The picture I would like to paint this week is that of our newly paved streets. They do look so very nice and to drive on them is like you’re floating. All three roads entering the village have been upgraded. The last to be done this past week was Birch Street on the eastern edge of the village. We send our appreciation to the village council and RM of Meota.
Contract bridge is back in play at the Do Drop In on Monday evenings. Top score this time was by Eric Callbeck. Second was by Brenda Nicholson.
Duplicate bridge June 26 in Meota saw top mark go to Margaret Dyck and Maureen Campbell, followed by Vern Iverson and Eric Callbeck and then Joeann and Rudy Wiens. June 28 in the city saw top score won by Donna Scherman and Catriona Winterholt. Second were Linda Ard and Robert Iverson and third place went to Jean Lawes and Fraser Glen.
Back in Meota from Korea is Gloria’s mother Jungja Jun for her summer visit, spending time with her granddaughter Haena Kim. This is a good time when summer gets busier at the store and they love to have Gramma here.
The Prince Albert Bantam Aces, girls under 16 years, are the champions of the Girls’ Prairie League Softball. The team played in Sherwood Park, Alta. June 18 against Calgary and won 9-8 in a full seven innings. Carli Cooling, daughter of Cherylyn and Jade Cooling of Leoville and Olivia Parker, daughter of Tracy and Wyman Parker of Spiritwood, are team members. Carly plays various positions and Olivia was put in to pitch at the bottom of the seventh inning. There were no outs, and the score was 9-8 for Prince Albert. There was a tying runner on third base and the game-winning runner on second base. Olivia struck out three batters in a row to win the game. Compliments go out to the team and their coaches for a good tournament
Canasta was played June 29 at the Do Drop In with top score going to Linda Ard and Marion Ottas, second to Jack Stewart and Dave Ottas and third to Lorna Pearson and Gwen Lacerte.
My daughter Joyce Rowland has been doing some travelling since she came home to Wetaskiwin, Alta. from New Zealand in April. She visited Niagara Falls, Ont. and took in some events at the Indy 500 races in Indianapolis, Ind. Then she went to Iceland, went on a week’s Baltic Cruise to Helsinki in Finland, then Berlin in Germany and now is in London, Eng. with relatives. From there she will travel by train, mostly through other areas and on into Scotland, before returning to London. Joyce travelled with my sister Helen Sullivan and I on a similar route in 1985, so she has met quite a few of our folks before, but the closer relatives are mostly gone.
The welcome rain that fell Saturday night and Sunday morning was about 1.5 inches. It meant the time for the parade had to be delayed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and even then a big black cloud threatened, but passed by.
Under the capable direction of Terry and Joanne Kachur, decorations were handed out and face painting took place in readiness for the parade. O Canada was sung before the parade started from the campground kitchen site. The change in plan may have accounted for a few less children, but the ones who took part were happy and enjoyed their ride or walk and the reward on returning to the kitchen where hot dogs, watermelon, drinks and cookies were served.
A drive around the village showed many Canadian flags and balloons decorating properties, as well as red and white flowers. The crowd of people gathered at the lakefront to watch the fireworks proved how popular that event always is.
The following is a trip report by Arlene Walker.
June18, Gwen Lacerte and Arlene Walker began an 11-day bus tour to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) with West World Tours. It was a long drive, but we had a break every two hours or so and lots of good stories were shared by our tour guide, Sandi, as we travelled. At Prince George, B.C. we were met by Devin Esquirol (Arlene’s grandson), Rachelle and brand new son Dylan. They gave us a good tour of the area.
Near New Hazelton we enjoyed the Ksan Historical Museum with a local guide. Before reaching Prince Rupert we had another excellent tour of North Pacific Cannery, the most complete fish cannery that remains.
The ferry from Prince Rupert to Haida Gwaii crosses the Hectate Strait to Skidegate and takes about five hours sailing. We lodged in Queen Charlotte Village for four nights. We visited the Haida Gwaii Centre. It features a display of totem poles with stories of each one. There was also stops at Balance Rock, Agate Beach and the Blow Hole. Our tour guide there was part Haida, so we got lots of information and funny stories. The walk through the temperate rain forest was amazing, a highlight for us.
We attended a Haida feast with all kinds of food from the sea accompanied by colourful entertainment. We were fortunate to see a huge totem pole being raised in the hospital parking lot, with a parade and crowds of people.
The bus is a 2014 model with 364,000 kilometres and holds 750 litres of diesel. It holds 56 passengers (we were only 38) and is 45 feet long. Moose Mountain has 14 similar buses and each costs approximately $700,000. Gas prices ranged from $1.28.9 in Prince George to $1.49.9 in Prince Rupert.    Â
