Benko, Clarence “Chuck” John July 29, 1938 — May 16, 2017
On May 16, 2017, Chuck Benko of Edmonton, Alberta (formerly of Kenaston, Sask.) sadly passed away at the age of 78 years old.
Dad will be greatly missed by his daughters Maria MacLeod, Christine (Dave) DaCosta, Suzanne (Kevin) Clemens and sons Thomas (Dagmar) Benko and Robert (Christine) Benko. Chuck will be forever missed by his brothers Leonard (Betty) Benko, James Benko, Jack (Lois) Benko and sisters Valerine Thurlow and Theresa (Elden) Owen.
Dad will always be missed by his many grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews and relatives from near and far.
He was predeceased by his mother Frances; father John; son Stephen and brother Andrew.
In keeping with the wishes of Chuck, there will be a Funeral Mass held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 75 Poirier Avenue, St. Albert, AB T8N 6A1.
Interment will take place at a later date. He will rest at the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Kenaston, Sask.
The family would like to thank the kind, caring, and professional staff in Unit 18 at the St. Albert Sturgeon Community Hospital where Chuck spent his last four months of life.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations can be made to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation 8602 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1.
To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com.
Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, St. Albert Chapel, (780) 458-2222.
Glubis (nee Turnbull), Candace Jean May 13, 1950 — May 13, 2017
Jean, age 67, passed away on May 13, 2017 at Outlook Union Hospital. Jean is lovingly remembered by her husband of 45 years, Ron Glubis; their children, Ryan (Amanda) Glubis, Allan (Barb) Glubis, Darelle (Jay) Church, Lesley (Brett) Glubis, Lynsey (Jim) Glubis; their 12 grandchildren, Nicole, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Kyla, Jake, Luke, Dylan, Ashton, Samantha, Jorja, Eric and Lily; one great-granddaughter, Chayce; siblings John (Eloise) Turnbull and Bob (Barbara) Turnbull; and nieces and nephew Terri-Lee, Robbie and Jen. She is predeceased by her parents, William and Candace Turnbull; parents-in-law Jerry and Katherine Glubis; her nephew Ian Turnbull; and her grandson Parker Glubis.
Jean graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and enjoyed many years of teaching before she retired to continue farming with her husband near Strongfield. She enjoyed a love-filled life with family. She was a dedicated farmer’s wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher and traveller. Family was always a priority to Jean and she showed her caring and supportive nature by being involved in their adventures, celebrations and sorrows. Jean spoke fondly of her time working at Loreburn Central School as many of her students and fellow staff members held a special place in her heart. Volunteering in the community was important to Jean. Memorable journeys were: trips with her husband throughout the U.S., gallivanting with her dearest friend Dorothy, and travelling around the world with her children and grandchildren.
At Jean’s request, a private family Celebration of Life will be held at the family farm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Saskatchewan Hospice Palliative Care Association. Arrangements by Outlook Funeral Home.
CRAIK — Craik’s mayor says he believes the town will be able to retrieve the total amount it has lost to fraud, calculated at close to $40,000.
“I’m confident that we will recover, through various means, all of the funds that were lost,” David Ashdown told the Leader.
Those means include bonds held by the town, as well as the restitution to be paid by former town administrator Jeff Murray, who pled guilty to fraud in January.
According to figures provided by the town earlier this month, the loss to fraud totals $39,416.34.
Administrator Sarah Wells said the town currently has an open insurance claim through SGI, and is waiting to hear what the outcome will be.
“It’s not a guarantee,” said Wells, adding, “We’re definitely going to work with them and see what we can get.”
The mayor said he, the town councillors and employees are working to carefully follow established policies to ensure that Craik won’t be vulnerable to fraud again.
“Personally I’m very confident that a similar situation could not arise,” said Ashdown, adding that while he trusts the staff, “that doesn’t remove my fiduciary duty to check carefully.”
Wells, who began working for the town in November 2014, said her responsibilities to council have been consistent throughout that time.
“I make sure council has all the information to work with,” she said. “My office door is always open for them to come in and inspect anything that they wish.”
She confirmed that she provides detailed financial statements to council, including itemized credit card statements.
Ashdown said these documents are received by council members prior to each regular monthly meeting.
The council reviews and adopts financial statements, payroll and accounts payable at each meeting. Having these documents makes it possible for council members to do cross-references.
“I do a regular review ensuring that the invoice matches the check and the authorization,” Ashdown explained. “We have tightened up the administration considerably.”
The mayor clarified that these are not new policies for council, but that they must be followed in order to be effective at preventing or detecting any financial irregularities.
Ashdown said he draws from his own experience in dealing with public funds, as well as observing best practices from other municipalities.
“We’re very careful to strictly adhere to the policies we already have in place,” he said. “Unless it’s adhered to, it’s not worth anything.”
For the full story, please see the May 15 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Lorne Hill, chief steward for Unifor Local 3 in Moose Jaw, speaks to workers gathered outside Arm River MLA Greg Brkich’s office in Davidson on May 4.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — Members of Unifor stopped by Greg Brkich’s office recently with a message for the Arm River MLA.
About 25 union members gathered on the sidewalk on Washington Avenue during the noon hour on May 4 to protest a recent bill on Crown corporations.
Bill 40, passed in the provincial legislature on April 26, sets a definition for privatization, allowing up to 49 per cent of a Crown corporation, such as SaskTel or SGI, to be sold.
Lorne Hill, chief steward for Unifor Local 3 in Moose Jaw, said the bill amounts to breaking up assets that belong to the people of Saskatchewan.
“This current provincial government has no mandate to put our assets up for sale,” Hill said.
The Unifor members, all SaskTel employees, were in Davidson on May 4 for a provincial meeting. They marched to the MLA’s office during their lunch break.
They carried signs and cheered during Hill’s speech, responding to his criticism of Sask Party MLAs with calls of “Shame!” and “Liars!”
Brkich’s office was closed for the noon hour, and the protest drew few onlookers, but those gathered were not discouraged.
“Whether Greg was here or not today,” said Hill, “we want all members of the Legislative Assembly to know our stance on this issue.”
He accused the government of “risking the assets of future generations,” adding that SaskTel has paid off $500 million in dividends to the province over the last decade.
“That is tax dollars that people don’t have to pay out of their pockets,” said Hill, explaining that the protesters want to promote unity and not division. “We want to support everybody, we want to protect what is rightfully theirs.”
The NDP has also criticized the bill, with opposition leader Trent Wotherspoon calling it “an incredible bertrayal of Saskatchewan people.”
Greg Brkich spoke to the Leader in the bill’s defense on Wednesday, arguing that it would strengthen, not weaken, the Crowns by protecting 51 per cent of them from privatization.
He characterized the bill as “housekeeping” in case an opportunity for partnership comes along.
In the case of SaskTel, he said, partnerships could make the company more competitive by connecting them with new technology.
He also said the bill could bring new investment dollars, giving the example of pension plans.
“There’s lots of Saskatchewan investment money that’s flowing out to entities in other provinces,” he said.
Brkich dismissed opposition criticism of the bill: “The world’s always coming to an end . . . That’s their role, to try to light as many fires as they can at that end.”
He also recalled that former NDP premier Roy Romanow had talked about looking for potential partners for SaskTel, back in 2000.
A news release from Unifor pointed to Manitoba as an example, arguing that the privatization of the provincial telecom MTS led to higher phone bills there.
“It could mean a decrease, too,” Brkich countered in response. “It very well could be cheaper rates and better coverage, with more investment coming in.”
Unifor represents around 3,300 SaskTel employees, including technicians, account and service representatives, and clerical and administrative staff.
Emily Jones of Craik and Jacob Heinrich of Davidson, both Air Cadets in 40 Snowbird Squadron, have been accepted to attend the Cadet Flying Training Centre in Gimli, Man., this summer.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — When Cadet Sgt. Jacob Heinrich learned he’d been accepted to attend flight school in Manitoba this summer, he wanted to celebrate.
At the time, however, he was standing in parade formation with the other members of the 40 Snowbird Squadron, so the celebration had to wait.
“You still have to keep a straight face,” he recalled. “I was biting my lip pretty hard.”
Heinrich, a Grade 10 student at Davidson School, is one of two local cadets invited to attend the Cadet Flying Training Centre (CFTC) in Gimli, Man., this summer.
He and fellow cadet Emily Jones of Craik will spend a month and a half at the centre, training on the Schweizer SGS 2-33 glider.
Both Heinrich and Jones began their cadet careers with 553 Sherlock Squadron in Davidson.
After the local squadron became inactive due to declining enrolment, they and a couple of others transferred to 40 Snowbird Squadron in Moose Jaw.
Local cadets travel to the city one night a week for regular meetings, and more often when they have weekend activities.
Heinrich began the application process for the CFTC in September, attending ground school to learn the basics of aviation.
For the full story, please see the May 15 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Clockwise from top left, Katherine Cool, Geena Heinrich, Jacob Schilling, Sarah Allan and Tia Shaw are pictured in a scene from “Storied,” presented by the Davidson School senior drama club on May 4.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — An audience of close to 100 people was treated to a double bill as Davidson School hosted a dessert theatre night on May 4, featuring the junior and senior drama clubs.
Up first was the junior club’s performance of “10 Reasons You Should Have Stayed Home Sick Today,” by E. M. Bell.
Directed by Jason Low, the one-act comedy play featured a cast of 10 students in grades 7 through 9.
The 10 reasons included getting stuck with an awkward bus seatmate, facing an impossible pop quiz, and slipping in mud that leaves a suggestive stain on the victim’s pants.
Following was the senior club’s performance of “Storied” by Bradley Watson, directed by Arlene Low, with a cast of 12 actors in grades 10 through 12.
The surreal play follows three teenagers — Tatum (Katherine Cool), Becky (Geena Heinrich) and Kevin (Jacob Schilling) — who find themselves trapped in an alternate universe.
There, they encounter many fictional characters — some they recognize, like Alice (Emily Read) and the White Rabbit (Chase Lyn Dean), and others they don’t, like the Big Blue Metal Thing (Sarah Bublish) and the Sniper in a Tutu (Justin Sandsbraaten).
They eventually find themselves caught in a conflict between “Good Ideas” from classic stories, and “Bad Ideas” that originate in lesser works.
The teens encounter a pair of witches, Brittany (Sarah Allan) and Colleen (Tia Shaw), who explain that they drew them into this dimension by casting a spell.
For the full story and more photos, please see the May 15 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Benko, Clarence “Chuck” John
