The summer month offered lots of community events for people to choose from, and then there was lots of activity in the city in September. Here are some of the highlights for July to September.
July:
Communities throughout southeast Saskatchewan celebrated Canada Day on July 1. Large crowds gathered in Bienfait throughout the day, with the largest crowds attending a parade in the morning and fireworks after dusk. The Estevan Kinsmen and Kinettes held their annual bash at their play park in Hillside. Many rural communities also held events.
The federal government announced on July 5 that it would contribute $53.3 million to the passing lanes and twinning project for Highways 39 and 6 from Estevan to Regina. The project will see the construction of up to 15 sets of passing lanes, as well as some twinning in short segments, and the rehabilitation of approximately 51 kilometres of pavement.
The annual Estevan Rotary 4-H Regional Show and Sale took place from July 3 to 5, with members from the Benson, Browning, Crossroads and Outram-Madigan 4-H clubs participating. Brenden Lischka from the Browning club had this year's grand champion steer. It weighed in at 1,329 pounds, and was sold to Kendall's Auto Electric for $4.30 per pound. A total of 50 steers were auctioned off during the sale, with an average sale price of $3.16 per pound.
A home in the Willow Park Greens Trailer Park was destroyed by a fire on July 6. When members of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service arrived on the scene, they found the trailer fully engulfed. All family members were able to escape the home. A few minor injuries were reported.
A sad anniversary was observed in Estevan on July 9: the 14th anniversary of the disappearance of Courtney Struble. She vanished in the early morning hours of July 9, 2004, after watching a movie with friends at the Estevan Veterinary Clinic on the west edge of the city. An investigation by the RCMP’s Historical Case Unit remains open.
The audited financial statements for 2017 were released at the July 16 meeting of Estevan city council. The city had $4.95 million in cash at the end of 2017, up from the $2.68 million as of Dec. 31, 2016. The city also saw its net debt – the difference between total financial assets versus liabilities – drop in 2017 to $22.93 million.
The risk for West Nile Virus grew in July, as the Saskatchewan Health Authority revealed on July 20 that some of the Culex tarsalis mosquitoes caught in surveillance traps in the Estevan area were found to have the disease. There was concern that there could be an increase in the number of West Nile cases in 2018, but those fears didn’t materialize.
Estevan’s crime severity index ranking reached an all-time low in 2017, according to figures released July 23 by Statistics Canada. The Estevan municipal index – the area covered by the Estevan Police Service (EPS) – was at 75.72, the lowest it’s been since Statistics Canada started tracking the figure in 1998. The previous low was 75.73 in 2000. Estevan ranked No. 103 in the country.
Estevan’s parks and recreational facilities were on display July 25 when judges for Communities in Bloom toured the community. The city was entered the evaluated friends category, which means that Estevan received a visit from judges, but it wasn’t competing with other communities. Judges visited numerous parks and other sites in the city, and praised Estevan for its appearance.
Galen Wahlmeier, a former mayor of Estevan who was also a decorated football star and a long-time educator, died July 26. Galen Wahlmeier, who spent six years as Estevan’s mayor from 1976-1982, died in Kipling at the age of 84. Before coming to Estevan, Wahlmeier played centre, linebacker and long snapper for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and was part of the 1966 Grey Cup championship team.
The 2018 Bow Valley Jamboree south of Oxbow on July 28 featured a variety of musical acts throughout the day. There were numerous local acts at this year’s jamboree, as well as some from other parts of the province. Crafters and other artists also participated.
Woodlawn Regional Park hosted its inaugural Family Fun Day on July 29. The event was created as a replacement for the Beach Bash summer festival, and offered a variety of activities for families. Approximately 1,000 people attended the event.
A long haul trucker was convicted in Estevan Provincial Court on July 30 of smuggling child pornography into Canada. Sarbjit Singh Kahlon was arrested after officers searched his electronic devices and found three videos. They had been sent to Kahlon, but he had not deleted them.
The City of Estevan quickly dealt with a case of wild parsnip that was found in the community July 31. Wild parsnip gained attention in the summer due to the harm it caused some people after coming into contact with the plant. About 50 plants were found in the Pleasantdale Valley near McCready Crescent.
August:
The Estevan Police Service made arrests for methamphetamines Aug. 2 and 4. Police Chief Paul Ladouceur said the EPS was prepared for an increase in the drug in the community. Further arrests would occur as the year progressed.
Automobile aficionados and collectors from around the world shifted their attention to Alida during the August long weekend, thanks to the Gervais Family Farm Wheels Museum auction. Approximately 2,500 people attended the auction Aug. 4 and 5 at the Gervais farm, and about 1,000 items were auctioned off. Mack Auction Company of Estevan served as the auctioneers.
The Souris Valley Antiques Association celebrated the history of farming in the area during the Pioneer Echoes Weekend in Midale on Aug. 4 and 5. Many activities were held in the community, including a tractor parade, threshing demonstrations and a show and shine.
The City of Estevan dedicated Brown Road on Aug. 7. The road, which runs from Collins Road to Souris Avenue South, is named after Russell Brown, who was Estevan’s MLA when he died in 1971, and also served on city council. He was also the minister responsible for SaskPower when the Boundary Dam Power Station south of Estevan was constructed.
The Estevan Fire Rescue Service unveilled the latest addition to its fleet of equipment on Aug. 7, a tracked Kubota Wildland Firefighting Unit. The purchase was made possible through fundraising and donations. The unit and the equipment cost approximately $50,000, and the Estevan Firefighters Association wants to add more equipment to the unit.
