Around 100 people attended a barbecue hosted by the Loreburn Volunteer Fire Department on April 20.
By Joel van der Veen
LOREBURN — The latest addition to the Loreburn Volunteer Fire Department was front and centre at a recent fundraising event.
The department recently purchased and outfitted a quick response vehicle, at a cost of $37,000, with support from Enbridge and the Rural Municipality of Loreburn.
The vehicle was on display at a toonie barbecue held April 20 at the fire hall, where over 100 people from Loreburn and district stopped by to check it out and enjoy a quick bite.
Procuring the vehicle was an ongoing project, led by fire chief Steve South, village councillors Grant Abbott, Victor Dutkiewicz and Randy Urlacher, RM employees Dwayne Stamnes and Matt Hauberg, and local resident Ryan Tastad.
The area around Lake Diefenbaker was identified as an “extreme risk” zone by the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) in its April 20 report.
The report also indicated extreme risk across much of southwestern Saskatchewan, while other areas across the province ranged from moderate to high risk.
The CWFIS report is updated on a daily basis with the risk level for each area fluctuating from day to day.
Both local fire chiefs indicated that their departments both have steady, dependable crews of volunteer firefighters who are accustomed to responding to wildfires.
Loreburn fire chief Steve South said his department already responded to one grass fire in late March, sparked by a burning barrel, and put it out in around an hour and a half.
“It didn’t get too bad or anything like that,” he said, adding that prior to that, it had been six months since the department was last called out. “It’s pretty quiet here, compared to some places, I suppose.”
South, who began serving as a volunteer around 2000, said the department tends to be busier in the summer and fall, noting that the recent dry weather will likely play a factor.
On average, he said, they handle a couple of wildfires each year. The department has around 25 volunteers, said South, adding, “We usually have a pretty good turnout.”
For the full story, please see the May 2 edition of The Davidson Leader.
Members of the Loreburn Impact 18U pose for a group photo following their Division 2, Tier III win in the 2016 Conexus Provincial Volleyball Championships on April 24.
By Joel van der Veen
LOREBURN — A U18 girls club volleyball team drawing players from throughout the district capped their season with a win at a provincial championship last weekend.
On April 24, the Loreburn Impact 18U defeated the Saskatoon Connex 17U following three sets (25-21, 25-27 and 15-8) to take the gold medal in the Division 2, Tier III event in the 2016 Conexus Provincial Volleyball Championships.
Tony Baldwin, who coached the team with Laurice Vollmer and Karen McConnell, said the team’s roster included players from throughout the district, including Imperial, Davidson, Outlook, Loreburn, Dinsmore and Rosetown.
Though there were a total of 10 players, the team rarely had all players present for its tournaments, as most were involved in other activities including basketball, hockey, wrestling and badminton.
“Lots of them are multi-sport athletes,” said Baldwin, noting that the core of the team had played together before, though several new players joined this season.
The coach said the club team was formed with the goal of allowing the girls to enjoy the game, improve their skills and meet new friends, with winning being of secondary importance.
“They’re making friends and having fun, and that’s the goal,” he said. “We were entirely successful on that front. . . That’s the beauty of small-town club volleyball.”
The team competed mostly in tournaments, taking part in six such events, along with a single exhibition game in Rosetown and the provincial event, which ends their season.
All 10 were present for the division final on April 24, and Baldwin said he was pleased with the end result.
Local players on the team included Kaitlyn Baldwin of Davidson, Jacey Sanden and Lynzey Sanden from Loreburn, and Sarah Joa and Harper Rae from Imperial.
Also on the roster were Nikki Larson from Outlook, Kailyn Jensen and Jocelyn Thorpe from Dinsmore, and Chloe Montreuil and Naomi Hanna from Rosetown.
DAVIDSON — It’s the $1.3-million dollar question: has Davidson raised enough to pay for its new swimming pool?
Recreation director Trevor Ouellette said Thursday he expects to know within two or three weeks, once a firm cost for the project has been determined.
Ouellette, the town council and pool committee have been working with cost projections for the last five months, all of which have indicated the cost would be higher than the target set four years ago.
Initially, the gap was high — as much as $1 million, according to Ouellette — but it has narrowed considerably since then, as the plans have changed and some cost reductions found.
The recreation director said he is awaiting a breakdown for the total cost from CCR Construction, Ltd., of Regina, the general contractor for the project.
Ouellette said he didn’t want to speculate on whether the fundraising total and the project cost would line up.
“Obviously, I hope that they can meet it,” he said, adding later, “The fundraising committee has done such a phenomenal job . . . It’s been a four-year push.”
Four members of the swimming pool committee visited Davidson town council as a delegation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, to discuss the project’s status.
Crystal Johnson reported a revised total from the April 8 community auction, saying the event raised $161,000, along with a $20,000 donation presented by PotashCorp that night.
This brings the committee’s total to $1,331,000, surpassing the initial fundraising goal set in 2012.
Johnson said the committee expected the auction to be its final major fundraising push, adding that the generosity on display reflected a general desire on the part of townspeople to meet that goal.
“We have tapped out this community,” she said.
As the committee moves into the build phase of the project, she and other members wanted to make council aware of some concerns.
Johnson said the committee wishes to have clarification on the roles each stakeholder will play during this phase, including the recreation director, the town council, Walker Projects, the contractors and sub-contractors, and the committee itself.
“People view us as ‘the project’ and we’re getting a lot of questions,” said Johnson. “We’re talking in circles at some level, because we don’t know numbers yet.”
The delegates posed several questions of their own, including when firm numbers would be provided on the total cost of construction, and who would be present for the presentation.
For the full story, please see the April 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.
Classmates Brennan Kakakaway and Hayoung Ryu check out Morgan Tastad’s miniature hockey rink at Loreburn Central School. Students in Shauna George’s Grade 3/4 class displayed their individual Genius Hour projects to visitors during the school’s Leadership Day on Wednesday morning.
By Joel van der Veen
LOREBURN — In four years, the Seven Habits have firmly taken hold at Loreburn Central School — and now, according to one mother, they’re showing up at home.
Darla Wonnick told the story Wednesday of a recent conversation she had with her daughter Annika while trying to solve a problem.
“Well, Mom, are you thinking win-win?” Annika asked her mother.
“Well, Annika, not now,” she replied.
Wonnick, a mother of two and a member of the Loreburn School Community Council, went on to describe the positive impact the Seven Habits have had on the school.
“We walk down the hallways of our school, and we see a huge difference,” she said. “There is excellence happening everywhere, and we are able to recognize it and talk about it.”
She spoke on Wednesday to Loreburn staff and students, as well as roughly 70 guests, gathered in the gymnasium for Leadership Day.
The event, now in its third year, serves as a demonstration of how the “Leader in Me” program has shaped the way Loreburn students work, play and interact together.
The program, developed by FranklinCovey Education, has been implemented at 2,000 schools across the globe. Loreburn began incorporating the program, including the Seven Habits, into its curriculum four years ago.
According to the publisher, The Leader in Me is “a whole-school transformation model, developed in partnership with educators, that empowers students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.”
The program aims to transform schools in three primary areas: teaching leadership directly to students and integrating it into their lessons; empowering staff and students to have a voice in their schools; and making students active agents in their learning.
Each year, Loreburn invites guests — including community members, teachers, parents and students from other schools — to witness the effects of the program.
“We are always working on improving ourselves to become the people want to be,” said principal Jill Long, adding that the Seven Habits have “provided us with a community language that has become part of our school culture.”
While students can easily repeat the habits from memory, Long said she has also seen tangible changes in their behaviour and attitudes.
“Kids are holding themselves accountable more,” she said. “They feel that they have a voice in what happens at the school.”
The students were front and centre on Wednesday, from greeting guests with handshakes at the door to answering their questions as they ate lunch.
Long said the students did the majority of the planning for the event, which was designed with an Olympics theme, including medallion-shaped nametags.
For the full story, please see the April 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.
Davidson students Sarah Bublish, Logan Farrell, Ethan Schilling, Jacob Schilling and Carter Shaw display the awards they won at last weekend’s regional drama festival in Warman.
By Joel van der Veen
WARMAN — Despite facing some tough competition at this year’s regional festival, Davidson’s senior drama club put on what co-director Jason Low said was their best performance this year.
“They represented our school well,” said Low. “They were a fantastic pleasure to work with and direct.”
Davidson was one of seven schools to compete at the Region 11 Drama Festival at Warman High School from April 14 to 16.
The drama club presented SOuLD, an original play written by Low, with a total of 26 students forming the cast and crew.
Grade 12 student Carter Shaw, a longtime lighting and sound technician who served as stage manager for the first time, was named the best stage manager at the festival.
Noting that Shaw won the award the only time he was eligible for it, Low said, “He went in and out with a bang.”
Cast members Jacob Schilling and Sarah Bublish received acting awards of merit, while Ethan Schilling and Logan Farrell received technical awards of merit for their work with lighting and sound, respectively.
For the full story, please see the April 25 edition of The Davidson Leader.
Alvin K. Amrud of Saskatoon passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 88 on March 15, 2016.
Alvin was born in the Strongfield, Sask., area on July 8, 1927 to his parents Albert and Anna Amrud, who were Prairie pioneers of the early 1900s. Raised on the farm till 18 years of age, he then chose to pursue a career in the Canadian Armed Forces. Not long after joining the army he married the sweetheart of his teenage years, Audrey Chrispen. Their first home together was in Whitehorse, Yukon. From there his career took the two of them, and eventually their two children, Ken and Shelly, to military bases throughout western Canada and the province of Ontario.
Altogether he served for 32 years and retired from the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Master Warrant Officer. During that time he had one tour of duty as a peacekeeper in the Gaza Strip in the early 1960s and two tours of duty in Alert, N.W.T., where he oversaw engineering orders of operation.
Upon retirement from the army, Alvin took the job as caretaker to Camp Easter Seal at Manitou Beach near Watrous, Sask. Throughout the 13 years there, he and his wife formed many enduring relationships with the campers that came to holiday at the camp.
As a Mason for 55-plus years, Alvin achieved Right Worshipful Brother of the Dundurn/Hanley Lodge (No. 117). He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 35 years. Alvin was also a member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, Northern Saskatchewan Chapter.
Earlier in life he was involved in the Cubs/Scouts organization. He was a requested speaker for Remembrance Day at various Saskatoon schools. Very proud of his Norwegian heritage, he was involved with the Sons of Norway for a time.
Alvin and Audrey spent many retirement winters in Arizona with other family members and friends frequenting the Mesa area as well. They also travelled often to Winnipeg, Man., to visit their two children. At that time they lived in Davidson, Sask., where Alvin helped deliver for the Meals on Wheels program.
Alvin will be fondly remembered for the many stories he would recall of his life adventures and his generosity of service to family, friends and organizations in which he was involved. Alvin was an inspiring model of family and social values as he was a loyal and responsible man. He also had a sense of humour that brought a smile to the faces of those that knew him well.
Alvin will be sadly missed by his surviving family: sister Ida Barlow of Davidson; son Ken Amrud of Davidson; daughter Shelly (Ray) Buhr of Winkler, Man.; grandchildren Ben and Josanne Duthoit of Winnipeg, Man.; sister-in-law Marguerite Spence of Toronto, Ont.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
He was predeceased by his wife Audrey in 1998, as well as many other family members, relations and friends.
The funeral service was held at Skudesnes Lutheran Church, Loreburn, on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Sonje Finnestad officiating. Brian Hanson attended the register and Carol Dieno was the organist. Active pallbearers were son-in-law Raymond Buhr and Masons Brethren/Peacekeeper comrades/friends, Ken Lowther, Sid Lewis, John McKay, Mark Cubbon and Ray Dinnell. Honourary pallbearers were the many friends and family members from all over Canada and abroad that shared in Alvin’s life journey.
Interment was in the family plot, Skudesnes Cemetery, Loreburn, Sask. Hanson’s Funeral Home was in care of arrangements.
We would like to thank Foyer staff for their excellent care and understanding during Alvin’s stay. They were able to offer warmth and quiet as he required which helped him feel more at ease. A thank you as well to Adam’s Funeral Home in Notre Dame de Lourdes for their interim care in Manitoba, and upon arriving in Davidson, to Hanson’s Funeral Home for their care and professional service in Saskatchewan. With much appreciation, a thank you to the gentlemen pallbearers for their loyal support as friends to Alvin and for the addition of the poppy ceremony to close the service. To all who helped with the service, the ladies at Skudesnes Church for the lunch and to Pastor Sonje Finnestad, your kindness and care were so helpful. God bless all who came and joined in the service and to those who were there in spirit. All memorial donations were gratefully received and disbursed.
Ken Amrud, Shelly and Ray Buhr, Ben and Josanne Duthoit.
