Duncan Arthur of Preeceville did some discing with his threehorse team at PALS Draft Horse Field Days in Rama on May 21 His team included two Haflinger/ Friesian crosses matched up with a grey Percheron in the middle. From left, were: Daisy, Maude and Susie. See story and photos on Pages 6 and 7.
A two-term MLA is hoping local Saskatchewan Party members will allow him to represent them in a third provincial election.
Terry Dennis told the Canora Courier on May 25 of his intention to run for the Sask. Party nomination for the Canora–Pelly constituency.
“I’m really enjoying the work and serving the people in this area and the province and I still feel like there’s a lot of projects [to work on],” he said, adding he feels he still has a lot to give to the community.
The local Saskatchewan Party association has
yet to set a date for the nomination meeting.
Dennis will compete against Sean Wilson, the mayor of Buchanan and deputy reeve of the RM of Buchanan. The winner of the nomination will then represent the Sask. Party in the next provincial election, scheduled for Oct. 28, 2024.
Dennis was first elected as MLA in the 2016 provincial election. Before that, he served as mayor of Canora for 14 years and was co-owner of Dennis Foods for 34 years.
In his time as MLA,
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Terry Dennis is running for the Saskatchewan Party nomination for Canora–Pelly. The person who wins the nomination will then represent the Sask. Party on the ballot in the next provincial election.
The mayor of Buchanan is hoping to get the nod from local Saskatchewan Party members to represent them in the next provincial election.
Sean Wilson, who is also the deputy reeve of the RM of Buchanan, announced his intention on May 25 to run for the Sask. Party nomination for the Canora–Pelly constituency.
“Today I announce my intentions to seek the nomination as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for Canora-Pelly to run in the next provincial
“What are you Thirsty for?” “What are you Thirsty for?
“If you can
t find it - we will sniff it out
election,” he said. “My roots run deep in the constituency and I want to bring a fresh perspective on bringing growth to Canora–Pelly.”
The local Saskatchewan Party association has yet to set a date for the nomination meeting. Wilson will compete against Terry Dennis, a two-term MLA and former mayor of Canora. The winner of the nomination will then represent the Sask. Party in the next provincial election, scheduled for Oct. 28, 2024.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Darin Newton represented the Town of Preeceville at the SUMA Convention held on April 16-19 in Saskatoon. This was not Newton’s first time at a SUMA convention but he still took away many positive things from meeting others and discussing many of the same issues that each town, and village have faced.
“SUMA is a great place to bring large groups of concerned urban representatives from across
the province to one location to talk about how to find solutions to topics that always seem to loom over our own communities,” said Newton.
Community and economic development was at the top of the agenda, with discussions on taxes, grants, as well as animal control bylaws, and issues surrounding the lack of adequate daycare.
Other discussions involved speakers on green technology for community rinks, topics
on municipal wells and more open communications with the government, as well as in individual communities between town council, administration and the public.
Lori Oranna, representative from Matthewson and Co. gave a powerful presentation on the clash between administration and councillors, according to Newton. “She provided some great suggestions on how to
work better with more open communication with our own administration staff. She commented that if we are all on the same page and are team partners, that is important to small town survival.
“I would have liked to have the opportunity to meet with the ministers and participate in the bearpit session but one of the worst winter storms had blown in and they had left before I could,” said Newton.
The annual Sturgis Sports and Rodeo weekend has many area residents and volunteers gearing up for a fun weekend that features something for everyone.
June 24 kicks of the weekend with a pancake breakfast at the Sturgis READ Club followed by gymkhana events sponsored by the Etomamie Valley Riders Club, and chariot and chuckwagon races sponsored by the Eastern Professional Chariot and Chuckwagon Association, concluding with a rib supper, with music provided by the Zuchkan
Band and fireworks.
Sunday will be featuring the same events as well as a car show and shine.
Both days will include a Rodeo portion sponsored by Francis Bourque with saddle bronc, barrel racing and mutton busting, a trade show, a mini market, beer gardens, the Newbury Snacks food truck and Philippino Food will be in attendance. The Sturgis Museum will also feature an ice cream booth with sweet treats.
On the schedule for Sunday only is the Ivar Brass Memorial Co-ed Slow Pitch Tournament.
Little Green Thumbs (LGT), a classroom garden program that started in Saskatchewan in 2007, celebrates 15 years of operation and over 1,100 classroom gardens growing each school year. In the last 15 years, more than 150,000 students across Canada have grown a classroom garden and planted the seeds of food and farming knowledge and understanding.
Little Green Thumbs, a program managed by
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Dennis chaired a provincial library review, served a member on a crime reduction committee and was the legislative
Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK), provides teachers with the equipment, training, and ongoing support to grow food right in their own classrooms and to harvest the learning opportunities it presents. Students actively participate in planting and caring for their garden, growing a variety of vegetables such as lettuce, beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Classroom gardens become living laboratories, a tool for students to apply
secretary for education.
“I would say the biggest thing for me is being the legislative secretary for Ukrainian relations and being able to help the over 4,000 Ukrainians that
Preeceville Progress Friday, 11:30 am
Canora Courier Monday, 10:30 am
Kamsack Times Monday, 11:30 am
Times exclude holiday long weekends Call 306-563-5131
real-life STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) skills and bring learning to life. An LGT garden becomes an extension of a traditional classroom, naturally inspiring inquirybased, cross-curricular, and experiential learning.
“We know that our communities need informed and inspired leaders,” said Brit MacDonald, LGT National Program Director, in a release. “We need to equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and
have come to our province since the war started,” he said, adding it’s a fulfilling task and one that’s close to his heart.
Dennis said education and health care are challenges he continues to work on. He said he and the government worked to come up with solutions for problems at the Kamsack Hospital and is expecting more staff coming to work at the Canora Hospital.
“When I can help do things like that together to keep my area in the province growing, it’s really rewarding for me and I want to continue on it.”
motivation to work for the health of our food system, environment, and each other. A garden is a great place to grow such leaders.”
The impact of a classroom garden on students extends beyond learning how to grow food. There is a growing recognition in our country that food and farming lie at the heart of some of our most pressing social and environmental issues. More importantly, they lie at the heart of the solutions.
Because of this, food and farming present some of our most current and engaging educational opportunities, and Little Green Thumbs is
WILSON CONTINUED FROM FRONT
PAGE
Wilson said he has a proven track record of leadership in public service, serving as mayor and deputy reeve for the Village and the RM of Buchanan since 2016. He added he also has a strong background in the local business community, formerly serving as a general manager for
a model example. Students truly get their hands dirty growing classroom crops, harvesting food, skills, and knowledge, and then sharing that experience with their school, family, and greater community.
