Monthly Archives: April 2016

Davidson, featured

$1.3 million: will it be enough for Davidson’s new pool?

web-town-councilBy Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — It’s the $1.3-million dollar question: has Davidson raised enough to pay for its new swimming pool?

Recreation director Trevor Ouellette said Thursday he expects to know within two or three weeks, once a firm cost for the project has been determined.

Ouellette, the town council and pool committee have been working with cost projections for the last five months, all of which have indicated the cost would be higher than the target set four years ago.

Initially, the gap was high — as much as $1 million, according to Ouellette — but it has narrowed considerably since then, as the plans have changed and some cost reductions found.

The recreation director said he is awaiting a breakdown for the total cost from CCR Construction, Ltd., of Regina, the general contractor for the project.

Ouellette said he didn’t want to speculate on whether the fundraising total and the project cost would line up.

“Obviously, I hope that they can meet it,” he said, adding later, “The fundraising committee has done such a phenomenal job . . . It’s been a four-year push.”

Four members of the swimming pool committee visited Davidson town council as a delegation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, to discuss the project’s status.

Crystal Johnson reported a revised total from the April 8 community auction, saying the event raised $161,000, along with a $20,000 donation presented by PotashCorp that night.

This brings the committee’s total to $1,331,000, surpassing the initial fundraising goal set in 2012.

Johnson said the committee expected the auction to be its final major fundraising push, adding that the generosity on display reflected a general desire on the part of townspeople to meet that goal.

“We have tapped out this community,” she said.

As the committee moves into the build phase of the project, she and other members wanted to make council aware of some concerns.

Johnson said the committee wishes to have clarification on the roles each stakeholder will play during this phase, including the recreation director, the town council, Walker Projects, the contractors and sub-contractors, and the committee itself.

“People view us as ‘the project’ and we’re getting a lot of questions,” said Johnson. “We’re talking in circles at some level, because we don’t know numbers yet.”

The delegates posed several questions of their own, including when firm numbers would be provided on the total cost of construction, and who would be present for the presentation.

For the full story, please see the April 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Elbow, featured, Loreburn

Loreburn students take charge in hosting Leadership Day

Classmates Brennan Kakakaway and Hayoung Ryu check out Morgan Tastad's miniature hockey rink at Loreburn Central School. Students in Shauna George's Grade 3/4 class displayed their individual Genius Hour projects to visitors during the school's Leadership Day on Wednesday morning.
Classmates Brennan Kakakaway and Hayoung Ryu check out Morgan Tastad’s miniature hockey rink at Loreburn Central School. Students in Shauna George’s Grade 3/4 class displayed their individual Genius Hour projects to visitors during the school’s Leadership Day on Wednesday morning.

By Joel van der Veen

LOREBURN — In four years, the Seven Habits have firmly taken hold at Loreburn Central School — and now, according to one mother, they’re showing up at home.

Darla Wonnick told the story Wednesday of a recent conversation she had with her daughter Annika while trying to solve a problem.

“Well, Mom, are you thinking win-win?” Annika asked her mother.

“Well, Annika, not now,” she replied.

Wonnick, a mother of two and a member of the Loreburn School Community Council, went on to describe the positive impact the Seven Habits have had on the school.

“We walk down the hallways of our school, and we see a huge difference,” she said. “There is excellence happening everywhere, and we are able to recognize it and talk about it.”

She spoke on Wednesday to Loreburn staff and students, as well as roughly 70 guests, gathered in the gymnasium for Leadership Day.

The event, now in its third year, serves as a demonstration of how the “Leader in Me” program has shaped the way Loreburn students work, play and interact together.

The program, developed by FranklinCovey Education, has been implemented at 2,000 schools across the globe. Loreburn began incorporating the program, including the Seven Habits, into its curriculum four years ago.

According to the publisher, The Leader in Me is “a whole-school transformation model, developed in partnership with educators, that empowers students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.”

The program aims to transform schools in three primary areas: teaching leadership directly to students and integrating it into their lessons; empowering staff and students to have a voice in their schools; and making students active agents in their learning.

Each year, Loreburn invites guests — including community members, teachers, parents and students from other schools — to witness the effects of the program.

“We are always working on improving ourselves to become the people want to be,” said principal Jill Long, adding that the Seven Habits have “provided us with a community language that has become part of our school culture.”

While students can easily repeat the habits from memory, Long said she has also seen tangible changes in their behaviour and attitudes.

“Kids are holding themselves accountable more,” she said. “They feel that they have a voice in what happens at the school.”

The students were front and centre on Wednesday, from greeting guests with handshakes at the door to answering their questions as they ate lunch.

Long said the students did the majority of the planning for the event, which was designed with an Olympics theme, including medallion-shaped nametags.

For the full story, please see the April 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson, featured

Shaw named top stage manager at festival

Davidson students Sarah Bublish, Logan Farrell, Ethan Schilling, Jacob Schilling and Carter Shaw display the awards they won at last weekend's regional drama festival in Warman.
Davidson students Sarah Bublish, Logan Farrell, Ethan Schilling, Jacob Schilling and Carter Shaw display the awards they won at last weekend’s regional drama festival in Warman.

