When the Paris Charter Against Cancer was signed on Feb. 4 at Elysee Palace, the parties were certain of one thing: the fight against cancer should and must be taken seriously.
The United Nations took it seriously too and Feb 4 was set aside as the World Cancer Day. Countries that are intentional about fighting Cancer has signed the charter and have consistently celebrated and marked this day as one of the important health days in their calendar and the fight continues.
“(It’s) so everybody will have an awareness that there is a lot more behind the scene when it comes to cancer,” Joseph Akinjobi a specialist in Family medicine, MD and CEO of the Pavilion Medical Clinic Inc, Prince Albert said. “It’s to show that cancer affects all of us – the patients, families, health care providers and even the community. It is not just a medical issue, it is social, emotional and a public health priority.
“For those of us who deal cancer patients we know how important this is amongst patients, their families, how life changing it can be, so having a day to show or create the awareness that cancer is there and what to do about it is very important.”
Akinjobi said participating in World Cancer Day is an important duty, and by taking part in it, each one of us in our own way plays a critical role. In many places throughout the world, cancer is still associated with terrible social stigmas. Changing this perception and changing the image of cancer is a key factor in the success in our long fight against this disease.
“It’s important to know that the burden of cancer is real,” he said. “I mean, its one of the leading causes of death worldwide and also in Canada. However, we should also know that many cancers are preventable and many are treatable, especially when detected early.
“There many cancers that people have beaten because we detected early, we diagnosed early and we offered treatment early. The people get better and they even lived long life afterwards.”
In Canada, in Saskatchewan, and in Prince Albert, Akinjobi said there are support structures that can assist cancer patients on their journey to beating the disease.
“The good thing is that when someone is diagnosed with cancer we have a system that works,” he said. “The family practice is an integral part of the management of cancer. More often than not everything begins at the family doctor’s practice, when you do your screening and you discover that something might be missing, then referral to a specialist, further investigation and the diagnosis that oh its cancer.”
In Prince Albert, there is a network between the family practitioner, the specialist and advocacy groups and support agencies. Akinjobi believes even more services when be available in Prince Albert when the Victoria Hospital project is completed.
For now, there are counselors available locally who can talk with the patient through the journey. There are support groups as well for people who are going thorough similar situation to sit together and share their experiences and comfort each other. There are psychologists that assists and helps the patients to navigate the path.
“We all know that when people are hit with cancer, chances of depression is high, so working with the family practice, working with the specialist, working with the multidisciplinary team, your dietician, physiotherapist help, there is a lot that can be offered locally to the people who have cancer,” he said.
Akinjobi also advised that “since we know that up to 40 per cent cancers can be prevented through healthy life style choices, I will implore people to maintain a healthy weight and stay physically active. An elderly lady told me that ‘Motion is lotion’ in other words if you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Residents are also encouraged to stop tobacco usage, try and be responsible, limit alcohol consumption, eat balanced diet according to the Canadian food guideline, practice safe sex (to avoid cervical cancer contacted through the HPV) during summer appropriate sun screening mechanisms should be used, cover themselves well to protect themselves against skin cancer.
“We also need to look into and encourage our physicians as well as patients to look into the screening that are available to detect cancer before the symptoms appears,” he said. ” Like a Mamogram for breast cancer, Pap smear for cervical cancer, an FIT test Stool test and we can discuss with the patient about the risk of having prostrate cancer among others.”
Take your Child to the Library Day exceeds expectations
When the Prince Albert Public Library organizers first floated the idea of hosting Take your Child to the Library Day this year the thought was that it will be a small event considering that this is the maiden edition.
Little did they know that the Prince Albert community would spring a beautiful surprise on them.
“Its fantastic! It exceeded our expectation and I am so glad that people came,” Vieng Enchanh, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Prince Albert Public Library. “Everyone that came enjoyed themselves and it was really the community event that we had in mind. That families get together and visited the library, made inquiries about our programs and enjoyed themselves.”
The day was also an opportunity for families to bond as the kids enjoyed their day with their parents.
Parents Jeff and Agnes were among those who brought their children to the event. Agnes said their daughter, Wren, was excited about it, so they decided to drop by.
“She wanted to come when we talked about it. She is excited being here,” Agnes explained. “We come to the library whenever we can. The experience is great.”
At five years old, Little Wren was excited about being there.
“Yeah, I enjoyed the day and i had a puppy painted on my face,” she said.
