By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The space is still under construction, but Riverbend Co-op is ready to serve liquor shoppers at the Home and Ag Centre in Davidson.

Monday, July 3 was the first day of operations for the Co-op’s liquor retail outlet, which now covers roughly 1,800 square feet of floor space inside the Railway Street business.

Renovations at the centre have been underway for several months to make room for a selection of beer, wine and spirits.

As of last week, construction was not yet complete, as employees were awaiting the installation of the walk-in cooler, measuring about 540 square feet.

Operations manager Tim Broadis said the refrigeration unit was expected to arrive during the coming week.

“I’m guessing in two weeks we’ll have it up and running,” he said.

When finished, the cooler will also feature nine doors filled with single-serve products.

Last week, Broadis said, employees had received and stocked between 500 and 600 SKUs (stock keeping units). Once the anticipated stock has arrived, that number will be closer to 1,000 SKUs.

Riverbend Co-op’s ability to purchase products directly through vendors opens up the possibility of specials and promotions.

Broadis said they’re aiming to offer a variety of Saskatchewan-made products, and they’re also open to input from shoppers about what they’d like to see.

“We’re still feeling out our customers,” he said Wednesday. “If you don’t see something that you think we should carry, let us know.”

For the full story, please see the July 10 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

In 2016 Canada welcomed 320,932 immigrants. Joseph and Valerie Lopez are some of those immigrants. They came to Canada to work, to send money home to the Philippines to support their family. In Canada — Davidson in particular — they found a caring community and opportunities. They found their future. Now they just need to bring their kids here.

By Tara de Ryk

DAVIDSON — When she was a little girl living in the Philippines, Valerie Anne Lopez says she dreamed of growing up in Canada.

It seemed like a fairy tale place where common folk — not just rich people — had bathtubs in their homes.

Canada is also a place where the habit of buying a carton of milk is a daily occurrence, not a carefully considered expense, a big reward that consumes a big chunk of a daily wage.

“My childhood was difficult. I had to work and earn something or we couldn’t afford to go to school,” Valerie says.

She watched her father come and go. He worked as an international seafarer for 13 years.

She recalls going to the airport to meet her father’s flight home. Sometimes he didn’t arrive on the much-anticipated plane and she’d be heartbroken.

Valerie did get to come to Canada. She arrived in December to join her husband Joseph Glenn, who’s been living and working in Canada since 2014.

Before meeting Valerie at the Saskatoon airport, Joseph stopped into Midway Flowers to buy a bouquet of roses, explaining he was picking up his wife, whom he hadn’t seen for nearly two years.

Their happy reunion was bitter sweet because their three young children David, 9, Beatrice, 4, and Georgina, 3, remained in the Philippines where Joseph’s mother is taking care of them.

Joseph’s been apart from his children for nearly three years.

“Our situation is not that unique because every other immigrant has this story,” Joseph says.

A common story for immigrants, perhaps, but it’s one difficult to imagine for most Canadians who get to tuck their kids in bed each night.

For the full story, part of our Canada 150 special, please see the June 26 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today. 

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — As hundreds of people hit the streets of Davidson on Sunday afternoon, they had a vivid illustration of why they were there.

Erin Gust, a brain tumour patient and the organizer of Sunday’s run-walk-bike event, was among the walkers at the Movement of Hope.

“The 1K was a little harder than I thought it was going to be,” she said afterward.

Gust, who has undergone surgery and radiation treatment and is now in the midst of chemotherapy, was easy to spot with her shaven head.

Her condition also affects her walk, giving her a noticeable limp. The tumour’s location on the left side of her motor strip means it affects the right side of her body.

In spite of this, Gust wore a smile for much of the day, clearly thrilled at the turnout and the results.

The June 11 event raised around $22,000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, which provides support for medical research and also offers programs and resources for patients and their families.

“This is amazing,” Gust said as she surveyed the crowd gathered in the auditorium of Davidson Town Hall.

She was joined by much of her family, including her husband Billy and their children William, Eva and Georgia, and her parents Stuart and Pat Dougan.

Participants had the option of walking, biking or running on either a 1-km, 3-km or 5-km route. Arrows were painted on Davidson’s streets to guide them in the right direction.

Registration was held in the town hall auditorium, with the crowd moving outside to the starting line around 2 p.m.

Gust and her family used the town bell to mark the start of the run, with dozens of blue balloons being released at the same time.

“Our love is in the air today, and that’s what our balloons signify,” said organizer Karen Reich.

For the full story, please see the June 19 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Thirteen years ago, they entered Davidson Elementary School as blank books, stories waiting to be written.

Now, 2,275 school days later, they’re ready for the next step.

As valedictorian Andrew Read addressed his classmates and an audience of more than 300 last weekend, he reminded them of how far they’ve come and the highs and lows they’ve faced over the years.

“This is where we first solved one plus one, and then a few years later, we learned to solve for x, and there isn’t even any number,” he recalled.

Though the graduates are excited for what’s to come, Read noted the importance of the foundation they’ve received: “The beginning is the most important part.”

On June 10, Davidson School honoured the 17 students who make up the class of 2017, holding its annual graduation exercises in the gymnasium.

Arlene Low served as mistress of ceremonies. She donned a red-and-white striped hat for the occasion, mimicking the Cat in the Hat, and read all her lines in rhyme, a la Dr. Seuss.

Paulette Killoh introduced the graduates one by one, while vice-principal Cathy Rettger and trustee John Collins presented the diplomas.

Geena Heinrich sang “O Canada,” followed by the principal’s remarks.

Jason Low recalled his own graduation ceremony (HOW MANY YEARS AGO) and talked about the “bubble” that surrounds students as they make their way through school.

“Inside this bubble you feel invincible,” he said. “You feel like the buble is going to be with you your whole life.”

Inevitably, though, the bubble bursts, and graduates must find their own paths, he said.

He offered some advice to the grads and also recognized their efforts, as well as the contributions of parents and staff who guided them to this point.

Concluding his speech, Low made note of Murad Al-Katib, who graduated from Davidson High School in 1990, and who had won the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 award the same day as the grad.

“Sitting here on this stage today, anything is possible,” said Low, following a round of applause from the audience.

A highlight of the ceremony was a brief presentation made by Shawn Spencer and Barrett Prettyshield, two band council members from Carry the Kettle First Nation, located an hour east of Regina.

They came to present a colourful star blanket to graduate Jade Thomson, a member of their band, in honour of her achievement.

“We jumped on our horses,” joked Spencer, drawing laughs from the audience. “I think the only business I’ve ever had in Davidson was grabbing a Teen Burger and heading to Saskatoon . . . (but) it’s a beautiful town.”

Speaking later to the Leader, Spencer said the council has made a practice of recognizing its members for their achievements at various levels.

He expressed their appreciation to the school and community for providing Thomson with her education.

For the full story, please see the June 19 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.