Rural Sask desperate for healthcare support says SARM president

Jason Kerr
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Rural Sask desperate for healthcare support says SARM president

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) has called on the provincial government to reinstate the Grow Your Own Nurse Practitioner Program in rural areas.

SARM president Ray Orb said rural Saskatchewan faces a healthcare crisis due to understaffing. On Wednesday, he called on the province to make it easier for nurse practitioners to work where they live instead of recruiting out-of-province candidates.

“This an issue for people who live in rural and remote areas of this province who just need better health care coverage, and of course, NPs can help a lot of with that,” Orb said. “In a lot of cases, they can be the first contact for a patient.”

The provincial government introduced Grow Your Own Nurse Practitioner in 2014. The program offered NPs wages and benefits for up to two years while they received full-time nurse practitioner training, based on a five-year return-of-service agreement with a sponsoring health region.

Orb said the program increased the number of NPs working in rural areas, and can do so again if brought back.

“We know there are some clinics, some hospitals, that are needing more nurse practitioners out in the rural (areas),” Orb said. “We’re asking the province to go back and look at that program again to … perhaps bring it back or make some enhancements to the existing program to see if we can improve that kind of delivery.”

The Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners (SNAP) gave their support for Orb’s request. SNAP president Johanne Rust said NPs are already being added to teams in hospitals, cancer care centres, and walk-in clinics where there are service gaps. She said adding more in rural areas would help improve access to care, with 30 new NPs able to serve roughly 36,000 patients.

“We work under our license and regulations and can work in many clinical areas with minimal supervision,” Rust said in a press release. “Nurse Practitioners can effectively manage most needs of their patients and refer anything more complicated to specialists or doctors as appropriate.”

In a press release, SARM and the SNAP said Saskatchewan is underutilizing trained NPs. As of April 2023, they said, the province had 328 NPs, 10 per cent of which are either unemployed or working as registered nurses.

Orb said SARM officials plan to discuss the issue with Health Minister Everett Hindley and Rural and Remote Health Minister Tim McLeod during meetings next week. He said the province has budget constraints and is already spending a lot on healthcare, but wants to see some of it directed to an NP program.

The Daily Herald requested an interview with a representative from the Ministry of Health. The ministry sent a statement touting budget investments made in the past year to help increase the number of healthcare workers, including NPs.

In the statement, the government said the number of NP training seats at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic has increased from 20 seats to 50 since 2007-08, The government also said it has started a new NP training program through a partnership between Sask Polytech and the U of r, allowing students to train closer to home.

The Ministry of Health also continues to provide grant funding to support NP recruitment and retention, the statement reads, including a relocation grant and bursary.  That includes two NPs who received the $50,000 Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive (RRRI) in 2023-24, and 22 NP students who received $2,000 each from the Final Clinical Placement Bursary.

“In August 2023, a first of its kind primary health care clinic opened in Warman staffed by three nurse practitioners exclusively,” reads the statement. “The Ministry of Health continues to move forward with a number of regulation amendments to expand the NP scope of practice in the province and make Saskatchewan a more attractive place for NPs to practice medicine.”

As of September 2023, there were 38 NP vacancies in Saskatchewan, 24 of which were in rural or remote communities.

NDP leader Carla Beck said her party supports SARM’s request to bring back the Grow Your Own Nurse Practitioner Program. Beck said too many healthcare centres in rural and remote communities have been closed due to staffing shortages. She said training and maintaining local NPs is the best way to reverse that trend.

“Healthcare workers who grew up here are most likely to stay here,” Beck said in a press release. “A Grow Your Own strategy is just common sense.”

Prince Albert business owner hosts first free presentation encouraging residents to report crime

Jason Kerr
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Prince Albert business owner hosts first free presentation encouraging residents to report crime

A Prince Albert business owner held the first of what he hopes are many free monthly security presentations on Tuesday.

Lions Security president and CEO Leo Ekhaguere said the goal is to help decrease crime and increase community safety.

“Prince Albert is a city that is known for crime, and we don’t want our city to have such a reputation,” Ekhaguere said. “We want to change the narrative. We want to increase the visibility of our city and portray our city in a good light.”

Ekhaguere spoke at Point West Living in Prince Albert on Tuesday where he discussed safety and security tips, including how to recognize, prevent, and report crime. He said the last item is a major problem in Prince Albert. He’s been told multiple times by residents that police don’t respond when called to a crime.

