Last week the federal government acknowledged a list of citations in Ottawa in a Mixed Honours Investiture Ceremony. Local resident, Ralph McLean was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal in the Civil Division.
McLean has been commemorating soldiers killed in war and peace keeping missions for more than two decades. Through his self-funded Canadian and international travels, he has identified unmarked war graves, which has helped expand the documentation of the British Commonwealth military history.
“This started out as a hobby that turned into a passion, and then turned into this award,” said McLean. “I started in the mid to late 1990s, photographing war graves around Canada, because our war dead aren’t all buried overseas. There were several different volunteers doing this across Canada.

The shone bright Sunday afternoon, welcoming community members to the lawn of Christ Church for their annual Teddy Bear Picnic. The picnic included a variety of activities for young and old, with performances from local singers & musicians, a bounce house, games, a free barbeque and a medic tent for children’s favorite stuffies to get tended to.
"At the end of last year's Teddy Bears' Picnic we promised this year would be double the fun and we delivered," Reverend Jann Brooks commented.
"We had great weather, great music, great food, great games, and great company. An altogether great day,” she added.
More than 200 people came to the picnic and by all reports enjoyed themselves throughly.

Last week members of the Town of The Pas administration and staff participated in naloxone training and some discussions around the situation with discarded sharps in the community. The goal of meeting with some of the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) departments was to create a plan to address education, as well as sharp disposal bins quantities and placements in the community.
“There were some initial discussions between the NRHA about sharps locations and pick up; as well as who would be managing and how it would be managed,” said Town of The Pas Mayor Andre Murphy. “It sort of tailed off due to the pandemic, election of a council and other stuff going on. Last week, we reinitiated that discussion with the NRHA, and had some representation from certain departments to talk about the issue of discarded sharps in the community. We needed to work together and find a solution to this, because there is a responsibility on all of us to make an improvement here.

There’s a good time to be had by all at the Swan River Senior Citizens’ Centre (SRSCC), which has seen an influx of members join in the last year.
The SRSCC has been operating their facility nearly continuously since 1978 when they were incorporated, save for a couple of years when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak.
In recent years, the SRSCC had been struggling for members and participation, but it is now headed in a positive direction, always with room for more the join.
“In the past, a lot of the time the membership has been 80+ years of age,” said SRSCC President Marvin Vestby, who himself is 86 years old and took on the role of president soon after joining the membership for the first time in late summer of last year. “But, we’ve had quite an influx of younger seniors in the 65-75 age range, which bodes well for activity.”
Vestby noted that when he joined last year, there were maybe four people playing pool once a week. Now, a weekday afternoon might have all pool tables and shuffleboard courts going with some card games in the main area.
“On Mondays and Fridays, we have pool and shuffleboard, and on Wednesdays, they play cribbage here,” said Vestby. “People are also learning how to play bridge. We also have a full slate of bingo here on Tuesday afternoons and a potluck dinner once a month.
“Also, once every month, we have a Friday afternoon birthday party for all the birthdays that happened that month. I think at the last birthday party, we had 65 people here. It’s really turning into a big event, with entertainment, dancing, cake and ice cream. I feel it’s really bringing the community together.”
Vestby added that the increased activity has even brought down a few people from Bowsman, which he is pleased with.
“When I joined, there were maybe 60 members, 30 of which were active,” said Vestby. “We have upwards of 90 members now, and on any given day, we have 35-50 people here, which I would say has been a real success.”
While folks in their 60s might be considered on the younger end of the participating spectrum, membership is open to people as young as 50. If a member has a spouse that is younger than that, they are welcome too.
The membership fee is at a very affordable $15 a year, with a $1 daily charge for coffee and a $1 charge for whatever game you want to play that day. The revenue helps them keep up with operations and keep the lights on, but they have also gotten grants from places in the past like from Louisiana Pacific or the Fenske Foundation to assist with upgrades, repairs or maintenance to the building. Vestby admits that the fees have been that way for a long time and may have to be raised slightly to keep up with increasing expenses.
“There are some people who have retired that have said they don’t know what they would do (without the SRSCC),” said Vestby. “They are excellent supporters.
“So many of these people didn’t really know one another either. They might know one another to see each other, but now they are here talking to each other. It’s bringing everybody together, young and old. Anybody can join in fellowship.”
The doors of the SRSCC are open Monday and Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., as well as Monday to Friday afternoons from 1-5 p.m.. To sign up, just walk in while it’s open and ask for Treasurer Connie McKay, who will gladly welcome you in.

The Swan Valley Regional Secondary School Class of 2023 posed for a group photo prior to graduation exercises on Friday (June 23).

The Dauphin Kings reported a profit of more than $30,000 at its annual general meeting, Monday at the Parkland Recreation Complex Aspen Lodge.

The Kings reported revenues of $702,120, with the fund-raising being the largest contributor, with the team fund-raising $261,239.

There was also $175,326 in ticket sales and $132,252 in sponsorships, as well as $55,527 from game night revenue, $39,413 from other revenue and $38,363 from travel fees.

Salaries and benefits in the amount of $190,863 was the largest expense the team reported, with the overall total coming in at $671,942, giving the club an overall profit of $30,678 and net assets of $153,597.

Kings president Ashley Shaw said the club could not have done it without the help of the sponsors, support from the community and fans.

“And everyone who came out to support the Dauphin Kings. It’s very exciting that we’re able to have no debt and then also still be able to put some away, as well,” she said.

It is also a testament to the work the board of directors has put in to not only eliminate the team’s debt, but to put money in the bank.

“A great group of board members. I couldn’t ask for better people to sit on the board with. But also past board members, right? They also put a lot of time and effort into making sure that the fund-raisers are in place and we’re on the right path. So kudos to them, as well, for making this happen in our organization,” she said.

Lindsey Kyle stepped down from the board of directors, but she will still be around to help where needed.

New to the board are Christian Laughland, who returns to the Kings as governor, as well as Cam Abrey and Erin Sigvaldason.

Shaw was pleased to see more people stepping up to serve on the board.

“Lindsey has been a huge part of this organization, but she’s not fully stepping away. She’ll still help a little bit on the sidelines with some things,” she said. “But it’s really great to have some new faces come and join the team. And these are three phenomenal people that I think will bring a lot to our board.”

During the meeting, it was announced the Kings had signed head coach and general manager Doug Hedley to a new one-year contract.

Shaw said it was important to get Hedley under contract for next season.

“We’re very happy that we were able to do that,” Shaw said.

“I know he’s excited, we’re excited for the team that he’s going to have this coming fall. So we’re very happy that he’ll be with us for the next season.”

Shaw said the team will revisit Hedley’s contract situation at some point in the fall to possibly talk about an extension.

A new fund in support of seniors has been established by the Dauphin and District Community Foundation (DDCF) to handle donations coming in the wake of the June 15 crash which killed 16 members of the area community.

The Support Our Seniors fund will provide funding to programming, equipment and activities that support seniors, through the traditional community foundation model.

The fund was established on the advice of officials of Humboldt, Sask., who indicated their community was ill prepaid to handle donations following the 2018 accident which killed 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos Jr. A hockey team.

The new fund is not meant to compete with the wishes of the victims and their families when it comes to directing donations, but rather it is an option for those wanting to do something for the community, said DDCF board member Martijn van Luijn.

“If somebody wants to donate to a particular family member, absolutely just donate to that family member,” he said.

van Luijn said there have already been corporate inquiries about where to direct donations to community at large with Wawanesa Insurance being the first, pledging $50,000.

“We said that’s awesome, but hang on, let’s get organized first,” he said, adding the foundation’s endowment is made up of a general fund which can be used to support virtually any cause, and restricted funds which support a specific area.

“We don’t have a restricted fund for seniors. So that’s why the idea came up to do a Support Our Seniors fund.

“So the donation from Wawanesa will go into that.”

Those interested in contributing to the Support Our Seniors Fund can make this tax-deductible donation at www.DDCF.ca, calling the DDCF at 204-638-4598 or toll free 1-877-974-3631, or stopping in at the office located at 100 Main Street South in Dauphin.

The Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School held its convocation, Saturday, celebrating the graduation of 121 students.

Matthew Zurba was this year’s valedictorian.

Prior to beginning his speech, Zurba donned a black t-shirt and glasses to honour his favourite teacher, Mr. Cote, who he loves and respects.

“Mr. Cote, you have made a huge impact on many of us in a very positive way. I think this will help boost my confidence up here,” Zurba stated.

Zurba then told his classmates he is proud of them before offering some thanks.

“First of all, Google, you’ve helped immensely and I’m so glad you were there, textbooks are awful,” he stated, before thanking all of the teachers who made it all possible. “Without you guys, we wouldn’t be here, because whether you hated or loved teaching us, you passed us. Many of you have left a big mark in our lives. You helped us grow into the people we are today. You’ve taught us that in the real world, life isn’t going to be easy, but that everything will be okay if you work hard and enjoy yourself.”

Zurba then thanked the parents for the countless hours fund-raising, not just for graduation, but for everything over the years.

“We would not be here without all of your support, whether it was telling us to do our homework, working hard to feed us, or being there for us during tough times. You’ve truly shaped us into the people we are today,” he said.

Zurba took the time to mention two teachers who will be retiring at the end of this school year, Ms. Tymchuk and Mr. Bennet.

“The school truly won’t be the same without you two,” he said.

Zurba then turned his attention to his classmates, stating they started off as kids playing with Lego blocks and Rubik’s cubes.

“Then, we moved on to fidget spinners and phones. The next stage was probably the biggest one, it was puberty. We started learning all about deodorant and relationships,” he said. “Fast forward to now, and most of us know about deodorant, but only a few have a good idea about relationships.”

