Annie takes stage
Monthly Archives: March 2015
Davidson adopts Life Saving Society program
DAVIDSON—Swimming lessons will be offered under a new program this summer.
Last Tuesday, Davidson town council agreed with recreation director Trevor Ouellette’s recommendation the town switch from the current Red Cross program to the Life Saving Society (LSS) Swim for Life program.
He advised council to make the change mainly due to changes to the Red Cross module that are coming in 2016 and because the LSS program, with its focus on drowning prevention, is better suited to rural communities.
“Rural Saskatchewan is starting to switch over to LSS because, why do parents want kids to take swim lessons? So they can be safe in the water,” Ouellette said.
He said people want their kids to know how to swim so they can be safe at the lake or out on the boat.
He said many communities offer the LSS program.
“Red Cross, they teach you to be a swimmer,” Ouellette said pointing out the Red Cross Swim Kids program is very stroke focused. “Life Saving Society Swim for Life teaches you to be self aware and self-rescue at an early age.”
Another benefit to making the switch, he said, is Red Cross’s changes will make it difficult for Davidson to train new swim instructors due to its limited, 10-week swim season. The new Red Cross program requires that instructors be 16 years of age and they will only be certified to instruct lessons after completing a 5-step process.
With its short swim season, Ouellette said it would take two swim seasons to qualify an instructor, whereas cities that have multiple indoor pools can train their instructors anytime.
To read more, please see the March 30, 2015 print edition of The Davidson Leader. To subscribe email davidsonleader@sasktel.net
Editor’s note: this story has been updated.
Peewee Huskies win ‘B’ side
The Huskies beat the Hawks 8-3 in Game 2 of the best of three games series played in Davidson March 23.
ARWF casts about for trout pond site
DAVIDSON—The town’s former compost depot could be the home of Davidson’s new trout pond.
At its meeting March 17, town council gave Arm River Wildlife Federation (ARWF) the OK to study the land near the Gymkhana riding arena to see if it is suitable for a fishing pond.
The wildlife federation will now consult with environment officials to see if water that will drain into the potential pond will support fish. The concern is that due to the location’s proximity to Highway 11, salt and other de-icing chemicals could contaminate the water and kill fish stocks.
This seems to be the only obstacle standing in the way of Arm River Wildlife Federation’s objective of building a trout pond in Davidson.
In February, the group approached Davidson town council with the idea of building a trout pond for recreational use. The wildlife federation will dig and organize the creation of the pond if the town had a parcel of municipal reserve land for the purpose.
The pond would be about one acre in size with a minimum depth of 20 feet. ARWF will also stock the pond and set limits.
Town administrator Gary Edom said he contacted SGI and was informed that the town’s current liability insurance policy would cover the trout pond and that additional insurance is unnecessary.
“These guys (ARWF) are pretty excited,” Edom said.
Councillors said feedback they’ve received from the public, for the most part, has been positive to the idea about providing people with the opportunity to spend time outdoors, bonding and experiencing the thrill of catching a fish.
“What I like about it is, I take so many kids fishing who never get to go…It’s such a huge thing for development,” Mayor Clayton Schneider said.
Coun. Mandy Tichit said people expressed concerns to her over safety and the possibility that children could drown.
If the trout pond proceeds, Schneider said council has to try and address these issues by doing its due diligence to minimize risks.
“These are our kids. They are precious,” he said.
“I’ve had people say, ‘Whatever you do, don’t put it across the highway,’” Coun. Gerald Kenny said.
Meshke
Ruth Evelyn Meshke (née Stone)
Dec 10, 1925 – Mar 16, 2015
Ruth, the sixth child of Peter and Thea Stone of Strongfield stopped “galloping to 90” on March 16, 2015 after a brief illness. She was predeceased by her husband Mike Meshke of Craik, Sask on January 12, 1986.
Left to fight over “who Mom loved best” are her sons Gerry (Donna), Geoff (Val), Jim (Margo) and her daughter Jan (Ray). Leaving a void in their lives and left to reminisce are her siblings Marjorie, Jim, Maureen and many cousins. Her grandchildren, Riley, Ronna, Sean, Jaclyn, Leighton, Derek and Tyler will recall her intriguing stories, adventurous outings as well as miss her homemade cookies. There are also numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews who will remember her warmly.
Now gathering dust are her crossword puzzles and scrabble board, fishing rod and golf clubs, bird feeders and pickle jars, knitting needles and crochet hooks.
While struggling with her pain, the doctor came in and asked “Ruth, do you know where you are?” Her vehement reply “It SURE isn’t paradise!” She left us with a wee smile on her face. Maybe she found her paradise? Gallop on Mom, gallop on!
A funeral service will be held at the Craik United Church on June 6, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Craik United Church or the Craik Golf Club. Arrangements are entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson, Sask.
Physicians to tour health centre
By Kevin Gilby
CRAIK — Bert Linklater, Senior Vice President of Five Hills Health Region (FHHR), recently informed the staff of the Craik health centre and the community leaders that the interview process will begin shortly for the physician position in Craik.
According to Linklater, two of the physicians that responded to the job posting will begin an interview process that includes a tour of the facility, staff, and equipment. An exact date/time has yet to be finalized for that portion of the process but Linklater is confident it will be before then end of March.
Once the initial interview portion has been completed, the region will make a selection between the candidates. The applicants references will then be checked and their certifications verified through a more intensive interview process with the region’s Physician Advisory Board.
“Once we get to the offer stage, we want to introduce them to the community to meet and greet the candidate, and that would probably be even before they even accept the offer” Linklater says. “We want the town to impress them with why it’s a good reason to take this job.”
Linklater indicated that there may yet be other applicants as the position remains posted.
Linklater says “we’re happy to have two good candidates coming, to interview them, to have an opportunity to show them the facility, select one, make them an offer, and then if successful, we get them back into the community, that would be good.”