Category Archives: Kenaston

Kenaston

Cameras capture break-in

Thieves broke the window int he door of KC Distributors in Kenaston during an early morning break and enter and theft March 26.

KENASTON—When Katie McDonald was woken by her telephone ringing at 3 a.m. Monday, March 26 she immediately knew something was wrong.

It was the alarm monitoring company alerting her that someone had tripped the security system at the gas station and convenience store, KC Distributors, she runs.

“I won’t tell you the exact words I said…but when you look at the phone and it says ADT, you know what’s happening,” McDonald said.

She immediately went to the service station at the corner of Front Street and Highway 15 in Kenaston to find thieves had broken into the store and stole two cabinets containing tobacco products.

McDonald said an RCMP officer arrived shortly after, at about 3:30 a.m.

The store’s surveillance cameras captured the break-in. One camera is pointed at the door and the video it recorded clearly shows how the break-in occurred. The video shows someone smashing the door’s glass window and then an arm reaching in to turn the lower door lock. The person’s arm wasn’t long enough to reach the lower lock, so another person with longer arms reached in and unlocked the door.

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Kenaston, Sports

Kodiaks win silver at Hoopla

 

Calina Evans looks to pass.

The Kenaston Kodiaks won silver in the 1A girls division at the 2018 Provincial High School Basketball Championships (Hoopla) in Prince Albert on March 24.

The Kodiaks beat the St. Brieux Crusaders in the Friday, March 23 semi-final game.

Rachael Matovich led the Kodiaks with 19 points in the come-from-behind win. Kenaston was trailing by a score of 14-20 at the half, but came back in the second half, outscoring the Crusaders by 10 points in the half to clinch a spot in the gold medal game, winning by a score of 44-40.

The Kodiaks met Middle Lake’s Three Lakes School Avengers in the Saturday, March 25 final game.

For much of the game, the score was close with Kenaston leading for most of it.

Kenaston had an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 28-23 at the half.

The score was tied 35-35 at the start of the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth, Kenaston’s Eve Matovich was injured by a Middle Lake player and had to spend the remainder of the game on the Kodiaks’ bench.

This seemed to be a momentum changer in the game as Middle Lake took advantage of Eve’s absence on the court to make a push and win the game by a score of 60-43.

Again, Rachael Matovich was the leading scorer for the Kodiaks with 15 points.

The two schools have a rivalry at Hoopla these past five years Kenaston won gold in 2017 and Middle Lake won silver. Middle Lake won the championship in 2016, 2015 and 2014 with Kenaston winning silver in 2015 and 2014. Kenaston won gold in 2013 with Middle Lake winning silver.

In the bronze medal game, St. Brieux defeated the Gladmar Falcons 55-42

Kenaston

Kenaston wins in motion Go Out & Play Challenge

They did it! Kenaston celebrates winning the $10,000 grand prize from the 2018 Go Out and Play Challenge. The community logged more than 419,650 minutes of physical activity during the 10-day Saskatchewan in motion community challenge, including a walk March 8 that ended with school children climbing this giant pile of snow.

KENASTON—That big dump of snow in early March and all the shovelling that resulted, came at an opportune time for the Village of Kenaston.

It provided the community with lots of extra minutes of physical activity for its citizens and its supporters to log in the Saskatchewan in motion 2018 Go Out and Play Challenge.

That snowfall turned into a windfall. It put them over the top and Kenaston won the $10,000 grand prize for logging more than 419,650 minutes of physical activity in the 10-day community challenge. Stockholm came in second place with 381,200 minutes to win the $5,000 prize.

Into its seventh year, the Go Out and Play Challenge is sponsored by Saskatchewan Blue Cross to get more kids, more active, more often outdoors. Towns, villages and cities across the province sign up, create activities to get people in the community moving and then remind them to log their minutes of activity during the challenge, which took place from March 1 to 10.

