Regrettably Jerry took his life Sept. 2, 2017, with heavy hearts we announce his passing.
Born Feb. 23, 1959 in Middle Musquodoboit, N.S., at age 15 Jerry moved out west. Jerry and Cyndi settled in Davidson, Sask., and opened “Second Hand Rose Restoration,” rebuilding and restoring antique cars. Many beautiful cars that he restored were sold all over the world from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. He is survived by parents Stanley and Violet (Reid) Bezanson, Aylesford, N.S.; children: daughter Naomi Harraq and family, Quebec; sons Ricky Bezanson and family, New Brunswick, Trevor Cloutier and Ryan Cloutier, Alberta; his wife Cyndi, Alberta; and seven siblings. Predeceased by three brothers.
A Memorial Service will be held for Jerry at 10:30 a.m., Sept. 23rd, 2017, at First Baptist Church, Moose Jaw, Sask. For those so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Jerry may be directed to the Davidson Fire Department (checks payable to the Town of Davidson) or to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Interment will take place back home in Nova Scotia.
Three buildings were destroyed in a fire that broke out Sept. 1 in a farmyard 7 km south of Davidson.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — Many questions remain unanswered following a massive Friday night fire that levelled three buildings on a farmyard south of Davidson.
Local firefighters responded to the call at 11:40 p.m. on Sept. 1.
They remained on site for the next 18 hours, fighting to bring the fire under control and preventing its spread to the rest of the yard.
The fire destroyed a house and two barns in the yard, located seven kilometres south of Davidson on the east side of Highway 11.
Jerry Bezanson, who owned the property and lived there, is believed to have died in the fire, though officials would not confirm this last week.
The dramatic blaze caught the attention of highway travellers and local residents, and could reportedly be seen as far away as Aylesbury.
Police were monitoring the yard the following day, maintaining site security while the investigation continued.
The remains of multiple vintage vehicles could be seen underneath the wreckage of the long barn that dominated the yard.
Fire chief Clayton Schilling said he could not provide further details on the incident, as it is subject to an ongoing criminal investigation.
Members of the Craik RCMP detachment also responded to the fire, along with additional investigative units.
Officers confirmed to the Leader that three structures were involved, but would not confirm any further details. No details were provided on the cause or catalyst for the fire. Continue reading Local man believed dead in farm fire→
A strong Davidson contingent attended the premiere of “Changing the Pulse of the Province” in Saskatoon on Aug. 30. Pictured are (from left) Serra, Murad and Michelle Al-Katib, Vanna Gay Shaw, Angela and Jason Shaw, Monica and Gerrid Gust, Arlene and Jason Low, Corla Rokochy, Betty Crowley and Stephanie Prpick-Boss.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — Murad Al-Katib was on the edge of his seat as he waited for the movie to start.
And with good reason: the film he was about to watch was telling his own story.
“Changing the Pulse of the Province,” a 27-minute documentary, premiered Aug. 30 at the Persephone Theatre at Saskatoon’s Remai Arts Centre.
The film was the third entry in the Popcorn and Entrepreneurship series, produced by the North Saskatoon Business Association.
The movie tells the story of Al-Katib, who was born and raised in Davidson, and the company he founded, AGT Food and Ingredients.
The company distributes lentils, chickpeas and other crops to more than 120 countries internationally, generating $2 billion a year in revenue.
Though he was interviewed extensively for the movie, Al-Katib said he had no say in the final cut and had to wait for the premiere like everyone else.
In the last year, Al-Katib has received two international awards, beginning with the Business for Peace Award, presented in a gala in Oslo, Norway on May 16.
On June 10, he accepted the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 award at a ceremony in Monaco.
This string of events may have given some the perception that Al-Katib actively seeks the spotlight, but he said the truth is actually the opposite of that.
“I don’t like the accolades and all of that all the time,” he told the Leader, characterizing himself as a humble, hard-working guy who “just did my job.”
Local Air Cadet Sgt. Emily Jones (second from right) spent six weeks at the Cadet Flying Training Centre in Gimli, Man.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — As they turn 16, many kids are aiming to pass their driver’s test and hit the road for the first time.
But Sgt. Jacob Heinrich found himself at the controls of a slightly different vehicle.
Heinrich, a Davidson resident, was at the Cadet Flying Training Centre (CFTC) in Gimli, Man., training on the Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider.
On Aug. 3, the day he turned 16, he went for his first solo flight, after weeks of flying with instructors.
“It kind of hits you and you’re like, ‘I’m up here alone,’” Heinrich recalled. “I’m not sure I know how to explain it . . . It feels quite cool.”
“It’s pretty awesome when you’re up in the air,” said his comrade, Sgt. Emily Jones of Craik. “It’s like nobody else is around.”
The two cadets attended the centre from mid-July to late August to train on the glider.
Both Heinrich and Jones began their Cadet careers with 553 Sherlock Squadron in Davidson, later transferring to 40 Snowbird Squadron in Moose Jaw after 553 was re-organized due to low enrolment.
They began the application process for the flying training centre last fall, which included ground school, a qualifying exam, and interviews with a selection board.
A total of 65 Cadets attended the centre this summer, most of them coming from the Prairie region.
“It was a very action-packed summer,” said Heinrich.
For the full story, please see the Sept. 4 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Jacob Schilling and teammates take part in an agility drill at a senior football practice in Davidson on Aug. 28.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — An uncertain week gave way to optimism on Thursday as Davidson coaches agreed to move forward on another season of senior football.
Early last week, the coming season appeared to be in jeopardy with nine or 10 players showing up at the first two practices, well short of the minimum number required for a six-man team.
But Thursday’s practice drew 14 players, said coach Jason Low, adding that he’s also waiting to hear from “maybe a few more who are on the fence.”
“We decided to give it a go,” he said Friday in a phone call from Outlook, where he was attending a coaching convention hosted by Football Saskatchewan.
The Davidson Raiders will begin their season with a home game against Lanigan on Friday, Sept. 8, at 4 p.m.
The team plays in the 2A league in a conference that also includes Assiniboia, Preeceville, Watrous and Wynyard. (Watson was originally part of the league but had to drop out due to low player numbers.)
Davidson’s coaching staff this year includes Low, John Jamieson and Garrett Bailey, along with Greg Bennett, a new addition to the staff at Davidson School. (Bailey and Bennett are also leading the school’s junior football program.)
Kenaston principal Greg McJannet is joining the coaching staff of the Outlook High School Blues, where his son is on the roster. Trevor Ouellette, whose son Addison graduated last year, also decided to retire from coaching football after last season.
The Raiders have a co-op agreement with three area schools, allowing players from Craik, Kenaston and Loreburn to play on the team.
The senior team met three times last week and will soon transition into its regular schedule of early-morning practices.
Low attributed the low initial turnout to a couple of factors, including some miscommunication. For instance, he said some out-of-town parents were unaware of the co-op arrangement and didn’t know their kids were eligible to play.
As well, some potential players have chosen to focus on one specific sport like basketball.
Eight players graduated from Grade 12 last year, including much of the team’s offensive core.
This year Davidson also has to contend with a small Grade 12 class, meaning fewer potential players.
“We’re kind of back to our drawing board this year,” said Low, calling it something of an “anomaly year.”
While the coach wasn’t sure about what the season would hold, he said he’s looking forward to it, adding that the players have demonstrated their enthusiasm and willingness to work hard.
Last year Davidson finished the regular season in third place out of four teams in their conference with two wins and four losses. They lost 49-12 to Assiniboia in the first round of playoffs.
