By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Campaign workers, supporters and family members crowded into Greg Brkich’s campaign office on Washington Avenue on Monday night as the election results began pouring in.

Amidst the hubbub and chatter, Brkich’s eyes were fixed on the TV set for much of the evening, watching the coverage on CTV.

With close to two decades in provincial politics under his belt, Brkich said he’s always curious about the final results on election night.

“You know everybody that’s running,” he explained, noting that he felt the suspense, waiting for the totals to come in from some of the tighter races.

However, there was little doubt as to how things would play out in Arm River.

Brkich, 57, was elected to a fifth term as the Saskatchewan Party MLA for this area, winning the constituency with 73.3 per cent support.

He received a total of 6,128 votes, according to preliminary results, defeating his nearest competitor by more than 4,700 votes.

“To me, that shows people still have confidence in myself and the government,” he said Monday night.

Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party were returned to office for a third consecutive term, winning 51 out of 61 seats and receiving 62.6 per cent of the popular vote.

The Opposition New Democrats increased their seat count by just one, winning a total of 10 seats, but saw their share of the popular vote drop to 30.4 per cent.

The results were highly reminiscent of the last election — even down to the loss suffered by NDP leader Cam Broten, who came in second place in Saskatoon Westview, just as his predecessor Dwain Lingenfelter had done in Regina Douglas Park in 2011.

Despite both having a full slate, the Green Party and the Liberal Party were again shut out, as were the Progressive Conservatives, the Western Independence Party and all independent candidates.

Brkich, who farms near Bladworth, was first elected in Arm River in 1999, and was re-elected in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He gave much of the credit for his success to his local team, including business manager Ron Bessey and campaign manager Allen Patkau.

Donna Petit and Lavonne Lyke ran the campaign office in Davidson, while dozens of others contributed by knocking on doors, putting up signs or making phone calls on his behalf.

“I wouldn’t have won it without the team, plain and simple,” said Brkich. “I couldn’t imagine being out there by myself.”

For the full story, including detailed results and an interview with NDP candidate Denise Leduc, please see the April 11 edition of The Davidson Leader.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — When a patient hasn’t been to see the dentist in 10 years, the results aren’t going to be pretty.

Dr. Abe Chaukla and a team of dental professionals from Canada spent four days last month working with patients in rural Peru, where dental care is hard to come by.

Tooth decay runs rampant among much of the population, Chaukla reported, and he and the rest of the team performed hundreds of extractions and fillings during their short stay.

Wherever they went, the dentists were welcomed with gratitude, including one group that greeted the team with singing and drumming.

“They were so grateful for the work,” said Chaukla, adding that the patients included many children and seniors.

Chaukla is a Saskatoon-based dentist who sees local patients two days per week at the Davidson Dental Clinic on Washington Avenue.

This was his second trip with Kindness in Action (KIA), an Alberta-based non-profit group that works with professionals to provide dental health services to underprivileged people across the globe.

Chaukla travelled to Nicaragua in March 2014 for his first trip and said at the time that he hoped to make it a regular expedition.

This time, he was part of a team of around 20 dental professionals, mostly from Western Canada, who travelled to the Amazon Basin region between March 12 and 20.

They flew from Peru’s capital city, Lima, to the city of Iquitos, then took a three-hour boat trip down the Amazon River to their lodge. Each day the group travelled by boat to a different village to serve patients.

“It was quite a trek,” recalled Chaukla, adding that the experience was “more rustic” compared to his previous trip.

The weather was hot, and mosquitoes were a constant presence. He and the others slept under mosquito nets to prevent the spread of malaria.

Each day, they provided basic care to patients, using portable equipment. Hygienists were part of the team, performing cleanings.

Chaukla said education was also part of the service provided, teaching patients how to care for their teeth.

He said Peru is very much a developing country, with many residents burdened by poverty. Running water is scarce, which in turn complicates efforts to promote dental health.

Chaukla said the trip was hard work, but a positive experience overall for both the dental team and the patients.

This year, KIA is also organizing trips to Guatemala, Belize, Haiti, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Tibet, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Chaukla is now back to his regular practice in the area, dividing his time between Davidson, Outlook and Saskatoon. He works in the Davidson clinic on Wednesdays and Thursdays, also providing emergency care as needed.

He began working in Davidson in November 2013 and estimates that he has between 600 and 650 active patients here, drawing from towns as widespread as Craik, Imperial, Elbow and Hanley.

Chaukla said he’s appreciating the support from his patients in Davidson and area, calling it “the best two days of the week.”

He also said he appreciates working in the facility available here, as well as the presence of a nearby rep for a major dental supply company.

April is Oral Health Month, and Chaukla and other dentists across Canada are working to raise awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.