By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Renovations to Dr. Lang’s office in Davidson are on hold as the town waits for a priority list from office staff.

The building, which first opened to serve local patients in 1976, is in need of various repairs and upgrades, ranging from a leaky front door to improved soundproofing.

Councillors discussed the matter at the Davidson town council meeting on Sept. 20, where some expressed frustration over the continued delay.

“It’s something that’s been on our radar for the past year,” said Coun. Audrey Hamm. “There’s so much to be done.”

Administrator Gary Edom said the doctor’s staff had noted various concerns about the building but had not given the town a list of priority items.

He said he had spoken to a local contractor about replacing some outdated plumbing fixtures but had yet to receive a response.

Mayor Clayton Schneider suggested that the town should ask the doctor’s staff to identify the top three priorities and seek quotes for those items.

Coun. Tyler Alexander agreed, saying, “I think that should come from Dr. Lang . . . The building’s there for him.”

“We need to get the ball rolling, so that we’re not saying something and doing something very different,” said Schneider.

Receptionist Corey Eddie said Wednesday that the office staff has identified some areas of concern, but a formal list has not been drafted.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 3 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Tyler Alexander threw his hat in the ring on Wednesday afternoon, and minutes later he was Davidson’s new mayor-elect.

“It didn’t look like anybody else was going to run,” he said the next day. “I thought I’d step up and try to do the job the best I can.”

As of Thursday, 12 people had put their names forward as nominees for Davidson town council, falling just short of the record set in 2006, when 13 names were on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls on Oct. 26 to elect six councillors.

No vote will be taken for mayor, though, as Alexander was the sole nominee and was thus elected by acclamation.

He has served one term as a town councillor, and also served as deputy mayor for roughly the past year. In that role, he chaired several council meetings, in part or in whole, in the absence of mayor Clayton Schneider.

Alexander said he’s pleased with what the past council accomplished over four years and wants to continue in that direction.

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Greg Ottenbreit gave local nurses his undivided attention during a meeting at a Davidson restaurant on Tuesday.

The province’s minister for rural and remote health met with the nurses for an hour and a half to discuss staffing levels at Davidson Health Centre.

Speaking to the Leader, Ottenbreit described the visit as a “very positive meeting with a lot of good information” and said the nurses expressed their position well.

The nurses went public last month with their concerns, saying the centre is understaffed and arguing that the situation is putting patients at risk.

Several nurses visited Davidson town council as a delegation in August, asking for council’s support as they pushed for increased staffing.

Some patients and their families have also spoken out since then, detailing how service disruptions at the centre resulted in them being sent home or transferred to other facilities.

The nurses had written letters to several government officials, including Ottenbreit, who responded by arranging a visit to discuss the situation in person.

The minister said he had visited Davidson Health Centre last year and spoken with some of the nurses then, but this was the first time he had met with them on this matter.

Ottenbreit said the conversation centered around staffing levels and the nurses’ desire to have a higher complement of registered nurses (RNs) working at the centre, but he provided few details.

Asked if the nurses’ concerns had merit, he said he hasn’t personally been present at the centre during peak operating times, though he understands their position.

“I take the nurses at what they’re communicating,” he said. “We take that seriously.”

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — They were a small but determined group: the fighters, the survivors and those left behind.

They came together last weekend to continue the fight in a big way.

After a multi-year hiatus, the town-wide Terry Fox Run came back to Davidson on Sept. 18, drawing almost three dozen participants to raise funds for cancer research and awareness.

Cloudy skies, a sprinkling of rain and even thunder did not daunt them, as they took to the community walking trail on foot, on bike and in strollers.

In combination with events held at Davidson School the previous week, a total of $6,078.06 was raised locally for the Terry Fox Foundation this year.

“I spent the whole afternoon rolling coins and counting cash,” said organizer Marie Nadeau, who led a team of nine volunteers.

She said she was almost overwhelmed, adding, “I didn’t think we would do that well.”

Thirty-five participants showed up for the walk on Sunday, including 13 children. Marie Nadeau and a team of nine volunteers.

Between the school and the town-wide events, a total of $6,078.06 was raised for the Terry Fox Foundation.

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.