MEOTA — A quick visit to the post office and its community bulletin board will keep you informed about what’s happening in Meota. The Meota Medical Clinic is taking appointments for anyone who wants to see our nurse practitioner, Layoya Durkop. You can make your appointment with the St. Walburg Medical Clinic (306-248-3434) and be seen on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cemetery bees continue throughout the summer months, with only two left. Aug, 27 and Sept, 11 are the last two dates of the season. Thanks to all the volunteers who take the time to help with the maintenance of the Meota cemetery.
Highland dance classes are starting at the Meota Hall, Tuesday evenings from September to April. These classes are available for anyone aged three to 18. There are two terms: Term 1, September to December, three to six years is $60 and seven and older is $120. Term 2, January April, three to six years $70 and seven and older is $140. Check out the poster at the post office for additional information on how and where to register.
Meota Library is looking to hire a part-time librarian. Brenda is moving away and will be very missed, and we’re hoping someone else will step up to take her place.
It was also a huge surprise to me when I saw the poster that Meota is looking to hire a new chief administrative officer. This is a very challenging job and needs the right person. Our current administrator has done a fantastic job and is willing to stay on long enough to train someone new. I personally am very disappointed to see Kim go, but I do agree with her that you have to follow your dreams in life and you have to love what you do. Kim decided to follow her dreams and start a new adventure in her life. I wish her all the best.
I’m very excited to write about the very real successes that are happening at the Meota Lakefront Paddle and Sail club. This week, we hosted two very successful learn to sail sessions. The weather was challenging. Tornado warnings on Wednesday put a dint in some of the lessons, but after the storm, the boats were out right up to 8 p.m. Thursday was an impossible day on the lake. High winds kept all classes in the boathouse, learning to tie knots and enjoying a pizza. I wasn’t around the whole week, but the reports I had from our volunteers were wonderful. MLPS has now had three seasons in a row with sailing lessons put on by Sask Sail. I added it up and 40 people have taken the lessons. I almost said 40 people have learned to sail, but in some cases some of the students learned that sailing is a lot more challenging than what you see in the videos.
I can say that we are now really excited to be offering the lessons every year. This year, four Scout leaders and three Scouts took the lessons. The Scouts have seven badges that they aim to accomplish, and sailing is the seventh badge. Up until now, they have not been able to achieve that badge. The instructors let me know that they will be working on signing up an entire class of 10 next year. Luckily, in conjunction with Sask Sail, we will be able to offer these much-needed classes for young people to learn to sail.
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge our fantastic volunteers who make sailing lessons happen. Dennis Mercer is our 2025 sailing director and Dryden Kalesnikoff filled in whenever he could help. Sask Sail’s main instructor this year was Tess Crooks, from Ayrshire, Scotland. Elenie Lyle from Asquith, was back as an assistant, along with Jeff from the Regina Sailing Club. Sask Sail’s new sailing director, Karl Bardy, was in St. John’s for the Canada Games, but has assured me that he will be returning to Meota in 2026. It’s been a lot of work to get sailing off the water, but it’s very satisfying to watch young and old enjoy the sport.
