Davidson

Team behind “Milton’s Secret” visits Davidson

Ryan Lockwood and Stephen Huszar, co-producers of “Milton’s Secret.”

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Bullying and mental health aren’t the easiest subjects to raise with kids and teens.

But producers of the film Milton’s Secret say they hope it will serve as a starting point for some crucial conversations.

The film, released last year, was co-produced by Davidson native Ryan Lockwood.

He and his co-producer, Stephen Huszar, visited Davidson School on Oct. 2 as part of a presentation, focusing on mental health, bullying and mindfulness.

Students in grades 4 through 12 were in attendance for the presentation in the school gym, which included a video preview of the film and a Q&A session with the producers.

Students from Craik travelled to Davidson on Monday for the presentation, while others in Loreburn watched the proceedings online through a live video feed.

Both presentations were organized by Stephanie Prpick-Boss, who grew up in the Davidson area, later spending 20 years in the Northwest Territories before relocating to Saskatoon seven years ago.

Prpick-Boss had attended school with Lockwood, but the two lost touch after graduation.

They reconnected four years ago, when Lockwood had reached out to Prpick-Boss online as he began crowdfunding for his latest film project.

“As soon as I heard that, I phoned him up,” said Prpick-Boss. “From then on, it’s been a great journey.”

She advised the students to cherish and embrace their communities, as well as to follow their dreams and embrace the arts.

Principal Jason Low introduced Lockwood, who graduated from Davidson in 1991.

“We sat here in the school together,” recalled Low, who graduated a couple of years later. “I stayed, and he’s out making movies now.”

Lockwood and Huszar met while attending the University of Saskatchewan. Eleven years ago, they formed the production company Hulo Films.

Milton’s Secret is based on the book by Robert S. Friedman and Eckhart Tolle.

It tells the story of Milton, a 12-year-old boy who is anxious about his family’s future and plagued by bullying at school.

His life changes when he connects with his grandfather, played by Donald Sutherland, and witnesses his unorthodox approach to life.

Huszar, who is also an actor and currently appearing in the series Letterkenny, said the script went through 48 drafts before production began.

The film also features William Ainscough as Milton, along with actress Michelle Rodriguez, best known for her appearances in the Fast and Furious series.

Huszar met Rodriguez at a party and convinced her to join the project. When actors are passionate about a subject, he remarked, “they’ll jump on board.”

The film made its premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival on Sept. 30, 2016, and has since been released internationally.

The company has donated a DVD copy of the movie to the school, as well as a link to watch the movie online. An educational guide has also been developed for teachers to use in sharing the film with their students. Continue reading Team behind “Milton’s Secret” visits Davidson →

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: McKenzie, Sharon

Sharon McKenzie

Sharon Carol McKenzie was born at Kamsack on Feb. 20, 1947 to Andy and Mabel Nordmarken. Sharon passed away Sept. 12, 2017 in Prince Albert. A Celebration of Life service took place at All Saints Anglican Church, Davidson on Sept. 27, 2017, and another in Pierceland on Sept. 30, 2017 at the Community Hall.

Sharon attended school in Davidson and graduated in 1965. She went into teaching and her career spanned nearly 40 years.

She was predeceased by her parents Andy and Mabel Nordmarken, her in-laws Ida and Angus McKenzie, brother-in-law Don McKenzie, sister-in-law Rose and her husband Mickey, nephew Terry Wees, and her special little dog Mattie.

She is survived by her husband Les and their dog Tobie, twin sister Shirley and Tom Blenkin, Ferne and Russell Wees, nieces Tracey Blenkin, Shelley Pelletier and Diane Cherry McCook, nephews Trevor Blenkin and Scott Wees, special great-nephew Thomas Neid Blenkin, sisters-in-law Marilyn and Jerry Hill, Gail McKenzie, Virginia McKenzie and families.

featured, Hanley

“There’s a lot of broken hearts”: Family, friends mourn Hanley teen

Family and friends of Drew Kolbeck (in inset) joined his funeral procession on dirtbikes and quads following the service on Sept. 28.

By Joel van der Veen

HANLEY — The life of the party. An adventurer. A true friend.

In the days since Drew Kolbeck’s death, countless family and friends have shared their memories of the Hanley teen. 

Some of these came in the form of posts to his Facebook page.

“I’ll miss your crazy dance moves at parties and your laugh that came right from the belly,” reads one.

“There was never a time when there wasn’t a smile on your face,” says another. “I hope you’re tearing it up where you are now.”

One simply reads: “Missing your smile, Drew.”

Speaking to the Leader last week, Drew’s mother Tanya Kolbeck said the stories have helped to sustain her and her family, in the wake of Drew’s death. They also give her hope despite her grief, she added.

“Maybe he could inspire people to be kind and always help each other out,” she said. “It was just natural for him to help people.”

Drew Kolbeck, 18, died as the result of a single vehicle rollover north of Hanley in the early morning hours of Sept. 22.

He was the middle child of Jeff and Tanya Kolbeck of Hanley. He has two brothers — Drayden, 15, and Dustin, who turns 20 this month.

Roughly 1,000 people attended Drew’s funeral service on Sept. 28 at the Hanley Community Hall.

The gathering included many students and staff from Hanley Composite School, as well as young people and others from throughout the area, as far as Craik, Davidson and Allan.