Leanne Schappert, a Little Green Thumbs teacher who has been growing a Little Green Thumbs garden for 15 years says, “Having a garden in the classroom is the opportunity to have hands-on learning for my students. Being a part of the garden, planting and taking care of it, and having a vested interest really makes learning happen. I see they’re excited about
G.W. Construction Ltd. in Buchanan.
“As a lifelong resident of the community, accomplished businessman and son of a farmer he understands the challenges faced by residents and businesses in the constituency,” said a media release announcing his candidacy.
His wife Renee is a registered nurse in the chemotherapy department at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre.
“New voices and new
learning. They’re passionate about learning. They walk in the classroom every day to see what’s happening. I can’t imagine teaching without [the garden].”
The Little Green Thumbs program began with four teachers in Saskatchewan in 2007. Over 15 years it has expanded into Alberta, Newfoundland, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Quebec, and has over 1,100 teachers and 26,000 students ‘dig in’ each year across Canada. In Saskatchewan alone, 38,303 students have participated in the program in a decade-and-a-half.
ideas are the backbone of democracy,” Wilson said. “My candidacy gives Saskatchewan Party members in Canora–Pelly the opportunity to embrace change or maintain the status quo.”
Wilson said he is committed to being an effective advocate for Canora–Pelly. His priorities include agriculture, infrastructure development, economic growth, and quality health care and education services.
CANORA/STURGIS RCMP ACTIVITY REPORT
Detachment
CANORA – The Canora/ Sturgis RCMP responded to 69 calls from May 18 to May 25, some of which included: four 911 Act calls, one check stop, nine Child Welfare Act calls, one criminal harassment, two disturbing the peace, two frauds, two lost and founds, two mischiefs, 10 other provincial calls, 30 traffic offenses, one uttering threats, one suspicious person, one trespassing,
one wellbeing check, and two prisoners.
Child safety concerns
The Canora/Sturgis
RCMP were dispatched on May 24 to a complaint that a three-year-old child was found running around by himself near Norway Road in Canora. Police located the child and the parents at a nearby residence.
Both mom and dad were arrested for outstanding warrants and Yorkton Child Family Services was contacted to assist with the call.
Snowmobile theft
On May 24, the Canora/ Sturgis RCMP received a call about a stolen 2010 black Polaris snowmobile with trailer from a property at Burgis Beach on May 24. The theft occurred between mid-October and Nov. 26, 2022.
Driver sobriety check
May 20 was National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day. Canora/ Sturgis RCMP members completed roving patrols and stopped dozens of motorists to check for
driver sobriety. In addition to checking vehicles, boats were checked at Good Spirit Lake and ATV’s in the Endeavour area.
Lock up bikes
On May 19 the Canora/ Sturgis RCMP were dispatched to a report of a stolen bike in Canora. Police have identified a suspect. Multiple bicycle thefts have been reported in Canora so police would like to remind the public to lock up their bikes.
Bicycle rodeo
Members of the
Canora/Sturgis RCMP and the Canora Fire Department held a bike rodeo at the Canora Junior Elementary School on May 19. Students were given the opportunity to learn, practice, and demonstrate their bicycle handling skills. Helmets were also handed out and bikes were given a safety check.
Report tips and information
If you have any information about these or any other crimes, or any
substances involved in these incidents, please contact the Canora RCMP at 306-563-4700, or you can also report anonymously via Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com. Call the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment Turn In Poachers & Polluters (TIPP) Line, tollfree, at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 from a SaskTel cellphone (phone calls only, no text messages).
The Preeceville and District Heritage Museum held an opening day tea to welcome visitors for another season of sharing and reminiscing on May 24. Board members served a pineapple upside down cake or strawberry angel food cake and refreshments to its visitors on the opening day.
The museum was a dream come true for members of the Preeceville Historical Society. The museum opened its doors on June 15, 2006. It had previously opened for two weeks in 2005 as a trial run and was met with much success, stated organizers.
The original building
that had been designated for the museum was the old station house but when the old Preeceville nurses residence became available the museum members made the decision to utilize it.
The board approached the Town of Preeceville with wanting to spearhead a heritage project that would mark the provincial centennial. The project would be a heritage museum with the old nurses residence building utilized as part of the project. The ownership of the building remained as the Town of Preeceville property but the project was run by the board.
The nurses’ residence building was originally
built in 1940 at Yorkton and had served as a dormitory for pilots in the Commonwealth Pilot Training Program during the Second World War, stated the Preeceville history book. Young men from all over the British Commonwealth had come to Yorkton to learn to fly before they were sent overseas. The pilots served in The Battle of Britain and Europe or as bomber pilots who became part of Bomber Command that disabled the Nazi war machine.
After the war, the buildings were empty and were offered to any community that needed them.
The nurses and matrons of the old hospital had accommodations all over the Town of Preeceville so the hospital board decided to apply for the pilot quarters.
In 1948, the buildings were brought to Preeceville in sections and placed on a full basement that was constructed prior to the arrival of the sections.
The building was heated by steam heat and provided adequate housing for nurses, nurses aides, matrons and other hospital personnel until 1970. Afterwards the rental suites were occupied by the public with office spaces also rented out, stated the history book.
A museum board was
In April, SGI put the spotlight on a program that encourages everyone to Report Impaired Drivers (RID), but the results from the April spotlight show that many drivers haven’t been able to get rid of the idea of “one more for the road,” according to a release.
Police recorded 374 offences related to impaired driving in April. This includes:
• 179 people were issued Criminal Code charges.
• 195 people were given administrative roadside licence suspensions. All impaired driving offences come with immediate licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, impaired driving education programs and Safe Driver Recognition demerit points. The consequences become more severe if the driver
exceeds Criminal Code limits, is a repeat offender and/ or causes a collision that injures or kills someone.
“The weather is ideal for sitting on a patio, but when the bar tab is paid, find a safe ride,” continued the release. Call a sober friend or family member, or take a bus, cab, rideshare or designated driving service. Driving impaired is not an option.
Other results from April’s
traffic spotlight included:
• 448 tickets for seatbelt and occupant restraint offences;
• 4,991 tickets for speeding and aggressive driving offences; and
• 730 tickets for distracted driving, including 649 for using a cellphone while driving.
Follow SGI on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
established in 2004/2005 and worked through the year at setting up the museum.
The original museum board consisted of the original Preeceville Historical Society members: Joe Oxley, president; Lorne Plaxin, vice-president; Gladys Myhr, treasurer; Lorna Brodziak, secretary; along with Cas Godfrey, Joyce Gulka and Mary Petrowski. Other individuals who joined the museum board were Pat Osatiuk and Nellie Long.
At the first meeting of the museum board held June 1, 2004, the new
executive was elected. Throughout the years the museum has hosted numerous events for the community including chili and bread day during Old Home Week held in July and a car show and shine with an 80’s theme and a supply of homemade clay oven baked bread and cinnamon buns for the public to purchase.
The board now consists of only six members: Agnes Murrin, Sharon Draper, Donna Chalupiak, Sharon Prystay, Darlene Medlang, and Joan Peel. Jillian Newton is the mu-
Canora, SK
Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 Sylvia Fedoruk Centre (Canora Curling Rink)
Vendor Set Up Friday, June 9 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Show Hours
Saturday, June 10 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 11 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Open to Firearms and Related Items ONLY
Parts Available
Admission: $5 per Adult 12 & under FREE with an Adult For More Information Call: Ernie: 306-563-7369
123 First Avenue East (Box 746)
Canora, Saskatchewan
Phone: 306-563-5131 · Fax: 306-563-6144
Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri.: 8 am – 12 pm, 1 pm – 5 pm
Tues.: 8 am – 12 pm, closed afternoons
Eight graduates were honoured at the Sturgis Composite High School graduation exercises. Members of the graduation class were: Taylor Jakubowski, Tyson Stefanowich, Ashley Secundiak, Jena ClarkOlson, Jamie Messenger, Jessica Antonuchuk, Mikaela Musey and Samson Folk.
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Sturgis Archery Club members were medal winners in Star City. Carter Masley won a silver medal and Garret Baziuk won gold in the National Archery in Schools Program provincial shoot. Baziuk was named the elementary school male champion at the NASP meeting.
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The Sturgis, Preeceville and Endeavour Child Action Plan committee and the Family Resource Centre hosted its annual goal-setting meeting in Sturgis that focused on children, youth, family and community.
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Greg Dutchak of Rama, who played football with the Preeceville Panthers, played in the 2013 U18 Roughrider Bowl in Saskatoon at Griffiths Stadium.
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The Preeceville Ambulance staff marked Emergency Medical Services Week with a special open house event that invited the public to come check them out.
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Students from the Sturgis Composite School showcased their science projects to their fellow students, judges, family and teachers during the science fair held at the school’s gymnasium.
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A number of area communities were scheduled to have high-speed Internet access by the end of 2014.
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The district’s archaeological caravan was scheduled to stop at district museums over the summer.
It’s always seemed that agriculture and nature were somehow interconnected. While the relationship might not exactly be complimentary – deer eat bales and geese eat grain – there is also an understanding that nature is important.
At least that was the case when on the farm in my youth a half century ago.
Back then farms were, of course, quite different from today. Farms were significantly smaller, and while the trend to specialization was starting, most farms were mixed.
That was important in an acceptance of nature where wetlands and clumps of bush were fine for livestock pastures and nature too.
As the move to huge equipment covering massive acres on grain-only farms evolved there was no desire to work around sloughs and trees, and so they have often been plowed under – the loser being the creatures who used both as home.
It is somewhat ironic I suppose when you consider I
CALVIN DANIELSrecall my grandfather talking about having to clear his homestead quarter of trees with axe and horse.
My father’s generation was the one planting rows of trees across farmland to create a windbreak to reduce wind erosion after the devastation of the drought of the 1930s.
And it was my generation tearing out those windbreak rows because they were an issue for new supersize equipment.
Of course it is about balance and farmers have a business to run, and a living to make.
That said though, nature is important and both the farm sector and society have to always keep that in mind.
That is why a couple of ‘days’ are important.
The first is Arbor Week , which is an observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees.
“The establishment of Arbor Day in Canada is credited to Sir George W. Ross, later Premier of Ontario, when he was Minister of Education (1883-1899). Ross established Arbor Day ‘to give the school children an interest in making and keeping the school grounds attractive.’ The planting of trees and of having school gardens soon became an important part of the life of many schools across Canada,” wrote Walter Farquarson in a Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association article.
With the increased awareness of the threat of greenhouse gases and how they
can impact climate, trees are increasingly recognized as important to help address that problem.
Planting and preserving trees is critically important to the planet’s future.
The other important ‘day’ is World Migratory Bird Day.
While, as mentioned earlier, not all birds are loved by farmers – especially those that munch crops – but imagining a world without migratory birds is not a pleasant future to think of.
All of Saskatchewan and most of Alberta are part of the Central Flyway, which encompasses a large portion of North America’s interior. From Canada’s boreal forest and parklands across the Great Plains down to the Texas Gulf Coast, this flyway is home to a large percentage of North America’s ducks and geese, notes ducks.ca
And, again, the key is finding balance. We need farmers to be successful in producing the food we need, but for a bright future we need trees and birds and nature in general.
Years ago, there was a gardening show, The Manic Organic . Have you ever seen it? It was hosted by Antony John, an organic grower near Stratford, Ont. Not only was he wonderfully entertaining but was passionate about organic gardening and delighting the senses with the bounty of the garden. We learned something every time we watched one of his programs, and guess what? You can find some of them online!
We also had some episodes taped, and in the one we watched recently, Antony was talking about the beautiful gourmet greens that they grow on their farm. There was a variety of lettuces, like crisp baby romaine, and a luscious red oak leaf. My, they looked delicious when he assembled them into a salad with grilled tomato slices and local goat cheese! But while he was munching on these delightful lettuces as he cut them out in the field, he mentioned something about their “terroir.” Terroir (pronounced “terr-wah”) means “sense of place,” but in gardening language, it means that the place where you are growing something affects how it will taste. So, if you grew red oak leaf lettuce in your garden, and we grew it in ours, it might not taste the same because of the different characteristics in our soils.
The idea of terroir originated in French winemaking, because growers realized that wines from various regions
or even various regions of the same vineyard had distinct flavours. All kinds of factors came into play: the composition of the soil, what slope the vines were planted on, how much rain they had. These factors make wines from a certain region unique; that even if someone planted the same grapes and made the wine the exact same way somewhere else, it would not taste the same. Winemakers carefully reserve the right to protect the kind of wine they make in their area because of terroir. So that’s an interesting factoid!
But now, out to our gardens! For gardeners, then, terroir means that our vegetables will taste better if we do all we can to enhance where they grow. I’m sure that at some point in your life, you tasted a fresh tomato or a crisp cucumber that was absolutely bursting with flavour, and much more
delicious than you had ever tasted before. Did you wonder why that was? To me, the starting point is healthy soil.
