Category Archives: Craik

Bladworth, Craik, Davidson, featured

Tactile history tour: Students get up-close look at Wilkins sculptures

Don Wilkins poses for a photo with a group of students at the surveyor statue in Chamberlain.
Don Wilkins poses for a photo with a group of students at the surveyor statue in Chamberlain.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — History and design are important, sure, but how many sculptures were built with climbing in mind?

Students from Davidson School had a hands-on encounter with the statues built by local craftsman Don Wilkins last week, taking a tour from Chamberlain to Bladworth to see the displays along Highway 11.

At each stop they got off their bus to view the sculptures. Many students took the opportunity to get as close as possible — scaling the buffalo hunter’s gun, dangling from the ox’s horn or climbing into the Red River carts.

Wilkins, who joined them for the tour on June 17, was clearly delighted with the experience.

The sculptures were built big to make them visible to highway drivers, and to allow people to immerse themselves in history.

“I don’t mind people touching my work,” he said at one point, telling the students later, “I’m flattered by this whole event.”

Students from grades 4 and 7 took part in the bus tour, organized by staff members Correne Pedersen, Arlene Low and Garrett Bailey, with Darwin Taylor driving the bus.

They made five stops, viewing the surveyor at Chamberlain, the ox and cart at Aylesbury, the buffalo hunter at Craik, the buffalo at Girvin and the Louis Riel statue at Bladworth.

For the full story and photos, please see the June 27 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured, Sports

Para athletes bring tour to Craik

Craik student Quinn Nielson takes a spin in a handcycle under the guidance of former Paralympic athlete Colette Bourgonje.
Craik student Quinn Nielson takes a spin in a handcycle under the guidance of former Paralympic athlete Colette Bourgonje.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — As he took control of a handcycle for the first time, the look on Quinn Nielson’s face was equal parts hard work and joy.

His arms pumped back and forth as he manoeuvred around the gym at Craik School using the hand-propelled, three-wheeled vehicle.

It didn’t take long for Quinn to get the hang of it, and soon he was picking up speed, making sharper turns as he continued doing loops of the room.

His sister Maren — like him, a Grade 12 student at Craik — also had a go at the handcycle, with every bit as much enthusiasm as her brother had.

“I need one of those,” she said afterward, grinning widely. “I don’t know how good this is going to go over with Mom.”

The handcycle was brought to Craik School on Tuesday by a group of athletes headed across the province on the Saskatchewan Para-Sport Tour Dream Relay.

Between June 8 and 17, the team of 14 athletes travelled from Prince Albert to Regina to promote parasports and physical activity in general, and to recruit new athletes.

“Sport changes lives, and we’re having a ball,” said organizer Colette Bourgonje, “and we want to change other people’s lives as well.”

The 363-kilometre tour included stops at six schools — Queen Mary in Prince Albert, Duck Lake, Warman, Hanley, Craik and Lumsden.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, Davidson, featured, Hanley, Kenaston, Loreburn

Best of the best face off at provincial track meet

Loreburn's Shane Lafontaine competes in the senior boys 100-m hurdles at the provincial track meet in Regina.
Loreburn’s Shane Lafontaine competes in the senior boys 100-m hurdles at the provincial track meet in Regina.

By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — Local athletes pitted their skills against competitors from across the province last weekend at Regina’s Douglas Park.

Students from Craik, Davidson, Hanley, Kenaston and Loreburn were among the participants at the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association’s provincial track and field championships on June 3 and 4.

Paulette Killoh, co-ordinator for Davidson School’s track and field program, said she was proud of the five competitors from her school, some of whom achieved personal bests.

“We need to realize that we’re competing against students and athletes that train year-round,” she said Wednesday.

Killoh said she encouraged students to set their own goals, adding that many of them followed through and were happy with the results.

She gave the example of Jacob Schilling, who competed in two running events in the junior boys division, performing well despite suffering from a cold.

“He and Derek (Schmiedge) trained all year with the goal of reaching provincials,” she said. “It’s got to be their goal, and they work for it.”

Derek Schmiedge and Clay Murfitt both competed at provincials for the first time in the midget boys division.

Schmiedge set a personal best in the 3,000-metre run, beating his time from the district meet by 15 seconds, while Murfitt earned an impressive 11th place in the high jump.

Emily Read also achieved a personal best in the midget girls long jump, beating her previous record by 23 centimetres.

Ben Nykiforuk returned to provincials for the final time as Davidson’s only senior competitor, making a solid showing in the triple jump event.

Jadyn Reiber of Hanley was the only district student to earn a medal, taking bronze in the midget girls pole vault.

For the full story and complete local results, please see the June 13 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured

Fraud charges total more than $41,000

web-craikBy Joel van der Veen

MOOSE JAW — Fraud charges against Craik’s former town administrator now total more than $41,000 in misspent funds, according to recent court documents.

The lawyer representing Jeff Murray said Wednesday that she and her client are still reviewing the details of dozens of fraud charges laid against him.

“It’s really early days right now,” Gail Wartman told reporters at the provincial courthouse in Moose Jaw. “We had just received disclosure about a week ago.”

Wartman is representing Jeffrey Todd Murray, 41, who worked as the town administrator for Craik between 2010 and 2014.

Thirty-one charges of fraud were laid against him in March, each of them related to personal purchases allegedly made using a Royal Bank Visa card issued in the town’s name. Two additional fraud charges followed in mid-May.

Police have accused Murray of defrauding the town “by deceit, falsehood or other fraduluent means” to the tune of $41,079.81, according to court documents obtained by the Leader.

Murray, who continues to reside in Craik, was scheduled to make his first court appearance in relation to the charges in Moose Jaw on Wednesday.

He was absent that morning as his lawyer asked for the matter to be adjourned to allow for full review of the material.

Crown prosecutor Brian Hendrickson said he did not object to the adjournment, and Justice D. J. Kovatch granted approval of the request.

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

Craik, featured

Craik students dance for the cure

Dancers spin in a circle during "Flower," the opening performance at the Craik School of Dance recital on May 7.
Dancers spin in a circle during “Flower,” the opening performance at the Craik School of Dance recital on May 7.

 

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Joining the fight against breast cancer was the theme of the Craik School of Dance’s sixth annual recital last weekend.

Dance instructor Amber K-D Vibert said she was inspired by the stories of women in her own family, including her mother, who has survived two separate bouts with the disease.

“I was a teenager the first time my mom went through it,” said Vibert, who added that she wanted the recital to have an uplifting message, rather than focusing on tragedy and sadness.

The 10 members of the Craik School of Dance provided a series of upbeat and inspirational performances during the 45-minute program, presented on May 7 in the gymnasium at Craik School.

“Dance for a Cure” included 14 routines in a variety of genres, including lyrical, tap, jazz, hip hop and modern dance.

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

Craik, Obituary

Obituary: Wildfong, Elaine

Elaine Wildfong
Elaine Wildfong

WILDFONG, Elaine Susan (nee Adelman)
May 1, 1940 — May 2, 2016

It is with great sadness and much love that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Elaine Wildfong of Wetaskiwin, on Monday, May 2, 2016, at the age of 76 years.

She is survived by her loving family: children Wendy (Bob) Courtepatte, Terry Wildfong, Donna (Rodney) Bleakney and Doug (Audrey) Wildfong; grandchildren T.J. Wildfong, Chad (Nicole) Wildfong, Evan Dux, Sarah (Jesse) Hutchings, Dustin Gowler, Corey Gowler and Ian Wildfong; great-grandchildren Payten Jaime, Lincoln, Emma, Eli and Bobby; as well as many friends and extended family.

Elaine was predeceased by her husband James; parents Christian Jr. and Susanna Adelman; brothers Jim and Bob; brothers-in-law Lyle Hardy and Byron Berglund.

A memorial service was held.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First United Church (5115 51 Avenue, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, T9A 0V3) or to the Volunteer Association of the Cross Cancer Institute, care of the Alberta Cancer Foundation (710-10123 99 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 3H1), in memory of Elaine Wildfong.

Baker Funeral Chapel, Wetaskiwin
(888) 752-2501 or (780) 352-2501
Condolences: www.womboldfuneralhomes.com