In his own experience, however, Ekahguere said he’s received a prompt response whenever he called the police. He said that may have been true in the past, but the current police service is very active.

The most recent incident came when he reported concerns about a potential break-and-enter in late January. Ekahguere said the police took the report seriously.

“I speak as a private citizen, not as an owner of a security company,” he said. “They responded very fast.”

One of the biggest changes Ekhaguere would like to see residents make is to program the non-emergency police number into their phones, as well as fire services and Crimestoppers numbers. He said 9-1-1 is the best option for serious crimes, but sometimes residents call 9-1-1 when they don’t need to. He said it’s important for residents to know when other avenues are appropriate.

“The more people who are knowledgeable about how to prevent crimes, the more we have crime reduction,” he said. “I can tell you that not many residents have on their phone the police phone number. What most people have is 9-1-1. They just dial 9-1-1. That’s it, but that is not enough.”

Ekhaguere decided to start holding free monthly presentations after discussions with Prince Albert police about reducing crime and increasing public safety. He said helping residents recognize and report signs of crime can empower them to keep their neighbourhoods safe.

“This information is very important for our city,” he said. “We understand that knowledge is power.”

Beyond having emergency service numbers saved on their phone, Ekhaguere said there are several other simple measures residents can take to improve safety. He recommends residents get to know their neighbours so they can watch out for each other and deter property crime. He also suggests residents avoid giving out personal information to unknown sources or individuals, and urges residents to not be shy about reporting things that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

The outreach effort is one of several Ekhaguere has planned to help increase public safety and public awareness in the community.

Residents can reach Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477. The City of Prince Albert Police Service non-emergency number is 1-306-953-4222, and the Prince Albert Fire Department number is 306-953-4200.

Father given 16 year sentence for killing infant son

Jason Kerr
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Father given 16 year sentence for killing infant son

Kaij Brass expressed remorse for his actions, and later broke down in tears after being sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing his 13-month-old son Tanner in February 2022.

Judge Gary Meschishnick handed down the decision on Monday following a joint submission by the crown and defence. Meschishnick delivered the verdict in a mostly empty court room, with only Brass’ mother and grandmother present.

“I’m genuinely sorry for what happened,” Brass told the court before sentencing. “I want to accept responsibility.”

Brass later broke down in tears after the verdict before speaking with his mother and grandmother.

Defence lawyer Zachary Carter said Brass did not intend to kill Tanner, but takes responsibility for his actions.

“I don’t think any sentence a court can compose is going to come near to the anguish he’s going through as a result of what happened,” Carter said afterwards. “He’s taken responsibility for it, but he’s going to have to live with that for the rest of his life.”

Brass received a 16-year sentence for manslaughter, with credit for time served. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least half of that sentence.

Crown Prosecutor Rob Parker said that’s an unusually long sentence for a manslaughter charge, but both the crown and defence thought it was appropriate.

“Based on my legal research, this would be the highest sentence for manslaughter that’s been imposed—that I was able to find—in this particular province,” Parker said afterwards. “From the crown’s perspective, it needed to be that way to address the seriousness of the offence, the vulnerability of the victim, and the aggravating nature of what had taken place there.”

Council for Tanner’s mother, Kyla Frenchman, appeared by phone. Frenchman did not appear in court, and did not provide a victim impact statement during sentencing.

Brass plead guilty to manslaughter charges following a pre-trial hearing in January.

During the joint submission, Parker credited Brass for being open and honest with police about what happened. However, Parker also noted that 13-month-old Tanner was a vulnerable infant who was abused by the person he trusted to keep him safe: his own father.

According to the statement of facts read out prior to sentencing, Tanner became upset after Kaij kicked Frenchman out of their house on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Kaij told police he tried to calm Tanner down, but soon became frustrated and “snapped.”

Kaij started spanking Tanner, and eventually slapped the child seven to eight times out of frustration.

Kaij told police he saw Tanner bleeding from the mouth, but went to sleep instead of calling 9-1-1. He told police Tanner was coughing up blood, but thought the he would be okay. When Kaij woke up, he realized Tanner was in serious danger, called 9-1-1, and told the operator he had killed his son.

A post-mortem exam conducted by Dr. Shaun Ladham showed Tanner died of blunt force trauma to the head, and lung damage likely caused by his body shutting down while unconscious.

