Category Archives: Davidson

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: McNabb, Willard

Willard McNabb
Willard McNabb

McNabb, Willard Harvey
October 8, 1931 — July 14, 2016

Willard passed away peacefully at the age of 84 at the Davidson Hospital. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Norma Patricia (Holder) and their children Colleen Couldwell, Kim McNabb (Jeannine) and Lorna Bezaire (Gerry); grandchildren Catherine Stephens (Austin), Ryan Couldwell (Annie Marie), Colin Couldwell (Kerry), Ashley McNabb, Brayden McNabb, Cara McNabb, Dean McNabb, Shae Bezaire, Erin Bezaire and Jackson Bezaire; great-grandchildren Mason and Elliot Stephens and Sage Couldwell.

Willard was predeceased by father Victor, mother Viola, sister Evelyn, brother Carman and son-in-law John Couldwell.

Willard enjoyed family, being at the farm and music. He was independent and enjoyed life right up until he left us because of a sudden illness.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at the Davidson United Church. Interment to follow at the Davidson Cemetery.

If people wish to make donations on Willard’s behalf, they can give to their local charity of choice.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Lang and all of the staff at Davidson Health Centre, including the EMS.

Arrangements in care of Todd Lockwood at Hanson’s Funeral Home 306-567-2020.

Davidson, featured

Mother Nature flexes her muscles

A grain bin rolled across Highway 11 and collided with the rest stop building near the Giant Coffee Pot.
A grain bin rolled across Highway 11 and collided with the rest stop building near the Giant Coffee Pot.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A severe summer storm hit Davidson and area Sunday night, cutting power to thousands of customers, knocking down trees and damaging a number of homes and businesses.

The storm’s stay was brief — rolling through around midnight and clearing before long — but residents were coping with its effects for days afterward.

Public works foreman Doug Torrie said Thursday that he and his staff had been busy since Monday morning, clearing fallen trees and branches, cutting them up and carting them off in the garbage truck.

“We wanted to get the main streets open up first,” he said, explaining that a fallen tree blocking Grant Street near Second Street was their top priority.

The crew of six also had to clean up trees blocking roads at the Davidson campground, and by Thursday they were working at the cemetery.

Despite working continuously, Torrie said he and his staff were having a hard time keeping up with demand and still had plenty of work ahead of them.

“We’re working on it as fast as we can,” he said.

Heather Johnson, a spokesperson for SaskPower, said roughly 2,800 customers in Davidson and area were left without power when the storm struck just after midnight on Monday morning.

A fallen tree branch that severed a power line on Olds Place was to blame for the outage, said Johnson.

It was a busy night for SaskPower employees, dealing with similar situations across multiple regions.

“They got things back as quickly and safely as they could,” said Johnson.

She said power was restored around 2:45 a.m., although some customers reported having experienced continued outages for several hours afterward.

Much of the surrounding area saw similar outages due to the storm. Downed poles caused an extended outage for customers in Watrous and district, including Imperial, Simpson, Liberty, Penzance and Holdfast.

Customers in the Lake Diefenbaker district were also without power early Monday morning, including Loreburn, Elbow and the surrounding rural area.

For the full story and more photos, please see the July 11 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured, Sports

Davidson lad makes family proud at first rodeo

Kade McConnell of Davidson is pictured riding Cheyanne, an 18-year-old Paint mare.
Kade McConnell of Davidson is pictured riding Cheyanne, an 18-year-old Paint mare.

By Joel van der Veen

BIGGAR — A family tradition carried on to the next generation last weekend as Kade McConnell took part in his first rodeo.

The 12-year-old Davidson boy was among the contestants in the Biggar Rodeo, held July 1 and 2 and organized by the Kakeyow Cowboys Rodeo Association.

His mother Karen said Kade has been riding horseback for several years, joining his great-grandfather on the fair circuit and helping to drive and show his draft horses.

This past weekend was his first competitive event, as he took part in the junior team roping events on both Friday and Saturday.

“He was extremely excited,” said Karen, adding that several relatives, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, were also there for the occasion.

Kade was partnered with Virgil Kiefer, who was previously Karen’s rodeo partner and is now employed as a cowhand near Birch Hills.

He was riding Cheyanne, an 18-year-old Paint mare and a veteran of the rodeo circuit.

For the full story, please see the July 11 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: Reed, Max

Reed, George Maxwell

George Maxwell Reed passed away at Davidson, Sask., on June 4, 2016.

Max was born in Saskatoon and resided in Nokomis. He came to Davidson in 1951 and worked at an agriculture equipment dealership before opening the tire shop, which operated for 26 years. Max took his young family on an overland winter trip to Disneyland in a tent trailer instilling a sense of adventure in his children that they passed on to his grandchildren. An outgoing, avid football fan, he helped coach and mentor many of his children’s athletic and other endeavours. He was a long-time Kinsmen and town councillor, making time to support his community.

He will be missed by his wife Joy, his children Ritchie, Perry, Kirk, Todd and Arlene and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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.

Davidson, featured

Champions honoured as school presents end-of-year awards

Pictured are the award winners from Wednesday's ceremony at Davidson School.
Pictured are the award winners from Wednesday’s ceremony at Davidson School.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Two provincial sports titles made for a historic year for Davidson School.

As Sandra Baldwin said during the school’s annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, both the senior boys basketball team and the senior girls volleyball team made history in going all the way and winning provincial gold.

For the school to earn two titles in one year was itself a significant milestone, she added.

Baldwin called the teams up one by one, inviting the players to join hands with Kindergarten students and lead them to the front of the room.

“Kindergarteners,” she said, “you are holding the hands of champions.”

The students’ achievements in academics, athletics and drama were honoured during the ceremony, held in the gym on Wednesday. Tina Stone and Andrew Read served as masters of ceremonies.

Const. Kam Hay from the Craik RCMP detachment was on hand to present the Citizenship Award to Grade 11 student Miranda Farrell.

Senior basketball player Gabe Ebenal paid tribute to coach Kim Rettger, who received the West Central District’s Outstanding Coach award.

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