Bienfait residents had a big celebration on Aug. 11, thanks to a Saskatchewan Roughriders Block Party in the town. Several members of the Green and White, including all-stars Charleston Hughes and Willie Jefferson, were in Bienfait to meet with fans and sign autographs.
Trudy Firth was officially named the city’s treasurer at the Aug. 13 meeting of Estevan city council. Firth joined the city’s staff in 2015, and was named the financial controller in August 2016.
Estevan city council had to reject the tenders for the water intake project Aug. 13, as all of the tenders were significantly over-budget. The lowest bid was from Kelly Panteluk Construction Ltd., at more than $14.5 million. The engineering firm contracted out by the city estimated that the project would cost $10 million. The provincial and federal governments are contributing to the project, which will shift Estevan’s primary water source from Boundary Dam to Rafferty Dam.
Premier Scott Moe announced on Aug. 15 that Estevan MLA Lori Carr had been appointed as the minister of Highways and Infrastructure. It’s the first time in more than 25 years that a cabinet minister will hail from the Estevan constituency. Carr said she was honoured with the appointment, and added that safety would be her highest priority.
The Souris Valley Theatre experienced an increase in attendance for its two main-stage shows. Homecoming, written by Griffin’s Leanne Minogue, ran from July 11-21, and had 908 people for 10 shows, and Pirate Heart, by Lampman’s Maureen Ulrich, ran from Aug. 8-18, had 875 people for its nine performances, or about 97 per night.
The annual Frobisher Threshermen’s Reunion was held Aug. 19. Among the highlights were a parade through the village, and threshing demonstrations in the fairgrounds area.
Shock rock legend Alice Cooper performed before nearly 2,000 people during a concert at Affinity Place on Aug. 26, as a part of his A Paranormal Evening with Alice Cooper tour. He played many of his biggest hits, including No More Mr. Nice Guy, Poison, Brutal Planet and School’s Out for Summer.
Estevan city council approved a new business incentives program at its meeting on Aug. 27, in an effort to attract new businesses to the community and retain those that are already here. Among the highlights is that a new or existing business that establishes a new location within city limits can receive a property tax exemption for the next three years.
The SMILE Services Estevan Parade made its way through the city on Aug. 31, with more than 50 entries and hundreds of spectators. The theme was Celebrating our Agricultural and Mining Community. The Estevan Filipino Canadian Association won the award for the best entry in the parade.
September:
School returned on Sept. 4, following the summer vacation that spanned more than two months. South East Cornerstone had 8,312 students, compared to 8,261 the previous year. The division’s numbers include 724 students at the Estevan Comprehensive School and four elementary schools in Estevan. The Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division, which has two elementary schools in Estevan, had 1,322 students.
The Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association unveilled a plaque on Sept. 14 at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch. It pays tribute to Canadian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hong Kong during the Second World War. Bernard Jesse and Howard Bembridge were captured as prisoners of war during the Battle of Hong Kong, while A.A. Granger died in the battle.
Sixty-one exhibitors packed the floor of the Carlyle Sports Arena on Sept. 15 and 16 for the Homespun Craft Show and Sale in Carlyle. More than 3,200 people attended the event. The number of exhibitors was on par with previous years while attendance was up. People were pleased with the variety of products available at Homespun.
A ceremony was held at the Estevan Regional Airport on Sept. 16 to commemorate the completion of the Forever in the Clouds monument. Carved with a chainsaw by sculptor Darren Jones, the monument was built in remembrance of the 21 servicemen who lost their lives in a plane crash at the former Estevan Airport site south of the city on Sept. 15, 1946. The committee working on the monument didn’t find the last two faces until this past summer, after looking for a year. A permanent location for the monument hasn’t been established.
Estevan city council received a report on the future of Estevan Police Service building at the Sept. 17 meeting. The report, prepared by Rebanks Pepper Littlewood Architects, recommends the construction of a new police station, as opposed to a renovation of the current building, which is about 60 years old. It was renovated in 1991. The current building suffers from space deficiencies that has made it difficult for the police to operate.
A dog was diagnosed with rabies during the month. In a post on its Facebook page the Rural Municipality of Estevan said it was advised of the case. The dog was found near Estevan. The RM also urged residents to ensure their animals have up-to-date rabies vaccinations.
The Estevan Police Service (EPS) found cocaine at Affinity Place during the Sept. 18 Power Dodge Estevan Bruins hockey game. A citizen located a substance in a plastic bag on the lobby floor, and turned it over to the EPS. The bag was found outside the main washrooms. A large number of children were present in the area at the time.
St. Joseph’s Hospital was host to the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s (SMA) annual Roadmap Tour on Sept. 22. The event saw 40 medical students participating in a variety of medical-related events throughout the day. The Roadmap program is designed to showcase rural and regional centres in Saskatchewan, so that more locally-trained physicians will be working in smaller communities.
A ceremony was held in Carievale on Sept. 25 to honour Constable Lewis Byers, who is buried in the village’s cemetery. Byers was the first, and remains the youngest, member of the Vancouver Police Department to die in the line of duty, as he was killed in 1912. Members of the VPD have been honouring the 16 members killed in the line of duty, and Byers was the last to be recognized.
An announcement was made on Sept. 28 that the Rafferty Rumble would be making its return to the city. It will be held from July 26-28 at locations throughout the Estevan area. Not only will there be a street dance, but there will be sporting events, community activities and other attractions.
The 25th edition of the Estevan Showcase Business Expo was held Sept. 28 and 29 at the Power Dodge Curling Club. It was held over two days instead of three, but exhibitors seemed pleased with the turnout.
