By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — Davidson’s SLGA liquor store would be among the 40 public outlets converted to private businesses under sweeping reforms to Saskatchewan’s liquor retail system announced by the province last week.

Don McMorris, the cabinet minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Gaming and Liquor Authority, announced what he called a “new direction” for liquor retail in the province at a press conference in Regina on Wednesday.

The changes also include 12 new private liquor stores in what the ministry has deemed “underserved communities,” along with a new retail model that the province said will create an even playing field for retailers.

The current system provides different rules for government liquor stores, full-time private stores, rural franchises and off-sale outlets.

Under the proposed changes, all liquor retailers would be under the same regulations regarding the wholesale price at which alcohol is purchased for resale, hours of operation, product selection and the chilling of beer products, along with other factors.

McMorris said the new direction is based on the results of a three-month consultation process launched in November 2014 and completed in January.

More than 6,600 residents filled out a survey, providing their feedback on five possible options for liquor retail in Saskatchewan, while another 3,300 posted comments online.

McMorris told the Leader on Thursday that the consultation had revealed some key points.

This included a desire among respondents that any changes to the system would maintain the revenue provided to the provincial government through liquor sales, noted by 54.8 per cent of respondents.

He said he also heard residents express a desire for greater selection, improved convenience and more competitive pricing.

Of the respondents, 61.7 per cent supported a greater role for private liquor retail stores, while 58.0 per cent stated the government should focus on investing in other public priorities.

Figures were provided on the 40 stores that would be converted to private outlets, including Davidson’s liquor store on Washington Avenue.

According to the province, between 2013 and 2015 the Davidson store has had average annual sales of $961,000, and operating expenses of $182,000, for an overall operating ratio of 19 per cent.

The building is owned by the province and was constructed in 1960. The store currently employs three people, or the equivalent of 1.6 full-time employees.

Overall, the 40 stores have an average annual sales total of $76.9 million and employ 196 people, with an FTE of 101.8 people.

The announcement prompted a range of responses, both positive and negative.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — For the crowd gathered at Davidson Town Hall on Remembrance Day, Alf Stulberg represented a living link with history and Canada’s fight for freedom.

The 94-year-old is one of the area’s last surviving Second World War veterans, and his story struck a chord with many in attendance.

During the ceremony, Bonnie Jean Low read a short summary of Alf’s war experience, detailing how he joined the army in November 1942 and went overseas in June 1944.

Stulberg was captured by the Germans in the Netherlands three months later and spent around seven months as a prisoner of war.

He was released prior to VE Day on May 8, 1945. By that time the long marches and lack of food had taken their toll; at the time of his release, he weighed just 121 pounds.

When Low finished reading, the crowd of more than 200 broke out in a spontaneous standing ovation. Stulberg humbly responded by thanking all for attending and adding, “It is a privilege and an honour to be here.”

It was a brief moment and a highlight of Wednesday’s ceremony, organized by the Davidson Inter-Church Association (DICA) and Branch 51 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The 90-minute program, led by emcee Mary Jane Morrison, incorporated music, Scripture and history with military tradition.

Legion branch president Gordon McRae, who served as the parade marshall, said he was pleased with the turnout and response.

Pianist Nancy Wilkins led a community choir in singing old standards as the audience members filed in, with the parade of colours beginning around 10:45 a.m.

Members of 553 Sherlock Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets led the parade, followed by the singing of “O Canada” and a prayer by Lana Schmiedge.

The Last Post, two minutes of silence and the Reveille were followed by the Act of Remembrance, after which Comrade Ila May Northrop read the names of fallen comrades from Davidson and district.

A total of 15 wreaths were laid during the ceremony, followed by the hymn “When Quiet Peace is Shattered.” Ila May Northrop read from Ecclesiastes 3, Father Joseph Gyim-Austin read Psalm 47, and Joanne LePoudre offered a prayer.

