By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Fitness buffs 15 and under will have to look beyond the Communiplex for their gym fixes.

A recent change in policy means that younger users are barred from the Town of Davidson’s fitness centre, with the exception of a handful of teens with existing memberships.

Recreation director Trevor Ouellette visited town council as a delegate during its Sept. 20 meeting to offer some clarification on the policy change.

Previously, the town had allowed the sale of gym memberships to users under the age of 16 as long as they had supervision from a parent or guardian every time they used the facility.

Following discussions with the town office staff, Ouellette said they decided to change the policy about a month ago.

As a result, gym memberships are now only available to users 16 and up.

Ouellette said a handful of users under the age of 16 continue to hold memberships, having been “grandfathered in,” but they are still bound by the rules.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 3 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Renovations to Dr. Lang’s office in Davidson are on hold as the town waits for a priority list from office staff.

The building, which first opened to serve local patients in 1976, is in need of various repairs and upgrades, ranging from a leaky front door to improved soundproofing.

Councillors discussed the matter at the Davidson town council meeting on Sept. 20, where some expressed frustration over the continued delay.

“It’s something that’s been on our radar for the past year,” said Coun. Audrey Hamm. “There’s so much to be done.”

Administrator Gary Edom said the doctor’s staff had noted various concerns about the building but had not given the town a list of priority items.

He said he had spoken to a local contractor about replacing some outdated plumbing fixtures but had yet to receive a response.

Mayor Clayton Schneider suggested that the town should ask the doctor’s staff to identify the top three priorities and seek quotes for those items.

Coun. Tyler Alexander agreed, saying, “I think that should come from Dr. Lang . . . The building’s there for him.”

“We need to get the ball rolling, so that we’re not saying something and doing something very different,” said Schneider.

Receptionist Corey Eddie said Wednesday that the office staff has identified some areas of concern, but a formal list has not been drafted.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 3 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Tyler Alexander threw his hat in the ring on Wednesday afternoon, and minutes later he was Davidson’s new mayor-elect.

“It didn’t look like anybody else was going to run,” he said the next day. “I thought I’d step up and try to do the job the best I can.”

As of Thursday, 12 people had put their names forward as nominees for Davidson town council, falling just short of the record set in 2006, when 13 names were on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls on Oct. 26 to elect six councillors.

No vote will be taken for mayor, though, as Alexander was the sole nominee and was thus elected by acclamation.

He has served one term as a town councillor, and also served as deputy mayor for roughly the past year. In that role, he chaired several council meetings, in part or in whole, in the absence of mayor Clayton Schneider.

Alexander said he’s pleased with what the past council accomplished over four years and wants to continue in that direction.

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Greg Ottenbreit gave local nurses his undivided attention during a meeting at a Davidson restaurant on Tuesday.

The province’s minister for rural and remote health met with the nurses for an hour and a half to discuss staffing levels at Davidson Health Centre.

Speaking to the Leader, Ottenbreit described the visit as a “very positive meeting with a lot of good information” and said the nurses expressed their position well.

The nurses went public last month with their concerns, saying the centre is understaffed and arguing that the situation is putting patients at risk.

Several nurses visited Davidson town council as a delegation in August, asking for council’s support as they pushed for increased staffing.

Some patients and their families have also spoken out since then, detailing how service disruptions at the centre resulted in them being sent home or transferred to other facilities.

The nurses had written letters to several government officials, including Ottenbreit, who responded by arranging a visit to discuss the situation in person.

The minister said he had visited Davidson Health Centre last year and spoken with some of the nurses then, but this was the first time he had met with them on this matter.

Ottenbreit said the conversation centered around staffing levels and the nurses’ desire to have a higher complement of registered nurses (RNs) working at the centre, but he provided few details.

Asked if the nurses’ concerns had merit, he said he hasn’t personally been present at the centre during peak operating times, though he understands their position.

“I take the nurses at what they’re communicating,” he said. “We take that seriously.”

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.