Weyburn This Week - April 11, 2024

CUPE health care workers seek new contract from province

Members of CUPE’s Local 5430 gathered for an information picket in front of the Weyburn General Hospital on Tuesday over the noon hour, as they are seeking a new contract. They have been without a contract since March 31, 2023, and include 14,000 workers across the province.

CUPE workers hold information picket at Weyburn Hospital

By Greg Nikkel

A large group of CUPE health care workers from around the southeast held an information picket over the noon hour on Tuesday in front of the Weyburn General Hospital to ask for the government to return to the bargaining table to deal with their outstanding issues.

The union’s Local 5430 includes health service providers working for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and includes 14,000 workers across the province as clerical, technical, nursing, support and plant operations. There are roughly 3,000 members in the southeast region.

CUPE president Bashir Jalloh spoke to the gathered group near the hospital about the main issues with the government, low wages and working conditions, with recruiting and retention among the largest challenges they are facing currently.

He said they did a survey of CUPE members to ask about how they are doing financially under current wage levels.

“Only 19 per cent of

members consider their financial situation as good, while 56 per cent described their situation as poor, and 24 per cent said it was extremely poor. That is why we are here today, to raise awareness,” said Jalloh.

The survey also showed 86 per cent of respondents said they had to cut back their grocery budget; 84 per cent cut back on leisure activities and hobbies; 77 per cent delayed a major purchase; and 73 per cent cancelled or scaled back vacation plans.

What has been happening over the past two or three years in the province is a lot of talk. They took their concerns to politicians and stakeholders, and “we went to the SHA and gave them a threepoint plan of what they can do to solve our problems, but all of that has fallen on deaf ears,” he added.

The government has been focusing on recruitment of staff from outside of Canada, “and that has nothing to do people who have suffered here over COVID.”

Jalloh noted that during COVID, these workers were hailed as “heroes” by government and residents alike for keeping services going. “Now, we’re not. We don’t know what happened with their value. … We are tired, we are burned out, we are downcast.”

Weyburn worker Holley Hermann, a medical lab technician, said she works full-time at the hospital, and has a second job just so she can pay her bills that she was able to pay four years ago with just the one job.

“Recruitment is a huge issue here. We have some members that are at the end of their terms. Just a little incentive might keep them working for a few more years,” she said, noting they give new hires a bonus of $30,000, so a new employee ends up making $30,000 more than someone who’s been working there for 30 years.

Hermann also noted that last year their bosses were talking about reducing one of the department, microbiology, but they were able to recruit

one person and kept that service in Weyburn.

“Now, it’s still on the table. It would just take one person to leave and they’ll be talking about reducing services again, and that’s coming into a new hospital where we have a whole room dedicated to testing,” she said.

When the provincial budget came down, Jalloh said they went through for some sign they were taking the union’s pleas seriously.

“We didn’t see any meaningful plans to address retention of existing

health care staff,” he said, so they will continue to hold these information pickets in the five former health region areas where they represent workers. Weyburn was No. 2 of six, with North Battleford coming up next.

Referring to Weyburn’s new hospital currently under construction, he said, “Yes, it’s good to build hospitals, and yes it’s good to build infrastructure, but if you build all these facilities but you don’t have staff, what’s the point of that?”

Women of Distinction nominees are named

lence Award, there was one nominee, Danielle Millar. There are three nominees for the Access Communications Exceptional Entrepreneur Award, and they are Delea Hopfe, Lori McIntosh and Kylie McGregor.

The guest speaker this year will be Jordan Szczecinski, who holds positions on several boards and committees in the community.

Jordan was also the recipient of the YF Wives Community Service Award at last year’s gala, and was

For the YF Wives Community Service Award, there are six nominees: Becky Grad, Fran Messer, Jackie Wilson, Korryn Kubashek, Lindsay MankoBauche, and Shannon Seitz. The Weyburn Oilwomen’s Young Woman of Distinction Award will go to Arliss Sidloski. The Awards Gala will be held on Friday, May 3, at McKenna Hall with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., the supper at 6:30 p.m., and the awards and after-party to follow.

part of a group winner of the WEYBEX Community Involvement Award in 2023.

Her commitments include the Weyburn Oilwomen, Weyburn Chamber of Commerce, Weyburn Beavers, Hockey Weyburn and Hockey Saskatchewan. There are limited numbers of tickets available, and are $75 each. Call or text Kristen at 306-8611515.

COMMUNITY !booster

Royal best wishes for anniversary

Dale and Sandi Huff had a special arrival in the mail recently, in the form of a photo of King Charles III and his wife Camilla, congratulating the Weyburn couple on their 60th anniversary. The anniversary date was April 4, as they were married in 1954 in Radville. Photo 0238 —

Ministerial: Jesus Christ is alive

By Cherian Poonnoose, Lighthouse Church

Dear friends, recently many people all across the world observed Good Friday and celebrated Easter. The Christian faith is founded on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul, who was once called Saul and a persecutor of the Church, writing to the Corinthians said, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we have found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ whom He did not raise up - if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most pitiable.”

Dear reader, let me leave

Wheatland Seniors Centre holds games, activities

The Wheatland Seniors Centre held a number of games and activities from April 1 to 5, with the following results.

you with four pieces of evidence why you can trust the Good Friday and Easter accounts. First of all, the death of Jesus Christ is a historical fact. Jesus Christ is not a myth but history records of a person called Jesus of Nazareth. He died in AD 33.

Sources outside of the Bible confirm that Jesus was at least executed. Atheist New Testament scholar Gerd Ludemen calls it indisputable. Post reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association concluded, “Clearly the weight of the medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead even before the wound to his side was inflicted. Second, we have early accounts of Jesus’ resurrection.”

fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. Even today if you go to Jerusalem, you have the evidence of the empty tomb. Among the dead, only the tomb of Jesus is empty.”

Finally the last evidence are the many eyewitnesses who witnessed personally the resurrected Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom He had cast seven demons, then he appeared to other women, Peter, 10 disciples, to the 11 disciples including Thomas, to the ones present at his ascension, to the disciples on the Emmaus road, in Galilee, to 500 people, to James and the apostles, to the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Central to the Christian faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. By recording the resurrection appearances, the New Testament leaves no doubt about this event.

In Kaiser on April 2, first went to Fay Johnston and Marg Schultz; second was Anne Gutzke and Marlene Szczecinski; third was Ray Boucher and Gladys

The winners of Spades on April 1 were, in first, Erskine Sandiford; in second, Marj Schultz; and in third, Shirley Sparks.

Lokken; and fourth was Marie Marcotte amd Eva Morley.

The winners of Canasta, held on April 3, were Sheila Greiner in first; Joan Gregory in second; Marg Warnke in third; Elaine

Frasz in fourth; and Trina Maas in fifth.

In Crib on April 4, first was Stan Hubick and Sheila Greiner; second was Ray and Connie Boucher; third was Chris Herlick and Marlene Szczecinski; and fourth was Tara Osborne and Mary Lou Schultz.

Winners of Crib on April 5 were, in first, Marg Schultz; in second, Rose Levesque; and in third, Fay Johnstone.

In Hi-Low Whist on April 3, Marge Schultz and Fay Johnson won first; Gladys Lokken and Shaun Eggum placed second; and Willa Mae Donald and Elaine Franz were third.

Skeptics who say that resurrection is a legend have no basis. Famed classical historian A.N Sherwin of Oxford said it took more than two generations of the ancient world of legends to develop and wipe out a solid care of historical truth. Yet we have a report of resurrection preserved in 1 Corinthians 15: 3-7 that comes far too quickly, in fact historical data within months after Jesus’ death to be considered a legend.

Next we have the evidence of the empty tomb. Matthew the gospel writer in his final chapter said, “Now after the Sabbath as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for

Dear reader, you too can personally encounter the resurrected Christ. You just have to pray to Jesus from your heart and say I trust you, Lord, show yourself to Me and if your cry is sincere and desperate He will reveal Himself to you. And you too can be like the hymn writer who wrote that beautiful classic hymn, “Because He lives”.

The beautiful chorus of that song reads: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!”

WWF to hold awards night

The annual fundraising Fred Garner Memorial Banquet and Trophy Night will be held for the Weyburn Wildlife Federation on Saturday, April 13 at the Weyburn Exhibition Hall.

A Kids Corner for activities will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., and cocktails start at 5 with the supper to follow at 6 p.m.

There will be a program to present the top trophies and awards for the year, along with raffles and auction items. Tickets are $40 for aduls and $25 for youth aged 12 and under.

For tickets, contact Terra Hartley-Ortman at 306-861-8235, or Larry Olfert at 306-861-2344.

Greg Nikkel

PICK UP THE WEYBURN REVIEW TO READ MORE ABOUT...

City hopes to stimulate economy with Builds

Weyburn city council approved a revised new Weyburn Builds program, and a new show home incentive program, both designed to stimulate economic growth in Weyburn

Weyburn-Estevan area tops in oil-gas lease sale

The Weyburn-Estevan area took in the majority of bonus bids in the April sale of oil and gas lease parcels by the province Young Fellows exceed goal with major fundraiser

The Young Fellows Club held their major banquet and auction fundraiser on Saturday night, and they exceeded their set goal of $140,000 with 494 silent and 19 live auction items up for bid

Weyburn police respond to two-vehicle collision

Weyburn police responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of 16th Street and First Avenue on April 2

11

FULL

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024

Tuesday, April 23 2024

Royal Canadian Legion (upstairs) 7:00 pm Call to Order

Prairie Sky Co-op Association Ltd. has four positions up for election.

Three positions are for 3-year terms and one 2-year term.

President Stella Swertz and Director Leanne Anderson are running for re-election

At the AGM, you’ll hear updates on the work of our Co-op and have the chance to vote on some key decisions. Proposed amendment to bylaw 6.08 Directors’ Duties and Powers will be presented for the membership to consider.

