Monthly Archives: May 2012

featured

Elbow is set for the big community park Build Day

Last October the Elbow Community Park Committee announced that they had been selected as one of 30 projects across Canada, and the very first in Saskatchewan, to receive a “Let Them Be Kids   Helping (LTBK) Hands Award” — funding to design and construct a new playground in Elbow!

“We are proud to be among the 30 communities across Canada whose projects have been approved and so excited to put Saskatchewan on the map,” said committee member Sarah Wilm.

Let Them Be Kids is “an all-volunteer non-profit organization, dedicated to bringing smiles, laughter and the joy of play to kids because we believe every kid has the right to play, period,” said the LTBK organization on its webpage. “We act as a catalyst to help build community capacity on the grassroots level, while building playgrounds, skate parks and fitness parks across Canada.”

It was launched across Canada in 2006 when “LTBK identified a deep need across the country; groups, large and small, needed assistance in securing of funds for the building of play structures for children who may not have the availability of safe, secure places to play.”

The organization is led by its founder, Ian Hill, and has been named “one of the four most innovative leisure programs in the world” by the World Leisure Congress.

The organization is unique because the award contributes 50 per cent of the playground structure, but it is constructed and erected in one day by over 200 community volunteers on Build Day – May 12, 2012.

This hands-on approach is part of the LTBK initiative to involve community members to participate in the organizing, designing and building of a community-built playground or skate park in order to build a better future for the next generation.

The Elbow Community Park Committee is still busy fundraising, but in less than six months has raised over $109,000 for the project! The new community park will feature a brand new playground, adult fitness equipment, a memorial peace garden, picnic areas, an Aboriginal tipi… and more!

Please join us Saturday when we show our province and country what can happen when a community works together. Small towns can do great things! Our Build Day will also be broadcast LIVE on the internet starting at 9 a.m. on May 12.

Davidson

Fields store in Davidson set to close

Liquidation at the Fields Store in Davidson continues as the store prepares to close.

 

DAVIDSON—Davidson’s Fields Store is still set to close soon.

Last Tuesday, FHC Holdings Ltd., a Vancouver-based company that consists of associates and private investors, announced it has bought 57 Fields stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. FHC bought the stores from 141 stores across Western Canada.

Of the nine stores bought in Saskatchewan, Davidson’s failed to make the list, however, in the near future, FHC is going to look at some stores that are not part of this list of 57, said spokesperson Betsy Cooper.

“Stay tuned,” she said.

Once the remaining stores operating under HBC close, FHC will look at opportunities to work directly with landlords to potentially continue the agreement with the landlords dependent on the current situation.

FHC has acquired the inventory, fixtures and the Fields brand allowing it to continue operations under the Fields name.

FHC’s president is Jason McDougall, who grew up on a farm near Liberty.

“Fields has been an integral part of many communities across Western Canada for many years,” he said. “Our team is very excited at the prospect of serving the 57 communities in which it has acquired stores, and will work to ensure people continue to be able to get what they need in their local communities.”

The Davidson store opened on Garfield Street about four years ago, occupying the building formerly held by Larry and Judi Packet’s grocery store.

The Packets leased the building to Fields. Larry Packet said he knows nothing about FHC’s recent announcement.

Fields has been part of Western Canada’s retail landscape for more than 60 years. Its first store opened in Vancouver in 1950.

Among the 57 stores FHC acquired in Saskatchewan were stores in Assiniboia, Carlyle, Humboldt, Kamsack, La Ronge, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, Nipawin and Porcupine Plain.

Davidson, featured

Lottery pays off for Davidson Kinsmen

DAVIDSON—A partnership with Western Sales on its community lottery is paying big dividends for Davidson’s Kinsmen Club.

The local Kinsmen Club administered the lottery for Western Sales and as a result, more than $10,000 will come into the community in addition to funds raised by local community groups that sold lottery tickets, says Gerrid Gust, who chaired this project for the local Kinsmen.

He had a break down of the amount of money earned by the various organizations based on the number of tickets sold.

Davidson organizations raised $11,440 in support of the fire department, golf course, JAA, Kinsmen, Raider football and riding club.

