featured, Hanley

Hanley moving closer to artificial ice upgrade

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Organizers accept a cheque for $25,000 towards the artificial ice project from the Town of Hanley during “Hockey Day in Hanley” on Jan. 7. Pictured from left are Elias Kempton, town councillor Andrea Townsend, Julie Bessey, Cindy Prosofsky and Bekki Kempton.

By Joel van der Veen

HANLEY — A jump in temperatures last week didn’t bode well for hockey players in Hanley.

The town’s arena, in operation since 1982, is perhaps the last operating facility in the area that still relies on natural ice.

“I think we are pretty close to being the only natural ice around here for a while,” said Cindy Prosofsky last week.

With winter temperatures on the rise, residents can only expect to use the rink for a couple of months each year.

Prosofsky said the rink wasn’t up and running till the end of December, and several days in a row of above-zero temperatures could put the rest of the season in jeopardy.

“You look at the weather we’re having right now,” she said. “Who knows what will happen to our ice?”

After three years of fundraising, Hanley is moving closer to bringing artificial ice to the rink.

Back in 2014, organizers set a fundraising goal of $1.5 million for an ambitious project that would have included a cement pad over top of the existing rink floor.

Prosofsky, who serves as president of the artificial ice committee, said they are in the midst of revising their plans.

As of last week, they had not released their new fundraising target — indicating only that it would likely be significantly lower — or the total raised so far. Prosofsky said that information would be publicized soon.

The Hanley Arena was built between 1980 and 1981 and officially opened on Feb. 21, 1982, replacing an earlier skating arena constructed in 1928.

For the full story, please see the Jan. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, Obituary

Obituary: Baker, Valerie

web-obit-bakerValerie Baker (nee Shorten)
Feb. 12, 1938 — Jan. 13, 2017

Valerie Baker passed away on Jan. 13, 2017 at the age of 79. Valerie lived and grew up in Regina, Sask. After she left high school she joined the Air Force and met her first husband, Garry Smith. The two married and had three children. Garry passed away in 1974. Valerie then met Richard Baker and married in 1991. Valerie loved having her family around; she loved drawing, painting and making dolls. She also loved being at the cottage.

Valerie is predeceased by her first husband Garry Smith and parents Jack and Vera Shorten.

She is survived by her loving husband Richard Baker; children Lee-Ann (Jeff) Schaan, Russ (Sandy) Smith and Kelly Barrett; grandchildren Steven Schaan, Kelsey Schaan, Cody Smith, Alisha Smith, Kari Smith and Krystal Smith; great-grandson Ethan Efonoff; and siblings Jo-Anne (Ray) Racette, Bob (Lois) Shorten and John (Fran) Shorten.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Valerie was held in the Craik Community Legion Hall on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at 2 p.m.

For friends so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Valerie may be directed to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.

Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in charge of arrangements.

 

featured, Imperial

World Juniors were a family affair for Ingrams

Brent and Joni Ingram, parents of Team Canada goalie Connor Ingram, wear their jerseys at their home in Imperial.
Brent and Joni Ingram, parents of Team Canada goalie Connor Ingram, wear their jerseys at their home in Imperial.

By Joel van der Veen

IMPERIAL — For the Ingram family, Christmas dinner is coming a little later than usual this year.

Brent and Joni, their four sons and significant others were gathering in Imperial this past weekend for a belated holiday meal.

Normal traditions were put on hold in December as the family travelled east to watch their youngest son on the world stage.

Connor Ingram, 19, was one of two goalies for Team Canada during the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping the team to a silver medal.

His proud mother and father spoke to the Leader last week from the kitchen of their Royal Street home.

Coffee and baked goods were on the table, and playing in the background was a radio station from Humboldt.

Connor was on the air, answering questions of all sorts — like what makes goalies different, or what his favourite meal is. (“My mom’s homemade soup.”)

In recent weeks he has given a string of interviews to radio, TV and print media, and his parents also spoke to multiple reporters.

“We talked to a lot of people,” said Brent. “It was a way to get the message back home . . . When you live in a small town, you don’t do that very often.”

The tournament brought an unprecedented level of attention to the town of 350 residents, with two of its native sons taking part.

Kris Knoblauch, 39, was assistant coach for Team Canada, working with head coach Dominique Ducharme and assistant Tim Hunter.

Following a successful career as a forward on multiple WHL teams, Knoblauch spent two seasons coaching the Kootenay Ice. He currently coaches the Erie Otters, one of three U.S.-based teams in the Ontario Hockey League.

“We had two from a town this size there at the same time,” said Brent Ingram. “It was good for Imperial.”

“Imperial doesn’t usually get a lot of love,” said Connor, who spoke to the Leader last week by phone. “I think they liked it.”

For the full story, please see the Jan. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Volunteer fire department looking for recruits

Deputy chief Don Willner and chief Clayton Schilling of the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department pose with the rapid rescue unit at the fire hall.
Deputy chief Don Willner and chief Clayton Schilling of the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department pose with the rapid rescue unit at the fire hall.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Don’t worry if you’re not exactly calendar material — the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department can use your help.

The department is looking for new recruits, putting out the invitation to all men and women aged 18 and older.

“We need members and I don’t care who it is,” chief Clayton Schilling said recently.

“We need to keep our department strong,” deputy chief Don Willner said, adding that local residents need to feel “confident that when they call 9-1-1, somebody’s coming.”

The department currently has 10 active members. That number includes EMS employees, who often have to leave a scene to transport patients to the hospital.

On average, around five members respond to a typical call.

The chiefs said they’re confident in the ability of their modest team to provide a fast and effective response.

But with fewer members, it’s harder to guard the scene of an accident or collision, or to provide relief when firefighters need a break.

“Everyone is so well trained, they have lots of experience,” said Willner, adding that without backup available, “you get physically worn out.”

The department responds to an average of 50 calls a year. About 80 per cent of those are located on or near Highway 11, and the chiefs have noticed a greater volume of traffic, as well as increasingly unsafe driving.

“People are going faster than they ever have, and they’re totally unprepared,” said Willner.

The remaining calls are mostly structure fires and field fires.

The Davidson department covers a large area for rescue service, stretching north to the townline road at Bladworth and south to Chamberlain, extending into the valley around Buffalo Pound Lake.

The main service area includes the Town of Davidson and the RMs of Arm River and Willner, as well as a small part of the RM of Wood Creek. Officials said they have also responded to structure fires in Bladworth, Craik, Elbow and Loreburn.

Davidson also provides mutual aid to other departments, including Craik and Kenaston.

For the full story, please see the Jan. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured

Craik gets $1.4M grant for water fix

Craik Mayor David Ashdown (at centre, in grey suit) joined with other mayors from across the province for Wednesday's funding announcement.
Craik Mayor David Ashdown (at centre, in grey suit) joined with other mayors from across the province for Wednesday’s funding announcement.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — A federal-provincial grant totalling more than $1.42 million is opening up new possibilities for Craik as the town continues to move towards restoring its potable water.

Besides the clear financial benefit, Mayor David Ashdown said it was a sign of confidence in the town’s future.

“I see this as a statement by both senior levels of government that Craik is a viable community,” said Ashdown. “It’s a community that’s worth investing in, from their perspective.”

Ralph Goodale, federal minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, and Donna Harpauer, provincial minister of government relations and minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs, announced the grant in Regina on Wednesday.

A total of 28 new projects in cities, towns and villages across the province will receive grants, through either the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) or the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

“Infrastructure is the foundation of the Canada we all want to build for tomorrow,” Goodale was quoted, saying the projects funded thusly would “protect the environment, keep our communities healthy and livable, and will create well-paying jobs for the middle class.”

For Craik’s grant, the federal government will contribute 50 per cent, or $950,659, while the province will contribute 25 per cent, or $475,329. The rest of the funding will come from the town’s water fund, bringing the total to more than $1.9 million.

The grant represents a significant financial boost and an encouraging sign as Craik seeks to end the boil water advisory that has been in place since August of 2010.

The town applied for CWWF funding late last year, though Mayor Ashdown was careful not to raise expectations beyond the realistic at the time, calling it “purely exploratory.”

Council passed a resolution in December to request a meeting with consulting engineers from KGS Group, the Regina-based firm that has been working with Craik to address its water situation.

Bearing in mind the possibility of CWWF funding, council also asked KGS to prepare “supplementary design information in the event additional funding becomes available.”

Now that funding is confirmed, Ashdown identified three main points of focus for council.

The town will explore alternate sources of water and also investigate the other treatment options outlined in KGS’s reports, previously believed to be beyond the town’s financial capacity.

Ashdown said council would also look at ways to improve, renew and renovate the delivery system that brings water to users.

For the full story, please see the Jan. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Aylesbury, Obituary

Obituary: Lang, Alice

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Lang, Alice
1932 — 2017

Alice passed away peacefully at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. Alice was predeceased by her husband Wilf, infant son Jeff, her parents and all of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughters Erin, Mary (Lawrence), her son Brett, her in-laws Marilyn and Greg Petroski, Ed Krieser and Betty Lang, as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Alice’s life was focused on her family and a love of nature and literature. She continued to enjoy reading and challenging herself with crossword puzzles to the end.

A celebration of her life will be held in July 2017 at Aylesbury Community Hall. Flowers are gratefully declined. Friends so wishing may make donations to the Canadian Wildlife Federation or the SPCA.

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

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan