The 2023 Estevan's most discussed topics and happenings, Estevan Mercury's choice.
1. Two fatal incidents.
Related incidents that occurred in Estevan on Nov. 1 and left two people dead and a police officer injured shook the entire city, and they will be remembered not only due to the severity of the cases but also as potential indicators of some systematic gaps.
That morning at approximately 6:38 a.m., Estevan police officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 1200-block of Sixth Street. The woman, later identified as Karie Ann Guillas, was seriously injured and bleeding. She was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that morning.
Her 19-year-old son, Justice Guillas, was arrested as a suspect and taken to the police station. During the process of photographing Guillas, a confrontation took place and he gained control of an EPS-issued firearm. Sgt. Braden Lonsberry was shot, sustaining a serious injury. A second EPS member discharged their service pistol, striking the man. Both injured men were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital and later taken to Regina by STARS Air Ambulance.
Justice Guillas was pronounced dead later that day. Lonsberry's injuries weren't life-threatening, and after undergoing treatment he returned to active duty in December.
Estevan's hospital went on a lockdown as a precaution that morning, and sirens were heard throughout the community, as emergency services from all across the southeast were assisting with the incidents.
The mother and son appeared before court earlier this year. They both were involved with a multi-vehicle incident north of the city in January that left Estevan's Troy LeBlanc in hospital with serious ankle injuries. In March, Justice Guillas pled guilty to several charges and was sentenced to 343 days in prison. With 61 days in remand, the sentence was reduced to 245 days, and it was supposed to end in mid-November. However, he was released on Aug. 21.
The Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety did not give details on why Guillas was released nearly three months early.
As of Dec. 15, Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team was continuing the investigation into what happened at the police station, examining the actions of police during this incident, while the EPS is investigating the initial homicide of Karie Ann Gulias.
2. Bring an MRI to Estevan.
An attempt to support local health care by donating millions towards the purchase of an MRI machine, and the following denial from the Ministry of Health, stirred not only Estevan but the entire province.
Last spring, Estevan's Elaine Walkom stepped forward to donate $2 million as a legacy project in memory of her late husband Grant Walkom, who owned Hank's Maintenance in town, to help bring an MRI scanner to St. Joseph's Hospital and train specialists to run it. The offer was initially denied by the Ministry of Health. However, after the story was made public and more pressure was put on the province, the wheels started turning.
When approached by several RMs in the region through a letter, the Ministry of Health said they "look forward to further discussing opportunities to advance health-care services in Estevan with Ms. Walkom and St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation in the near future."
The following conversations with the local and provincial authorities outlined that an MRI in Estevan would be beneficial locally and provincially, as it would cut travel time for many in the southeast and lower general waiting times across Saskatchewan.
St. Joseph's Hospital confirmed they could accommodate the equipment, putting it in the same area where the lab and CT scanner are located.
It was defined that a detailed proposal had to be developed.
Emmanuel Health CEO Corey Miller was previously responsible for MRI machines in the province and has been an asset in developing the business case for the machine. The total cost, including capital equipment, building and renovation costs, and staff training and start-up costs, is estimated at $6,266,000, including taxes.
The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation has committed to raising the remaining funds for a total of $6.5 million to bring an MRI to Estevan. The St. Joseph's Hospital board and the Emmanuel Health board have given their approval, and the business case has been taken to the provincial government.
The fundraising campaign would begin once the business plan is approved by the provincial government and included in the provincial budget.
3. Champion's homecoming.
The last weekend of July was a time for the community to remember as Estevan's own Braden Pachal, a defenceman with the 2023 Stanley Cup champions the Vegas Golden Knights, brought the trophy to the Energy City for the first time since 2003.
On July 31, the Stanley Cup was airlifted from Montana to the Estevan Regional Airport, where Pachal and his family picked the trophy up and brought it to the Estevan Leisure Centre. A large crowd was present to greet him.
He hoisted the 35-pound trophy over his head several times, drawing cheers from the adoring public.
He then walked the Cup into the Estevan Leisure Centre and Affinity Place, where he signed autographs for more than two hours. At one point, the lineup was more than three-quarters of the way around the Affinity Place concourse, as more than a thousand people were eager to meet Pachal, pose for pictures with him and the Stanley Cup, and get an autographed picture of him.
"A day like this brings you back to your roots and where it all started," said Pachal afterwards. "It's the love of the game, and to bring this back, it's pretty special."
A barbecue was held in the Estevan Leisure Centre's forecourt and a public skate was held at Affinity Place. Pachal donned his skates and took a few laps around the ice surface where he played several years of minor hockey.
Pachal also took the trophy to the White Bear First Nations.
Joining Pachal in Estevan was Phil Pritchard, who's the curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He's also known as the Keeper of the Cup, the man who escorts the Stanley Cup to locations around the world every year.
Less than three months after the historical visit, the trophy made its way to Estevan again. In October, Carlyle's Jim McKenzie, who is a scout with Golden Knights, had his day with the Cup. He picked up the cherished NHL championship trophy in Regina and then brought it to the Energy City so his family in the area could spend time with it. Among the highlights was bringing it to Willy's The Tap House, giving people another chance to have their photo taken with the trophy. McKenzie also won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2003.
4. Power generation's future.
Coal-fired power generation, carbon capture and storage, natural gas, solar power, geothermal power and small modular reactors (SMRs) were all part of the conversation when it comes to the future of power production in Estevan.
Early in the year, the Crown corporation posted information on its website regarding the potential for SMRs. SaskPower is looking to build an SMR in either the Estevan or Elbow areas. A decision on the site is expected in 2024, but the first SMR isn't expected to be operational until 2034.
Deep Earth Energy Production Corp. said early in the year its geothermal project in southeast Saskatchewan was "a go", and revealed that an independent consulting service has confirmed the presence of the resource.
SaskPower promoted several options for future power production during an open house in Estevan in March, but it did not have any information on carbon capture and storage, despite the recent success of the process at the Boundary Dam Power Station. The Crown corporation also discussed a transmission line construction project from southeast Saskatchewan to North Dakota.
Premier Scott Moe talked about the issue and the impact of federal regulations during a visit to Estevan in May – his first public trip to the Energy City since early 2020.
Rupen Pandya, the president and CEO for SaskPower, was in Estevan on Sept. 26 to meet with representatives of Estevan city council. Pandya talked about SMRs and also discussed the proposed solar power plant to be built southwest of Estevan.
He also discussed the potential for a retrofit of the Shand Power Station to accommodate CCS technology during a press conference before meeting with council.
SaskPower revealed that Unit 4 at Boundary Dam would remain on standby until March 31, 2024, or until the Great Plains Power Station natural gas plant goes into service. Unit 4 was supposed to be retired in December of 2021, but has been pressed into service on numerous occasions to meet the province's power needs.
The CCS facility at SaskPower's Boundary Dam Power Station captured 592,490 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first nine months of the year, and it has captured more than 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 since its start-up in October 2014.
Estevan also hosted numerous presentations on the future of power production, including one by Al Shpyth hosted by Southeast Techhub.
5. Measures taken at ECS.
The Estevan Comprehensive School announced a number of measures in March to address student safety, after what it said was an increase in "violent incidents" at the school.
In a two-week span from Feb. 3-17, there were three assaults and two fistfights at the school. Nathan Johnson, who was the school's principal at the time, said the school hadn't experienced anything like this during his time at ECS.
After consulting with outside agencies, the school took steps when it came to excused absences, lunch breaks, spares, and students being allowed outside of the classroom. Outer washroom doors were removed, but the school said that the measure would not impact student privacy.
Johnson said afterwards the school had received a favourable response to the moves.
While the school has seen some incidents since the measures were announced, they did not have a surge like in February.
The 2023 McLeod Series basketball games with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles was called off as well due to issues with fan conduct during the basketball games in both cities in 2022. It is hoped the long-standing series can resume in 2024.
6. Appeal granted.
A southeast Saskatchewan family was thrust into the spotlight during the winter after a man suffered a stroke while in Arizona, and Saskatchewan Blue Cross denied the insurance request.
Rebecca Fee created a GoFundMe page for her grandfather Louis Lamothe after he had the stroke on Feb. 3 in Yuma, Ariz., and spent weeks in a hospital in the state. He was eventually airlifted to a hospital in Saskatchewan. The stroke left him paralyzed on the left side, and unable to speak and swallow.
Fee reported that Saskatchewan Blue Cross denied the request, even though Lamothe answered questions truthfully on his application. She claimed he wasn't covered because his cholesterol medication changed from 10 to 20 milligrams.
He was facing at least $100,000 in medical expenses and $56,000 in a medical flight from Arizona to Saskatchewan through an organization named Angels of Flight.
Saskatchewan Blue Cross defended the decision, saying it's critical that individuals understand what they are covered for and provide accurate medical information when purchasing coverage. The story received extensive national media attention, and days after Fee went public with the story, Saskatchewan Blue Cross reversed its decision and decided to cover his insurance for the time in Arizona and the medical flight.
"I have the best news!" Fee said at the time.
The $29,000-plus raised through GoFundMe was directed towards family expenses, such as travel, accommodations and meals, which would not be covered by insurance.
Lamothe died in October.
7. 'A zeal for life'.
Estevan's Leigh-Ann Tessier was killed in a motorcycle crash in North Dakota in late May and her husband Darrel was seriously injured.
The incident occurred when the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a pick-up truck east of Fortuna. Both Tessiers were wearing helmets when the collision occurred.
Leigh-Ann Tessier's mother Sandra McGillicky said her daughter "had a zeal for life" and an approach to "live life to the fullest". McGillicky also fondly remembered her daughter's smile, which she said could light up the darkest room.
The North Dakota State Highway Patrol has completed its investigation, and its website says charges are pending against the driver, even though it's been more than six months since the collision. The Divide County State's Attorney's Office is reviewing for possible charges.
Darrel Tessier had to be taken to hospital in Fargo, N.D., where he underwent several operations and had to have one of his legs amputated. He returned to Canada on June 28. He is continuing his rehabilitation at the Wascana Centre in Regina and at a private clinic.
He will need more surgery in the new year on his arm and leg, but has been coming home on weekends.
The community showed tremendous support for the Tessier family. A GoFundMe campaign generated $13,880 towards Darrel's medical expenses, and a steak supper fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Legion's Estevan branch brought in approximately $20,000. Darrel and Leigh-Ann Tessier were legion members, and her parents were also involved in the branch.
8. Saluting women.
A number of events made their return in 2023 following a multi-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one event in particular came back with a new name, a new look and new organizers.
The Southeast Women of Distinction Awards, organized by a local committee named Women 4 Women, were handed out on May 10 in front of a capacity crowd at the Estevan Exhibition building. Its predecessor, the Women of Today Awards, ran from 1999-2019 and was organized by the Quota Club of Estevan.
The 2023 award recipients were Dr. Rebecca Holman, who took home the Innovative Leadership Award, presented by SaskTel, Kathryn Gilliss (Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award, presented by TS&M Supply), Kylie Phillipchuk (Young Visionary Award, presented by Impact Creative SK), Ramona Knebush (Equity & Inclusion Award, presented by Saskatchewan Blue Cross), and Cathy Welta (Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, presented by Steam Est Industries).
The workplace, community and young woman awards were staples of the Women of Today Awards, while the equity and inclusion award and the innovative leadership awards were new.
Twenty-four women were nominated between the five different categories.
Guest speaker Corliss Rassyle delivered her Be the Best You speech. She reflected on her life experiences, told the crowd that she's proud of how far she's come and also stressed she's proud of the audience on the progress they've made.
The other highlight of the event was the Trailblazer Memorial Walk, presented by JS TruckMart. Ida Petterson, Shirley Orsted, Melodye Pierson and Shirley Carson were recognized for their contributions to the region through their efforts in the workplace, politics, community service, sports and their families.
For each inductee, there was a banner with their name, photo and a brief write-up on what they accomplished.
9. Ongoing health-care challenges.
Another story that seemed to be facing the region throughout the year was health-care staffing.
Town-hall meetings were held in Oxbow in February and the other in November. Nursing shortages caused repeated service interruptions at the town's Galloway Health Centre, and the meetings gave the public a chance to ask questions of elected officials and health-care leaders.
A virtual physician program was brought to Oxbow in August because of a lack of medical doctors in the community after two physicians relocated to Regina. While Oxbow has since been able to bring a couple of doctors to the town, the virtual program was still being used in November.
Meanwhile, the Redvers Health Centre had a three-month closure in its emergency room due to health-care shortages in that town. During the disruption, emergency and acute-care services were only available Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Those services were restored after a couple of new physicians moved to town.
St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan has not been excluded from the staffing challenges. The obstetrics unit at the hospital has been limited since late April due to what the Saskatchewan Health Authority called a shortage of nursing staff.
Low-risk, emergent births have continued to happen since late April, but many patients have been sent to an alternate location. Low-risk deliveries would not include any surgical interventions, such as C-sections, Winkel wrote.
A meeting is slated for January between the hospital and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to discuss resuming obstetrical services at the hospital.
Estevan also continues to see turnover among its physicians, with some new doctors moving in during the year but others leaving the community.
The SaskJobs website shows many jobs are available in health care in the southeast region.
10. Buried alive.
A former Estevan resident was murdered in Bangladesh, and her husband is still on the run.
Reports from overseas in early June indicated that Afroza Begum had been buried at the home of her husband's family, and her body was uncovered May 31. Her husband's father, brother and sister-in-law were remanded into custody for the killing, while Begum's husband's aunt was ordered to jail.
Begum's husband had not been immediately arrested and was on the run from police; it's believed he fled back to Canada.
Begum had been a student at the Southeast College's Estevan campus in the 2021-22 school year and graduated in June 2022. Her friend and schoolmate Hayley Burden remembered Begum as a really nice person and spoke highly of her children. Begum's daughter was enrolled at the Estevan Comprehensive School in 2021-22.
Begum's husband Ashraful Alam had not been arrested as of press time. He had been the chief administrative officer for the Town of Battleford but had been fired from his position after losing contact with his employer in the spring. He had told the town that he was going overseas to tend to a family emergency, and initially participated in meetings via Zoom, but had stopped participating in those sessions.
The Saskatchewan RCMP has been looking into the matter.
