Annual Community Christmas Dinner a place where all are welcome

Peter Lozinski
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Annual Community Christmas Dinner a place where all are welcome

When Christmas day rolls around, some people brace themselves to feed a few dozen family members.

But when December 25 comes by for Isabelle Impey, it means it’s time to feed several hundred.

Impey is the coordinator of the annual Prince Albert Community Chrirstmas Dinner. For 15 years, she has been the head organizer for one of P.A.’s most heart-warming traditions.

“It was one of my hair-brained schemes 15 years ago,” Impey laughed Monday afternoon, fresh from feeding the needy with the leftovers of the annual feast.

“Actually my family started it 15 years ago. It started very small and you know so the whole family got involved.”

The first year the family travelled to the White Buffalo in Saskatoon and fed 300 people.

The event has certainly grown since then. More than 2,200 people ate Sunday at St. Mary High School.

While that number appears lower than last year’s 2,400, Impey said the number of people fed by the leftovers Monday hadn’t been added to that total yet.

The hungry, homeless and needy families have more food delivered to them on Boxing Day. Including their Christmas Day visits, the feast feeds some people three times – twice the day of and once the next day.

That’s a lot of food.

And while the facilities at St. Mary – with a convection oven that can take two trays, another two traditional ovens in the school kitchen, and the appliances in the home ec room – are ideal for organizers, they get a lot of outside help.

This year Travelodge and Safeway stepped up, each offering their space to cook the turkeys required to feed the masses.

The 2016 feast had an extra treat.

On top of the bird, the potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, bread and stuffing, a $1,500 donation from Duane Braaten allowed the organizers to get ham in addition to the traditional turkey.

The dinner is more than just a meal – donations from other groups such as the Town of Shell Lake, the Northern Lights Casino, SIGA, and a CTV-Parkland Ambulance partnership (to name just a few), the event had blankets, hats and mitts to give away, as well as a room packed with toys for the children.

As Impey explained, parents aren’t allowed in the toy room. It’s a place kids can go to pick out whatever they want, while grabbing a bag of candy on the way out.

Of course it takes more than toys, blankets and a mountain of food to put on a feast for a few thousand.

For more on this story, please see the Dec. 28 subscription-based print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.

Faithful companion

Peter Lozinski
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Faithful companion

Wounded Warriors Weekend uses surplus to provide veterans with service dog before Christmas

Thanks to generous donors from across the country and right here in Saskatchewan, a veteran received a special gift right before Christmas.

Courtesy the Wounded Warrior Weekend project, a needy veteran received his service dog.

The Wounded Warrior Weekend was held over the summer in Nipawin. It brought together veterans dealing with physical and psychological difficulties stemming from their time serving, either as a soldier, EMT, firefighter, police officer or trauma nurse.

The weekend has been a literal lifesaver.

“It has changed so many lives,” said organizer Blake Emmons. “I know of several who were saved.”

The influx of donations meant the organization was more than able to cover their costs, and provide additional soldiers in need with service dogs.

The service dogs were placed I conjunction with the Paws for Veterans program and Alpha Canine Canada.

“The joy for us was we had additional funds,” Emmons said. “Just prior to Christmas we presented another dog to a very needy veteran. I’ve heard it was a turnaround, a blessing. I know from past results, every dog we’ve presented has been lifesaving in various different ways.”

For more on this story please see the Dec. 28 subscription-based print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.

Snow, traffic leads to busy weekend for paramedics

Peter Lozinski
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Snow, traffic leads to busy weekend for paramedics

Emergency responders were busy over the Christmas season, as a plethora of collisions kept them on their toes last weekend.

In a recap of their major calls from the weekend, Parkland Ambulance sent out five media releases detailing six collisions. Going back to last Tuesday, the agency has sent out details about nine motor vehicle collisions.

Of those incidents, 10 people were injured. Three of the collisions had no injuries reported.

According to a news release sent out by the Prince Albert Police Service, police responded to a single collision where a resident was charged with impaired driving.

On Dec. 27 at 3:30 a.m., a collision occurred in the 100 block of 15 Street East. A 24-year-old male was charged with impaired driving and exceeding a blood alcohol content of 0.08.

Since impaired driving wasn’t to blame in the spike in collisions, Parkland Ambulance communications director Lyle Karasiuk said weather and traffic volume was the likely culprit.

For more on this story, please see the subscription-based print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.

Visiting resumes at Sask Pen

Peter Lozinski
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Visiting resumes at Sask Pen

Family members with loved ones serving time at Saskatchewan Penitentiary will be able to visit their loved ones – just in time for Christmas.

According to a report by Global News, the institution has moved to a modified routine after a riot last week where one inmate was killed and two others injured. A further six inmates were injured during the guards’ response to the riot.

Global News reported that the minimum security unit is back to its normal routine, while the medium and maximum units are on a modified routine, but prisoners are allowed to take showers and make phone calls again, and visitation is being scheduled.

An undisclosed number of inmates were moved to other institutions, as the area the riot took place undergoes repair. While Correctional Service Canada (CSC) won’t reveal where the prisoners were sent, citing privacy concerns, sources have told the Herald the inmates were sent to Edmonton.

CSC has said the institution will return to normal when managers deem it safe to do so.

 

Making a difference

Peter Lozinski
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Making a difference

Social worker planning free youth anti-suicide conference

Treena Wynes wants to do something about the suicide epidemic facing northern and Indigenous communities.

The social worker and executive director of Agency Chiefs Child and Family services sees youth dealing with suicidal intentions far too often.

In her work, she deals with child protection, child welfare and family services on reserves.

“In our office we receive several calls in regards to suicide attempts,” Wynes said. “I always had it in the back of my mind that I was going to something on for youth in the communities our agency is responsible for.”

The events of this past year sparked Wynes into action.

“I grew up in La Ronge and I’m a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. When I heard about the La Ronge situation, it was like ‘wow, it’s happening everywhere.’ I really wanted to push forward a youth suicide prevention conference.”

From there, the Ignite the Life Youth Rally was born.

The rally will take place on Feb. 2 and 3 in Saskatoon. It will be free to attend for at-risk youth in Saskatchewan.

Wynes is targeting northern and north-central youth, especially those from Indigenous communities.

For more on this story, please see the Dec. 24 Subscription-based print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.

A Holiday message from the Daily Herald newsroom

Peter Lozinski
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A Holiday message from the Daily Herald newsroom

T’is the night before Christmas, and all through P.A.

People hustle and bustle to prepare for the big day.

The decorations are set, lights shining bright,

Sparkling with colour in cold prairie night.

Stores are closed up, workers gone home

‘Cept for those spending holidays alone.

Our editor’s in his office, typing away

When the sound of cars honking disturbs his day.

He looks out the window, to check what’s the matter,

To see an unfortunate collision, complete with spatter.

He grabs his camera and runs to the street,

A fresh layer of snow freezing his feet.

The culprit flew through the sign, failing to yield

That seems to be why the tires had squeeled.

Weather’s a factor, he didn’t slow down.

Driving carelessly makes our editor frown.

But snow isn’t the only reason it seems

The driver , off another car careems

He climbs out of the front, and much like Mick Jagger

Can’t walk a straight line, down the street he does stagger.

A can of beer can be seen open inside

Consumption of alcohol it seemed, turned the tide,

Made this car crash, all was not right

Impaired driving led to this unfortunate sight!

Our editor sighed, and looked at the beer.

This could have been avoided: remember reindeer!

Operation Red Nose is running, to get people home

So they don’t drink and drive and skid through the snow

But something isn’t right about this scene,

It turns out it was all just a dream!

Our editor awakes, warm in his bed

Thankful nobody ended up dead.

The lesson, he knows, is don’t drink and drive

If home you want to safely arrive.

And so, readers, the message is clear,

Make thorough plans before going for beer.

For impaired driving is never a good sight,

Especially not on this holiday night.

Enjoy your time off, spend it with family and cheer

Maybe our editorial won’t be so cheesy next year.

Parkland Ambulance reminding people to slow down

Peter Lozinski
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Parkland Ambulance reminding people to slow down

Prince Albert Parkland Ambulance is reminding people to slow down when driving as traffic is heavy as people are preparing for Christmas.

Parkland Ambulance responded to three collisions today:

  • At 11:02 a.m. today, Dec 23, Parkland Ambulance Paramedics responded to a motor vehicle collision on Hwy. 2 near Red Wing. Paramedics cared for a 69-year-old female with minor injuries and she was taken to hospital in good condition.
  • At 11:55 a.m. today, Dec 23, Parkland Ambulance Paramedics responded to a motor vehicle collision at 5th Avenue and 15th Street East. Paramedics at the scene report that there were no injuries in the incident.
  • At 1:12 p.m. today, Dec 23, Parkland Ambulance Paramedics responded to a motor vehicle collision at 6th Avenue East and Marquis Road. Paramedics cared for a 35-year-old male with injuries and he was taken to hospital in good condition for further care.

“Check the road conditions, follow the media or weather reports and be prepared for any changing road/weather conditions,” director of public affairs Lyle Karasiuk wrote in a media release.

“Be safe this Christmas weekend!”

Caring for the Cold

Peter Lozinski
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Caring for the Cold

It’s been a good winter so far for Parkland Ambulance.

They haven’t had to treat any major cold-related conditions.

Despite the cold snap that hit the prairies last week – where temperatures hit the -30s and wind chills even lower – so far nobody has been seriously left out in the cold.

Lyle Karasiuk would like to keep it that way.

“We’ve had a few cases of minor frostbite and come calls for people who are cold. I’m not aware of anything that’s happened where we’ve had a … significant cold illness or injury,” he said.

The director of public affairs said that’s thanks to the services the city has available, and to residents for looking out for each other.

“Cold affects people in different ways.. People who are marginalizes and rely on shelter or some other means, we’ve been finding that the cold has affected them a bit more,” he said.

“Fortunately we have our cold weather shelter at the YWCA and other mechanisms to help them. We’ve been able to keep those folks warms and comfortable and healthy and safe during the cold weather that we’ve had.”

They do appreciate having a few extra pairs of eyes watching over the neighbourhood.

“We’ve been doing this through the cold times with our Twitter account. We’ve been trying to tell people: if you’re coming home form a Christmas party or show or visiting friends, or if you’re a shift worker and you see somebody wandering the streets or sitting at a bus stop when you know darn well the bus doesn’t run, call 911,” Karasiuk said.

For more on this story, please see the Dec. 23 subscription-based print or e-edition of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

Look out for each other

Peter Lozinski
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Look out for each other

The message form Parkland Ambulance spokesperson Lyle Karasiuk (Caring for the cold, Dec. 23) couldn’t be any clearer – we have to help our emergency services look out for one another.

While we are heading across the province and across the country to spend this time with family, it’s easy to forget others may not have a home to go to.

They can be literally left out in the cold.

It’s easy to pass by the vulnerable out on the street and not give it a second thought.

It’s equally as easy to ignore the vehicle pulled over to the side of the highway as we speed off to our destination.

However, those people may need help.

You don’t have to get out of your car if you’re not comfortable. Just pick up your phone and dial 9-1-1. The police and paramedics will handle it from there.

They have access to training, and resources, to help those who may need it, especially as temperatures dip at night.

 

If you notice someone hanging out at a bus stop after hours, or huddling on a street corner, or you notice a car pulled off the road or someone else in distress, don’t hesitate to call emergency services.

It’s much better to call and risk it being a false alarm than to ignore it and risk someone gets seriously sick, injured or killed because no one could bother to care.

This is the season of giving, and of love.

Give your heart to your less-fortunate neighbours and make sure everyone finds somewhere safe to go this winter.

For the full version of this editorial, please check out our subscription-based print or e-edition.

Parkland Ambulance recognizes employees of the year

Peter Lozinski
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Parkland Ambulance recognizes employees of the year

Eden Shirley was out on a call when she received the news.

The five-year veteran of Parkland Ambulance was one of the employees working nights during the company’s Christmas party.

Her friend sent her a text.

Shirley had been named employee of the year.

Parkland Ambulance management also reached out to congratulate her that night.

“I was really surprised. There are a lot of people who have more experience than me and have put more time in,” Shirley said. “I was humbled.”

Shirley is one of three Parkland Ambulance employees recognized for their efforts in 2016.

Second-year paramedic Elliot Haines won rookie of the year, and dispatcher Raeanne Detillieux was named telecommunicator of the year.

The awards are determined by the employees of Parkland Ambulance, not by management.

For more on this story, please see the Dec. 21 subscription-based print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.

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