At the end of the year, its usually customary to look forward to the new one with all sorts of resolutions, predictions and expectations.
While the shift to 2018 may be no different, let’s take a moment to recap the news for Kindersley and area over the last year.
January saw a Netherhill-born Bob Bourne, four-time winner of the Stanley Cup, named on the 2017 Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame induction list. Bourne was later officially named to the Hall of Fame on July 22nd at North Battleford. That month also saw Kindersley resident Kimo Klengenberg bringing home two silvers and a gold in Snowshoeing from the January Special Olympics in Saskatoon.
March
The Whirls and Twirls Square Dancing Club celebrated 60 years while several music students in Kindersley were given nominations to compete at a provincial level. The 60th Anniversary celebration for the Whirls and Twirls Square Dance Club was full of great memories, old and new, as couples from Whirls and Twirls, joined by couples from Unity, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, Regina, and even Calgary hit the dance floor, guided by their long-time friend and caller, Lorne Smith from Calgary. The evening was a great success, and two members were recognized for most years in a row dancing and of being a club member.
Bret Klassen (Percussion), Hannah Wildman (Percussion) , Julie Livingstone (Voice and Musical Theatre) Adelle Sawatzsky (Voice and Musical Theatre), Rebecca McLean(Wind), Maximillian Paulhus (String) and Kara Richardson(Brass) were recognized at the annual music festival and given recommendations to compete at a provincial level.
April
In April, Kindersley’s official pool design was unveiled to the public during the pool project fundraiser event, Zest of the West. The revealed project included a Junior Olympic-sized lane pool, a 20-person hot tub, a 150-foot water slide, and a 2,500 square foot leisure pool. The pool project continues to be on track for the opening date of July 2018.
Also that month, Kindersley held a ceremony to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and to remember the three young men from Kindersley who died in that battle, Private William Roy Hawes, Private Weldon Adshade, and Private Sorn Mandus Kelland.
The town of Kindersley garnered some provincial recognition in the month of April as two Kindersley bowling teams took Gold and Bronze in the Provincial Championships.
May
With winter sports wrapping up for the coming warmer months, Kindersley’s Special Olympic team had a new cause for celebration as they brought home Gold at the Bob Pedde Bowling Tournament held in Saskatoon.
Kindersley ramped up for the Canada 150 celebrations with a Canada’s 150th Concert, presented and sponsored by the West Central SK Registered Music Teachers’ Association. Performed by local students, teachers and established musicians from the Kindersley area, the event celebrated the diversity and history of Canadian music. That same weekend, Kindersley was treated to two RCMP musical performances; giving locals a rare opportunity to meet both the officers and the horses of the RCMP on a personal level.
Golfer Connor Tate again put Kindersley on the map as he finished top of his age group at the Junior Worlds Qualifier in Carstairs, Alberta.
June
Featuring skills from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia and even the United States, Kindersley’s 26th annual rodeo went down in the books as another great success. Record-breaking entries and events such as the kid’s on foot rodeo and wild cow milking filled the weekend of June 1-3 with thrilling memories.
A Golf Tourney and an SJHL Induction helped the Kindersley Klippers mark their 25th Year as local players such as Derek Dorsett, Greg Paslawski, Troy Schwab, Devin Edgerton, Dave Hunchak, and Chris Winkler were inducted to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame.
A much-needed side by side and equipment trailer were added to the Kindersley Fire Department’s arsenal, thanks to donations from Richardson Pioneer Foundation, Raging River Exploration, and the RM of Kindersley. The fire department was later able to add another side by side and trailer, doubling their effectiveness in fighting fires in the area.
At their second annual seeding demonstration, the Kindersley & District Local Museum gave the Kindersley area a chance to relive history and appreciate the dedication and perseverance of the prairie settlers. The crop was later harvested at the annual Goose Festival.
A local historic site, the Addison Sod House, received the “Long-Term Stewardship of a Heritage Site” Award, giving the Friends of Addison Sod House (FASH) the opportunity to search for funding in order to preserve the home. While this project is slow coming to fruition, the FASH members hope to see repairs take place during the next year or so.
Years of dedicated care and attention were fully recognized in the month of June as Choice Hotels Canada presented the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Kindersley a Platinum Award, ranking this hotel in the top 3% in Canada.
July
Everyone was patriotic as Kindersley and area celebrated Canada’s 150th Birthday, red and white clothing, flags and knick-knacks were proudly worn during the town’s weekend celebrations and annual firework display.
September
Despite the sudden chilly weather of fall, Kindersley’s 45th Goose Festival still drew record-breaking crowds from not only Kindersley but also from the smaller communities around it. Time honored events like the horse pulls, the potato peeling and goose plucking contests, the popular Saturday Parade and the wrap-up Antique Threshing made sure that there was a little something for everyone.
October
Local fires in many parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan caused several communities to evacuate to larger communities like Kindersley, Kindersley was able to aid at least 225 people and its fire department was highly instrumental in gaining control over the blazes. In the wake of the disaster, many officials are still urging households to create and practice emergency safety plans.
November
Kindersley’s Youth Committee was recognized on a provincial level as it became the recipient of a Saskatchewan Municipal Award (SMA), recognized as having “established a Youth Committee to revitalize youth engagement, [to] increase the contributions to young people, and support an intergenerational connection.”
Kindersley was announced to be the center of a unique bylaw court as 43 municipalities in the Kindersley area partnered together to standardize their bylaws and create a court to be held every third Thursday of the month.
The second KBEX awards for the Kindersley area also recognized many individuals from the area, most notably: Shayla Olafson (Young Citizen of the Year), Rossana Farms (Rural Roots) Rotary Club (Lend a Hand), Mr. Sub (Small Business of the Year), Jamie Henry (Citizen of the Year), Courtney Lindsay (Employee of the Year), Kindersley Inn (Customer Service of the Year), Busted Barbell Fitness (New Business of the Year), and the Kindersley Inn (Business of the Year).
As a part of Canada’s 150th celebrations, Kindersley is partnering with the Government of Canada, Tree Canada and Canadian National Railway (CN) to plant roughly 150 trees for visual, sound and, windbreakers along Highway 21 and Railway Avenue. The first few trees were already planted earlier in the year, made official by representatives and members of the Town in early November.
December
After Bill Boyd, Sask. Party MLA for the Kindersley Constituency, retired from the political area in August amidst scandals, six candidates were officially announced as running for the nomination race just before Christmas. Darwin Whitfield, Isabelle Ryde, Joseph Chiliak, Jeremy Welter, Ken Francis, and Tom Geiger all have experience in our area, and on January 8, Sask. Party members will have the opportunity to nominate the candidate of their choice.
Image Source: Steven Lund
For the latest information and for more updates on everything Kindersley ‘Like’ the Kindersley Social Facebook page below…
