听 听 听 听 听 听 (Editor鈥檚 note: The following article details highlights of events which have been reported on by The Canora Courier during the course of 2016 to serve as a source of nostalgia for the year that has passed. Dates listed refer to publication dates and not to dates of the events.)
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January
听听听听听听听听听听听 January 13 鈥� The Canora Peewee Cobras remained undefeated with a record of six wins and three ties with another win recorded against the Esterhazy White Flyers. Bob Kolodziejski led the Canora men鈥檚 curling team in defeating two Kamsack teams in order to win the championship trophy for the Duck Mountain Super League. Gina Rakochy led town council in the making of appointments for general government, protective services, public works, environment and health, recreation and culture and planning and development.
听听听听听听听听听听听 January 20 鈥� SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church was designated as a pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, a Roman Catholic prayer period. Jason Prokopetz, a paramedic with Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS), held a presentation at Canora Composite School to explain how he provides emergency services. Sharon Ripa saw a total of 28 youth register for a youth curling clinic in order to teach the mechanics of the game and get younger people interested in the sport.
听听听听听听听听听听听 January 27 鈥� Lt. Darren Paul was named the commanding officer of the Canora Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, succeeding Trish Anderson. Prairie Women on Snowmobiles travelled through Canora and made a stop at an event hosted by the Canora Wheatland Lioness Club. Canora Composite School held a basketball tournament for the junior girls team and the Grade 7 team, which was won by the junior girls team.
February
听听听听听听听听听听听 February 3 鈥� Linda Greba of Sturgis started a new organization Start Timely Insurance Practices Inc. (STIP) to lobby the provincial government to pass legislation for more stringent regulations governing the insurance industry. Gary Shepherd made a presentation to the Sunrise Regional Health Authority on the progress of the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, which involved the building of the Kamsack Family Resource Centre. The Mighty Drunks won the Canora Flames recreational hockey tournament.
听听听听听听听听听听听 February 10 鈥� Dr. Sirous Jafarian began practice as a general practitioner in Canora with the Canora Health and Wellness Centre. Aaron Herriges began work as the new director of leisure services. The Canora Composite School junior mixed curling team won gold at the district competition in Sturgis after having played five games in the double-knockout competition.
听听听听听听听听听听听 February 17 鈥� Cal Tomilin met with the Canora Travel Club to discuss sites the students will visit in Ireland, England and Scotland. Dale Weinbender, Mina Mykytyshyn, Megan Tomilin and Benjamin Kuang represented Saskatchewan at the Global Vision Western Canada Round Table in Vancouver. The Ron Hoehn rink of Canora won the Canora Town and Country Bonspiel after competing against 13 teams.
听听听听听听听听听听听 February 24 鈥� The Parkland Music Festival had a total of 350 performers and 75 attendants at the final concert. Mike and Mary Waselyshen participated in a mock wedding for the Valentine鈥檚 Day social at the Keen Age Centre. Kevin and Barb Coleridge won the Ted Palagian Memorial Two-Person Stick Bonspiel at the Canora curling rink.
March
听听听听听听听听听听听 March 2 鈥� The St. Andrew鈥檚 United Church Players performed a play titled Stop the Presses to sold-out crowds, telling the story of a newspaper office on election day for a new mayor. The River Ridge branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation was presented a plaque in recognition of a $40,000 donation to the Habitat Trust program. Don Bahrey of Canora was appointed as a new member to the Parkland College board of governors.
听听听听听听听听听听听 March 9 鈥� Kathy Thomas organized the River Ridge annual banquet and awards night, which was attended by 140 adults and 34 children. The Canora Sno-Pitch Tournament featured six teams from Canora, Yorkton, and Kamsack to play in a double knock-out format. The Bob Kolodziejski rink of Canora was the winner of both the Darrell Teslia Memorial Bonspiel and the Buchanan Open.
听听听听听听听听听听听 March 16 鈥� Kevin Hryhoriw returned to Canora and to the floral business by opening Carnation Street Florals. The Knights of Columbus basketball free throw competition honoured 10 students at Canora Composite School and two at Canora Junior Elementary School for 小蓝视频 the top shooters in the competition. The Canora Skating Club presented its annual ice carnival with the theme 鈥淎 Blast from the Past.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 March 23 鈥� Mathew Sleeva was named the new owner of Gabora Electric and had plans to hire new workers and a journeyman electrician. The Good Spirit 4-H Club held a public speaking competition in Canora, with the winners to advance to the district competition in Norquay. Cec Machnee challenged his students to make something a pioneer might have made to survive in Saskatchewan, and his Grade 8 students made juice, candles, scarves, patches, brooms, spears, and a bench.
听听听听听听听听听听听 March 30 鈥� Julie Mazur took in two hikers, Sarah Jackson and Stephen Wynnyk, who were hiking the Trans Canada Trail and made a stop in Canora. Aaron Herriges said the mass registration event for spring and summer programming had more than 100 participants. Dave Hearn won the main prize of $1,000 at the fourth annual ice-fishing derby held by the Buchanan branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.
April
听听听听听听听听听听听 April 6 鈥� Lila Wilson met with Brad Wall and asked him questions about leadership and how average people can affect the government鈥檚 decisions. The Canora Ministerial Association held the Mayor鈥檚 Prayer Breakfast to show support for the mayor and council. Doug Daniels of Canora travelled to India for a two-week trip and visited street markets, the Mahatma Gandhi tomb and the Tomb of Humayun.
听听听听听听听听听听听 April 13 鈥� Terry Dennis was elected as one of the 51 小蓝视频s in the Saskatchewan Party government by winning 67 per cent of the total vote. JilliAnn Sawatsky was hired as the manager of the Canora swimming pool. Alfredo Converso and Linda Osachoff were awarded for their establishment, La Campagna Bed and Breakfast, 小蓝视频 ranked among the top 10 bed and breakfasts in the province.
听听听听听听听听听听听 April 20 鈥� The Buchanan Black Box Players performed a comedy titled Animal Farm as an adaptation of George Orwell鈥檚 book. Edith Kotzer was elected president of the Canora Keen Age Society. The Invermay Golden Age Club held celebrations of the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian immigration to Canada with presentations from Ken Krawetz, Dan Bodnar and the Vesna Ukrainian dancers.
听听听听听听听听听听听 April 27 鈥� the Canora branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation stressed an importance on the future of the federation by presenting young people with hot dog forks. The Canora Veselka School of Dance had 11 groups who won gold medals and one who won silver at the Brandon Troyanda School competition. Canora town council approved a half-mill increase in municipal taxes to accommodate a $4.16 million operating budget.
May
听听听听听听听听听听听 May 4 鈥� Betty and Allan Wong took over ownership of Wong鈥檚 Restaurant with their nephews joining them in the kitchen. Robin Heshka, committee chairperson of the Good Spirit Teacher Association Equity Committee delivered 600 books to the Sunrise Public Health offices to provide each newborn baby with a book. Kelly Beblow led the Canora Minor Hockey Association members in presenting players awards for 小蓝视频 the most dedicated, most sportsmanlike and most improved players.
听听听听听听听听听听听 May 11 鈥� Gina Rakochy welcomed attendants to the Canora branch of the Royal Canadian Legion鈥檚 spring social, which featured a tree auction. Orrie Babichuk, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student from Invermay, won the gold medal in the outdoor power and recreation equipment category at the provincial Skills Canada competition. The Canora Hospital Auxiliary served about 100 people at its annual spring tea fundraiser.
听听听听听听听听听听听 May 18 鈥� Lillian Guyer opened Lil鈥� Pete New and Used Store to sell furniture and other wares to residents. Canora National Archery in the Schools Program had 64 members compete at the provincial meet in Weyburn. Extravadance Studio presented its eighth annual concert with the theme 鈥淭he Silver Screen.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 May 25 鈥� Lt. Darren Paul announced at the annual ceremonial review of the Canora squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets that all seven of the cadets would be attending a summer camp. Darryl and Donna Rock were to manage the Canora Golf and Country Club and organize fun nights. Betty Tomilin and Lisa St. Mars led the Canora Composite School drama club in a performance of Comic Book Artist.
June
听听听听听听听听听听听 June 1 鈥� PALS held its spring Draft Horse Field Day in Rama to feature demonstrations of plowing, discing, harrowing and seeding. Glen Leson and Sandy Solonenko entertained the 50 people at the Keen Age Centre barbecue. Leanne Buchinski was the mistress of ceremonies at the Sunrise Health Region Canora Employee Recognition awards night and presented awards to staff who worked between five and 45 years in the region.
听听听听听听听听听听听 June 6 鈥� The Viterra grain elevator in Canora was demolished by workers for Adair鈥檚 Demolition of 小蓝视频ey. Canora Minor Ball Day featured games played by each of the Canora Minor Ball Association鈥檚 five teams made up of students eight to 13 years old. Naomi Paley and Rachel Kraynick welcomed Canora Junior Elementary School students to the Pizza Farm put on by the Ministry of Agriculture.
听听听听听听听听听听听 June 15 鈥� Karen Pfeifer of Gradma B鈥檚 Greenhouse at Runnymede presented a cheque of funds raised from the sale of a cookbook to Sophia Hvidston of Canora to be donated in Hvidston鈥檚 name to Ronald McDonald House.Wilf Michaels, the Canora Legion branch鈥檚 padre, delivered a message at the Decoration Day service. Jennifer Sleeva organized Canora Composite School grade 6 and 7 students to hold the International Bazaar, featuring information on cultures around the world.
听听听听听听听听听听听 June 22 鈥� Jordan Lazaroff was congratulated for 小蓝视频 the recipient of the Governor General鈥檚 Award at the Canora Composite School awards program. Art and Sylvia Stadel performed with a unique instrument known as an omnichord for the Keen Age Centre鈥檚 social and barbecue. The Farmer鈥檚 Filthy 5 in Stenen attracted 145 racers who participated in a muddy obstacle course to raise money for Teagan鈥檚 Voice and the Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation.
听听听听听听听听听听听 June 29 鈥� Kathy and Hal Thomas and many other volunteers helped organize the River Ridge Fish & Game鈥檚 gun show, which attracted 43 vendors from across Saskatchewan as well as Manitoba and Alberta. Schayla Kirschman was hired as the reporter-photographer for the Canora Courier. Lloyd and Rose Virag published a book on Ukrainian churches in the Saskatchewan countryside which included several photos of churches in the district.
July
听听听听听听听听听听听 July 6 鈥� Canora Composite School had 25 Grade 12 students graduate in exercises with the theme of 鈥淗ere鈥檚 to the next great adventure.鈥� Canora Junior Elementary School opened a soup garden that would be used to grow the ingredients needed to make beet borsht. Sofia Tratch was honoured by the Canora Volunteer Fire Department for generously returning a bike she won to allow another student to have the prize.
听听听听听听听听听听听 July 13 鈥� Joy and Jenna Stusek opened the Visitor Information Centre and CN Museum for the summer to provide information about Canora and the surrounding area. Matthew Fairbrother performed as an Elvis impersonator at the Canada Day celebration organized by the Rama Golden Jet Club. Helen Michaels held an outdoor art fundraiser to sell her paintings, which she has been creating for over 40 years.
August
听听听听听听听听听听听 August 10 鈥� Jo-Anne Sigurdson said the highlight of Canora in Bloom was the family street dance, which brought in about 350 people, some of whom also attended the parade, cookie sale, and dinners. Durban Hleboff was named Saskatchewan鈥檚 Baseball Umpire of the Week due to his eager involvement in the community. Kelly Butz said 36 competitors attended the second annual Sandy Beach Disc Golf Tournament.
听听听听听听听听听听听 August 17 鈥� Assiniboine River Archery Club held its 23rd annual 3-D archery shoot which brought in 175 archers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Jennifer Kersey, a former Canora resident, won the $1.5 million show home from the 2016 STARS Lottery. Brad Rumbolt organized the RCMP golf tournament which attracted 58 golfers who donated $1,540 to the Canora detachment.
听听听听听听听听听听听 August 24 鈥� Kelly Ostafie said that the Canora Ag Days events received nothing but positive response for its chariot and 听chuckwagon races and other events. Dana Antonovich held a groundbreaking 小蓝视频 for the new location of a Gateway Co-op convenience store to open in 2017. Mary Kowalyshen said the 75th pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Rama held 1,500 pilgrims who participated in mass and ceremonies.
听听听听听听听听听听听 August 31 鈥� Walter Hughes said that people from all corners of Saskatchewan came to the PALS Draft Horse Field Days to see demonstrations, teamster competitions and local entertainment. Dorothy Korol and other visitors celebrated the 25th anniversary of independence on Ukrainian Independence Day. Ashley Straightnose and Phyllis Paul were the winners of the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 championship flights at the Canora Golf and Country Club鈥檚 tournament.
September
听听听听听听听听听听听 September 7 鈥� Tim Haltigan, a former Canora resident, was the mission manager for a laser altimeter on the satellite OSIRIS-REx, which was to analyze and take samples of the asteroid Bennu. Melissa Spelchen was inducted into the Minot State University Athletics Hall of Fame for her achievements in volleyball and softball. Bailee Zuravloff, Jenna Korol and Felicity Mydonick performed dance routines for the Keen Age Centre鈥檚 summer social. Rev. Kim Salo and Rev. Susan Salo left the Pelly Deanery, which served the Canora area.
听听听听听听听听听听听 September 14 鈥� Ken Rolheiser published his fourth novel and first adult fiction book, Dreamland and Soulscapes: A Prairie Love Story. Katherine LeBlanc was hired as the new principal of Canora Composite School. Aaron Herriges organized 12 tables with club registrations at the mass registration night.
听听听听听听听听听听听 September 21 鈥� Darrell Dutchak welcomed CTV Regina employees to Rama when the village was part of the Fall 2016 Hometown Tour, which was celebrated with a barbecue and horse tricks. Sue and Sam Chai became the new managers of Dennis Foods. Oney Pollock welcomed new and old members to the fourth year of quilting club meetings for A Common Thread.
听听听听听听听听听听听 September 28 鈥� Heather Ritchie organized the Parkland Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers in a search exercise at the Canora Curling Rink, where volunteers were to locate two hunters who had gone missing in the Whitesand River area. Jordan Nowakowski was signed on with a professional volleyball team in Montecchio Maggiore, Italy. John Oystryk acquired a sewn bed cover embroidered by women living through the Second World War.
October
听听听听听听听听听听听 October 5 鈥� Mavis Watson, who runs Filling the Gap Food Bank, accepted a cheque for $1,200 from the Canora branch of Crossroads Credit Union. Elly Carlson and the Canora branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce raised $2,000 with their Run for the Cure chilli lunch fundraiser. Philomina Mykytyshyn was awarded an entrance scholarship of $2,500 from the Walker Wood Foundation.
听听听听听听听听听听听 October 12 鈥� Ken Krawetz was awarded the Taras Shevchenko Medal at the XXV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians for his work in public service. Dustin Neilsen organized the students of Canora Composite School to take part in the Terry Fox Run. The Canora junior Cougars football team hosted a jamboree against Preeceville School and Hudson Bay Composite High School.
听听听听听听听听听听听 October 19 鈥� Laurie Wasylyw said that 109 people attended the Canora Hospital Auxiliary鈥檚 October Pie and Coffee event which raised money for a ceiling lift at the Canora Hospital. Roberto Ruiz immigrated from Columbia to Canora to become a new employee at I. B. T. Roofing. Alissa Wilson welcomed 28 prospective golfers who learned the basics of the sport at the Big N鈥� Little golf tournament.
听听听听听听听听听听听 October 26 鈥� Kelsey Chupa travelled to Kenya to take part in volunteer work for the Free the Children program and described her trip as a life-changing experience. Rainy Crane, a storyteller from The Key First Nation, was welcomed to Canora Junior Elementary School to tell stories for the school鈥檚 Education Week activities. Leona Kitchen and Thomas Lowes took five students from the Canora Composite School cross-country team to the provincial meet where the team placed third in its category.
November
听听听听听听听听听听听 November 2 鈥� Gina Rakochy was re-elected to run a council comprised of new councillors Sheldon Derkatch, Brent Pelechaty, Eric Sweeney, and Kerry Trask; and incumbent councillors Bradley Gabora and James Trofimenkoff. Carol Sleeva and the Canora branch of the Royal Canadian Legion No. 52 was chosen as a recipient for funding from the Community Beautification Works Project organized by Communities Futures Ventures. Lisa Brokop was the first performer for the Canora Arts Council鈥檚 Stars for Saskatchewan series and sang for a full house of about 200 people.
听听听听听听听听听听听 November 9 鈥� Kelly Strelioff, the Canora public health nurse, helped provide vaccinations to 275 people at the Sunrise Health Region鈥檚 first immunization clinic at the Keen Age Centre. Joy Stusek stated that visitors to the CN Museum and Visitor Information Centre came from across Canada, as well as from the United States, Bermuda, Switzerland and Australia. Dianne and Lorne Matsalla and Geraldine and Phillip Shewchuk of Rama were awarded bravery medals for assisting a farmer who was shot near Rama in 2010.
听听听听听听听听听听听 November 16 鈥� Rod Steciuk and Canora Junior Elementary School students accepted a donation of $25,000 from the Canora branch of Richardson Pioneer at the official opening of the new playground structure on the school property. Colin Knight coached the Canora Composite School senior girls volleyball team, which finished a successful season with a third-place victory at playoffs in Langenburg. Patti-Jo Donovan stated the Canora Junior Elementary School鈥檚 cooking club would return for 2016 to teach students how to make healthy meals.
听听听听听听听听听听听 November 23 鈥� Eric Ritchot announced the opening of a Tim Hortons franchise next to Canora Pharmacy in order to provide convenience to shoppers in the area. Ryan McMahon, Cory Woodward and Christopher Arruda performed as the band Lion Bear Fox to a crowd of about 85 people at Canora Composite School. Gary and Ginette Ostafie of Mikado were presented with the 2016 Yorkton Auction Centre Farmer Recognition Award for their business strategy and community involvement in Canora.
听听听听听听听听听听听 November 30 鈥� Mary Kowalyshyn organized the Holodomor Commemoration and 125th Anniversary of Ukrainian Canadians hosted at St. Anthony鈥檚 Parish Hall by the Rama Golden Jets. Canora Novice Red and Black hockey teams funded the purchase of new jerseys through a sponsorship with Dodge Caravan Kids. Debbie Dutchak was the emcee of the Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Women鈥檚 League鈥檚 70th anniversary celebration, which included a banquet attended by over 100 people.
December
听听听听听听听听听听听 December 7 鈥� Melinda Sevilla, a continuing care aid at the Gateway Lodge, was celebrated at the Second Biennial Immigration of Distinction Awards Ceremony and received the Partners in Immigration and Integration Immigrant of the Year Award due to her hard work and volunteering in Canora. Dana Antonovich announced that the Gateway Co-op would be installing a liquor store at its new convenience store location after 小蓝视频 selected as a new liquor vendor as part of the privatization of alcohol in Saskatchewan. Shawna Leson, who had organized the 2016 Babysitter Training Course with the Canora Wheatland Lioness Club, awarded 15 babysitters鈥� certificates.
听听听听听听听听听听听 December 14 鈥� Kerry Fullawka stated that $12,400 was raised through a fundraiser to go towards support for Dwight Dul and Josh Gogol, who were hospitalized after a serious all-terrain vehicle accident. Steven Wyonzek assisted in measuring 10 pairs of antlers during the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation鈥檚 antler measuring event. Brooklynn Mann, Rory Combres, Kate and Sarah Jarotski are grandchildren of Canora residents who went on to perform in the Moscow Ballet鈥檚 Saskatoon performance of the Great Russian Nutcracker.
听听听听听听听听听听听 December 21 鈥� Nolan Kondratoff announced the opening of a new branch of Leland Campbell LLP in Canora to handle legal services for residents after the closing of Seidle Law Firm. Sophia Hvidston conducted a Band-Aid drive for the Saskatoon Cancer Centre鈥檚 pediatrics department after receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Jo-Anne Sigurdson announced the Canora Winter Lights Festival was another success with over 400 people attending the bonfire and fireworks display that was part of the events.
