It was a wild and western couple of days last week when the Meadow Lake Stampede Association hosted its annual rodeo June 5-7. Here, 10-year-old Quinn Tallmadge hangs on tight in Friday’s calf riding competition.

by Phil Ambroziak

The Meadow Lake Stampede Association was able to rope another memorable event with this year’s Stampede Week.

The 94th annual celebration, which kicked off June 2 with the annual Western Parade and wrapped up this past weekend with the indoor rodeo at the Meadow Lake and District Arena, attracted hundreds of visitors from the local area and beyond, something Stampede Association president Leighton Wood attributes to both Mother Nature and the opportunities presented to competitors.

“It all went very well,” Wood said. “Certainly the weather last week was in favour of an indoor rodeo. It was nice to have a roof over our heads and I believe that also helped with the crowds. We had large attendance levels each of the three nights.”

Wood went on to say Stampede Week attracted both international participants as well as those from right here in Meadow Lake.

“A third of the contestants at Thursday’s bull riding were from other countries – there were riders from Mexico, Ireland and Paraguay, and there were also a number of Australians,” he said. “When participants come here looking to be part of some of the better shows out there, it really says something about this one. Friday and Saturday were also great nights. Friday featured the local events, which really added to the show. The event becomes much more interesting to the people in the stands when they see people they know competing.”

And, although Stampede Week is finished for another year, Wood said it won’t be long before plans are underway to make the 2015 show even bigger and better.

“While we were cleaning up Sunday, there are already discussions going on about what we could or should do differently next June,” he stated. “We’ll reconvene in the fall and start planning again for next year’s show.”

A grader is used to smooth out the west service road adjacent to Highway 4 last week. Residents have been concerned as of late with the condition of many streets throughout the community.

by Phil Ambroziak

There is a road to a better tomorrow in Meadow Lake, but in order to get there residents need to be both patient and understanding.

That’s the opinion of city officials in the midst of ongoing concerns about the presence of potholes on Meadow Lake streets. The issue came up at the June 9 meeting of city council when councillor Conrad Read said members of the public had recently shared with him their disappointment with the condition of the service road west of Highway 4, as well as on other streets throughout the city.

“People want the city to provide more routine maintenance (to roads) and that’s a fair statement,” Read said in a later interview.
However, he also noted the city’s public works department has prioritized certain roads it will address when the time is right. These sentiments were echoed by mayor Gary Vidal.

“I have concerns about the condition of the roads myself,” Vidal said. “Some of the roads are challenging – I’ll be the first to admit that. But, in defence of city staff, there hasn’t been enough quality weather days for them to get out and address some of these issues.”

Vidal said paving projects typically occur in July. He also said there is approximately $300,000 in this year’s budget for the permanent repair of priority areas while the regular street repair budget also has funds available for patching other potholes.
As for the service road, the mayor said the best solution right now is to have a grader go over it as regularly as possible. A more permenent fix, he added, would be discussed at a future date.

One resident who would like to see the issue of potholes addressed is Andrea Lehoux. She said, in the last year, she’s had to spend close to $1,000 on vehicle repairs because of damage she believes was caused by city road conditions.

“No matter what road you drive on, you’re constantly hitting potholes,” Lehoux said. “The wear and tear this does to your vehicle is downright annoying.”

While Lehoux believes the city should make its main roads and those in front of schools its main priorities, she doesn’t feel the issue is being addressed at all.

“The problem doesn’t seem like it’s going away or that it’s being resolved fast enough,” she said. “If they are fixing the roads, I’m definitely not seeing it.”

The major capital projects undertaken by the city this year have included the new 9th Avenue lift station and upgrades to the city reservoir.

“I would love to be able to spend all of the money for those projects to repave all our roads,” Vidal said. “From a political perspective, it would be great if we could do that. But, what about all that stuff underground that needs to be addressed? What about all the stuff behind the scenes?”

Read agreed.

“When public works would normally have been out patching potholes, they were still busy thawing water lines to people’s houses,” he said. “What would people rather? Having no water coming out of their taps or having to drive a little slower to make it over some potholes?”

Six Australian nurses – under the supervision of the Meadow Lake Hospital’s director of acute care Debbie Carey (centre) – travelled the Northwest to learn about a health care system predominantly used by aboriginal peoples. The experience is intended to allow nurses to become global citizens and increase critical thinking skills. Here, students Justine Samra, Chelsea Gebhart, Astrid Benton, Bipin Joshi, Kacy Blackburn and Elyse Grivell flank Carey outside the hospital.

by Derek Cornet

Six student nurses from Australia travelled to Meadow Lake recently to experience one-on-one contact with a health care system frequently used by aboriginal peoples.

Dr. Arlene Kent-Wilkinson, an associate professor with the college of nursing at the University of Saskatchewan, said the institution has a special agreement with a nursing school in Australia that allows for the exchange of students. Since 2008, the college has been hosting up to six students at varying locations each July while their counterparts in Australia do the same in January.

“Canada and Australia are similar countries,” Kent-Wilkinson said. “They have a similar history of colonization. It’s good to compare them to each other.”

The university offers an indigenous and community-rural focus to nursing, which attracts several students interested in those fields. The students – who were in the Northwest for two weeks – received hands-on experience working alongside staff at the Meadow Lake Hospital and Meadow Lake Tribal Council’s facilities. The group also made a trip to La Loche and met with several people managing the health care of Saskatchewan’s northern residents.

Kent-Wilkinson said the exchange is a valuable tool for the college because it seeks to expose its students to different cultures they’ll encounter while on the job. Meadow Lake has a high First Nations and Métis population and also serves a rural area of the Northwest, which made it a prime destination for the students to visit.

“The exchange prepares them for global citizenship, personal growth, it improves nursing skills and provides them with cultural cognitives,” she said. “They see another country’s health care system in action and it allows them to think more critically.”

Students Kacy Blackburn of Port Noarlunga and Elyse Grivell from Mount Compass were amongst the nurses who travelled to Meadow Lake. Soon after arriving July 5, they began working a various locations in the city and the Northwest.

“I went out to the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation with the ladies who work at their clinic,” Blackburn said. “A nurse showed me around and explained the different traditions in the community and how people are treated at their clinic compared to others.”

The students were also given a crash-course in Canadian and aboriginal history and learned about residential schools and the settlement of Europeans. Overall, the students said aboriginal peoples in Australia and Canada have similar government supports when it comes to the health field.

Grivell also applauded the inclusion of a spiritual room in the local hospital.

“I never felt uncomfortable in Canada since I arrived here,” she said. “Indigenous people at home are more closed off about their traditions and they don’t want to share as much as they do here.”

