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Pat Chapman celebrated her 90th birthday at the Pioneer Hall in North Battleford on April 15 with an afternoon tea followed by a family supper.

It was a good turn out of friends and family, with many travelling from out of province. Special guests seated at the head table with Pat were Shirley Tebay, Esther Chapman, Dorothy Ray,Reine Lessard, Mae Johnson, Muriel Tebay and Linda Ard.

Congratulatory messages were presented by Pat’s daughter, Carol Bowman, from Prime Minister Trudeau, the Governor General of Canada and other political dignitaries, for reaching this milestone birthday.

Added entertainment was Pat’s 8-year old great grandaughter Adlynn Wandler, from Fort St John, BC., who performed several highland dances. Pat thoroughly enjoyed her celebration and thanked everyone for joining her on her special occasion. 

Contract bridge April 17 in Meota found top score went to Eric Callbeck and second high was Vern Iverson. The following evening the top team was Vern Iverson and Gerry Fernandes, second high were Eric Callbeck and Maureen Campbell and third were Donna and Cletus Scherman. 

There were five tables in play at the Do Drop In April 21. Top score was by Vern Iverson and Shari Pearson (Lloydminster), second were Shirley Tebay and  Terry Neale and third were Barbara Soloninko and Pat Chapman.

The purple finches and juncos are back, makes for interesting viewing at the feeders.

The swans are on the move north to their breeding grounds, but stop for a few days here and there along the way. There were sightings at the south end of Jackfish Lake and on a slough on the way to Rabbit Lake on Saturday. 

Linda Ard and I went over to the Community supper at Rabbit Lake Saturday and visited with Doreen Baynes and Jean Walker at the Lodge afterwards. There were a few folks at supper that we knew, but not many. The meal was very good and lots of it even though they had a good-sized crowd.

Another successful community luncheon was held April 21 with a full house of hungry folks. With the snowbirds back home and some people out from the city it meant setting up more tables to accommodate the people. Pearl and her staff never disappoint a hungry crowd.

There is a downside to this story as Pearl and Arie have sold their house and will be leaving Meota for a site where Arie doesn’t have to mow the lawn or shovel snow. She has promised to be here for one more lunch on May 19. We can only hope someone will pick up where Pearl leaves off as it is a profitable social venture we are accustomed to attending and love to take part in.

Shuffleboard was played at the Do Drop In April 22 with 18 participants. Top score was by Arlene Walker and Ken Tucker, then Stella Rendle and Maurice Bru, third were Louise Haubold and Gerald Hilliard. Potluck lunch was a pot of clam chowder and a pot of rice with meat balls and gravy, with a nice variety of desserts. There was a nice setting and snack foods and coffee were available all day.

The swans were still at the south end of the lake on Saturday, April 29, lots of them, so very pretty. Sightings of the whooping cranes have been reported, this is an exciting experience as they make their way northward.

Monday evening contract bridge in Meota found top score by Warren Iverson and second was Joyce Antoine. No bridge Tuesday night but Thursday in the city had top score by Lucille and Bernard Gregoire, followed by Glen and Julie Moore and tied for third were Donna Scherman and Gerry Fernandes along with Vern Iverson and Jim Fraser.

The STC rally, to try to keep our provincial buses, is being held at the office of the MLA at 1991 – 100 St. in North Battleford May 12 from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m..

My granddaughter Jordan Calladine of Lethbridge was one of the recipients of a donation from the Royal bank of $150 to invest back into her community in the Canada Day celebrations. She then donated it to an elementary school toward their year end activities and help fund their annual ‘One school – One book’ project.

As reported by Arlene Walker:

April 28 Svend and Cora Christiansen, Rita Peterson, Janice Morton, Arlene Walker and Vernon Iverson travelled to Red Deer for the annual sports weekend. This is held with Son’s of Norway lodges in Alberta and Saskatchewan each year. We enjoyed the card games, tile rummy, kubb and darts. About eighty members attended and over the years we are almost like family, happy to see one another and catch up on the news. All the meals were great with a banquet on Saturday evening, hilarious entertainment and dance music. They had a large silent auction, with these proceeds helping cover their expenses. Next year the sports weekend will be held in Lethbridge, Alta.

Friday, April 28 was the day that Meota Seniors hosted guests from Edam club for the noon meal and afternoon of entertainment. It turned out that there were nearly as many people from Edam as Meota. 

The highlight was a talk after lunch, by Jerry Iverson, who has lived here all his life, about the history of Meota, along with a map showing areas he referred to. The most interesting information to me was the fact Meota was first built where the golf course now is, but when the railroad came through further west, it then moved to the area where it now sits. He mentioned the Carlton Trail ruts, the buffalo jump, a skull being found, and many sites of interest. Then a group left the hall for a tour of some points of interest and back at the hall one table played cribbage. There was lunch and coffee for those still around, to close a pleasant afternoon.