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THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

Softball background leads to success in the tech world

Isla, Charlie, Eden, Amelia and Sophia cooled off near the spray park feature at the outdoor pool, as summer slowly winds up for local families. Photo by Sabrina Kraft/Weyburn This Week

Mainprize documentary to be shown at Film Festival SaskToday Mainprize has been selected to be shown at the Regina International Film Festival in the Global Citizen Series category. The 89-minute biographical documentary on the life of Midale physician Dr. William Graham Mainprize will be shown at the Mackenzie Art Gallery on August 22, at 11 a.m.

“The Global Citizen Documentary Series explores what ‘citizenship’ entails through film. Be it in the relationship between people and land, social contracts, environmental challenges, and the feeling of belonging, it showcases facets of society around Canada and the world,” information from the film festival states. Mainprize spent dec-

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ades serving the people of the Midale area. A writeup from the festival notes Mainprize’s faith, compassion and service made him a pillar of his community. “After tragedy shakes his confidence and calling, he must confront doubt, loss and the cost of walking away. The film is a heartfelt reflection on resilience, faith and the power of com-

munity,” states information for the documentary. Director and producer Jack Hilkewich is originally from Midale and spent 14 years working on the documentary, which made its debut in Midale in August 2025. The Regina film festival website notes this will be the first time Mainprize has been shown in a festival.

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David Willberg SaskToday.ca The next Innovation Conversation will have the theme of “You Don’t Need a Tech Background to Build a Tech Company,” and the speaker for that gathering is an example of that. Morgan Walter, who is originally from Lampman, will share her experiences at the event on August 24 at the Southeast College’s Weyburn campus, starting at 6:30 p.m. The event is put on by the Southeast Techhub (SETH) and the Southeast College. “I’m going to be speaking about my experience with developing my own tech company,” said Walter, who is the Techhub’s regional innovation connector. “So ... I’m looking forward to just getting to talk about how I got to where I got to today, and just try to encourage and inspire some other people who maybe don’t have a tech background that it’s never too late. They can get started and chase those dreams and aspirations that they have if they want to try to build their own business or start a technology-based company.” Walter played softball in North Dakota and Nebraska until she suffered an injury that caused her to want to get into the coaching side of softball. She obtained an undergraduate degree in sport and exercise science, with a coaching emphasis, and pursued a master’s degree in sport management. She took a few business classes that pertain to sport. Walter also gained some experience coaching at a high level in Texas, and has returned home to southeast Saskatchewan, where she launched her tech company. She is the owner of Her Softball Hub. It’s an app with an online drill library in which players can purchase a membership and have unlimited access to

resources, drills and tutorials. Coaches can access practice plans and support through coaching. “There’s also a video analysis part of our app as well, so athletes can upload videos, we can break it down frame by frame and look at mechanics ... swing angles ... pitch velocities and all sorts of stuff to try to analyze athletes’ skills and their mechanics,” she said. Camps, clinics, private lessons, winter training programs and winter travel teams can all use the app. The business has been running well, the app is expected to be released shortly, and she’s been busy with the business and other softball commitments. “There are opportunities for players to play on teams, whether that’s house ball in their local community or they want to play a little more of a competitive level ... but there’s no resource for where players can access help and support outside of the practice time where they’re with their coach a couple of times a week,” she said. There’s also a lack of support for coaches where they can go and access drills and practice plans, or reach out to someone with coaching experience to help a struggling player. There’s no other app like this one that she’s seen in Canada. Walter grew up with smartphones, computers and other forms of technology, but doesn’t have an extensive background. She joined the SETH’s Rural Innovation Startup Ecosystems program and did everything she could to learn and launch her business. Free tickets for the Innovation Conversation can be found on the SETH’s website. The event will also see the college’s latest computer science students present their projects.

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Thursday, August 27, 2026

Participants of both the Spark Centre and FunZone summer camps gathered to spell out ‘Summer Camps’. Both Summer Camps have concluded for the season, as local families are now preparing to return back to school on September 2. Photo courtesy of the City of Weyburn

Trump whist, kaiser and other games played at Wheatland Centre

A number of games were held recently at the Wheatland Senior Centre. In Spades held on August 17, Stan Hubick

won first, Gladys Lokken placed second and Marge Schultz finished third. Playing Trump Whist on August 17, Marge

Schultz and Fay Johnson won first, Ruth Boren and Willa Mae Donald placed second and Elaine Frasz and Heather Carter fin-

ished third. In Kaiser on August 18, Elaine Frasz and Jeanne Molnar won first, Norma Kapusuniak and Melba Bent finished second and Fay Johnson and Marge Schultz took third. During Canasta on August 19, Marion Locks won first, Shirley Hubbs placed second and Kathy Carson took third. In Hi-Low Whist on August 19, Brenda Paul and Dave Frayn won first, Ruth Boren and Cindy Renas placed second and

Janet vanWinkoop and Emily Zylas took third. During Thursday crib on August 20, Stan Hubick and Garth White won first, Marg Schultz and Fay Johnson placed second, Shirley Hubbs and Chris Carter took third and Dave Frayn and Marlene Szczecinski finished fourth. In Friday contract bridge on August 21, Mildred Sandiford won first, Jean Knibbs placed second and Jeannie Molnar took third..

