) Car nduff After his father s death his uncle Ar t Farr offered him some male guidance until he too died He will be missed greatly by many - including aunt Sharon - and fr iends near and far When the time is r ight his ashes will be released into a strong west wind in Water ton so they might find their way back to Saskatchewan where his jour ney began
The family wishes to share their deep gratitude to the staff of Lethbr idge s Chinook Regional Hospital who were extremely helpful in Ross' final jour ney
To honour Ross s request there will be no funeral Go Riders!!!!!
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation
To send a condolence, please visit www salmonandsons ca
EPS called to vehicle-pedestrian collision
Members of the Estevan Police Service were called about a collision involving a truck and a pedestrian walking with her bicycle on Nov. 4.
The driver of the vehicle reportedly stopped to check on the woman and then left the
area. The pedestrian suffered a few minor injuries and the bike was damaged. Police were asking the driver of the truck to identify themselves to EPS as they believed there was a language barrier, and details were not properly exchanged
Marian Stark
Mar ian Louise Star k of Medicine Hat, Alber ta, for mer ly of Estevan Saskatchewan passed away on Fr iday, November 1, 2024, at the age of 72 years She leaves to cher ish her memor y her daughter Heather (Joey) Scherger ; sisters Cathy (Gene) Smith and Cindy (Daniel) Ulmer-Timlen; sisterin-law Helen Star k and brother-in-law Mor ley Dr yden as well as numerous nieces and nephews She was predeceased by James Star k her husband for 46 years; her parents Grace and Ar thur Ulmer ; her brother Perr y Ulmer ; her mother and father-in-law Mathilda and Thomas Star k; her brother-in-law George Star k; sisters-inlaw Mar ion (Paul) Dor nian Ber tha (Fay) Whitman Irene (Raymond) Orser and Marjor ie Dr yden
Mar ian was bor n in Neudorf, Saskatchewan After growing up in D’Arcy Saskatchewan and graduating high school in Rosetown Saskatchewan, Mar ian found herself in Saskatoon, and then Calgar y, continuing her education and wor king Mar ian eventually moved back to Saskatchewan to the cit y of Estevan where she was able to be closer to her family and had job oppor tunities It was in Estevan that Mar ian met her husband Jim gave bir th to their daughter Heather and began her career of 38 years at SaskPower, where she eventually retired Mar ian enjoyed reading many many many books over the years spending time with family and fr iends travelling and getting away for the weekend whenever the oppor tunit y arose Mar ian also took an interest in hockey cur ling and Canadian football Mar ian was a huge Saskatchewan Roughr iders fan and looked forward to ever y single game day Arrangements and Cremation has been entr usted to the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 540 South Railway St SE Medicine Hat T1A 2V6 Please call 1-866-5262214 for fur ther infor mation
Helen Persson (Tuchscherer)
With broken hear ts Helen's family announces that she peacefully passed away surrounded by their love at the Regina General Hospital on October 19 2024 at the age of 80 Helen s memor y will be forever cher ished by her daughter Sherr y (Harr y) Lauder ; son Floyd (Cindi) and grandchildren: Hailee (Br yson), Cassy (Nick), and Madie; daughter Lor i (Kevin) Daunheimer and granddaughter Hunter (Brayden); son Shawn (Chr issy) and grandchildren: Kanasia (Colin) and their daughter Taytum, Shey (Faith), Mataya (Brady), Micaela (Matthew) and their son Colt and Maddex She will also be lovingly remembered by her sisters: Deloras (Tony) Fr iess and Carol Vandenbroek; sisters-in-law: Donna Miller and Evelyn Persson as well as numerous nieces and nephews Helen was predeceased by her loving husband Leonard; parents: Car l & Kather ine Tuchscherer ; brothers: Joseph and Richard Tuchscherer ; mother and father-in-law: Nils & Er ma Persson; brothers-in-law: Steve Vandenbroek, Edwin, Har ley, and Dennis Persson; nephews: Aaron Persson and Scott Fr iess
The Memor ial Ser vice for Helen was held on Fr iday October 25 2024 at 11:00 a m at Tr init y Lutheran Church, Estevan, with Pastor Ryan Dittmann officiating Inter ment followed in Sour is Valley Memor ial Gardens after which a luncheon took place in the church social hall Those wishing to pay tr ibute to Helen via a donation in her memor y may do so directly to the Hear t and Stroke Foundation of Canada online at https://www hear tandstroke ca/ Hall Funeral Ser vices in Estevan provided care to Helen and her family - Dustin Hall, Funeral Director
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Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks,
between the two parties.
The driver went to the police station on Nov. 8 to identify himself. A statement was obtained from the individual and he was issued a summary offence ticket under the Traffic Safety Act for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Also on Nov. 4, a male was arrested at the Estevan Courthouse after he assaulted a police officer. He was processed and released later in the day, and will appear in court at a future date to speak to the charge.
Police received a report of a stolen wallet and debit card. Local transactions were made using the stolen card and the matter remains under investigation.
A Weyburn man was arrested on outstanding warrants from the Weyburn Police Service. He was subsequently released with a new court date in that city.
Police received a report of a fraud over $5,000 during the Nov. 5 dayshift. Members are in the early stages of gathering details to investigate.
A local business reported counterfeit currency being used during a recent purchase. Police remind business owners to be on the lookout for any suspicious-looking Canadian currency. The EPS received a report of a male dressed in dark clothing and walking on Highway 39 east in the dark and rain. He was located and it was determined that he was walking from his residence to a restaurant. He was cautioned regarding being on the highway at night without reflective clothing, and an alternate way to travel home was suggested.
Police received a report Nov. 8 of an individual receiving threats from another person. The matter is under investigation.
The EPS received a report Nov. 9 of an individual breaching the peace and violating release conditions. The complainant reported a male making contact and yelling at her and her child. The matter is still under investigation.
On Nov. 10, the EPS received a report of uttering threats and intimidation. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the occurrence happened in Radville. The matter was forwarded onto the
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RCMP in that jurisdiction. Police received a report of theft of a utility trailer. The matter is under investigation. The individual in possession of the trailer was in contact with police and is trying to get the trailer returned.
Police made a traffic stop on a 43-year-old man, who was showing signs of impairment. The oral fluid device was used to take a sample from the man, which resulted in a positive result for THC. He was issued a suspension and the vehicle was impounded.
Police heard a female yelling for help inside of the construction zone on Fourth Street. Members spoke with the female who stated that an unknown male had threatened to kill her. The area was patrolled looking for an individual matching the limited description provided, but he was not located and the female refused to provide any further information.
Members made a traffic stop on a 27-year-old man, during which time signs of impairment were observed. An oral fluid device was used to take a sample from the male which resulted in a positive result for THC. He was subsequently transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital where blood samples were obtained for analysis. He was issued a driving suspension and the vehicle was impounded, pending results from the blood samples. The Estevan Police Service responded to 45 calls for service from Nov. 8-10, including mental health occurrences and well-being checks, two reports of harassment, one uttering threats to cause bodily harm complaint, several calls for suspicious vehicles and people, a couple of traffic collisions and one report of possession of stolen property. Multiple tickets for traffic violations were also issued.
***
RCMP officers in southeast Saskatchewan have responded to a couple of collisions on Highway 39 last week. On Nov. 4 at approximately 6:50 p.m., the Estevan RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle collision at the junction of Highways 18 and 39 east of Estevan. Officers responded with the Estevan Police Service, firefighters and EMS. An investigation determined two trucks collided. No physical injuries were reported to police. The Estevan RCMP continues to investigate.
On Nov. 6 at approximately 7:50 p.m., the Weyburn RCMP received a report of a single-vehicle collision involving wildlife on Highway 39, approximately five kilometres outside of Halbrite. No physical injuries were reported to police. The Weyburn RCMP continues to investigate.
e Estevan Market Mall celebrated its 50th anniversary in style, unveiling an upgraded central entrance and previewing the much-anticipated future food court space on Nov. 6.
e event brought together mall sta , contractors, tenants and community supporters to honour ve decades of history and change. In the last ve years, a major transformation to the mall and the property around it occurred under new ownership. Martin Blair, managing director of First Aberdeen Properties Ltd., which owns the mall, was in Estevan for the celebration to re ect on the building’s rich history, introduce the latest changes and thank the people who
Market Mall
Estevan Market Mall marks 50 years with main entrance and food court renovations completion
were a part of the transformations.
“Fifty years is a lot of history,” Blair said, re ecting on the mall’s legacy as a community hub. “So many people have memories here, whether it was their rst job or their favourite place to visit as a kid.”
Blair and his team took over the mall ve years ago, recognizing it as a “rough jewel”, and quickly set out on a ve-year Phase 1 renovation project to modernize its infrastructure and amenities while respecting its legacy.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Blair admitted. “But everything we did was to prepare this mall for the next 50 years.”
e renovations included upgrades to the north and south parking lots, interior
and exterior spaces, as well as infrastructure and landscaping.
“We’ve planted Mayday trees along the main entrance corridor, and when they bloom in spring, it’ll add a vibrant welcome for our visitors,” Blair said, pointing out one of the latest landscaping upgrades.
General contractor Westridge Construction out of Regina led the latest work on the entrance and future food court area. But there were a lot of local contractors involved that were instrumental throughout the ve years of renovations, Blair noted.
“Estevan is blessed with a huge collection of professionals,” he said. “It was much easier for us to do this kind of work here in Estevan than it has been in almost all other centres we’re in.”
e mall team, along with tenant and community support, were essential, and Blair expressed his gratitude for the patience of the mall’s tenants, who endured dust, noise and other inconveniences throughout the process.
“ at is incredibly disruptive,” he acknowledged. “But everybody stuck through with us on this.”
Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig, a lifelong resident with deep family ties to the property, joined the cele-
bration and expressed his appreciation for Blair’s leadership.
“You and your team have done a tremendous job on this mall,” Ludwig said, praising the transparency and collaboration throughout the last ve years.
After his remarks, Ludwig took on the honour of the symbolic ribbon-cutting, marking the mall’s half-century milestone and opening a new chapter.
“Here’s to the next 50 years,” Blair toasted, underscoring the mall’s place in the community.
e food court area is
now majorly completed, and the mall is to start “aggressively” searching for tenants for the new space as well as for other vacant areas.
“We’re working on it. We’re ready for them,” Blair said. e future food court has been an eagerly awaited addition, with plans for three dining spots expected to open in mid-2025.
Blair noted that the mall’s new design, complete with expansive windows and a dedicated space for the food court, will enhance the shopping experience. e hope is that people will feel welcome, whether they come to the mall for co ee, to pick up something for family, or just to take a break and relax, he added. e new entrance is the latest part of the mall’s ongoing evolution, but not the nal one. e next phase will focus on the development of a business centre on the second level of the mall with a new south-side entrance and an elevator. As Estevan anticipates growth opportunities with projects like small modular reactors, Blair emphasized that the mall is poised to support the city’s future needs.