This is the point where we have to talk about compost. The process of making compost is accessible to everyone, even gardeners with a very small yard. It can be made in mega-compost makers made from pallets, or made in containers as small as ice-cream pails, or even trench-composting. You can almost hear the plants growing when you mix that beautiful compost into the soil. Adding nutrient-rich organic matter to our soil, and keeping it free of chemicals, is bound to result in a better soil, and better taste in our veggies. They draw in what exists in the soil, so we want it to be the best that it can be!
International Compost Week was May 7 – 13 and even though it is past, it is worth talking about anytime, because compost is so important. The Compost Research and Education Foundation website (compostfoundation.org/ ICAW) tells us what the week is all about. Please visit the site, because it has great information. Healthy soil, and improved terroir, is attainable to all of us simply by composting our organics.
Let’s all do what we can to improve our soil, and we’ll be enjoying delicious fruit and veggies in the future. Enjoy your garden and have a wonderful week!
I have earned a membership in the advanced Seniors Age Group (SAG, because that is happening to certain parts of my body), I therefore walk a little slower with the aid of my chariot (wheeled walker). I spend most of my time during the day off balance and could end up kissing the floor without my chariot for safety. Therefore, my sweet Marion has gotten me a Fall Alarm pendant, so when she is out shopping or outside tending to the garden, she hangs the Fall Alarm around my neck.
The Fall Alarm was tested the other night, not from me falling, but rather from me placing it on my night table in a careless and rough manner. Marion goes to bed earlier than me, but she woke up from my fall alarm going off. I didn’t hear it because I’m hard of hearing. Marion sent me urgently to the kitchen where the alarm box is, to shut the alarm off. I
got to the alarm box and pushed the reset button, then casually proceeded to the ensuite bathroom to get ready for bed. About 15 minutes later I entered the bedroom only to be met by a frustrated wife. I was blissfully unaware what had caused her obvious frustration.
It seems that I wasn’t quick enough to reset the alarm, because while I was in the bathroom, Marion answered a number of emergency calls, the first from the alarm company on our landline, followed by the ambulance service and culminating with a call from our son Justin on his cell phone wanting to know what happened. She convinced the alarm company that I was in the bathroom and OK, then cancelled the ambulance and told Justin that all was well. Wow! was my reaction. However, it is good to know that the alarm system works!
Ole and Sven were at Moe’s Bottoms Up Bar
KAARE ASKILDTand Grille enjoying their lunch of smoked salmon on rye with a shot of Akevitt chased by Moe’s special lager.
“I just came back from a trip to Ottawa,” said Ole. “I rented a car and drove to the Parliament Building where I parked at the bottom of the steps. One of the guards came over to me and asked me to move the vehicle, because it is the Parliament Building and Prime Minister Trudeau and all the other members of Parliament including senators frequent this area.”
“What did you do?” asked Sven.
“I looked the guard square in the eye and
told him that’s OK, it is a rental, and it is equipped with a GPS and a burglar alarm,” answered Ole.
“My neighbour’s son Anders knocked on my door the other day,” said Sven, “he was going door to door trying to sell burglar alarms.”
“Did you buy one?” wondered Ole.
“No,” answered Sven, “but I asked him how he was doing, and what he would do if nobody was home.”
“What did he say?” asked Ole.
“He told me if nobody was home,” said Sven, “he would just leave a brochure on their kitchen table.”
A family had an
emergency medical alarm system installed in their home, hooked up by phone to a monitoring company. One evening the alarm went off and the monitoring person called the home phone number to confirm that there was a medical emergency, and was greeted by a child’s whisper, “Hello.”
“Is your Mommy home?” asked the caller.
“Yes,” whispered the small voice.
“May I talk with her?” asked the caller.
“No,” whispered the child, “she’s busy.”
“Is your daddy there?” asked the concerned caller.
“Yes,” whispered the child.
“May I talk with him?” asked the caller.
“No, you can’t,” whispered the child, “he’s busy too.”
“Is there anyone else there?” asked the caller, hoping there was someone with whom he could
discuss the alarm.
“Yes,” whispered the child, “a policeman is here.”
“May I speak with the policeman?” asked the caller, wondering why a cop would be there.
“No,” whispered the child, “he’s busy too.”
“Busy doing what?” asked the caller.
“Talking to the ambulance men and the fireman,” came the whispered reply.
“What’s that noise?” asked the concerned caller as he was hearing a loud noise in the background.
“A helicopter,” answered the whispering voice.
“A helicopter?” asked the worried caller, “what’s going on there?”
“The helicopter brought a search team,” whispered the child.
“A search team?” asked the caller, “what are they searching for?”
“They’re searching for me!” whispered the child with a muffled giggle.
All industries have “big players.” Coke, Apple, Ford, Microsoft, Amazon, Walmart... Social media is no different.
As I write this, the big five social media platforms (worldwide) by monthly active users (MAUs) are:
1. Facebook (2.9 billion)
2. YouTube (2.56 billion)
3. WhatsApp (2 billion)
4. Instagram (1.47 billion)
5. TikTok (1 billion) (Twitter ranked #16, with 436 million MAUs, and LinkedIn is #18, with 310 million MAUs.)
In my opinion, the big social media companies are no longer offering their users what they really want: Having meaningful conversations and maintaining relationships. Having a meaningful and respectful discussion on a public platform is a challenging – akin to impossible
– task. Everyone scrutinizes everything, and unlike-minded individuals jump in (unprompted) to declare that they are offended by your viewpoints. Then they berate you and negatively label you.
What existing platforms do incredibly well is create datasets for building algorithmic recommendations for their users. However, this is to create stickiness to their platform and is anything but “social.”
More and more, I am hearing from people who are turning away from the big social media platforms and migrating to smaller ones. Trolls and the pressure of constantly having to flex to receive “likes” and “shares” are their reasons. They are eschewing traditional social media for digital campfires – intimate online destinations where they can communicate privately or form/be part of micro-communities.
Several sites, such as BeReal, WeAre8, Discord, Mastodon, Geneva, Patreon and Substack, where you can find and subscribe to my newsletter, The Art of Finding Work, promote community building in private spaces. These sites offer digital arenas where conversations can happen with likeminded people; thus, the exchanges are more likely to be civil. Finding one’s tribe, where one belongs and therefore feels welcomed, is highly appealing.
The sites I just mentioned, and many more, are countering what social media, for the most part, has become – an unwelcoming place.
While I do not believe there will be a mass exodus from the big social players, I do believe that by year-end, the social media landscape will look quite different than it does today as users seek out safer, more welcoming communities.
As of late, major
platforms are doubling down on AI-driven algorithmic content. In contrast, emerging platforms are focusing on building communities.
