Biggar to host American and Canadian six-man all-star football bout by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent
Up and away . . . Biggar Central School Blazer, Michael Muller puts some points on the board, March 10 as the senior basketball squad faced a possible end to their impressive season. They did what they had to, moving on to regional competition this past weekend, hopefully advancing from their to Hoopla. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
North American high school football talent will be showcased at the Biggar Rec Complex this July with the 16th edition of the CanAm Bowl. Biggar Central School Blazer coach, Terry Braman, who has attended the past three events on Team Canada’s coaching staff, was recently presented with the opportunity of bringing the top-flight event to Biggar. “Essentially the original host was unable to put it on anymore, and Football Saskatchewan contacted me and asked if I would be willing to,” explained Braman. “It took a lot of thinking, but I decided I just didn’t want to see the game not happen and the event fail.” There is a catch. “Normally it’s about a year in planning, and we have four months! But I’m pretty confident in the community we have, that we’ll put on a good event. We’ll get the ball rolling and am pretty confident about it.” With only four months to plan, there is a lot of pressing
work to be accomplished before the July game getting the Rec Complex field in shape, securing merchandise, team jerseys, making arrangements for the American and Canadian players to stay at the school and securing meals for the three days leading up to the game. “So far the response has been pretty good,” Braman said, adding that he’s had plenty of volunteers come to the fore just from the BCS staff in addition to the parents and community. More support is still needed. Companies (or individuals) can get involved through sponsorship packages currently being sold. Simple monetary donations are being accepted for costs associated with hosting the premier all-star six-man battle between America and Canada. If you feel you can help in any way, contact Terry Braman at BCS 2000 (948-2117). “Team Canada has its selection camp on May 13 in Saskatoon. The American team is already in place, and from what I’ve been told, it’s quite strong. So we
need to find the best of the best that we have and put it on now.” Players will report to Biggar on July 4 for two-aday practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A Friday evening banquet will be the penultimate event leading to the big game on Saturday, July 7 at 1 p.m. This is the third year Braman has been involved in the Can-Am Bowl, and it has always been an exciting battle. “I’ll be the head coach of Team Canada this year. My first year was in Preeceville, we had very strong representation five kids from Biggar on that team, and I was the defensive coordinator. This is probably the best football you’ll see in terms of the six-man game. It’s excellent, the athletes that come up from America are always top-notch, the athletes that we put on the field are always top-notch. It’s just exciting to watch them go head-to-head,” an understandably excited Braman enthused.
2012 Saskatchewan Libraries Education Bursary awarded to former Biggar resident The Saskatchewan Library Association has awarded its 2012 Saskatchewan Libraries Education Bursary to Ms. Justina Datta, a graduate student, an employee of the University of Saskatchewan, and former Biggar resident. The $5,000 bursary is offered annually to a student who is enrolled or accepted in a Master of Library and Information Science program or equivalent, and who will live and work in Saskatchewan for at least one year after graduating. “I congratulate Ms. Datta on winning this award,” Education Minister Donna Harpauer said. “The bursary is an opportunity to contribute to the future of the province, by supporting
library education, which is essential in a knowledgebased economy.” Datta, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, is currently enrolled in a Master’s program in Information and Library Science at San Jose State University, California. She also works at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Saskatchewan. Her interests focus on the importance of information literacy, particularly as it relates to the health care sector. She is the daughter of long-time Biggar residents, Dr. Mrinal Datta and Ruth Datta. “I wish to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Saskatchewan Library Association for
awarding me the 2012 Saskatchewan Libraries Education Bursary,” Datta said. “The bursary will make an invaluable contribution to my graduate studies in the School of Library and Information Science.” The Saskatchewan Libraries Education Bursary was established through a partnership between the Provincial Library and Literacy Office, Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, the Multitype Library Board and the Saskatchewan Library Association. The bursary was developed to promote the continued growth of professional librarianship in the province. “Congratulations to Ms. Datta on being awarded this bursary,” Saskatch-
Break-in investigated . . . A RCMP officer dusts for prints last Wednesday on Sixth Avenue East. The vehicle break-in happened overnight. If you have any information, please contact the Biggar RCMP, 948-6600, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
ewan Library Association President Amber Christensen said. “She has shown enthusiastic commitment to her vocation, and we are delighted that this bursary
will support her desire to contribute to the profession right here in Saskatchewan.” “It is gratifying to award this bursary to Ms. Datta,”
Multitype Library Board Chair Bryan Wilson said. “I wish her continued success as she pursues her Master’s program in Information and Library Science.”