By Joel van der Veen

WARMAN — Despite facing some tough competition at this year’s regional festival, Davidson’s senior drama club put on what co-director Jason Low said was their best performance this year.

“They represented our school well,” said Low. “They were a fantastic pleasure to work with and direct.”

Davidson was one of seven schools to compete at the Region 11 Drama Festival at Warman High School from April 14 to 16.

The drama club presented SOuLD, an original play written by Low, with a total of 26 students forming the cast and crew.

Grade 12 student Carter Shaw, a longtime lighting and sound technician who served as stage manager for the first time, was named the best stage manager at the festival.

Noting that Shaw won the award the only time he was eligible for it, Low said, “He went in and out with a bang.”

Cast members Jacob Schilling and Sarah Bublish received acting awards of merit, while Ethan Schilling and Logan Farrell received technical awards of merit for their work with lighting and sound, respectively.

For the full story, please see the April 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Obituary

Obituary: Amrud, Alvin

Alvin Amrud
Alvin Amrud

Alvin K. Amrud of Saskatoon passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 88 on March 15, 2016.

Alvin was born in the Strongfield, Sask., area on July 8, 1927 to his parents Albert and Anna Amrud, who were Prairie pioneers of the early 1900s. Raised on the farm till 18 years of age, he then chose to pursue a career in the Canadian Armed Forces. Not long after joining the army he married the sweetheart of his teenage years, Audrey Chrispen. Their first home together was in Whitehorse, Yukon. From there his career took the two of them, and eventually their two children, Ken and Shelly, to military bases throughout western Canada and the province of Ontario.

Altogether he served for 32 years and retired from the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Master Warrant Officer. During that time he had one tour of duty as a peacekeeper in the Gaza Strip in the early 1960s and two tours of duty in Alert, N.W.T., where he oversaw engineering orders of operation.

Upon retirement from the army, Alvin took the job as caretaker to Camp Easter Seal at Manitou Beach near Watrous, Sask. Throughout the 13 years there, he and his wife formed many enduring relationships with the campers that came to holiday at the camp.

As a Mason for 55-plus years, Alvin achieved Right Worshipful Brother of the Dundurn/Hanley Lodge (No. 117). He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 35 years. Alvin was also a member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, Northern Saskatchewan Chapter.

Earlier in life he was involved in the Cubs/Scouts organization. He was a requested speaker for Remembrance Day at various Saskatoon schools. Very proud of his Norwegian heritage, he was involved with the Sons of Norway for a time.

Alvin and Audrey spent many retirement winters in Arizona with other family members and friends frequenting the Mesa area as well. They also travelled often to Winnipeg, Man., to visit their two children. At that time they lived in Davidson, Sask., where Alvin helped deliver for the Meals on Wheels program.

Alvin will be fondly remembered for the many stories he would recall of his life adventures and his generosity of service to family, friends and organizations in which he was involved. Alvin was an inspiring model of family and social values as he was a loyal and responsible man. He also had a sense of humour that brought a smile to the faces of those that knew him well.

Alvin will be sadly missed by his surviving family: sister Ida Barlow of Davidson; son Ken Amrud of Davidson; daughter Shelly (Ray) Buhr of Winkler, Man.; grandchildren Ben and Josanne Duthoit of Winnipeg, Man.; sister-in-law Marguerite Spence of Toronto, Ont.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

He was predeceased by his wife Audrey in 1998, as well as many other family members, relations and friends.

The funeral service was held at Skudesnes Lutheran Church, Loreburn, on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Sonje Finnestad officiating. Brian Hanson attended the register and Carol Dieno was the organist. Active pallbearers were son-in-law Raymond Buhr and Masons Brethren/Peacekeeper comrades/friends, Ken Lowther, Sid Lewis, John McKay, Mark Cubbon and Ray Dinnell. Honourary pallbearers were the many friends and family members from all over Canada and abroad that shared in Alvin’s life journey.

Interment was in the family plot, Skudesnes Cemetery, Loreburn, Sask. Hanson’s Funeral Home was in care of arrangements.

We would like to thank Foyer staff for their excellent care and understanding during Alvin’s stay. They were able to offer warmth and quiet as he required which helped him feel more at ease. A thank you as well to Adam’s Funeral Home in Notre Dame de Lourdes for their interim care in Manitoba, and upon arriving in Davidson, to Hanson’s Funeral Home for their care and professional service in Saskatchewan. With much appreciation, a thank you to the gentlemen pallbearers for their loyal support as friends to Alvin and for the addition of the poppy ceremony to close the service. To all who helped with the service, the ladies at Skudesnes Church for the lunch and to Pastor Sonje Finnestad, your kindness and care were so helpful. God bless all who came and joined in the service and to those who were there in spirit. All memorial donations were gratefully received and disbursed.

Ken Amrud, Shelly and Ray Buhr, Ben and Josanne Duthoit.

featured, Kenaston

Police say Fertuck was victim of homicide

Juliann Sorotski (pictured here with Staff Sgt. Greg Abbott) speaks about her daughter Sheree Fertuck's disappearance during a media conference Monday at Saskatoon RCMP headquarters.
Juliann Sorotski (pictured here with Staff Sgt. Greg Abbott) speaks about her daughter Sheree Fertuck’s disappearance during a media conference Monday at Saskatoon RCMP headquarters.

