By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Each spring, downtown Davidson comes to life as new flowers are planted along the main street.

For more than a decade, the town’s Communities in Bloom (CIB) committee has been responsible for maintaining these and other green spaces.

Those who walk or drive down Washington Avenue every day sometimes take that work for granted, but it leaves an impression with visitors who come into town off the highway.

“It shows a little bit of pride in your community,” said CIB chairperson Stuart Dougan, adding that the rest stop on Highway 11 — home of the Giant Coffee Pot — is especially popular.

The committee is also responsible for the Centennial Walking Trail that winds around town. More recent projects have included the Bob Crowley Memorial Garden, dedicated in June 2011, and the Memory Tree located next to Davidson’s town hall.

Dougan said the local CIB branch has eight members, including his wife Pat, who serves as secretary-treasurer. In addition, Kim Williams and Mandy Tichit serve as liaisons between the committee and town council.

An area of focus for the committee this year will be the “Community in Motion” signs at the north and south ends of Davidson along Highway 11.

For the full story, see the May 30 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — After eight years of ministry in Canada, Father Joseph Gyim-Austin will return to his home country of Ghana this summer.

The Catholic priest has served parishioners in the Sacred Heart pastoral region — which includes churches in Davidson, Kenaston, Elbow and Outlook — since December 2008.

Father Joseph, 64, will continue his ministry in his home diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, where he was ordained in 1981.

After working in Ghana for 17 years, he spent three years in the Aberdeen diocese in Scotland, then came west to Wausau, Wis., in 2001.

He said he witnessed his first snow in Scotland, and after seven years in Wisconsin he was well acquainted with winter weather.

“Saskatchewan has its own weather,” said Father Joseph. “I didn’t have any problem with it, as long as I was able to drive.”

He arrived in Saskatoon in May 2008, spending six months at St. Paul Co-Cathedral, then began his ministry here on Boxing Day of that year.

The priest said he had initially been assigned to Sacred Heart for five years, which was later extended by another three years.

He has visited his home country several times since coming to Davidson. Most recently he was home in 2014 for the installation of a new bishop.

Returning to Ghana had been on his mind, said the priest, adding that the opportunity was there for him when he decided he wanted to go home.

For the full story, see the May 30 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Trevor Dieno knows full well the power of a brand.

In mid-May, signs went up on the Tim Hortons restaurant still under construction on Highway 11 at the south end of Davidson.

Within minutes, Dieno said, cars were pulling up in search of donuts, deli sandwiches and double-doubles.

“As soon as it was up, there was instant traffic flow,” he said. “They were driving around sawhorses trying to get to the drive thru.”

That alone demonstrates the power of Tim Hortons, perhaps the quintessential Canadian business success story.

The chain, founded in 1964 by the late hockey player for which it is named, now includes more than 3,600 restaurants across Canada.

That number will grow by one more this week, as the Tim Hortons restaurant in Davidson prepares to open its doors to its first customers on May 27.

For the full story, see the May 23 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — It was a journey through the jungle at Davidson School last weekend, courtesy of Missoula Children’s Theatre and more than 50 local students.

The theatre company returned to Davidson School for a week, working with staff and students to mount a musical production of The Jungle Book.

They worked after school every day from May 9 to 13, presenting the fruit of their labours to a crowd of 240 people on Friday night.

“These guys put together this whole musical with less than 20 hours of rehearsal time with us,” director Jessie Selleck told the audience.

Arlene Low, part of the committee responsible for bringing Missoula to Davidson, said the company offers a valuable opportunity for local students.

“They learn so much about the stage and the skills needed to be part of a theatrical performance,” she said.

For the full story and more photos, see the May 23 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — When Jacob Heinrich joined 553 Sherlock Squadron last fall, he had one goal in mind: getting his pilot’s license.

The 14-year-old Davidson resident said he knew learning to fly was part of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets program, but he soon learned there was lots more to it than that.

On Friday, he and his fellow Cadets headed down to Buffalo Pound Provincial Park for a three-day weekend, setting up camp and learning basic survival skills.

Other activities this year have included trips to the Moose Jaw airbase and museums, along with gliding lessons. Heinrich also learned he’s been accepted to attend a three-week camp this summer at Cold Lake.

“We’ve done quite a lot of stuff that I didn’t know we would do,” said Heinrich. “It’s all been really fun.”

Jacob enjoyed it so much that his brother Reggie, who turns 12 this month, is joining the Cadet program as soon as he becomes eligible.

“I’ve been persuasive,” said Jacob with a laugh.

Unfortunately for the Heinrichs and other cadets, the Davidson squadron will soon be moving out of town, following a sustained decline in its numbers.

Capt. Krystal Klenk-Potts, the squadron’s commanding officer, said the new location hasn’t been determined yet, but it will be closer to Saskatoon.

“Ultimately, it no longer will be in Davidson,” she said, adding that it will retain its number and name. “It’s easier to move a squadron then to start a brand new one.”

For the past several years, the organization had told the Davidson squadron that it needed to improve its numbers or risk being reorganized.

This year, they set a firm target, telling Klenk-Potts that she needed to have 25 cadets registered by the end of February.

“I wasn’t too happy with that number,” she recalled adding that while enrolment has increased since last year, it never approached the required figure. “Even with this jump, we were on the cusp of being shut down or put on hold.”

Sherlock Squadron currently has seven cadets enrolled, coming from Davidson, Bladworth, Craik and Stalwart.

For the full story, please see the May 16 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.