Category Archives: Davidson

Davidson, featured

Langs granted citizenship…eh!

The Lang family received its Canadian citizenship in a ceremony in Regina on July 13. Pictured here are J. J., Frank, Luisabel and Dr. Francisco Lang, joined by Wascana MP Ralph Goodale (far left) and Citizenship Judge Terrence O’Malley (far right).
The Lang family received its Canadian citizenship in a ceremony in Regina on July 13. Pictured here are J. J., Frank, Luisabel and Dr. Francisco Lang, joined by Wascana MP Ralph Goodale (far left) and Citizenship Judge Terrence O’Malley (far right).

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Almost eight years after their arrival here, Dr. Francisco Lang and his family are Canadian citizens at last.

The doctor, his wife Luisabel and their sons Frank and J.J. were officially granted their citizenship at a ceremony at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina on July 13.

Lang said last week he feels “immense joy and happiness” at the milestone, which only came following a long process with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

“I have no words to describe how I feel,” he said, adding that the ceremony was a highlight of his time in Canada so far, and that he and his family feel great pride

to call themselves Canadian citizens.

The Lang family hails from the Cuban province of Pinar del Río. The doctor arrived in Davidson in November 2007 to begin his practice here after working in South Africa for more than 10 years.

Lang said that working in Canada appealed to him for multiple reasons, including the country’s reputation as a leader in medical research and innovation, but also because he desired “a safer environment for my children and my family and myself.”

The family applied for its citizenship in August 2010, nearly five years ago, and Lang said he’s still not sure why the process took so long.

“I don’t have an answer for that question,” he said. “I thought the process was not going to be so lengthy . . . We’ve been waiting for reasons that we still don’t know.”

Lang said he believes that current world affairs have led authorities to conduct more thorough research and investigation before approving applications for citizenship, which may have been a factor behind their long wait.

He, Luisabel and Frank took their citizenship exams in June 2013; J.J. was exempted due to his age. The three of them passed and also had interviews with immigration officers.

They were given extensive questionnaires to fill out, requiring detailed information on their backgrounds and careers.

For years, Lang said, they watched for the notice in the mail, but it was not until early July that the invitation to their citizenship ceremony finally arrived.

He and his family were part of a group of 67 people, representing a total of 30 countries, who took the oath of citizenship on July 13.

Citizenship judge Terrence O’Malley conducted the ceremony. Also present was Ralph Goodale, longtime Liberal MP for the riding of Wascana.

Lang said some of his staff from Davidson, including receptionists Corey Eddie and Joanne Elder, attended the ceremony.

He expressed his appreciation to the community for what he called its “enormous support,” including those who asked for updates on their progress.

This included the town council, which wrote letters to the federal government inquiring about the Langs’ citizenship.

Davidson, featured

Town could break ground for new pool next spring

A preliminary design of the pool house.
A preliminary design of the pool house.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The next step towards the construction of Davidson’s new pool is on the horizon, town councillors heard at this week’s meeting.

Recreation director Trevor Ouellette, who visited the July 21 meeting as a delegation, received approval from council last week to make arrangements with Regina-based firm Walker Projects to start seeking proposals from contractors.

“They are ready to get started as soon as we sign,” he told council at the meeting, distributing documents outlining the company’s services and fees.

With a total of $1,065,000 raised for the pool in three years, Ouellette said that it’s likely the first phase of construction could begin by the spring of 2016, with the pool being ready for use the following year.

Estimates on the cost of the project have varied, but based on current information, he placed the total cost at somewhere between $1.25 million and $1.3 million.

Ouellette was joined later in the meeting by a delegation from the swimming pool fundraising committee, consisting of Crystal Johnson, Brenna Siroski and Erin Gust.

Like the town councillors, committee members welcomed the news, but they also took the opportunity to voice some concerns.

To read more, please see the July 27th print edition of The Davidson Leader. To subscribe email: davidsonleader@sasktel.net

Davidson

Blocked drains and cloudburst lead to flash floods

Rainwater is seen accumulating on Hamilton Street in Davidson on Monday afternoon in this picture taken by Ken Desiatnyk.
Rainwater is seen accumulating on Hamilton Street in Davidson on Monday afternoon in this picture taken by Ken Desiatnyk.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A cloudburst on Monday afternoon left several streets in Davidson briefly flooded with water, thanks to clogged storm drains.

Once the heavy rain started falling around 2:30 p.m., some residents observed that the water began to pool on some streets as the drains could not keep up with the rush.

In several places, the rainwater quickly reached the curbs, spilling over onto adjacent sidewalks, driveways and lawns.

Ken Desiatnyk, who lives at the corner of Hamilton and First streets, said two-and-a-half inches fell in roughly 25 minutes.

He said he attempted to unclog the drains and also saw town employees doing the same, but the water did not begin to recede until the rain stopped. It took a couple of hours for the street to drain out, he added.

Desiatnyk, who has lived there with his wife for around 25 years, said they’ve never had water in their basement, “but it’s a concern because it’s been close.”

He said the water encroached on several nearby lawns, including that of Ida Stewart on the next block, leaving her yard “like an island” surrounded by water.

Norma McNabb, who lives across the street from the Desiatnyks, said she was out at the time of the rain, but three or four inches of water accumulated in her garage.

“It’s come close before, but it never got in,” she said. “It was raining pretty darn hard.”

When heavy rains fall, McNabb said, even a car passing by can send the water cascading towards her house. One time, she recalled, the water was so high that kids went wading in the street.

Desiatnyk said a similar rain event happened three years ago, causing extensive damage to the electrical system of their new car. The town agreed to cover the deductible on their insurance following that incident.

“There’s a lot of elderly in that area,” he said. “If we ever had a four-inch rain, I’d hate to see what would happen.”

Town administrator Gary Edom said Davidson’s public works staff headed out to clear off some of the drain covers after the rain started.

Often, he said, grass clippings or leaves from nearby lawns will end up in the drain along with other debris, either blocking it or slowing down the flow of water.

“We clean them off every once in a while,” he said, “but you never know when something like that’s coming . . . That was a lot of rain in a short time.”

According to residents on Herman Crescent, town employees were seen using rakes to clear the drains at the south end of the street, after which the collected water was soon cleared from the road.

“The guys get out to open them up as fast as they can,” said Edom.

Two storm drains were replaced near the corner of First Street and Garfield Street earlier this year.

Edom said the rest of the drains in town seem to be in working order and none are scheduled to be replaced this year.

Davidson, Kenaston, Sports

Royals win silver in 16U “C” provincials

Seen here is the Watrous Royals bantam girls softball team.
Seen here is the Watrous Royals bantam girls softball team.

By Joel van der Veen

WATROUS — The Watrous Royals bantam girls softball team overcame multiple injuries to win silver at provincials last weekend.

The Royals hosted seven visiting teams in the 16U “C” event, which ran from July 10 to 12 at the sports grounds in Watrous. The team played four round-robin games on Friday and Saturday, defeating Muenster, Kindersley and Moosomin, and losing to Kerrobert.

In the semi-final on Sunday, the Royals defeated Muenster and went on to face Langenburg in the finals, in which they lost 7-2.

Coach Jason Shaw said the team did well over the weekend despite both of its main pitchers, Alexa Koupantsis and Breanna Shaw, coping with injuries.

Koupantsis was injured by a returned ball that bounced off her glove and struck her in the face during the semi-final against Muenster. Shaw had injured her wrist but filled in for the remainder of that game and the final.

“It took us a little bit to regroup and keep going,” said the coach, noting that the team had aimed to reach the playoffs. “We tried to get everybody in (for) a bit to get ready for Sunday.”

Shaw estimated that between 300 and 400 people attended the weekend tournament, which featured teams from Muenster, Kindersley, Moosomin, Kerrobert, Macklin and Langenburg.

He said many of the team parents assisted the town staff with tending the grounds, as well as scorekeeping, announcing, and running the 50/50 draw, the gate and the concession stand.

The provincial tournament marked the end of the season for the Royals. Shaw said the team got along well, and that the season was an educational experience for the players as well as the coaches.

Local players on the team included Jocelyn Millham, Sarah Allan, Caroline Seidlik and Breanna Shaw from Davidson, and Kylee Evans from Kenaston.

Davidson, Obituary

Bryson, Elizabeth Mary

Bryson (former married name Stewart), Elizabeth Mary “Betty.”