Craik raised $4,110 in support of its rink, Hanley raised $470 for the arena, Kenaston raised $365 for parks and recreation and dinner theatre, Holdfast received $985 for the Little Tykes Playschool and the Liberty Service Club earned $1,280 through ticket sales.

At $7,160, ABC Daycare in Elrose raised the most money through lottery ticket sales.

A total of $58,545 was raised and 100 per cent of the funds raised go to these community groups. Western Sales assumed all the expenses of the lottery including donating $25,000 worth of prizes, printing the tickets and promotional costs.

Gust said the Kinsmen and Western Sales have fostered a good relationship over the years by working together on other projects.

This was both the Kinsmen’s and Western Sales first year holding the community lottery.

“It was a great project,” Gust said.

He hopes Western Sales partners with the Kinsmen next year.

Davidson, featured, Sports

Team prepares for Sask. Summer Games

DAVIDSON—The gymnasium at Davidson School has become headquarters to the under-14 boys basketball team that is bound for the Saskatchewan Summer Games.

The team will represent the Prairie Central Zone at the games, where they will compete July 29 to Aug. 2 in Meadow Lake.

The trip has ensured that some local boys and their coaches will get to extend the basketball season well into the summer.

Tryouts for the team finished April 29 at Davidson School. Ten players were selected to represent the zone. Four of the boys are from Davidson: Huck and Mark Rettger, Ben Nykiforuk and James Morrison as well as Austin Evans from Kenaston. The remaining players are from Lumsden, Osler, Humboldt, Langham and Wynyard.

Kim Rettger is head coach of the squad. Assisting him are Raiders basketball alumnae Ian Kadlec, Luke Edwards and Scott Sigfusson.

“I’m excited to have these guys help. The boys relate to them a whole lot more than they do to me,” Rettger said.

“We have some good talent,” Rettger said of the team.

He was especially excited when a Grade 8 student from Osler walked into the gym the first day of tryouts. The eighth grader stands 6’4”.

“He walked in and looked Luke Edwards right in the eye,” Rettger said with a laugh.

Better still for the Prairie Central team is the kid from Osler can play ball.

Rettger said he wound up coaching Prairie Central’s team for the Summer Games by “sheer coincidence”. He was looking to enroll his son Mark in a summer league when it was suggested to him that Mark should tryout for a team going to the Sask. Summer Games.

“I discovered they had no coach,” Rettger said, so he gave it a try.

“So far it’s been terrific. We have nice kids on the team.”

The team will practise at least once every two weeks, mainly at Davidson. Rettger said they’ll also look to practise in gyms in other communities when the Davidson gym isn’t available.

Obituary

 

Eugene Daryl Ebenal

Dec. 11, 1942 – Apr. 26, 2012

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Eugene Ebenal of Davidson Sask. at the age of 69 on April 26, 2012. He will be sadly and forever missed by his loving wife of 42 years, Donna (Olson) and their three children and eight grandsons. Son: Darren (Dellene), Dalton (Dana), Kassidy, Gabriel, Avery; Son: Grant (Amy) Jacob, Samuel, Alexander; daughter: Shelley (John) Spencer Kovach. Eugene is survived by sisters Diane Lefebvre, Lucille Tomyn (Bob), brother Reg, brothers-in-law Russel (Beth) Olson, Roger (Elaine) Olson, Wayne Olson; sisters-in-law Elaine Ebenal, Myrna (Gary) Wagner, Ardis (Rock) Beaton and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Gregory, mother Phyllis (Schinold), brother James, father-in-law Reuben Olson, mother-in-law Gladys Olson, brother-in-law Dallas Lefebvre and sister-in-law Isabelle Olson.

Eugene was born in Davidson Sask. Dec. 11, 1942. He attended Prairie College rural school until age 14 and then Campion College in Regina with his brother James for one year. He returned home to the family farm at age 15 to start farming, which he passionately continued for 54 years until his passing. Along with farming, he also enjoyed curling, fastball, hockey, playing cards, travelling and having coffee with friends. However, his greatest passions were fishing, hunting (52 consecutive years of moose hunting) and spending time with his family, especially his eight grandsons. Eugene had a great sense of humour and was always quick with a joke in any situation. He worked very hard his whole life but always found time to stop and have a coffee when a friend or neighbor stopped by the farm.

A Celebration of Eugene’s life was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Davidson Sask. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.