High school, he added, has been quite the journey, starting in Grade 9, when they were all new and many were nervous.

“Some had older siblings and knew people, while some were brand new to a Dauphin school. As the year went on, we got to know even more people in our classes. Friendships were being made, old ones were getting toxic,” he said. “This was all new to us, but we branched out, played on sport teams or were in band. Some learned that they loved the trades, but this was the beginning of meeting different people.”

Near the end of that first year of high school, COVID hit. School was out and students had to learn online.

“It was truly crazy. Microsoft Teams was used and marking and teaching was hard,” he said, adding many students looked for jobs since there was little else they could do. “The end of Grade 9 was truly a pandemic in the school,” Zurba said.

Grade 10, Zurba said, was kind of a blur, because that was the year where everyone wore masks for the whole year and the scheduled changed with some students attending classes, Mondays and Wednesdays and the rest on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“This sucked, we didn’t see a lot of our friends. This year was honestly a test to see who our true friends were and were not. Some people didn’t talk if they weren’t the same day, and this changed people,” he said. “Many also worked more, and were a bit anti-social. With no sports, people were bored, and many found the gym, once it was open. This definitely wasn’t what we were used to, but it quickly became the new normal. Learning was different, half was online and it was hard to learn, and teach. It was, for sure, a year we’d like to, but won’t forget.”

Things started to get back to normal in Grade 11, Zurba said, though trips could quickly be cancelled if someone tested positive for COVID. And it was a year where students started looking toward to the future.

“This was our year to really start looking into what we might want to do. A lot of people either pick sciences, trades, or business. This was where we might be surrounded with some people with similar interests, and started saving up some money,” Zurba said. “It’s a year to find out what you may be passionate about, and to start working towards that.”

Finally, it was Grade 12 and everyone, Zurba said, was looking forward to the end of the year.

“And now it’s here. This year was one to remember, because it’s when things started getting back to normal completely. We didn’t need shields in the office, and got to go on many trips for sports, band, etc. School was full-time this year, which was awesome,” he said. “A lot of us slowly figured out which direction we wanted to go after school. This was interesting, because you hear about where everyone is going and what they want to do, but you realize you may not see them again. It’s a scary thought, but also extremely exciting because we are about to start our lives as adults.”

As the graduates start adulthood, Zurba said, they will realize that life isn’t easy as they will have bills and taxes to pay, and they will start to look for serious relationships to start a family.

“I’m making this sound like it’s bad, but it’s not the worst. Starting now and when we move on from high school, I would like everyone to pick one thing they can work on for themselves, and to continue working on that thing for yourself. This will help you grow into the best version of yourself. If you make realistic goals, it will drive you to hit them,” he added.

Zurba used himself as an example. Having struggled with an eating disorder for two years, Zurba sought help and was able to overcome his struggles.

“After a while, I slowly was able to eat out and relax a little bit and realize that food is energy. Once I got more comfortable I was able to stop tracking and now I can eat a donut or even a box of donuts with the boys if I really want to. This took me about 10 months to achieve,” he said. “This story isn’t to talk about me the whole time, it’s an example of someone who had a goal and achieved it with some help and the right people around. When you really want to achieve something, you can do it.”

Once they enter the real world, Zurba said, they will make mistakes, but they will learn from them.

“When we get to wherever we all want to be, we have to be ourselves. It’s important to not be ashamed of who you are. There is no need to put on a show for anyone, because there will be someone else who loves that weirdness of yours, or whatever it is,” he said. “This is important to know, because you should strive to do what you truly want to do in life. Be a doctor, a small business owner, run for prime minister. Who cares? Our goal in life is to enjoy it. We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do, but we will have to work for what we do want to do.”

Zurba then took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about some of the school trips, COVID, getting back to normal from COVID, as well as the devious lick era.

“These are all things we will remember, all the different bus rides, the conversions at breaks, the bathrooms being used for unnecessary things,” he added. “Whether you think or not right now, high school was a fun time.”

Before ending his speech, Zurba spoke about his longtime friend Chris Swintak, who was killed in an accident in Gilbert Plains this spring.

“He was supposed to be here today with us. I would like to give my condolences to any friends or extended family of his. I knew him for a big chunk of my life, and worked with him for almost three years. He was an incredible person and is missed,” he said.

In closing, Zurba offered his congratulations to the Class of 2023.

“I would like to say that we did it guys. We graduated. It’s our time to show the world what we’re made of.”

The Parkway Co-op has had another good year.

Twenty members gathered virtually Tuesday (June 20) for Parkway’s 77th annual general meeting, celebrating another successful year of operation.
After some housekeeping items, president Sean Keeler opened the meeting with a report from the board of directors.Want to know more? Pick up this week’s issue.

Read all about it in this week’s Review.

There were smiles all around as the Roblin District Community Foundation held its annual grants evening and AGM Thursday (June 22).

A total of 16 grants were awarded worth a total of $52,068.

Want to know more? Check out this week’s issue.