A fun crib tournament was held on August 22. Sheila Wendell won first, Jean Fahlman finished second, Marg Schultz took third and Stan Hubick finished fourth. The Weyburn Wheatland Senior Centre offers space available for rent, in addition to hosting many activities and services. Residents can follow the Wheatland Senior Centre on Facebook. They welcome new members to join them for weekly events.

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Sofia and Mira painted and decorated little keepsake boxes during the Summer Reading Program held recently at the Weyburn Public Library. Photo by Sabrina Kraft/Weyburn This Week

Thursday, August 27, 2026

table of

Weyburn This Week

contents

Opinion: The internet isn’t listening 5 Rural regions key 6-7 Back to School 8-9 Estevan This Week 11 Minor football begins Forecast This Week Thursday Partly Sunny

High: 27 Low: 15

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

High: 28 Low: 15

High: 28 Low: 14

High: 22 Low: 13

Chance of Rain

Partly Sunny

Rain

Gratitude Jars were created by Rhea, Alys and Scarlette during a Camp Ignite program hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn.

Photo Sabrina Kraft/Weyburn This Week

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EDITORIAL Weyburn This Week

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Opinion: Post for yourself, the internet isn’t listening anyway

Nick Kossovan SaskToday.ca You spend 20 minutes editing a video, syncing the audio, and rewriting the caption three times before finally uploading it to TikTok, Facebook, X, Instagram, etc. Whether it’s a 45-second clip of you around a campfire with family and friends, announcing a gym milestone, or weighing in on trending political discourse, the post-upload ritual is predictable. You close the app, wait two minutes, then reopen it. Zero engagement. Five minutes pass. Three likes: one from your aunt, two from automated bots. You refresh. Wait. Refresh again. A knot forms in your gut, a mix of rejection and creeping regret. You second-guess the video, your timing, and ultimately yourself. It’s a low-grade erosion of self-esteem, looping through millions of minds every minute. Taking a detached look at Domo’s annual Data Never Sleeps report dispels any expectation that your work will be noticed, let alone engaged with. Every 60 seconds, over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube, 70,000 photos are posted to Instagram, and hundreds of thousands of posts are shared on X. Essays, podcasts, memes, comments, video, and corporate marketing propaganda pour into the digital abyss every second. Believing that your personal hot takes, pictures of your consumerism, and thought-provoking memes will rise above this deluge isn’t just optimistic; it’s statistically absurd. It reveals a subtle main-character complex, the delusion that your mundane thoughts and “life happenings,” most of which are staged, are significant enough to cut through the endless chatter. Think of the narcissism it takes to take a selfie and then think, “other people might want to see this.” Human attention is a finite, rapidly depleting resource. The constant flood of content buries your posts within seconds, but it’s your lingering hunger for validation that keeps you posting repeatedly in hopes of being acknowledged. It’s our need for recognition that makes social media psychologically sticky. A University of California news feature titled Can’t pay attention? You’re not alone; research led by Dr. Gloria Mark shows that our attention spans on any single digital screen have plummeted to an average of just 47 seconds. Your posts aren’t just competing with millions of creators uploading content constantly; they’re also up against multibillion-dollar algorithmic engines developed by behavioural scientists to capture every microsecond of human attention. This brings to light an uncomfortable truth about human ego. Expecting strangers scrolling through social media to care about your Italian vacation, bistro dinner, or latest career milestone is sheer self-deception. What makes people think total strangers will pause their routines to congratulate someone on a routine moment? It’s an overinflated ego whispering a nonsensical

lie, making a person believe their mundane opinions and personal moments will matter to anyone outside their immediate circle. Yet this delusion is becoming our dominant career ambition. Morning Consult data show that 57% of Gen Zers want to be influencers. Beneath this unrealistic career aspiration lies a collective tragedy: millions desperately want to be heard in a crowded room, where everyone is so preoccupied with telling their own “look at me” stories that they aren’t listening. When you’re constantly refreshing your feeds, you’re chasing dopamine hits. Social media platforms are deliberately engineered around variable rewards, the same psychological mechanism that keeps gamblers glued to slot machines. When a notification pops up, the brain gets a fleeting chemical surge; when it doesn’t, a psychological crash follows. As social psychologist Dr. Jonathan Haidt documents in his book, The Anxious Generation, social media intentionally reorients users away from realworld relationships and toward an endless quest for digital validation. Relying on an uncontrollable algorithm for your self-esteem leads to ongoing anxiety. When you tie your self-worth to likes, shares, and comments, you’re handing your mental health over to corporate algorithms designed solely to keep you glued to screens. Relying on digital approval turns authentic self-expression into a stressful public performance, leaving you perpetually waiting for approval that never arrives. The healthiest approach to online selfexpression is to post strictly for yourself, with zero expectation of an audience. When you share a thought, a photo, or a video, do so because the act of creating brings personal clarity, joy, or satisfaction, and for no other reason. Whether three people see it or three thousand, your internal state shouldn’t waver. Life is too short to spend it begging an algorithm for a fleeting moment of Internet visibility. Real human value never needs permission from an algorithm. The lack of an audience is the ultimate freedom. If you post on social media hoping for engagement or, worse, seeking digital stardom, consider ending the habit of wasting time in the void. Redirect that time and energy on your immediate surroundings: your family, true friends, and local community. These are the physical spaces where your presence carries real weight, where character limits don’t truncate conversation, human bonds aren’t measured in double-taps, and your potential to “influence” is exponentially greater. Post online if you must, but do so with absolute indifference to the outcome. Your mental well-being is far too valuable to trade for meaningless digital applause, given the odds that it was never coming anyway. Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s on his mind from Toronto

this week

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Column: ChatGPT can now text as you. What could possibly go wrong? Shelly Palmer SaskToday.ca Greetings from Candlewood Lake. OpenAI launched an Apple Messages plugin for ChatGPT desktop. Connect your Messages inbox and ChatGPT can read, search and analyze your iMessage, SMS, and RCS conversations, draft replies, delete messages and send texts on your behalf through the Messages app. The plugin is available on all ChatGPT plans, and it only runs in the desktop app on Apple silicon Macs. OpenAI’s own documentation says it works in ChatGPT Work and Codex, that it “doesn’t work in regular ChatGPT chats,” and that it does not let you interact with ChatGPT remotely through Messages. This is a desktop agent with access to your texting history, and it operates from your machine. OpenAI said the plugin runs locally on your machine and “doesn’t create an index of all someone’s messages.” Read the privacy policy before you jump into this one. By default, ChatGPT sends a message only after you approve the content and the

Weyburn This Week is issued every Thursday at the office of publication, 904 East Avenue, Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Mailing address: 904 East Avenue, Weyburn, SK S4H 2Y8. Weyburn This Week is owned and operated by Prairie Newspaper Group LP, a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc. Member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association and the Canadian Media Circulation Audit.

Andrea Corrigan, Publisher, Advertising Sales Manager FRONT OFFICE/ ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT/ NEWS DEPARTMENT: 306-842-7487 The publisher reserves the right to restrict all advertisements to their proper classifications, to edit or reject any copy, and to set typographical standards. The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be responsible for errors in advertisements submitted other than in clear writing, nor for more than one incorrect insertion of any advertisement. The advertiser agrees that the publisher will not be liable for damage arising out of errors, in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the actual space occupied, whether such error is due to the negligence of the publisher’s servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount actually paid for such advertisement. All claims of errors must be received by the publisher within 30 days of such insertion. The contents of the Weyburn This Week are protected by Copyright registered with the Access Copyright Office at Toronto. Reproduction of any material herein may be made only with the written permission of publisher. ISSN 1715-734X

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recipients. You can skip that confirmation on a per-conversation basis, and OpenAI’s plugin guide warns that turning on persistent approval “removes your final chance to review a message before ChatGPT sends it as you.” The release notes also point readers to a known issue with tasks that disable approval prompts. “Sends it as you” is OpenAI’s phrase, and it is the accurate one. The recipient sees your name, your bubble, and your relationship, with no signal that software wrote the words. What could possibly go wrong? As always, your thoughts and comments are both welcome and encouraged. P.S. If you want to talk through what agentic AI access to company data means for your approval workflows (and where the human stays in the loop), consider booking an AI Leadership Workshop. Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group

Website: www.SASKTODAY.ca

Weyburn This Week is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic proactices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@weyburnreview.com or call the newsroom at 306-842-7487. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Weyburn This Week

BCC report: Rural regions of key importance to Canada’s future

Karen Briere SaskToday.ca Rural Canada is at the centre of one of the biggest shifts in Canada’s economy in decades, said a spokesperson for the country’s largest businesses. Theo Argitis, senior vice-president of policy at the Business Council of Canada (BCC), said rural regions have to be prepared for the opportunities coming their way. He told a rural innovation conference earlier this summer the business leaders he works with increasingly believe the country’s economic future runs directly through rural Canada. The council represents 170 members with more than two million employees that contribute half of Canada’s private sector GDP. Its mission is to contribute to public policy discussions that will strengthen economic prosperity, social fabric and governments. “I know that may sound debatable to some of you here. As rural Canadians many of you have spent years feeling overlooked by policymakers in Ottawa and other power centres in the country, and you would have every right to wonder whether rural communities matter as much to politicians as the vote-rich cities that seem to take up all the political oxygen,” he said.

But that is changing. Argitis said the world has shifted from stability and fairly predictable global trade to uncertainty. The pandemic, supply chain disruption, wars, energy shocks and more have the world going from one disruption to another. In this type of world, governments place a premium on efficiency and growth, but also resilience. They are asking questions about the security of supply chains, access to food, energy and critical minerals and whether the infrastructure can support economic growth. They are looking at industrial and technological capacity to navigate the world, and whether they have the capacity to defend the country and its allies. “In short, we are entering an era of sovereignbased economic policy, an era of resilience agendas, and that is fundamentally the logic behind the emerging (Canadian government) agenda,” he said. Argitis said a more resilient economy is often a more redundant economy, involving backup capacity, domestic production and strategic infrastructure that would have seemed inefficient before. Countries realized low-cost production made

them too vulnerable, and advanced economies are now moving away from consumption, efficiency and services to focus on productive capacity. “We are moving into a world focused on rebuilding Canada’s productive base, and when you look at the sectors that matter most in this world, in a more resilient and self-reliant economy — agriculture, food production, energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, manufacturing — many of these sectors are rooted in the rural regions of the country,” he said. Rural Canada, with less than 20 per cent of the population, accounts for about 30 per cent of GDP and a large share of exports. Argitis said rural regions are becoming strategically important, not just economically useful. “In a world that is emerging, rural Canada is not peripheral to national power; it is central to it. And that means you are going to see increasing focus on export infrastructure,” he said. That means an increasing focus on export, transportation, energy and electrical infrastructure, food security, domestic production and resource development. Argitis said rural Canada can only capitalize on

these opportunities if it’s prepared. “We absolutely need a more competitive investment climate. We need to streamline regulation, reduce unnecessary delays, improve permitting and create conditions that attract capital,” he said. Strong partnerships with Indigenous people are critical. The BCC believes Indigenous participation in the economy gives Canada a competitive advantage.

“When genuine partnerships exist projects move faster, investment becomes easier to unlock and economic benefits are shared more broadly with communities where development actually occurs,” Argitis said. Policy frameworks must support people living in rural communities, he said. Barriers to health care, transportation, housing, education and connectivity must be removed so communities can thrive.

It’s important the wealth generated in these areas stays there, he added. “More broadly we need a policy mindset that recognizes the strategic importance of rural Canada to the country’s overall economic security and we also need to change how Canadians think about rural communities,” he said. Too often rural Canada is viewed through a lens of decline or nostalgia, he said, but it’s an important part of the future.

Pumpjacks are a Saskatchewan highlight, especially in the southeast region. Photo courtesy of Bill Allen Photography

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Weyburn This Week

Thursday, August 27, 2026

New school year, new screen time limits!

Hayz, Grade 5

Ensley, Grade 2

Cassius, Grade 4 I am looking forward to seeing all my teachers and friends.

I am looking forward to seeing my friends and having a new teacher.

Favourite Class: Art

Favourite Class: Art and Math.

Favourite Class: Art

Sofia, Grade 7

Eden, Grade 6

I am looking forward to seeing all my friends.

Ayana, Grade 4

I am most excited to see my friends and seeing my teacher.

I am excited to use my base guitar in band and having new opportunities.

Favourite Class: Science

Favourite Class: Art and Band

Nadia, Grade 3

Crew, Grade 2

I am excited to see all my friends and my favourite teacher, Ms. Kot.

Zella, Grade 5

Emma, Grade 4

I am excited to see my friends and getting a new teacher.

I am looking forward to seeing all my friends.

Favourite Class: Math

Favourite Class: Art

Arie, Grade 3

I am looking forward to seeing my friends.

I am excited to see my friends again and seeing my teacher.

Megan, Grade 5

I am looking forward to seeing all my friends again.

Favourite Class: Favourite Class: Favourite Class: Favourite Class: Math and TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST Reading Recess Science Social Studies RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF TECUMSEH NO. 65 PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST

RURAL NO. and 65 costs Notice is hereby given underMUNICIPALITY The Tax EnforcementOF Act TECUMSEH that unless the arrears PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are fully paid before Notice is26, hereby given The Tax Enforcement unless the arrears and coststhe appearing October 2026, anunder interest based on a tax Act lienthat will be registered against land. opposite the land and title number described in the following list are fully paid before October 26, 2026, an interest based on a tax lien will A be sum registered against Note: for costs inthe an land. amount required by subsection 4(3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is Note: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4(3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the included in the amount amount shown against each parcel. shown against each parcel. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY SE 30-07-08-2 EXT 0 SW 30-07-08-2 EXT 0 SE 25-07-09-2 EXT 0 SW 25-07-09-2 EXT 0 NE 12-08-07-2 EXT 34 NW 12-08-07-2 EXT 0 BLK/PAR A-PLAN 102086614 EXT 0 SE 30-07-08-2 EXT 0

Title No.

Total Arrears*

Costs

157606296 157929586 157929597 157929564 152150071 152150082 158282040 157606296

$2,106.61 $741.24 $573.57 $662.33 $535.59 $606.85 $2,657.79 $376.13

$403.00 $403.00 $403.00 $403.00 $418.00 $418.00 $477.00 $477.00

* Penalty is calculated to the date of the Notice and will continue to accrue as applicable.

Dated this 24th day of August, 2026 Dated this 24th day of August, 2026 Kellee Slimmon, Acting Administrator

Kellee Slimmon, Acting Administrator

Total Arrears and Costs $2,509.61 $1,144.24 $976.57 $1,065.33 $953.59 $1,024.85 $3,134.79 $853.13

Many children and teenagers spend several hours a day in front of a computer, tablet, gaming console, television or smartphone. Given that excessive screen time can lead to sleep and attention disruptions, among other issues, it’s essential to find strategies to limit these problems before the new school year starts. Here are some tips. As a parent, it’s up to you to establish clear, consistent rules regarding screen time. You might set a curfew on the use of electronic devices one hour before bedtime. Another option is to limit screen time for leisure activities to one hour a day during the week. Remember, to avoid conflict, don’t make these changes too abruptly. Instead, do it gradually to give your child time to adjust to the new rules. To make the adjustment easier, offer your child plenty of other entertainment options as alternatives to their devices. Sports, board games, reading, crafts, hiking or playing a musical instrument - the possibilities are endless! Finally, remember that most children take their cues from their parents. The restrictions you set for your children will have much less impact if you’re always glued to your screens. Healthy screen habits start with the example you set.

Expert tips for a calm return to school

The start of the school year often causes anxiety and stress for young people, from preschool all the way to elementary, high school and university. Here are some tips from professionals to ease that back-to-school pressure. • Put words to emotions: Expressing worries can bring relief. Does your child seem nervous? Ask them questions and encourage them to name what they’re feeling. Ease back into a routine: As the new school year approaches, adopt a daily schedule around sleep and meals that resembles the one you’ll follow for school. Your family can gradually shift into the school-year rhythm while continuing to enjoy fun summer activities. Get familiar with the new environment: Is your child changing schools this year? If it’s possible, go see the new place. Visit the school playground and play together. If you’re close enough, try walking or biking to it several times to get used to the route. Schedule relaxation time: In the days leading up to the start of school, plan periods of calm to help them reduce tension. Walking in nature, reading, listening to soft music and meditating are all winning ideas. Focus on the positives: Remind your child of the enjoyable aspects of going back to school, such as discovering new subjects, seeing their friends again or doing fun activities. Finally, try not to pass your stress on to your child and be sure to maintain a confident attitude. Have a great start to the school year!

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Our friendly and concerned neighbourhood service providers and merchants have joined together to bring you these important safety tips.

Have a healthy and safe school year!

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ALWAYS use the sidewalk when walking to and from school. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.

BE aware of the street traffic around you. Avoid wearing headphones while walking. CROSS in front of the bus, and make sure the driver sees you pass.

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DON’T stand too close to the curb while waiting for the bus. Stay a safe distance back.

Hon. Michael Weger, MLA for Weyburn-Bengough (306) 842-5005 | office@weyburnbengough.ca

ENTER and exit the8/17/2026 bus 4:10:49 PM in a single-file line, letting younger students go first.

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FACE forward & remain seated throughout the entire bus ride.

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Thank you for your service!

GET to your bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

HOLD onto the handrail when you are entering and exiting the bus.

JAYWALKING is dangerous. Cross the street at crosswalks.

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(306) 842-4185

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KEEP a safe distance between you and the bus while waiting for it to stop.

LOOSE drawstrings and objects should be secured, so they don’t get caught on the handrail or door of the bus. Amanda Mack

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MAKE some new friends this year.

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IF you miss the bus, call a parent or guardian to drive you to school. Never ask a stranger!

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NEVER throw things on the bus or out the bus window, and always keep your hands and arms inside. OBEY your bus driver’s rules and regulations, so he or she can get you to school quickly and safely.

PRACTICE physical distancing whenever possible. QUICKLY go to your seat when you enter the bus, and keep your feet and belongings out of the aisle.

REMEMBER to look to the right before you step off the bus. Careless drivers in a hurry may sometimes try to pass on the right.

47 - 13th St. NE, Weyburn 306-842-4022

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STAY on the sidewalk, at least 10 feet from the road, while waiting for the bus. TALK quietly on the bus, so you don’t distract or annoy the driver. 306-842-2711

USE hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently.

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VACANT lots and buildings should be avoided on your walk to the bus stop. WAIT for a signal from the bus driver before you cross the street.

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X MARKS railroad tracks. Be silent when a bus comes to a railroad crossing, so the driver can hear if a train is coming. YOU should choose a proper backpack. PACK IT LIGHT • WEAR IT RIGHT!

134 Railway Ave. 306-842-3395 Zzzz. Get a good night of sleep, so you can start each school day feeling refreshed.

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Weyburn This Week

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Computer science program at SE College teaches 21st century skills

David Willberg SaskToday.ca The Southeast College continues to see a positive impact from its computer science training through projects course. Tania Hlohovsky Andrist, who is the executive director of innovation and applied research with the college, noted a couple of key moments contributed to bringing the program to this point. In 2019, Prairies Economic Development Canada invested in solar panel installation in the parking lot of the college’s Estevan campus. Those panels serve as a teaching tool for the campus. Course instructor Ryan Gustafson said when he

came to the college, he had the same questions as a lot of people: how much power are the panels producing, what percentage of the building’s power do they generate and how has production held up over time? “We wanted to answer those questions. We wanted to know how much power, how does weather affect it and can we make predictions? A lot of research questions.” The dashboard in the campus’ upstairs level and tracks these matters 24 hours a day, with multiple graphs. The other key point came with the establishment of the college’s Centre

of Sustainable Innovation, which was created by partnerships. Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure, which is a partner on the Turning Sun Solar project under construction southwest of Estevan, funds scholarships and bursaries for college students, Hlohovsky Andrist said. “We talked about systems, systems for ... innovation, and we have a real-world example of these many systems,” she said. Hlohovsky Andrist said the program always has to be pushing out exciting projects, talking to the community and making sure that everybody knows what is happening with the

students. Gustafson recalled when he, Hlohovsky Andrist and Southeast Techhub executive director Gord More came together to bring computer science education to the community. They focused on people, building relationships, others’ needs and the problems and challenges they face. “It really has, I think, been an excellent way for us to connect the students to the community, to connect them to the problems that the community is facing, and to help them build the skills they need to solve those challenges,” Gustafson said. He recalled that his

11-year-old daughter wanted to make a website to show to her classroom at school. They used screen recordings and a camera to walk through the process and give it to her teacher, and prove the work was done. “It took about 15 minutes, and I talked her through the process,” he said. Gustafson’s daughter explained what she wanted and how she wanted it to look. Space was allocated for pictures, and in 15 minutes, she had a website. “The would not have been possible before. It would have taken significantly more work,” said Gustafson. People still need core,

foundational and technical skills, he said, and to keep learning those skills and tools effectively. “The computer science course, we focus on trying to learn those 21st century skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and we’re starting to work on leadership as well. Those core skills are needed,” he said. Citing the example of communication, they need to communicate with other people and AI, he said. At the end of every computer science training through programs course, there is a celebration in which students give a presentation and they receive a certificate.

Estevan woman has close encounter with a cougar while walking dogs

David Willberg SaskToday.ca Terry Williams said she has seen lots of wildlife at her acreage south of Estevan, but she never expected a cougar would be one of those animals. Williams said she was taking her dogs for their nightly late walk around midnight August 18. Typically she doesn’t use a leash for the dogs, but she carries it with her in case they encounter another

animal. She also has a light for the stroll. “Half of me expects to see a deer, the other half of me expects to catch some eyes of a coyote, but I never expected to see a cougar,” Williams said in an interview with SaskToday. She was a couple of minutes into the walk down her drive when she saw the cougar about 40 feet away. “At first I thought it was a deer standing in

front of the bale, and it was only when I saw it the second time that I saw it sit up on top ... of the bale, and it was most definitely a cougar. It was ‘Oh my God, I have to get out of here.’” She did not have a phone with her, and even if she did, she said she wasn’t hanging around. “I thought they came through in the winter. I didn’t think they’d be around in the summer, but

apparently that’s not the case anymore,” she said. Cougars have been on the acreage before, she said, as Williams and her husband John have seen the footprints. One neighbour recorded one of the cats entering their property on his camera a few years ago, but the Williams have never seen one. Once she saw the animal, Williams said she hooked the dogs on their

leashes as quickly as possible and returned to her home, marching backwards so as not to turn her back on the animal. She also yelled and made lots of noise to scare the cougar. Williams has been in contact with conservation officers at the Ministry of Environment. She said she was told she did the right thing, and that she should avoid that area for three to five days.

Williams was also told not to walk to the end of the farmyard at night with her dogs. “I didn’t want to run, because I was nervous that it would [think I’m prey],” said Williams. She has heard of other people seeing cougars in the Estevan area, but she knows sightings are rare and it’s extremely rare for cougars to attack humans in Canada, which helps her feel better.

project, Spagrud said. Tessier’s mother is very proud of what has been accomplished and was in attendance for the ceremony. Lining had to be replaced inside the garden, Spagrud said, and other work was needed. “Last year we were able to get some plants in there, and then this year we were able to continue to grow on that to ... the point where it started to really look nice and become something we’re all really proud of,” said Spagrud. Work will continue to improve and build the garden, she said, and it will look nicer each year as the perennials start to establish themselves. Tessier was a Co-op employee for 18 years, and Spagrud said the coop has an agreement with the foundation to have the garden in her name for 18 years. Te s s i e r ’s f a m i l y, friends and co-workers have taken responsibility for the garden, Spagrud said, and people have put in time and effort to get it ready and looking nice. Weeding and other work happened before the dedication. “We’re hoping that it

will continue to be a team member community garden for us, too,” Spagrud said. “Every year in the spring when we come in and get it looking good for the year, this is something our team members can do as a way of honouring and remembering Leigh-Ann

as well.” People in the hospital have an attractive place to sit and enjoy fresh air, she said. St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation executive director Lori Gervais said the coop wanted to know about possible ways to honour

Tessier, and the foundation thought the garden was a “wonderful idea.” The garden had always been there and was a great space, Gervais said, but thanks to the co-op’s support, it’s become “a fabulous space.” “ I t ’s a l i t t l e b e t -

ter maintained, it looks beautiful, the flowers are beautiful, and we’re just trying to make it a friendlier space and a much more usable space.” The Co-op has been great to work with throughout the process, Gervais said.

Hospital garden salutes dedicated community member David Willberg SaskToday.ca A garden at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan is going to carry a special tribute for the next 18 years. A dedication ceremony was held earlier this month to name the Unit A garden Leigh-Ann’s Garden in honour of LeighAnn Tessier, who died in a motorcycle accident in North Dakota in 2023. She was an employee at the Southern Plains Co-op for 18 years. Brooke Spagrud, the marketing and member relations leader with the co-op, said the co-op and the hospital foundation have had a great working relationship over the years, and Tessier had a love of gardening. “Leigh-Ann also mentioned her love and appreciation of the hospital,” Spagrud said. “Her dad was in the hospital for a while ... going through different treatments, and they’ve always said that garden area was something that they wished someone would take over and improve, and then it turns out we were able to do that later on.” Tessier’s family has been on board with the

Leigh-Ann’s Memorial Garden at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Photo courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s Facebook page

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Weyburn This Week

Plane crash monument to be moved to military museum founder’s home David Willberg SaskToday.ca A monument that pays tribute to the victims of the Plane Crash of 1946 south of Estevan has found a new home. “Forever in the Clouds”, carved by Alberta chainsaw artist Darren Jones in 2017, will be located at the property of Craig and Tina Bird northeast of the city. Craig Bird is the founder of the South East Military Museum, which has displays at the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and at the Birds’ property. The monument was built in remembrance of the 21 airmen who lost their lives in a plane crash at the former Estevan Airport site south of the city on September 15, 1946. “Because it’s paying tribute to men that lost their lives and who were soldiers and served in the Second World War, I thought it was appropriate that the military museum give it a home, so it’s now going to be permanently staged out at ... my place,” said Bird. A pad is set up for “Forever in the Clouds” to be moved. Since the monument was completed, Bird noted it has been displayed at the Estevan Regional Airport northeast of the city, at 15

