ESTEVAN — The past year brought ups and downs for Estevan, with major projects progressing and topics that affect everyone continuing to be discussed. The community has seen a return of major events, the start of new activities and big sports competitions.
The Estevan Mercury's Year in Review will walk you through all major southeast happening of 2023.
May:
May's warmer days made community members smile more. While a later spring delayed the seeding season in the southeast, most other things went as planned.
Midale's Got Talent show was brought back on May 5 after almost a decade, and saw a lot of support and interest from 13 talented performers, guests and sponsors. Young drummer Mavrik Espelien of Estevan claimed first place.
The green flag waved for the start of the Estevan Motor Speedway's 2023 season on May 6. Five classes of racing were offered.
Lampman's Riley Raynard, a racer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, announced his retirement from the speedway's hobby stock division, after amazing fans in both Canada and the U.S. since 2012. Raynard continued to attend the races to help out his brother and also became an announcer.
Bienfait goaltender Chloe Sorenson won bronze at the Esso Cup national female U18 AAA hockey championship in Prince Albert.
The Poltava Ensemble of Song, Music and Dance brought their tremendous skills and bright costumes to the Estevan Comprehensive School on May 6.
Sixty-three hectares (156 acres) of Crown mineral rights were to be transferred to Ocean Man First Nation upon the surface attaining reserve status.
A talented group of Canadian musicians, Tim & The Glory Boys, performed at the Orpheum Theatre on May 11 as part of their Home-Town Hoedown Tour.
Former Estevan resident Shaylee Foord was one of nine women from across the country selected for the second edition of the CFL's Women in Football program. Each CFL club welcomed one additional woman to join its football operations department from May 14 to June 3. Foord was working with the Edmonton Elks.
The Coal Country Run, a fun running/walking/bicycling event, which is also a big fundraiser for the Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym, took place on May 13 at Woodlawn Regional Park, attracting about 130 participants.
The Estevan Mermaids artistic swimming club attended provincial championships in Regina in May.
The Rotary Club of Estevan held its annual highway cleanup on May 16 along with the Benson, Outram-Madigan and Crossroads 4-H Clubs.
Estevan's air cadets wrapped up another year by hosting their 82nd annual ceremonial review and awards parade at the Wylie-Mitchell Hall on May 16.
Sgt. Tyler McMillen with the EPS was recognized for 20 years of exemplary service on May 17.
The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society's third annual Top Gun trap-shooting event attracted over 100 participants from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta on May 12. Estevan's Chad Froese claimed the individual championship.
Members of the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home committee met May 24 with representatives of the provincial government. The province identified a future need for 59 additional long-term care beds for the Estevan area, which would bring the total number of beds in the community to 167 for a new nursing home, up from 108.
St. Joseph's Hospital hired Candace Kopec as its new executive director.
The Estevan Bruins had two members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, defenceman Paul Coffey and centre Doug Gilmour, speak at this year's Sportsman's Dinner on May 25.
Estevan's dance community celebrated the Drewitz School of Dance's 40 years in business on May 27 with two sold-out recitals for the Spotlight on the Stars.
For the first time this year, the Trackside Motocross Association held races at its facility east of Estevan with 102 riders entering.
The ninth Estevan Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis (CF) History, raising funds for CF research and awareness, took place May 28 at Woodlawn Regional Park.
Estevan Minor Football (EMF) announced plans to leave the Moose Jaw Minor Football League and join the Parkland League for the 2023 season. The EMF would later rejoin the Moose Jaw circuit.
Anglers spent two days out on the water May 27 and 28 for the Rafferty Dam Walleye Tournament. A total of 25 two-person teams entered.
Shelan Proust was recognized with a Marlene Hoffman Volunteer Award by Sask. Volleyball for her countless hours of dedication to the Estevan Extreme Volleyball Club over the past eight years.
The United Way Estevan Day of Caring flooded the city with kindness on May 31, with many projects completed.
For the first time since 2019, students who are part of the school safety patrol program in Estevan gathered for a dance put on by the EPS. The event was held May 31 at the Beefeater Plaza.
