Davidson, featured

Small growth for Davidson, according to census data

web-town-council

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The town’s population is on the rise again, but not as much as some might have expected.

According to census data released last week, Davidson has a total of 1,048 residents, up from 1,025 in 2011, an increase of 2.2 per cent.

Administrator Gary Edom said he expected the town’s numbers to be somewhat higher, but said it was still positive news.

“At least we’re headed in the right direction,” he said Friday morning.

On Wednesday, Statistics Canada released the first round of data from the Canada 2016 Census, including population and dwelling counts.

The results provide a glimpse of how cities, towns and other municipalities have grown or shrank since the last census was taken five years ago.

As a whole, the province of Saskatchewan has grown by 6.3 per cent since 2011, the second-highest growth rate among Canada’s provinces.

The province’s population stood at 1,098,352 as of May 2016, and all 16 cities in Saskatchewan saw their populations increase.

Davidson’s population has hovered around the 1,000 mark since the mid-1960s. The number of residents dropped to 958 in the 2006 census, but has been on the upswing since then.

For the full story, please see the Feb. 13 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Rock guitar front and centre on Boychuk CD

Guitarist Sengine Boychuk — shown here in a promotional photo taken in Semans — has released his first CD. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Stockdale Photography)
Guitarist Sengine Boychuk — shown here in a promotional photo taken in Semans — has released his first CD.
(Photo courtesy of Sarah Stockdale Photography)

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Years of practice and procrastination went into Sengine Boychuk’s first CD.

As a teenager living in Davidson, Boychuk said, he spent hours alone practising the guitar, building up his repertoire.

“I had nothing better to do,” he said. “For a year and a half I just learned AC/DC songs.”

Boychuk credits his parents with introducing him to the music of their adolescence, the hard rock and heavy metal of the 80s — bands like Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Skid Row and Def Leppard.

That influence rings out loud and clear on his new CD, Vol. 1, released on Jan. 18.

The six-track album was mixed, mastered and produced by Boychuk himself. He plays the guitar and bass, while Josh Farden and Colin Phillips join in on the drums.

“I’m an instrumental rock kind of guy, with elements of heavy metal,” Boychuk explained.

The disc includes five original songs, plus a cover of Michael Jackson’s 1982 hit “Beat It.”

“I always loved that song, everything about it,” said Boychuk, explaining that he learned to play the vocal melody on the guitar.

He also recreated the classic Eddie Van Halen guitar solo. He said his goal was to keep the song close to the original, while making it heavier and more modern-sounding.

There were also some headaches working out the royalties and legal issues with Sony, which owns the song.

Even so, he said, it’s probably his favourite track because “it just sounds the best.”

For the full story, please see the Feb. 13 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, Obituary

Obituary: Reich, Rose

Rose Marie Reich

It is with sadness we announce the passing of Rose Reich at the Craik and District Health Centre on Feb. 7 in her 95th year.

Rose was the third child born to Raymond and Katerine Heck of Holdfast. The family farmed six miles east of Penzance in the Mariposa district where Rose attended school.

In October 1941 she married Frank Reich and they farmed east of Craik. They moved to Craik for the winter months and then moved into Craik permanently in the home Frank built.

Rose was predeceased by her husband Frank, her sisters Margaret and Anne and her brother John.

She is survived by her loving family: Gerald and Bernette, Richard and Laurel, Danny and Theresa, nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Rose also leaves behind her brother George and sister Fran as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Rose’s life will take place at a later date. For friends so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Rose may be directed to the Craik and District Memorial Fund or to a charity of choice.

The Reich families wish to thank the Craik Health Centre for the excellent care they gave Rose.

Arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson.

Davidson, featured

Local dance troupe headed to Telemiracle

A group of Davidson dancers will perform on live TV during Telemiracle 41 in March. They are seen here at their audition in November. Pictured clockwise from top left are Jessy Ulmer, Teagin Nelson-Schneider, Brooklyn Bahnman, Alexis Gray, Rhett Gust and Farrah Low.
A group of Davidson dancers will perform on live TV during Telemiracle 41 in March. They are seen here at their audition in November. Pictured clockwise from top left are Jessy Ulmer, Teagin Nelson-Schneider, Brooklyn Bahnman, Alexis Gray, Rhett Gust and Farrah Low.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — When an opportunity came knocking, a group of dancers from Davidson was ready to answer.

In this case, the opportunity involves supporting a good cause and having a lot of fun at the same time.

A troupe of six dancers will perform a hip-hop routine on live TV during the Telemiracle 41 telethon in March.

