Davidson, featured

Air Cadets take flight with final review

The cadets of 553 Sherlock Squadron march during their ceremonial review at Davidson Town Hall on June 13.
The cadets of 553 Sherlock Squadron march during their ceremonial review at Davidson Town Hall on June 13.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — As he spoke to a crowd of Cadets, leaders, parents and supporters on Monday, Gordon McRae knew he was preaching to the choir.

McRae, longtime area director for the Air Cadets program, was speaking at the 553 Sherlock Squadron’s annual ceremonial review at Davidson Town Hall.

For years he has promoted the program as a way of teaching leadership and citizenship skills, but as he acknowledged Monday, those gathered for the event were well aware of its benefits.

“We are all here tonight because we all believe in the Cadet program,” said McRae. “I’m at a loss for words as to what could make it better.”

The review — held June 13 with roughly 30 people in attendance — marked the end of Air Cadets in Davidson after 30 years.

The local squadron has faced declining enrolment for years, with just eight cadets registered as of this spring, coming from Davidson, Bladworth, Craik and Stalwart.

The head office laid down the law this year, telling organizers that they needed to have 25 cadets registered by the end of February. After that deadline came and went, it was announced that Sherlock Squadron would be suspended at the season’s end.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured, Sports

Para athletes bring tour to Craik

Craik student Quinn Nielson takes a spin in a handcycle under the guidance of former Paralympic athlete Colette Bourgonje.
Craik student Quinn Nielson takes a spin in a handcycle under the guidance of former Paralympic athlete Colette Bourgonje.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — As he took control of a handcycle for the first time, the look on Quinn Nielson’s face was equal parts hard work and joy.

His arms pumped back and forth as he manoeuvred around the gym at Craik School using the hand-propelled, three-wheeled vehicle.

It didn’t take long for Quinn to get the hang of it, and soon he was picking up speed, making sharper turns as he continued doing loops of the room.

His sister Maren — like him, a Grade 12 student at Craik — also had a go at the handcycle, with every bit as much enthusiasm as her brother had.

“I need one of those,” she said afterward, grinning widely. “I don’t know how good this is going to go over with Mom.”

The handcycle was brought to Craik School on Tuesday by a group of athletes headed across the province on the Saskatchewan Para-Sport Tour Dream Relay.

Between June 8 and 17, the team of 14 athletes travelled from Prince Albert to Regina to promote parasports and physical activity in general, and to recruit new athletes.

“Sport changes lives, and we’re having a ball,” said organizer Colette Bourgonje, “and we want to change other people’s lives as well.”

The 363-kilometre tour included stops at six schools — Queen Mary in Prince Albert, Duck Lake, Warman, Hanley, Craik and Lumsden.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Kenny all smiles on 100th birthday

Paula Kenny chats with a guest during a party in honour of her 100th birthday on June 4. Seen at her left is her daughter Marlene Chanski.
Paula Kenny chats with a guest during a party in honour of her 100th birthday on June 4. Seen at her left is her daughter Marlene Chanski.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A steady stream of well-wishers was on hand to congratulate Paula Kenny on her 100th birthday, and she was ready with a friendly smile for each and every one of them.

Kenny’s family celebrated her centennial birthday with a come-and-go party at the Davidson Seniors Centre on the afternoon of June 4.

Upwards of 130 people signed the guest book for the event. The guests quickly filled the hall and eventually spilled outside, where they continued to socialize and enjoy the warm summer-like weather.

For the full story, please see the June 13 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, Elbow, featured

Pastures seek plan to curb spurge growth

Pasture manager Ross Sigfusson speaks to guests during a tour of the Willner-Elbow community pastures on June 6.
Pasture manager Ross Sigfusson speaks to guests during a tour of the Willner-Elbow community pastures on June 6.

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — There’s no magic bullet, and if they’re going to stop this problem from spreading further, they’ve got to step up their attack.

If the language used by directors of the Willner-Elbow community pastures last week seems aggressive, there’s a good reason for it.

Leafy spurge was the focus of a public tour of the pastures, held the afternoon of June 6.

Despite efforts to control the invasive spurge, the noxious weed has continually spread, now covering an estimated 12,000 acres of pasture land on the east side of Lake Diefenbaker.

“It’s an ongoing battle,” said pasture manager Ross Sigfusson, who led the tour on Monday.

The event was hosted by the Willner Elbow Grazing Corporation (WEG) and the South Saskatchewan River Agri Environmental Group Plan.

Around 40 people were in attendance for all or part of the event, riding quads across the pasture and stopping periodically at points of interest.

The group included pasture patrons, area ranchers, representatives from other pastures and farm organizations, government employees and officials, and members of the media.

The tour was intended to increase awareness of the spurge and its ongoing spread, and to get various parties committed to a co-ordinated approach to bringing the weed under control.

Guests also got an up-close look at a current measure being used to combat the spurge: intensive grazing by a herd of 1,600 sheep and goats.

For the full story, please see the June 13 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, Davidson, featured, Hanley, Kenaston, Loreburn

Best of the best face off at provincial track meet

Loreburn's Shane Lafontaine competes in the senior boys 100-m hurdles at the provincial track meet in Regina.
Loreburn’s Shane Lafontaine competes in the senior boys 100-m hurdles at the provincial track meet in Regina.

By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — Local athletes pitted their skills against competitors from across the province last weekend at Regina’s Douglas Park.

Students from Craik, Davidson, Hanley, Kenaston and Loreburn were among the participants at the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association’s provincial track and field championships on June 3 and 4.

Paulette Killoh, co-ordinator for Davidson School’s track and field program, said she was proud of the five competitors from her school, some of whom achieved personal bests.

“We need to realize that we’re competing against students and athletes that train year-round,” she said Wednesday.

Killoh said she encouraged students to set their own goals, adding that many of them followed through and were happy with the results.

She gave the example of Jacob Schilling, who competed in two running events in the junior boys division, performing well despite suffering from a cold.

“He and Derek (Schmiedge) trained all year with the goal of reaching provincials,” she said. “It’s got to be their goal, and they work for it.”

Derek Schmiedge and Clay Murfitt both competed at provincials for the first time in the midget boys division.

Schmiedge set a personal best in the 3,000-metre run, beating his time from the district meet by 15 seconds, while Murfitt earned an impressive 11th place in the high jump.

Emily Read also achieved a personal best in the midget girls long jump, beating her previous record by 23 centimetres.

Ben Nykiforuk returned to provincials for the final time as Davidson’s only senior competitor, making a solid showing in the triple jump event.

Jadyn Reiber of Hanley was the only district student to earn a medal, taking bronze in the midget girls pole vault.

For the full story and complete local results, please see the June 13 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Wooden elevator bites the dust

The north annex of the Richardson Pioneer grain elevator at Davidson came crashing down just after 12 p.m. on Tuesday.
The north annex of the Richardson Pioneer grain elevator at Davidson came crashing down just after 12 p.m. on Tuesday.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A piece of Davidson’s history fell to earth last week, bringing plenty of dust with it.

Demolition of the Richardson Pioneer grain elevator began in earnest on Tuesday, as the first of three sections was brought down by a wrecking crew.

The north annex fell just after 12 p.m., with a small crowd of Richardson-Pioneer employees and other spectators looking on.

The demolition was carried out using a single trackhoe, which chipped away at the building from the west side, then moved to the corner to lay the final blows that brought the structure down.

An enormous cloud of dust was released to the southwest as the elevator fell, enveloping several vehicles parked nearby.

“We literally couldn’t see,” said Richardson Pioneer employee Marla Dezotell, who was watching the demolition from her vehicle, shooting a video with her cellphone.

Dave Mihalicz Excavating, an Assiniboia-based company, was responsible for the demolition. Mihalicz said he has been in business since 1981 and has torn down more than 700 elevators.

The process is much the same in each case, he said, adding, “We’ve done so many of them.”

Mihalicz said his crew would clear away the debris left from the north annex and then proceed to demolish the other sections, with the schedule dependent on weather and other factors.

The centre of the building, the original elevator, was slated to fall next, followed by the south annex.

For the full story, see the June 6 edition of The Davidson Leader, or phone 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan