Students abandon art as act of kindness

Jayda Taylor
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Students abandon art as act of kindness

If you were at Memorial Square on Tuesday morning, maybe you noticed clay butterflies and bright pink notes hanging from trees or sitting on the edge of the fountain.

Nine students from Won Ska Cultural Public School placed them randomly, hoping that others would stumble upon them and make them smile.

The notes read “Today the universe picks you to receive this gift with the hope that you enjoy it or pass it on to someone else.”

Cheryl Ring, the students’ art teacher, began the Art Abandonment Prince Albert project as a spinoff to one that was started in Vancouver by a couple of artists.

Michael deMeng and Andrea Matus deMeng wrote a book about it called ‘The Art Abandonment Project: Create and Share Random Acts of Art.’ Ring came across the book at an art store in Calgary.

“Since I work with youth, I thought the formula would be really great as engaging local youth to make and abandon art just for the sake of creating community,” she said.

Cheryl Ring, an art teacher at Won Ska Cultural Public School, says the Art Abandonment project helps the students feel like they belong somewhere. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

According to their website, Won Ska provides high school education with an emphasis on traditional teachings and culture, providing elders, addictions counsellors and social workers in partnership with P.A. Outreach. Once the students reach their personal needs, they transition to other high schools or work programs.

Ring spends every Tuesday morning with the class.

“They’re kids that don’t have a lot in their life. This is something that really makes them feel like they are a part of a community and it just makes me so happy to see them happy and to have them feel like they belong somewhere,” she said.

The notes contain an email address so whoever finds them can tell the students how they affected their day.

“I’m just hoping that it’s something life-changing…that somebody will (respond) because then I can pass that on and tell them what a little ripple can do to change the world.”

Shannelle Level, 17, said if she were to come across a piece of art, it would brighten her mood.

“It’s like a little motivation and a little butterfly that hopefully helps somebody’s day, improve it if they’re having a bad day,” she said.

Level also paints and draws on her own time.

“It’s my therapy in a way. When I’m feeling down, I just do my art. I paint and draw and it makes me feel better plus I’m doing something positive out of it.”

Ring is a professional multimedia artist in Prince Albert.

She said she’s always looking for low cost, timely projects for her students to engage in that still make an impact on the city.

You can also visit the group’s Facebook page called Art Abandonment Prince Albert.

Slow down, move over: new campaign dedicated to safety of roadside workers

Jayda Taylor
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Slow down, move over: new campaign dedicated to safety of roadside workers

Seeing flashing lights on the side of the highway should trigger slowing to 60 km/h and moving to the left lane, but that’s not always the case.

The Canadian Automobile Association’s (CAA) Slow Down Move Over Day is a new national campaign on May 14 drawing attention to the safety of roadside workers.

CAA Saskatchewan and the provincial government hosted a media event for the campaign at the Legislature in Regina on Tuesday morning.

Roadside workers include tow truck drivers, construction crews, law enforcement officers and first responders such as paramedics and firefighters.

“Talk to a tow truck operator or any police officer who’s stopped on the side of the highway, or any paramedic or firefighter who’s responded to a highway collision scene,” said Minister Responsible for SGI, Joe Hargrave. “Some will tell you about attending a collision scene and then being involved in a collision themselves. That’s completely unacceptable.”

Slow Down Move Over Day draws attention specifically to the safety of tow truck operators.

It wasn’t until 2007 that tow trucks were added to the list of vehicles that you must slow down to 60 km/h while passing.

Two years ago, Saskatchewan became the first in Canada to make all tow trucks and roadside assistance vehicles have both amber and blue lights. Previously, they were just amber.

The hope was that it would make them more visible to oncoming traffic.

Hargrave explained that this was at the request of the industry after the 2017 death of Courtney Schaefer.

He was a tow truck driver who was killed while responding to a call near Esterhazy.

Schaefer was one of nearly 100 tow truck drivers who are killed every year in North America because of being struck by oncoming traffic.

“This campaign is very timely,” said Steve Skoworodko with Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan.

“I think sometimes it just has to do with the nature of today’s world. We can feel busy and rushed a lot of times,” added Rick Bourassa with the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police.

“Compromising someone else’s safety because of our particularly busy schedules just can’t be justified.”

The campaign’s video features tow truck operator Greg McCracken showing concern for his safety.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Steve Skoworodko as the president of the Saskatchewan Paramedics Association. Skoworodko is with Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan. The Prince Albert Daily Herald apologizes for the error.

Garage sale and BBQ nets over $10K for SPCA

Jayda Taylor
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Garage sale and BBQ nets over $10K for SPCA

The Prince Albert SPCA’s 12th annual garage sale and BBQ rang in a large chunk of change to support animals in need of loving homes.

The event took place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Exhibition Association, raising an estimate of just over $10,000.

From TVs, to books, to furniture, to an entire kitchen set, many came home with their cars filled—but the funds couldn’t have been raised without a team of volunteers.

Connie Banks, who led the group of about 20 helpers, had been working to collect and set up the items for about a week in advance.

She said most of them volunteer every year.

“It’s actually so much fun doing it that we just look forward to getting together every year during this garage sale,” said Banks. “We’ve just got a really, really dedicated crew.”

Four years ago when there were no volunteers to take the lead, Banks and a few others decided to step up knowing the importance of fundraising for the non-profit.

“Most people assume that the SPCA has core funding, that the costs are covered for everything and it’s not,” she explained. “It has a city contract, but that doesn’t cover the entire cost and so fundraising is really important and this is just one of the biggest fundraisers that they’ve always had each year.”

Banks said a lack of storage has been a major challenge.

In previous years, many leftover items have gone to the landfill or other community organizations; however, she said they’ll be hosting a second garage sale later in the summer to raise more money.

In the meantime, she has an entire shed and half of her garage filled.

If people have items to donate throughout the year, Banks encourages saving them for the garage sale, which is usually at the beginning of May.

Cleanup saves recyclables from going to the dump

Jayda Taylor
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Cleanup saves recyclables from going to the dump

Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha and his “army” of volunteers collected about 20 bins of waste from their Pitch-In Week initiatives.

Pitch-In Week is a national campaign that aims to encourage communities to pick up litter after the snow melts.

“I’ve always said that a cleaner, safer, environmental community is a more secure community,” said Botha.

“There’s definitely a lot more that we hauled away by weight and by volume than last year. We did about 12 bins and eight tonnes last year of general waste.”

From Tuesday through Sunday, the group accepted furniture, mattresses, appliances, yard waste and all sorts of items that could be composted or repurposed at the Prince Albert Exhibition Association.

This year’s goal was to prevent as many items as possible from going to the landfill.

Botha said they had about three bins filled with metal items, three or four bins of yard waste, about a dozen lawnmowers that will be repaired and distributed back to the community and higher value items that will be donated to auctions.

Although they saved more items from going to the dump, Botha said their team of volunteers was smaller this year than last, which was his first year organizing a cleanup.

“Next year, we’ll probably only have the community cleanup running Friday through Sunday because it is a long week for everyone,” he said.

Nonetheless, Botha said the group was dedicated to the cause.

“(I’m) always humbled when people take on a challenge and support such an initiative and I’m just grateful that people are renovating and cleaning up and assisting in any way possible because that’s what being a community is all about.”

All funds collected go to the restoration of the Octagonal Building on the exhibition grounds. The municipal heritage property was constructed in 1905.

Botha added the concession, which sold hot dogs and hamburgers throughout the week, didn’t sell as much as the team anticipated, but they’ll continue to have a stand in future years.

Ward 1 Coun. Charlene Miller and Ward. 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp also hosted cleanups.

‘Lifelong dream:’ Family of five to get new Habitat for Humanity home

Jayda Taylor
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‘Lifelong dream:’ Family of five to get new Habitat for Humanity home

A vacant lot on Prince Albert’s 13 Street West will soon house a grateful family.

Katrina and George Slovak have been renting housing since they moved to Prince Albert from the Philippines three years ago.

Unable to afford daycare for their children—ages five, three and one—Katrina works from home to take care of them while George works full-time.

Both were emotional at the announcement at the site on Friday morning.

“It’s really overwhelming. We’re really looking forward to it. It’s like a lifelong dream to have a place that we call home finally,” said George with a smile. “We really got lucky.”

The family has been volunteering at Habitat for Humanity in place of a downpayment for the 125 square metre, three-bedroom bungalow.

“It’s being part of a team and being able to contribute, help others make a home here in Canada as well,” said Katrina.

Tears came from her eyes as she held her son’s hand.

“Beyond words, I feel so happy (and) honoured to be a Habitat family, part of their family. It’s been a struggle for us,” she said. “Just to be involved with these kinds of projects feels empowering and being supported feels like you’re part of the community.”

Jan Thomas, executive director for Prince Albert’s Habitat for Humanity, described how she typically feels on move-in day.

“It’s just a huge kind of weight of relief from Habitat to know that our family is now in a home; that it’s done; that the promise that we made when we begun the partnership is now complete,” she said.

Prince Albert’s Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, Jan Thomas, speaks at the announcement of a new home for a family in need on May 10, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

The house is being built with $65,000 in funds from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan.

It will be transported to the lot this fall, with the family to hopefully move in by the end of October.

The build is also in partnership with CORCAN in Saskatoon, which operates within Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) for training and employment for federal offenders. It’s meant to support rehabilitation and lower possibility of future offences.

To apply for a Habitat for Humanity home, visit www.habitatpa.ca.

Thomas said they look for families with young children and considered low income according to the provincial government.

The Habitat for Humanity home is a 125 square metre, three bedroom bungalow that will be moved to 1870 – 13th Street West this fall. (Jan Thomas/Submitted)

Mental health housing opens, remembers longterm CMHA member

Jayda Taylor
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Mental health housing opens, remembers longterm CMHA member

Ben Hladun flips through a stack of photographs of his late wife, remembering her compassion for those struggling with their mental health.

Joan (Joni) Hladun was a board member of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Prince Albert Branch for 14 years.

A new six unit mental health housing development named Joni’s Place honours her dedication to the cause.

Ben Hladun holds up photographs showing his late wife’s love for design and gardening on May 10, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

Ben officially declared Joni’s Place open on Friday morning with a ribbon cutting. He stood alongside Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave, Mayor Greg Dionne, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Jeri Hitchings and the CMHA’s Executive Director Doug Kinar.

Joni passed away last October at the age of 70 after dealing with a number of illnesses, according to Ben.

“I’m quite pleased that they would recognize her. It caught me by surprise,” he said, adding she dealt with a bit of manic depression.

“Being the outgoing person that she is, she got involved with mental health and so I guess from her perspective kind of understood what they were going through in a way.”

Kinar said this is the city’s third mental health housing development. Together, they provide 22 affordable housing spaces for members of the CMHA.

“Think about when you moved out for the first time at age 18, 19, 20. When you moved out, you still had access to your parents, to be able to get help once in a while, you know, how do we do this? How do we do that? And we learn. But for a lot of our guys, they haven’t had the opportunity to learn how to live independently,” he said.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) refers people to the CMHA, which is how they decide who will move in.

“There’s a whole progression of housing. We go from homeless to people who own their own homes and on that progression, this piece is very important,” Kinar said.

Prince Albert’s CMHA Executive Director Doug Kinar speaks at the opening of Joni’s Place on May 10, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

Delaynie Thompson is in the process of moving out of the housing program after learning how to live more independently for a year and a half.

She lived in the Dave Rascher Place.

“I worked alongside…my mental health social worker and she taught me things such as budgeting, going to the grocery store and picking out healthy foods,” she explained.

“It helps stabilize and end the stigma throughout the community by giving people a chance. Like, some people don’t get a chance in certain communities, but Prince Albert really (does).”

Delaynie Thompson poses outside of Joni’s Place on May 10, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

Joni’s Place is located at 538 -7th Street East.

The Government of Canada through the CMHC and the Government of Saskatchewan through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) jointly contributed $612,500 to the project.

Recognition rises for emergency dispatchers in wake of Broncos bus crash

Jayda Taylor
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Recognition rises for emergency dispatchers in wake of Broncos bus crash

“It was very organized chaos. It was very overwhelming at times.”

– Jill Stefanick, Parkland Ambulance Communications Supervisor

Behind every paramedic on the scene of a tragedy is a team of emergency medical dispatchers (EMD) who coordinated them to respond.

The Humboldt Broncos bus crash, which killed 16 people and injured 13 others, is no exception.

On the evening of April 6, 2018 when the crash occurred, Parkland Ambulance’s Telecommunications team in Prince Albert directed ambulances across the province to help.

They’ve received much appreciation for their work, including at the Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association (SEMSA) Awards Banquet on Wednesday night in Saskatoon.

The recognition was alongside five other ground paramedic services involved—Melfort Ambulance Care, La Ronge EMS, Tisdale Ambulance Care, North East EMS in Nipawin and Medavie Health Services West in Saskatoon.

Each got a framed Broncos jersey.

Jill Stefanick, Parkland’s communications supervisor, was one of the six dispatchers working the night of the crash.

“It was very organized chaos. It was very overwhelming at times,” she said.

Stefanick emphasized that the communications centre was crucial in the Broncos bus crash.

“I think people are starting to recognize the job that we do and the important role that we play in EMS.”

She added the tragedy sparked closeness among those were involved.

“I think the whole thing just brought everyone closer as a team—our comms centre, staff that worked that evening, the paramedics that responded. I think it formed a bond that night that will never be forgotten.”

Director of public affairs, Lyle Karasiuk, called the communications team “unsung jewels” in many situations.

“We don’t pay enough dues to them and say thank you enough times. Often the visible face the public really sees is, of course, our paramedics who respond out there each and every day,” said Karasiuk. “But we don’t often see or hear or even know all of the work that goes into coordinating.”

“We don’t want these things to happen in our career. Likely this is probably a once in a lifetime event, at least we certainly hope so.”

In November 2018, the group of dispatchers received an Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) award in Montreal.

Later in May, the group will also be receiving a provincial Star of Life Award in honour of Paramedic Services Week.

Province funds first responders mental health and addictions programming

Also announced at SEMSA’s annual convention was the provincial government’s contribution of $250,000 for the mental health of first responders.

Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit delivered the news on Wednesday for Mental Health Week.

“We recognize that EMS providers and volunteer medical first responders are on the frontlines of medical care and are exposed to a high number of stressful situations,” he said.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will use the money to start a program providing mental health services for both public and private EMS providers. Additionally, the funding will go towards training two incident support teams and nine peer support teams that will serve the province.

The funding is part of Saskatchewan’s 10-year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan.

École Vickers students win local Legion contest

Jayda Taylor
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École Vickers students win local Legion contest

““We like to see the students participate because the vets are disappearing.”

– Mel Osolinsky, Prince Albert Legion

The Prince Albert Legion presented three École Vickers grade eight students with awards on Wednesday for a Remembrance Day art competition.

The Canada-wide Poster and Literacy Contest is meant to facilitate creative learning with the theme of remembering war veterans.

Those who enter are judged by their local branch. If they win, their pieces proceed to the provincial level and then the national level.

Mel Osolinsky with the legion presented an award to both Rylee McKay and Mark Acorn and two awards to Camryn Cooling.

As a teacher of arts and literacy for over 30 years, he said it’s promising to see youth taking initiative.

“We like to see the students participate because the vets are disappearing. There are some new ones, but the second World War and the Korean (War veterans) are basically gone,” he explained.

But he said the contest is getting more difficult to keep up with because of the need for involvement.

“There are some really decent works that are done in the schools, but that requires a participation of the staff, the principal, the committees and the legion branch. So anyway, we’re quite fortunate that this is continuing,” said Osolinsky.

Perry Acorn, the school’s art and music teacher, said the students are always engaged in the project.

“It’s a way for them to create their own message given the theme of Remembrance Day. We can link it to outcomes and to report cards,” he said.

Acorn added it’s not very often that this many students proceed in the contest.

However, they did have one student in the past who made it to the national level.

The legion also supports wider groups of services, including firefighters, EMS, police and RCMP.

After the award presentations, the school watched performances from the choir and handbell band, as well as from the James L. Alexander School in Saskatoon.

The École Vickers choir performs after the handbells band on May 8, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

For more information about the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poster and Literacy Contest, visit https://www.legion.ca/communities-youth/youth-education/remembrance-contests.

Upcoming pow wow a place of mutual understanding

Jayda Taylor
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Upcoming pow wow a place of mutual understanding

The main organizer of the upcoming Heart of the Youth Pow Wow is emphasizing that it’s open for everybody.

Last year at the inaugural event, Elder Liz Settee said there were people of all backgrounds.

“You don’t have to be Native. Last year we had newcomers from the Y; we had daycares; we had seniors, Kin Enterprises, like this is the Heart of the Youth Community Pow Wow and for everybody in the community to come together,” she said, adding it’s also about truth and reconciliation.

“We’re going to have to have a learning and an understanding of each other,” said Settee. “(It’s for) just a little bit of insight and to see the laughter…and the commaraderie.”

The 2nd annual pow wow takes place on May 24 at Kinsmen Park. Settee is anticipating up to 3,000 people to come and enjoy the dancing and drumming that First Nations youth have been practicing in school.

“When we say Heart of the Youth, it is truly about the youth and we like to involve them in every aspect,” she said, including on the organizing committee.

She added the event is a positive outlet for the kids.

“It gives them pride. It gives them something to work towards. It gives them an insight into their culture that they not necessarily would learn. It gives them a day of them being kids again where they don’t have any worries. It’s just they’re out there having fun and connecting, making friends,” said Settee.

Last year, the committee expected 900 people, but over double that amount showed up. They’ve been planning since September.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and closing ceremonies are at 2 p.m. Lunch is provided at noon.

Elementary students take spring cleaning outdoors

Jayda Taylor
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Elementary students take spring cleaning outdoors

A Prince Albert elementary class found more than just candy wrappers and plastic straws during a community clean-up on Tuesday.

The litter also included items that seemed to shock them and their teacher, including large diaper boxes and a few shoes.

Ward 1 Coun. Charlene Miller led a grades four and five split class at Queen Mary Community School in picking up trash, working together with their teacher, Ashley Bruneau, to supervise the students.

This is Miller’s ninth year and Bruneau’s fifth year taking part in community clean-ups after the snow melts.

Bruneau said it’s nice to see her students taking everything they’ve learnt in the classroom to action.

“It’s just trying to make a difference, even just one person. And that’s what I told them. Yeah, not everybody is going to do it, but hopefully one person (will), and that can make a difference. That’s all we can do, is just try,” she said.

Teacher Ashley Bruneau (left) helps her grades four and five class pick up garbage just outside of their school on May 7, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

She added when the snow starts to melt, it’s not surprising when tons of trash is revealed.

“I knew it was going to happen,” she said. “I’m just hoping that people can see us, you know, like people driving by. I’m hoping that they’ll see us and say ‘Oh, good job,’ and hopefully we’ll rub off on them.”

One lady did, in fact, roll down the window of her vehicle while driving by and commended the class for their work.

A grade four student named Wyatt said he wanted to participate in cleaning up trash because “it’s good for the environment.”

Rain, a grade fiver, said all of the trash they found is sad to see.

She wanted to clean it up so “the world and grass and things grow.”

Miller said she continues to lead the clean-ups both for the kids and the community at large.

“Once you actually get on the street picking up litter, you don’t realize how much is out here. This is quite a bit,” she said.

Coun. Charlene Miller speaks to students during her annual community clean-up on May 7, 2019. (Jayda Noyes/Daily Herald)

The initiative is part of Pitch-In Week, which is meant to encourage businesses, individuals and groups to pick up the springtime litter. Miller also rounds up volunteers to pick up garbage, trim trees and hedges and cut grass in her ward.

Ward 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp and Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha also lead cleanups.

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