Our mother died peacefully on July 1, 2015, while residing at Northridge Nursing Home in Oakville, Ont. She would want this notice to be published in the Davidson newspaper even though very few former friends, acquaintances and patients of herself and her former husband, Dr. Nairn Stewart, may be alive.

Our mother grew up in Toronto and was a graduate of the Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. While at nursing school she met Nairn Stewart, of Elstow, Sask., who was a medical student at the University of Toronto. They married on Jan. 5, 1946, and had two children, Tom and Sue. Soon after graduation Nairn set up his family medical practice in Davidson, Saskatchewan where the family went to live.

Nairn and Betty were very very much in love, and quickly built up a group of friends who, we were always told, were very dear to them. Sadly, Nairn drowned on July 27, 1950. Approximately a year later, Betty with Tom and Sue moved East, to live and work in Oakville, Ontario, and to be near her parents.

On two occasions during the 1980s, Betty, accompanied by her son Tom, visited old friends in Saskatchewan, including Nairn’s sister, Margaret Jackson of Saskatoon. Both visits were wonderful times for Betty, and a revelation to Tom. Betty always held very dearly her cherished memories of her times and friends in Davidson.

(Tom Bryson, Barrie, Ontario.)

Craik, Davidson

Locals part of the action as northern fires rage

Crews continued their efforts to control and put out fires in northern Saskatchewan last week, as seen in this cellphone photo provided by Flo Shaw.
Crews continued their efforts to control and put out fires in northern Saskatchewan last week, as seen in this cellphone photo provided by Flo Shaw.

By Joel van der Veen

LA RONGE — Like many people in Saskatchewan right now, Flo Shaw is keeping a close eye on the news.

Countless lives have been turned upside down in the past couple of weeks, with more than 100 active wildfires burning and thousands being evacuated from the northern part of the province.

But Shaw’s mind is on two people up north who aren’t able to leave: her son Nathan and his wife Marsha, both officers with the RCMP detachment in La Ronge.

An evacuation order for the town was issued on July 4. Residents seeking shelter down south were advised to take only one bag, necessary medication and no pets.

The Shaws’ four children — Brooklyn, Connor, Colton and Kellan — are out of harm’s way, staying with their grandparents at Etter’s Beach and taking swimming lessons on the lake.

But Const. Nathan Shaw and Corp. Marsha Shaw remain on the line of duty, as efforts continue around them to contain and extinguish the wildfires.

“We can’t talk too much because they have to keep the phone lines open,” Flo said last week from her home in Davidson, adding that she finds the situation “pretty scary.”

Besides the constant news reports, she also gets updates through through text messages and photos sent via cellphone. One picture sent by Marsha showed street lights glowing at 3 p.m.

“The street lights looked like little pin dots, it was so smoky,” she said. “I really don’t know how they’re managing.”

Nathan grew up in Davidson, while his wife, the former Marsha Knoblauch, is from Imperial.

Flo said the two of them will remain in the area unless a total evacuation becomes necessary, adding, “I’m hoping for rain, but it’ll take a lot.”

Other families in the district are also thinking about loved ones further north.

Elizabeth Parks of Craik said Thursday that her daughter, Margaret Floch, is staying in La Ronge where she serves as manager of the Co-op grocery store.

Parks said her daughter was prepared to evacuate when she was asked personally by Mayor Thomas Sierzycki to stay behind to keep the store open so that emergency workers, volunteers and others could continue to purchase necessary items.

Food supplies are being trucked in daily from the cities, and last week 350 people were fed at a supper provided for the volunteers.

Floch’s husband, David, is a mechanic servicing the water bombers being used to fight the fires, but thick smoke can hamper the pilots’ efforts by obscuring visibility.

Their two sons — Keagan, 16, and Kieran, 12 — are staying with close friends in Prince Albert.

The Flochs have left their house, packing their needs in a truck and fifth-wheel, and will be able to leave quickly if the situation escalates.

“They’re in touch all the time,” said Parks, adding that her daughter “calls me every day from the store.”

She said they haven’t suffered from any health issues yet, despite the smoke. Parks also described the evacuation process, explaining that police tracked people as they left town.

For the full story, please see the July 13 edition of The Davidson Leader.