Taking part are Brooklyn Bahnman, Alexis Gray, Rhett Gust, Farrah Low, Teagin Nelson-Schneider and Jessy Ulmer.

They’ll be performing “Knock Knock,” set to the song “Shell Shocked” from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. (The song is credited to Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J and Ty Dolla Sign, featuring Kill the Noise and Madsonik.)

Telemiracle 41 will be broadcast from Saskatoon this year, airing live on CTV stations in Saskatchewan on March 4 and 5.

Proceeds will be used by the Kinsmen Foundation to help people across the province acquire special needs equipment and access medical treatment.

More than $116 million has been raised through the annual telethon since 1977. Last year’s event brought in $5.2 million in donations.

The group developed their routine last year, performing at various recitals and competitions in 2016. They won silver in Lanigan and gold in Warman.

The dancers are in Grade 5 and most of them started studying dance as soon as they were old enough, around age four.

Grade 12 student Tia Shaw, their instructor, said having her group perform in the telethon is a fulfillment of her own longtime dream.

For the full story, please see the Feb. 6 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Dundurn, featured

Dundurn kids rush to give lacrosse a try

Calleigh Roepe scoops the ball into the netting of her lacrosse stick during a Try Lacrosse camp at Dundurn Elementary School on Jan. 31.
Calleigh Roepe scoops the ball into the netting of her lacrosse stick during a Try Lacrosse camp at Dundurn Elementary School on Jan. 31.

By Tara de Ryk

DUNDURN — Not too long ago, Parker Michalishen used to sleep with his lacrosse stick.

It’s an admission the 18-year-old SWAT Lacrosse junior team player made to a gym full of eager 7- to 12-year-olds at a Try Lacrosse session held in Dundurn on Jan. 31.

Michalishen told them that’s how much he loved the sport.

This is a passion Saskatchewan lacrosse players are bringing to communities near Saskatoon this winter.

Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association conducts these Try Lacrosse camps in co-ordination with Saskatoon Box Lacrosse and Saskatchewan SWAT Lacrosse. The sessions are for children ages 7 to 12 to introduce them to the sport in a fun and positive manner.

Dundurn’s session had 18 kids learning some of the lacrosse basics such as scooping, cradling, catching and throwing.

“I couldn’t skate, Michalishen says of why he started playing lacrosse five years ago. Instead of playing hockey, he decided to try the next closest thing.

“I fell in love with it as soon as I picked up a stick. I really love it and I want the game to grow.”

Saskatoon’s Box Lacrosse League saw a 25 per cent increase in registration last season, with most of the growth occurring in the younger age divisions, says Neil Hruska, the Try Lacrosse co-ordinator for Saskatoon Box Lacrosse and Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association.

He credits the popularity of the Saskatchewan Rush, a professional lacrosse team that plays at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, for the sudden growth in the minor levels of the sport.

“Because of the Rush, because they see how intense of a sport (lacrosse is), kids are being drawn to it,” Hruska says.

For the full story, please see the Feb. 6 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Elbow, featured

Elbow RCMP: simple steps can lower risk of property crime

Const. Mike Neilson of the Outlook-Elbow RCMP detachment speaks to a small crowd at a public information session at the Elbow Civic Centre on Wednesday.
Const. Mike Neilson of the Outlook-Elbow RCMP detachment speaks to a small crowd at a public information session at the Elbow Civic Centre on Wednesday.

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — Preventing burglars from entering your house or business isn’t rocket science.

As Const. Mike Neilson told the public on Wednesday, it’s largely a matter of making it hard enough for potential thieves that they’ll give up and move on.

“They’re lazy, that’s why they’re doing it in the first place,” he said. “They’re looking for easy targets.”

“Stack the deck in your favour. Don’t make it easy for these guys.”

Neilson, a member of the RCMP Outlook-Elbow detachment, hosted a public information session at the Elbow Civic Centre on Wednesday, with about 10 people in attendance.

He and several colleagues provided advice and answered questions on preventing theft and deterring thieves from trying to enter homes, businesses and vehicles.

Neilson said rural crime rates have increased recently, blaming this on the downturn in the oil and gas industry.

Rural residents are often seen as easy targets, he explained, saying, “They’re isolated and no one’s around.”

He advised residents to keep their doors locked, noting that the vast majority of break-and-enters (B&Es) are committed on unlocked homes.

Neilson said residents should make it a habit so they are less likely to forget when they leave for longer periods.

“Even if you’re home, you should just lock your door,” he said. “Just like you’re putting on your seatbelt — you don’t think twice about it.”

Neilson said most would-be burglars are easily deterred and will keep moving to the next car or house until they find one that is unlocked.

For the full story, see the Feb. 6 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan