Category Archives: Davidson

Davidson

Staffing increase at health centre made permanent

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Increased staffing levels at the Davidson Health Centre are here to stay.

Three new positions added last year on a temporary basis have been made permanent, management confirmed to the Leader recently.

Gayle Riendeau, acting president and CEO of Heartland Health Region, said that the trial period for those positions was extended in the summer.

Ultimately, she added, “we came to the conclusion that the enhancements we had made were meeting the needs at the site.”

The “staffing enhancements” were among the measures introduced by the health region last year with the goal of improving the centre’s efficiency, safety and quality of care.

The three additions included a licensed practical nurse (LPN) working on the night shift — 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

The region also created an assistant head nurse position, working three eight-hour shifts per week, or a total of 24 hours each week.

Finally, a combined lab/X-ray technician joined the staff for eight hours per week.

The three positions were announced in October of 2016, when they were filled on a temporary basis.

In the months that followed, the region continued to hold regular meetings between staff and management to discuss and address concerns.

“We’ve found it to be beneficial . . . in helping to resolve issues,” Riendeau said, adding that the meetings would continue, as would the strive to keep improving service and outcomes at the facility. “You’re never done making quality improvements.”

This past August, management again met with staff and the union local representative to inform them that the positions would be made permanent.

Riendeau said the positions were reposted with the new terms and it was her understanding as of mid-September that “they’ve all been filled.”

Local nurses went public with their concerns over staffing levels at the centre in August 2016, after the region chose not to fill a vacant relief nursing position there.

In a visit to Davidson town council, several nurses reported that the situation at the centre had become unsafe, posing a risk to the safety and health of both patients and staff.

In the weeks that followed, several patients also spoke out, describing how service interruptions at the centre resulted in them being sent home or transferred to other facilities.

In September, local staff met with rural and remote health minister Greg Ottenbreit in Davidson. The three temporary positions were announced the following month. Continue reading Staffing increase at health centre made permanent →

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: Kenny, Paula

Paula Susanna Kenny

Paula Susanna Kenny was born on June 4, 1916 to Jules and Marie LePoudre, and passed away peacefully on Sept. 7, 2017 at the age of 101. S

he was predeceased by her husband Harold; grandson Lyndon; great-grandson Hayden; sisters Mary, Andrea and Susan; brothers Andre, Paul, Octave and Clifford; and young brothers Andre and Octave in Belgium.

Paula will be lovingly remembered by her children Jean (Bob) Wilson, Gerald (Pat) Kenny, Marlene Chanski and Roy (Corinne) Kenny, 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, sister Leona Gartner and many nieces and nephews.

Paula loved working in her yard and won awards for her beautiful flowers. She planted a garden every year until the age of 99, and many friends and relatives enjoyed her fresh vegetables. Gramma was a cheerleader at many of her grandchildren’s sporting events, and she had a never-ending supply of ice cream, pizza pops and toonies for them. Your memory will live forever in our hearts.

We will dearly miss you, Mother, Gramma and Great-Gramma.

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: Manz, John

John Manz

With heavy hearts we are so sad to announce the passing of John Manz on Sept. 21, 2017.

John fought and hung on as long as he could but it eventually overtook him. He passed away at the Davidson Health Centre with his family by his side.

John was born in Davidson on April 2, 1932. He attended Campbell School and after completing his schooling he started farming and working on the oil rigs. On March 4, 1955 he married Nola Wightman and together they bought the Manz family farm. It was a busy farm that was located near most of his brothers and sisters. His family always helped each other out whether it was butchering, moving machinery, fixing farm equipment . . . they seemed to be there for each other. In dad’s wallet he had a piece of paper with all his brothers’ and sisters’ names, birthdates and when they passed away.

John enjoyed all outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, playing ball, and especially the Manz Family Reunions. He always asked about all his nieces and nephews and took special interest in how they were doing. John was very social and enjoyed being on the go and helping his neighbours, friends and family. He liked to tease and joke around with everyone. He looked forward to having company and a good game of cards. Dad loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and always helped out anyway he could. His many acts of kindness and unconditional support will be hugely missed.

John would want all his family acknowledged: wife Nola Manz; daughters Glenda (Everett) Chester and Noreen (Wayne) Obrigewitsch; son Owen (Mel) Manz; grandchildren Stacy (Josh) Pohlman and Jana Chester and Leslie Chester, Mitchell (Stephanie) Obrigewitsch and Kendra (Chris) Kostyk and Caitlin Obrigewitsch, Justin Manz and Jascia Manz; great-grandchildren Weston and Rylie Pohlman, Ophelia and Bronson Obrigewitsch and Oliver Kostyk; sisters-in-law Joan Manz and Marj Wightman; and lots of nieces and nephews, too many to mention.

John was predeceased by parents John and Caroline Manz; parents-in-law Mary and Ken Wightman; brothers George, Conrad, Leonard, Jim, Jake, Martin, Walter and Eddie; sisters Alma Campbell and Erna Arend; brothers-in-law John Campbell and Joe Arend; and sisters-in-law Elsie, Emma, Joyce, Jackie, Madeline, Shirley and Helen.