A procession of friends and relatives on dirtbikes and quads followed the hearse from the Hanley hall following the service.

Almost two weeks after his passing, friends are still sharing their memories online and sending text messages to Drew’s phone.

“I think there’s a lot of broken hearts out there,” said his mom. “He just touched people . . . He never had a mean bone in his body.” Continue reading “There’s a lot of broken hearts”: Family, friends mourn Hanley teen →

Davidson, featured

AGT commits $225K to Davidson rink

The Davidson Communiplex as seen on Google Street View.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — After more than two decades, Davidson’s rink is beginning a new season with a new name — and a long-term influx of cash.

AGT Food and Ingredients — headed by Davidson native Murad Al-Katib — has reached a sponsorship agreement with the town.

The company will contribute $15,000 annually towards the rink for the next 15 years, for a total of $225,000.

As part of the agreement, AGT has secured naming rights to the Davidson Communiplex, which will now become known as the AGT Centre.

Al-Katib announced the deal Wednesday in Davidson during a customer appreciation dinner held in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall, with roughly 85 people in attendance.

He confirmed the news in a Twitter post that night, which read in part, “Be proud of your hometown. A big part of who you are.”

Al-Katib is the president and CEO of AGT Foods, which distributes lentils, chickpeas and other crops to more than 120 countries internationally.

Speaking to the Leader on Friday, Al-Katib said the company has previously contributed to facilities in other towns, including Rosetown, Wilkie and Eston.

“Davidson’s a very important community for us, not only in terms of business,” he said. “It’s my hometown.”

While arenas and sports facilities often serve as community hubs, small towns often struggle to cover the costs of operating and maintaining their rinks.

Al-Katib said he believes it’s important and valuable to ensure such facilities can remain viable.

“That’s pretty exciting for us,” he said. “We want to be a part of that.”

He also said he’s pleased to see the growth happening in Davidson, as evidenced by larger classes at the school and the continued popularity of minor sports here. Continue reading AGT commits $225K to Davidson rink →

Elbow, featured

Elbow draws together for Culture Days

Strongfield’s Sarah Leikam performs a traditional Ukrainian dance at the Elbow arena during the village’s Culture Days weekend on Sept. 30.

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — Since last weekend’s Culture Days events in Elbow, two people have agreed to join the Line 19 choir and three more have signed up to learn pickleball.

Not only that, but local musicians, inspired by the camaraderie of the Friday-night singalong, are planning to host monthly jam sessions.

By that measure, Culture Days was a great success, and one that continues to grow.

“This started as a dream,” said organizer Anne Wilson. “It’s just been wonderful. I can hardly talk about it, it chokes me up.”

Elbow was the site of three days of Culture Days events, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, drawing upwards of 700 people.

The family-friendly weekend is hosted by the Elbow and District Museum and organized by a local committee, with support from various people, organizations and businesses.

Culture Days events are held the same weekend across Saskatchewan and the rest of the country.

“It’s just an opportunity for people all across Canada to get together and celebrate culture,” Wilson said.

Wilson explained that the museum board applied for funding from SaskCulture and Saskatchewan Lotteries the preceding fall to host this year’s events, which are presented free of charge.

As organizer, Wilson said her vision this year was a celebration of Canada on its 150th birthday, with a focus on music.

“Culture isn’t just your roots, it’s a feeling created by like-minded individuals,” explained Wilson. “We’ve got a wonderful community . . . We’re situated in an amazing place with lots to do.”

As such, the events were planned with participation in mind, allowing attendees to play an active role.

Wilson worked with an organizing committee, who in turn enlisted volunteers from throughout the area, including Loreburn, Strongfield, Mistusinne, Central Butte, Hanley and Davidson. Continue reading Elbow draws together for Culture Days →

Davidson, featured, Sports

Second gymkhana buckle for Oliver

Tylar Oliver and her horse Josey receive the high-point buckle in junior B girls gymkhana from Saskatchewan Riding Clubs Association president Kirsten Roy.

By Joel van der Veen

MOOSE JAW — Tylar Oliver has some more hardware to add to the collection after competing in provincial riding club finals last month.

Oliver, a Grade 10 student in Davidson, won the high-point Gymkhana buckle in the junior B girls division at the Saskatchewan Riding Clubs Association (SRCA) provincial finals in Moose Jaw.

She and her horse Josey, a chestnut mare, competed in three events — barrel racing, pole bending and the quadrangle race.

Oliver said she’s been riding as long as she can remember, adding, “My dad started me when we moved here, when I was 2.”

She has been riding Josey for the last three years.

Though the mare was new to some competitive events like barrel racing, Oliver said, “She already had that speed mindset in her.”

This was Oliver’s second gymkhana buckle. In 2014, she was the high-point champion in the junior C girls division. She was also voted the SRCA’s provincial queen that year, taking home a trophy saddle.

Nine riders and horses from the Davidson Riding Club competed in this year’s SRCA provincial finals, held Sept. 22 to 24 in Moose Jaw.

Besides Tylar, two other club members picked up high-point buckles over the weekend.

Valerie Brown, riding Penny, received the high-point buckle for her results in the Pioneer Western Performance events.

Meanwhile, Brenda Clarke and Drifter earned the high-point buckle in the senior ladies Gymkhana division, after placing first in three separate events.

Continue reading Second gymkhana buckle for Oliver →

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan