‘It’s extremely rewarding’: River Valley Resilience Retreat celebrates 2 years

Jason Kerr
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‘It’s extremely rewarding’: River Valley Resilience Retreat celebrates 2 years

After two years of cleaning, renovating, and building, the River Valley Resilience Retreat (RVRR) is ready to celebrate

The local non-profit was founded in 2019, but didn’t open their current home south of Prince Albert until 2022. On Wednesday, June 5, they commemorated two years at that location with a special ceremony attended local first responders and Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty.


“It’s extremely rewarding and an honour,” said Prince Albert Firefighter Jeff Reeder. “It’s a lot of hard work that’s got us to this point. It’s exciting to get out of the planning stages and into the doing stages.”

Reeder co-founded the RVRR with social worker and corrections officer Michelle McKeaveney with the goal of creating a permanent, year-round, safe and secluded space for Public Safety Personnel (PSP) and veterans to rest, relax, and health from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Operational Stress Injury (OSI).

Since taking over the property, Reeder said it’s been “all hands on deck” to get the facility up and running. That includes building five new cabins, which allowed RVRR to host their first full weekend in May.

Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
Prince Albert firefighter and River Valley Resilience Retreat co-founder Jeff Reeder carves up the cake during the non-profit’s second anniversary celebration.

Reeder said they still have other projects in the works—the biggest being the construction of an expanded workshop and new all-weather washroom facilities—but it was important to recognize how far they have come.

“We don’t often take a minute to enjoy or revel in our achievements,” he said. “Today just cements the fact that we have done a lot in the last two years and we’re proud of what we have accomplished here.”

Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty was one of several dignitaries on hand to celebrate the occasion. As a 36-year veteran of the RCMP, Mirasty said there was a significant need for an organization like RVRR. When offered the chance to see it first hand, there was no hesitation.

“I’ve seen what OSI and PTSD can do, even to a close family member in particular, and I always felt there were better ways to deal with it that we did in the past, so it was a pleasure to come out,” he said.

“It’s a great facility. I’ve heard of it from its inception, but never had an opportunity to come out here, and been looking forward to coming here to see what it was all about and hear what it was all about,” he added.

Mirasty said there were signs PTSD and OSI were problems for officers when he first joined the RCMP. At the time, he said many people weren’t sure how to deal with it.

Some officers threw themselves into health activities like exercise or sports, he explained while others resorted to drinking. Mirasty said RCMP members always knew there was a better way to deal with the problem, but were unsure where to begin.

He said talking about mental health issues in public has helped drive the conversation forward to the point where facilities like RVRR are welcomed.

“That was probably the best thing that happened, that awareness and then talking about it openly, and trying to remove some of that stigma,” he said. “Sometimes people (had that), ‘well, you’re a police officer, you’re tough, just grin and bear it’ kind of attitude, and we knew that wasn’t working. Now there’s a recognition of it.”

RM of Prince Albert Reeve Eric Schmalz was also on hand for the celebration. As reeve, he’s incredibly proud to have something like RVRR in the area. As a former RCMP officer with 14 years of experience, he said the space is vital.

“The attitude and the knowledge and the recognition of OSI were in their infancy,” said when asked about his time in the RCMP. “They were starting to recognize that there was a problem.”

Schamlz said first responder organizations were always quick the problems OSI and PTSD were creating in their members, especially compared to other organizations, like the Canadian Armed Forces. However, once they did, Schmalz said they services and supports they provided helped keep RCMP officers and other emergency service personal in their field longer.

He said facilities like RVRR are a big part of that support, and he glad to see them setup shop in the RM.

Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
The River Valley Resilience Retreat recently finished construction on five new cabins, allowing them to host their first full weekend retreat in May.

“It’s a great source of pride,” Schmalz said. “There’s no facility like this in Western Canada, possibly not even in the entire nation…. This essentially sets the mould for other organizations to setup operations like this in other provinces and communities to be able to help treat and rehabilitate people who have suffered OSI.”

Wednesday’s celebration also served as the official launch of PTSD Awareness Month in Saskatchewan. Since opening two years ago, Reeder said he’s seeing more and more first responders ask for help. Their goal now is to get them reaching out sooner.

Reeder said it’s common for first responders to show symptoms in the days following a traumatic event, but if those symptoms continue for four to six weeks afterwards, they need to reach out for help.

“You don’t have to bring everything home,” he said. “Know who to turn to if you do have some struggles, and know that we’re here.”

Saskatchewan teachers to resume job action on Monday after rejecting province’s call for binding arbitration

Jason Kerr
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Saskatchewan teachers to resume job action on Monday after rejecting province’s call for binding arbitration

Saskatchewan Teachers will resume Work-to-Rule job action on Monday after declaring an impasse in negotiations on Thursday.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) said in a press release that the two sides held a meeting on Wednesday. The STF said they put forward “several paths for continued negotiations” but the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) wanted binding arbitration, something they couldn’t accept.

“We have always agreed with what Minister Cockrill (Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill) has stated many times—the best deals are negotiated at the table,” STF president Samantha Becotte said in a press release. “We finally experienced real negotiations in the meetings held in May and want to build on that progress.”

Starting June 10, teachers will no long provide voluntary services outside the restricted work day, including a withdrawal of all extracurricular activities. The job action also includes a restricted workday, meaning teachers will not arrive at school until 15 minutes before the start of the school day and leave 15 minutes after it ends. Teachers have also withdrawn all noon-hour supervision.

Becotte said the STF is willing to return to the bargaining table and suspend sanctions if the government is prepared to provide the GTBC “with an adequate mandate to negotiate” on the issue.

“Teachers are engaged and are committed to reaching a negotiated deal that will ensure students’ needs can be met,” Becotte said. “Government’s singular focus and insistence on binding arbitration shows that it is unwilling to adequately address the urgent needs of Saskatchewan students.”

The STF has scheduled a press conference for Thursday morning.

The Ministry of Education issued a press release calling binding arbitration the only viable option to ensure a timely resolution after the STF membership rejected a tentative agreement reached on May 17.

The Ministry also criticized STF senior leadership, arguing that Thursday’s actions show they “are more interested in planning job action” than reaching an agreement.

“Government is committed to getting a deal done to provide stability and predictability for students, families, and the education sector,” Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in the press release. “Binding arbitration represents the best path to get that done. Our priority is to ensure that instructional time and important student activities are not affected any further.”

The Ministry argued that binding arbitration would help maintain the quality of education and minimize disruptions for students.

“Any further sanctions at this point would be unfair to Saskatchewan students and families given the GTBC’s commitment to refer this to binding arbitration,” reads the press release.

Art in the Garden brings artisans and gardeners together at plant exchange

Jason Kerr
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Art in the Garden brings artisans and gardeners together at plant exchange

For the past two years, Christopher Lake horticulturalist Garry Miller has been opening his acreage to gardeners hoping to find a unique plant for their own yard at the Ultimate Perennial Plant Exchange

On Saturday, he’ll open the exchange for a third year, with the added component of artisans, vendors, and decorators as part of Art in the Garden. Miller said artists and gardeners have a lot in common.

“People who are serious garden enthusiasts, they take pride in their yard, their landscape,” Miller said. “It’s like an artist’s canvas. I feel that way very strongly about my own landscape that I have. It’s my canvas where I can put my creativity out there for other people to see.”

Gardeners aren’t just solo creators, Miller said. They like to collaborate, and that means adding outdoor décor from local artists to accentuate their yards and gardens.

Miller said many gardening enthusiasts like to show off their yard, so it made sense to setup Art in the Garden, and bring in local artisans who can help them do it.

“Garden enthusiasts, they like to be able to have their yard be a showpiece for others to see, so the Art in the Garden, the idea was to dovetail with the Perennial Plant Exchange,” he explained.

Art in the Garden is just one part of Miller’s annual plant exchange. The event draws horticulture enthusiasts from Meadow Lake, Flin Flon, and Regina.

Miller said they arrive hoping to grow their knowledge, as well as their garden.

“I feel that’s very important for people to be able to network with one another, whether they’re experienced or whether they’re novices,” he explained. “That’s what I like to see, particularly at this event. I like to see people networking. I like to see people communicating. Sometimes I wish I could just be a fly on the wall, just listening to some of the conversations that go on.”

Miller said there are plenty of gardening enthusiasts on social media website like Facebook, but they don’t always communicate. Individuals from one group will talk to individuals from another, he explained, but the groups as a whole don’t often get together.

He’s hoping events like the Perennial Plant Exchange can help change that. So far, it’s been successful.

“I had no idea that this was going to take roots and was going to grow the way it has grown,” Miller said. “The response has been nothing short of remarkable, not just in my local community.”

Miller has been involved with the Saskatchewan Perennial Society for several years. He will be one of three speakers imparting their knowledge during the event. Other speakers include Keri Sapsford of the Backyard Compost Corner.

Art in the Garden beings a 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8. There will also be a plant sale, music, and concessions. The speakers begin at 10:30 a.m.

The Perennial Plant Exchange begins at 1 p.m. Residents need to pre-register to participate. For more information, visit the Ultimate Perennial Plant Exchange group on Facebook.

Miller’s acreage is on Ajawan St. in Grey Owl Estates.

St. Mary Marauder Risom eager to join Regina Thunder

Jason Kerr
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St. Mary Marauder Risom eager to join Regina Thunder

St. Mary Marauder Matt Risom will be playing football in the Saskatchewan capital this summer after signing with the PFC’s Regina Thunder.

Risom played both ways in his final season with the Marauders, lining up at LB, DE, and TE for a squad that upset the first place Carlton Crusaders in the playoffs before falling to North Battleford in the 2023 NSFL final. Risom said it’s an honour to join the Thunder after finishing his high school career.

“I’m super excited to be working with such a competitive organization, and such top-notch coaches,” he said. “I couldn’t have had things go better. It’s exactly what I wanted out of football, so I’m really excited to just get back on the field again and continue playing.”

Risom had a couple of different offers coming out of high school, but chose Regina because he liked the team’s mix of camaraderie and competitiveness. The Thunder finished second in the PFC last season with a 7-3 record, and made it to the conference final where they lost to the eventual Canadian Bowl champion Saskatoon Hilltops.

“Going to the tryouts and speaking with the coaches, the team organization, the program, listening to their podcasts, it gave me a really warm sense of family,” Risom said. “(It was) just something that I wanted to be a part of. I could tell that they mean business and they’re the type of team that I could go with to eventually win a championship. Taking all those things into account, and my own personal development, it just felt like the right place to go.”

Risom is a late-comer to the football landscape. He never played youth football, but fell in love with the game in high school. He started at a CB in Grade 11, but moved to LB and eventually DE as he put on weight.

The Thunder listed him as a defensive lineman in their signing announcement on June 1. Risom said he’s happiest playing DE and doesn’t mind hitting the gym to put on more weight over the next year. However, he’s committed to playing wherever they need him.

“Obviously, these guys are big men. Not only are they big, but they’re fast and skilled also, so there is a high standard to hold yourself too,” he said. “Obviously, the size thing will take time, but I’m dedicated to becoming whatever kind of player they want me to become.

“I do have a good idea of the size I need to reach in the coming year or two years. I’m working on that. I’m sucking down calories and in the gym, so I’m just going to try and get bigger and continue to hone my skills.”

Risom joined Carlton Crusader LB Scott Adamko as Prince Albert representatives on Team North at the Sr. Bowl in May. He credits St. Mary High School head coach Curt Hundeby and the rest of the Marauder coaching staff for helping him get to the next level of football.

“It’s an absolutely great program,” Risom said. “I’d advise anyone open to high school ball to go and play for them, and just learn and absorb the values. They’ve done a lot for me—one of the biggest reasons I’ve got as far as I have on my journey here.”

The Thunder begin the regular season on Aug. 11 when they travel to Winnipeg to face the Rifles. Their home opener is scheduled for Aug. 25, also against Winnipeg.

Lakeland Blaze rally falls just short in Amundson Memorial Tournament U17 Final

Jason Kerr
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Lakeland Blaze rally falls just short in Amundson Memorial Tournament U17 Final

The Lakeland Blaze pulled off one late-inning rally to get to the Shaye Amundson Memorial Tournament U17 Final, but couldn’t quite pull off a second.

The Blaze scored three runs in the seventh and final inning, but couldn’t squeeze out one more in a 5-4 loss to the Saskatoon Selects Reds. Despite the loss, Blaze head coach Scott Reid said he was happy with the effort.

“I thought they showed a lot of resolve battling back here in this final,” Reid said. “Overall, they performed very well this weekend, and that we were hoping for.

“We keep growing as a team and we keep getting better, so that’s all we can ask for as coaches with our players,” he added. “It was a positive weekend overall. It’s just too bad we came up a little short in the end.”

The loss in the U17 Finals marked the second time a late-inning Lakeland Rally fell short against the Reds. The two teams met in Pool A’s opening game, with Lakeland pushing two runs across the plate during the final inning in a 7-6 loss.

“They seem to have our number right now, but it’s a long season and there’s lots of ball left,” Reid said. “I’m sure we’re going to see them a bunch more times…. Hopefully these close games start going our way as we get towards the end of the season.”

After losing the opening game of the tournament, the Blaze rebounded for big wins over the Parkland Predators (19-4) and Regina Saints (15-5). That set up a semi-final game with the Twin City Angels, who won Pool B.

The Angels opened the game with two runs in the top of the first, but that was all the offence they generated. The Blaze made it 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the second, then rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth before holding scoreless in the seventh to win it.

That setup a rematch with the Reds, who won their semi-final match-up with the White Butte Storm 9-3.

The two teams were tied at one before the Reds broke the game open with a three-run third inning. Saskatoon added another run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-1 before Lakeland rallied for three runs on an inside the park homerun. That was as close as the Blaze got, with Saskatoon winning 5-4.

The Blaze are off this weekend, but are back in action from June 14-16 when they travel to Melfort for the 222’s Fastpitch Shootout.

Aces win both pools in U11 Division

The Prince Albert U11 Fiddler Aces gave up only three runs in three games while going undefeated in pool play. The Fiddler Aces defeated the Saskatoon Raider Rush(2-0), Maidstone (12-0) and Moose Jaw (9-3) to secure a spot in the Pool A Final.

Once there, they defeated Moose Jaw again to secure the win.

The Prince Albert U11 Njaa Aces dropped their first game of the tournament 11-2 to the Saskatoon Lasers, but rebounded for wins over Meadow Lake (16-8) and Melfort (9-3) to earn a rematch against Saskatoon in the Pool B Final. The Njaa Aces would go on to win 9-8.

U13 Aces stopped in semi-finals

The Prince Albert U13 Aces also dropped their first game, but rebounded for two straight wins to earn a spot in the semi-final.

The Aces fell 4-1 to the Humboldt Thunder in their tournament opener, but rallied for wins against the Parkland Predators (10-7) and Melfort Spirit B (16-3). The faced the Pool B winners from Moose Jaw in the semi-finals, losing 15-8.

U15 Aces fall to Ice in semi-finals

The U15 Aces opened their tournament with a 10-8 win over the Saskatoon Raiders on Friday.

They then lost 7-5 to the Twin City Angels, but rebounded for a 4-2 win over Sherwood Park to finish 2-1 in pool play.

The Aces faced the Pool B winning Moose Jaw Ice in the semi-finals, with the Ice coming out on top 11-4.

Prince Albert looking to City of Edmonton for inspiration in dealing with boarded up properties

Jason Kerr
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Prince Albert looking to City of Edmonton for inspiration in dealing with boarded up properties

Prince Albert city council has taken the first step towards possibly creating new laws that would see property owners pay a $1,600 minimum property tax for not beginning repairs within three to four months of boarding up a property.

Council voted unanimously at Monday’s regular meeting to have administration prepare a report with options on how best to address “boarded up nuisance properties” in the City. Administration was instructed to include two options. The first would require property owners to have a permit before boarding up a house. The second would see property owners hit with an extra tax for not repairing the house.

Coun. Blake Edwards brought the motion forward at Monday’s meeting. Edwards said there are too many boarded up houses in Prince Albert, and it’s hurting the community’s image.

“It’s crazy,” Edwards said during the meeting. “They’re left there, and it looks terrible. We can do better as a community.”

Edwards wants Prince Albert to following the City of Edmonton’s lead in cracking down on derelict properties. In October, Edmonton approved a new tax on derelict homes, then added 203 properties to the tax class following assessments in February, according to the CBC.

Edwards said there are too many property owners in Prince Albert who seem to think it’s cheaper to just board up a home and leave it instead of renovating or tearing it down.

He described what’s left as an eye-sore.

“It holds the value down of every house around it, and we need to do something about it. Is this the perfect answer? I’m not sure. I don’t know if $1,600 even needs to be there, but it’s a start.”

Coun. Dawn Kilmer seconded Edwards’ motion. She said the permit approach would allow the city to have a list of properties that were boarded up. She also liked the idea of looking into how Edmonton was handling the situation.

“I’m not quite sure what we need to do, but this is a good start,” she said.

Mayor Greg Dionne also supported the motion. Dionne said Edmonton’s bylaw might not be a perfect fit for Prince Albert, but it at least provided a good basis for council and administration.

“It certainly gives us the idea and the forethought instead of coming up with a new one,” he said during the meeting.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

‘It’s a tough day, but a good day’: Prince Albert Aces officially retire Shaye Amundson’s jersey number

Jason Kerr
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‘It’s a tough day, but a good day’: Prince Albert Aces officially retire Shaye Amundson’s jersey number

When Madison Garchinski thinks about Shaye Amundson, the first thing that comes to mind is enthusiasm.

Garchinski, a former Prince Albert Aces softball player and current First Base Coach for the Lakeland U17 Blaze, spent three seasons playing with Amundson, who died tragically at 18-years-old. Whether it was on the diamond or off it, Garchinski said Amundson was always full of energy.

“I’ve never met somebody who’s so enthusiastic, so bubbly, and just loved everything about life,” Garchinski said. “(She) loved playing (and) loved her teammates. Every experience with Shaye was just always something funny, whether it was her dancing in the dugout—she had spoons, she would play spoons in the dugout…. (She was) just the best human.”

After Amundson’s passing in 2016, the Prince Albert and area softball community banded together to create the Shaye Amundson Memorial Tournament in her honour. They started the We Play for Shaye Campaign, and by 2017 had raised enough money to name one of the Max Power Ball Park fields after her.

In 2022, the Prince Albert Minor Softball Association (PAMSA) handed out the first Shaye Amundson Memorial Scholarships, and on Friday night they added to the list of commemorations by officially retiring Amundson’s No. 2 jersey across all age groups.

“Shaye was one of those players where something like this would have meant the world to her,” said Garchinski, who was among several of Amundson’s former teammates and coaches in attendance. “She was one of those teammates who everybody smiled around and would love the celebration.”

Players competing in this year’s tournament lined up along the first and third base lines for the retirement ceremony at Rotary Field prior to the last three games of the tournament’s opening day. Meanwhile, Amundson’s former coaches and teammates joined her family at the centre of the ball diamond for the official unveiling.

“It’s a tough day, but it’s a good day,” said Jenn Ferguson, one of Amundson’s former coaches. “I spent lots of time thinking about her today.”

Ferguson coached Amundson for six years with the Aces. During the ceremony, she spoke about what it was like to coach Amundson, and what it means to see her number retired.

“You want to celebrate Shaye and want to make sure the girls who are playing with Aces jerseys on understand what a big part of the program she was and why we’re celebrating her today,” Ferguson said in an interview afterwards. “I’m just so thankful I got to be part of her short life.”

Minor softball players from who competed in the evening games that followed Friday’s closing ceremony pose for a photo with Shaye Amundson’s family and former teammates and coaches following the official jersey retirement ceremony. — Photo submitted by Stephanie Ripplinger.

Amundson’s parents were among the family members who attended Friday’s ceremony. Melanie Amundson, Shaye’s mother, said it’s great to see the Memorial Tournament thrive, and an honour to have Shaye’s number retired.

“It was emotional, especially having lots of her teammates there with us,” Melanie said. “We haven’t seen them a while. In the softball community, you spend a lot of time with them. They become your family, so I think that was probably one of the better parts.”

The Amundsons are still involved in the local softball scene, primarily through Shaye’s younger sister Rhyan, a former Aces player who graduated to the U19 level this year.

Melanie said it’s great to see some of Rhyan’s old teammates still playing at the tournament, and great to see the softball community putting the Max Power Ball Park diamonds to good use.

She’s also thankful for the Prince Albert softball community, which has never forgotten Shaye or her family.

“It’s not easy, obviously, when you lose a child,” Melanie said, “but the support that we’ve had from our Aces families and our community, it really does help.”

Predators strike early and often for big win on Sunday

Jason Kerr
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Predators strike early and often for big win on Sunday

The Prince Albert Predators bounced back from a close overtime loss on Friday with perhaps the most dominating performance of the Saskatchewan junior lacrosse season on Sunday.

The Predators scored early and often in front of a full house at Kinsmen Arena, defeating the Regina Barracudas 15-1 and outshooting them 53-28.

“There’s not really much to complain about,” Predators coach Lucas Wells said after the game. “I can get nit-picky and find things—and we’ll fine-tune those in practice—but overall, I mean, we had a pretty successful weekend.”

Brayden Rieger led the way with four goals and seven assists for the Predators, while Talon Sandry and Matthew Cudmore each recorded hat tricks.

Hayden Ulriksen scored a pair, and Caldyn Prediger, Ryley Prediger, and Braden Shewchuck added one goal apiece. Mason Hawkes stopped 27 shots in the Prince Albert goal to secure the win. The Predators improved to 8-0 on the season, while the Barracudas fall to 3-6.

Wells said he was impressed with his team’s ability to stay disciplined after the outcome was no longer in doubt.

“Our coaching staff and our leadership group, we have a very good handle on the guys,” he said. “We just try to keep them out of the melees, and stuff, and I mean, those are going to happen, but I don’t feel like when we’re beating them 15-1 or whatever the score may be, that a fight or anything stupid is worth it.”

The Predators came out flying, outshooting Regina 22-7 in the first period and building up a 4-0 lead. They increased their lead to 10-0 in the second before Regina got on the board, then added two more to go up 12-1 at the intermission.

Wells said it was a completely different game compared to the one they played on Friday against the Queen City Kings in their Founder’s Cup Qualifier.

The Predators are off until Friday when they travel to Swift Current to face the second place Wolverines.

““That’s going to be a tough one,” Wells said. “They always have good crowds, and they’re probably our biggest competition in this league.

“Then we go to Weyburn. We have yet to be in Weyburn. They’re a new team in this league, and I like the things they’re doing there. They’re putting on a show before the game, they’re doing a bunch of good things, and it’s nice to see our league growing in that aspect.”

Wells said they are still trying to schedule Game Two of their Founder’s Cup Play-in Series with Queen City.

Brown adds to list of Ladies Northern victories with 2024 win

Jason Kerr
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Brown adds to list of Ladies Northern victories with 2024 win

There was a familiar face back on top of the leaderboard at the conclusion of the second major tournament of the year at Cooke Municipal Golf Course.

Saskatoon’s Kim Brown won four straight titles from 2016-2019, and on Sunday she added to that total with a two-round score of 151 to win the 2024 Ladies Northern.

“It feels great,” said Brown, who won her first Ladies Northern in 2005. “It’s the first tournament of the year. I haven’t been out playing too much, so it felt really good to be able to get out here, play three rounds: a practice round and then two rounds for the tournament. It was just a great weekend.”

Brown led from start to finish at the Ladies Northern. She found herself in the Championship Flight after shooting a 76 on Saturday. She improved by one stroke on Sunday, shooting an 18-hole total of 75 to finish 10 strokes ahead of her nearest competitor.

“Yesterday (Saturday) was some tough conditions,” Brown said. “It was really windy, but I managed to get through with a solid round of 76 and I was very happy with that. Then today we had beautiful conditions and the course was great and I was 75, so I felt like I was steady all weekend.”

Although Brown lives in Saskatoon now, she grew up in Prince Albert and views Cooke as a second home course. Win or lose, she said every Ladies Northern feels special.

“We want to play well and we want to compete well,” she said. “I think any time you do that you can walk away feeling pretty pleased about the weekend and about your play.”

Regina’s Kim Walker finished second in the Championship Flight with a two-day score of 161 while 2022 Ladies Northern champion Kathy Ziglo finished third with a score of 163.

Walker’s total was good enough to land her the Sr. Ladies Northern Championship.

The 2023 Sr. Ladies Northern Champion, Pauline McDougall, took top spot in the First Flight. McDougall shot an 87 on day one, but rebounded for a sizzling 76 on day two to take the First Flight title.

Other winners include Donna Morin (Second Flight) Lien Dinh (Third Flight), Jodi Bruce (Fourth Flight), Jackie Packet (Fifth Flight), Chantelle Burns (Sixth Flight) and Judy King (Seventh Flight).

Local community leaders take first step towards bringing Restorative Action Program to Prince Albert

Jason Kerr
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Local community leaders take first step towards bringing Restorative Action Program to Prince Albert

Meeting ‘a great first step’: Nogier

The Prince Albert Rotary Club, Kyla Art Group, and Mont St. Joseph Home met with community leaders on Friday to take the first step in developing a new Restorative Action Program (RAP) for youth in Prince Albert.

Representatives from Prince Albert’s health, education, and justice sectors met for a presentation from three members of the Saskatoon RAP team at the Coronet Hotel on Friday.

“It’s a great first step,” said Rotary Club member and Mont. St. Joseph CEO Wayne Nogier. “We had a great lunch today with community leaders…, just learning about how to kickstart this thing and get it going.”

Nogier said the Rotary Club first heard about the Saskatoon RAP two years ago when they were in Saskatoon for a convention. The program started in Saskatoon in 2003, and became permanent after a three-year trial period.

The program has since expanded to 11 schools across Saskatoon, and helps students navigate conflict, build relationships, and connect with their school and community. The goal is to help prepare them to resolve issues related to bullying, mental health, and relationships.

“It’s tough being a kid today, so when we look at how to affect (kids) at a grassroots level, it’s about getting kids those in touch with the resources they need,” Nogier said. “It’s not always the big formalized system that is well setup and designed to help deal with that. Sometimes it’s about just having adults that they trust being able to help them sort through what’s real and what’s not.”

Saskatoon RAP president Leane Durand, program coordinator Darren Bowman, and board chair Kent Smith-Windsor were all one hand for the presentation. Nogier said it was good to get an inside look at the program as community leaders prepare for the next step.

Ideally, Nogier would like to see more discussions take place, with a Prince Albert MAP program starting in September 2025. However, he said there’s still a lot of ground to cover before they make a final decision.

“Today was about planting some seeds and getting our community leaders involved and helping them understand what the program is,” he said. “I think the logical next step is needing some time to digest.”

This isn’t the first time the Rotary Club, Kyla Art Group, and Mont St. Joseph have partnered together on a project. Nogier said all there are always looking for ways they can have a positive impact on the community.

Saskatoon RAP Facilitators supported more than 10,000 students in Saskatoon last year, conducting more than 390 mediations in the process. That is a significant increase over 2022, according to the group’s most recent annual report.

@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca

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