Elbow, featured

Electronics firm celebrates 20 years in Elbow

Long-time employee Debbie Aadland cuts the cake at an anniversary party for Commutron Industries, Ltd., at the company’s office in Elbow on Sept. 2.
Long-time employee Debbie Aadland cuts the cake at an anniversary party for Commutron Industries, Ltd., at the company’s office in Elbow on Sept. 2.

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — Seeing the red maple leaf stamped on a product still means something important to a lot of people.

Few know this better than the staff of Commutron Industries, Ltd., an Elbow-based company that celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month.

“There’s still a hunger for investors and manufacturers to build a product that’s Canadian made,” said general manager Robert Leonardo on Wednesday.

The firm has a current staff of 18 full-time employees, assembling printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other electronic components at its facility in the village.

Commutron’s products are used in a wide range of industrial settings, including diagnostics and safety equipment, and in the agriculture, mining and transportation fields.

Customers and the general public were invited to an open house and barbecue on Sept. 2, which drew upwards of 120 people.

Leonardo said it was a great opportunity to celebrate the company’s success and reflect on the progress made over the last two decades.

The company was previously located in Saskatoon, where it operated under the name Bantron.

The move to Elbow came through a program then operated by the provincial government, offering grants to viable businesses willing to relocate outside of cities as a way of stimulating the rural economy.

For the full story, please see the Sept. 12 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Elbow, featured

Straker plays to packed house at Elbow’s Civic Centre

Singer-songwriter Jeffery Straker performs during a concert at the Elbow Civic Centre on Sept. 3.
Singer-songwriter Jeffery Straker performs during a concert at the Elbow Civic Centre on Sept. 3.

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — Jeffery Straker warned patrons at his concert last weekend not to mess with the lady running the merch table.

Dawn McTavish, his former piano teacher, was lending a hand by selling CDs, T-shirts and other items at the back of the Civic Centre auditorium.

“When I didn’t practise, she cuffed me upside the head,” he joked, “so just keep that in mind.”

Straker, a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Punnichy, entertained a crowd of more than 100 in Elbow on Sept. 3.

The auditorium was filled nearly to capacity for the evening show, a fundraiser for the village’s community park.

Straker had played in Elbow previously as an opening act at another show, and was welcomed back warmly, with at least one audience member wearing red canvas shoes in imitation of his trademark footwear.

McTavish was Straker’s piano teacher for six years, offering lessons from her farmhouse near Raymore.

She has since retired to Elbow, where she plays piano for the Line 19 Choir. (Their repertoire includes an arrangement of one of Straker’s songs, “Prairie Tune.”)

McTavish described him as a “dream student,” adding, “I shipped him off to Regina when he got too good for me.”

For the full story, please see the Sept. 12 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, Loreburn, Obituary

RaiTec back on the court for new season

Davidson’s Elena Nykiforuk jumps up to strike the ball during a senior girls volleyball game against the LCBI Lady Bisons on Wednesday.
Davidson’s Elena Nykiforuk jumps up to strike the ball during a senior girls volleyball game against the LCBI Lady Bisons on Wednesday.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — There’s plenty of new faces on the RaiTec senior girls volleyball team this year.

Manager Sandra Baldwin said that five Grade 10 players have joined this fall, taking the place of five Grade 12 players who graduated in June.

Three other players did not return this year, making for a very different lineup, but Baldwin said she likes what she’s seeing so far.

“Things are looking very positive,” she said, adding that they are aiming to get the younger and older players working together and “clicking” as a team.

“We also look forward to doing as well as we can,” Baldwin continued. “It would be nice to make a return trip to provincials, but it’s pretty early.”

The team includes players from both Davidson and Loreburn, and its name comes from a combination of the schools’ teams, the Raiders and the Aztecs.

Last year’s RaiTec team was highly successful, enjoying many tournament wins and capping off the season with a gold-medal win at 2A provincial championships in November.

Coach Tony Baldwin returned to his post this year, assisted by Jacey Sanden. The team has a lineup of 11 players.

For the full story, please see the Sept. 12 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Bladworth, Obituary

Obituary: Cook, Mary Christine

Mary Christine Cook
Mary Christine Cook

COOK, Mary Christine (née Tomlenovich)

Christine, the second youngest and last living offspring of Paul Tomlenovich and Mary Masich, passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016.

Chris was born September 30, 1922 on the family farm near Bladworth, Sask. She attended both Briggs School and later, Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon. Her work career began at the Bay in Saskatoon prior to her move to Toronto at age 26.

On July 20, 1951 she married Samuel George William Cook, a dashing Air Force officer. Following Bill’s passing and after her retirement, she moved to Mississauga where she lived a full life with countless friends, enjoying many activities.

Just prior to her 93rd birthday, she made the decision and then the trip, to return home after being away for 67 years. She arrived in Saskatoon in September 2015 and lived at Trinity Manor where she was treated professionally and kindly by her caregivers. Chris often mentioned that if she knew there was so much love from her nephews and nieces in Saskatchewan, she would have come home long before now!

Christine was predeceased by her husband Bill (1919-1999), her parents Big Paul (1878-1963) and Mother Mary (1885-1953), siblings Catherine (1906-1984), Anne (1907-1999), Emily (1908-2005), Rose (1910-2006), Joseph Nickolas (1911-1919), Lucy (1913-2000), Josephine (1915-2000), Helen (1917-2006), Joseph Lawrence (1920 -1998), Leona (1925-2010); as well as extended family members, too numerous to mention. She is survived by several nephews and nieces.

At Christine’s request, there will be no funeral. She will be laid to rest alongside her family at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Kenaston.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson.

Craik, Davidson, featured, Kenaston, Sports

Raiders start with a smash

Clay Murfitt (80) of the Davidson Raiders heads for the end zone during the team's season opener against the Outlook Blues on Thursday.
Clay Murfitt (80) of the Davidson Raiders heads for the end zone during the team’s season opener against the Outlook Blues on Thursday.

By Joel van der Veen

OUTLOOK — As they kicked off their season on Thursday, the Davidson Raiders were feeling the heat in more ways than one.

The temperature hovered close to 30°C with a cloudless sky overhead as the senior football team visited the Outlook Blues for their season opener.

Hopes were high for coaches, players and fans alike, all anticipating a big year for the Raiders.

“We’re hoping to make a big run,” said head coach Jason Low, calling the current lineup “the best team on the field that Davidson’s had, up to this point.”

The Raiders delivered on those hopes with a triumphant 90-38 win over Outlook.

Davidson led from the start, with Dawson George scoring the team’s opening touchdown four minutes into the first quarter.

The first half saw the Raiders giving up little ground, holding the Blues to just one TD, scored by Jeff Pshyk near the end of the first quarter.

The Raiders’ offensive had similar success with repeated touchdowns and a couple of successful conversions by kicker Morgan Manz, bringing the score to 54-8 at the halfway mark.

A large lead gave Davidson freedom to rotate its lineup in the second half, allowing younger players plenty of time on the field.

Though Outlook made some progress, the Raiders continued to dominate, taking the tally to 76-30 in the third quarter.

Low and the other coaches were clearly pleased with the results.

“We feel pretty darn good about it,” said Low, adding that after the first offensive and defensive series, “we realized that things were going to work for us.”

For the full story and a full page of photos, please see the Sept. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured, Sports

McNabb signs with Royals

Dean McNabb, seen here with his mother Jeannine, is pictured signing a standard player agreement with the Victoria Royals of the WHL on Aug. 29.
Dean McNabb, seen here with his mother Jeannine, is pictured signing a standard player agreement with the Victoria Royals of the WHL on Aug. 29.

By Joel van der Veen

VICTORIA, B.C. — A hard week at training camp came with some great news for Davidson’s Dean McNabb.

The 16-year-old goalie signed a standard player agreement with the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League on Aug. 29.

He was scheduled to join the team on a road trip for its first three pre-season games this past weekend.

Dean is the youngest child of Kim and Jeannine McNabb of Davidson, measuring six feet, two inches, and weighing 174 lbs.

He was in Victoria in late August taking part in the Royals’ rookie camp when he received the news.

McNabb said he was happy to take the next step with the organization, having been selected by the Royals in last year’s WHL draft. He was a third-round pick, coming 61st overall.

He described the training camp as hard work, with practices, goaltending sessions and games each day.

“You’ve got to keep up and work hard,” he said, adding he’s building his skills and also working to develop patience and confidence.

As one of two rookie goalies, McNabb acknowledged that the next few games will be an uphill battle for him, as he seeks to prove he can compete at the WHL level.

“I am the youngest guy so I shouldn’t be expecting too much,” he said. “For a 16-year-old it’s a bit harder.”

For the full story, please see the Sept. 5 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan