Craik

Ashdown elected to Craik town council

David Ashdown
David Ashdown

By Kevin Gilby

CRAIK — David Ashdown won the Craik byelection for town council on June 3.

Ashdown took 97 of the 171 votes to win the council seat ahead of Mark Wegner and Mike Erlandson.

His experiences include serving in small town churches in Wolseley, Gull Lake and Craik before holding the position of Archdeacon of Athabasca and Archdeacon of Keewatin. In 2001, he was elected Bishop of Keewatin in 2001 and later elected Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land with title Archbishop in 2009.

Since moving back to Craik in 2014, Ashdown has kept his administrative experience and communication skills honed by being a vocal member of the community’s health care task force, writing various letters to government and health region officials, as well as speaking at rallies both in Craik and in front of the legislature building in Regina.

Before the byelection, Ashdown expressed his belief that there is a “need for more engagement by the council with the citizens of the community. People need to know what the council is doing, be consulted about priorities, have access to relevant information, and when for sound reasons information cannot be made available, the reasons should be given.”

“Open and transparent government is critical.”

In addition, Ashdown said he believes that civic pride is essential to growth. He said, “Properties in town need to be well-maintained and contribute to the sense that this is a good community in which to take up residence. Council needs to develop and implement strategies that ensure this happens.”

With only days before his first town council meeting, the new councillor expects to spend the first few sessions learning the dynamics of the meetings. Ashdown intends to quickly learn how to work with Mayor Rick Rogers and other councillors while pursuing the objectives that are important to him and, he believes, to the community.

Craik

Craik project provided gifts for chemotherapy patients

Emily and Melissa Dixon presented their cousin Clayton Dixon with a chemo bag at his farm during a short visit home while in therapy.
Emily and Melissa Dixon presented their cousin Clayton Dixon with a chemo bag at his farm during a short visit home while in therapy.

By Kevin Gilby

CRAIK — A year-long school project dedicated to giving aid and comfort to people receiving cancer treatment has come to an end.

Inspired by a presentation given by a former student and ovarian cancer survivor Ashley Luther, members of the Students Representatives Council and the School Community Council set about following her lead and decided to help others by creating “chemotherapy bags.”

Throughout one’s treatment for cancer, chemotherapy sessions often last four to five hours or more the students learned. During that time, patients are unable to leave the facility for snacks or distraction and, if not prepared, boredom can quickly set in.

Each grade of the school was tasked with compiling a list of items that would be helpful to the patients.

With a little bit of imagination, and a lot of empathy, the students quickly determined the bags would need to be stocked with hard candies, water, juice, socks, books, lotions, and sometimes, toys among other items.

Lists in hand, students went home to ask for donations from friends, family, and community members to get the items needed and even obtained donations from some businesses.

Each bag was tailored to be specific for the needs of patients at different ages and interests. While some of the bags were earmarked for people known to the school, the majority of the bags were donated to accepting patients at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina.

Familiar with the hardships and loneliness treatment can cause, Grade 12 student Drayden Selinger surprised his mother Arlene when he informed her of what the school was planning to do.

Arlene Selinger, a cancer survivor herself, was overjoyed to learn of the care packages and quickly volunteered to add an extra special contribution.

During her treatment, she wanted to thank the volunteers that spend each day walking through the cancer centres giving patients and family members free coffee, juice and biscuits. While her initial offering of a financial contribution was declined, Arlene’s offer of homemade pillows was gladly accepted.

“Making these pillows gave me a purpose when going through my treatments,” Arlene said. “It was uplifting to receive thank you cards and notes from people I didn’t even know, but going through a similar experience as myself.”

Asked if the school would donate chemo bags again, Drayden said, “I don’t really hear a lot of people helping out with chemo bags or giving out extra stuff for people going through this, so I think it’s a really good idea to keep continuing this idea in the near future and further.”

Davidson

Cadets small in numbers, but big on opportunity

Former cadet Jaclyn Edwards performs her duties as reviewing officer during the 553 Sherlock Squadron's annual review on June 1 at Davidson Town Hall.
Former cadet Jaclyn Edwards performs her duties as reviewing officer during the 553 Sherlock Squadron’s annual review on June 1 at Davidson Town Hall.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Serving as the reviewing officer for the Sherlock Squadron’s annual review brought back a flood of memories for former cadet Jaclyn Edwards.

“This program changed my life,” she told the cadets gathered at Davidson Town Hall. “I kind of want to come back . . . I’m really proud of you guys.”

The local Royal Canadian Air Cadets squadron held its review on June 1, drawing a crowd of about 20 people to the auditorium to celebrate and recognize the cadets’ achievements over the past year.

This year will mark the squadron’s 30th anniversary in Davidson, but enrolment in the program has reached its lowest level yet with just four cadets finishing out the year.

Capt. Krystal Klenk said she’s hopeful that enrolment will increase next year, as the squadron welcomed several new cadets last fall.

“Our squadron may be small, but we have achieved and overcome to make this year a success,” she told the audience during her address.

Area director Gordon McRae also expressed his pride in the program and in the results he’s seen, exhibited in the many young people who have graduated from Air Cadets.

“I always feel proud of the program,” he said. “I would very much like to see it go on.”

Along with the ceremonial review, the program on Monday night included the presentation of awards and speeches by Klenk, McRae and Edwards. Ryan Potts served as master of ceremonies.

Jaclyn, 20, is the youngest child of Bill and Sandra Edwards. She followed in the footsteps of her older brother and sister by excelling in the program.

She recalled last week how she came along to meetings with her sister before she was old enough to join. As a cadet, she quickly caught up to her sister in rank, and as a senior cadet she was two years younger than her colleagues.

Edwards — now in her second year at the University of Saskatchewan, studying microbiology, immunology and biotechnology — said she took advantage of opportunities to improve her leadership skills.

“I’m more outgoing,” she said. “I’m not afraid to step up and take charge . . . It’s definitely helped that way.”

Edwards said the program gave her many other opportunities, from summer camps and flying experience to attending the world’s largest air show in Oshkosh, Wis.

She said serving as the reviewing officer was somewhat emotional for her because she once babysat the Townsend children, now enrolled in the program themselves.

Edwards also said she hopes to see enrolment increase, and that it would be a tremendous loss if Davidson lost the squadron. Added numbers would allow the cadets to explore more opportunities, she added.

L.A.C. Jessica Townsend received both the Star Cadet award and the Best Dressed award, while L.A.C. Breanna Townsend was honoured with the award for Most Proficient First-Year Cadet.

Corp. Weston Wilcox was presented with the Most Improved Cadet of the Year, traditionally presented to second-year cadets. Klenk noted that although he is technically in his first year, he has advanced enough to reach the ranking of a second-year cadet.

The squadron enjoyed another busy year of adventures, which included competing against other cadets in zone activities in Saskatoon, taking part in a survival weekend at Buffalo Pound and attending a Snowbirds air show at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.

In the winter, the cadets visited Mitchinson’s Flying Services in Saskatoon and had the opportunity to fly in a Cessna 152 two-passenger craft.

Over the year, cadets also toured the STARS Air Ambulance facility and helicopters in Saskatoon, viewed a Chinook duel propeller helicopter at 15 Wing, and flew in gliders at the Moose Jaw Gliding Centre.

Klenk, now in her sixth year as the squadron’s commanding officer, is herself a graduate of the squadron, having joined in 2004 at age 15.

She said she travels each week from her home near Watrous for the squadron meetings, noting that all of the leaders come from out of town.

Klenk said that the low enrolment numbers also mean there are fewer parent volunteers to help with the program, adding, “We also need people over here to help us grow.”

Local cadets will be busy with activities over the summer; the squadron will resume meeting in the fall with an open house on Sept. 14.

The program is open to recruits ages 12 and up. For more information, contact Klenk at 306-946-3773 or 306-946-9941, or email krykle@sasktel.net.

Dundurn, Hanley

Prairie Spirit changes its tune on band programs

By Joel van der Veen

WARMAN — Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) has reversed a recent decision on band programs at its schools, announcing last week that the programs would be funded for the coming year after all.

The announcement came almost a week after the division had said it would cut funding for instrumental band programs for the 2015-16 school year, as part of its efforts to handle a $7.1-million funding shortfall.

The decision would have affected band programs across the division, including Dundurn Elementary School, which offers the program in grades 5 and 6, and Hanley Composite School, which offers band to students in grades 5 through 12.

Students who completed a Band 10 credit this year would have the opportunity to finish Band 20 and/or 30 credits, but the existing program would gradually be replaced with a broader musical education program.

The division allowed for the possibility of extracurricular band practices to be organized by “interested teachers” but said bussing would not be provided for those practices.

The PSSD then found itself caught in something of a political firestorm, as NDP education critic Trent Wotherspoon said the cuts were a symptom of underfunding by the Saskatchewan Party government and demanded that funding be restored.

Meanwhile, education minister Don Morgan defended his party’s record and argued that Prairie Spirit’s own board was to blame for the division’s budget woes.

The division announced the reversal of its decision in a letter to parents dated June 3 that was leaked to the StarPhoenix and later made public.

PSSD director of education John Kuzbik told the Leader on Thursday that the division received plenty of feedback on the issue, much of it from students.

“I really admired how the students went about sharing their displeasure,” he said. “They were respectful . . . They wanted to make it clear that it was a passionate area.”

He also said the response stretched beyond parents and students to include members of the local music community.

Ultimately, he said, the division changed its plan once it determined it would not be able to provide a sufficient replacement program for next year.

The board made the decision at its June 1 meeting to “continue to provide financial support to keep the band music programs operating in their current locations,” according to the letter to parents.

“We had to rethink what we were offering,” he explained. “As we got deeper into it, we realized we weren’t ready to offer an alternative program that could generate as rich an experience as the band program could offer.”

The board had committed not to eliminate programs, but to reduce or replace them; it was determined that the proposed plan would have broken that commitment.

Kuzbik said the division has received feedback on the other cutbacks it has made, so the volume of response on the band matter was close to what they had anticipated.

He said the plan moving forward is to attempt to grow the current program to attract more students, to make it more economical and to see whether it can be expanded to toher schools.

Figures released by the school division last month indicate that fewer students are continuing with the current band program, with numbers dropping off dramatically between Grade 5 and Grade 12.

Meanwhile, the division is still grappling with a major funding shortfall, which must be addressed in time for the budget to be adopted on July 15.

Kuzbik said the division staff and board are working closely together to find possible areas for restructuring or cost savings, adding, “That’s just the nasty work that we’re involved in.”

“It’s really unfortunate that we have to go into making program reductions and staffing reductions because of the big shortfall,” he continued, adding that he feels the division’s expectations are not “out of line with what other school divisions are able to do.”

Kuzbik said he hopes the commotion over the band program has put a spotlight on the division’s situation and the decisions they are forced to make.

A statement issued by the division identified “inadequate and inequitable funding” as the root cause of its current financial situation. Kuzbik said more information on possible reductions may be made public next week.

Reductions have already been made within certain areas, including teacher-librarians, career and work experience, technology, division office staff and educational associate support, according to the division.

“We may have the ability to make choices,” read the letter to parents, “but there are no good choices to be made given the inadequate funding that the school division is receiving from the province.”

The division also expressed its thanks to those who provided feedback, apologizing for “any emotion and hardship” experienced by affected families and asking them to direct their voices of the Ministry of Education.

Parent meetings scheduled for June 8 and 10 have been postponed until September.

Kenaston

Kenaston highway junction will stay unchanged for now

By Joel van der Veen

KENASTON — A highway intersection east of Kenaston will stay the way it is for the foreseeable future, after it was discussed at a meeting held in the village last month.

The meeting, held May 8 at Kenaston Place, brought together representatives from local governments and officials from the provincial ministry of highways and infrastructure to discuss a proposed redesign of the junction of highways 11 and 15.

Kenaston Mayor ML Whittles reported that officials were responsive to local concerns and said the ministry would delay the redesign of the intersection, also pledging to bring local stakeholders on board as part of a steering committee.

She quoted Jennifer Fertuck, the ministry’s acting director of regional asset management for the central region, as saying: “For the time being, Highway 15 will remain where it is today and receive regular maintenance to ensure serviceability.”

“It was an exceedingly good meeting,” said Whittles. “We felt that we were heard . . . I’m really happy with the outcome.”

Present at the meeting were the councils of both the Village of Kenaston and the Rural Municipality of McCraney, as well as deputy fire chief Ken Remmen of the Kenaston Volunteer Fire Department.

In addition to Fertuck, the ministry was represented by Ron Gerbrandt, assistant deputy minister for design and innovation; Rock Gorlick, executive director for the central region; and Harold Retzlaff, director of transportation planning.

Whittles said the meeting was held to discuss issues with the proposals for the intersection, located just east of the village.

The ministry had offered several proposals for a redesign of the junction, but local officials were concerned about how the plan was moving forward.

“We didn’t like the way that it appeared to be going,” said Whittles, adding that the council believed the proposed redesign would be unsafe and would bring highway traffic closer to the village.

The proposal, which would reshape Highway 15 with an S-curve wrapped partially around the village, would also have limited the possibilities of growth for Kenaston by preventing the development of several lots.

“They were taking too much from us,” said Whittles. “I believed they were set on going one way.”

Council members had communicated their concerns with the public, and a petition circulated at several local businesses collected a total of 169 signatures.

Whittles said the petition gave them ammunition in their talks with the ministry, as it indicated that local officials had the community’s support behind them.

At the meeting, the petition was presented to Gerbrandt, who quickly acknowledged that the local concerns were valid, according to Whittles.

As a result, the ministry announced it would put its plans in limbo, pending the formation of a steering committee that would include local representatives.

Whittles said she was pleased about the community’s response and the outcome of the meeting, adding that the village hopes to move ahead with plans to sell and develop empty lots along the existing Highway 15.

Joel Cherry, a spokesman for the ministry, confirmed Thursday that consultations with the public and stakeholders would be part of the process for planning the future of the intersection.

He said any changes to the intersection are “probably a long way off” but added that there is no set timeline.

For the full story, please pick up a copy of the June 8 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson, Hanley, Sports

Local runners impress with half-marathon results

Donna Libke, Patti Libke and Ellen Packet are pictured after taking part in the Saskatchewan Marathon in Saskatoon on May 31. Donna completed the five-kilometre run, while Patti and Ellen competed in the half-marathon event.
Donna Libke, Patti Libke and Ellen Packet are pictured after taking part in the Saskatchewan Marathon in Saskatoon on May 31. Donna completed the five-kilometre run, while Patti and Ellen competed in the half-marathon event.

By Joel van der Veen

SASKATOON — Several area residents were among the thousands who hit the trail in the annual Saskatchewan Marathon, held May 31 in Saskatoon.

While none competed in the marathon itself, seven completed the half-marathon — 21.1 km in length — including Wally Peters of Hanley, who finished the race in 1:47:40, putting him in 164th place out of 957 runners.

Also leading the local pack were Ellen Packet of Davidson, and Patti Libke, formerly of Hanley and now residing in Saskatoon, who both completed the half-marathon with a time of 1:54:01.

Packet, 27, said the result was a personal record. She said she began running about two-and-a-half years ago, after competing in a marathon with her friend Katie McNabb.

“She’s not a swimmer, I’m not a runner,” she explained, saying she returned the favour by joining McNabb in a 10-kilometre run a short time later and then continued running herself.

Packet said she has tried to connect with other runners in town, starting a “couch to 5K” program in May with the aim of helping others work up to a five-kilometre run.

A couple of others have joined her, but she said it’s been hard to arrange a time that works for everyone, as some prefer to run in the mornings and others would rather go after work. Others are welcome to join them, she said.

This was Packet’s third time in the Saskatchewan Marathon. She also plans to complete the half-marathon in the BMO Vancouver Marathon on August 15, a week after her wedding.

Other local competitors in the Saskatoon half-marathon included Melissa Nelson of Davidson, 2:09:54; Anne Moren of Simpson, 2:16:04; and Carrie Hart of Dundurn, 4:04:54.

Competing in the 10-kilometre run were Valerie Bradley, Dundurn, 55:00; Jade Van Damme, Imperial, 55:00; Rhonda Kelly, Imperial, 57:02; Michael Schell, Dundurn, 1:00:48; and Gerald Heit, Dundurn, 1:16:45.

Taking part in the five-kilometre run were Donna Libke of Hanley, with a time of 37:30, and Merilee Boyle of Elbow, with a time of 42:18.

Sergii Vashurin, a Ukranian runner from the western city of Chernivtsi, took first place in the full marathon with a time of 2:37:55, while Erin Gardiner of Saskatoon finished in first among the women with a time of 3:00:21.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan