It is with deep sadness that the family of Agnes McLelland announces her sudden passing on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the age of 88 years. She was born on July 28, 1926 in Kinloss Township, Ont., to Joseph and Mary-Anne Conley. After she completed her schooling, Agnes worked as a ticket agent for the CNR in Brampton. She then moved to Lucknow where she accepted a position as a bank clerk with the Bank of Montreal. This is where she met and married Ron. They moved to Loreburn in 1951, where they farmed and raised a family. Agnes was very active in the local community with the United Church Women’s Auxiliary, the Lions Band Committee, 4H Club and Loreburn Curling Club. She was an avid curler and was a member of a local curling team that won three district championships as well as qualifying for the Provincial Curling Championship in 1975. After retiring from the sport, she continued to follow all forms of competitive curling. Agnes loved gardening and baking, often sharing her produce with the community. She was well known for her Halloween popcorn balls, which she shared with children and parent trick-or-treaters. She loved to do needlepoint and crocheting until arthritis slowed her nimble fingers down. Her latest hobby was putting together photo albums for each family member. Agnes worked alongside Ron assisting in farming activities for 60 years before retiring to Saskatoon in 2012. Unfortunately, Ron fell ill and Mom continued to care for him for two-and-a-half years. Agnes was predeceased by her husband Ron, parents Joseph and Mary-Anne Conley, brothers Jim, Ivan, Eugene, Len and sister Rena. She is survived by her son Cameron (Eileen) McLelland, daughter Marlene Strenger, grandchildren Chrysten and Kristyanne (Chun). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff and management of Brightwater Senior Living of Stonebridge, where Agnes resided, especially Gladys Kramer. Mom made many new friends and really enjoyed all the activities and, of course, her role as an Ambassador welcoming new residents to the community. At Agnes’ request, a private graveside service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to the Outlook Funeral Chapel 306-867-8255.
The June 3, 1976 cyclone that struck Davidson and area left a trail of destruction that included ripping off part of the front wall of the New Owl Cafe (now FUDE 333 restaurant) on Washington Avenue.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — It’s been almost 40 years since the “storm of the century” wrought its destruction on Davidson and area.
The cyclone of June 3, 1976 tore through the district over the course of a couple of hours, causing severe damage to homes, farms and businesses, injuring more than a dozen and killing one.
A subsequent report in The Davidson Leader accurately noted that “residents in the area will long remember this most devastating and destructive storm.”
Decades later, the cyclone stands as by far the greatest disaster within living memory. But would the town and its citizens be prepared if another storm struck the district?
Community development co-ordinator Donna Bessey said last week that the provincial government requires the town to have an emergency plan in place — a “living document” that is continuously updated.
“You never know until a disaster hits,” she added. “That’s when you see where the gaps are.”
May 3 to 9 is Emergency Preparedness Week across Canada, an annual event that highlights the need for families — as well as governments at all levels — to be prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster.
The Emergency Planning Act, which took effect in Saskatchewan in 1989 and has been updated numerous times since then, requires that municipalities establish a local emergency measures organization (EMO) and committee, with a co-ordinator who serves as chairperson of the committee.
The committee is then tasked with establishing a municipal emergency plan that allows for the provision of necessary services and sets out the procedure for response in case of an emergency.
Trish Schilling has served as the town’s EMO co-ordinator since November 2010, taking over from Cathy Bonneau.
She oversees that plan, making sure it is ready to go into effect, should the town be struck by a major snowstorm, tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
The plan would also come into effect in the event of a chemical spill on a nearby railroad or highway, or some other form of contamination.
Schilling explained her role as being the “go-between” for emergency services in case of disaster in Davidson and the surrounding area, including the rural municipalities of Arm River and Willner.
In the last five years, the plan has come into effect only twice. In March 2013, and again in February 2014, severe winter weather forced the closure of Highway 11.
In both cases, between 150 and 175 drivers and passengers were diverted off the highway and spent the night in space provided at the town hall, at New Life Pentecostal Assembly, or with billeting households.