To encourage physical activity, Kenaston’s Community Recreation Board offered free fitness classes during the 10 days, they had a skating party and community and school walks to promote the challenge and get people active, says Elaina Guilmette, chair of Kenaston’s recreation board.

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featured, Kenaston, Loreburn, Sports

Blizzards squeak by with 6-5 win over 19ers

Kenaston’s Chris Prpich and Loreburn’s Carter Norrish battle for the puck during Wednesday’s senior hockey game at the Kenaston Arena.

By Joel van der Veen

KENASTON — The Kenaston Blizzards held on Wednesday night to claim a narrow win over the Loreburn 19ers at home.

Though the Blizzards took an early lead and were ahead 5-1 by the second period, the 19ers made an impressive recovery in the latter half.

Four goals put Loreburn within spitting distance of the lead, but Kenaston prevailed to claim a 6-5 win.

It was their first game of 2018, and only their second win of the regular season.

“We got kind of undisciplined,” said Blizzards coach Mike Hertz, noting that a string of penalties in the second period for his team allowed Loreburn to take advantage. “It got a little hairy at the end.”

With a 2-10 record for the season so far, Kenaston is in a three-way tie with Loreburn and Elrose for last place in the Saskatchewan Valley Hockey League.

Hertz acknowledged that it’s been a challenging year for the Blizzards on multiple fronts: “We’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff.”

Chief among these was the death of longtime coach and player Dean Blenkinsop on Dec. 7, following a long battle with cancer.

The Blizzards had opened their season on Oct. 28 with a ceremony honouring Blenkinsop, prior to their first game.

Upwards of 350 people, including Dean and his wife Michelle, were in attendance as the team unveiled a banner with his name and number.

“He was touched and honoured,” said Hertz. “I think he was surprised a little bit with the outpouring.”

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Bladworth, Kenaston, Obituary

Obituary: Holder, Pearl

Pearl (Aikins) Holder
Her life from 1916 — Nov. 13, 2017
101 years and 11 days

The remarkable life of Pearl (Aikins) Holder began on Nov. 2, 1916 on the family farm NE24 T29 R2 W3, five miles east of Kenaston, Sask. She attended Aikins School and wrote her Grade 8 entrance exam at Zid School.

Pearl worked for families in Kenaston, Regina and Saskatoon, helping maintain family life for those who employed her. She would often say, “Many people talk about the Dirty Thirties and all the hard times, I would say, those were some of the best years of my life. You can’t miss what you never had.”

Pearl married her sweetheart, Bladworth farmer Harold Holder, on Oct. 4, 1939 in a double ceremony with her sister Alice and Bill Hartman at the United Church Manse in Davidson, Sask. The couples returned to the family farm for a simple wedding supper with family and the threshing crew as wedding guests.

Pearl and Harold farmed the Holder and Aikins land for many years, living on 24-29-2 W3 where they raised their four sons Bill, Tom, and twins Ron and Don.

It was a necessity of farm life to perform a variety of daily chores. A large garden and hard work provided produce to preserve for the winter and share with other families. It was not unusual to preserve 100 quarts of corn, 20-gallon crocks of pickles, a barrel of sauerkraut as well as many quarts of beef, chicken and wild meat.

Pearl would never consider herself a seamstress or tailor, but she was gifted at both. Her skill at mending and darning was like viewing fine art. She would downplay her skill saying, “I don’t do anything finer than darning socks and shovelling sh–!”

Pearl was active in the Evangelical Ladies Aid church group; she curled with her family, boarded school teachers and was a member of the Kenaston Seniors. Visiting and enjoying the company of friends was a highlight in her life. Coming to town on a Saturday, friends were ensured a good story and a hearty laugh.

When her grandchildren came along, they were the light of her life. She taught them to be resourceful, kind, generous and to walk on the sunny side of the street. Pearl taught her grandchildren to live by her example that included independence, positive attitude and most of all humour. She took great interest and pride in the accomplishments of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed watching all of them grow into kind, independent men and women. When the newest member of the family, two-and-a-half year old great-great-grandson Emmett would come and visit, Grandma loved to watch him explore.

After the death of her husband Harold she left her family home and moved to Wainwright, Alta., in 1973 where three of her sons were living. She became a caregiver and companion to Roy Oliphant. Over 44 years in Wainwright she bowled, loved to dance, played cards, went for coffee, walked miles and enjoyed the company of many, many friends.

She travelled with family and friends to China, England, Scotland, California, Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Arizona and numerous parts of Canada. From Bladworth to Beijing, Pearl enjoyed all her travels.

She frequently returned home to Kenaston to visit family and friends. She was especially pleased and proud to attend the celebration of 100 years of continuous family farm award in 2007. Even though Pearl lost her husband Harold (1970), companion Roy (1984), son Tom (1990), grandson Ambrose (2007) and eldest son Bill (2014), she was at peace knowing that death was a part of life.

She was pre-deceased by parents Andrew Aikins (1941) and Georgia Anna (Burgess) Aikins Moore (1962), siblings Albert (1993), Alice (2000) and husband Bill Hartman (2000), Margaret (1920), Gordon (1987) and wife Vera, sister- and brother-in-law Mabel (Holder) (1977) and Harold Ames (1985).

Pearl had a natural way with people. She loved the company of people. Her quick wit was a feature of her personality that could not be missed. She enjoyed telling stories of people and events from the past with precise detail.

Pearl leaves her family with all the best memories: son Ron and Diane, son Don, daughter-in-law Jeanette; grandchildren Rob and Cathy, Johanna and Jamie Branigan, Tim and Vickie, Jason and Amber, Jenny, Josh, and Liza Pearl; great-grandchildren Amanda, Brett and Kristin, Shayne Branigan, Holly Branigan, Logan and Taylor, Jorden (Sarah), Brandon (Destiny) and great-great-grandson Emmett Allan; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pearl was admired and will undoubtedly be remembered by all who knew her.

By Pearl’s request there will be no service in Wainwright. A celebration of her life will be held in Kenaston in the summer. Memorial donations may be made to the Kenaston Seniors Inc., Box 361, Kenaston, Sask., S0G 2N0.

Kenaston, Obituary

Obituary: Siroski, Violet “Toots”

Siroski, Violet 

Violet “Toots” Siroski, born August 4, 1929, passed away peacefully with family by her side at Davidson Health Centre on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at the age of 88.

Violet is survived by daughter Margaret (Val) Steckler and their two daughters Alissa and Danika; sons Len (Sally) Siroski and Brian (Peggy) Siroski and their two sons Chris (Lesley), their children Aubrey and Brantley; son Mike (Tabatha), and their three sons Jackson, Joey and Jet; sister Lorraine Firby and brothers Clarence (Violet), Norman (Sandra), Henry (Kathy), Les (Florence), and Ken (Dorothy), and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her infant daughter Suzanne, husband Peter and her parents Gregor and Mary; two brothers, one sister, 11 brothers-in-law, 11 sisters-in-law and one grandson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Dr. Lang and staff for the optimum care that mom received while she resided at the Davidson Health Centre.

Violet was an avid gardener. The best cook, she loved to cook each family member their favourite dish. Violet was a real social butterfly; she enjoyed working, in her retirement, for Super Draft, Heather’s Corner, Ed’s Prairie Treasures, Blizzard Junction and Cindy’s Confectionary.

Violet was a devoted member of St. Andrew’s Parish, from taking pies to the fall supper to crocheting edges on the altar cloths. She also enjoyed serving as Eucharistic minister.

Violet was always on the go in her community of Kenaston. She volunteered lots. Everyone knew her and her little dog, Pogo.

With all that said, most important to her was the love for all her family.

The Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church with Fr. Madonna-Godwin Aghedo O.P. officiating. Rite of committal was held at St. Andrew’s Cemetery.

Memorial donations in Violet’s memory can be made to St. Andrew’s Building Fund. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home.