Wing Moose Jaw and a couple of times at the Estevan-area home of Lester Hinzman, who played an instrumental role in the creation of the monument along with the Estevan Soldiers Tree. The latter is next to the Estevan cenotaph at the intersection of Fourth Street and 11th Avenue. “It’s sitting out in the weather and it’s aging, unfortunately, like wood does, and Lester’s not going to be around forever, so he was looking to get a home for it. After some consultation with some others, and that sort of thing, he wasn’t able to find anybody, so he ended up contacting me and the military museum.” Bird noted the men who died in the plane crash survived the Second World War and died in an accident that was “100 per cent preventable”. “They’re worthy of being remembered like the rest of the people that sacrificed during the war, so it’s only right that we pay tribute and honour them as well,” Bird said. The creation of the monument helped boost awareness of the crash, Bird said. Many of the people who were in the Estevan area following the tragedy have died or left the community. “Even though most of

The ‘Forever in the Clouds’ monument will be moved to Craig Bird’s property. the guys weren’t from here, they were working here and working at the ... air training base that was located south of Estevan, and perished in a terrible accident,” he said. The 80th anniversary of the crash will be marked September 13. Bird will make a presen-

Pretty handy with tools Hey Dads! Do you work on your own car? Van? Truck? Growing up I never did much mechanic work with my dad. He was tractor handy but didn’t much care for working on cars. So I’ve spent a lot of money paying mechanics to do stuff. I’ve got three boys and a couple of them are pretty handy with tools so for the last couple of years we’ve been trying to do most of our own vehicle fixes. I had a friend who was pretty smart. I haven’t seen him in 20 years but I assume he’s still pretty smart. He would only drive Volkswagens and instead of paying some guy to fix them he would buy the tools and fix them himself. Following his example, the boys and I are buying some tools and trying to fix them ourselves. We’ve got a Honda Civic that’s had a bit of a clunk going on in the front end. According to the smart dads fixing their cars on YouTube, it’s probably the strut. They made it look easy: remove three bolts at the top, one at the bottom, and BOOM! Fixed. So, we did that and I may or may not have let one of the boys drive the car around a bit to see if the clunk was gone. We had high hopes but…still clunking. Grumbling under my breath, I went in the house to voice my frustration to my wise and patient wife. She had some thoughts: “You know, hon, there are some dads who spend hundreds of dollars to go do some challenging father-son retreat together. Just think of this like a father-son retreat.” She was right about spending the

hundreds of dollars. And she was right about the challenging. I considered her words as I went back to the auto supply store to spend more money on parts for the next father-son event in the garage. Lower ball joints this time. But as we were attempting to disassemble the lower ball joint, we spied with our little eye that the upper ball joint looked worn out. Back to the auto parts store for more parts and even a “tie-rod end puller” to remove ball joints. Who knew such a thing existed? We had tried with hammers and punches but couldn’t get it separated. With the puller it took about 2 seconds to get the job done. Lesson learned: The right tools are super helpful. Now the clunking must be gone! Out we went with high hopes for a quick test drive! But it was not to be. The clunking remains. Looks like more father-son garage retreats in our future. I’m really trying to have a good attitude about this. On the positive side, the boys are learning more mechanic-stuff that I never learned. Also on the positive side, we’re spending time together doing productive things on father-son “retreats”. How about you, dad? Is there something your kids can help you with out in the garage? Round them up and give it a shot because time flies! Make every moment count! Even the clunking ones. Jason Weening tries to fix stuff with his 10 kids and 1 patient wife. Read more in his book, “Yes, Dear… I’m Watching Them” on Amazon.

tation at the Estevan legion, and then they will head to the crash site south of the city to view a memorial cairn and place a couple of wreaths. A couple of other smaller monuments that Jones has crafted for

Hinzman will also go to Bird’s property. One is for the returning soldiers who served in Afghanistan, and the other is for all those who served during the Second World War. Bird noted Bert Baxter Transport has donated

Acrhive Photo/Estevan Mercury

time and equipment to move the monuments. After they are relocated to his land, which could happen as early as next week, Bird said there will be a community appeal to help with costs of maintaining the monuments.

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General Employment The Kamsack Times is hiring a Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Reporter to produce original civic journalism for Kamsack; Cote, Keeseekoose and The Key First Nations; and surrounding towns. Job is a term position until March 31, 2027. Apply with cover letter and three writing samples to Devan Tasa at dtasa@tasamedia.ca.

Weyburn Concert Series Annual General Meeting August 31, 2026 7:00 PM RM of Weyburn Community Room 1633 First Ave. NE Weyburn. Threshing Bee Sukanen Ship Museum September 12 and 23 Daily demonstrations ploughing, binding, reaping, threshing, vintage vehicle parades and antique tractor pull, Reserve campaign 306-693-7315, Sukanenshipmuseum.ca

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