Lately, I have been asking myself, “What motivates me to use social media? What has brought me to Twitter, my digital drug of choice, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, et al.?”
More importantly, “Why do I keep coming back?” When I have a definitive answer, you will be the first to know.
In many respects, social media has become much like the news. It plays a pivotal role in creating divisive and polarizing messages, enabling a sense of fear and scarcity or uniting us against the angst caused by the content.
What differentiates our respective experiences on social media, whether you see it as a toxic digital soup or a place to digitally hang with those you “get along with,” is not what
is presented to you; rather, it is the conversations you choose to participate in.
The decision to engage in divisive narratives or be involved in enriching, uniting and communal conversations is entirely your choice.
Social media’s core danger is that whatever we go looking for, we will find. Suppose you want to prove others wrong based on their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, race, sex, political ideology etc. In that case, you will find all the reasons why some people are evil and the cause of our society’s ills. It is in our DNA to see what we want to see.
Conversely, if you are looking for stories about people coming together, working together, from different backgrounds, you will find them. You will find unifying narratives because that is what you are looking for.
The question is, what lens are you searching for stories through? Is
it a divisive lens – and to make yourself feel “right” about your opinions? Or is your lens a unifying one?
In the era of postCOVID social media, success is not based on follower count. Instead, it is based on what value you offer and how that value impacts your chosen digital communities. In other words, your number of followers and the social media platform’s algorithms are rapidly becoming irrelevant.
You achieve social media success today by turning your followers into loyal community members and being intentional with every word you deliver to those who engage with your content and share your beliefs and values.
(EDITOR’S
Nick Kossovan, a selfdescribed connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.)
When I was two years old, I ran into the path of a riding lawn mower and lost my right leg below the knee. It all happened so fast: one moment I was playing outside, and the next I was too close to the
mower.
Having grown up as part of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, I am now committed to spreading the Association’s PLAYSAFE message. With lawn
cutting season upon us, I want everyone to know that kids should not ride, operate or play near lawn mowers.
Though I’ve learned to accept and appreciate who I am today, I want
to use my experience to help prevent others from going through what I did. Please make sure children are always at a safe distance from lawn mowers. And don’t underestimate the importance
of safety when operating any machinery. I urge you to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.
If you would like to learn more about how
to play safely and hear stories from other young amputees like me who have lost limbs in accidents, visit waramps.ca/ playsafe.
Jarod Murray, 21 Vanessa, Ont.
“We show people what happened in this area about 100 years ago and how the land was broken for farming. Farmers opened up this area with horses and made it what it is today. Most people today get their food at Safeway and have no idea.”
That’s how Walter Hughes, President of PALS (Performing Arts and Leisure Society) described the importance of the annual Draft Horse Field Days held in Rama on May 20 and 21.
Organizers appreciated
being blessed with a dry weekend this year, especially since rain forced cancellation of the event in 2022.
Saturday was fairly warm. Sunday turned out to be a bit chilly for late May.
“Sunday was a little cool, but not bad at all. It was actually better for the horses,” said Nancy Genoway, one of the volunteer organizers. “There was a steady stream of people coming and going both days. I think there were over a hundred each day. We were very happy
with the turn out!”
Horse-related activities over the weekend included: discing, harrowing, seeding, and a driving competition.
Teamsters who brought their horses for one or both days included: Ron Turner of Archerwill (Percheron team), Duncan Arthur of Preeceville (one grey Percheron and two Haflinger/ Friesian crosses), Keith Neumier of Langenburg, (two Percheron teams), Lloyd Smith of Pelly (two Percheron teams), Cameron Last of Lintlaw
(Clydesdale team), as well as Kristina Just and her daughter Jillian of Yorkton, who brought a Clydesdale team and a team of Norwegian Fjord horses.
Among the organizers, those with a little more experience recall working with draft horses on their family farms in the ’40s and ’50s.
“I remember when I was a kid in the Porcupine Plain area, farmers were
still working the fields with horses,” said Walter Hughes. “Horses are quieter than tractors, but then again, they don’t have air conditioning or a radio.”
“I remember still using horses on the family farm at age 14 for cutting and raking hay as well as harvesting,” added Ron Mocyk.
PALS has a full lineup of horse drawn farm equipment which is made available to teamsters during
Draft Horse Field Days. Hughes, Mocyk and Louis Swiderski thoroughly checked over the equipment prior to the event to make sure it was ready to head out to the field.
The field activities included seeding three acres of oats, which will be used for future fall threshing demonstrations.
The PALS drill is a 10foot, 20-run Cockshutt unit which Mocyk
A
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 estimates is from the late ’40s.
“We went right through it to get it ready; greased everything, replaced any broken parts and tightened bolts.”
Most farm equipment in the PALS collection was donated by farmers in the region, and they are still open to more donations.
In his mid-twenties, Jeff Pinder is one of the younger volunteers, and Hughes said they encourage more young people to get involved to make sure that Draft Horse Field Days continues indefinitely.
Duncan Arthur has been a regular teamster in
Rama in recent years, and this year brought a grey Percheron along with two Haflinger/Friesian cross horses.
“I enjoy working with horses. It’s quieter, smoother, and I’ve been doing it pretty much all my life. Dad used horses on the farm.”
Arthur said he enjoys coming to Rama to visit with the other teamsters, and regularly picks up useful tips.
“We still use horses for farm work such as feeding livestock in winter, haying and raking in summer. We also use them for levelling hills in the pasture.”
Jillian Just was driving a pair of Clydesdales, both
six years old, that are “still pretty green for a team, and they’re still learning to work together.
“It’s fun coming here,” said Just. “I enjoy the atmosphere and the people; it’s a really relaxing weekend. I’ve always enjoyed working with horses and doing field work, it’s a unique experience.
“I’m a big fan of the historical aspect, how the horses are so important to the history of this region.”
Just said she has learned a lot from the more experienced teamsters that come to Rama, “how to run the different pieces of equipment, what settings work the best and so on. I also get tips on horsemanship,
learning how to treat them well while still getting the work done.”
Just’s mom Kristian was another teamster who enjoyed doing some field work at the Rama event. She pulled a set of harrows with a team of experienced 20-year-old Norwegian Fjord horses.
“I like them because they’re good workers, but smaller than some other breeds and a bit easier to handle”
Kristina said draft horses in the twenty-first century have to be handled more carefully than they were about 100 years ago.
“Today’s draft horses aren’t in as good shape as they were years ago they
were used in the fields all the time, so we try to give them a rest break here and there out in the field,” she said. “But we still use them on the farm for cleaning the barn and the chicken coop, and luring the cows home by having the horses pull the feed wagon.”
Saturday’s events included a friendly driving competition where drivers and their teams were timed right from when they pick up the yoke to hook the wagon to the horses, to when they complete the driving course, including demonstrating control of the horses while walking and trotting.
One of the highlights of
the weekend was a horsedrawn coach provided by Norval and Vera Budd of Norva Clydesdales of Kelliher. Pretty much everyone at the event looked to be eager to take a ride.
“I built the buckboard coach 26 years ago for my daughter’s wedding,” said Norval. “I bought the wheels but then designed and built everything else from scratch.”
“It had been in storage for about the last four years.so I decided to contact the Rama organizers and bring it here to give rides around the grounds.”
Sunday’s events included Cowboy Church. (see details on page 8).
After some
2%
Proceeds
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Somehow it seems easier to feel God’s presence while worshipping in the great outdoors, and churchgoers had the special opportunity to do just that on May 21 at the Cowboy Church Service in Rama.
Providing a wide variety of sacred music throughout the service were: Nancy Genoway (vocals & spoons), Shelden Landstad (vocals, guitar & mandolin), Judy Johnson (vocals), Marilyn Fredsberg (vocals & 12 string guitar) Jordan Halifax (vocals & guitar), Gene McKenzie (vocals & bass guitar) and Pauline Stefankew. (vocals & guitar).
The well-known songs played by the group included: I Saw The Light, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, God must be a Cowboy at Heart, Old-Time Religion, This Little Light of Mine, and I’ll Fly Away.
In addition to offering her singing talents, Judy Johnson shared A Farmer’s Prayer.
“Lord bless this land you’ve given me
And may I always know
As I tend each crop and animal
You’re the one that helps them grow
Grant me the strength and wisdom
Please protect me from all harm
And thank you Lord for the precious gift
The blessing of my farm.”
Steve Halifax of Rama led the service, and spoke on the rhythm of life.
“I’d like to thank the Lord for all of his blessings. We have a wonderful tempo as we worship this morning,” said Halifax.
“We have the trees blowing in the breeze. We have animals born on the farm, and eventually they die, and it’s the same with people.
“As sure as the night follows the day, light follows darkness,” continued Halifax
“As sure as the sun rises, it must also set. As sure as the rain falls, it must also rise again. As sure as ‘dust you are, and to dust
Preeceville Chase the Ace winners for the month of May were: May 4-Salem Budd, May 11-Randy Schramm, May 18-David
Hearn (the final draw), Dave Bodnarek (Ace of Diamonds) and the Ace of Spades winner was Linda Shewchuk.
you shall return,’ there must be a continual birth, life, death, resurrection. The cycle must be completed—the perfect circle of eternity—of which God is the designer, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.
“God moves. He is a moving God. He is never still. He is always doing, going, saying, and effecting change in every sphere of creation. He is never static, except for Himself—‘I am the Lord, I do not change’—except for His Word—‘Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven’—and except for the future. His promises to His children—‘Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.’ Yesterday, today, and forever, Jesus is the same. All things change, but Jesus never.
“When God sent Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, He told him, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’
“God’s name is ‘I AM’— not ‘I WAS.’ What a wonderful realization! What assurance! What security!
“Change is one thing that drives us closer to God. ‘Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.’ All things change, but Jesus never. He’s the only thing that remains constant.
“One of the circumstances when this is most evident is when we move to a new place or job or especially a new country.
We become accustomed to our homes, things, friends, or habits, and we tend to rely on or trust in those things. When businesspeople, teachers, or students go to foreign countries to work or study, some of them experience culture shock, because they’ve been used to having the same thing all their lives—the
same language, the same friends, the same place to live. All of a sudden, they can’t rely on those things anymore.
“As Christians, we have a head start on adapting to changes because we have an anchor that holds us steadfast and sure. We have a rock that is always solid that we can always trust. In some ways, our
lives are much the same every day because we trust God every day. Our Rock keeps us safe and secure all the time, no matter what the waves are like.
“No matter what happens or where we go or where we live or what the conditions may be, God’s still there, and He’ll always keep us, no matter what. So we can have a wonderful feeling of security that people without faith may not experience, no matter how long they live in the same place and do the same things and go to the same school and have the same house and the same pets and the same friends. Their feeling of security can be interrupted at any moment and fall apart when even one of those things on which they rely changes. Whereas “we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a s trong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.’
“If you feel buffeted by the waves of life, why not invite Jesus to be your anchor too? Simply ask Him: Dear Jesus, please come into my life and give me the security and stability that comes from knowing You—regardless of what’s going on around me. Amen.”
BELANGER - Mrs. Jeanette Belanger, wife of the late Lawrence Belanger, of Preeceville passed away on May 6, 2023.
Jeanette was born July 9th
1927, on the family farm at Carmichael Saskatchewan, to Lincoln and Hazel Mace. She attended Carmichael rural school and in her younger years she enjoyed ball games, card games and later dances. This is where she met her first husband Jesse Bird and they were blessed with 2 children, Gordon and Eileen. In 1960 she moved with her children to work for a farmer at Foam Lake. Later she moved her family to Preeceville where she worked for Mr. Rosaasen. In Preeceville she met Louis Borgen and they were together until his passing. Jeanette worked as janitor at the TD Bank for 25 years as well she cleaned at the Golden West Hotel and the Preeceville Motel. She was always a hard-working lady doing her very best to make a good home for Gordon and Eileen. After Louis passing, she met Lawrence Belanger and they were married April 4, 1998. This was a perfect match as Lawrence loved to do the garden and Jeanette loved her flowers and always had large baskets of petunias and begonias. She would spend hours deadheading and watering them so they would look their very best. They enjoyed traveling with Eileen and Wayne to Reno, Las Vegas and Vancouver. In 2003 Eileen passed away leaving a huge hole in her heart, but she managed to keep going. Lawrence and her loved to visit and had many trips to Reserve to visit friends. Jeanette is predeceased by her parents, Lincoln and Hazel Mace; husband, Lawrence Belanger; partner, Louis Borgen; daughter, Eileen Strand; brother, Elmer (Hilda) Mace; sisters, Dorothy Meyer and Pearl(Art) Miller; brother-inlaw, Russell Bolton, and grandson, Craig Bird. She is survived by son, Gordon (Karen) Bird; sister, Eunice Bolton; sons-in-law, Ed Strand and Wayne (Janet) Haydaman; grandchildren, Dale, Darren, and Daniel Strand, Billy Bird and Crystal Boyer; nieces, Gloria King, Glenys Pinder, Delores Conway, Diana Quast; nephews Garth Mace and Doug, Dennis and Lynn Meyer. Funeral Services were held on Monday, May 15, 2023, from Trinity United Church in Preeceville with Phyllis Verbeek, Licensed Lay Worship Leader officiating. Pianist, Leanne Jakubowski, along with the Trinity United Church Choir led the congregation in singing the hymns ‘I Am Thine Oh Lord’, ‘Old Rugged Cross’ and ‘In the Garden’. Gloria King shared a tribute and words of remembrance. Interment followed in the Preeceville Lutheran Cemetery with Mickey Kudeba, Dianne Kudeba, Carol Parkin, Hugh Gilchrist, Grant Peterson and Alex Serhan serving as casket bearers. Memorials in memory of Jeanette may be made to Trinity United Church as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Jeanette’s tribute page at preecevillefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.
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GREBA, Joyce Greba (nee Korman), wife of the late Adam Greba, of Endeavour, passed away peacefully at Preeceville Long Term Care Centre on February 7, 2023, at the age of 90. A Memorial Service will be will be held on Sunday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. from the Endeavour Recreation Centre. She will be placed to rest beside her husband and grand-daughter at ST. Mary’s Cemetery in the Endeavour district. She is survived by Colleen (David) Hofer; Russell (Teresa) Greba; grand-children, Alysia (Kyle) Dagg, Kyle (Ashlee) and Devin Greba and great-grandchildren, Adrianne and Blake Dagg. She was predeceased by her husband Adam in 1987; by her parents; her brother, Don; her sister-in-law, Doris and precious grand-daughter, Quinn Greba. Memorial donations in memory of Joyce can be made to Preeceville Long Term Care Auxiliary, St. Mary’s Cemetery, or to a charity of one’s own choice, as gifts of remembrance. Those unable to attend the funeral may view the service by visiting her tribute page at preecevillefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CELEBRATINGTHELIFEOFDONROSTEN
ThefamilyofDonRostenwouldliketoannounceaprivateinternment ceremonyforDon'sashesbeingheldatthePreecevilleCemeteryonJune 11,2023.DuetotheCOVID-19pandemic,theinternmentwasdelayed, andwhiletheceremonywillbeforfamilyonly,weinvitethosewhoknew DontojoinhisfamilyforaluncheonimmediatelyfollowingtheSunday morningserviceatSt.John'sLutheranChurchonJune11,2023. Wehopeyoucanjoinustogathertogether inmemoryofDonandcelebratehislife.
The family of Robert (Bob) Gregory of Kelowna, BC is saddened to announce his sudden passing after a brief bout of pneumonia in the Kelowna Hospital, on May 4, 2023. He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his children, Jodi Gregory (Darryl Chernyk) of Richmond, BC and Tyler Gregory of Peterborough, ON; and grandchildren, Joshua and Henry Gregory. Bob is sadly predeceased by his loving wife, Jan, his brothers, Norman (Bev) and James (Lynne), and his parents, Nick and Alice Gregory. Bob was a gentle soul with a kind smile and nice words for everyone. He was a gifted woodworker and made countless treasures throughout his lifetime. He loved spending the days in his workshop, always finding a project to work on. No stranger to renovations, every house he lived in was a work of art once he and Jan were finished with it. Retired for 25 years, Bob also enjoyed puttering in the garden and took immense pride with his property. He loved being out on the deck, barbecuing while enjoying his surroundings. Bob and Jan loved camping and would camp yearly with Jodi and Darryl, Susan (mom’s sister) and husband Jim. Mandatory card playing and excessive eating and drinking were a rule. Bob worked for CN Rail for 38 years which was a true work family to him. He was very well respected and liked by everyone who knew him. Being an engineer for CN was his identity and taught both Jodi and Tyler the meaning of work ethic, hard work, and loyalty throughout his career. He will be forever missed. A Memorial Gathering for Bob and his wife, Jan will be held in the summer of 2023. To send condolences please visit www.providencefuneralhomes.com.
STONE - Melvin Albert Stone, husband to the late Doris Stone, of Preeceville passed away on May 5, 2023, at the age of 100 years. Melvin Stone was born on October 14, 1922, in Montreal. He lived there until he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy as a coder, where he served for three years. During his time in the Navy, Melvin had the job of decoding messages before they could be sent to ground troops. He also spent time as a commissioner in the Navy and was stationed in Halifax. After the Second World War, Melvin met the love of his life, Doris. The couple settled down and raised four children. They lived in Montreal before they moved to Dartmouth to be closer to their son.
In retirement, the couple moved to Preeceville in 2006 to be near their daughter. When Doris’s health started to decline, they moved into the Preeceville Personal Care Home located in Sturgis. When Doris passed away in 2017 and the care home in Sturgis closed its doors, Melvin moved to the care home in Preeceville, where he resided till his passing. Melvin enjoyed wood working, doing latch-hook rugs, watching Tom Hank’s movies, and reading Louis L’Amour novels. He made two grandfather clocks, two cedar chests and he built a large China cabinet for Doris’s doll collection. He will be remembered for being a jokester that enjoyed laughing and being with people. Melvin is predeceased by his wife, Doris; and daughter, Diana Lowe. Melvin is survived by his children, Richard (Linda), Brian (Ruby), and Gary (Patti); as well as twelve grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. The Funeral Service was held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, from the Chapel of Preeceville Funeral Home with Pastor Hein Bertram of St. John Lutheran Church officiating, with support from Pastor Floyd Covill of the New Life Tabernacle. The hymns were ‘Mansion on a Hill’, ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, Amazing Grace’, ‘He Walked With Me’ and ‘Eternal Father, Strong to Save’. Keira Vandale, Melvin’s great-granddaughter, played special music on her violin. Interment followed in the Preeceville Community Cemetery with Katherine Vandale serving as the urn bearer. Memorials in memory of Melvin may be made to Preeceville Personal Care Home as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Melvin’s tribute page at preecevillefuneralhome.com.Arrangements were entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.
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May 13, 1971 - The bid of $132,599 submitted by Svein Bjornson of Churchbridge was accepted to construct a gymnasium for Preeceville.
June 9, 1977 - Hilton Oxley and Dorleen Dalton, of Preeceville and David Lesanko of Sturgis qualified to participate in the provincial track and field meet held in Saskatoon.
June 8, 1978 -A Canadian Railroad crew
of approximately 100 persons made camp in Hyas while they worked on the railroad line from Sawn River to Sturgis.
June 22, 1978 - A meeting of the PreecevilleKelvington Save Our Railline Committee was held in Lintlaw.
June 29, 1967 - Police continued their search for four men involved in the robbery of the Toronto Dominion Bank in Stenen.
June 9, 1977- The Preeceville Brownies ended their year with a picnic at the picnic grounds outside of Preeceville. In the group, from left, were: (back row) Kathy Brodziak, Lori Lebo, Maureen Semchuk, and Nola Larson; and (front) Rosanne Semchuk, Jodi Cook, Jody Mentanko, Susan Semchuk and Charlene Brodziak.
May 13, 1971- Evan Parobe of Russell, who sold the Grand Theatre in Preeceville to Paul Secundiak of Hyas, landed his plane down main street in Preeceville and parked in front of the theatre as part of an advertisement for the movie, Airport, being shown at the theatre.
June 3, 1976- Cpl. Maureen Semchuk, winner of the technical training scholarship and best female marksman, received the awards from Paul Ortynsky, Preecevulle Air Cadet League representative.
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June 22, 1978Preeceville Elementary students participated in a Preeceville School field meet.
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June 27, 1974- Johnny Grimsrud, left, and his wife Mary (unavailable for the photograph) sold the Century House in Preeceville to Joe Tirk and his wife Mary Tirk of Foam Lake.
June 3, 1976- Eva Barteski, a resident of the Preeceville Lions Hostel, stood in front of her ornamental crab apple tree that was in full bloom.
JJ Voss will take to the stage at Crystal Lake to highlight a concert on the beach on July 8. Organizers for the event, Pat Prokop, Lynda Statchuk and Gerald Steinka, Crystal Lake Recreation Committee, are excited to announce this year’s entertainer and are looking forward to a great concert, according to Prokop. “The idea came about last year when we wanted to put on something fun for everyone.”
Raised on a small farm in southern Saskatchewan, Voss began his journey in music at the age of 8 when he picked up his Dad’s old flat top and has been following in the footsteps of legendary troubadours like Steve Earle, Charlie Major, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen ever since.
To date, Voss has released three albums and one single, garnering a
WMCA Producer of the Year nomination for debut EP Hillbilly Storybook in 2008, followed up by his Show ‘em Who’s Voss album in 2012, landing him a SCMA Roots Album of the Year award and chart action for five singles on Canadian Country radio. It’s a Pride Thing peaked at #62 on the Billboard Country Top 100 and Playing For Keeps at #51. The album also received international airplay leading Voss to his first overseas tour; playing shows in Germany, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, Colombia and Mexico.
Voss’s third album, Come Along With Me was released on March 20, 2020 - nine days after the official announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the cancellation of over 45 tour dates.
Determined to see his plan through, he pivoted and presented 20-plus online concerts, and 80-plus
live concerts (both solo and with his band) in between lock down periods between 2020-2022. The album garnered six SCMA awards, Top 10 Mediabase chart success with three singles; Some People , Come Along With Me and The Kind of Man . and 150K video views for his re-make of Murray McLaughlan’s
Farmer Song with Darlene Tuleta and Canadian Hall of Famer Charlie Major.
On October 14, 2022
Voss released his poignant single, A Letter to Dad - a tribute to the Voss family farm on its 100 year milestone. A Letter To Dad is out now on radio and at all major music service providers.
In April 2023, JJ was nominated for five awards including Entertainer of the year, Songwriter, Male Artist, Video and Interactive Artist of the Year by the Saskatchewan Country Music Association.
Currently JJ is writing songs in preparation for release later this year.
The Preeceville Elementary School Grade 2 and Kindergarten students had an exciting experience the last five weeks. “We got to watch caterpillars change into Vanessa Cardui butterflies,” said Tonilee Lario, Grade 2 teacher.
The school received a shipment that contained 30 caterpillars.
The project taught the students about the life cycle of butterflies, starting from an egg stage to an adult.
Each stage as recorded with children having the opportunity to learn about butterflies.
They lay upon a bed of what looked like wet sawdust. It was actually their food (soy flour, plant matter, vitamins, and minerals) that they would eat until they started to pupae, or cocoon. In the wild, the eggs would be laid on hawthorn bushes, thistles, or hollyhocks.
Preeceville School elementary students gathered to say farewell to the butterflies they saw hatch from larva to butterflies.
“Soon we noticed the caterpillars trying to crawl up the sides of the container, and cling to the underside of the lid, which was covered in a paper towel,” said Tonilee Lario, the Grade 2 teacher, who then transferred the paper towels, with the precious cargo, into a screened enclosure. As if by magic, the pupas began to appear, hanging from the lid.
Out of a possible 30 caterpillars, only six had reached the butterfly stage and were released into the sky in front
of the school.
The butterfly release held on May 19 was a bittersweet few moments when the students gathered around to see the release of the butterflies.
Butterflies, along with the moths and the skippers, make up the insect world.
Chrysalis of the mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) suspended by the cremaster, head downward. The wings, bodies, and legs, like those
of moths, are covered with dust- like scales that come off when the animal is handled. Unlike moths, butterflies are active during the day and are usually brightly coloured or strikingly patterned. Perhaps the most distinctive physical features of the butterfly are its clubtipped antennae and its habit of holding the wings vertically over the back when at rest.
The life cycle has four stages: egg, larva
(caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (imago). The larvae and adults of most butterflies feed on plants, often only specific parts of specific types of plants.
The butterfly families include: Pieridae, the whites and sulfurs, known for their mass migrations; Papilionidae, the swallowtails and parnassians; Lycaenidae, including the blues, coppers, hairstreaks, and gossamer-winged butterflies; Riodinidae,
the metalmarks, found chiefly in the American tropics; Nymphalidae, the brush-footed butterflies; Hesperiidae, the skippers; and Hedylidae, the American moth-butterflies (sometimes considered a sister group to Papilionoidea).
The brush-footed butterflies represent the largest and most diverse family and include such popular butterflies as the admirals, fritillaries, monarchs, zebras, and painted ladies.
The Sturgis Composite School, SADD group’s purpose is to spread awareness about safe driving. The name
stands for Students Against Drinking/ Distracted Driving. It used to be called “Students Against Drinking
and Driving,” before it was further known as “SADD”. The SADD group has been running in the area
for many years, although at one point in time, when the school was called Sturgis Composite High School (SCHS), the group was shut down because there wasn’t enough demand for people to join. Carla Lewis, Sturgis Composite School’s teacher advisor, got the group running again. She had to fill
out a registration form and pay forward $25 to get the SADD Chapter restarted.
On May 16, SADD had a float sale to raise money to attend an annual conference in the fall. At the conferences the participants have the opportunity to learn more about the issues with distracted driving,
how to promote safe driving, and listen to speakers.
To spread the message the members tie red ribbons on vehicles’ car doors and hang posters up around the school and its surrounding areas. Anyone can join, and currently the members range from Grades 9-12.
