All posts by Tara de Ryk

Davidson, featured

Coffee Break fundraiser marks 20th year

Marcia Palmer and Maurice Merkosky, playing as Two for the Show, provide entertainment during Coffee Break at the Davidson Seniors Centre on Wednesday.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The numbers are staggering: 564,000 Canadians living with dementia, and 25,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Looking over the crowd gathered at the Davidson Seniors Centre, Sandra Zoerb said, “There wouldn’t be one person in this room that is not touched by dementia.”

As the reach of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continues to grow, Zoerb said it’s crucial to make sure patients, their caregivers and families are connected to the support that is available.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Coffee Break fundraiser, organized annually by the “Forget-Me-Nots” in support of the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.

About 30 people attended a tea at the Davidson Seniors Centre on Wednesday, featuring baked goods, drinks and entertainment.

Local bakers make hundreds of cookies for the fundraiser, said Zoerb, adding, “Then they come and they buy them back.”

The same day, plates of cookies are distributed to businesses and offices around town as a means of soliciting donations.

Lois Sarich said they distributed around 65 plates this year, receiving around $1,700 in donations in return.

For most of the last 20 years, the Davidson committee has been the top fundraiser in the province. In that time they have raised a total of roughly $23,000. Continue reading Coffee Break fundraiser marks 20th year →

Davidson, featured

Elder visits Sacred Heart parish

Elder Ruth Cameron speaks at the Sacred Heart parish hall in Davidson on Sept. 17.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Ruth Cameron left her home at age five, forced into a culture that was not her own.

“We were taught in foreign ways, ways that our ancestors didn’t have,” recalled Cameron, describing her experience as a child attending the Indian Residential School at Lebret.

It wasn’t until well into her adult life that she was able to overcome the anger that endured from that experience.

That came in large part from embracing her own past and heritage, or as she called it, “coming to know who I am.”

Today she continues on that path, working to educate, and to promote and preserve her Indigenous culture, language and heritage.

“I had to fight my own demons, if you want to call them that,” she said. “But today I am very proud of who I am.”

She shared part of that journey during a presentation at the Sacred Heart parish hall in Davidson on Sept. 17.

Cameron was invited to speak to the parish as part of the Treaty Elder Series, an initiative from the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Among the recommendations of that report was a call to churches to develop education strategies, teaching their congregations about the history, impact and legacy of the residential school system.

The events are also geared to help parishioners learn about Indigenous spirituality and respect these traditions and practices.

Cameron’s presentation followed the noon mass and a potluck lunch, with about 30 people in attendance.

Continue reading Elder visits Sacred Heart parish →

Davidson, Hanley, Kenaston, Loreburn, Sports

Courting action during Loreburn’s junior RAVE

Loreburn’s Emmitt Hundeby returns the ball during a junior boys volleyball game on Sept. 16. Also pictured are Jackson Allan of Davidson (left) and Dylan Glubis of Loreburn.

By Joel van der Veen

LOREBURN — Whether you were playing, officiating or sitting in the stands, it felt like fall in the Loreburn rink last weekend.

Fifteen teams competed in Loreburn’s junior boys and girls RAVE volleyball tournament on Sept. 16, with the action divided between the arena and the gym at Loreburn Central School.

With fall temperatures setting in, spectators and players on the bench sought refuge in winter coats and heavy blankets, while active players and officials had to find other means to conserve their body heat.

Sue Ann Abbott, who was keeping track of game results, said the rink warmed up as the day went on — “not a great deal, but enough to make it more comfortable for the referees and the people sitting in there.”

Three courts were set up on the concrete floor of the skating rink, while the school gym served as the fourth court.

The day began with round-robin play and ended with playoff games. Ten girls teams and five boys teams competed.

Continue reading Courting action during Loreburn’s junior RAVE →

Bladworth, Davidson, featured

A safe arrival on Highway 11

EMS co-ordinator Adrian Schmiedge poses with Owen Tannahill and his mom Lacey, days after he helped deliver the child in the back of an ambulance.

By Joel van der Veen

BLADWORTH — It was a special delivery Lacey and Chase Tannahill won’t soon forget.

The couple welcomed their newborn son Owen around 5 p.m. on Sept. 5, weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz., measuring 20.5 inches long.

He arrived while his mother was laying on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, stopped on the side of Highway 11 just north of Bladworth.

The Tannahills were en route from Liberty to Saskatoon to deliver their child, but pulled over once they realized the birth was imminent.

A 9-1-1 call summoned the ambulance from Davidson, and within a minute of climbing aboard, Lacey had given birth.

“It came fast, very, very fast,” said Lacey. “Once the ambulance got there, I settled down quite a bit . . . I was a lot calmer once I got in there.”

“We knew it’d be fairly quick,” said Chase. “We didn’t know it’d be as quick as it was.” Continue reading A safe arrival on Highway 11 →

Craik, featured

Pedro the pigeon a summer guest for Craik couple

Tim and Pearl Unger of Craik took in a sickly pigeon over the summer months, nursing the bird back to health.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — For Tim and Pearl Unger, a rescue mission turned into an extended visit with a new feathered friend.

The Ungers, who live in the Eco-Village east of Craik, took on the role of pigeon protectors over the summer, welcoming “Pedro” into their home.

Late this past spring, two sickly, orphaned pigeons were discovered in an old semi trailer at the north yard of Titan Clean Energy Projects, where Tim works.

One of the birds quickly died, but Tim decided to bring the second one home and attempt to nurse him back to health.

“For Tim there was no real hesitation,” said Pearl, who herself was a little more reluctant. “This bird needed our help to survive and so we needed to do what we could.”

The Ungers began feeding the pigeon JuicePlus Complete shakes mixed with water, using a syringe. He responded well to this and before long, he was beginning to thrive.

Pearl said they named him Pedro, as his plumage seemed to indicate a male bird. (Others, convinced this was a female bird, chose to call her Lola.)

Next, they set up a food and water station in the wagon in their yard.

Once he was well enough, Pedro spent the nights outside, but was welcome inside the house during the day. Continue reading Pedro the pigeon a summer guest for Craik couple →