Youth travellers set to sail on South Pacific adventure Biggar Youth Travel Club members are busy getting ready for their South Pacific Adventure with EF Tours. Travellers were receiving their final trip details along with their new travel club T-shirts and EF back packs at their February 8 meeting. Fourteen youth from Biggar will be departing from Saskatoon on February 16 to begin their tour in Nadi, Fiji. From there they will visit Auckland, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia and finally, Honolulu, Hawaii. They will be back in Saskatoon early on March 1.
The group is made up of Austin Carruthers, Devyn Hammel, Danika Crozier, Brayden Elliott, Catlin Heather, Danton Hollman, Justin Isinger, Edyn Keith, Cassidy Kelliher, Melissa Kowalchuk, Kaylee Oesch, Erika Reimer, Bailey Seidl and Wes Tornberg. They will be travelling with chaperones; Laura Kowalchuk, Cindy Seidl, Bonita Elliott, Marty Isinger, Shanon Heather, Michelle Keith and Sandy Gerwing. The group leaders for the tour are Sharon Hollman and Natalie Chupik.
Erika Riemer, left, reads through all the ‘legalese’ as Cassidy Kelliher and Danton Hollman listen, all in preparation for the Biggar Youth Travel Club’s South Pacific adventure. The club was getting ready last Wednesday evening for this Thursday’s departure. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Hudson Bay to close Fields Biggar’s Fields Store may be on the chopping block as parent company, the Hudson’s Bay Co., announced the closure of 21 Fields store locations in the province.
The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) made the announcement earlier this month, making the plan to shut down the value stores by this fall. It has 167 locations in
the country including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories, and is an Ontario-based business. O r i g i n a l l y, H B C announced in December that the 26 Ontario Fields stores would close in February. On February 1, HBC announced that the remaining Fields stores would also shut their doors this fall, saying the decision was “strategic”, allowing HBC to focus on there other brand stores,
the Bay, Home Outfitters and Lord and Taylor. “Today, the Hudson’s Bay Company announced the wind-down of the 141 stores operating under the Fields banner,” said Michael Waitzer, Senior Vice President and General Manager, in a February 1 news release. “This process will be carried out between now and Fall 2012. As more precise dates are available, we will continue to communicate them to all constituents.” HBC officials say the
decision was a tough, but careful one, admitting the Fields brand has been a valuable chain of stores in Canada over the past years. HBC also promises that the employees in Biggar and at other Fields locations, will be taken care of with career transition programs and support, interview skills training, resume building and workplace preparation. “Fields has had a longstanding history with the
Hudson’s Bay Company and has been an active and highly regarded member of the communities where our stores are located,” a d d e d Wa i t z e r. “ I t i s very important that our vendor partners plan business volumes for 2012 collaboratively with us. Purchases for our spring season will be reduced and adjusted based on the store closing timelines.” Fields stores first opened in 1950, becoming a public company in 1968.
Great Plains College names new Director of Programs
Belle of the ball . . . Despite being under the weather, Belle Plaine hit the Majestic Theatre stage for the fifth concert of the Biggar Arts Council performance season, February 3. The songstress hit all the right notes, for a very entertaining evening. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Great Plains training in the College is pleased to region. Prior announce Michelle to joining MacDonald as its the college new Director of she oversaw Programs. marketing and MacDonald has communications worked for Great for zu.com, Plains since 2010 and worked as region manager in student Michelle for the Kindersley recruitment MacDonald Region, which and retention includes oversight s e r v i c e s of operations at Kindersley a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a m p u s , R o s e t o w n Saskatchewan. Program Centre, Macklin “I believe in what the Training Centre, and college is here to do and that significant involvement we have the right people in with industry and safety place to accomplish our
goals,” said MacDonald. “I will do anything I can to help us achieve those goals, and I’m eager to take the time to connect with all of the amazing staff and learn how I can best support them in my new role.” MacDonald will be responsible for the development and administration of all programs and student services for the college. That portfolio includes meeting the academic needs of students, leading efforts to engage
employers, and ensuring that the college is engaged in economic development activities throughout the region and province. “Through her tenure as region manager for the Kindersley Campus R e g i o n , M i ch e l l e h a s proven to be a thoughtful and dynamic leader,” said Bruce Probert, interim CEO. “She has gained valuable experience and understanding in the areas of program and staff management, and will be a tremendous asset in her new position.”