Parker told the court that Tanner relied on his father for love and protection, but received “the exact opposite.” Parker also emphasized that Kaij did not hit Tanner once or twice, but multiple times.

Prior to sentencing, the court heard that Kaij grew up in difficult circumstances without an adult role model in his life. The court heard that Kaij did not know his father as a youth, but began establishing a relationship with him as he got older.

The court heard that Kaij moved around quite a bit with his family before being kicked out of the house at age 16 by his mother’s boyfriend. As an adult, he worked off and on in the service industry, but struggled with alcohol abuse.

Prior to this act, Kaij did not have a criminal record.

Prior to sentencing, Carter emphasized that Kaij was willing to own his actions.

“He did not intend to cause his son’s death, but he takes complete responsibility,” Carter said.

‘It’s still painful’: Ukrainian residents mark 2 years since start of Russian invasion

Jason Kerr
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‘It’s still painful’: Ukrainian residents mark 2 years since start of Russian invasion

On Feb. 24, 2022, Maria Trofymchuk was trying to answer a question no parent wants to hear their child ask: are we going to die today?

Trofymchuk and her then three-year-old daughter where living in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv when Russia invaded the country. She quickly packed her daughter into her car and started driving west.

“She saw the military equipment in the road going straight towards us,” Trofymchuk remembered. “This was our guys. This was our (Ukrainian) forces, but she asked, ‘Mom, what is going on?’ I said to her, ‘it (is the) start (of a) war, and she asked me, ‘Mom, will we die today?’ I looked into this three-year-olds eyes, and I didn’t know what (to) answer.”

Trofymchuk’s trip to the Western part of Ukraine normally would have taken eight to 10 hours. On that day, it took more than 20 because of how many people were trying to escape the fighting. Eventually, Trofymchuk and her daughter reached safety, and travelled in Prince Albert in October 2022 after a short stay in Newfoundland.

Trofymchuk said her daughter has learned English quickly, and adjusted well to life in Canada. But on days like Saturday, which marked two years since the start of the Russian invasion, they can’t help but feel sad.

“She’s (a) very smart girl and she knows that it’s war in Ukraine (and) it’s dangerous,” Trofymchuk said. “She knows she’s Ukrainian and we pray every evening. Sometimes I forget, but she reminds me. ‘Mom, we need to pray for Ukraine, and for victory—for our victory,’ but she misses home very much.”

Trofymchuk and her daughter are one of 114 Ukrainian families who have arrived in Prince Albert since the war began. Many of them were at the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Prince Albert on Saturday to pray for Ukraine and remember those who had lost their lives, their families, and their homes during the invasion.

Maria Trofymchuk speaks during Saturday’s ceremony marking two years since the start of the Russian invasion. — Jason Kerr/Daily Herald

“It’s still painful,” said Trofymchuk, who acted as emcee for the evening. “It still hurts, like the first day.

“Ukrainians are very brave and fight bravely,” she added. “I hope that victory will be very, very soon, not in years, but in months. We really wait for that and pray for that every day.”

Olha Slipchenko was living in Myrhorod on the first day of the invasion. The city is located roughly two-and-a-half hours east of Kyiv.

Myrhorod literally means “City of Peace” in Ukrainian, but all Slipchenko remembers from that time are fights breaking out everywhere, and local residents fleeing their homes.

“I’m very sad,” she said through a translator. “It (Saturday) is a day when it comes back to your memory.”

In Prince Albert, Slipchenko has settled in as part of the community. On Saturday, she was one of many Ukrainian newcomers who performed with the Veselka Ukrainian Choir.

Slipchenko said she’s grateful for the chance to be with other Ukrainians on the anniversary of the invasion. She’s also optimistic Ukraine will win.

“I think all of Ukraine is positive,” she said. “We had a chance to give up. What to do? Give our land to Putin? No. Never. We will fight him to the last.”

Saturday’s ceremony included prayers from Rev. Andrei Kachur of St. George, a candle lighting ceremony, and remarks from Prince Albert resident Sonya Jahn, who has overseen efforts to help Ukrainian families settle in Prince Albert.

Jahn told the families in attendance they are loved here in Prince Albert. She said that’s an important message to get out on a day so many Ukrainians are missing their friends, their extended family, and their home.

“Some of them would love to go back, but they know that they have nothing to go back to,” Jahn said. “Their homes have been bombed, and they have nothing left back home. Many of their family members have been killed, their neighbours, and yet they miss their homeland.

“We want them to feel welcome, to know that they’re loved, to know that they’re cared for and we really want them to have a good future here.”

While the fighting continues, more and more families continue to arrive in Prince Albert. Jahn said she expects four new families to make the trip, although it’s difficult to say when they’ll arrive.

“I never know from day to day when I might get some more families,” she said. “I could have some more families tomorrow who will just pop up, and I have people who will contact me right from Europe to say that they’d like to come to Prince Albert.

“Some of the larger centres are getting filled up, so now they’re looking at places that still have availability for housing and employment opportunities,” she added. “We are one of those locations that still can do that. Although accommodations may be limited, we still have the ability to support these families.”

Members of the Veselka Choir perform during Saturday’s ceremony marking two years since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — Jason Kerr/Daily Herald

Jahn said they’re still looking for donations to help those families. The biggest needs are new or like-new towels, plus sheets and quilts for double or queen-sized beds.

Bedroom and kitchen furniture is also a big need. Jahn said they have a Quonset to store donated furniture. She estimates they’ve filled it up and emptied it out a dozen times already.

Jahn’s mother was born in Ukraine, and she visited the country before the invasion. She said it’s sad to see such a beautiful country destroyed, and so many families forced to leave their homes.

“All of these people are like you and me. They just want to live a peaceful life,” Jahn said. “They just want to live to raise their children. They are working people. They want to contribute to their communities, and to be productive individuals and contribute to a society and share their culture, so it makes me sad that that is all being destroyed right now.”

To help support the war efforts, local Ukrainians plan to host a fundraising supper at St. George on Friday, March 1. The meal includes ham, scalloped potatoes, perogies, and vegetables. All funds raised will go towards purchasing medical and protective gear for the soldiers of Ukraine.

Tickets cost $30 and are available at Ukreation in the Gateway Mall.

City admin suggests more consultation before council makes final decision on potential La Colle Falls tourist site

Jason Kerr
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City admin suggests more consultation before council makes final decision on potential La Colle Falls tourist site

The City of Prince Albert should hold further talks and complete an archeological assessment before applying to make the La Colle Falls area a historical site.

That’s according to a report from Prince Albert Community Services Director Jody Boulet that was written at city council’s request and included in the agenda package for Monday’s executive committee meeting.

Boulet wrote that the City would need to take multiple steps to develop the property, but the archeological assessment and consultations with PAREDA, local rural municipalities, and Indigenous groups were the biggest.

“Due to the size of the site and its potential for both settler and Indigenous significance, an archaeological assessment by a professional is recommended,” Boulet wrote. “As the land in question is located within the RM of Prince Albert, any Municipal Heritage Designation would come from the RM, and consultation with the RM in this regard is required. Only with municipal level designation can the City proceed with the applications for Provincial and Federal designations, and pursue any related funding opportunities.”

Attempts to develop the La Colle falls site were made in 2009, 2013, 2019, and 2020. The most recent involved the RM of Garden River, who wanted to create a day park in the area.

Boulet wrote that the City could consider a low impact approach if council determines it would cost too much to turn it into a historical tourist site.

There is increased regulation on all properties that receive a Heritage Designation, Boucher wrote, and that may require significant investment. Instead, the City could create a trail network with signs pointing to a viewing point for the La Colle Falls site.

Boulet wrote that this would leave the site undisturbed, while still giving tourists and hikers a chance to view it.

Regardless of what direction the City takes, Boulet wrote that any efforts to increase foot traffic at the site would likely lead to more unwanted visitors.

“The pursuit of a heritage designation should only come as the result of significant consultation on the matter, determining if the costs, risks and rewards balance,” Boulet wrote.

“An additional important step would be to consult with Tourism to evaluate the Tourism potential and any regional support or advice available through PAREDA regarding the potential development of La Colle Falls and Area. Through this consultation there may be both short and long term opportunities worth investigating for future recommendation to members of Council.”

The La Colle Falls report is one of five items on the consent agenda for Monday’s Executive Committee Meeting. Council will also hear an update on the City’s Strategic Plan, and a presentation from the committee spearheading Prince Albert’s efforts to host the upcoming Men’s World Cup of Softball.

Prince Albert Ukrainians to mark 2 years since Russian invasion with prayer and reflection

Jason Kerr
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Prince Albert Ukrainians to mark 2 years since Russian invasion with prayer and reflection

Pray for Ukraine scheduled for Saturday

It’s been nearly two years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, and a group of Prince Albert residents wants to make sure the people affected by that war aren’t forgotten.

Local Ukrainians plan to recognize the two-year mark on Saturday night with an evening of prayer and reflection at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Prince Albert. Veselka Ukrainian Culture and Heritage Club president Charlene Tebbutt said it’s important to make sure Ukrainian newcomers and residents with friends and family still in the country know they are not alone.

“Two years on we’re still very much aware of what’s happening,” Tebbutt said. “We definitely want to be there for those who are directly affected (or) who have family members directly in Ukraine and are impacted, but also people who are just feeling the weight of the war and the struggle that’s happening.”

Veselka and St. George partnered with the Barveenok Ukrainian Dancers to host the event. The evening includes not only prayer, but also speeches, poetry readings, and performances by the Barveenok Dancers and Veselka Choir.

Two years on, Tebbutt said the war inspires a whirlwind of emotions in many local Ukrainians.

“A lot of people are just really saddened to see what is happening, especially if they are here and so far away,” she explained. “It’s a sad time for them and it’s difficult to understand, so there’s a lot of emotion.”

Veselka and other Ukrainian organizations have stepped up to provide everything from cultural activities and entertainment for newcomers displaced by the war, to fundraising events designed to help Ukrainians hit hard by the fighting.

Tebbutt credited local Prince Albert resident Sonja Jahn for heading up most of those efforts to make Ukrainian newcomers feel at home. Tebbutt said the goal is to help wherever they can.


“They’re settling into a new place. They’re learning a new way of doing things, a new city, having to find jobs and get settled and have their families learn about Prince Albert, so I think all around it can be fairly overwhelming,” she explained. “As a club, we’ve been trying to find ways to bring them in and show our support and get to know them because really, we want to get to know them and make sure they feel welcome.”

Saturday’s evening of prayer and remembrance is just one of several events planned across the province as Saskatchewan Ukrainians commemorate two years since the start of the invasion.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ Yorkton Branch also has a prayer service planned. Ukrainian organizations in Regina and Saskatoon have also planned Canada Stands with Ukraine Until Victory events.

We Continue to Pray for Ukraine begins at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

‘The timing couldn’t be better’: PA Food Bank gets $25,000 boost

Jason Kerr
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‘The timing couldn’t be better’: PA Food Bank gets $25,000 boost

The Prince Albert Food Bank received a much needed boost from SIGA and the Northern Lights Casino on Thursday, and not a moment too soon.

SIGA and Northern Lights donated $25,000 to the food bank Thursday morning. Food Bank executive director Kim Scruby said the donation was a welcome surprise.

“This is amazing for us and the timing couldn’t be better,” he said.

“I was really surprised in a really good way.”

Over the last fiscal year, the food bank has provided 11,416 food hampers, while also running a summer meal program. Combined, they’ve served 112,279 meals to residents in the Prince Albert area.

Scruby said they’ve seen a significant increase in demand, but thankfully haven’t run out of food. However, it has stretched their budget.

“We’re facing the same pressures with inflation as everybody else is, so this is incredible, and the timing couldn’t be better,” he said. “This kind of community support is the only thing that keeps our doors open.

Scruby said this is one of the most significant donations the PA Food Bank has received in its history.

“It will go a long way,” he said. “The timing couldn’t be better. We discovered in the last thaw that we need a new room … so this is certainly going to help. It frees up other money to fill-up the shelves for the community.”

Northern Lights Casino GM Angela Isbister said they’ve noticed many local residents struggling with the cost of living, and wanted to help out. She said they’ve supported the PA Food Bank in the past, so donating to them again was an easy decision.

“Over the last year we’ve seen the increased need out there in Prince Albert and Area for food hampers and food programs,” Isbister said. “Northern Lights Casino and SIGA wanted to step up to help the Prince Albert Food Bank in filling that need for families.”

Thursday’s donation was just one of several SIGA planned as part of its $225,000 Community Investment Food Security Strategy. The organization plans to donate to food banks in every community with a SIGA casino.

SIGA President and CEO Zane Hansen said they wanted to invest in the community, and supporting the food bank was a great way to do it.

“We’ve got seven properties across Saskatchewan and have been very fortunate,” Hansen said. “Our customers and the markets have been so good to us, (and) nutrition is a big part of what we like to support as a company.”

Educational artist brings pow wow colours and energy to the Winter Festival

Jason Kerr
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Educational artist brings pow wow colours and energy to the Winter Festival

Jessica Rabbitskin has always loved teaching, and although she isn’t in the classroom anymore, she’s still doing her best to educate the next generation about Indigenous culture.

Rabbitskin was one of three dancers giving a pow wow demonstration at the Prince Albert Winter Festival Family Days Cultural Event on Wednesday. Rabbitskin said it’s a great way to teach people about Indigenous culture and promote healthy activities.

It’s also a chance for her to get back to doing what she loves: teaching.

“It’s one of my things I like to do,” said Rabbitskin, who previously worked as a school teacher before starting a new career as an educational artist. “I like to educate. I like to share. I like to talk to kids. I like to see that interest in their eyes.”

Rabbitskin started pow wow dancing when she was 12 before quitting for many years. She returned to dancing briefly before quitting again to focus on creating dancing regalia and homeschooling her children.

After watching her children at pow wows, Rabbitskin felt the urge to start dancing again, but she wanted to do more than just perform. She wanted to teach, while also growing closer to her family.

“It’s really awesome to dance. It feels really good to be able to dance for people, (and) I love it when my son is with me,” she said. “It’s a family thing. Family is everything to me, so it’s really good for us to be together too. This is like a healing thing for us, when we hear that drum, when we dance to that drum, and it’s a ceremony in itself.”

Rabbitskin’s 17-year-old son, Leander Dreaver, joined her for the pow wow demonstration at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. Dreaver said there was a time when he never would have considered learning traditional Indigenous dancing. However, he struggled with alcoholism and depression in his early teenage years, and turned to dance as a positive activity.

Now, Dreaver urges other teenagers to seek out elders and learn traditional ways as a healthy activity to fight back against despair.

“I know a lot of people my age think there’s nothing to do, there’s nowhere to go, I’m stuck at home, and they think no one understands, no one gets it, because everyone who tries to help, they’re all adults and no teenager wants to listen to an adult,” Dreaver said. “I didn’t. I was always saying, ‘you don’t understand,’ or, ‘you don’t know.’ Coming from me, a 17-year-old teenager who went through suicidal thoughts, went through depression, fell into alcohol to try and wash it away and almost lost my life because of what I was feeling and what I went through, this (dance) really does help.”

Drummer Rene French and dancer Wilbur Campbell rounded out the pow wow demonstration group on Wednesday. The performance was one of many activities Family Day organizers brought in from Feb. 20-22 to promote Indigenous and Metis culture.

Tuesday’s event included a storytelling workshop with local author Leah Dorion, while Thursday’s activities include a hoop dancing demonstration.

Family Day coordinator Eleanor Crawford said the response has been excellent so far.

“It’s important to have that out here,” she said. “The aboriginal people the Metis people, that’s who’s done a lot of the trapping and fishing and events that date way back, so this is kind of an original thing. We’re just trying to bring it back and re-create it.”

The final Winter Festival Family Day runs Thursday, Feb. 22 from 1-4 p.m. at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

Sounds of summer: PA Minor Baseball players hit the turf for annual winter camp

Jason Kerr
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Sounds of summer: PA Minor Baseball players hit the turf for annual winter camp

There may still be snow on the ground and ice on the river, but Prince Albert youth baseball players are already fielding grounders and catching fly balls in preparation for summer.

PA Minor Baseball began their three-day winter camp on Tuesday, coinciding with the start of MLB training camps in Arizona and Florida. Prince Albert Winter Camp volunteer organizer Corey Borthwick said the program is primarily a development camp aimed at getting players ready for try-outs in March.

“We really try to get the players focused on their fundamentals—just simple throwing and receiving drills, basic drills in terms of hitting and trying to simplify things,” Borthwick explained. “(It) gets them to create good habits that will help them during the year.”

Players from the 11U and 13U divisions took part in morning sessions on Wednesday, while players from the 15U and 18U divisions hit the Alfred Jenkins Field House turf for the afternoon.

Borthwick said baseball in Prince Albert dipped in popularity in previous decades, but has started to rebound in the past few years. Borthwick also sits on the PA Minor Baseball board. He said they’ve tried to upgrade Prince Albert’s baseball facilities and make the sport more popular in the community.

One of the big changes he’d like to see is the creation of a AAA program that would draw players from Prince Albert and the northeast. Borthwick said he’s not sure why the north central and northeast regions do not have a AAA team, but considering the talent available in all communities, he’s confident it could work.

A group of Prince Albert Minor Baseball players take part in an infield drill during the Prince Albert Minor Baseball winter camp on Wednesday. — Jason Kerr/Daily Herald

“That will be something that maybe we’ll try to develop in the next few years,” he said.

“Baseball in Saskatchewan, it’s still going strong. We’re still one of the top provinces in terms of baseball development and showings at national tournaments, so that’s also a great thing as well.”

Kole McGregor was one of many youth baseball players taking part in the winter camp on Wednesday. Like Borthwick, he’s excited to get the baseball season going, regardless of the weather.

“It feels good,” he said. “Baseball is probably my best sport, so I like being out here more than any other sport I play. It feels really nice to be out here to play with all my friends.”

McGregor will play in the 18U division this year. He’s hopeful the winter development camp will give him a boost when the season starts, and lead to plenty of wins in May, June, and July.

“I’m here to have fun, play hard … and hopefully win provincials this year,” he said.

Great Canadian Roadtrip artists eager to roll into Prince Albert

Jason Kerr
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Great Canadian Roadtrip artists eager to roll into Prince Albert
Doc Walker
Michelle Wright

Even after more than 30 years in the Canadian Country Music scene, Jason McCoy still gets some surprises.

The two-time Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Male Vocalist of the Year received an unexpected one last year when he was inducted into the CCMA Hall of Fame. The induction was so unexpected that McCoy assumed he was in trouble when the organizers called to congratulate him.


“I was sitting with my wife and I got a call from the CCMA last summer,” McCoy remembered. “I said to her before I picked it up, ‘have we paid our CCMA membership dues?’ I figured that’s why they were calling, right? (In) September the awards were coming up … and they told me I’d been nominated. It’s been quite a ride. I didn’t know what surreal meant until this happened.”

McCoy is no stranger to awards, having received 19 CCMA Award nominations, and multiple JUNO nominations as well. He also received multiple awards with Clayton Bellamy and Christ Byrne when the trio performed as The Road Hammers.

Despite the history of nominations and wins, McCoy said the Hall of Fame induction still hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I’m still 12 years old in my bedroom learning how to play a G-chord, in my mind,” he said. “You always just work and work, then you lift your head up and it’s like, ‘wow, this is pretty cool.’”

After more than three decades in the music industry, McCoy is still as eager to tour as ever. He’ll be in Prince Albert on Feb. 28 along with two other award-winning Canadian country music acts: Doc Walker and Michelle Wright.

The performers are travelling through the prairies on The Great Canadian Roadtrip, which includes three stops in Saskatchewan. McCoy said he played ‘every corner’ of the province while trying to break into the music industry, and always enjoys coming back.

“I love Saskatchewan,” he said.

“Saskatchewan’s home to some really great country fans and there’s a lot of great homegrown Saskatchewan talent, so to have us in is a big honour.”

Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw formed Doc Walker in 1994, and have since gone on to win a JUNO Award and 14 Canadian Country Music Awards.

Wright has won more than 40 major awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.

McCoy said the decision to join forces with both acts for The Great Canadian Roadtrip was “a no brainer.” He also said it’s been fun to perform with two other celebrated acts he knows well from his time in the music industry.

“I think the biggest thing is we’ve all been doing it a few years so there’s no ego,” McCoy said with a chuckle.

“We’re just there to have fun. We got all that rock star ego stuff out of our system decades ago.”

McCoy said it’s becoming more and more popular to see package musical tours where two or three acts band together and perform together on stage. As long as fans want to see it, he said all three Great Canadian Roadtrip acts are happy to keep performing.

“We only get to go out if there’s demand, so it all comes down to fans,” he said. “If they didn’t want to hear us, we wouldn’t be playing, so thank you very much. I always say that without the fans, it would just be a rehearsal, so thanks for making it a show.”

The Great Canadian Roadtrip opens at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre. Tickets are available at earc.ca.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

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