Firefighters Charity painting Prince Albert pink for breast cancer awareness

Jayda Taylor
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Firefighters Charity painting Prince Albert pink for breast cancer awareness

The Prince Albert Firefighters Charity is bringing back its pink fire truck for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Firefighter Dave MacAuley said other departments were decorating a truck pink for the month of October, so they decided to follow suit starting last year.

“Just the success of it and the positive comments and everything we got back from the community, we decided this is something that we wanted to do again this year and hopefully continue to do it every year,” he said.

The initiative raised $1,500 for breast cancer research in 2018.

MarkIt Signs decorated the truck, which sports a breast cancer ribbon, the Firefighters Charity’s logo, the Raiders’ logo and reads ‘fight like a girl’ and ‘supporting breast cancer research.’

You can sign the truck by donating five dollars, which also enters your name into a draw for a custom Raiders jersey signed by the entire team.

The truck will be parked outside of the Art Hauser Centre for the Raiders home games on Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11 and 12.

“Even just driving it back from MarkIt, everybody was looking at it,” said MacAuley.

“It’s supposed to draw attention, that’s exactly what it’s supposed to do, so we encourage people if you see it and we’re out and about and we’re not busy on a call, absolutely come and see it.”

MacAuley said the public is also encouraged to come to the fire hall, located at 76 15 St. E, to see the fire truck. He said to call ahead of time to make sure the truck isn’t being used for a call.

“We want people from the community to come and engage,” emphasized MacAuley.

The firefighters also wear T-shirts that show the pink ribbon.

Although this is only the charity’s second year using a pink firetruck, members have been raising awareness for breast cancer for years. MacAuley said it’s something the department’s been passionate about since he started working there four years ago.

“Whether it’s a friend, a relative, everybody in the department seems to know somebody that’s either been directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer. It’s one of those things that everybody kind of holds near and dear to their hearts.”

MacAuley said the “perfect opportunity” to see the pink fire truck is at their Fire Prevention Open House on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will have kids activities such as a bouncy castle, face painting and an obstacle course, station tours, door prizes and a barbecue. All proceeds from the barbecue go to the Firefighters Charity.

MacAuley said last year, the pink truck sparked a lot of special moments when breast cancer survivors came to the hall to see it.

“Just seeing how much it meant to them and how important it was for them, the smiles on their face, it meant so much for all of us,” he said.

“We’re very proud to do it and show those people and show everybody in the community that we’re there to fight with them.”

Indigo program gifts books to high-needs elementary school libraries

Jayda Taylor
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Indigo program gifts books to high-needs elementary school libraries

“I hope books never see a day where they are never going to be in book form.”

– Liza Brown, principal of Muskoday First Nation Community School

Book shelves in two school libraries in the Prince Albert area are about to get a little more full.

West Central Public School in Prince Albert and Muskoday First Nation Community School are two of 182 across Canada chosen to receive new books through the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s Adopt a School program.

Schools are ‘adopted’ by local Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores, which fundraise on their behalf to upgrade the schools’ libraries.

Each school’s online registry consists of 50 books that people can buy during the campaign, which takes place from Sept. 14 to Oct. 6. When a book is purchased, Indigo provides an additional copy to the school. You can also donate in store.

“A lifelong love of reading and educational success is possible for every Canadian child,” said Heather Reisman, Chair of the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, in a news release.

Reisman said public elementary schools are facing low library budgets, leaving teachers reaching into their own pockets for educational resources. This is why Indigo founded the Love of Reading Foundation in 2004.

This year, Coles in the Gateway Mall is adopting West Central Public School and Eastgate Square Coles is adopting the Muskoday First Nation Community School.

Matthew Gray is in his second year as principal of West Central Public School.

He said it’s important to have the right library materials to foster reading in students.

“They just need variety so they can find the book that fits them and I think once they find that book that fits them, that love of reading kind of spurts from there,” he said.

“We’ve got a big group of readers and a big group of writers. More books is always better because they’re always looking for a variety and the new stuff out there.”

West Central Public School teaches kindergarten to grade eight and has just over 100 students. Gray said being in a more rural area, lots of the students are coming from farms and acreages.

Gray said staff try to get them reading at a young age. As the students get older, he said it gets harder for them to get hooked on a book.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure that right from the little person age, we keep those books in their hands and we keep them reading so that what they love about it never goes away.”

He added one of the school’s goals this year is to increase the students’ writing skills, and that means getting them drawn to books that suit their interests.

“To reach our writing goal and have Coles adopt us and support us in our reading goals is critical and to have that partnership is a wonderful thing,” he said.

For Muskoday First Nation Community School’s principal, being chosen for the Adopt a School program was like a welcome gift.

This is Liza Brown’s first year as principal there.

“Like many other schools, we’re trying to support and increase our students level of literacy,” she said, sending a big thank you to Indigo for choosing them.

“I tended to pick the books that were either speaking to character building or self esteem or better relationship building skills, those being the themes, as well as I did pick a couple that I knew were just an interesting story,” explained Brown.

Muskoday First Nation Community School has about 120 pre-kindergarten to grade nine students.

With so many people shifting from physical books to reading on an iPad, computer or e-reader, Brown said she’s happy the donation allows students to take home physical books.

“I hope books never see a day where they are never going to be in book form,” she said.

“But at the same time, as a teacher and as an educator, there’s all different kinds of learners, so the one thing we need to be aware of is that for some students, the book format and print format may better suit their needs for what it is they connect with.”

Muskoday First Nation is located about 20 minutes southwest of Prince Albert.

Rawlinsons donate $1M to STARS during fleet renewal campaign

Jayda Taylor
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Rawlinsons donate $1M to STARS during fleet renewal campaign

Prince Albert native Gordon Rawlinson and his wife Jill are donating $1 million to STARS.

The donation is contributing to STARS’ multi-year plan to replace its helicopters in western Canada.

STARS unveiled the plan in June of last year to replace its fleet with nine new equipped Airbus H145 helicopters, which cost $13 million each.

Gordon, the CEO of Rawlco Radio, and his wife have contributed to several initiatives in Prince Albert, including the E.A. Rawlinson Centre.

Jill is originally from Redvers, which Gordon said was their main motivator for donating to STARS. Redvers is a town in southeastern Saskatchewan with a population of about 1,000 people.

With STARS responding to medical emergencies in rural areas, it seemed like the perfect cause.

“She really recognizes the benefits of STARS. Coming from a small town, you don’t have a big hospital or anything,” he said.

STARS is recognizing the donation by changing the name of their equipped motorhome from the STARS’ Mobile Education Unit to the Rawlinson Mobile Education Unit. It’s used to train rural healthcare professionals how to take care of someone until the helicopter gets there.

According to a news release, the unit has helped train over 650 people this past year in Saskatchewan.

Gordon said they requested that the money go towards the Mobile Education Unit, but is confident STARS use will it for what’s best for the non-profit.

Although the couple no longer lives in Saskatchewan, they continue to spend their summers in Waskesiu.

“My heart is in Saskatchewan,” said Gordon. “That’s why we try to give back to it.”

STARS welcomes first of three new helicopters needed in Saskatchewan

Patients, crew, community allies and Premier Scott Moe gathered on Thursday to announce that STARS has welcomed a new helicopter to Saskatchewan.

This is the third new Airbus H145 helicopter in the multi-year campaign, but the first one in the province. It will be located at the STARS base in Saskatoon.

In December of 2018, the province announced its commitment to fund one of three new helicopters needed to operate in Saskatoon and Regina.

In honour of this, the last three letters of the new helicopter’s registration are LLS, which stands for land of the living skies.

“Today is about bringing us one step closer to making our fleet renewal program a reality,” said STARS CEO Andrea Robertson in a news release. “It is also about paying tribute to our community allies who built STARS in this province seven years ago and have sustained it ever since.”

She said STARS is replacing its fleet because most of the helicopter models are not being made anymore and are getting too expensive to maintain.

New transportation company hoping to ‘connect the province again’

Jayda Taylor
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New transportation company hoping to ‘connect the province again’

“it’s a start because there’s not a lot of options even for people.”

– Bethany Koch

A new Prince Albert-based transportation service is hoping it can expand and fill the void left behind when the province shut down the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC).

Victor Hoosein is the owner and a driver for Aurora Charter & Bus Service, which just began operating in mid August.

He and Bethany Koch, manager and driver, said the idea sparked when STC shut its doors in May 2017.

Hoosein used STC when he was living in Estevan and Regina to see his family and friends in Prince Albert.

“STC did connect the province,” he said. “There’s a disconnect now. We have to try and connect the province again.”

“Obviously it’s not going to be enough for everyone, but it’s a start because there’s not a lot of options even for people. At least this will give some people an option,” added Koch.

Aurora Charter & Bus Service provides transportation between Prince Albert, Saskatoon and La Ronge with a new 15 passenger van.

Hoosein said they want to support local as much as possible. They purchased the van from Lakeland Ford in the city, while MarkIt Signs put on their decals.

One of their early morning pickup spots is Dr. Java’s Coffee House. Hoosein hopes this will bring more customers to the local shop.

Although their van can hold 15 people, he said they’re currently only taking a maximum of 10 passengers at time. That’s because they want to leave room for luggage and small parcels until they can purchase a trailer.

Hoosein said another goal for the company is to provide transportation to more central and northern Saskatchewan communities.

“We’d like to expand to Big River, Lloyd, North Battleford because there doesn’t seem to be anything out there,” he said.

“Hopefully as we expand, we’ll be able to offer more variety and times,” said Koch.

Since the company began operation, Hoosein said the most passengers they’ve had a time is five people. But the pair is hoping the company will gain more customers so they can continue to offer affordable prices.

Travelling between Prince Albert and Saskatoon costs $35, between Saskatoon and La Ronge is $65 and between La Ronge and Prince Albert is $50.

They currently offer rides five days a week. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they have transportation from La Ronge to Prince Albert and then Prince Albert to Saskatoon and back. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they have transportation from Prince Albert to Saskatoon and back, and then from Prince Albert to La Ronge.

Fore more information, visit Aurora Charter Service on Facebook, call (306) 961-6178, or email auroracharterservice@gmail.com.

Seniors Transportation a blessing for annual fundraiser’s ‘Mary’

Jayda Taylor
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Seniors Transportation a blessing for annual fundraiser’s ‘Mary’

“I don’t know what I would do without it, really. It gives me freedom; it gives me independence.”

– Patricia Keller

Seniors Transportation’s Two Miles for Mary fundraiser is coming up this Friday with another senior to represent the service.

The Community Service Centre, who provides Seniors Transportation, chooses a different customer for each annual fundraiser to be their ‘Mary.’ This year, it’s 79-year-old Patricia Keller.

“It’s a privilege, to start with, (an) honour because it’s a great service and it gives us seniors great independence,” she said in an interview on Tuesday.

Presented by Saskatchewan Country CKBI, Two Miles for Mary takes place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Heritage Centre. During this time, you can phone (306) 763-MARY (6279) with a donation to Seniors Transportation.

Keller said she uses the service to visit her husband at the Pineview Care Home, visit her friends, get groceries and go to Saskatoon for medical appointments.

She also used Seniors Transportation to go with her mother to medical appointments. They lived together until her mom passed away about three years ago.

Having no vehicles at their house, Seniors Transportation “really was a blessing,” described Keller.

She’s also never had a driver’s license.

“I walked all the time and I enjoyed walking, so it was a good thing to keep me healthy that way, but at times I wish I did have (a license), but not anymore,” said Keller. “To keep a vehicle is an unbelievable cost and being a senior, I wouldn’t want to be driving at my age.”

Keller said Seniors Transportation is extremely affordable, costing $5 one way and an extra dollar for stops at the pharmacy, the bank or the post office. This price is if the destination is in Prince Albert or within a three mile radius of the city.

They also offer medical charters to Saskatoon.

“I don’t know what I would do without it, really. It gives me freedom; it gives me independence. I just know I can pick up the phone and I know that I’m going to be able to get to the things I need to go to. It means a lot,” said Keller.

She added she’s never come across a service like Seniors Transportation in other cities she’s lived in.

She expressed her appreciation for the service’s dispatcher, as well as the drivers.

“They help you. They carry your groceries or whatever you want. They’re really good and they let you out and they wait until you get into the door before they go away,” said Keller. “They’re all very courteous and very helpful.”

Seniors Transportation is subsidized by the City of Prince Albert and the provincial government.

It’s available five days a week for anyone 60 years old and up.

They recommend booking your ride at least 24 hours before you need to be picked up.

SaskEV volunteers stop in Prince Albert to educate about electric vehicles

Jayda Taylor
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SaskEV volunteers stop in Prince Albert to educate about electric vehicles

Saskatoon-based SaskEV members were at Peavy Mart on Saturday to share their experiences owning electric vehicles.

The advocacy group has between 20 and 30 active members, according to lead organizer Jason Cruickshank.

“We’ve just been advocating for positive policies for electric vehicles in Saskatchewan and helping people find the vehicles that are for sale here and answer questions that they have that owners have the experience to answer,” he said.

SaskEV held events in four other communities for National Drive Electric Week (NDEW): Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford and Davidson.

Cruickshank said there’s many benefits to owning an electric vehicle.

“One of the benefits is, of course, the environment. They’re a zero emission vehicle and as we try and tackle the climate crisis, we’re trying to reduce those emissions from transportation,” he said.

“They’re also a lot of fun to drive,” he said, explaining that the Chevy Bolt can go from zero to 96 kilometres per hour in six and a half seconds.

He said they’re also fairly cheap, costing nine dollars to fill up and few maintenance expenses with no oil changes and not many moving parts.

Cruickshank said they felt it was important to travel to other communities for NDEW, which has been acknowledged in Canada for the past nine years.

“We really wanted to get out into other communities that maybe they don’t see as many electric vehicles here as they do in Saskatoon,” he said.

“Local dealerships might not stock them. They can maybe order them, but it always helps to gain confidence to be able to see it in person and get a ride in one and hear some answers on winter performance and road trips and how all of that works.”

He said people in the city seem to be interested in learning more and possibly making the switch to driving electric.

“I think a lot of people see this as the future,” he said.

“We had somebody come through who had recently taken a test drive of a Nissan Leaf over at Evergreen Nissan here in town and they kind of wanted to come and learn a bit more about it.”

Since SaskEV began about two years ago, Cruickshank said he’s seen a significant change in the province.

“We’re starting to see that more dealerships have them available, some dealerships are bringing in used vehicles, more dealerships are stocking the new vehicles. Every few months, it’s getting easier to buy an electric vehicle in Saskatchewan,” he said.

Cruickshank said another big change is the federal government’s incentive for zero-emission vehicles.

According to the Government the Canada, transportation is the second highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

As of May 1 of this year, customers who purchase or lease a zero-emission vehicle may be eligible for a $5,000 or $2,5000 incentive.

Cruickshank also said more and more businesses have or are implementing fast charging stations, such as Petro-Canada and Canadian Tire.

Inaugural cooking competition aims to bring hunting community together

Jayda Taylor
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Inaugural cooking competition aims to bring hunting community together

Northern Elite Firearms owner hopes event will help break negativity surrounding guns

Melanie Markling is hoping a community event at her Prince Albert store promotes the importance of hunting and firearms.

Northern Elite Firearms hosted the Pitmaster Smoking Competition this past weekend.

The event, which Markling is hoping to put on annually, is meant to bring people together over good food and a shared appreciation for firearms.

“People who have not grown up with firearms or with a hunting kind of lifestyle, I feel like they’re missing out on a part of life that is really important,” she said.

“It’s eating together, it’s knowing where our food came from and a big part of that does have something to do with firearms and hunting.”

Markling said there’s been a lot of negativity in the media lately surrounding firearms, such as the Liberal government wanting to ban certain models of the AR-15 for safety.

“In the long run, firearms, they’ve been a part of our lives. They’re a part of our culture. They’re not going anywhere, so instead of treating firearms like Canada’s dirty little secret, let’s just get them out there; let’s build a community around it; let’s focus on trying to build safe communities,” she said.

That’s what Markling is wanting to do with the smoking competition.

On Saturday, Curtis Praud smoked a whole pig, which fed nearly 200 people who came for supper.

He said he’s always amazed at how smoking a pig can bring people together.

“I love when people come and ask questions and talk and visit and want to learn a little bit about me and I always want to learn a little bit about everybody that I’m serving food to,” he said.

“That’s just something else. I can’t explain it. There’s just something about when you’re putting your heart and your soul into cooking something this big…it’s just really neat to see the expressions on people’s faces.”

Smoking a whole pig is a three-day process, explained Praud.

With the help of friends and family, he scraped the pig’s hair off and gutted it, among other preparation steps, on Friday. The pig took 12 hours to cook on Saturday, with Sunday dedicated to cleaning up.

The pig he smoked had a dressed weight of 180 pounds.

“One thing (that’s) a little bit different when I do it is for me, I go pick the pig from start to finish, so that pig is walking when I start and when I’m done it’s being served on a plate.”

Praud said he gets the pigs from two brothers in the Paddockwood area.

He showcases his cooking on Facebook and Instagram, @cookinwithcurtis.

Riley Rombough is a professional knife thrower and certified thrown weapons instructor. He’s the president of Alberta Throwers and the Alberta representative for the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame.

He was teaching the public how to throw knives and tomahawks at Northern Elite Firearms.

He said while axe throwing has become extremely popular, knife throwing continues to be an “underground” sport.

Many of the people Rombough was teaching, mainly children, couldn’t get the knives to stick in the wood target. When they succeeded, you could see the excitement on their faces.

“That’s what I do it for. I don’t get paid any money, I just come here to teach people and as soon as you have a kid that’s struggling to stick it and you keep working with them, they say ‘I can’t do it’ and you just say ‘You can do it,’” he explained.

“As soon as that kid hits it, then my job here is done. I’ve got goosebumps right now just thinking about it.”

The event continued on Sunday with a smoked chicken wings competition. Teams prepared their best chicken wings and the public voted on their favourite to determine the city’s best amateur pitmaster.

Northern Elite Firearms opened in December of last year and their gun range opened this past May. Markling said she’s passionate about teaching firearms safety to children.

Staff will teach you how to safely operate a firearm at the gun range.

The smoking competition also included gun demonstrations, question and answers, historical weapon sessions, thrown weapon demonstrations and Hug-A-Tree programs, which teach children how to survive in the woods if they get lost.

Harmony Johnson-Harder vows to be a voice for the marginalized in campaign kickoff speech

Jayda Taylor
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Harmony Johnson-Harder vows to be a voice for the marginalized in campaign kickoff speech

Prince Albert NDP candidate Harmony Johnson-Harder began her election campaign with an office grand opening on Thursday evening.

She was announced on Saturday as the city’s NDP candidate for the federal election.

In her brief speech at the office opening, located at 2860 Second Avenue West, Johnson-Harder thanked the roughly 30 people present for their support.

“I’m just really blown away and honoured that everyone’s here to support me in running and seeing all these faces here and supporting the NDP values of giving back and taking care of people. That’s what it’s about,” she said.

“We see too much marginalization, too (many) hardships. We walk around our own city here and we can see how everything’s affecting people and that’s my main motivator—is to be that voice, to advocate for people and having you here really gives me that motivation.”

In an interview after her speech, Johnson-Harder said there is a lack of social supports in Prince Albert.

“When you walk around our community, you can see there’s a huge gap and there’s marginalization,” she said. “We need to be stronger and we need to be advocates and we need to really fight for those people and have a voice for them to get them on equal footing, make things fair.”

She emphasized that she wants the public to be informed on the party’s platform prior to voting.

“We’re moving forward advocating for expanded healthcare, taxing larger corporations and holding those larger corporations accountable to pay their taxes, housing, childcare. I want the public to really do their research and really think about what’s important to them.”

Johnson-Harder said the NDP is “tired of corporations” and “tired of the rhetoric.”

According to the NDP’s website, the party is committed to expanding public healthcare, including dentistry and pharmacare, and ensuring it’s accessible to everyone, confronting the opioid crisis and tackling poverty.

When it comes to reconciliation, commitments include affordable housing, advancing self-determination and closing the education gap.

Another aspect of the NDP’s platform is environmental: protecting the country’s land and water, investing in transit to lower carbon emissions and ultimately address climate change.

‘Look at me as a human being, not as a piece of garbage’

Jayda Taylor
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‘Look at me as a human being, not as a piece of garbage’

Community meeting sheds light on getting first-hand perspectives from homeless people for action plan

“You still hear an opportunity for hope, so if we lose that, we’re done for.”

– Lenore Swystun

Henry Morin seemed slightly hesitant when he first stood up with something to say at a community meeting on reducing homelessness on Friday.

He had just listened to other people’s opinions on what more needs to be done to slow the rising issue in Prince Albert.

“Can anybody tell me what this whole place is missing right now?” he asked.

After several seconds of silence, Morin answered his own question: “We’re missing the homeless people.”

“I know there’s a lot of organizations here right now,” he said, but “if we get the answers directly, right from the homeless, right from a struggling mother on welfare, not able to afford housing, that’s the core place where you can get your answers from.”

“Take that time, that effort, to talk to a homeless person on the sidewalk and really ask them ‘What led you here? How did you end up here? What could I do to help?’” he asked. Half way through saying this, Morin paused with tears slowly forming in his eyes. He had to take a breather.

Henry Morin (left) listens to Deputy Mayor Don Cody (right) speak about what more needs to be done in Prince Albert to reduce homelessness at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library on Sept. 20, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

This sparked Lenore Swystun, founding director of Saskatoon-based Prairie Wild Consulting, to give an honest summary of what people struggling on the streets have to say.

Members from Prairie Wild Consulting led the meeting, along with Brian Howell from the River Bank Development Corporation, which spearheaded the project called Reaching Home.

Swystun’s role in the researching process was to talk to homeless people themselves. They also conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews with people from relevant organizations.

She explained that she sat with two women, one who had a child, and asked why they were on the streets.

“What do they tell me?” Asked Swystun. “’It’s hard to get out of this because drugs are an issue. There’s gang activity everywhere. If it wasn’t for the YWCA, I’d be dead right now.’ Both of them said that.”

She then asked what they needed and how she could help.

“’Give me some place where I can put my head to rest all year round. Not just a winter shelter.’ Some of them didn’t know on the streets that the winter shelter was even there,” she explained.

“Second: ‘Give me food, give me clothes because we have a food crisis in this city. I can’t find a place for food, so if you’re wondering why we’re stealing, it’s because I can’t find a place to get food.’ That was a huge one.”

Swystun went on to say that homeless people in the city told her there’s not enough support services for homeless youth and seniors, some were kicked out of their First Nations communities because of bad behaviour and are trying to improve and that there’s not enough beds in detox centres. She said homeless people are well aware of the correlation between poverty and mental health and addictions.

“But I’ll tell you, the most crucial thing that they said is they want to feel like human beings. Even if they’re on the god damn street, (they say) ‘Look at me as a human being, not as a piece of garbage,’” she said.

“If I’m asking for food and I’m asking for clothes, it’s because I need them,” said Swystun. “Let me have that dignity.”

She said no homeless people want to be in their situations—sleeping in a different nook every night, or with family or friends who only take them in once and then send them off to find a different place to keep warm.

“It’s heartbreaking on the one hand, but I have to say something else to leave this on an ‘up’ note. They were so grateful that they knew there were folks coming together in (this) room, because I told them, that had their best interests at heart,” said Swystun.

“You still hear an opportunity for hope, so if we lose that, we’re done for.”

Swystun said what people were proposing in the meeting does echo what people on the streets are saying. A few things people in the meeting said Prince Albert needs to have are 24/7 transit, more education on where to find help, better management for affordable housing and better access to necessities such as food and clothing.

A few of the roughly 50 people in attendance were Doug Kinar from the Canadian Mental Health Association, Jason Stonechild from the police service, Edna Bruce from Our House, Janet Carriere from the Indian Métis Friendship Centre and Deputy Mayor Don Cody.

Swystun concluded by addressing Morin for bringing up the importance of talking to homeless people first-hand.

“Thank you, because that’s exactly it. Just go out on the street. Listen, look, help, spread the word.”

Community Players celebrate double

Jayda Taylor
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Community Players celebrate double

Theatre group marking 60 year anniversary and Arts Hall of Fame induction

It’s an exciting year for a volunteer-based theatre group in Prince Albert.

The Prince Albert Community Players (PACP) are celebrating both their 60th anniversary and their induction into the Arts Hall of Fame one weekend after the other.

Their 60th Anniversary Gala takes place on Oct. 5. The weekend before, on Sept. 28, is the Arts Hall of Fame Gala.

The amateur community theatre group usually puts on two productions every season. Their upcoming show, Jack of Diamonds, runs Nov. 15, 16 and 17.

President Gail Enright said it goes along with their “diamond year.”

“We’re still active and we’re still looking forward to entertaining the people of Prince Albert and area, because it’s not just Prince Albert people that come. We do have people that come, family and friends from Saskatoon, Regina,” she said.

Although this is Enright’s first season as president of the Community Players, she’s been acting with them for about 10 years.

The group encourages people to get involved not just in acting, but in all realms of theatre. These include lighting, sound and set production.

“We encourage people that have never been in the theatre at all to try to work together as a team to help ourselves, to improve each other in the different aspects,” emphasized Enright.

She said the Community Players have just signed for a rehearsal space in the Gateway Mall so they can house all of their props and costumes in one area.

Just last year, members started visiting seniors homes in Prince Albert, performing short skits for those who are unable to make it to their productions.

“We like to be able to give people a chance to laugh and just go and enjoy themselves,” said Enright.

She’s proud of the theatre group for its success over the past 60 years. The Community Players are the second oldest theatre group in Saskatchewan.

“When you have an organization that has been active for 60 years and (as) a volunteer-based organization, I think that that is really a cause for celebration.”

Their 60th anniversary gala is coming up in a couple of weeks at Plaza 88.

The event contains catering from My Place, music by Bryce Elliott and the band Flashback, a dance, speeches, decorations by Delicate Petals and a draw for a Fire and Ice diamond pendant from Bocian Jewellers.

There will also be a table dedicated to photo albums from the group’s 60 years.

“That’s going to be very interesting, especially because some of our members that were active many years ago and that have moved on, they can have a chance to look back and see themselves when they were acting,” said Enright.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails at 6, dinner at 7 and the program at 8 followed by the dance.

Their goal is to sell at least 100 tickets and they’ve sold over 70 so far.

To be inducted into the Arts Hall of Fame, Enright said the Community Players had to complete an application process through the Prince Albert Arts Board. The process included a description of their group and its history, as well as interviews.

Shona Stapleton, chair of the Prince Albert Arts Board, said the inductees were nominated and went through a lengthy application process so the board could make the right decisions.

“With the PACP, I think it was just fitting that they be nominated and inducted on their 60th anniversary. What better anniversary gift?” she asked.

A past president of the Community Players is doing a speech at the Induction Gala and Enright will be accepting the award.

The gala will take place at the John & Olive Diefenbaker Theatre at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre. Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. with speeches and presentations made for each inductee.

The two other inductees this year are the Watsonairs and Bruce Rusheleau.

Tickets for the 60th Anniversary Gala are available until Saturday at https://pacp.ca or at Canadian Tire. They cost $40 each or a table of eight for $300.

Tickets for the Arts Hall of Fame Gala cost $55.25 each and tables of eight cost $400. They’re available for purchase at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre box office.

For more on the other inductees into the Arts Hall of Fame, please see a future edition of the Daily Herald.

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