Meadow Lake’s Gordon McCallum races down the track during the first, and only, heat during Sunday’s ill-fated CPCA races in Meadow Lake.

by Phil Ambroziak

After spilling over to include an additional day because of rainy weather and poor track conditions, the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association’s (CPCA) 2014 Eagle Creek GM Canada Cup event in Meadow Lake ultimately ran dry Sunday evening.

Originally scheduled for July 25-27, the annual races were cancelled Friday when heavy rainfall the night before, combined with more stormy skies in the forecast, made the track unsafe for both horses and drivers. While efforts were made to run the event in full by adding another night of action July 28, it was not meant to be.
“We’re all grownups, so we go into things like this with our eyes open knowing there’s a risk involved,” remarked Bill McDougall, chair of the Meadow Lake Lions Club’s chuckwagon committee.

As per tradition, the Meadow Lake races were to be hosted by the local Lions Club. It was both Lions and CPCA officials, however, who eventually made the call to also cancel Saturday’s races and, come Sunday evening, to call the entire event off when the track still proved to be unsatisfactory.

Lions Club member Bob Nordby, meanwhile, said it isn’t the club that lost out so much because of the cancellation as it was the participants, as well as the fans who packed the grandstand at the Stampede Grounds to witness only one heat Sunday evening before things were halted.

“I thank the fans for coming to watch, it’s just too bad things turned out the way they did,” noted Loon Lake driver and CPCA president Ray Mitsuing. “A lot of this stuff, as far as weather goes, is so unpredictable. Still, this track itself is not really a wet weather track. I have to give a lot of credit to everyone involved for working their hardest to have everything ready, but – after the first heat – the track just looked terrible.”

The first heat was as action-packed as could be expected. A subsequent inspection of the track, however, revealed deep holes in the base.

“The top looked really good, but there was no base underneath,” Mitsuing added. “The horses were sinking into the dirt about six inches as they ran. If any more heats would have ran, the track would have broken right down and been completely unsafe.”

Mitsuing’s son, Devin, understood the reason for the cancellation, but was disappointed he couldn’t compete in front of the Meadow Lake crowd.

“I come from Loon Lake, so this is sort of like my home town show,” Devin Mitsuing said. “In past years, we’ve had days cancelled here and there because of rain, but I don’t recall the entire Meadow Lake event ever being called off like this before. It’s definitely not what anybody wanted.”

Ray Mitsuing, meanwhile, assured fans every effort will be taken to bring the races back to Meadow Lake next season.

The CPCA’s next stop will be this weekend in Dewberry, AB for the annual races hosted by Frog Lake First Nation.

Meadow Lake golfer Alex Bernier with the gold medal she won at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit/Prodigy Series.

by Phil Ambroziak

It was a career first for Meadow Lake golfer Alex Bernier when she won gold at a recent tournament in Prince Albert.

Bernier, 17, was one of six girls to compete at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit/Prodigy Series July 30 and 31. The event was held at the Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert and, on both days, Bernier shot 17 over par for a total of 178. This still put her ahead of second-place Keely Tallon of Nipawin, SK who scored 98 and 99 respectively for a total of 197.

“I’ve never been first before – the closest I’ve ever been is fourth place,” Bernier remarked. “It felt really good and really helped me become more confident with my game. I’m proud of what I did.”

Bernier has already competed in several tournaments this summer as part of the Maple Leaf tour. The next and final event will be Aug. 22 and 23 in Warman.

“I’m looking forward to that event,” she added. “I’m especially excited about seeing all the friends I’ve made this past year and to meeting new girls.”

Still a relative newcomer to the sport, Bernier golfed for the first time when she was in Grade 7. As an avid member of the Meadow Lake Golf Club, she said she now hits the greens at least three times per week during golf season. She’s also been on the receiving end of some expert help from local golf pro Tyler Brouilette.

“I’ve become more consistent thanks to Tyler’s help,” Bernier said. “He’s showed me how to draw and fade when I want to, something that’s been a huge help.”

Meanwhile, on the junior boys side of the event, Meadow Lake’s Diehl Normand scored a total of three over part to place second. The winner of that event was Drew Kocur of Regina whose two-day score was three under par.

Another big winner on the golf course last week was 11-year-old Teigan Wapass of Meadow Lake who placed first in the Peewee boys competition at the MJT Mini Tour. Wapass shot an 88 at the July 31 event.

Brouilette said many of the young players at the local club have really come a long way.

“The kids just keep getting better and better,” he said. “Hopefully they continue to improve their game.”

Meadow Lake and area hockey fans once again had an opportunity to see the National Hockey League’s greatest prize – the Stanley Cup – up close and personal Aug. 6 when Meadow Lake’s Dwight King brought the hardware home for a special celebration at PineRidge Ford Theatre in Lions Park.

by Phil Ambroziak

Paradise became reality for Meadow Lake and area hockey fans last week when multitudes flocked to the hillside at PineRidge Ford Theatre in Lions Park Aug. 6 to witness the arrival of hometown hockey hero Dwight King and, with him, the sport’s holy grail – the Stanley Cup.

As per tradition, members of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) championship team are given one day with the Cup and King wanted to make sure his day was shared with his family, friends and fans who continue to support him throughout his professional career.

“I’m very happy to be here today,” King said. “Having grown up in this community, I’ve probably ran into most of you in the last 25 years. I’m proud to still call Meadow Lake home and look forward to many more summers here.”

King went on to give special thanks to his wife, Lauren, who he said doesn’t always get the recognition she deserves.

“I’m very appreciative of everything she does for our family,” he said. “I’d also like to thank my parents (Donna and Dwayne) who have been the backbone of my career and who have made me what I am today. I would not have achieved all the things I have if not for their support – both emotionally and financially – that allowed me to play hockey when I was a kid.”

King also thanked his siblings – sisters Danene and Dana, and brother DJ – all of whom have had successful careers on the ice.

“Growing up, we weren’t always best friends every day, but the lessons I learned from you I would not have wanted to learn anywhere else,” King noted. “You have all had a big impact on my life.”

Also on hand to address the crowd was Meadow Lake mayor Gary Vidal, RM of Meadow Lake councillor Garry Ratke and Flying Dust First Nation chief Robert Merasty. The chief described the entire King family as tremendous role models, stating children who look up to the Kings and who believe in themselves also have a chance to achieve great things. Vidal, meanwhile, expressed how pleasing it was to have the Stanley Cup in Meadow Lake for a third time – once in 2003 courtesy of Jeff Friesen who played for the New Jersey Devils and again when King, still representing the Los Angeles Kings, did so in 2012.

Vidal and Ratke also presented King with the ‘Key to the Community’, a special award recognizing the athlete’s success as well as the contributions he’s made to the Meadow Lake area.

