The last year is now behind us. With that in mind, the Daily Herald looks back on 2024, continuing with February.
On Feb. 2 Prince Albert was one of five communities that saw local teachers leave the classroom for a one-day strike. Teachers in Moose Jaw, Humboldt, North Battleford, and Assiniboia all participated in the event.
Prince Albert and Area Teachers’ Federation (PAATA) president Jean-Marc Belliveau said teachers would strike “as long as it takes” to get the government back at the bargaining table. Belliveau said most teachers were optimistic a deal would get done, but frustration was setting in.
Mayor Greg Dionne faced questions about the City of Prince Albert’s decision to charge non-residents a $150 fee to use the City’s indoor facilities at the State of the City address on Feb. 2.
Dionne spoke to a packed room at the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce State of the City Address. He told attendees the City wasn’t going to back down from charging residents in the surrounding RMs to use facilities like the two new indoor rinks being built at The Yard entertainment district.
“We know lots of things that we do aren’t going to make some people happy,” Dionne told attendees. “It’d be nice if we could make a decision that made everybody happy, but we don’t live in that world.”
The community of Pellican Narrows sent an open letter to Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address public safety in the community on Feb. 6
Pelican Narrows is a hurting community of broken systems, PBCN Chief Karen Bird said during a press conference at the PBCN Health boardroom.
“I’m here to share not just a message, but a heartfelt plea that we put down in an open letter to those at the highest levels of our government,” Bird said.
“We’re not just one place we we’re a family of eight communities spread out over a massive area in northern Saskatchewan with over 12,000 members, we’re not just a whisper. We’re a voice that needs to be heard.”
Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division board chair Darlene Rowden will run for the Saskatchewan Party in the next election after winning a contested nomination in Wakaw on Feb. 6.
Rowden aimed to replace current Sask. Party MLA Delbert Kirsch in the constituency of Batoche. Kirsch was first elected in 2003, but announced last August that he would not seek another term.
Prince Albert City Council voted 6-3 in favour of borrowing $18 million as part of a plan to raise money for the Aquatic and Arenas Recreation Project, plus a new 4,500 seat WHL arena on Feb. 13.
Mayor Greg Dionne said they expect plenty of donors to come forward and support the project, but most donors spread their donation over a multi-year period. Because the City rarely receives large donations as one lump sum, Dionne said, it’s necessary to borrow $18 million to cover costs today.
Two Prince Albert schools were among the eight selected to implement the Specialized Support Classroom Pilot Project on Feb. 14.
Queen Mary Public School in the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division, and St. John School in the Prince Albert Catholic School Division will take part in the program, which aims to help school staff manage and de-escalate behavioural incidents.
The provincial government committed $3.6 million to the program in January.
Saskatchewan Rivers director of education Neil Finch said the investment was small compared to how big the division’s need is, but he welcomed the support.
“Queen Mary has been chosen and they are well on their way to get things started there,” Finch said.
The Prince Albert Winter Festival will go ahead without one of its most popular attractions after organizers cancelled the sled dog races on Feb. 16.
Winter Festival president Bev Erickson said it the hold off making the decision until they were absolutely sure they wouldn’t have enough snow to host them.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” she said. “We were still hoping that Mother Nature might kick in, but unfortunately she has other plans.”
t was a change of scenery for Prince Albert and area teachers walking the picket line on Feb. 17.
Members of the Prince Albert Area Teachers’ Association (PAATA) walked the streets of Shellbrook down to Premier Scott Moe’s constituency office on Main Street.
PAATA President Jean-Marc Belliveau President said they wanted to get Moe’s attention after a frustrating conclusion to negotiations earlier this week.
“We’re doing this for better education for the kids,” he said. “We need proper funding, that’s our main focus. We want properly funded education.”
The Prince Albert Food Bank received a much needed boost from SIGA and the Northern Lights Casino on Feb. 23 and not a moment too soon.
SIGA and Northern Lights donated $25,000 to the food bank Thursday morning. Food Bank executive director Kim Scruby said the donation was a welcome surprise.
“This is amazing for us and the timing couldn’t be better,” he said.
Kaij Brass expressed remorse for his actions, and later broke down in tears after being sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing his 13-month-old son Tanner in February 2022.
Judge Gary Meschishnick handed down the decision on Feb. 27 following a joint submission by the crown and defence. Meschishnick delivered the verdict in a mostly empty court room, with only Brass’ mother and grandmother present.
“I’m genuinely sorry for what happened,” Brass told the court before sentencing. “I want to accept responsibility.”
Local Elks and Royal Purple have been supporting the Victoria Hospital since 1986 through the Elks and Royal Purple Charitable Fund.
On Friday, Feb. 23, they continued that tradition by presenting a cheque for $50,000 to the Boreal Healthcare Foundation to support the Mental Health Unit.
The fund included local Elks and Royal Purple groups from Prince Albert, Canwood, Big River, and other local communities. Charitable fund chair Art Young of Canwood has been with the committee from the beginning.
“We have raised a lot of money and we’ve had a lot of people that have put a lot of effort into raising this money,” Young said. “I want to thank everybody that has taken part and all our workers.”
Sports
One of the major highlights in the Prince Albert sporting world in the month of February was a visit from a Raider family member. Agnieszka and Marcin Macias, the parents of Raider forward Krzysztof Macias, paid a visit to Hockeytown North to watch their son play.
Agnieszka says she was extremely thankful to everyone that she met in Prince Albert.
“I want to thank everyone because everyone is so hospitable here. It’s really nice and this is what I read about Canada and Canadians on the internet, everything is great. When it comes to hockey it’s really fast. It’s much faster than we have in Poland. But it’s just incredible and it’s nice to watch it.”
Carlton grad Gage Grassick was named a Canada West First Team All-Star for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s basketball team after averaging 13 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.
Lisa Thomaidis, the head coach of the Huskies says Grassick had a breakout season.
“She’s had such an amazing year. I think she’s really taken her game to another level this season. Coming off last year, she was solidly our starting point guard and took the team to being ranked number one in the country, and then had a disappointing playoff stand. I think she really took that to heart and worked on her game in the offseason and you can see it reflected in her play this year. She really is the engine that drives our team and (it’s) great that the other coaches acknowledge that and see her worth to our program.”
Former Raider Dean McAmmond paid a visit to Northern Saskatchewan when he attended the Nipawin Hawks Faith Night on Feb. 3.
Arts
An interesting mixed medium piece called “Come Eat’’ took home top prize at the Winter Festival Art Show and Sale Awards and opening on Friday, Feb. 9.
Marcy Friesen’s work was the first piece she entered in a Winter Festival exhibit. The Carrot River-based artist was shocked to see her KFC bucket adorned in fur and beading take the top prize at the 48th edition.
(L to R) Guest Curator Bevin Bradley, Marcy Friesen, Mayor Greg Dionne and Interim Curator for the Mann At Gallery Lana Wilson pose after Friesen was presented Best in Show at the Winter Festival Art Show and Sale Awards and opening on Friday.
“I was against a lot of people who have been creating art for years and years and I just wasn’t expecting it, “Friesen said.
On the Avenue Art Gallery in Prince Albert welcomed customer furniture creator Garry F. Miller as their artist on display for the month of February.
Miller is the founder of Boreal Bauhaus out of Christopher Lake. He was in Prince Albert on Saturday, Feb. 10 for the first of two artist meet and greets, where he introduced people to his rustic furniture creations.
Miller, who goes by Garry F. Miller because of many people with the same name in Christopher Lake, said he has built a reputation around his craft.
“I pride myself that I am known in the community as being a wood rescuer,” Miller said. “People will frequently contact me asking if I’m interested in a particular piece of wood that otherwise might get burnt or thrown out.”
