ESTEVAN - As with any year, the past 12 months featured a wide variety of stories in the community. And as is the case with any year, there were plenty of stories to choose from for our list of the top stories of 2021. These were the top 10 stories, as selected by our staff:
1. Paths of Glory: Not only did this story have a tremendous impact on the community as it happened, it will also make a big difference in the community for years to come. After years of waiting, Estevan now has an interconnected pathway and sidewalk program.
It was announced in May that the City of Estevan had received nearly $2.8 million combined from the federal and provincial governments through the new COVID-19 Resilience Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for the pathways. The city would be responsible for the remaining cost.
Tenders worth approximately $4 million were awarded for the project in the spring.
There had been plans for a master pathway program in Estevan for years, but it couldn’t proceed without the funding from the other levels of government.
A sod-turning ceremony was held in July, and then the process of building the pathways began, with crews working at multiple sites simultaneously.
By the time the construction season ended in early November, an extensive network of pathways and sidewalks had been completed, adding to recreation opportunities in the community while enhancing safety in some areas, such as along Kensington Avenue.
The project has received rave reviews.
"Most people call just to say how much they love it. So we're very happy that people are out using it and getting their daily workout," said Rod March, the city’s manager of parks and facilities, in an October interview.
Additional work is taking place on the pathways now that the asphalt is finished, and there is still some work to be finished in the new year.
2. Paul Ladouceur’s departure: Paul Ladouceur announced his resignation as Estevan’s police chief in April, ending a seven-year term at the helm of the Estevan Police Service (EPS).
Ladouceur had been facing criticism from the community for how he and the Estevan board of police commissioners allegedly handled Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) claims related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), made by the late Jay Pierson, a long-time EPS constable, who passed away in March at the age of 49.
Pierson, who was diagnosed with PTSD by three medical professionals, died of natural causes. He had been on leave since 2017.
After Pierson died, numerous tributes came in for Pierson, praising him for his commitment to policing, along with his family, friends and community.
Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers (SFPO) president Casey Ward, who said Pierson’s death was “the last straw” for the provincial union, said the Estevan police members called non-confidence votes for the chief and it wasn't the first time the issues rose at the service. He stressed the SFPO discourages the use of non-confidence votes.
In this case, members received the intended outcome and Casey Ward commended Ladouceur for his decision.
In July, the Saskatchewan Police Commission said it would be investigating workplace-related concerns at the EPS.
The news release states the inquiry will primarily consist of fact-finding interviews focused on workplace culture, health and well-being supports for police officers; the role and responsibilities of the chief of police and the Estevan board of police commissioners; and what effect these factors may have on the quality of police services in Estevan.
Results of the inquiry were not finalized as of mid-December.
Also in the summer, Richard Lowen, who had been a superintendent in charge of investigative services with the Winnipeg Police Service, was named the new chief in Estevan. He arrived in Estevan on Sept. 20.
Ladouceur was recognized by the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police late in the year with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
3. The gradual reopening: To the surprise of nobody, COVID-19 remained in the headlines throughout the year. Numerous restrictions were in place for the first four months of the year, placing significant impediments on public and private gatherings, and preventing many events from happening.
The process of vaccinating people against the virus started early in the new year, and in the spring the government announced plans to gradually lift restrictions, based on the number of residents who received the first of two needed doses.
The last of the restrictions were lifted on July 11, to the delight of most people. Within a week, the Estevan Motor Speedway held an event with no attendance limitations, and the following night, the Lockdown End Party was held in downtown Estevan, attracting more than 1,500 people.
Other events followed during the summer in southeast Saskatchewan that drew large crowds, and during the Labour Day long weekend, the Estevan Exhibition Association held a KCRA Rodeo that drew large crowds.
People could also gather in large crowds for private functions, and they didn’t have to wear masks when indoors.
The lack of restrictions didn’t last, due to a fourth wave of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan that resulted in the highest number of cases since the pandemic started. People were forced to don masks again, and people have had to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test to attend events or access services.
The number of cases was dropping in November and December, but has since been rising again due to the arrival of the Omicron variant.
4. A homicide in Estevan: A homicide occurred in Estevan in June – the first in the city since April 2014.
The Estevan Police Service (EPS) received a missing person’s complaint on June 7 at around 6:30 p.m. Angelo Galido, 55, of Estevan failed to arrive for work that day, which was described as being uncommon. Around 10:30 p.m. that night, the EPS located Galido deceased inside his residence in the 800-block of Henry Street.
An autopsy was completed the following day in Regina.
Those who knew Galido were quick to pay tribute to him.
“Angelo had such a kind soul and such a loving man,” wrote James Bolton on a tribute page. “Never saw him without a smile on his face when we worked together.”
The following week, the suspect in Galido’s death, Gurwinder Singh Toor, age 41, from Estevan, was located at a business on Barlow Trail in Calgary on June 16 and arrested. He was charged with second degree murder.
Toor and Galido were known to each other.
The charges against Toor have not been proven in court. He last made an appearance on Dec. 23. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 25-27, 2022.
5. Howling winds: Residents of southeast Saskatchewan are well-versed with strong winds, but a storm in January brought winds that were powerful, even by our lofty standards.
Southeast Saskatchewan residents were cleaning up after the storm battered the region late on Jan. 13 and early on Jan. 14.
The Alberta clipper packed wind gusts that reached about 120 kilometres per hour, and whipped around snow that created near-zero visibility. Power was knocked out to many, travel not recommended advisories were issued through the southeast early on Jan. 14, and some highways were closed.
Trees were toppled, branches were snapped and homes were damaged. The storm resulted in a number of buildings coming down, not just during the storm, but afterwards, such as one of the grain elevators in Bromhead.
Troy Smith, who resides in the south set of cabins along Boundary Dam, said that roof over his vaulted ceiling was pulled off the north side of the house. The other half of the roof landed on the neighbour’s roof, put a hole in it, and then landed in the neighbour’s driveway.
The storm also caused considerable damage to trees and parks in the Estevan area.
6. Fire at the Moosehead: A beloved restaurant and nightclub in southeast Saskatchewan was destroyed by a fire on Sept. 10, when the Moosehead Inn, located at Kenosee Lake, burned to the ground. Nobody was injured in the blaze, and no surrounding buildings sustained significant damage.
Moosehead owner Dale Orsted, who lived across the street from the building, said he was at home when the fire occurred. His wife Nelly came home just after 11 p.m. after making pizza dough; a co-worker left the restaurant with her. At the time of their departure, they didn’t smell any smoke in the building.
A noise akin to large chopping drew his attention a short time later, and the Orsteds could see a large fire coming from the upstairs cabaret area.
Fire crews would remain at the scene until the following morning. The restaurant was a total loss.
Reaction on social media was swift, with people taking to Facebook and other platforms to share their memories of great meals in the restaurant and fun times at the cabarets.
“I’ve received lots of messages, and a lot of stories. A lot from the locals, and a lot from the staff and customers,” said Orsted.
The inn was even purported to have a resident ghost, which was widely promoted by the Moosehead and documented in numerous sources.
7. Finally moving forward: After more than six years of waiting, it appears that the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home is ready to move forward.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced in its budget on April 6 that it was committing $275,000 for the planning of a new long-term care facility in Estevan, which would be the new nursing home.
Don Kindopp, who is the chairperson of the new nursing home committee, said it’s been about 15 years since the first discussions of a new nursing home were held. And it’s been six years since the Hearthstone Community Campaign reached its fundraising goal of $8 million, which was 20 per cent of the projected cost for a new nursing home. It’s also the amount needed to get into the queue for a new facility.
Approximately $8.9 million has been pledged towards the new nursing home. Municipal government partners have a sizeable portion of that in trust for the committee once construction starts.
“People have been very supportive and meeting their pledges, so we’re very grateful for that,” said Kindopp.
The current nursing home is well over 50 years old.
8. “He is a miracle:” It was a remarkable story of survival and community support for a local young boy who was injured in a farm accident in July.
Easton Daae sustained serious injuries in an accident at a farm site west of Torquay on July 6, after a sprayer tire fell on the boy. He was airlifted to hospital in Regina and then taken to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon before returning home on July 15, with a large crowd of people waiting to greet him.
The tire weighed more than 1,200 pounds and landed on and crushed Easton facedown on the concrete floor.
Easton’s two uncles and a neighbour managed to lift the tire and he was pulled out from underneath.
Easton sustained small fractures to his pelvis, and fractures to the left side of his face and upper jaw. He lost one front adult tooth and chipped another, but none of his vital organs were damaged, and even though his left eye socket was damaged, he had 20-20 vision.
“There is no doubt that he is a miracle,” his mother Lauren said.
Due to his experiences and the care he received, Easton was named one of the Miracle Children for the Radiothon fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital in the fall.
9. Sign Wars: It started with a simple sign at Encompass Fitness in early June, saying that Estevan was in need of a sign war.
It didn’t take long before local businesses were using their signs to poke fun at others in the community.
The messages were typically light-hearted, using puns to draw laughter from those passing by. There might be a comment about food directed towards a restaurant, or a fitness joke for a gym.
Sometimes a company would take a verbal jab at a competitor.
Encompass owner Brady Johnson said she had seen a post about a sign war in Christiansburg, Va.
Businesses that don’t have signs have posted messages in their windows to issue or respond to a challenge, while the Mercury used its June 30 front page to take aim at a number of businesses in the city.
10. EPYC addition: After extensive planning, the new Estevan Public Youth Centre opened to the public in October.
The youth centre has been in the works since early 2020, with the goal of creating a place for young people in the community. But rather than just being a hangout, there would be programs and more in an effort to give youths another option for positive activities.
EPYC took a big step forward in late July with the announcement that Juli Dzuba had been hired for the role of executive director.
Dzuba said she wanted to work for EPYC because she is a huge fan of spending time with youths, and she saw some things lacking for youth in Estevan. Much of her work during the past seven years with the Envision Counselling and Support Centre was spent with youths.
The first programs for the centre were held during the Thanksgiving long weekend, and EPYC has been holding programs on Fridays and Saturdays at the Estevan Leisure Centre since then.