SASKATOON — Wednesday, specialized investigative units began searching specific locations in the Kenaston area, looking for any evidence related to the disappearance of Sheree Fertuck.

The 51-year-old mother and grandmother has been missing for four months and police say they now believe Fertuck has been murdered.

“We believe Sheree has been the victim of a homicide. This conclusion comes after lengthy searches, analysis of all the evidence and our investigation into her disappearance at this point in time,” said Staff Sgt. Murray Chamberlin of the RCMP’s major crime unit. He said for Fertuck to have “absolutely no contact with the family, which is extremely out of the norm for Sheree, no banking activity, no activity on her hospital card — all those things add up to say that this is a homicide.”

At a news conference April 11, Chamberlin announced last week’s targeted search. He said the goal of the investigation into Sheree’s disappearance is to find her and to bring her home.

“Family was the most important thing to Sheree. Her No. 1 priority was her children and her wonderful grandchild,” her mother Juliann Sorotski said.

She hasn’t seen or heard from Sheree since early December.

On Dec. 7, 2015, Sheree took a break from hauling gravel and had lunch with her family at their farm east of Kenaston near Highway 15. She was last seen at 1:30 p.m at the wheel of her gravel truck, leaving the family farmyard. She missed an 8 p.m. appointment that evening.

The following morning, her family began looking for her. Sheree’s truck was found in a gravel pit farther east off Highway 15 with her cell phone, keys and coat inside.

Searches conducted by police, the family and the community immediately after failed to find a trace of Sheree.

“We miss her so much,” Sorotski said. “For those who knew Sheree, she loved her dog and was a strong, hardworking and a kind person. Sheree always took time to stop and talk to people. She knew everyone in the area and this is reflected in the numbers that came to search for her. I am overwhelmed by the support our family has and is still receiving.”

Chamberlin said police haven’t “discounted anybody as possible suspects or as possibly being involved in her disappearance.”

He said the investigation hasn’t found anything to indicate Sheree was involved in criminal activity.

“As far as motive, there is nothing to indicate that Sheree did anything to facilitate her disappearance or that caused her disappearance.”

Investigators were out last week searching specific spots around Kenaston and other areas of the province. Chamberlin wouldn’t disclose exact locations, but said these are areas, through their investigation, police had identified as important spots to look.

“The landscape has changed significantly since Sheree’s disappearance. Snow is gone, ice is off bodies of water.”

As of Friday, the search was still ongoing and an RCMP spokesperson said it could continue through the weekend.

Fertuck is approximately 5’4”, 250 pounds with graying brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing grey sweat pants, a grey sweater and white running shoes.

Davidson, featured

Auction raises $150,000 for Davidson pool

Auctioneer Tory Manz keeps track of bids during a community auction in support of Davidson's new swimming pool.
Auctioneer Tory Manz keeps track of bids during a community auction in support of Davidson’s new swimming pool.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The total raised for Davidson’s new pool is now well over the $1.2-million mark, following a successful community auction on April 8.

The auction, held at the Davidson Communiplex and conducted by Manz Auctioneering Service, raised a total of $150,000.

Mary Jane Morrison, speaking on behalf of the swimming pool committee, said upwards of 250 people attended the event.

Over 100 items were sold over the course of the live auction, which began promptly at 7 p.m. and didn’t finish under sometime after midnight.

The event also included the announcement of a donation from PotashCorp, with the company matching the first $20,000 raised.

Ryan Shaw, who works at the PCS Allan mine, was on hand to make the presentation, which came less than halfway through the live auction.

Morrison said one of the highlights was the sale of six outdoor chairs, which were auctioned off individually.

Hidden inside one of them was round-trip airfare for two to Los Angeles, plus a pair of tickets to two LA Kings home games and a $300 hotel voucher, the latter part donated by Kings defenceman Davidson native Brayden McNabb.

The winning chair was purchased by Lyndon Cool, a former classmate of McNabb’s.

Morrison spoke of the atmosphere at that moment, saying, “The whole room was just so happy for him.”

The Kinsmen Club operated the bar for the evening, while numerous individuals, clubs and businesses donated food and auction items. Dozens of donated items were also sold through a silent auction.

“We had so much help, so much support,” said Morrison. “It was unbelievable … overwhelming.”

She said the committee is continually struck by the generosity of residents from Davidson and beyond, including the surrounding trading area and the three cities.

“We were confident that it would be successful, but maybe not to this degree,” said Morrison, adding that it “makes you feel good that we live in this community and in this province.”

She also said the committee, now active for more than three years, continues to work well, with members willing to meet any needs that arise.

“Someone always steps up and says ‘I’ll do it’,” she said. “They’re always just so enthusiastic and willing to take the lead.”

This was the second auction to benefit the pool project; the first was held in April 2014. The auction was expected to be one of the last major fundraising events for the pool.

Morrison said the committee will be focusing on managing the money that has been raised and determining how it can be spent effectively to develop the best facility for local users.