A slide show, created by last year’s Grade 12 class at Davidson School, was shown, followed by the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.”

Members of the Legion presented brief historical speeches. Ila May Northrop read a history of the Legion, which celebrates its 90th anniversary nationally this year.

Gladys Junop presented the history of the local branch, which was formed in 1919, originally as part of the Great War Veterans Association, and remains active with a total of 30 members, including three veterans.

Mary Lynne Golphy read a history of the Ladies Auxiliary, which was active for decades and disbanded in 2000.

Low concluded the speeches by reading of Stulberg’s war experience, for which he was honoured in May by the French government and named a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, an order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

An offering was collected for DICA’s Christmas Gift Card project. Rev. Mathias Ross gave the prayer of dedication, followed by the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers.”

Pastor Lucas Branstetter gave the benediction, after which “God Save the Queen” was sung and the retiring of the colours commenced.

Following the service, a 90th anniversary cake was served, along with coffee and doughnuts provided by Riverbend Co-op.

For the full story, along with coverage of Remembrance Day events at Hanley, Craik and Davidson School, please see the Nov. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Never mind the Joneses.

This year, students at Davidson School are taking part in a new initiative that aims to have them keeping up with the Jetsons.

“Up to Code,” a program of basic computer literacy and introductory coding, is the brainchild of teachers Sandra Baldwin and Arlene Low.

Students are introduced to the fundamentals of programming using a variety of tools, ranging from remote-controlled toys to simple computers that they can put together.

Speaking at the Davidson School Community Council meeting on Tuesday, Baldwin said the catalyst for the initiative came last year when web designer Jessica Foster gave a presentation on technology to her leadership class.

Most of the students considered themselves computer-literate, but their feelings changed as Foster began asking them about hardware and other basic terminology.

“Slowly the hands sunk down,” recalled Baldwin. “We realized that we’re great at using technology, but we don’t really understand the technology that we’re using.”

Last spring, Baldwin and Low put together a proposal for “Up to Code: An Introduction to Computation STEM Challenges,” with input from Foster, Sun West School Division staff, and faculty from both the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.

The one-year program involves two project teachers who learn the concepts and then share and teach these skills to students and other teachers, within the context of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) framework.

The proposal was completed in May and presented to Sun West officials, who approved it as a project under the Sun West Initiative for School Improvement (SWISI).

Four staff members are taking the lead, including Meaghan Greene, leading grades 1 through 6, and Baldwin, leading grades 7 through 12. Low is involved through her role as a learning coach, as is principal Jason Low.

The proposal sets out four phases, including the first, in which staff members began building on their own knowledge of computer literacy, developing and applying their skills.

Students are in the midst of the second phase, in which they are introduced to both the technological tools and the skills required for their use.

In the third phase, students will develop their own projects based on the ideas already introduced. The initiative culminates in a showcase of these projects in the spring for parents, the school and the community at large, scheduled for May 26.

Greene explained that programming code is a kind of literacy, along with reading, writing and arithmetic, that students need to keep up with a changing world. The initiative aims to foster students who are producers of technology and not just consumers.

Baldwin said the second phase of the project is well underway. All students in grades 7 through 12 have gained experience in scripting or coding in some form, while many elementary students have also been exposed to the basic ideas of computer literacy.

Total funding of $32,100 was granted by Sun West for the program, around $5,700 of which is being used to purchase materials and hardware for student use.

These include KANO kits that contain all the parts needed for a basic computer, which students can assemble and then use to learn introductory coding.

Foster spoke highly of the KANO kit — noting that her daughter used one to code a Father’s Day card for her dad — and said it would also introduce students to the Linux platform.

Other tools include the Lego WeDo kits, which allow students to build small machines and then operate them using a computer, and Sphero, a robotic ball that can be controlled by any Bluetooth-capable device.

Students in Grade 7 and up are all being introduced to basic coding through the “Hour of Code” program.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader.