Moe uses own experiences to tout rapid tests and booster shots

Premier Scott Moe reiterated that no new restrictions would be coming to the province as he provided a COVID-19 update from Regina on Monday morning.

This was the Premier’s first in person press conference since testing positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 13. He used his own experience to frame the press conference’s message about restrictions.

“We are now in a very different phase and place in this pandemic for a few reasons,” Moe said. “First, lockdowns and vaccinations do not seem to be stopping the transmission of the omicron variant. At the same time, we are seeing omicron with a much quicker cycle of infection and it seems to be less severe than previous strains particularly if you are vaccinated and have your booster shot.

“COVID is not going away,” he added. “It’s going to remain an ongoing concern for all of us, but we live with other diseases in the communities of our province that are also ongoing concerns. We do this without locking down, without taking away people’s freedoms and without disrupting everyone’s life. We need to make every effort to get to that point with COVID-19.”

Moe said other countries are discussing lifting of restrictions and public health measures. He added that they were also talking about home residents need to live with COVID moving forward. He said Saskatchewan residents need to start preparing for that point.

“We are not quite at that point yet here in Saskatchewan today but we could be in the near future,” he said.

Moe said that hospitalizations are rising but are lower than other provinces with stricter public health measures. He also emphasized that Saskatchewan’s COVID fatality rate remains one of the lowest in Canada—a point he made in previous press conferences before the province’s dashboard update on Friday.

There are 262 COVID-19 patients in hospital, including 29 in the ICU. Of the 233 patients not in the ICU, 92 have a COVID-19-related illness, while 102 are incidental COVID infections and 39 have not yet been determined.

“If we look at the larger holistic numbers, Saskatchewan’s current rate of hospitalizations and ICU admissions is below the national rate and is well below a number of provinces that have imposed much more stringent public health measures and much more stringent lockdowns than we have here in Saskatchewan,” Moe said.

Moe pointed to Quebec as an example of a province where strict public health measures aren’t working. Moe argued Quebec has double the rate of hospitalizations, despite those restrictions.

“Saskatchewan continues to have the lowest rate of COVID related fatalities of any province throughout the month of January,” Moe said. “Again if we look to Quebec the area of Canada that has the most stringent lockdown policies in place, they have over 1,000 COVID fatalities in January. That’s about seven times more than we have in Saskatchewan on a per capita basis seven times more.

“Omicron is spreading across Canada and it’s spreading around the world regardless of the public health measures that are in place, which is why we have chosen to avoid increasing those public health measures and increasing the policies surrounding lockdowns here in Saskatchewan,” he added. “We are not going to impose additional restrictions that cause significant harm for no significant benefit.”

Moe argued that the province has managed the Omicron wave with “very little in the way of restrictions on people’s lives.” He said the province’s efforts were avoiding the economic and psychological harm lockdowns can cause by infringing on personal freedoms.

Moe added that his own experience shows vaccines will protect people from becoming seriously ill, which eliminates the need for lockdowns.

“I really had little if any symptoms at all and felt quite good throughout my COVID infection,” he said. “I expect it might have been a lot worse had I not been fully vaccinated and I had not had my booster shot a couple of weeks prior.”

Moe also used his own experience to promote the benefits of rapid testing.

“I only found out that I had COVID when I did a rapid test, and I had just gotten my booster a few weeks before,” he explained. “As I said, I had hardly any symptoms—if any symptoms—and I also would say I understand that is not going to be the case for everyone. This is why we need to be vigilant and diligent in our efforts.”

Instead of lockdowns, Moe said his government would continue to promote the vaccines as an effective, preventative measure.

Health Minister Paul Merriman also appeared in the press conference. He said Saskatchewan hospitals have an absentee rate of around 17 per cent. That’s a four per cent increase since 2019.

He added that the province has recently reached out to other levels of government for information on who could help in case those absentee numbers get worse.

“Those people have volunteered for these positions on our go teams,” Merriman said. “We have reached out to the public services as well as lots of retired people, non-traditional immunizers, we have reached out to all of these individuals to be able to prepare for what could be coming.”

Merriman said they’ll also be trying to speed up the approval process to get more international healthcare workers certified.

NDP says premier not taking COVID-19 situation seriously enough

In a statement later in the day, opposition NDP leader Ryan Meili said that the Premier was downplaying the current situation in the province.

“He chose to turn his back on overburdened health care workers and the patients they serve,” Meili said in a media release. “He chose to malign legitimate public health experts and encourage anti-science extremists.”

Meili said that none of Moe’s responses were new, or helpful.

“The fact is, no matter how long we wait, no matter how many chances we give him, Scott Moe is unable or unwilling to make the right choices. He will always put the worst of his political ambitions ahead of the health of Saskatchewan people,” Meili said.

“The Premier has given up in the fight against COVID-19.”

Instead, Meili called on the SHA and Dr. Saqib Shahab to “tell Saskatchewan people the truth about what we’re facing” and what they’ve recommended to the government. He also called on Sask. Party MLAs to speak up on behalf of their constituents, not their party.

“These elected leaders need to show up on behalf of the people they were elected to serve, not simply to support this premier as he puts his politics ahead of Saskatchewan people’s lives,” Meili said.

Poor weather conditions have the RM of Paddockwood urging drivers to avoid the area until crews can keep the roads clear.

RM Administrator Naomi Hrischuk said high winds are causing large snow drifts to build up on the roads, even after they’ve been cleared.

“With the high winds today we just have a lot of drifting with the amount of snow we have got,” she explained. “The snow is actually higher than the roads in some places, so now when it is drifting it is filling in and just causing more issues than it would if we didn’t have this much snow.

“We have just had such an accumulation to this point that now that any little bit of snow and any wind causes severe drifting because it is up over the edges of the road on the sides,”

According to a Facebook post this morning there were multiple vehicles stuck on the RM’s roadways. Hrischuk said RM crews are out and will be out during the weekend after the expected upcoming snowfall.

“Our guys have been out blading,” she said. “They are blading all weekend and whenever we have a wind event we are going to experience drifting.”

Hrischuk added that residents who live in the area shouldn’t have problems navigating the road, but things could be much different for people unfamiliar with the region.

“Local people understand where the drifts are and maybe people that aren’t familiar with the area don’t always know where they are,” she explained. “They just have to a little more cautious and make sure they have all their winter gear in their vehicles with them.”

michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has received Microsoft Global Training Partner status, the school announced on Thursday.

Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask. Polytech’s president and CEO, said the move will help ensure Sask Polytechnic graduates and instructors receive the most up to date training in a variety of fields.

“Saskatchewan Polytechnic is honoured and thrilled that our relationship with Microsoft continues to expand and grow,” Rosia said in a press release.

“As a Microsoft Global Training Partner, Sask. Polytech faculty, have developed the expertise to incorporate Microsoft technology virtually and in-person to enhance the student learning experience and ensure our students are empowered with future-relevant skills. Our faculty will also have the privilege to share their knowledge and experience with educators around the world.”

Rosia said that innovation and technology are key factors that making sure graduates students have future-relevant skills. Their role as a Microsoft Global Training Partner will enable Saskatchewan faculty and instructors to connect with institutions around the world for training, resources and technology.

Rosia said it was difficult to say just how much of an affect their new status would have, but he expects it to be significant.

Sask. Polytech faculty are well-established specialists in adult learning and training other educators. It is the exclusive in-house expertise and mentorship, when equipped with Microsoft tools and technologies, that positions Sask. Polytech to be able to assist other post-secondary institutions across Canada and abroad, to build capacity and grow their own proficiencies in Microsoft technologies.

“Canada’s innovation economy continues to accelerate at an unparalleled rate, and the need for skilled talent has never been more important,” Marc Seaman, vice president of Education, Microsoft Canada, said. “Saskatchewan Polytechnic becoming a Microsoft Global Training Partner is an example of how industry and post-secondary institutions can work together to provide students and educators with the necessary skills and experiences to fully take part in Canada’s digital future.”

They added that Sask. Polytech worked closely with Microsoft throughout 2020 and 2021 to empower learners across Canada with digital skills that are foundational to a strong post-pandemic economic recovery and future economic growth.

Sask. Polytech previously won the 2021 Microsoft Global Training Partner of the Year Award for Skilling in the Americas. As one of the only Microsoft Global Training Partner for higher education in Canada, Sask. Polytech is uniquely positioned to accelerate digital skilling and transformation among post-secondary peers and Canadian industry leaders.

Visit saskpolytech.ca/microsoftskills for more information.

The province is nearly three weeks behind other jurisdictions in the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19, according to the province’s top doctor.

Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said that Saskatchewan is likely to see the peak of the wave in two to three weeks, which the surge lasting the next six to eight weeks. Shahab said on Tuesday that the Omicron variant’s rapid spread will worsen chronic conditions in people with diabetes, heart disease and other long-term illnesses who then may require hospitalization.

“Underlying chronic conditions as well as COVID will drive an increase in hospitalizations,” Shahab said during the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre media briefing on Tuesday.

“This is a bit different from the pure COVID lung disease, but we will see an increase in the next six to eight weeks and have to prepare for that.

“Hospitalizations peak after an one to two week lag. So unfortunately, we will see an increase in hospitalizations continuing over the next six weeks. And some of those hospitalizations will be in individuals with COVID like illness but lower pressure on ICU but there will still be some pressure,” Shahab said.

He explained further that the peak will come in larger centres to start.

“We have to remember that Saskatchewan is one to three weeks behind other provinces in our omicron surge and we have seen from other provinces that while we expect to peak in our case numbers over the next two to four weeks starting in Regina and Saskatoon,” he explained.

Shahab’s update also included a presentation of provincial data on vaccinations and breakthrough infections from Dec. 1 to 31, 2021. The data overall showed that vaccinations kept people out of hospital.

Statistics presented by Shahab from the month of December found unvaccinated residents were almost nine times as likely to spend time in the ICU because of COVID-19 relative to their vaccinated neighbours, at a rate of 3.5 people per 100,000 residents compared to 0.4 per 100,000 in the vaccinated population.

“For December we were coming out of our Delta surge,” Shahab said. “The omicron surge hadn’t really picked up, so we overall saw a low number of hospitalizations mostly in the unvaccinated. The (case) rate again was higher in (those who were) unvaccinated, with lower rates in people that were vaccinated,” Shahab said.

Unvaccinated people were a more than twice as likely to spend time in hospital. The data presented showed a rate of nine per 100,000 compared to 3.7 per 100,000 among fully vaccinated people.

The ICU admissions showed a similar success in vaccinations.

“We had about 15 ICU admissions in December on this analysis,” Shahab said. “Again, the risk is higher in unvaccinated and lower if you were fully vaccinated or boosted, and again, only three ICU admissions in people who were vaccinated. Two had comorbid conditions and two were over 65 years of age.”

Shahab explained that the omicron variant is understood to cause less severe sickness than the Delta variant that was the main variant during the fall months. He added that it is far more transmissible and infects vaccinated people much more readily.

While unvaccinated people are still at much higher risk, he said infection with the variant could “tip the balance” in people who are vulnerable, which will be cause them to spend time in hospital.

“Omicron may cause a different presentation, especially in those who are fully vaccinated, with lower requirement for ICU care,” Shahab said.

There were seven deaths related to COVID-19 in December—four in those were unvaccinated and three who had two doses. Of those three with two doses, two were patients ages 55 and older, while the other patient had an underlying risk factor.

Shahab explained that as far as vaccinations are going, the province is in relatively good shape. According to the most recent update, 85 per cent of those eligible have first and second doses. Shahab said that booster dose uptake is good in the 60 and over category.

“We really want booster uptake to go up for everyone 18 and older as long as they are three months out to their second dose. Increased booster uptake will decrease the pressure on hospitals,” he said.

At this point booster uptake is highest in Regina and Saskatoon.

Shahab said the booster dose is critical, but people should also continue with best practices such as staying home when they are sick and using the best mask when in public.

“Using all of the other tools we have been using over the last two years especially during the next four to six weeks when we will likely peak or the next two to three weeks with our omicron surge and that can take another three to four weeks to come with our omicron surge,” Shahab said.

Michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca

On Monday, Health Canada approved the use of Paxlovid, a new antiviral drug made by Pfizer.

This is the first Health Canada-approved oral antiviral (pill) for COVID-19 recommended for people who test positive and are at high risk of severe outcomes including hospitalization or death.

“Note that this treatment that is another tool in our fight against COVID is not yet available in the province,” Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) president Marlo Pritchard said during the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre media briefing Tuesday. “Eligibility criteria and distribution will be announced in the coming days.”

Pritchard said Saskatchewan residents would have no way to access the medication until those details are announced.

Saskatchewan expects to receive a shipment of Paxlovid this week. Quantities are expected to be limited at first, but will increase throughout the year.

Paxlovid is taken twice a day for five days by those with COVID-19. It stops the virus from multiplying, which helps patients overcome the infection and potentially recover faster.

Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Satchan Takaya, the physician lead for the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody project, said that they will be doing a similar concept to monoclonal antibodies with Paxlovid.

“The eligibility is the same, most people won’t need it, most people are well protected with their vaccination and being fully vaccinated prevents that progression to severe disease,” Takaya said.

It will be available for those with an underlying condition, immunocompromised people or are unvaccinated and are at risk for severe disease.

“We are still working on the process for the eligibility as far as the risk factors as (they are) very similar to the Sotrovimab,” she said.

Takaya explained that once it becomes available, they would encourage the treatment for those people.

“We want to capture people during that mild phase of illness,” she explained. “Most people have saturations over 94 per cent. Not severely ill. Not hospitalized. Those are the ideal candidates for the therapy.”

The province also offers monoclonal antibody treatment for eligible residents who have received a positive test result on either a rapid antigen test or a PCR test as a tool to help prevent serious COVID-19 outcomes.

Residents are eligible if they have a positive test result and have not been vaccinated or are immunocompromised, are within seven days of becoming symptomatic and are 55 years or older or 18 years and older with specific high-risk co-morbidity. Patients are eligible regardless of their vaccination status.

Previously, the requirement had been within five days of becoming symptomatic.

If you meet these requirements, you may be referred for treatment.  Call HealthLine 811 or 306-766-6388 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., seven days a week to speak with a clinician regarding monoclonal antibodies.

The province however supports these treatments but believes vaccination remains the best tool.

All Saskatchewan residents age five and older are eligible to be fully vaccinated, and residents age eighteen and older are eligible for third/booster doses.

Certain at-risk populations are now also eligible for fourth doses.  For more information on the third/booster dose eligibility, see Saskatchewan.ca/covid-19.

michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca

On Friday, Jan. 14, the Town of Kinistino officially celebrated the early stages of construction of their new Community Centre, a more than $5.8 million project funded in part by the federal and provincial governments.

Former Kinistino Mayor Leonard Margolis, who passed away in February 2021, launched the planning for the project in 2019. The vision he had incorporated a unique structure that was accessible to everyone and fully equipped.

Current Kinistino Mayor Mark Powalinsky thought the official celebration was a great tribute to Margolis’s vision.

“It means a lot really in his memory and it means a lot to the community,” Powalinsky said. “The community, I think, was overdue for a facility and this largely was Leonard’s vision. This (announcement) sees his vision coming into fruition.”

Margolis served on council in some fashion for nearly seven decades before his passing. He first was elected as a councillor in 1965 where he served until 1967. Margolis was re-elected in 1974 and had been there ever since, first as a councillor until 1981 and then as mayor in 1982 until his passing.

He explained that during his speech he noted the original Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Kinistino had become dilapidated and would be replaced by the new Community Centre.

“The building will replace the Legion on the site that the Legion sat on and it will serve the community, it will contain a rental hall with a stage,” he said. “It will have a room for the Legion and a place for the Royal Canadian Legion members to house their memorabilia. It will also house the Town Office, the two main rooms will be also a multi-use room so we can serve different amenities and needs that arise.”

Powalinsky said that the building would become a new landmark on Main Street in Kinistino.

“We have seen a lot of our graduation ceremonies, weddings and whatnot travel down the road because we didn’t have a facility that could house those (events),” he explained. “It is going to allow us to host those festivities, those gatherings, create those memories, create a sense of community and further the identity of what Kinistino is all about.”

He explained that the Kerry Vickar Centre in Melfort, which was hosting events like Kinistino graduations in recent years, was a fine facility but just wasn’t in Kinistino.

Powalinsky said that the event came together as an idea after discussions with officials in Regina. They stated that when a sod turning happens the results are not immediately noticeable because all work happens below ground.

“We were thinking of having a construction launch ceremony and the election happened and that put things off for a little while there,” he said. “Really one thing led to another but the lovely thing about this event today was you can see the structure taking shape in the background and you are standing in front of it.”

Renderings of the project are available on the town website. Seeing the project coming to life is significant.

“It’s quite exciting for those of us that have been in the planning stages from the get go,” he said. “It is just a huge topic of conversation and interest for the community.”

The event also saw Margolis’ son and former councillor Kurt Margolis act as emcee for the event, which pleased Powalinsky.

Construction on the project began in September 2021. Work on the project includes foundation and partial framing to date. The centre will include the town office, a commercial kitchen, a main hall with a performance stage and another room that can be used by members of the Royal Canadian Legion. Either room may be used for various purposes such as weddings, meetings, and day programs, along with the potential to house a medical clinic or other amenities.

The entire project is expected to be completed by September 2022.

Under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada is funding up to $2,336,000 toward Kinistino’s Community Centre project and the Government of Saskatchewan is funding up to $1,946,472. The Town is responsible for funding the remainder of the $5.8 million project and any additional costs.

“Investments in community infrastructure help improve the health and well-being of Canadians and strengthen the fabric of our towns and cities. Once complete, the new community centre in Kinistino will replace the original building and offer residents with a place to hold community events, participate in day programs, and access numerous key services,” Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities said in a release.

Also present for the ceremony was MLA for Batoche Delbert Kirsch councillor Steven Jack, Deputy Mayor Gina Klamot, architect Andrew Wallace and Kinistino Legion member Ron Bacon.

“Our architect showed up today and he needed to do a field visit anyway but it was just so very nice to have him there to be part of this very small gathering,” Powalinsky said.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to support this important infrastructure project, which will provide a brand-new Community Centre for the Town of Kinistino once completed,” Kirsch said appearing on behalf of the Honourable Don McMorris, Minister of Government Relations.

“It will serve as a place for everyone to gather, including families and friends and in turn will strengthen the community and province.”

Powalinsky thanked the other levels of government for their assistance.

“I have to acknowledge the funding from the Federal and Provincial governments which really helped to make the vision a reality,” Powalinsky said.

After a year away because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prince Albert Winter Festival’s Tux and Toques Gala returned on Saturday night at the Prince Albert Wildlife Federation Hall.

The event recognized 2022 honourary chairperson Franklin Carriere. Carriere was pleased to be recognized by the Prince Albert Winter Festival, which has been part of his life for over 50 years as one of the legends of the King Trapper event.

“It means a lot at my age after competing for so many years,” Carriere said. “I competed here over 50 years and to be honoured at this late stage of my life, I thank the Winter Festival committee and all of the (current) workers, and the past workers. We have worked with a lot of people.”

Gala event chair Bev Erickson said they’ve asked residents to bring suggestions for an honourary chair for all of the gala’s five years, and Carriere has been on the list every year.

“Last year we didn’t do it of course, but two years before that we called him and he couldn’t come,” she explained. “He wasn’t feeling good so he didn’t want to come. This year we were just lucky that he was feeling better and said yes.”

“He was one of the first ones that we had thought of,” Erickson added. “The timing just was not going to work out, so we are very happy that finally we got him here.”

Trapping came naturally to Carriere. He learned quickly and eagerly from his father and uncles.

“They were all trappers,” he remembered. “When I was 14 years old my Dad was sick and somebody had to go and help him trap, and I volunteered.”

Carriere, who is 76-years-old, became involved in dog racing events at the Winter Festival in 1966. In 1970 he turned to the King Trapper event which he competed in from 1970 to 2015 winning at least 10 titles in that time.

“Ever since I have been competing,” he said.

Carriere went to school, but trapping was his calling.

“I did get my college degree, university degree in the bush that’s how I got to be Natural King Trapper,” he said.

Carriere and his wife, daughter and granddaughter all attended the event,

“It is very special especially (for) my granddaughter,” he said. “(She) goes to school in New Brunswick and she delayed it one week. She wanted to be here.”

During the recognition ceremony there was a 17 minute video tribute and history of the Winter Festival. Orville Erickson one of the founders of the Winter Festival became fast friends with Carriere.

“He’s the first guy that sold me life insurance and that’s how I got to be good friends with him,” Carriere said.

“When he died we lost a very good friend. I was very sorry when I heard that.”

He is still good friends with the Erickson family, who are still involved in the Winter Festival to this day.

“We missed a little bit there, quite a few years because they were all over the place too, but I kept coming back,” Carriere said. “We wanted to make sure that these PA King Trapper and Queen Trapper events continue and I want to come back at the end of February for the PA Winter Festival and help out.”

During the presentation and speech Carriere and fellow trapper Gerald McKenzie regaled the crowd with stories and animal calls while wearing classic King Trapper regalia.

Carriere retired from both his regular job and King Trapper competitions. He continues to train trappers in communities across the north for Northland College.

“We almost lost the core industry,” he explained. “One company, the North American company, quit buying fur, but the fur harvesters are still buying. They are not making a lot of money, but they are still continuing the tradition … and if we don’t teach our kids to continue the tradition what is going to happen here? If something happens in the world then we have to depend on the bush.

“We have to teach our kids. I teach my kids how to survive in the bush and I also teach them to make sure that they don’t waste anything. That’s a big thing.”

During the event Sheryl Kimbley spoke to honour 2021 honourary chairpersons Lawrence Joseph, who was in attendance, and Don Mitchell who was unable to attend due to health matters. Kimbley credited both men for being exemplary role models to younger generations, while still poking fun at each other on stage.

The Gala featured a silent auction, Diamond Dash, supper by the staff of Shenanigans and a performance by hoop dancer and storyteller Lawrence Roy Jr.

Roy also trained five people from the crowd in the at of hoop dancing.

Overall, Erickson was pleased with how the event turned out after a year away.

“I think it turned out very well,” she said. “We followed all Sask Health regulations, all the government protocols and we still got a really nice crowd. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

“It was really good,” she added. “We just can’t do any of this kind of stuff without the community.

“Everyone totally came out and supported it. Prince Albert is small but they have got a great community base.”

The Prince Albert Winter Festival runs from February 10 to 27.

In her last year of competition, 18-year-old Relan Meeks took home the singer-songwriter prize at this year’s Search for the Stars show at the EA Rawlinson Centre.

This was Meeks’ second consecutive win for an original song. She also won in last year’s online version.

“It’s an incredible feeling knowing that it’s my last year,” Meeks said. “Winning it is an awesome feeling. I feel so accomplished.”

Meeks gripped the hand of Senior winner Rebecca Strong while judges Allyson Reigh and LJ Tyson announced the winner of the competition.

“Yeah there was some tight grip there,” she said with a laugh.

Her fellow competitors in the category were the alternative rock band Subpar. She said that they were two very different but comparable talents.

“Subpar did really good they were good competition. I felt as though we had an equal chance to win,” Meeks said.

Meeks’ winning song was titled “Heartbreaker” and she drew heavily on her life experiences to write it.

“I basically was in a relationship and it didn’t go as planned,” she explained. “I was feeling a lot of emotion and I didn’t know how to feel that emotion. I decided that writing a song might be a good outlet for me to be able to get out all of these feelings.

“It was super therapeutic for me to write everything down,” she added. “I played some chords and I found an awesome melody and I was like, ‘this is going to be a super good song.’”

It was the end of an era for Meeks, who competed in her seventh and final competition. She said the experience was a meaningful one.

“I am so sad to not be able to do it next year,” she said.

Meeks is currently a student at the University of Saskatchewan campus in Prince Albert. She has been singing since she was 7 years old and playing the piano since she was about 10 years old.

The prize for singer-songwriter star was $1,000. “Heartbreaker” gave Meeks her second consecutive win, but it was actually the third song she wrote for the competition.

“People who have a dream or something that they think they can’t do should just do it anyways no matter what anyone says,” she said.

Search for the Stars kicked off Saturday, with the final show happening Sunday afternoon.

Unlike last year, audiences were allowed inside the Rawlinson to view this year’s competition.

Malcolm Jenkins of Canadian Tire was on stage to present the award as event sponsor.

Search for the Stars was split up into several categories, with each taking home prizes. 

Berkley Derenewski took home the Junior Star (ages 8 to 10), Morgan Mihliewicz won the Intermediate Star (ages 11 to 14), Rebecca Strong won the Senior Star (ages 8 to 15), and Rijja Mansoor was the Most Improved Star (any age group).

In addition to performing for judges and the audience, contestants also got to participate in workshops run by the judges.

Judges Reigh and Tyson were at the event in-person and presented awards, whereas Judge Jordy Balicki had to provide feedback and judge over Zoom at home.

michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca