A retired veteran is trying to make a difference in children’s lives and needs the support of everyday Canadians across this country to do it.

Art Brochu, 70, made his way through Davidson last Wednesday afternoon while on his “Art Cycles Canada for Wishes” bike tour from Port Hardy, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland. Brochu is cycling across the country in an attempt to try and raise $100,000 for The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.

“All those years in the military and all those years out of country watching kids suffer and be abused…breaks my heart,” said Brochu, who spent his career with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. “I always wanted to do something to pay back for what we couldn’t do back then. This is my opportunity to raise money for The Children’s Wish and hopefully if we can get a wish in every province that would be fantastic.”

Brochu first got the idea to try and raise funds for Children’s Wish while competing at a golf tournament where he met a young adult named Alex who was diagnosed with Osteochondroma, which is a benign tumor of the bones. Alex, who is an avid bag pipe player, had a wish granted to visit Vimy Ridge in France to play the bag pipes in tribute to his great-grandfather and the other countless men and women who lost their lives in the First World War battle.

“Alex still has a lot of operations to go through, but he’s tough and cheerful and he’s so thankful he got to do what he did,” said Brochu. “I’ve always been a strong believer that if you can think positive or take your mind off the illness and the treatment and the medications they have an opportunity to work better and that’s what the wish does.”

To prepare for the scheduled 9,106 kilometre trek over the course of 75 days this summer, Brochu began training two years ago with 2004 Canadian Olympic gold medalist Lori-Ann Muenzer. He has also been trying to put into practise the many tips received from fellow cyclists on what to do when participating in a long-distance bike tour.

Brochu said the trip would bring him through 10 Canadian provinces with a goal of raising $10,000 in each to be put towards a wish for a child in each province he visits. He said some money was raised before he left B.C. and he is now counting on the people he meets on his journey and the corporations that hear about his quest to help him reach the target.

To read more please see the June 2 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

The #553 Sherlock Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron welcomed a small group of supporters to Davidson Town Hall last Monday for their annual review.

The family and friends were greeted to a display of finely pressed uniforms and newly shined shoes worn with pride by cadets F/Sgt. Andrew Sperling, F/Sgt. Balin Mazur, F/Sgt. Austin Van Damme, F/Cpl. Danielle Elliott and Sgt. Jake Korchinski as they were inspected by reviewing officer Captain Wayne Morrison.

Morrison, a former commanding officer with the Sherlock Squadron who now occupies that position with #797 Lanigan Squadron, said it is sad to see the small number of young people taking advantage of the cadet program in Davidson and area. He said watching the numbers improve with the Lanigan Squadron since he became their commanding officer in 2012 gives him hope the same would occur in Davidson.

“As a bus driver sitting in front of Davidson School, I’ve noticed a lot of kids coming up,” said Morrison, noting attracting these younger people to join as first year cadets is needed to help Sherlock Squadron remain in the area. “This means the future is bright for a lot of clubs in Davidson.”

Gord McRae, president of the Davidson branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, said the amount of kids in the program may be low, but believes the lessons learned through participating in cadets is beneficial to its members and hopes more young people join Sherlock Squadron this September.

“I want to congratulate these cadets on completing another great year,” said McRae to the five young people standing in attention before him. “In the fall we’ll give it one hell of a good go (to raise numbers).”

Captain Krystal Klenk, current commanding officer of #553 Sherlock Squadron, said the five cadets who participated in the program this year and their families all devoted their time and ability to make the squadron a positive and enjoyable experience. She said the cadets took part in many memorable activities this year including power familiarization flying in Saskatoon, zone shooting in Moose Jaw, going on a trip to Jasper, learning about the Second World War-era Mustang P-51 D fighter aircraft and how they are currently being restored at Terry Dieno’s airplane hanger in Davidson, gliding in Moose Jaw and participating in survival weekends at Thompson Lake and Nokomis.

“We may be small, but we are filled with the most dedicated cadets,” said Klenk. “Remember the lessons you have learned and the experiences you’ve had. Let these experiences guide you in the future.”

To read more please see the June 2 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

A celebration two years in the making brought hundreds of revellers to the Elbow Community Park May 17 for a Peace Tower dedication that puts the final touches on the village’s playground and garden.

Grace McTavish, a member of the Elbow Community Park committee, said the Peace Tower and now completed Elbow Community Park is incredibly important to the village because it brings “spirit” to its local residents and the many visitors who holiday at the resort community. She said the dedication ceremony that helped to open the two-day “Peace Party in the Park” celebration is the culmination of all the hard work that went into creating the gathering place as well as an opportunity for the community to come together on a beautiful spring day to enjoy it.

“We are a tourist community and we like to think this is one more reason that people would like to come and spend time in this peaceful place,” said McTavish. “When people come here it is peaceful and they’re happy. It’s their quiet time and we think that this park just adds to that and gives them a place to come and sit and be a part of nature.”

The hundreds of attendees who made their way to the park May 17 for the dedication ceremony enjoyed the chance to witness and revel in the unveiling of the massive blue tower that features white birds of peace breaking free from the structure and flying into the community. Four walking paths lined with plaques memorializing the history of the community’s pioneers to picture plaques illustrating the beginning of the village all the way up to the thoughts of Elbow’s present day children lead people up to the base of the tower.

The Peace Tower occupies one corner of the four-acre park that also features walking trails, a large kids play structure, a memorial garden and life-size teepees on the grounds. The other elements of the park were installed in May 2012 with the help of over 300 volunteers.