Talking to the Leader last year, Schilling said the process was smoother the second time around, as more advance notice was given, allowing additional preparation time.
She completed her basic emergency course and has received additional online training since then. The EMO committee also includes two deputy co-ordinators, Mary Ann Chomyshen and Flo Shaw.
Schilling acknowledged that the job description is somewhat “vague,” but added that part of her role involves public awareness, as well as maintaining the emergency plan.
“When I first started, the actual plan had not been updated in several years,” she said, explaining that it includes contact information as well as regulations and details on obtaining emergency supplies.
Bessey said that Schilling had done an excellent job keeping the plan current, adding that she fills an essential role as “one person with the working knowledge of how things are supposed to unravel and take place.”
“Heaven forbid we have a major disaster and we didn’t have someone like that,” she said. “Everybody would be standing there and saying, ‘What do we do?’”
Following the cyclone of 1976, Mayor Noble (Ted) Old issued a request that all able persons haul any fallen trees to the nuisance grounds, or to the area near the water treatment plant, as it would take the town staff several weeks to complete the work themselves.
Power went out around 11:45 p.m. the night of the storm and was restored at noon the following day in town, with extra crews being brought in to restore service and equipment. Rural residents were without power for longer periods, and many phones remained out of service even a week after the storm.
In accordance with provincial recommendations, the town was declared a disaster area — but not until June 8, five days after the storm struck. This gives some indication of how much emergency response measures have changed in the decades since.
The Leader reported at the end of June 1976 that much of the debris had been cleaned up, but estimated that thousands of man-hours were still required to build new bins, barns and other buildings across the district.
WARMAN — The board chairman for Prairie Spirit School Division said it’s not yet clear how a $7 million funding shortfall for the coming year will affect individual schools.
A bulletin sent to parents by the division last month indicated that the shortfall — representing 6 per cent of the overall budget — was on the horizon, and greater than initially expected.
Board chairman Larry Pavloff said administrators are working “feverishly” to determine how to address the gap while reducing the repercussions for students, but added that more details wouldn’t be available until later in the spring.
“The impact on each individual school should be known in the middle of June,” he said. “We’re trying to minimize the impact on our student learners and adult learners.”
For the 2015-16 school year, the division — which covers 45 schools in the communities surrounding Saskatoon, including Hanley Composite School and Dundurn Elementary School — received a funding increase of $3.6 million.
Pavloff argued that this essentially covers the cost of teachers’ salaries as negotiated by the province, leaving the division with effectively the same funding they received the previous year.
This means there’s no new funding to cover other costs, like higher enrolment levels, inflation or contractual obligations.
As Pavloff said, “We have no way of spending that, because that money is already spent.”
The chairman said the division has pledged that no current full-time staff will lose their jobs, and that they hoped that attrition through retirement would help to bridge the gap.
Pavloff said the current situation began in 2012, when the province’s new education funding model came into effect, developed over the course of three years.
He said the model did not reflect the reality facing Prairie Spirit, and that problems were soon detected.
Transitional funding was introduced to help divisions maintain services and education prior to the introduction of the new model, and divisions have since been told to tailor their budgets to fit.
Pavloff said that the division protested at the time, but “the ministry hasn’t budged on that.”
According to the bulletin issued by Prairie Spirit, it is one of the province’s lowest-funded school divisions on a per capita basis. Funding per student has decreased from $10,386 in 2011-12 to $9,783 in 2014-15.
The division also has one of the highest pupil-to-teacher ratios in the province, which has grown as the board has attempted to cope with the funding shortfall.
Prairie Spirit has made more than $2 million in staffing and programming cuts over the last two years, while $3 million in reserve funding was used to balance last year’s budget.
For the 2013-14 school year, Prairie Spirit had a graduation rate of 87.0 per cent, compared to the provincial average of 74.7 per cent.
At that time, according to the division, assurance was given that the funding model would be adjusted to address the inequity, but nothing has happened on that front since.
The bulletin also said the shortfall would strain its ability to maintain graduation rates, results in literary and math, and success amongst its First Nations and Métis students.