Also in attendance were King’s former minor hockey coach Brent Dubray, Meadow Lake Métis Local 31 president Guy Tourand and Meadow Lake Minor Hockey secretary Jenny Dennis.

“Hockey is in the hearts and souls of our many young players, as well as the hearts and souls of our many volunteers,” Dennis said. “Dwight, the many hours of sweat, pain and heart you put into your game have rewarded you twofold. You’ve become an icon for many young boys and girls… thank you for continuing to support minor hockey in Meadow Lake. We will continue to cheer you on and show pride in you. You are our champion, you are our hero, you are our great one.”

One of the many young fans to take part in the festivities was 10-year-old Nathan Ouellette.

“I only got to see the Stanley Cup once before,” Ouellette said. “I’m happy he won it again.”

Organized by a special Stanley Cup committee, the visit also proved beneficial for the local needy. In order to receive a pre-autographed photo of Dwight King, those in attendance were encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item to the Door of Hope’s food bank. A total of 821 pounds of food was collected that day as well as close to $700 in cash donations.

Brothers Shane (left) and Vern Nolin were neck-and-neck as they crossed the finish line at Sunday’s CPCA finals.

by Phil Ambroziak

The man once known as the Rapid View Rocket continues his ascent throughout the world of professional chuckwagon racing.

Vern Nolin, who now makes his home in Dewberry, AB, earned his third consecutive (and fourth overall) Canadian Championship on Sunday at the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) finals in Lloydminster.

“It feels good to win – every year this is what you’re gunning for when you start training,” Nolin said.

In the sudden death championship heat – which also included Nolin’s brother Shane, Loon Lake’s Ray Mitsuing and Rapid View’s Layne Bremner – Nolin secured a penalty-free run of 1:20.68 from barrel number three. Although Shane Nolin, who ran from barrel number one, actually crossed the finish line ahead of his brother with a time of 1:20.66, penalties for knocking over a barrel and for starting early resulted in six additional seconds being added to his time. This knocked him down to fourth place in the dash. A similar situation last season involving driver BJ Carey also led to a championship win for Vern Nolin. His other championships were gained in 2012 and 2009.

“My horses worked hard all year, but I was obviously disappointed with the result of the championship dash,” Shane Nolin said. “I’m happy for Vern, but at the same time we’re all in this to win ourselves.”

Vern Nolin also admitted it was a challenge to come out on top against the strong effort displayed by his brother all season.

“It’s always a good time when you have a chance to race with family,” he noted. “There are a lot of brothers, fathers and sons involved in this sport, which adds to the excitement for the fans.”

Meanwhile, second place in this year’s dash went to Mitsuing who, from barrel number four, had a penalty-free run of 1:22.88. Mitusing was also the Lloydminster aggregate winner after three days (the fourth day was cancelled because of poor weather conditions) with a time of 3:48.82.

Bremner, who ran from barrel number two, was third in the championship dash after a one-second penalty for having his wagon ahead of the barrel left him with a time of 1:23.41.

For his victory, Vern Nolin received a new GMC truck. Also considered a prize, however, could be the added drive the champ now has to accomplish even greater success in the future.

“Now that I’m a four-time champion, I find myself starting to look at guys like Ray (Mitsuing) and Brian (Laboucane) who have six Canadian titles each and working toward beating those records,” he said.

As for Shane Nolin, in spite of the unfortunate turn of events that cost him the Canadian title, he was recognized as the 2014 CPCA High Point Champion having recorded 648.5 points to top this year’s driver standings. Rounding out the top five were Bremner with 636, Vern Nolin with 630, Mitsuing with 624.5 and Chauvin, AB driver Kris Molle with 624.5.

“It’s great to win the High Point Driver award,” Shane Nolin said. “I was consistent right through from the start and this was, for sure, the best season I’ve had. Everyone on my crew, horses included, worked hard all year.”

Also recognized for his efforts this past Sunday was the CPCA’s 2014 High Point Champion Outrider Mick Nolin, also of Rapid View. He earned a total of 5,359 points this season, close to 200 points more than the runner-up.

Happy trails
Sunday’s races also marked the final time veteran driver Brian Laboucane of St. Walburg – a more than 40-year veteran – would be in the wagon box. Having met the CPCA’s mandatory retirement age of 65, Laboucane will not be back next year.

“It’s been great,” Laboucane said. “Racing at the finals here has always been fun – the excitement, the hype.”

In the final race of his career, Laboucane finished second behind Dewberry’s Dallas Dyck, but ahead of Kris Molle and Laboucane’s own son, Jamie Laboucane. Afterward, he was met with a standing ovation from drivers, outriders and fans alike as he and his wife, Brenda, waved to the crowd one last time.

“I have to thank my wife and all of the family for all the years of support,” he said. “I’d also like to thank all the help we’ve had over the years. We’ve had great barn help – without a good crew you can’t operate.”

Laboucane went on to thank the many sponsors he’s had throughout his career and assured fans the name Laboucane will live on throughout the sport of chuckwagon racing.

“The boys are all doing it – Jamie, BJ and Mick – and now the grandchildren are starting to talk about it,” he said. “My grandson, Mitchell, is talking about saving money to buy a wagon and he’s only 12. So, it’s going to continue.”

Geoff Barton (left), pharmacy manager at Madill’s Drugs, assists a customer while cameraman Rob Gilfillan of Bamboo Shoots out of Saskatoon and Regina films the action.

by Phil Ambroziak

With more than 80 years of history, Madill’s Drugs has long been a cornerstone of the Meadow Lake community. Now, this longevity is being recognized at the provincial level.

Madill’s was recently named one of five finalists for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Community Cornerstone Award – a new award designed to celebrate small enterprises with deep roots in a community, as well as businesses that both show pride in and support the place they call home.

“We’re all really excited about it – staff, management and the ownership team,” remarked Geoffrey Barton, pharmacy manager at Madill’s. “ It’s a pretty big deal to be one of only five finalists throughout the entire province.”

Also in the running for the award are the Prairie Dog Drive-In in Carlyle, George Home Hardware in Melfort, Ted Matheson Men’s Wear in Prince Albert and Furnace Guys Home Heating and Cooling in Saskatoon. The winner, which will be determined through an online vote held throughout September and October, will be announced at the Saskatchewan Chamber’s annual ABEX Awards Nov. 1 in Regina.

“We are very excited about the potential of this new award,” noted Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber. “It celebrates those smaller businesses which are the true heart of their communities and allows them to engage with their customers through new media. These finalists are great examples of how business and community can come together in a mutually beneficial relationship, and the ways in which business can embody the spirit of its community.”

Madill’s was one of several local businesses suggested as a possible candidate for the award by Meadow Lake and District Chamber of Commerce administrator Donna Ritco and former chamber president Gerald Pohl. From there, Burton completed the lengthy application process before eventually receiving word Madill’s had made the short list.