Hundreds of family and friends crowded into the Davidson School gymnasium May 17 to congratulate the graduating class of 2014 on their many accomplishments and to wish them success in all that life has to offer.

Graduates Aiden McJannet, Kim Baldwin, Kirby Manz, Bryce Dean, Jon Taylor, Travis Bublish, Brad Brazeau, Matthias McCreary, Patrick Nordmarken, Vanner McDonnell, Sarah Nykiforuk, Heather Glowatski, Paige Hodgins, Casey Lloyd, Mike Kowalski, Cara McNabb, Jessica Riecken and Kari VanDeWiele each stood before the crowd at the ceremony to be both praised for their hard work and determination and playfully jabbed for the many fun and humorous moments that have marked their path in making it to this day.

Arlene Low, learning coach with the Sun West School Division and guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, said the students gathered before the crowd have helped and taught her how to be a better person during the time she has shared with them. She said the only thing she can now pass on to the students as they move onto a new path is to learn to be happy during all their pursuits.

“What matters is the person you are and what you strive to become,” said Arlene. She added this can be accomplished through being grateful and thankful everyday, exhibiting kindness and taking note of it for guidance, remaining physically active, being mindful of feelings and striving to be a connector between friends, family and the community.

“You all have the skills to keep life’s priorities in check,” she advised the graduates.

Davidson School principal Jason Low said he has mixed emotions watching these young adults close one chapter in their lives and start another. He said the six years he has shared with the class of 2014 has been “quite a ride” and on behalf of all the staff at Davidson School he wants to congratulate the students on this great accomplishment and to wish them the best in the future.

Valedictorians Kirby Manz and Jessica Riecken said the theme of Grad 2014 is “stay golden,” which represents the classmates continuing drive as they move forward to achieve everything they desire.

Jessica described her classmates as a “family” and said she hopes each one of them stays true to themselves and to what they believe in.

Kirby congratulated his classmates for making it to this day before ending the ceremony with a message to take into the next phase of their lives.

“Remember,” he said. “Stay golden.”

The bloodsucking tick season may have been delayed a bit by the cooler spring, but the pests should be stepping up their onslaught as the weather finally warms up.

Phil Curry, entomologist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, said ticks have been active in the province since the snow left and the temperature warmed up to around 4ºC, but their movements have been pretty slow due to the continuing cold weather. He said they are bound to become more bothersome now as it begins to get hotter outside and people start hiking and camping in areas where the ticks are.

He noted ticks have been established in certain areas of the province for quite a while and their populations seem to go up and down. Curry said this makes it hard to tell if Saskatchewan is facing a bad tick season this year or not.

“What’s happening in the last 10 to 15 years is that our most common ticks, in the eastern part of the province it’s the American dog tick or some people call it a wood tick and in the western part of the province it’s the Rocky Mountain wood tick…they’ve expanded their range northward,” said Curry, noting ticks are becoming established as far north as Prince Albert and Melfort. “When people think ticks are increasing, they are…in certain areas. Whereas in other areas like in southeastern Saskatchewan they’ve had ticks for many many years.”

Curry said the area around Davidson is starting to experience increased tick activity particularly down near river valleys. He said the bugs are being transported into these areas by migrating birds and deer and even people visiting parks and campsites who drop off ticks.

“It takes them a few years to become established, but they do become established,” he said. “The American dog tick likes more bushy woodland areas whereas the Rocky Mountain wood tick is more down in the river valleys. It can stand a little more hot dry weather.

“We have found small numbers of the blacklegged deer tick in the province. That is the one that can carry Lyme disease. They get dropped off from migrating birds and we occasionally find them as well, so our message is avoid getting tick bites of any sort.”

There are several things people can do to prevent getting fed on by ticks such as if a person is walking along a nature trail or through tall grass they should wear light coloured clothing. Curry said this helps in noticing the “easily visible” pests so they could be removed before they strike.

He said walkers should also wear long sleeves and long pants when out enjoying the sun. Tucking pant legs into the socks is also recommended as is wearing closed toe footwear.

To read more please see the May 26 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

For over 30 years a number of ladies with the Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church have been spending their winter months designing quilts and care packages destined for people in need around the globe.

Phyllis Mason, one of the ladies who helps sew and pin the quilts, said the group designed 57 60″x80″ quilts this year between January and Easter. These quilts were on display last Monday at the annual Redeemer Lutheran Church Tea, which is held to raise money for the Canadian Lutheran World Relief We Care program that ships the quilts to destinations around Canada and the world.

In addition to the quilts, the ladies showcased nine sewing kits, four children’s kits, four hygiene kits, 12 baby layettes and over 20 pneumonia prevention vests for infants and toddlers as well as a few other items that will be also be shipped to refugees and orphanages in needy countries.

“It’s a humanitarian thing to do,” said Mason, noting the ladies have no idea where their work is headed. “We in this country have so much. We don’t know how lucky we are.”

Mason said the five or six ladies who are involved in sewing and pinning the quilts try to use heavier materials such as polyesters and heavy cottons in their design. The materials used are generally donations to the group for the work.

She said the other handiwork such as blankets and the items in the various kits and bundles are also donated to the group or supplied by the members. These items include things like thread, buttons and needles for the sewing kits or soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and “something fuzzy” in the children’s kits.

The group gets together during the winter months to assemble these bundles and sew the quilts on donated sewing machines. They also spend time at home completing the work in time for the May tea.

“We believe it helps,” said Mason, who has been involved with the program since it began. “The people that receive them really need them.”