Enchanh said they tried to keep track of the visitors by lost count at some point after 70 people came in. That puts organizers in a strong position for the 2027 version.
“We are looking forward to next years edition,” Enchanh said. “To the people of Prince Albert, thank you for coming to support your public library. We are always happy to see people come and share the space with us.”
The Library always opens every Saturday with activities like games and movies are shown in the Auditorium alongside with other engaging activities.
The large crowd kept library employees like Elle Roy busy.
“Today I am doing face painting (and) almost every kid who came in wanted their face painted,” said Roy, who works as a Program Services Clerk at the Prince Albert Public Library.
The Library has a cat called Willow and the kids were fascinated by the fact there is a cat in the library. The cat was rescued from a farm and raised in the Library staff because it is deaf.
Also available for the kids was a mini golf game and a craft bag to be won by the kids who played the golf. There were games like Lego, connect four, etc.
“Everyone can have a craft bag whether they complete the golf course or not,,” said Eva Pailey another library staff who is in charge of the Mini golf game. “It’s really good, we were hoping we have a good turnout. We are hoping it is successful so that we can have it every year.”
The Rebirth of Classic Country Music Reunion Show
The Classic Country Music Reunion Show will be in our midst on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb.17 and 18 at the Prince Albert Wildlife Federation from 6:30p.m. to 9:30 p.m. bringing classic country music from 1930s to the ’60s after 20 years.
This will be a reunion of the six-man musical team that came together in 2000 and performed for six years and could not continue but they are back together to put smiles on the faces of their fans and lovers of classic music in Prince Albert and area.
“The show started in 2002 when a like minded bunch of us decided that we should put up a music show featuring music from 1960 and earlier. Going back to some of the beginning of actual country music recorded. We put up the show till we disbanded,” producer Larry Krause said. ” Some of us from that group that are around got talking this summer, thinking that we should bring that concept back on to the stage again with the people that are still around.”
That is how the reunion show came in. About for out of the original six are still performing and will performing here in Prince Albert on those nights,
Audrey Neubuhr, Elmer Lammedee, Larry Krause and John Quinn will be performing featuring the music of artists such as Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Grandpa Jones, Wilf Carter and Minnie Pearl.
“We found that when we did it originally it was a sell out concert so we figured that it is time to bring it back to give the people the opportunity to hear all those whole songs going back as far as the 20s and 30s up to the 50s and 60s,” Krause said.
The performance will be supported by the band and a comedian Will Handy to give the audience a fun time.
The ticket cost is $25 and can be cash or e-transfer only.
Cast and crew brings Shakespeare In Love to the Rawlinson stage just in time for Valentine’s Day
The cast and crew of Shakespeare in Love are set to deliver four nights of entertainment with this romantic tragicomedy play at the EA Rawlinson stage.
The Odyssey Productions show runs from Feb. 11-14. The play has two acts with 27 scenes and will be staged during the Valentine period.
Director and producer Kim Morrall said the cast and crew sought to capture true love and its challenges. Although the play is set in the 16th century, Morall said it’s still relevant for today’s audiences.
“There is appreciation of excellence in any generation,” said Morall, who is also the president of Odyssey Productions. “Excellence transcends time…. While the use of Shakespearean language is there, the play is ultimately a love story and something a lot of people can relate to. It doesn’t matter the time as love itself has no end. Its timeless, unique and anybody coming in to watch it will not be disappointed.”
Play production is an intricate business. Moral said the biggest challenge was getting the set together. Parts of it were made in Saskatoon and had to be shipped north.
“They are big parts and (they) needed to be moved to Prince Albert,” Morrall said. “Imagine a tomb that will take 2 or more people.”
There are 28 actors performing in Shakespeare in Love, and Morrall it’s wonderful to have such a large and talented cast. The performers meet three times a week to rehearse, and Morrall credited them for their commitment and work ethic.
“The cast has been wonderful—one of the best that i have worked with so far in my 30 years in the industry,” she said. “It’s a community. All hands are on deck and everyone of them wants this to be a success. It’s really beautiful and it feels special seeing the actors going beyond their roles to help make the show a success.”
Staging the play had its own challenges.
“It’s such a massive play with so many moving parts to it. We have our actual sets and pieces moved,” said Elliott Byers, an actor and team lead of the sponsorship group. “Our biggest hurdle was the logistics of putting this whole thing together, But the good part is that people are excited about the play, wanting to donate things, and getting involved. The commitment of our amazing cast made this more beautiful.”
Byers said there could have been no better place to stage this play than Prince Albert because the community is second to none inn terms of arts appreciation.
“They (audiences) are welcoming and everyone wants to work together and to make it better, we have this amazing facility (EA Rawlinson Centre) that we get to use. In fact to me the question should be ‘why not here?”
The play has a little bit of everything for everybody singing, dancing, and sword fighting.
“This has been so much fun,” said Brenner Holash, who performs the role of Christopher Marlow, a prominent playwright at the time who is a good friend of Shakespeare’s, and possibly a spy for the Queen. “Prince Albert is a community that comes together and makes things happen and the people involved in this production are second to none. They have been like family. We put in a lot of time together and I feel comfortable here.”
Acting, like any other profession, comes with its own challenges, Holash said it’s been a bit easier this time, however, because of the quality of the lead performers, and the “depth and charisma” they bring.
“It’s also a thrill to act with these people,” he said.
“Its the season of love, its February. There is no better way to spend valentine’s day than at the theatre. Come and fall in love all over again with Shakespeare in love.”
The play is presented by Little Birdie Productions and Odyssey Productions. The directors are Kim Morrall and Adreanna Gareau. It features a cast of 28 actors, all based in or have roots in Prince Albert.
The love is not just for the play but also for charity and the future. Morrall said the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation will donate $10 to the Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert for every ticket sold.
“We are thankful to all our sponsors and also very thankful to the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation,” Morrall said.
Tickets are available through the E.A. Rawlinson Centre box office and online at earc.ca
PA Winter Festival raising funds for Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert
The Prince Albert Winter Festival is off and running, but this year organizers hope to provide more than just entertainment when they welcome guests to one of the largest Winter Festivals in Western Canada.
This year, the festival will help collect donations for the new Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert at all indoor Winter Festival events.
“Ronald McDonald House does amazing, amazing work,” Prince Albert Winter Festival President Trina Joseph said. “That they are building one in our city is fantastic. It’s going to be somewhere safe for the families who are coming to the city who have to bring their children in to see the doctors or who have expended hospital space.
“We are going to have that House here and that a lot closer home than having to go all the way to Saskatoon. That home here will serve Prince Albert and area which will be an amazing addition to our city.”
Joseph and her sister began discussing the idea with Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Charities leadership when they held their gala in Prince Albert last fall. Joseph said they were looking for ways to support RMH in building a home here in Prince Albert especially with the developments at the Victoria Hospital.
The donations can be made directly to the Ronald McDonald House, Saskatchewan by scanning the QR Code which goes directly to RMH Facebook where the donations can be made. The QR Code will be posted at all indoor Winter Festival events. There will also be donation boxes at indoor events.
“I cant speak to what they do online because we don’t see those donations. They go directly to them. We keep track of the donation boxes that we have and people and throwing in a couple of notes here ad there,” Joseph said. “Right now we have (raised) about $1,000 which just amazing because we are still very early into the festival. We are hoping to fill up that container by the end of the festival.”
The festival will be ending on the Feb. 22 with the Gospel show. The festival will keep collecting donations until that night.
“The fundraising is for the building and there’s so much that goes into that, the building, all the furnishing, all the foods and all the supplies they will need for the house , toys, clothes etc. They can always use the additional support,” Joseph said.
She added that they are pleased to have made some amounts already and encouraged everybody “to come out and enjoy the festival and have fun.”
editorial@paherald.sk.ca
Prince Albert community hosts Multi-Faith Prayers for World Peace
The Prince Albert Community witnessed a gathering that attendees said was not just important, but necessary given recent international events.
The gathering was not about politics nor anything physical or governmental. It was a gathering of people from diverse faiths seeking world peace through fervent prayers as they met at the Prince Albert Multicultural Centre on Feb. 4.
“We see all over the world people are fighting and fighting for what? I have my family back in Iran, there is no happiness. There is war. They are always killing people. There is no freedom,” said Jinus Makari, the co-organizer and a member of Baha’i Community in Prince Albert. “We are so blessed to be in Canada and have freedom of speech, be free to go wherever and enjoy life.
“There are many countries where people are suffering, there is no freedom for women. They have to wear hijab. But here I am a free woman and can talk freely. I want to create awareness and bring awareness to the people. I wanted us to pray, that’s why I said ‘come lets pray together for them and ask God to open the door for other people so they can enjoy the freedom that we have.’”
The evening gathering began with a brief introduction from Makari about the purpose and aim of the evening event. Makari anchored the prayer session. One after the other, the attendees spoke and offered prayers according to and in line with their diverse beliefs to the Creator or highest being requesting for an end to wars, fighting and killings in the whole world.
“It was a beautiful and powerful moment to have so many people from different cultures and different faiths come together and really respect each other. That was a really uplifting and hope filled kind of moment,” said Rev Nora Vedress, from Calvary United Church in Prince Albert, a Chaplain with the Prince Albert City Police and Co-Chair of the Women’s Commission. “One speaker speaking about the violence in Iran, it’s been on our hearts, our minds, all around the world.
There were also brief messages of encouragement and exposures of irregularities around the world.
In her message, Vedress extended the warm regards and well wishes from the Chief of Police assuring the community “that the Prince Albert police service is committed to creating safety and that means that we have safety to worship the way that we want to worship, and speak out when we want to.”
“I think sometimes we take for granted how we are free to worship the way we want, to study the way we want and protest when we want in a peaceful way and be protected to do that,” Vedress added. “We do need to cherish that … because it’s not a guarantee. We need to make that a priority in our lives.”
One of the speakers, an Iranian who preferred to speak anonymously, told attendees about the situation in Iran.
“I speak here today as an Iranian woman with a broken heart, carrying the pains and fear of millions whose voices are being silenced,” she said. “In recent days, the people of Iran have been facing unimaginable violence. Peaceful calls for freedom have been met with brutal repression. In a very short time thousands of innocent, unarmed civilians have been killed. The internet was shut down so that the world will not witness the truth, prisons are overflowing and many lives hang right now in the shadow of execution not because of any crime but because of Courage.”
Representing the Aboriginal culture, faith and believers, Elder Liz Settee, a Co- Chair Police Women Commission said she was glad to see prayers for peace, and hoped to see more of them.
“We got to do better in this world,” Settee said. “This gathering this evening means a tremendous amount of hope, so many different faiths and beliefs and ways of worship, that we can sit under one roof and respect each other, listen to each other, have some good conversation tonight. We opening our hearts and minds to come together and to be under one roof is amazing,”
“It’s like a ripple effect,” she added. “If you drop a pebble in the water, and the ripples go out, we can gather more people and just have that ripple out into the community and spread that way. It is possible for so many people to come together with different backgrounds and different beliefs, no argument no fighting no upheavals no war. Its a beautiful thing.”
Baharam Makari, co-planner of the event, said it was great to see such a large gathering for a first-time event.
“Hopefully we will do it more often and hopefully God will give the message to the rulers of the world that they will do the best for humanity and for mankind,” Makari said. “This evening means a lot and hopefully peace will be to the whole world not only one part of the world. We believe in one world, one country, hopefully that will happen soon.”
Jinus expressed her gratitude to everyone that attended.
“People from many religions came here tonight but we all have one common and shared hope, and that is peace and unity, so we get together to do this. We can move the world together.”
This is the maiden edition of this Multi-faith Prayer Gathering and the organizers are planning to host another one in the nearest future until world peace and unity is achieved. There were believers from the Sikh Community and other religious beliefs, the Vento National Worship Centre under the Pentecostal Assembly of God.
editorial@paherald.sk.ca
Province announces funding for 7 more PA police officers
The Prince Albert Police Service(PAPS) will receive $833,000 from Government of Saskatchewan through the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) enforcement initiative.
The funding will support the recruitment and retention of seven officers this year. The funds are part of nearly $6 million in funding set aside to support the province’s plan to add roughly 100 new frontline officers in Saskatchewan. The plan was announced in Fall 2024.
The 100 new officers will be hired in Prince Albert, Regina, Estevan, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Weyburn.
“It’s about families feeling secured at home, it’s about neighbours looking out for one another (and) the Saskatchewan way of doing things,” MLA for Lumsden-Morse and Legislative Secretary Blaine McLeod said on behalf of Community Safety Minister Michael Weger. “Its a long long term commitment, its in perpetuity keeping our community strong safe and secure today tomorrow and in the future.”
“Building safe and vibrant communities in Prince Albert and throughout the province remains a priority for our government,” he added. “This funding supports the frontline officers who work directly with residents to address local issues and help keep our neighbourhoods secure.”
Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky welcomed the news. During a press conference at City Hall on Friday morning, Powalinsky called the funding announces an inspiring and gratifying moment.
“This such a happy occasion and a glad moment,” Powalinsky said. “By investing in the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods enforcement initiative, we are strengthening community safety in Prince Albert and ensuring police services have the officers and resources necessary to respond effectively to community needs and protect neighbourhoods.”
Prince Albert Police Chief Patrick Nogier was also on hand for the announcement. Nogier said the funding helps lessen the financial cost of policing the city.
“The 2025-26 funding reflects a significant year of cooperation with the ministry, allowing us to responsibly explore service growth while reducing the direct financial impact on local taxpayers,” Nogier said. “These additional resources and positions will support innovative and alternative response models, helping us streamline efficiencies, strengthen frontline capacity, and continue delivering effective, community-focused policing for the residents of Prince Albert.
“From a physical, operational and personal standpoint, today’s announcement represents progress,” he added. “It supports responsible workforce planning, helps manage workload n and wellness for our members and allows us to deploy the right resource at the right time.”
Nogier said four of the seven officers will be added to the general investigation department to reduce the workload on frontline officers. The others will work in specialized areas, like robberies, aggravated assault, and hate crimes.
McLeod said the funding is a dedicated funding. He added that the Government of Saskatchewan values its strong partnership with the Prince Albert Police Service and municipal police services across the province that play a critical role in maintaining public safety for Saskatchewan citizens. he also appreciated the members of the Police Service for their work in the Community.
Plates of Hope set to return in March
Daily Herald
The Salvation Army building may be gone, but their annual Plates of Hope fundraiser isn’t going away.
The organization announced on Wednesday that the annual event will return to Plaza 88 on Saturday, March 14. Major Ed Dean, the Corps Officer for The Salvation Army in Prince Albert, said the is about providing food and giving people dignity.
“There is hope for tomorrow when you have a meal,” Dean said. “When you have hope you have energy to go on and so that’s where the name came from.
“At the Plate of Hope event you will be able to buy a meal for a guest at $5 per meal. You can purchase as many as you like.”
The Plates of Hope fundraiser will ensure that The Salvation Army can continue to support local meal programs and essential services for Prince Albert’s most vulnerable residents. This includes continuing hot meal service, which requires buying food, and covering costs associated with renting a temporary space following the Christmas Day fire which destroyed the community ministries building.
With the support of wonderful volunteers, the Salvation Army Prince Albert Community Ministries feeds roughly 100 people six days a week.
“This is a wonderful event,” Dean said. “We are providing meals for neighbours in our community. These meals make a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable peoples of our city.
“It’s going to be a wonderful gathering – bring a friend or two, bring the office, get a table! You will not be disappointed with the meal, the program and the entertainment for the evening.”
Dean said The Salvation Army traditionally receives a lot of donations for clothes, toques, mitts, gloves, and other winter-related gear. This time, however, they’re looking to raise funds instead of clothing donations.
Dean said the funds will help the organization keep running the numerous programs they have lined up in the community for the entire year.
The funds will help cover rental costs at The Salvation Army’s new Union Centre location. It will also help them purchase groceries, which is a major expense.
“Groceries are not cheap these days,” he said. “We serve 37,000 meals a year and with this number of meals, you can imagine that the grocery bill is a little bit higher than what it is at home.”
Dean said the goal is to raise $250,000 from this year’s Plates of Hope. Tickets are available on PlatesofHope.Eventbrite.ca and include a buffet style dinner provided by Randy Whitter and My Place Catering, with live entertainment from Lauren Lohneis, Liza Brown and Kevin Joseph.
“There is a sponsor comport, the Malcom Jenkins Family Foundation has put up a $50,000 that if people match that amount, they will donate $50,000 to the Plates of Hope,”
Last year the Plates of Hope fundraiser raised $65,000 for its programs. There was an art exhibition alongside the fundraising.
Guests can further contribute by participating in a silent auction and/or donating $5 towards the purchase of a meal for a neighbour in need.
“It will be a wonderful night” Dean said. “I would like to see everybody there, you are all invited to come, bet on the auction items, and I already know that there is an item in the auction that is rare. I will say no more, you will have to come to see what it is.”
The tickets are on sale for $125 which will also allow you to attend the Plates of Hope dinner on March 14 at the Plaza 88.
Dean said there have been some adjustments since the Christmas Day fire. Their former location had 13,000 square feet of space, while the Union Centre has around 2,500. The biggest loss was the shower and laundry facilities. Dean said the Union Centre doesn’t have them, and they are “missed greatly by our guests.”
In some cases, Dean said, people have had a hard time just finding the new location.
He said demand hasn’t change since the fire.
“They come every day for food. They come at night to the warming center (from 10pm to 8am). They come for the day warming center from 12:30pm to 4:30pm,’ Dean said. “They can get hygiene and clothing.”
Dean said they’ve worked with community partners, like the Prince Albert Grand Council, to improve services. The PAGC has their own warming van up and running around the community.
“We are working together as partners to look after our community,” Dean said.
For those who cannot attend Plates of Hope, donations are accepted online at salvationarmy.ca/platesofhope.
Some volunteers who assist in the Salvation Army meal programs were helping out on Wednesday. One of them, Stephen Hug, and one of them Stephen Hug said The Salvation Army offers and important service.
“We do this because we need to help the homeless,” Hug said. “We can give them a good meal and make sure that they are well fed and hopefully have a better life in the future.”
Several generous donors will be matching donations to help every dollar go further. More than an event, Plates of Hope reflects the community’s shared belief that no one should face hardship alone.
Ian Etrman, one of the beneficiaries of the Salvation Army’s meal program, was available to appreciate the Salvation Army for the provision.
“I come here everyday for the meals and I come around at night too,” he said. “This place helps. I didn’t use to go to the old building we used to sleep in the back alleys. We go through tough times but still we manage.”
The Salvation Army, Prince Albert Community Ministries is run by Corps officers Major Ed Dean and his Wife Major Charlotte Dean.
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882. Today, it is the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country, offering hope and support to vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada and in more than 130 countries around the world.
Prince Albert Library to host Take Your Child to the Library Day on Saturday
Daily Herald
Kids learn fast and early, and the Prince Albert Public Library hopes to helps with that process by hosting a two hour event aimed at families on Saturday.
Take Your Child to the Library Day runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Prince Albert Public Library. The event will feature a variety of activities, including face painting, mini golf, crafts in a bag, and the chance to sign up for a library card.
“This day is important because it promotes leadership in kids, strengthens families connections and encourages the community to see the Library as a welcoming space,” said Vieng Enchanh, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Prince Albert Public Library.
The event is free and parents, guardians, siblings, and friends are encouraged to visit on Saturday as this will afford them the opportunity to explore the library.
“This day is about encouraging families to visit the library and enjoy our free activities,” Enchanh explained. “Take your Child to the Library Day is nationally recognised and we have lined up wonderful and interesting activities for the kids that will be attending.”
The kids can be from age 3-12 and should be accompanied by adult. This is the first edition of this event and attending the event is free for everyone. Also those that don’t have library cards are welcome to attend. Some vital documents like health card and photo Id are also needed to sign up for a library card.
“We look forward to welcoming the kids and introducing the various library activities to them,” Enchant said. “Share the experience and find out what the Prince Albert Public Library has to offer. (Things) like concerts, plays craft, story time and a lot more.”
Melfort pizza eating contest returns with a flourish in support of TeleMiracle
Uko Akpanuko
Daily Herald
Competitors scarfed down slice after slice of TJ’s Pizza in Melfort for more than 10 minutes on Jan. 27, and raised more than $5,000 for TeleMiracle in the process.
The annual pizza-eating fundraiser returned for the first time since 2019 with 11 contestants who wowed spectators with their pizza eating skills, and commitment to supporting TeleMiracle.
“It was so heartwarming just to have the public word of mouth go around,” TJ’s Co-Owner Lloyd Muntain said. “We are overjoyed with the turnout. That is why we have started planning for the 10th edition next year.”
This year’s contest raised $5,770.80. It also had a unique addition: a double decker pepperoni pizza.
The contestants do not know the kind of pizza that will be placed before them at the contest. Mountain said the mystery adds to the fun.
TJ’s pizza provided the pizzas and venue while the contestants handled the rest.
Garth Turner emerged the winner making him a 4th time champion after finishing the Double Decker Peperroni Pizza in seven minutes and 42 seconds. Chris Crews came second and Morgan Leah won third.
Crews also won the top donator prize by raising more than $1,000.
All funds raised go towards TeleMiracle.
“We are very proud of our contestants,” Muntain said. “They did a very good job.
“These 11 gentlemen ranging from age 14 up worked their butts off and raise over $5,000,” said Muntain. “It was well received and because it was so success we have booked the hall for next year and we will keep on collecting donations until Telemiracle.”
Muntain added that he was grateful for the fans who also attended the event.
TeleMiracle 50 will be held in Saskatoon, starting on Feb. 28.
editorial@paherald.sk.ca