“This is a great opportunity for some of the locally owned, smaller businesses in the province that have been around for some time – the smaller, mom and pop businesses,” Barton continued.

Although Madill’s is currently owned by Rubicon Pharmacies Canada, the business was founded in 1930 by Harry Madill who operated the pharmacy for 41 years until his death in 1971. Madill’s wife, Emma, retained ownership until 1991 when Bill and Sheila Hart took over.

Bill Hart had already been working as a pharmacist at both the store and the local hospital for many years. The Harts sold the business in 2008.

“It’s an honour,” Bill Hart said upon learning about the nomination. “I was there for the better part of 40 years and, although Harry and Emma Madill started the business, it was Emma who was its backbone for such a long time. This is a feather in her cap.”

Hart went on to also attribute the honour to the dedicated staff that’s worked at the store throughout its 84-year existence. Barton agreed, but also reiterated his appreciation for the groundwork that was laid to get the business to where it is today.

“A lot of this has to do with both the Madill and the Hart legacy,” he said. “We’re riding on that legacy now – they definitely put years of work into establishing Madill’s Drugs as an important part of the Meadow Lake community. Win or lose, it won’t matter. Just to be involved in something this big is great. It really speaks volumes about the people who were here before us and about our efforts to maintain that reputation.”

Emil Bell of Canoe Lake Cree Nation began a trek from Beauval to Saskatoon Aug. 26 to drum up support for a national inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. Here, Bell holds up a feather as he enters the Northern Village of Green Lake Aug. 27.

by Derek Cornet

After reading media reports that included a photo of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine of Winnipeg – whose body was found wrapped in a bag in the Red River Aug. 17 – Emil Bell of Canoe Lake Cree Nation couldn’t keep silent any longer.

“We’re trying to get Prime Minister Stephen Harper to hold a national inquiry on murdered and missing First Nations women and girls,” Bell said prior to departing Aug. 26 for an approximately 450 kilometre awareness campaign between the Northern Village of Beauval and Saskatoon.

Bell’s journey – which will include up to 12 hours of walking per day – rested near the Keewatin Junction Station in Green Lake on his first night. From there, he left for Big River where his daughter lives and moved on for Prince Albert Aug. 28. Bell planned to march into Saskatoon Aug. 30 and chose to do so to coincide with the Labour Day holiday traffic.

Bell said the federal government’s continued refusal to hold a national inquiry on the issue undermines the apology Harper made to First Nations people in 2008 for the crimes committed in residential schools. Bell doesn’t believe Harper was true to his word, which is another reason for his walk.

“He’s coming up with all sorts of excuses and he’s backing down on his word,” Bell said.

On Aug. 21, Harper told reporters during a trip to the Yukon Territory cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls should be viewed as crimes rather than sociological problems. He again rejected calls for an inquiry.

Following the announcement, Canada’s premiers and aboriginal leaders met on Prince Edward Island Aug. 27 where the premiers re-endorsed their support for an inquiry. However, if permission for an inquiry isn’t granted, the premiers were also in favour of a national roundtable discussion with federal ministers regarding the issue.
Earlier the same day, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair threw his support behind a national inquiry and promised to launch one within 100 days if elected into power in 2015.

Debbie Mihalicz of Beauval has been assisting with organizing the trip for Bell and said a petition for an inquiry would also be going along with the awareness march and could be found at several locations along the route.

“He’s (Bell) a role model for people,” she said. “He inspires people to do something instead of just doing nothing about it.”

Bell was assisted by several people during his journey. The only concern the 73-year-old had was how others would view his efforts as he got closer to Saskatoon.

“There’s nothing you can do but keep walking,” Bell said. “Maybe it will change their minds.”

Walter Vidal is happy to once again be able to work at his property north of Meadow Lake. The recent recipient of a device to assist his failing heart, Vidal carries spare parts everywhere he goes in case the device malfunctions. He also plugs into a power module at night, is no longer able to go swimming and must avoid infection at all costs.

by Phil Ambroziak

Life doesn’t often grant many second chances. That’s no longer the case, however, as far as Meadow Lake area resident Walter Vidal is concerned.

In early May, Vidal was at death’s door until he became one of only 100 people throughout Canada to have a ventricular assist device (VAD) surgically installed as a means of sustaining his failing heart. Of those 100 people, as few as six are from Saskatchewan.

“I was suffering from congestive heart failure and went to the emergency department at the Meadow Lake Hospital,” Vidal explained. “From there, I was sent by air ambulance to Saskatoon. Three days later I developed atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm), but they did everything they could to save me.”

However, Vidal’s chances of pulling through long-term were considered slim at best.

“The doctor told my family he didn’t think I was going to live, pointed to the sky and told my wife, ‘It’s up to Him now,’” Vidal continued.

Placed on intravenous therapy, Vidal remained in hospital at Saskatoon for three weeks and appeared to be improving. Whenever he was taken off the IV, however, his health would again decline to the point where doctors determined his only chance to live would be to undergo a heart transplant or receive a VAD.

“He was assessed for a heart transplant, but was not approved because of other health reasons,” noted Vidal’s wife, Elaine. “That’s why so few people have VADs. It’s not that people aren’t getting them, but normally these devices serve as a bridge for patients who later go on to receive a heart transplant.”

Vidal’s VAD procedure took place May 26.

“While I was in the hospital in Saskatoon, I’d gained 50 pounds in fluid, my organs began to shut down and I was reduced to skin and bones,” Vidal said. “Once the VAD started working, I lost that fluid build-up and started to feel a lot better.”

VADs are electromechanical circulatory devices used to partially or completely replace the function of a failing heart. In Vidal’s case, a wire runs through his abdomen and into a pump that’s used to push upward of 400 litres of blood per hour through his body.

“The left side of my heart is basically dead and, because the left ventricle isn’t working, this device pumps blood from the left side into the right side of my heart and, from there, throughout my entire body,” Vidal noted. “I have no pulse and I don’t have a regular blood pressure reading anymore. I also have to wear a controller 24/7, which is powered by two batteries that last approximately 12 hours.”

Vidal was eventually discharged from hospital Aug. 6, but can’t do too much yet because he gets tired and needs frequent rests.

“I’m incredibly thankful to be alive,” he said. “I later found out I had thousands of people praying for me back home in Meadow Lake and through the efforts of friends around the world. It brought me to tears. I couldn’t believe it.”

Meanwhile, Vidal still has to return to Edmonton for regular check ups. This he doesn’t mind, but what he isn’t overly pleased with is how his condition has forced him into an early retirement.

“I operated my own business, Triangle Trenching, for 40 years and now it will never be the same as it was before,” he said. “I installed water and sewer, and septic systems throughout the entire North – from here to the end of the road north of La Loche.

Elaine Vidal, who now serves as her husband’s caregiver, described the last several months as a challenging ordeal. The two have been married 44 years.

“There was a lot of back-and-forth with doctors saying he had less than a five per cent chance,” she said. “I stayed with him the whole time and had no idea what was going to happen. To have it turn out the way it did and for him to have another chance is amazing.”

The Coverchuk family lost one of their pets recently when their three-year-old chocolate lab, Bentley, was shot in the chest by an unknown individual. Here, Kayle and Wyatt Coverchuk pet, Lincoln, the family’s other dog who was also shot, but in the leg and survived.

by Derek Cornet

Marty Coverchuk – who lives 15 kilometres southwest of Meadow Lake – became concerned about his family’s dogs the moment he returned home Sept. 9.

At about 7:30 p.m., Coverchuk arrived home from work, but his dogs failed to greet him as he stepped out of his truck. Bentley, a three-year-old chocolate lab, and Lincoln, a one-year-old chesapeake, were nowhere to be seen. Coverchuk began calling and whistling for the dogs and soon heard a sound coming from the dog house.

“I heard a grunting and growling sound and when I ran up to Bentley he was covered in blood,” he said.
Coverchuk began searching for Lincoln near the house and, by the time he returned, his wife, Bobbi Coverchuk, had arrived to care for Bentley. They found their other dog under the deck and Coverchuk had to crawl underneath to pull Lincoln out.

“I knew he was injured, but I didn’t know what was wrong with him,” he said. “When I went under to get him out, it was like he was scared to death.”

Coverchuk loaded the dogs into his truck and transported them to LaBrash Veterinary Clinic in Meadow Lake. While he thought the dogs had been in a confrontation with a bear, it was revealed through x-rays that both had been shot. Bentley was wounded in his chest and had a bullet resting near his lung while Lincoln had been shot in the leg.

Bentley was put on intravenous therapy for the night and Dr. Ed LaBrash performed surgery the following morning. Coverchuk said there was too much damage and Bentley died soon after. Lincoln, however, went home the previous night.

The incident has left the family shaken. Bobbi Coverchuk said she never wanted to live in a rural area without dogs and for someone to target them is scary.

“We had Bentley the longest,” she said. “We got him shortly after we moved out here.”

Bobbi Coverchuk reported the shootings to the Meadow Lake RCMP and the family is offering a reward for information for those responsible. The Coverchuks don’t know who would go after their pets in this manner and noted the dogs are not aggressive and wouldn’t have attacked anyone.

“We don’t know what time it happened, but it couldn’t have been too long before we got home because there wasn’t a lot of blood,” Bobbi Coverchuk said.

The incident, however, isn’t isolated. Two days prior, Barry and Gloria Dyck – who live less than a kilometre away – discovered their cat was shot through the leg. Barry Dyck said his family has lived in the area for almost 20 years and this was the first time any pets had been shot. Dyck’s cat survived, so he decided not to file a police report.

“I think it’s just kids who were driving around and didn’t have anything better to do – maybe they were drinking,” he said. “But, who knows?”

Dyck said many people use the area as an access point to get past the fire guard while others use trails in the area for quading and there is also a considerable amount of hunting action. Dyck also doesn’t know who would do such a thing, and noted everyone who lives in the area watch out for each other.

“We all get along out here,” he said. “There are no quarrels between anyone, but then all of a sudden this happens.”

Artifacts found on Flying Dust First Nation are highlighting the deep history First Nations people have in the North. Band member Lawrence Bear found the projectile points – which are too large to be arrow heads – almost 10 years apart on the reserve. Here, Bear shares his knowledge of the points as he looks through research he has compiled.

by Derek Cornet

The discovery of what’s believed to be a 2,000-year-old spearhead east of Meadow Lake holds great historical significance for Flying Dust First Nation and its people.
That’s how Flying Dust chief Robert Merasty feels about the artifact, which was found last year by band member Lawrence Bear in a freshly tilled field near the Meadow River.

“It’s something that doesn’t happen very often – it’s very rare,” Merasty said.
The chief went on to describe the importance of the find, adding it’s a physical piece of the community’s history and proves First Nations people have lived in the region for thousands of years.

“It’s important to the band because it shows people were here and how they survived,” he said.

Bear – who actually unearthed what’s considered a Besant Phase projectile point in May 2013 – only recently decided to go public with the discovery, stating now was the time to share with others the strange stone that caught his eye while he was moving horses from one pasture to another.

“This one horse kept breaking off from the path and running into the field, so I had to chase it,” Bear said. “I saw this white rock, so I picked it up and lo and behold.”

Returning to the site afterward, Bear also found a number of other pieces of stone bearing marks indicating they were, at one time, being chiseled into projectile points. He also said the discovery reminded him of a similar artifact he found in 2004. At that time, his find was sent to the University of Saskatchewan for analysis.

A report issued by the university in 2005 concluded the projectile point found a decade ago was used on the tip of a slender spear launched by the use of an atlatl (throwing stick). Studies also confirmed the 2004 piece was between 1,200-2,000 years old and, even though the more recent find did not undergo the same scrutiny, Bear believes they are from the same time period.

“These points give us a better understanding of the people who were here back in the day,” he said. “Just imagine what the land and the river would have looked like before all the development. Everything was more or less simple back then.”

If the point discovered in 2013 is indeed from the same era as the one Bear found in 2004, it would mean – according to the U of S report – it was crafted from quartz, a mineral found in the Precambrian Shield. The report stated, while objects made from quartz in the Shield region aren’t rare, it’s uncommon for them to be found outside of that region. It goes on to note people who used the stones would have had to transport them a considerable distance to end up where Bear found them.

As for how this may have happened, Bear believes there are several explanations. He said it’s possible there was a kill at the site or someone missed their target. He also said the area could have been used as a settling spot because it’s on high ground.

“If they knew they were going somewhere – like when they’d leave in the spring or summer – they would make arrowheads and bury them in the ground, and place a rock there because they knew they’d make their encampment there again when they returned,” he explained.

Jubilee Elementary School student Laci Perry, along with fellow Grade 4 students, helped repaint old school yard benches last week, transforming them into buddy benches.

by Phil Ambroziak

Students are learning a lot more than reading, writing and arithmetic at Jubilee Elementary School in Meadow Lake.

Through their recent efforts to repaint a series of benches located throughout the school yard, the students also had an opportunity last week to grasp important life skills such as the ability to show compassion and empathy for others. Now referred to as buddy benches, the colourful seats serve as a place where students feeling lonely during recess can gather. Seeing one of their peers using the bench then allows others to approach these students and offer to include them in whatever fun they’re having on the playground.

“It’s an idea I got from reading a news story about a school in Winnipeg that did something similar,” explained Jubilee student services provider Amy Nash. “It doesn’t matter who it is – a Grade 4 student could even ask a Grade 1 student to play and vice versa. No matter who is sitting on the bench, there will always be someone for them to play with.”

Nash also believes by including the students in the creation of the benches, it will instil a sense of ownership that will, in turn, allow the students to pay closer attention to someone who there in hopes of finding a friend.

“It’s a great concept – I think all schools should have buddy benches of some kind,” Nash said.

Jubilee principal Daryl Pearson agreed.

“It was a great project for the kids to create – they were really excited about it and couldn’t wait to get their hands dirty,” Pearson said. “More importantly, however, is the goal to have every student in the school feel included. If anyone is feeling left out, the whole school is there to pull them in and to let them play.”

Nash, meanwhile, went on to reiterate the importance of instilling kindness in people at a young age, noting students at Jubilee have always been taught to care for each another. She also has no concerns about the benches being used as a tool for bullies to target other children perceived as having no friends.

“The kids here aren’t like that,” she said. “We’re like a family and the students really do have empathy for their friends. Things are different these days because we’re teaching kids from a young age the importance of being compassionate.”

Among those who helped paint the buddy benches was Grade 4 student Colt Desjarlais.

“I think it’s great because it means none of the kids will ever feel left out,” Desjarlais said. “It’s a really smart idea.”

Devon Culbert of A&J Carpentry Ltd. installs roof rafters Oct. 1 at a four-unit condominium building currently under construction on Gibson Crescent. The project is one of many ongoing throughout Meadow Lake.

by Phil Ambroziak

Meadow Lake continues down a strong and steady path of growth and development.

That’s the message that accompanied a recent report filed with city council by building official Neil Marsh. According to Marsh, the city has already collected $6,239,700 in building permit fees this year, only slightly behind the $6.6 million for all of 2013.

“We’re certainly on a steady trend right now in terms of new properties going up,” Marsh said. “It’s encouraging to see people are willing to invest in our community by building new buildings or renovating old ones.”

Marsh went on to note the majority of permit fees issued this year have been for renovation projects, but added an area of particular growth in 2014 has been the Gibson Crescent neighbourhood. That’s where Al MacFarlane of Meadow Lake Properties is currently in the process of developing three four-plex condominiums, a project Marsh believes holds tremendous merit for the neighbourhood.

“There’s also a house being built next to the condos on Gibson that will feature a new form of construction – structural insulated panels,” Marsh continued. “Usually, the walls of a home are framed onsite using traditional methods. In this particular case, the walls are built at a factory, arrive in sections and are Styrofoam insulated with steel structural elements. It’s a different way of insulating the home.”

Mayor Gary Vidal also shared his optimism about the city’s continued growth, stating several lots in the Gibson Crescent subdivision have already sold.

“It’s a good sign of things to come,” Vidal said. “This sort of steady growth we’ve been experiencing is also good because I believe it makes things much easier to manage from a municipal standpoint than if things suddenly started to grow wildly.”

Both the mayor and Marsh also pointed out it’s not just the newer parts of the city that are witnessing this sort of development.

“There are a few houses that have been built or which are starting to be built in town – people are filling in lots here and there in some of the older sections of the city,” Marsh said. “There’s also the Head Start on a Home project on Fournier Drive.”

Vidal said these in-fill projects are important because they improve some of the “mature” neighbourhoods and make use of existing infrastructure.

Among those to purchase building permits this year is former Loon Lake resident Roy Chenoweth. For the last four months, Chenoweth has been building duplexes at both 208 and 210 3rd St. West. While he and his wife plan to move into one of the units, the other three will be available to rent.

“Something like this definitely improves the neighbourhood and will bring property values up.”

Although the total amount in building permits for the last two years are lower than the $9.3 million collected in 2012, Marsh said this could have to do with a shortage of major commercial projects. The recent numbers are still much higher than the $2.4 million collected in 2011. Meanwhile, the $13 million total from 2010, Marsh said, owes a lot to the construction of the college housing units while a major chunk of the much larger $23 million in 2009 is attributed to the development of the Meadow Lake courthouse.

Of this year’s current total, Marsh said it’s been mainly for residential purposes with the exception of $1.5 million for commercial properties.

With winter weather approaching fast, 10-year-old Meadow Lake resident Brayden Hallberg has set out to help vulnerable people stay warm. He was prompted to act after learning about a man who froze to death in Elks Park in November 2010.

by Derek Cornet

In the spirit of giving, a 10-year-old boy has been collecting warm clothing items and distributing them to some of Meadow Lake’s most vulnerable residents.

Brayden Hallberg and his family traditionally donate a turkey and ham to the Door of Hope to celebrate the passing of Thanksgiving Day. But, this year Brayden wanted to do something new and remembered an incident his mother, Denise Hallberg, told him about regarding a man who froze to death in Elks Park.

On Nov. 22, 2010, a passerby discovered a 60-year-old man laying next to a bench in the park. At the time, RCMP said there were indicators the deceased had frozen to death as the temperature had dipped below -30 C overnight.

“It really bothered him people were passing away because they weren’t dressed properly,” Denise said.

She went on to say it is heartwarming to see her son’s ambition to help people in need. She described her son as a soft-hearted individual who’s always concerned about others.

“In the summer, he was already talking about the coats,” Denise said. “But, we just recently began asking for donations on Facebook, and friends and family have always also been helping out.”

Along with his mother, Brayden has already started to distribute items, and he said recipients are thankful for the clothing. He added he enjoys helping other people and his actions make him feel good.

“We just walk up to people and ask them if they need a coat,” Brayden said. “Sometimes they will say yes because what they have on are thin jackets.”

Denise said anyone wanting to donate items could do so via her Facebook page.

As a group of elders from Flying Dust First Nation look on, Flying Dust chief Robert Merasty and Vivian Pengelly, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster, sign a memorandum of understanding Oct. 17 that marks the official agreement to develop an elders lodge on the reserve.

by Phil Ambroziak

Flying Dust First Nation made history last week when it became the first reserve in Canada to enter into a partnership agreement with Habitat for Humanity.

The deal – which was made official Oct. 17 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties – will see Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster work with members of the Flying Dust community to build a 10-unit elders lodge, as well as retrofit vacant houses in an effort to allow young families an opportunity to realize their dreams of home ownership. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.45 million.

“Our elders want to know they’re being taken care of and an elders lodge is something they’ve been asking about for a long time,” explained Flying Dust chief Robert Merasty.

The major stumbling block for the reserve, however, has always been money. It wasn’t until the band’s oil and gas company, Flying Energy, established itself as a viable entity did the idea really begin to move forward. While the band will still pay a mortgage on the new lodge, Flying Energy’s contribution of $700,000 toward initial capital costs – along with the unique opportunity to work with Habitat – is what Merasty believes has helped the project become a reality.

“A few people suggested we look into working with Habitat for Humanity, a group whose mandate is to provide families with homes, but they’d never done anything on-reserve before,” Merasty noted.

A recent trip to Toronto, however, provided Merasty with an opportunity to meet with a Habitat for Humanity Canada representative where his “out-of-the-box” suggestion was well received.

“It was taken back to the Habitat board of directors for discussion and they made it work – we’re finally going to have the elders lodge everyone’s been asking for,” he said.

Habitat Lloydminster’s role will be to provide the leadership to engage and mobilize Flying Dust volunteers and community partners to donate money, and to gift-in-kind materials and services.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Flying Dust to address housing needs on First Nations land,” remarked Vivian Pengelly, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster. “This is a community project and it’s one we can’t wait to get started on.”

Merasty said, effective immediately, Flying Dust will be working to pull together the necessary committees to get the project going.

“It’s a huge positive for our community,” he continued. “Not only will it provide homes for our elders, but also for our young families. It also provides opportunities for Flying Dust youth to obtain training and skills in building, and it supports community engagement. We start to care for each other, about our elders and we help each other out.”

Other benefits to the project, he said, include enhanced awareness about the maintenance and management of homes and assurance the homes are adequately built. He also said it’s a great achievement to be able to accomplish something like this without a handout from the provincial or federal governments.

“I’ve always said, one day we’re not going to rely on support from the government – that’s my dream, that’s my vision,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Flying Energy also announced an additional $30,000 over three years for Flying Dust Gospel Church and $20,000 for the development of a new playground in the community.

Work on the elders lodge is expected to begin next spring.

Meadow Lake area resident Maurice Demmans examines some of the garbage dumped on provincial Crown land west of the city. Demmans, who lives near the area in question, said he would like to see the illegal dumping stop.

by Phil Ambroziak

It’s sometimes said one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But, according to Meadow Lake area resident Maurice Demmans, it’s all junk.

For several years, Demmans has been growing increasingly concerned with the amount of garbage, including everything from broken down appliances to burned out cars, being illegally abandoned on a piece of Crown land known as Spruce Corner. The property is located off Range Road 3182 west of Meadow Lake.

“It’s a nice little place with a lot of pine and spruce trees,” Demmans said. “During the summer, a lot of people like to go there to pick blueberries. Unfortunately, a lot of people have also been dropping off their trash in there – everything from old dishwashers, stoves, sinks – you have to see it to believe it. It’s a hell of a mess.”

While he isn’t sure when the area first became a dumping area for what he believes are people too cheap to pay the necessary costs involved with disposing of the items properly, Demmans said he first started to notice the problem about five years ago.

“It seems as though, instead of paying the $25 or whatever it costs to take an old refrigerator to the dump, people just bring it here, throw it off the back of their truck and think no one is going to notice,” Demmans continued. “I live about four miles from here and think it’s a real eyesore.”

Demmans doesn’t know how much of an impact, if any, the garbage could have on the environment, but he also doesn’t think it’s right and would like to see the province put a stop to the issue before the entire area evolves into a junkyard.

“There is a sign posted as you enter the area stating it’s illegal to dump and whoever is caught doing so will face a $1,000 fine,” Demmans noted.

According to Glen Kurjata, a conservation officer with the provincial Ministry of Environment, signs such as the one described by Demmans are commonly posted in areas where the government has been made aware of illegal dumping in the past.

“Every year we get calls from people who have concerns about garbage and other waste being dumped in rural areas,” Kurjata said.

Kurjata also said, when conducting an investigation into illegal dumping, the ministry takes the time to go through every piece of garbage in an attempt to identify potential culprits.
“It can be very difficult, but we have had some success,” he said. “This past spring, there were three locations where household garbage was dumped and, through our investigations, we were able to find some names and successfully prosecute these individuals.”

Now that he’s aware of the concerns raised about the Spruce Corner area, Kurjata said the ministry will be looking into those items there to see what can be done.

“Unfortunately, many people do litter, scar the land and possibly cause environmental damage,” he added.

As for Demmans, he said he will continue to frequent the area even though he’s disappointed with how some people choose to treat Mother Nature.
“I’m not proud of what’s happened there,” Demmans said.

2014 Year-End Champion Vern Nolin (far right) accepts his third straight CPCA championship trophy Nov. 1 alongside outriders (left to right) Chance Bensmiller, Brett Nolin and Mick Nolin.

by Derek Cornet

Vern Nolin, formerly of Rapid View, but who now calls Dewberry AB home, stood tall and proud on Saturday evening in Lloydminster as he accepted the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association’s (CPCA) Canadian Championship trophy – his  third consecutive title.

“The list is long of people who get you down the road and help train horses and help on the weekends,” Nolin said in his acceptance speech. “There’s a lot more than just the driver. It’s a team effort and it takes a team to win.”

Up on stage, Nolin was shoulder to shoulder with outriders Mick Nolin, Brett Nolin and Chance Bensmiller. He said it’s uncommon to hold the title three years in a row, noting there’s a lot of tough outfits and the competition has been steadily intensifying in recent years.

In August, Nolin secured the title when he crossed the finish line in second place, but because his brother Shane’s outfit tipped a barrel in the infield, Vern was declared the winner in the sudden death championship heat.

“I bring my whole crew to the banquet – the people who help me out during the summer,” he said. “We wine and dine them and show them our appreciation.”

Nolin is one of 10 CPCA drivers heading to next year’s Calgary Stampede. Among them is 12-year veteran Dallas Dyck of Dewberry. Formerly from Meadow Lake, Dyck will be making his first appearance in Calgary in 2015 finishing the past season with 597 points for eighth place overall.

“Last year, I decided I wasn’t going to outride, I was only going to drive and it showed because I did way better,” Dyck said. “I’m pretty happy. It’s been a long time coming for me and my wife. We put a lot of money to be where we are today and it finally paid off.”

In order to get ready for the Calgary Stampede, Dyck said, like any other year, he’d buy new horses to improve his outfit.

Meadow Lake’s Logan Pethick received the most improved outrider award, which was presented in memory of Chester Gorst. Pethick said he knew Gorst well, noting he was a barn hand for Ross Fisher, who was Gorst’s son-in-law.

“I had the pleasure of travelling with him (Gorst) for the past six summers,” he said.
This past season marked Pethick’s fourth year as an outrider. He added it was a good year, winning two shows, a dash and also rode in Calgary. Pethick attributed his success to training harder in the spring and riding more horses.

He also said he wasn’t able to complete the full season last year due to an injury. Pethick said outriding is an adrenaline rush and he enjoys the competition.

The banquet also marked the end to Brian Laboucane’s 44-year chuckwagon career. The St. Walburg resident, along with his wife, Brenda, was given a standing ovation when gifted with a clock with the phrase “CPCA Legend” engraved on it. In his speech, Laboucane thanked the association and all the people who helped him throughout the years.

“It’s your association, young people,” he said. “You’re doing a great job at growing it and it’s getting bigger and better. Keep going and grow it from where we started back in 1973.”

Laboucane added the outlook for the association had been grim at one point, but he’s happy to see more people have joined or are returning to the CPCA.

“The CPCA is currently growing by leaps and bounds,” he said.

Long-time Meadow Lake resident Norman Cookman, who also serves on the Meadow Lake Thrift Mission board of directors, stands outside 301 Centre St., a close to 90-year-old building owned by the mission that, in the near future, will be demolished. The Jack’s Depot Café sign was recently uncovered when siding was removed from the structure.

by Phil Ambroziak

Jack’s Depot Café.

It’s a name residents of Meadow Lake haven’t heard in a long time, but one that fuelled feelings of nostalgia when the sign that once adorned the front of the popular downtown business re-emerged recently during efforts to prepare the structure for demolition.

“It was known as Jack’s Depot Café when a fellow by the name of Jack Ward was in there,” explained Meadow Lake resident John Skopyk. “He was a barber back in the heyday of the 1980s. He ran a sort of restaurant out of the building, as well as the old bus depot in the back. Barbering was his main trade, though, and he had a little room in there that served as his barber shop. All of us guys would sit around in there and share stories while waiting for our haircuts.”

Ward, who has since passed away, is only one of many business owners, however, to operate out of the building situated at the corner of Centre Street and 3rd Avenue West. Skopyk himself was no stranger to the building prior to Jack’s Depot Café. His father once ran a novelty and hobby shop from that location.

“At one time, it was also a clothing store of some kind,” Skopyk added. “There have been quite a number of businesses in there over the years. That building has a lot of history.”

Until recently, Meadow Lake resident Elton Magee operated an antique store there. When he decided to close up shop earlier this summer and take his business on the road, however, the Meadow Lake Thrift Mission – which owns the building – decided it was time for it to come down.

“The building has started to fall off its foundation,” Magee said. “I had already given notice I was leaving, but when they (owners) came in to look around, it was determined things weren’t safe anymore.”

According to Norman Cookman, a member of the Thrift Mission board of directors, the shop’s north and south walls are indeed sagging. He also said the walls were discovered to be in even worse shape once exterior siding was removed. The building, he said, is likely to be demolished by late November or early December. The lot will then be placed on the market.

“It is sad to see it go,” Cookman said. “I figure it’s about 90 years old. Graham Pearson and his wife built it originally – they had a children’s clothing store in there. I’m 82 years old, but I can remember my mom taking me in there.”

Neither Skopyk nor Cookman could recall every business that once called 301 Centre St. home, but they were able to note some to have come and gone over the years. Among them were a rug shop, flower shop, another café, a hair salon, grocery store, a second-hand store and the Thrift Mission itself.

“It’s such a phenomenal piece of local history,” Magee remarked. “While I was there, I had people come in who could recall purchasing their first pair of school shoes there. I’ve also met ladies who had their first kiss in that building.”

Magee went on to reiterate his disappointment in knowing the building will no longer be part of the downtown streetscape. Cookman agreed, noting it could have lasted longer if it had been properly maintained.

“If efforts had been made to fix the building 20 years ago, when it would have been less costly, instead of covering up all the bad stuff with siding, things might be different,” he said.

In spite of his affinity for the past, however, Skopyk believes the loss of the building should be looked at optimistically by the community.

“If someone builds a new building, it could help perk the main street up,” he said. “That, in turn, could add to the commerce downtown.”

Last week, the Jack’s Depot Café sign was donated to the Meadow Lake and District Museum.

Trevor Gerwing looks on while his wife, Megan Gerwing, makes a cash donation to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign Nov. 21.

by Phil Ambroziak

Much like Christmas itself, the Salvation Army in Meadow Lake’s biggest fundraising campaign comes but once a year.

The Salvation Army kicked off its Empty Stocking Fund last week with the 10th annual Battle of the Badges hockey game held Nov. 21 at the Meadow Lake and District Arena. The event, which saw members of the local RCMP once again compete against Meadow Lake firefighters, attracted a modest crowd willing to show their support for the Salvation Army and the people it supports throughout the holiday season. Along with a silver collection, food items were also collected during the game and will be used to create Christmas hampers for the needy.

“Battle of the Badges is usually our biggest fundraising event of the year,” explained Maj. Peter Eason of the Salvation Army. “After that, our other fundraising efforts include our Christmas Kettle Campaign. For a number of decades – about 35 years – we’ve also held a radio show on CJNS the first Saturday in December.”

Eason added, he’s always confident the community will come through and provide enough support to not only get the organization through the holidays, but the year that lies ahead as well.

“Miniature Christmas Kettles will be set up at various businesses throughout the city while Madill’s Drugs and Extra Foods will serve as the traditional Kettle locations between now and Christmas Eve,” Eason said. “Overall, we’re hoping and praying we can crack the $10,000 mark this year. We’d love to meet that goal, but if not we won’t be dissuaded.”

Eason went on to say the financial support received via the Christmas Kettle Campaign increases year-to-year, reiterating the fact all money collected goes first and foremost to ensuring there is more than enough to stock Christmas hampers with both food and toys.

“Whatever is left over will be used to carry us through until next year,” he added.
These remaining funds go toward various services the Salvation Army provides year-round, some of which include one-on-one counselling and funding summer camp trips for local youth.

“The Salvation Army wouldn’t be in this community going on 80 years now if not for the tremendous support and generosity of the people of Meadow Lake,” Eason said.
As for the number of people who access Christmas hampers through the Salvation Army, Eason said that too has increased in recent years.

“A substantial amount of people apply for hampers each year,” he said. “We always prepare 100-plus hampers, and they’re well-packed hampers.”

Meanwhile, another charitable holiday initiative took place recently in Meadow Lake, as well as the Northwest and Canada as a whole, when thousands of shoeboxes filled with toys and other items were collected for impoverished children around the world. Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and development organization Samaritan’s Purse, was looking to gather 600 shoeboxes from Meadow Lake.

“We don’t know exactly how many we have yet because it’s still collection week,” explained local coordinator Trina Cappelle. “I’ve been involved with Operation Christmas Child for several years now and each year varies, but we usually collect an average of 500 boxes from Meadow Lake.”

Cappelle said it’s an initiative participants look forward to contributing to each year.