By Joel van der Veen

DUNDURN — The fund for Dundurn’s new fire hall got a major boost as the community gathered for the lighting of the Memory Tree late last month.

Organizers said the project has raised more than $15,000 this year, and with donations still coming in, the total could exceed $20,000.

The ceremony on Nov. 27 included the singing of Christmas carols, lots of homemade goodies and a time to remember loved ones.

“It was a wonderful, moving ceremony,” said organizer Rosalind Arndt, part of the six-member committee behind this year’s program. “It was just so nice.”

Arndt estimated the crowd in attendance at over 100 people, including several members of the Dundurn Emergency Response Team.

Now in its fourth year, the memory tree lighting ceremony, initiated by Glen Cline, has become something of an annual tradition for Dundurn and area residents.

The tree, located outside the Dundurn Community Hall, was decorated by Patty and Sam Posnikoff. It will continue to be lit until mid-January.

Residents were invited to purchase a bulb for $20 in memory of a loved one, while personal or corporate donations and sponsorships were also accepted.

Arndt said there were upwards of 25 corporate sponsors this year. All donations in excess of $200 are recognized on a permanent plaque made by Waylyn Signs.

The Friday night program was emceed by Steve Menshenfriend and led off with the singing of “O Canada” by Brenda Presnell. Reaschelle Higginbotham and Courtney Schroeder read the list of people being remembered and those who had purchased the bulbs in their memory.

A group of students from Dundurn Elementary School, led by vice-principal Kirsten Tucker, sang a selection of Christmas carols. Dundurn students were also responsible for the paper angels that adorned the hall.

Baked goods, many of them homemade, were donated by community members for the occasion, while a special cake in the shape of a tree was provided by Amanda Bell.

Arndt said the memory tree project raised just over $43,000 for the new hall in its first three years. Donations are still being accepted through the office of the Rural Municipality of Dundurn.

Serving on the committee along with Arnst were Barb Olyniuk, Tanya Richmond, Alysia Kuzma, Carolyn Cartwright and Patty Posnikoff.

By Joel van der Veen

DUNDURN — With continued growth expected in the Dundurn area, it’s now up to local voters to decide which candidate will be the one to lead them through it.

Voters in the Rural Municipality of Dundurn will head to the polls for a byelection on Nov. 18 to choose between Trevor Reid and Fred Wilson as their new reeve.

Wilson, 69, a longtime farmer and resident of the area, has served as reeve since January 2004; it was his resignation, which took effect in October, that made the byelection necessary.

He explained to the Leader that personal issues — specifically, a move into town and a decision to turn the family farm over to his son — were getting in the way of his duties.

“I just kind of felt that I wasn’t contributing to the council the way I felt I should be,” he said. “I was kind of second-guessing myself.”

Subsequently, he reconsidered his decision, and with the passage of time and the encouragement of several ratepayers, Wilson decided he was ready to seek another term.

He said he is still comfortable with the direction he and the council have been moving and the decisions they have made, including a temporary moratorium on new residential subdivisions.

Wilson cited the “adequate supply” of current subdivisions and added that he wants to encourage more commercial and industrial activity, though the RM must compete with the City of Saskatoon and other municipalities like Corman Park.

He also said they’re pleased with the current development of a new campsite at Blackstrap Provincial Park, noting that it had been a longtime council objective.

Wilson said that maintaining infrastructure to accompany growth in the RM is “pretty central to what’s been happening,” adding that they will need to keep an eye on roads over the next few months, as water levels and spring runoff take their toll.

He also wants to continue to push for a connecting link between highways 219 and 11, which would help establish the area as a tourism corridor south of Saskatoon.

“Our west side of our municipality is basically isolated from our east side,” said Wilson. “We don’t think that’s right.”

Running against Wilson is Trevor Reid, 39, a real estate agent and business consultant who moved to the area with his wife and two children just over five years ago.

He said he believes the time is right to “take the RM to the next level” and wants to put his 20 years of business experience to work for ratepayers, adding, “I just feel I can bring a lot of motivation and strive for change.”

Reid said he frequently hears from other residents that their concerns are not being addressed in a timely or effective fashion, adding that the most frequent complaints have to do with road maintenance and servicing.

As reeve, he said, he would aim to address the questions and concerns that are brought forward by ratepayers, noting, “It may not always be what they want to hear, but at least they’ll have an answer.”

He also said he perceives a division between the farmers and the more recent arrivals living on acreages, and he wants to bring those groups together and “get everybody on the same page.”

Reid has run to serve on the RM council twice. He was a candidate in the municipal election three years ago and also ran in a byelection in March. Both experiences have given him lots of opportunities to discuss issues with voters.

“I’ve heard a lot of what people had to say,” he said. “Everybody’s complaints and concerns are valid, and a lot of them are the same.”

Reid said he has heard about many smaller issues that aren’t as simple to address. He added that he would like to improve transparency on the RM’s financial reports, allowing residents to better understand the municipality’s situation.

Administrator Judy Douglas confirmed last week that once Wilson had resigned, the RM was required to hold a byelection under The Municipalities Act.

Both candidates have promoted themselves using campaign signs, which Douglas said is “unusual” for an election in their municipality.

The vote will take place on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the municipal office on Second Street in Dundurn, with the results to be declared at 10 a.m. the following day.

By Joel van der Veen

DUNDURN — A proofreading error in a highly visible place has resulted in some red faces at the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.

A sign installed this summer along the southbound lanes of Highway 11, directing drivers to the Canadian Forces Detachment at Dundurn, will be corrected after a misspelling on the sign was brought to the ministry’s attention.

“This is obviously a unique situation and somewhat embarrassing,” said Steve Shaheen, a communications consultant with the ministry.

Shaheen said that the contractor responsible for making the signs misspelled the name “Dundurn” as “Dundrun,” adding that the error went unnoticed by the road crew that installed the sign.

“Shortly after the sign was erected, we received a call about it and have been working to get it fixed,” he said, adding, “This should be done soon.”

Shaheen said that the contractor agreed to correct the sign at no additional charge to the ministry.

Another sign along the northbound side of the highway is largely identical, except with the guiding arrow pointed left instead of right. It does not contain the spelling error.

Shaheen noted that the ministry is responsible for a vast number of signs across the province, which must be replaced from time to time.

This can be due to intentional damage, such as vandalism; accidental damage, such as when signs are struck in auto collisions; or simply because of wear and tear.

Shaheen also said it is extremely rare for a misspelled traffic sign to be installed before the error is caught.

An unidentified Canadian Armed Forces member who answered the phone at CFAD Dundurn on Wednesday laughed when told of the error.

He said he had not yet seen the misspelled sign but added, “I imagine somebody has mentioned it.”

(Update: Shaheen contacted the Leader on Monday to say he was informed that the sign has now been corrected.)