Pavloff said the conflicting information has led to confusion among parents. The division held its annual general meeting on Waldheim on April 29, following which the board answered some questions about the budget.
Attempts to reach the Ministry of Education for contact late last week were unsuccessful.
Loreburn Central School’s senior badminton teams are pictured with their district gold medals: from left, Austin Daniluk, John Dodds, coach Grant Abbott, Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall.
By Joel van der Veen
ROSETOWN — Two senior badminton teams from Loreburn Central School were among the champions crowned at the West Central districts on Saturday, April 25.
John Dodds and Austin Daniluk were victorious in the boys doubles category, while Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall took top honours in mixed doubles.
Other competitors from Kenaston and Loreburn took part in both junior districts, held at Kindersley Composite School, and senior districts, held at Rosetown Central High School.
Also competing from Loreburn were Grade 7 student Alyssa Glubis and Grade 9 student Dodge Long, who competed in the girls and boys singles categories.
“They won everything except for their final matches,” said Grant Abbott, who coaches badminton at Loreburn. “I’m quite proud of their accomplishments.”
Abbott noted that Glubis will have two more years to compete as a junior, observing, “The future looks pretty bright for her.”
The two senior teams went undefeated in districts, each winning their medals.
Abbott said another senior Loreburn team — Brianna Jess and Tori Rendall — had qualified to compete in girls doubles. Both players are also on the DLK Attack 15U girls club volleyball team, which took part in provincials on Saturday, and so did not compete in Rosetown that day.
“It was a tough decision,” said Abbott, adding that he had been given advance notice. “I knew that ahead of time.”
Evan Pasternak, one of Kenaston School’s badminton coaches, reported that the school sent one junior team to districts, while others were unable to attend due to a leadership conference being held in Marengo.
Brody Yelich and Nolan Haugen competed in the boys doubles category, winning one game and losing two.
Pasternak said it was “a fun year” despite the drawback of such a short season, adding, “I think a lot of the students definitely started to improve their skills.”
Players competed in pre-sectionals and sectionals the previous week, determining their eligibility for the district championships.
Davidson School had planned to send a junior boys doubles team, Clay Murfitt and Derek Schmiedge, to Kindersley, but ultimately they were unable to attend due to a lack of transportation.
Senior champions were eligible to compete in regional championships, scheduled to take place in Regina, Melville, Carrot River and Meadow Lake on Saturday, May 2.
The provincial championships will follow on May 9 at Moose Jaw’s A. E. Peacock Collegiate.
Bill passed away on February 22, 2015 at the age of 77. Bill was raised on the family farm north of Davidson until he moved into town in 1995. Bill enjoyed farming, cattle, nature and daily coffee.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Jack and Violet McPhee, and his brother Don McPhee. Bill is survived by his sisters Marion McNabb, Norma Olliffe, Janet DeWalt and brother Neil McPhee, as well as several nieces and nephews.
There was a celebration of Bill’s Life at the Davidson Cemetery, Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 2 p.m. with Brian Hanson officiating. For friends so wishing memorial donations in memory of Bill may be directed to the charity of your choice. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.
Marilyn Rose Domotor (Jo), age 71, of Saskatoon, formerly of Davidson, Sask., passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital on April 7, 2015 with her children by her side.
Marilyn was born in Saskatoon on December 4, 1943. She married the love of her life, James Domotor, on August 8, 1964. They raised their children, farmed and lived in Davidson until returning back to Saskatoon during her later years.
Marilyn lived her life till her last moments with a strong spirit, genuine heart and kind soul. She was actively involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives and activities. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and captivating personality.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Walter and Kathleen Rowley, her husband Jim and two sisters, Vina and Phyllis. She will be lovingly remembered by her children Bryon, Donna, Jennifer, Nancy (Greg); her grandchildren Dalton, Deon, Skye, Sierra, Annika, Katie, Karly; sisters Doris and Evelyn; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of the St. Paul’s Palliative Care and Palliative Homecare nurses for the compassionate care Mom received during her last days.
Services were held on April 11, 2015 at the Davidson United Church and she will be laid to rest beside her loving husband. Arrangements were entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson.