A celebration of life will be held at Noreen and Wayne’s farm with immediate family. Memorial donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Davidson Health Centre. The family placed their trust in Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson.

Davidson, featured

Victim’s mom: tougher action needed on dangerous dogs

Danielle Sweet and her son Dominic stand outside their home in Davidson.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Without another word, Danielle Sweet dropped her phone, ran out the door and hopped in the car.

There was no stopping her.

She’d been told her son, 12-year-old Dominic, had been bit by a dog. For the moment, she didn’t need to know anything else.

“He’s my baby,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew he got bit.”

Dominic had been playing in the yard outside a friend’s house on Grant Street when someone opened the door, allowing the dog inside — a pit bull-mastiff cross, about two years old — to slip out.

Within seconds, the dog had chased Dominic out of the yard. A man quickly managed to pin the dog, but not before the damage was done.

By the time his mother arrived, a neighbour had driven Dominic to the Davidson Health Centre. He had been bitten twice — once on his upper leg, and a second, deeper bite on his right arm, just below his elbow.

Danielle said her son was treated by Dr. Lang, receiving multiple stitches, inside and out.

More than a month after the Aug. 15 incident, Dominic’s arm is healing, slowly but surely.

“It only hurt for the first couple of days,” he said last week, pulling back his sleeve to reveal the fading but still visible scar.

Danielle said she’s still frustrated and angry about what happened, as well as what she called a slow response by local officials.

“I don’t want people to get hurt,” she said. “It’s not right. If they can’t control their animals, then they shouldn’t have them.”

A number of recent dog attacks have prompted Davidson town council to revisit the town’s animal control bylaw.

Town councillors agreed that the bylaw should be revised to allow faster action on the town’s part when an animal is deemed a threat.

Speaking during Tuesday’s council meeting, Coun. Gord Cross said he’d like to see it strengthened, to “put some teeth in it.”

His colleagues agreed, including Coun. Jessica Foster, who said, “I have zero tolerance for that in a community that’s this size.”

Assistant administrator Donna Bessey told council that town employees have to adhere to the animal control bylaw when a complaint is received about a potentially dangerous animal.

This often requires a hearing, attended by a judge, to determine whether or not the animal in question is dangerous.

The process must be followed unless the animal attacks a person or another domestic animal, in which case the owner is guilty of an offense.

“We are doing what we can,” Bessey told council, adding that she wanted to see changes made “so we can move swifter on it.” Continue reading Victim’s mom: tougher action needed on dangerous dogs →

Davidson, featured

Town, Kinsmen reap rewards from canola crop

Juri Klotz, a technician at Western Sales in Davidson, is operating this combine that’s straight-cutting the canola crop on the Town of Davidson’s pivot land. Western Sales and Davidson Kinsmen completed the harvest on the community project Sept. 15. Proceeds from the crop will be split between the Kinsmen and the Town of Davidson.

By Tara de Ryk

DAVIDSON — Canola has paid off for the Town of Davidson and for Davidson Kinsmen.

Yields were about 44 bushels to the acre, according to results of the 2017 harvest of the town’s irrigation pivot land, which wrapped up Sept. 15.

The crop made a profit, proceeds of which — about $50,000 — will be split between the Kinsmen and the town.

“This year was fantastic,” said Rob Warkentin, a FieldSmart agrologist with Western Sales in Davidson.

For seven years Warkentin’s been overseeing the agronomy on the town land, which is a joint initiative of Western Sales, Davidson Kinsmen and the Town of Davidson that began in 2011.

It’s become a sort of science project for him and the rest of the team behind the community initiative. Continue reading Town, Kinsmen reap rewards from canola crop →

Davidson, featured

Coffee Break fundraiser marks 20th year

Marcia Palmer and Maurice Merkosky, playing as Two for the Show, provide entertainment during Coffee Break at the Davidson Seniors Centre on Wednesday.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The numbers are staggering: 564,000 Canadians living with dementia, and 25,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Looking over the crowd gathered at the Davidson Seniors Centre, Sandra Zoerb said, “There wouldn’t be one person in this room that is not touched by dementia.”

As the reach of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continues to grow, Zoerb said it’s crucial to make sure patients, their caregivers and families are connected to the support that is available.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Coffee Break fundraiser, organized annually by the “Forget-Me-Nots” in support of the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.

About 30 people attended a tea at the Davidson Seniors Centre on Wednesday, featuring baked goods, drinks and entertainment.

Local bakers make hundreds of cookies for the fundraiser, said Zoerb, adding, “Then they come and they buy them back.”

The same day, plates of cookies are distributed to businesses and offices around town as a means of soliciting donations.

Lois Sarich said they distributed around 65 plates this year, receiving around $1,700 in donations in return.

For most of the last 20 years, the Davidson committee has been the top fundraiser in the province. In that time they have raised a total of roughly $23,000. Continue reading Coffee Break fundraiser marks 20th year →