Everyone who attends the meeting will be entered to win 1 of 5 door prizes! Prairie

VOLUNTEERS ARE FUNDAMENTAL SO THAT EVERY MOMENT MATTERS

Sabrina Kraft skraft@weyburnreview.com

Volunteers are fundamental to strengthening inclusivity and well-being during events in their community. National Volunteer Week, held April 14 to 20, is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of local volunteers.

The National Volunteer Week theme for 2024 is Every Moment Matters, which highlights the importance of volunteers sharing their time, skills, empathy and creativity. It is so important to celebrate and recognize the contribution and impact of each and every volunteer.

There are so many great organizations in our community that would not be able to offer programs and services without local volunteers. In the past few years, it has become harder and harder for many of these local organizations to recruit new volunteers. As people struggle to find their own work-life balance, it can be difficult to have motivation to volunteer.

Volunteering can build friendships, provide health benefits, and even improve your self-esteem. Not only is volunteerism a great way to give back to the community, but it is also an effective tool to develop employable skills and even gain references.

It is important that our youth learn how important volunteering is, and how impactful their opinions and ideas can be when supporting local groups. The youth of our community are the future, and future success of

organizations is truly in their hands.

There are many scholarships and bursaries that consider the amount of volunteering dedication by the applicant, and of course many students can use that volunteer experience as a great boost to their resumes when applying for their first job.

It is important to find an organization that fits your passions and your interests, and there are many options in our community. They say the best reward for volunteering is the feeling of satisfaction that you are helping your community. I definitely felt personal pride in myself during my many years of volunteering. There are also opportunities to volunteer on a more personal level, by helping out your neighbours and your friends, and providing support in their lives. I know of people who make social visits to nursing homes, just so that the residents there do not feel so lonely. Sometimes all it takes is making time for a cup of tea, and a little chat, to make someone else feel that they have a special place in your life.

I know that there are many times in my life when I have felt alone, and struggled to find social connections. I am not alone in this, as there are many newcomers to the city who might feel a little disconnected and uncertain on where to turn. Sometimes all we need in life is someone who takes the time to make us feel welcome and accepted.

Most importantly, take time to recognize the efforts of your local volunteers. Make sure that all volunteers in our community are appreciated.

Ignoring addictions can be a mistake

By Stan Popovich

As a person who struggled with fear and anxiety for over 20 years, the one thing I learned was that ignoring your mental health issues can be a very costly mistake in your life.

Making excuses and not getting help for your anxieties and depression will only makes things worse for you.

As a result, this is what I did when I started to realize that my mental health problems were starting to interfere with my life.

1. Know the warning signs: When I first started dealing with my fears and anxieties, I thought that it was just a phase and that it would go away. I was wrong. My fears and anxieties would come and go on a regular basis and it started to be a major factor in my life. I knew that something was wrong and that I had to do something.

2. Do not make the mistake of doing nothing: I knew of some of my friends and colleagues who had similar issues with fear, anxiety, and depression who didn’t get any help. As a result, some of these people could not hold down a job and they became very distant and unresponsive. I decided that I needed to find a way to manage my fears and anxieties and to get my life back on track.

3. Get some professional advice from a

counselor: My first step was to talk to a mental health counselor, and I would always take notes on what I learned from each session I went to. In addition, I read many books and I learned what worked, what didn’t work, and what I needed to do to improve my situation. I realized that the more I learned the easier things got for me.

4. I did not make excuses: With a lot of practice, I became very good at dealing with my fears and anxieties. I realized that the answers to my problems were out there, however it was up to me to find those techniques that would get rid of my fears and anxieties.

5. I was persistent: There were times I felt like giving up because my fears and anxieties were so powerful and I didn’t know what to do. I worried about what would happen and that just made my fears that much stronger. During those times, I made it a point to learn from my experiences so that I would be better able to handle these situations in the future.

6. Your situation is not hopeless: There are many mental health support groups in your area that can help get your life back on track. The people at these groups are willing to help you, but you must be willing to make the choice of getting better.

Duelling Pianos entertain at Young Fellows event

The Duelling Pianos from Calgary kept the crowd dancing with their high-energy act, providing entertainment for the Young Fellow Club’s banquet and auction fundraiser on Saturday night at Weyburn Exhibition Hall. There were 320 people present for the prime rib supper, along with live and silent auctions, and overall the event raised over the $140,000 goal set by the Young Fellows.

Full Gospel family banquet to feature Alta. couple

The Weyburn chapter of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship will host a couple from Red Deer, Alta., as guest speakers for the upcoming family banquet. The banquet will be held on Saturday, April 27 at the Weyburn Legion

Hall, starting at 6:30 p.m., with speakers Herb and Crystal Taylor. The Taylors run Crystal Clear Ministries in

Making oil pastel flowers

Zella and Abby worked on drawing and colouring a flower picture using oil pastels, during an art activity on Friday at the Credit Union Spark Centre. The girls took part in the Easter break week camp.

E. Bourassa and Sons to mark 100th year in southeast region

E. Bourassa and Sons announced its remarkable milestone of 100 years in business. In honour of its 100th anniversary, E. Bourassa & Sons has launched a $100,000 Community Development Fund. The fund will donate $100,000 in 2024 to local organizations that seek to drive change in their community. This initiative emphasizes their ongoing commitment and support of the communities that have supported them over the past century. “I think the community is the driving force behind everything,” said Kurtis Bourassa, CEO. “Through strategic investments and partnerships, we aim to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the places we call home.”

Red Deer. Crystal sings and shares, while Herb welcomes the opportunity to share his testimony and preach as he is led.

Tickets are $25, and for children nine and under is $12.50 each. To reserve tickets, contact Taka Iida at 306-861-9545, or email him at takasask@icloud. com. Tickets can also be bought by e-transfer to weyburnfgbmf@gmail. com.

In 1924, Emile Bourassa started out selling coal and wood; later adding kerosene, binder twine, Maytag washing machines and many other products.

Four generations and 100 years later, E. Bourassa & Sons has grown from one store with a few employees to four New Holland dealerships (in Radville, Weyburn, Carlyle and Assiniboia), two Napa Auto Parts stores and one Power Sports store, with over 130 employees.

E. Bourassa & Sons is dedicated to serving their local communities with top-quality products and exceptional service. The driving force behind the Bourassa story is their people, loyal customers and progressive communities who continue to be integral partners on their family’s journey.

“We are incredibly proud to reach this historic milestone as a 4th generation family-owned company,” said Kurtis Bourassa, CEO. “Our journey over the last 100 years has been guided by our core values of family, honesty, fairness and community. Despite our growth we haven’t lost sight of our humble beginnings and offer the same experience to all customers large and small.”

To commemorate this significant achievement, E. Bourassa and Sons will host customer events in June 2024. These celebrations will serve as a tribute to the rich heritage and the bright future that lies ahead. Stay tuned to their website for updates on events and initiatives throughout the year.

To learn more about E. Bourassa & Sons 100th anniversary or the Community Development Fund, please go to ebourassa.com/100.

24042BS0

24042SS0

24042SS1

Photo 6896 — Greg Nikkel

Photo 0135 — Greg Nikkel

! SPORTS this week

Weyburn MMA Club attends Western Kids Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competition

The Weyburn MMA Club showcased their exceptional talent and dedication at the recent Western Kids Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition held in Regina on April 6.

Coached by Steve Schuck and Tara Day at the tournament, the club’s members demonstrated their prowess on the mats, bringing home an impressive haul of medals.

The highlight of the competition was the remarkable performance of the Weyburn MMA Club overall, which secured a total of seven gold, five silver, and three bronze medals across both Gi and No Gi categories.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a ground-based martial art that blends aspects of freestyle wrestling and judo. The matches are fought in a gi or no-gi uniform. A Gi is a kimono akin to a traditional judo uniform and no-gi is fought in shorts and t-shirt.

Leading the charge with gold medals were Atlas Fredrickson in both Gi and No Gi divisions, showcasing his versatility and

skill in different aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Joining him in the gold medal triumph were Carter Dorgan, Knox Teske, Valeriia Chorna, and Ava Chapman in the Gi division, along with Brynn Ward in the No Gi division.

The silver medalists from the club included Nikolas Nikulin, who excelled in both Gi and No Gi competitions in several hard-fought matches, as well as Carter Dorgan, Harley-Quinn Fredrickson, and Kabela Teske in the No Gi division.

Additionally, Brynn Ward added to her accolades with a bronze medal in the Gi division, showcasing her resilience and determination. Kabela Teske and Gabriel Brock also secured bronze medals in the Gi division, further highlighting the club’s depth of talent across different weight classes and styles.

The Weyburn MMA Club’s outstanding performance reflects their students’ commitment to excellence, but also underscores the thriving martial arts community in Weyburn.

Volunteers, tryouts set for Summer Games

In the summer of 2024, more than 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials will converge on Lloydminster to share in the thrill of competition and camaraderie on the provincial stage.

Upwards of 1,100 community volunteers will be recruited to help welcome thousands of visitors to Lloydminster during the seven days of Games competition. If anyone is interested in participating in the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games as an athlete, coach, manager, official, mission staff, or volunteer, send in an expression of interest form.

Submit your information to https://saskgames. ca/summer/get-involved and you’ll be contacted closer to the Games with more information on how you can take part. For more information, contact Joni Hagen, Chef de Mission, ed@southeastdistrict.ca

Gold medalists at MMA tournament

Two of the Weyburn MMA athletes who earned gold medals are shown above, with Valeriia Chorna, left, and Knox Teske. They both won gold medals in the Gi division.

‘Girls Beyond Borders’ on April 20 for athletes

The Weyburn Oilwomen, along with Spilling Prairie Tea, AccessNow and Girls Beyond Borders will present a day for female athletes in the Weyburn area.

The day is set for Saturday, April 20 at the St. Michael School gymnasium, for girls in Grades 9 to 12.

There is no cost to participate in this day, but there is a limit of 50 participants.

The event will run from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will promote a positive mindset and positive body image for the community’s female athletes.

There will be three

workshops focused on selfesteem, self-confidence, mindfulness, leadership skills and goal setting.

At the end of the day, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., the community is invited to listen to the panel of community athletes, coaches and trainers as they share their personal experiences

and stories.

The panel includes Tonya Miller, Jacquie Williams, Heidi Vogel, Jessie Smoliak, Lydia Sanders, Jane Kish, Jasmine Lund and Brooklyn Lund.

To register for this event, contact Lindsee Michel, at lindsee@myaccess.ca.

• Basketball: Girls Tryout Location: EstevanApril 28

• Basketball: Boys Tryout Location: WeyburnMay 5

• Soccer (tryout information TBD)

• Special OlympicsBocce (tryout information TBD)

• Softball: Tryout Location: Balgonie - May 4 , Estevan - May 5

• Triathlon: Tryout Location: Wolseley – June 1

• Tennis: Tryout Location: Estevan – June 22-23

– player development starting May 1.

Baseball tryouts will be on Saturday, April 27 at Rival Cage, Weyburn, 12-2 p.m., and May 27th, Diamond 1 at Jubilee Park, Weyburn, 4-6 p.m.

To register for a tryout, please email carter_sorenson@yahoo.ca.

For those looking for sports or teams to try out for, the following locations have been set, with others to be determined in the coming weeks. Contact ed@southeastdistrict.ca if you cannot find the tryout information you are looking for.

Getting in early ball practice

Members of a U15 girls provincial softball team held an early ball practice on Thursday evening at the Credit Union Spark Centre, as they wanted a start to get ready for a new season of ball.

Submitted by Alexandra Teske

CUPE workers hold info picket at hospital

CUPE Local 5430 health care workers from around the southeast region gathered in front of the Weyburn General Hospital to hold an information picket over the noon hour on Tuesday. The union, including clerical, technical, nursing, support and plant operations, have been without a contract since March 31, 2023, and want to raise awareness with the public about their struggles.

Community agencies named for Weyburn Communithon

Eight community agencies were named as the recipients of funding from the 2024 Communithon fundraiser to be held in October.

The list was approved by United Way Regina and the Weyburn Communithon committee. These agencies provide programs and services in Weyburn and the surrounding area.

The agencies include:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Weyburn

• Canadian Mental Health Association

• Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Foundation

• Envision Counselling and Support Centre

• Inclusion Weyburn

• Southeast Advocates for Employment

• Spinal Cord Injury

Saskatchewan

• Weyburn Care-A-Van Society

The goal of the annual Communithon is to help raise funds for these agencies, and support their

invaluable work in the community.

The Communithon committee is in the planning stages for the 2024 Communithon, which will be held at the Weyburn Legion Hall on Friday, Oct. 25.

The committee is dedicated to ensuring that the community agencies receive the funding and support they require, so they can continue to provide necessary programming and services to the residents of Weyburn and area.

The committee welcomes community involvement and other volunteers to join them. A volunteer appreciation event will be held on Tuesday, April 23, at the Southeast College at 6:30 p.m. Follow their Facebook page, or visit the website at www.communithon.com to find out more information on how to help the Communithon committee plan the 2024 fundraiser event.

Province provides funding for short line railways: two in region

Highways Minister Lori Carr announced $530,000 in provincial short line rail investments that will keep this key transportation infrastructure moving.

“Short line railways play an important role in getting Saskatchewan’s food, fuel and fertilizer on their journeys to worldwide markets, which helps keep our export-based economy strong to sustain our quality of life,” Carr said. “We are proud to invest in this transportation sector as it is essential to keeping our great and growing province strong.”

Under the Government of Saskatchewan’s Short Line Railway Improvement Program (SRIP), funding will assist with track upgrades and expan-

sion, improved crossing surfaces and sightlines, bridge maintenance, track rehabilitations and other projects.

SRIP allocations for 2024-25 and their operating locations include these two in the Weyburn region:

• Red Coat Road and Rail (Ogema area), $25,000

• Stewart Southern Railway (southwest of Regina to Stoughton), $28,297

“By investing in continuous improvements to our tracks, Saskatchewan short line railways ensure that rail is a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation option for agricultural producers, industrial facilities, and Saskatchewan businesses of all sizes,”

Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association

President Andrew Glastetter said.

“Many short line railways are community owned, and serve rural communities, while also playing a vital role in the overall supply chain. Short line railways have a positive impact on highway infrastructure, the environment, and rural economies, while transporting freight on infrastructure that is primarily maintained and funded privately.

“The Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association expresses our appreciation to the Government of Saskatchewan for their renewed funding of the Short Line Railway Improvement Program and for their support of the short line railway industry and rail access opportun -

Guests welcomed to Iftar supper

ities for businesses across Saskatchewan.”

Provincial grants provide up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs and are determined based on

how much track each short line owns. Networks with less than 80 kilometres of track receive at least $25,000. Larger networks receive a proportional

amount based on how much track they operate.

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

Taking part in an Iftar supper

Cathie

of Ramadan. Members of Weyburn’s Muslim community were joined by community members as they explained the significance of Ramadan, and shared homemade traditional dishes with their guests.

Loden, at left, and Regan Lanning were guests of the Southeast Newcomers Services, as they hosted a special Iftar supper to signal the end

Photo 7293 — Greg Nikkel

Deniza Blakaj Krasniqi, settlement advisor for Southeast Newcomer Services, gave a brief introduction to the Ramadan Iftar supper, held on Sunday evening at the Knox Hall, with members of Weyburn’s Muslim community.

Photo — Greg Nikkel

Photo 0268 — Greg Nikkel

How volunteering can keep seniors active and engaged

Volunteering is a great way for seniors to stay active and engaged with their community. It can also provide physical, mental and social benefits.

Physical benefits: Many volunteer opportunities involve physical activity, such as serving meals at a soup kitchen, walking dogs at a shelter or gardening at a community park. This can help seniors maintain their physical fitness and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Mental benefits: Volunteering can help keep seniors mentally active and engaged. It can provide them with a sense of purpose and meaning, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Volunteering can also help improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Social benefits: Volunteering is a great way for seniors to meet new people and socialize with others. It can help them build friendships and feel connected to their community. Volunteering can also help to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

How to get involved

If you’re a senior looking for a way to get involved, there are a few resources that can help you find opportunities:

• Your local volunteer centre

• Your local library or community centre

• Your place of worship

• Online volunteer matching websites

Are you ready to get involved? National Volunteer Week, which takes place from April 14 to 20, is an annual event that celebrates the contributions of volunteers and encourages Canadians, including seniors, to get involved in their communities.

Every Moment Matters: Find the right volunteer opportunity for you

Giving back to one’s community can provide a sense of purpose and improve an individual’s overall well-being.

People who volunteer improve their health by strengthening their bodies, improving their moods and reducing stress. Volunteerism also produces additional benefits, including boosting one’s positive perception to others.

By understanding the value behind volunteer work — for the people or organization on the receiving end as well as the volunteer — more individuals may decide to donate their time and services. However, finding the right volunteer opportunity may take some trial and error.

• Assess your skill levels. Is there something you are particularly adept at doing? For example, if you are a certified public accountant, you may be able to volunteer by mentoring young accounting students, or doing taxes or bookkeeping tasks for the elderly or less fortunate.

• Think about commitment level. Figure out how much time you can spend volunteering. Maybe you only have the weekends or a few hours in the evenings? Understanding how much free time you have can help you choose opportunities that fit within these parameters.

• Research potential organizations. Not all nonprofit groups are created equal. Utilize resources such as CreativeVolunteer that vet charitable groups to determine if they are trustworthy.

• Define your goals. Have goals in mind when selecting opportunities. Defining a goal can help you maintain the motivation to volunteer and see a project through to completion.

• Start small. Wade into a volunteer opportunity slowly to see if it is the right fit. This may include volunteering one day a week or month. Increase the time you spend volunteering once you’ve found the right place for you.

Weyburn police to hold appreciation banquet for communication staff

The Weyburn Police Service are hosting an appreciation banquet for the Tele-communicators in Southern Saskatchewan on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. Annually there is a national week recognizing this group of emergency workers in the second week in April.

The Weyburn Police Communication staff wanted to acknowledge the good work that happens behind the scenes in Emergency Services, and have a get-together in Weyburn.

They will have a guest speaker, Heather Fyke, who is from Regina now but hails from Moosomin. Heather has been involved in emergency services for over 30 years, as an Intermediate Care Paramedic, a trainer for SIAST in PCP, a RCMP DEPOT Dispatcher/ telecoms, and now as a civilian employee with RCMP in a different facet.

Heather was directly involved in the Humboldt Bronco bus accident on April 6, 2018 as one of the dispatchers, and after a long time away was diagnosed with PTSD, general and social anxiety.

Heather is a big advocate for mental health through SOSI Peer Support, the Critical incident Stress Management team with the RCMP, and uses her Facebook account as a platform to tell her story, both to be a support and be supported.

A quote from one such

post on her platform goes as follows: “I am getting my new life in order and it’s been amazing to feel like healing has taken place and the people who surround me now are full of love and support … never suffer in silence … Once you find your voice, others will learn so much from you … and you will teach yourself survival … take extra care of yourself … we can do anything together …we never have to fight alone.”

Heather has chosen to speak on “When Life Changes … Finding a New Normal.”

“I have known Heather for close to 30 years, and her wit and humor will keep us all engaged,” said Leanne Anderson, a communications officer with the Weyburn Police Service.

Doors at Cecilia’s Banquet Hall will open at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed with supper at 6:30 p.m. There will be tables of raffle items with tickets 10 for $10, and all proceeds of the event will be donated to the South East Regional Victim Services. This event is now open to the public and there will be limited seating. Please contact Leanne Anderson at 306891-8904 or any of the communication staff at Weyburn Police Service by calling 306-848-3250.

“We are hoping to make this an annual event,” said Anderson.

Taking information for the police

Leanne

a

Federal oil-gas missions cap referred to Impact Tribunal

The Province referred the federal oil and gas emissions cap and federal ‘Methane 75’ regulations to the Saskatchewan Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal to analyze their anticipated, wideranging impacts on Saskatchewan’s economy.

In December, 2023, at COP28 in Dubai, federal Minister Steven Guilbeault announced a national cap-and-trade system for the upstream oil and gas sector, as well as ‘Methane 75,’ which mandates the reduction

Author reads for ‘One Book’ event

Author Jennifer S. Wallace, left, met up with a family friend, Ruth Cook, after doing an author reading at the Weyburn Public Library on Thursday evening. She read from her book, Miss G and Me, which was chosen to be part of “One Book One Province” program throughout Saskatchewan. The program encourages literacy, and libraries and book clubs throughout the province will read and discuss her book during April.

of methane emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, along with fines and penalties.

“These measures, which constitute a production cap by default, are duplicative and inefficient,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said. “They ignore local realities and diversity of production methods across the country. Their imposition, with no consultation, is another example of gross federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction and flies in the face of growing momentum against federal regulation of specific provincial industries by the courts. It is also our position that a cap-andtrade system does not fit under the federal criminal law power.”

Under the Saskatchewan First Act, findings by the independent Tribunal can be used as evidence in court. Panel members will review the economic impact of implementing the regulations, including the anticipated impact on investment, production, and royalty tax revenues, costs required to comply with the new federal regulations, and overall economic impact.

“These policies are unnecessary, costly and create enormous uncertainty for business,” Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter said. “The unfortunate reality is that these policies will restrict and shut-in Canadian oil and gas production, increasing our reliance on imported energy products.”

Emissions from Saskatchewan’s upstream oil and gas sector are already fully provincially regulated. Since 2019, the provincial energy sector has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from reported venting and flaring at oil facilities by 64 per cent

below 2015 levels. This includes an overall 70 per cent reduction in methane emissions.

As the Government of Saskatchewan has formally indicated to the Government of Canada, it is anticipated that ‘Methane 75’ will hit Saskatchewan disproportionately harder than other Canadian jurisdictions. In addition, the premise of the federal oil and gas emissions cap is that a tonne of emissions from the oil and gas sector is different than one from any other sector. The framework also fails

to outline how emissions allowances will be calculated and allocated, which makes it extremely challenging to estimate the price of traded emissions and impact of the cap.

Preliminary estimates from the Ministry of Energy and Resources suggest that compliance for the oil and gas cap and ‘Methane 75’ will cost Saskatchewan’s energy sector between $7-9 billion dollars by 2030, which does not take into account the broader economic impact on jobs, investment and GDP.

ASSESSMENT NOTICE R.M. OF NORTON

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the R.M. of Norton #69 for the year of 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor by appointment on the following days: Monday to Friday, April 11th to May 10th, 2024.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against their assessment is required to file their notice of appeal with: Western Municipal Consulting Ltd. Box 189 Pangman, SK S0C 2C0.

Dated this 11th day of April, 2024.

Patti Gurskey, Assessor

Anderson,

dispatcher for the Weyburn Police Service, took down information from a call to the police, before she sent it out for a police officer to investigate. The telecommunications staff at the WPS are holding an appreciation banquet on Tuesday, April 16, and the public is invited to buy tickets and attend. A dispatcher during the Humboldt bus crash will be the guest speaker.

Photo 0141 — Greg Nikkel

Dylon David Piper

August 19, 1980April 13, 2006

The measure of a Man:

Not - “how did he die”

But - “how did he live”

Not - “what did he gain”

by Mom, Dad, Nathan Thank You from the family of Joan Bavle. The family of the late Joan Bavle would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who expressed their sympathy and support during her illness and passing. For the food, donations, prayers and hugs as they were greatly appreciated. A special thank you to Dr. Beheshti and all the nurses and staff on the third floor at the Weyburn General Hospital for all the excellent care. We would also like to thank the Weyburn Ambulance for all the help they provided. Also a special thanks to Loretta Knibbs for the hours she sat with mom at the hospital. We would also like to thank RD Funeral Home for their help and support

Star City, SK. Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-921-9942.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.

Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided.

Weyburn 4-H Beef Club donates to Humane Society

Members of the Weyburn 4-H Beef Club gathered with representatives of the Weyburn Humane Society, Colleen Morrice (far left) and Randy Bakaluk (far right), president of the Humane Society to present them with collected food, detergent and other items needed for the animal shelter. The 4-H members do this every year, collecting up items needed for the caring of the dogs and cats.

4-H members get presentation

The Weyburn 4-H Beef Club heard a presentation by Natasha Wilkie, a Livestock and Feed extension specialist, as she spoke about feed nutrition. This was at the club’s March meeting.

The Weyburn 4-H Beef Club has had a busy year. In March, the club had Natasha Wilkie, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist, come and give a presentation on feed nutrition. Club members also collected donations for the Weyburn Humane Society and donated them that day. The 4-H Club met for their organizational meeting in October where we voted on our 2023/2024 executive. The Beef leaders are Mike and Carla Fellner; the co-general leaders are Erin Bell and Tina Clay; president is Ryder Fellner; vice-president is Kale Williamson, sec -

retary is Jyllian Payak; treasurer is Charlotte Kosior and club reporter is Connor Clay.

Meetings are the second Tuesday of each Monday in the Sun Room at the Weyburn Leisure Centre.

The club had a project meeting in November where they discussed the digestive systems of their animals. In December, the club held the Club Christmas Party at the Spark Centre and donated to the Adopt-A-Family for Christmas.

In February all Club members had to do speeches in front of family, club members and judges.

Daphne reported her vehicle stolen. She claimed she may have dropped her keys on the driveway while carrying bags into the house, and the alleged thieves must have found her keys and stolen her car.

Earlier, police had received a complaint of a possible impaired driver, driving a vehicle that

matched the description of Daphne’s. A woman was reported to be driving. Police were unable to catch up with the vehicle at the time, but hours later, they responded to a complaint of a vehicle that struck three parked cars and was abandoned. When police arrived on scene, the keys had been removed from the vehicle and there was no one around. The vehicle smelled heavily of alcohol and was full of empty bottles. Several months later, someone tipped off SGI that they overheard Daphne telling her friends she had been intoxicated and hit three parked vehicles. The tipster heard Daphne say she had fled the scene because she was impaired and reported her vehicle stolen the next day. After further investigation, including witness interviews, SIU determined that Daphne fabricated her claim to avoid the consequences of driving impaired. When confronted with these findings, Daphne admitted to lying, and withdrew her claim, resulting in approximately $50,000 in

savings for SGI. Because of her decision to provide a false statement to SGI, Daphne was also on the hook for the damage to the parked cars. (Driving impaired also voids insurance coverage.)

What a Night for a Theft

Dee went out of the country on vacation and reported a theft of over $90,000 worth of property stolen, including a significant amount of high-valued jewelry. She claimed that one night while she went out to dinner, she left all her jewelry inside a bag locked in the backseat of her vehicle parked outside of the restaurant. Along with the jewelry, Dee claimed there was also other high-valued clothing and electronics stolen.

Dee purchased replacement jewelry while still on vacation and submitted a claim with replacement invoices.

Throughout the lengthy investigation, SIU discovered the sale invoices for the replaced items and other documents that Dee tried passing off as genuine, were fake. It was also discovered that the expensive jewelry had not been properly im-

ported to Canada.

Investigators began to suspect that the theft never occurred, and she did not purchase any replacement jewelry at all. Investigators concluded that Dee misrepresented herself, and the claim was denied.

Total savings: $90,000.

Nowhere to Hide

Roger made reports with both the police as well as SGI, claiming his vehicle had been stolen while he had been out shopping. Police thoroughly investigated the complaint, which resulted in some questions about Roger’s story. Later, SIU received some tip information about the location of the vehicle. Roger’s vehicle was located and appeared to have been parked in the same spot for a long time. The SIU investigation revealed that Roger left his vehicle at the location months before, and never returned. The police conducted their own investigation and Roger was criminally charged with fraud and public mischief. The insurance claim was denied, and Roger was obligated to repay $4,300 to SGI.

Photo — courtesy Tina Clay

Photo — courtesy Tina Clay

Ready to fly away

Going Solo

Mini beginner ballet dancers performed a dance to the song, “Night at the Movies”, at the DeFeet Dance Challenge held at the Cugnet Centre over the weekend.

A mini-beginner ballet group from De Tricky Feet studio performed to the song, “Now Boarding”, as part of the DeFeet Dance Challenge held over the weekend at the Cugnet Centre.

Photo 0101 — Greg Nikkel

‘Bubble Gum’ dancers

A group of intermediate jazz dancers from De Tricky Feet dance studio performed a dance to the song, “Bubble Gum”, at the DeFeet Dance Challenge on Friday morning.

Photo 9952

Dancer Emily Edwards of De Tricky Feet dance studio performed a contemporary dance solo to the song, “Go Solo”, as part of the Dance Challenge on Saturday afternoon.

Photo 9998

A lyrical dance

Senior-intermediate lyrical dancers from De Tricky Feet performed to the song, “Nothing Compares 2U” at the DeFeet Dance Challenge on Friday evening. Photo 9766