Tickets for Saturday’s Malanka Ukrainian New Year’s Banquet and Dance are nearly sold out, the Norquay Recreation Board was told at its regular meeting on January 11.
Tickets for the dance only, with music provided by the Zayshley Band of Canora, will be available at the door, the board was told. Cocktails will begin to be sold at 5:30 p.m. with the banquet at 6:30. The dance showcase will begin at 8 p.m.
Discussing the Communiplex Management Board (CMB), Maggie Lukey said that the skating rink is being used quite regularly for figure skating lessons as well as general skating, which is great to see. New equipment for the ice re-surfacer has been purchased, which is doing a great job with the increased flooding of the rink necessary due to the increased use. The spray-foam insulation has been completely installed and is working very well, she said.
Nicole Korpusik said that the mixed open bonspiel was scheduled to begin on January 18, and would run until January 24. A banquet was to be held (tonight) January 21. Wing Nights on Friday night continue to be a great success. Volunteers, either groups or individuals, are still needed to work the kitchen for wing nights. Day curling is held Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings and the afternoons.
Talking about the walking club, Laura Dahl said that members continue to meet regularly on Monday and Wednesday mornings from at the Communiplex. Numbers vary as the colder weather has been bringing more people to walk inside, she said, adding that if anyone is unable to meet with the group at the regularly scheduled times, alternate arrangements may be made by contacting her.
Regarding school activities, Stacy Rubletz said that the junior girls team hosted the Snake Creek Classic basketball tournament on January 8 and 9. She said teams from grades 4 to 12 have teams which practice Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Norquay School’s junior drama club has begun rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz. Report cards for students in grades 7 to12 will be distributed on February 2. Final examinations for the first semester for students in grades 10 to 12 will be held January 25 and 26 and the semester turnaround day is January 29.
There continues to be some volunteers from the community who are kind enough to provide baking and also serve at the regular coffee hour, Delphine Howard said of the NICE Centre. The members are very appreciative of this as they are currently unable to cover the 12 coffee events held per month.
“Without the community volunteers, members would have to double-up their shifts in a month, which is often difficult, Howard said. Card playing is still the favourite activity, with shuffleboard, pool and puzzles also popular. A great many new puzzles have been donated. The Wellness Clinic is still offered once a month.
The town’s lagoon project is on-going and Denise Sorrell is the new town administrator, Ken Newell said.
Tables are still available for the trade show being held March 18 and 19, Nicole Korpusik said. Persons wishing to reserve a table are asked to contact Reagan Foster.
The Health Auxiliary is currently organizing more fundraising events to finance the completion of the secure outdoor area at the Norquay Health Centre, Iris Nokinsky said. A general meeting was to be held on January 19.
Regarding Legion activities, Laura Dahl said that the Legion’s Christmas party, held December 17, was a great success, with attendees enjoying a potluck supper and entertainment by “the very talented Dianne Prekaski.” A raffle draw was made during the evening with Orville Wright of Pelly winning the iPad, while the gift cards from Robinson’s Family Foods and Johnson’s Grocery Market were won by Ken Grywacheski and Denise McGonigal.
The month-end potluck suppers will resume this month, with James Chartrand of Pelly entertaining on January 29, Dahl said. Bob and Millie Abbott will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on January 30. Bob is one of the last remaining veterans and was instrumental in starting the Norquay Legion.
“We continue to encourage interested people to join our Legion in hopes of keeping this icon serving its community,” she said. “The Legion distributes close to $2,000 a year in scholarships to students in Norquay, Pelly and Sturgis. An effort such as this takes the vested interest of young and old alike.”
Regarding the Tail Twisters 4-H Club, Reagan Foster reported that a general meeting was held January 5 at the Norquay School Library, where members discussed putting together a junior (ages 6-13) and a senior (ages 14-21) curling team to compete in the District 18/19 playdowns held January 17 in Canora. Members also discussed participating in the 4-H Provincial Ski Day to be held on March 5 at Mission Ridge in the Qu’Appelle Valley.
A new date was chosen for the club’s public speaking event, Foster said. The club will now hold its public speaking competition on March 20. The light horse group will have a project meeting on February 7. The next general meeting will be held February 2 at the Norquay School Library.
Discussing figure skating, Melissa Czornobay said that lessons continue on Wednesdays and Fridays. The kitchen is open during practices, with a variety of menu items available. There will be a carnival on February 28.
The Skate Canada Figure Skating Lotto will be wrapping up in mid-February, she said. Prizes include a camper, a quad, a $2,000 West Jet card and $3000 cash. Tickets are $2 each and are available from any figure skating club member. A portion of the funds raised will be returned to the club.
Nicole Korpusik said that the Norquay Nighthawks played a game in Kelvington on December 20 and won. The team was to play in Wynyard on January 16 and 17. On February 7 Kelvington will be coming to Norquay to play, while on February 14, the team will meet Wadena in Invermay.
The Active Aging Group has resumed classes which continue to be held Mondays and Wednesdays with 10 to 12 members participating, Delphine Howard said.
Maggie Lukey discussed information about the new In Motion competition which will run March 1 to March 10. If anyone has ideas for an outdoor project to which the monies could be dedicated, they may contact her.
