Category Archives: Bladworth

Bladworth, featured

Goats add playful twist to yoga class

Janelle Shewchuk (left) and Julie Nykiforuk sit in a lotus pose during a goat yoga class on Monday.

By Joel van der Veen

BLADWORTH —  A herd of goats, a yoga mat, and thou.

These were the ingredients for a unique experience at the farm of Mary Smillie and Ian McCreary at Bladworth on Monday night.

Around 45 people visited the farm for a session of “goat yoga,” led by local instructor Lois Dueck.

It’s exactly what the name suggests: a yoga class given inside the goats’ pen, with the animals freely walking around, nibbling on grass and sometimes getting up close and personal with the participants.

Dueck, who has been teaching yoga for 12 years, said she wasn’t sure what to expect heading into Monday evening.

She had visited the farm previously to meet the herd and said she found it easy to warm up to the goats, who seemed to have a calming effect.

“It brought all levels and ages together, and that was very cool,” said Dueck. “Being outside was very nice, too.”

Dueck remarked that she’d expected the goats to be more curious, noting that they were drawing closer to the yoga group as the evening went on.

The goats appeared comfortable despite the presence of the large group. Some drew close enough to be petted or held, or to nibble on a participant’s shoelace. Occasionally a few of the goats would startle, leading to a brief, harmless stampede.

“People really have to try it to know what it’s like,” said Dueck. “I’d be up for doing it again, for sure.”

Smillie began raising goats six years ago, starting with 12 animals. Currently, her herd includes 30 nanny goats, 14 replacement doelings (one year old) and 42 kids.

The event was inspired by videos of goat yoga that were recently posted online. To Smillie, goats and yoga sounded like a natural pairing.

“Yoga should be about feeling good and relaxing,” said Smillie. “It seemed to work.”

She contacted Dueck, who was immediately on board. She said afterward that she was pleased with the response, adding that several more would have come if not for prior commitments.

More sessions are planned for the future, said Smillie, adding that she would appreciate feedback from those who attended the first.

For the full story, please see the June 12 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Bladworth, Obituary

Obituary: Kerpan, Paul

web-obit-kerpan

Kerpan, Paul

Paul Nicholas Kerpan passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at St. Ann’s home in Saskatoon. Paul was born on the family farm at Kenaston on Dec. 20, 1919, one of 12 children born to Paul (Sr.) and Mary (Yelich) Kerpan. Paul was a man of the land, starting farming at an early age. He married Helen Krpan of Bladworth on March 7, 1943. They kept busy with work most of the time, but enjoyed visiting with friends and family and going to the local Sports Days. In 1979, they retired to Outlook where they lived for 17 years. During their retirement, their love of the land transitioned from farming to gardening, and they made time to take a few trips. Due to health issues, they moved to Saskatoon where they lived independently for awhile. Both Helen and Paul spent their last years under the wonderful care of the staff at St. Ann’s Care Home.

Paul is survived by his four children: Karen (Wayne) Jess, Margaret (Ken) Baird, Allan (Melanie) Kerpan and Darrell Kerpan; brothers Martin (Doreen) and Bill (Lillian) Kerpan, 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Paul was predeceased by his loving wife, Helen; granddaughter Danille Kerpan; brothers John, George, Tony, Matt, Joe, Louis; sisters Eva Metheral, Mary Horan and Anne Pavelich.

A Celebration of Paul’s life was held at St. Andrew’s church in Kenaston at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 27, 2017. Arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson. 
For friends so wishing, donations in memory of Paul may be made to the St. Andrew’s Cemetery fund or a charity of their choice.

Bladworth

Fishy business

web-goldfish

Pictured from left, Bret Allan, Keeley Pedersen, Trystan Pedersen, Elise McJannet, Riley Allan and Reggie Heinrich check out some of the contenders during the annual Goldfish Races fundraiser, held at the Bladworth Elks Hall on Feb. 18.

The event is organized annually by the Davidson Kinsmen to support Telemiracle. A fish fry, served by the Elks, was followed by the auctioning of the fish and the races themselves.

The evening also included a hip-hop dance performance by a group from Davidson. They will perform the “Knock Knock” routine on live TV during Telemiracle; the scheduled time is around 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 5.

Organizers reported that $4,280 was raised through the auction, along with a couple hundred more in donations. The dancers will present the cheque for the proceeds during the Telemiracle broadcast.

Bladworth, Obituary

Obituary: Butler, Howard

web-obit-butlerHOWARD E. BUTLER

Howard Eldred Butler passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, November 25, 2016 at Royal University Hospital. Howard is survived by his wife Betty; son Gord (Karen) Butler; daughters Linda (Stan) Schneider and Michelle (Ron) Richards; grandchildren Jennifer (David) Price, Jessica (Geoff) Raycraft, Jenise and Kristina Schneider (fiancé TJ King), Shyla and Addison Richards; two great-grandchildren Aurora and Orion Price; brother Lawrence Butler (Teresa) and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Howard was predeceased by his son Joe Butler; parents Norman and Janet Butler; and siblings Florence, Gertrude, Janet, Art, Clarence, Harold, Ken and Pearl. Howard was born on the family farm in Bladworth, Sask., on April 2, 1932 where he farmed with his father until purchasing land in the Grasswood district south of Saskatoon in 1964. He married Betty in 1969 and they continued on with the family farm both in Saskatoon and Bladworth, until renting out the land in 1994. They fully retired in 2008 aside from a handful of cows that Howard kept in Saskatoon. He was a proud cattle and grain farmer and was always willing to offer advice. Howard enjoyed baseball, hockey and especially curling throughout his lifetime and was a member of the Nutana Curling Club for over 40 years. He would often be spotted behind the glass cheering on family and friends alike, eager to replay the 7th end over a coffee or a cocktail. Howard and Betty moved into Saskatoon in 2012 and recently to Luther Riverside Terrace. Howard will always be lovingly remembered for his welcoming smile and open home whether you were a friend for a day or a lifetime. There will be a viewing on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 from 7:00 -8:00 p.m. at Park Funeral Chapel (311 – 3rd Avenue North). A Celebration of Howard’s Life was held on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at Prairieland Park, Hall B (503 Ruth Street West). Memorial donations in Howard’s memory will be accepted for the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund. Condolences and to share your memories of Howard, visit www.parkfuneral.ca “Obituaries.” Arrangements entrusted to Derryl Hildebrandt, Park Funeral Chapel, 306.244.2103.

Bladworth, Davidson, featured, Sports

A Grey Cup to call their own

Cliff (51, left) and Wayne Shaw (50) pose with their father Edwin "Mud" Shaw after winning the Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Vancouver's Empire Stadium on Nov. 26, 1966.
Cliff (51, left) and Wayne Shaw (50) pose with their father Edwin “Mud” Shaw after winning the Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Vancouver’s Empire Stadium on Nov. 26, 1966.

By Joel van der Veen

BLADWORTH — Being a Roughrider fan in the 1960s was, in the words of Ron Bessey, “basically the way it is now — wild and woolly.”

Five decades into its existence, the team had yet to bring home the Grey Cup, even after reaching the championship eight times.

They’d ended the 1959 season with a 1-15 record, still the worst in the team’s history. After that, there was nowhere to go but up.

The Riders steadily improved through the decade, and the 1966 season was their best in many years — a 9-6-1 record, and a win over Winnipeg in western conference finals.

As they made their way to Vancouver for the Grey Cup final in November, the team knew they were still fighting an uphill battle.

“We were the underdogs,” said outside linebacker Wayne Shaw.

Indeed, the Ottawa Rough Riders were so heavily favoured to win that the TV networks had set up cameras in Ottawa’s dressing room on Saturday afternoon.

But the banner headline on Monday’s Leader-Post told the story: WEST RIDERS BEST.

Saskatchewan had its first Grey Cup with a 29-14 win over Ottawa.

Roughrider history was made on Nov. 26, 1966, and two boys from Bladworth — Wayne and his brother Cliff — were part of it.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 28 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Bladworth, Obituary

Obituary: Cook, Mary Christine

Mary Christine Cook
Mary Christine Cook

COOK, Mary Christine (née Tomlenovich)

Christine, the second youngest and last living offspring of Paul Tomlenovich and Mary Masich, passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016.

Chris was born September 30, 1922 on the family farm near Bladworth, Sask. She attended both Briggs School and later, Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon. Her work career began at the Bay in Saskatoon prior to her move to Toronto at age 26.

On July 20, 1951 she married Samuel George William Cook, a dashing Air Force officer. Following Bill’s passing and after her retirement, she moved to Mississauga where she lived a full life with countless friends, enjoying many activities.

Just prior to her 93rd birthday, she made the decision and then the trip, to return home after being away for 67 years. She arrived in Saskatoon in September 2015 and lived at Trinity Manor where she was treated professionally and kindly by her caregivers. Chris often mentioned that if she knew there was so much love from her nephews and nieces in Saskatchewan, she would have come home long before now!

Christine was predeceased by her husband Bill (1919-1999), her parents Big Paul (1878-1963) and Mother Mary (1885-1953), siblings Catherine (1906-1984), Anne (1907-1999), Emily (1908-2005), Rose (1910-2006), Joseph Nickolas (1911-1919), Lucy (1913-2000), Josephine (1915-2000), Helen (1917-2006), Joseph Lawrence (1920 -1998), Leona (1925-2010); as well as extended family members, too numerous to mention. She is survived by several nephews and nieces.

At Christine’s request, there will be no funeral. She will be laid to rest alongside her family at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Kenaston.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson.