Those who were in Estevan 15 years ago would probably not consider the year 2000 a watershed period for the city and its residents, but it was certainly one of the most interesting years in terms of civic and federal politics, economics and industry.
Estevan was showing the first signs of a new era of development while undergoing near wholesale changes at city hall. In fact, there were shakeups on a few fronts, a precursor year for things to come.
Those who recall the last vestiges of 1999 will remember the fear-mongering that arose over the electronic/digital community with dire predictions of computer systems melting down, security breaches on the banking front, digitally-controlled vehicles suddenly stopping on highways as inbred computer systems would fail once the world’s clocks struck midnight and we entered the Year 2000.
Yes, Y2K was a real threat which turned out to be a perceived threat, but still, many uneasy business owners and managers could be found in front of computer screens and manual security switches at 11:55 p.m. 1999 instead of attending New Year’s Eve parties.
The fears were for naught. The computer builders, for the most part, had made ample accommodations for registering and logging into a new century.
In fact, new digital realities were being acknowledged on several fronts. Students at the Estevan Comprehensive School were pleased to hear that their school had been awarded a $65,000 grant to explore ground-breaking distance education programs. Technology advancements were acknowledged at ECS with Media Studies 20 and Drafting 20 classes being selected as pilot courses based on a co-operative model.
On the business side, the City of Estevan negotiation team found itself locked in battle with employees who were members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) as well as with the Estevan Police Association.
The 65 CUPE members were discussing a three per cent increase in the second and third year of a contract that was offering them 2.5 per cent in the first year. There were also stalemates involved in overtime pay and other incentive clauses.
On the sports scene, the Estevan Motor Speedway got underway with more than 1,200 fans making their way for the season-opening event on the brand new track to cheer on the drivers in an exciting two-hour program.
Local bowler and businessman David Rosenbaum was somewhat surprised to learn he had been named the Youth Bowling Council’s Bowler of the Millennium, thanks to his record-setting contributions and performances during its 37-year history. As a teenager, Rosenbaum won five gold medals within a six-year period at YBC National Finals and the one year he didn’t get the title, he was still the Saskatchewan representative in the finals.
YBC noted Rosenbaum was the only youth bowler to win gold in both five and 10-pin competitions. The other serious contender for the Millennium title was Connie Dreher from Hamilton, Ont., who had been a six-time gold medalist, and, in fact, Rosenbaum said that if he had been the one making the pick, he would have handed the title to her.
One final thing, Rosenbaum’s roll also included one perfect game in Saskatoon in 1979.
Elsewhere on the sporting front, Estevan’s Amanda Minchin captured the provincial junior golf championship for a second time with a final round of 73 on Prince Albert’s tough Cooke Municipal Course. Karen Lausch, also from the Energy City, finished third while Nolan Rohatyn finished sixth in the boys’ competition.
Later that summer, the ECS golfers retained their provincial team titles led by the likes of Tyler Hilkewich, Nathan Jesse, Dustin Ng, Brett Blackstock Meghan Betnar and Lausch.
The Golden Eels swim team captured the provincial Summer Swim title in Swift Current, giving them two provincial championships in three years.
Controversies seemed to be the order of the day at city hall, with questions regarding council’s purchasing policy following the acquisition of a fleet of used cars from a local dealership. Charges of private meetings and backroom decisions were not sitting well with some councillors.
Council provided some additional fodder for discussion by granting the chamber of commerce $40,000 to hire a full-time economic resource officer, while eliminating the $12,500 in support for the Estevan Promotions Committee. When the dust settled, the C of C reported a budget of $121,000 and their promotions arm would continue autonomously.
Mayor John Len and council, in an attempt to clear the air with local vehicle dealerships, planned a meeting with them to discuss the City’s policy regarding vehicle purchases.
But while the air was clearing on that front, City employees walked off the job for eight hours during a peak summer season. The walk-off involved 90 workers, but it was reported that the normal year-round employee number would have been about 65.
Controversies were also erupting at City Hall over a major drainage and property development plan that seemed to raise more questions than answers.
On the social scene, former Estevan Collegiate Institute and Immaculate Heart High alumni set to work planning a huge reunion party. In fact, the planning had begun well before, with the summer of 2000 set as the date. Early estimates indicated that as many as 1,200 visitors (former ECI students who attended that school up to 1968 and IHH students for a short-lived separate high school program) were expected. As it turned out, over 1,800 former students and special guests found their way to Estevan for a grand old bash and a lot of healthy reminiscing mixed in with several activities. The fundraising arm established the groundwork for the ECI Memorial Wall and rest spot that is now featured along First Street near the site where ECI once stood.
On the other building fronts, that precursor statement noted at the outset, took some form midway through the year with the announcement that a new 70-unit hotel to be known as the Perfect Inn and Suites would be built on the east side of the city. On the west side, a group of local producers and investors, announced the start of construction on the Southland Pulse handling and shipping facility. Not to be outdone, those on the cultural side of the community, announced the start of construction on the new Souris Valley Museum, also on the western outskirts of the city and even the feds got in on the action by noting that a location had been found for a new Estevan Post Office on Fifth Street and 13th Avenue.
As the city swung into fall, public school director Larry Steeves indicated school enrollments would probably be down slightly, following an historical trend that had been noted over the past 10 or so years. Registrations in the elementary schools did drop to 502 from 526 while the Estevan Rural School Division reported a drop from 822 to 806. The enrollment at ECS was down 10 to 880 and at Estevan Junior High, enrollment was down by 25 to 267.
On the health front, frustrations mounted at the District Health Board meetings as a deficit loomed on the horizon with regional and provincial healthcare leaders lamenting a lack of movement at the federal levels with regards to decision-making, or lack thereof.
By mid-September, frustrations were also mounting on the education tracks as teachers began a work-to-rule campaign to protest stalled negotiations. Students at ECS staged a rally in support of their educators.
On the civic front, the Estevan versus CUPE battle was still on, with CUPE entering a fifth month of job action as they sought a nine per cent wage increase over three years while being offered eight per cent.
The teachers’ action was short-lived as they lifted their sanctions after six days in light of a new offer from the province. They had been seeking an 11.5 per cent wage increase over 32 months with 4.5 per cent coming in the first year and three per cent in 2001 and then two per cent over eight months of 2002 plus a 1.6 per cent enhancement to the health plan. They settled for 9.5 per cent over 32 months plus the additions to the health and benefits plans.
With the city and councillors embroiled in projects such as the now well-documented Shirley Creek Project and other issues, the civic election loomed large in the fall of 2000. The mayor’s race attracted challengers John Empey, Sandy Wilson and Tim Perry and then incumbent John Len who decided he would give it another shot.
While that race began in earnest, it was decided that the negotiations with the police would take a hiatus while the campaign was being waged. Both sides stated they were close to an agreement, but it would only be fair to wait, after all, police had been without a contract since 1998 anyway, so another month or two could be accommodated.
Drought-stricken farmers in the southeast were given a boost when the local Farm Stress Line committee reported the unexpected arrival of a $10,000 cheque from a group of Ontario restaurant owners who had heard about the plight on the prairies and determined it was their turn to step up and provide a little support for the bread-basket teams in Saskatchewan. They said they understood the problem for those who were attempting to forge through very difficult times faced with record-low commodity prices.
When local citizens went to the polls in October, the sign of the times was in full evidence as all mayoral candidates gave it a good run with Tim Perry ultimately emerging as the winner by a mere seven vote margin over Empey 1,211 to 1,204 following a recount, while Wilson registered 1,083 votes and Len with 745.
The shakeup around the council table was also evident as incumbents Roy Ludwig and Bernie Collins managed to get back to the table while Carroll Cantlon and Barry Rogers did not. Barrie Korf returned to council following a three-year absence and newcomers Gary St. Onge, Brian Johnson and Patricia Schryver
joined them.
The new council soon found out their work was cut out for them when they learned from the treasurer the City was now facing a $6 million debt load.
On the federal front, the election was no contest as Canadian Alliance candidate Roy Bailey smoked the opposition soundly by picking up over 19,000 votes while second place finisher Tom Cameron of the NDP registered just over 4,700.
As the year wound down, the new deal with the City and CUPE was confirmed at 8.5 per cent with retroactive increase of two per cent for 1999 and 3.5 per cent for 2000 and 2001 plus a $10,000 signing bonus.
Negotiations with the police association was also in the works, but not before the clock turned again to welcome in the year 2001 and Estevan citizens could bid a fond farewell to 2000 with, perhaps, a collective sigh of relief, knowing that one rather crazy year was now behind them and the future looked pretty darn interesting.
