March has two notable events, St. Patrick鈥檚 Day and an early Easter. But you can also bet community activity this month will also be notable and keep everyone busy as they count down to spring.
I must say the news of the passing of Brian Maunula of North Battleford has saddened our household. I worked with Brian as CEO at Innovation Credit Union. He had a never-ending smile and an approachability not often seen in CEOs of big companies. He was innovative, visionary and committed himself to his community. Thoughts and prayers to the Maunula family.
A shout-out to readers from Maidstone, who continue to commend me on this column. Here鈥檚 to a continued speedy recovery, Keith!
The late Charles Bonogofski was known for his Rider Pride and his tireless efforts for Crohn鈥檚 and colitis fundraising efforts. In memory of Charles, there is a St. Patrick鈥檚 steak night March 17 at Bluez with all money raised going to Crohn鈥檚 and Colitis Canada. Charles would have celebrated his birthday that day. Contact Diane Tuscherer at 306-753-2053 for your $30 ticket.
Canadian Blood Services has responded to a recent new item. It reads, in part, 鈥淐anadian Blood Services was faced with the difficult decision to close the Unity blood donation clinic. As a publicly funded non-profit organization, Canadian Blood Services has a duty to use every health-care dollar for blood collection in the most effective way possible. That means considering factors like the number of units collected, labour and transportation costs and proximity to our nearest manufacturing site. We understand that these closures are disappointing for our dedicated donors.
鈥淲e want to clarify that the need for blood does not go away 鈥� it is continuous. However, these clinic changes allow Canadian Blood Services to improve the efficiency and consistency of collections by having larger events in fewer locations. These changes will have no impact on patient care. Patients will continue to receive blood products at their local hospital from the nearest production and distribution centre. Blood donation will continue at 36 permanent sites and 909 mobile clinic locations across Canada.
鈥淲e understand that many donors may not be able or willing to travel to donate blood and that donating blood is purely a voluntary act and we respect any decision our donors make.鈥�
This response was provided by Debbie Richer, National Feedback Team, and she concluded by saying, 鈥淐all us anytime toll-free at 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). We have someone available to help with answers. Or visit for more information.鈥�
The Celebrate Unity event held March 7 recognized three milestone anniversaries that included the Sunrise Wellness Spa for 35 years in business. Geraldine started out in her trailer and followed her dream to build an expanded spa service business. That dream came to fruition in 2000 when she purchased the former RCMP barracks where her business now resides.
Sperle鈥檚 Tire and Battery was lauded for 45 years in business. The shop was started by brothers Pete and Fred Sperle back in 1971. Son Pat Sperle took over the business 20 years ago with mom Elaine still serving in an advisory role as well as errand running. The business is in the original building and has evolved to include a variety of products and services. Larry Kraft has been with the business for 30 years.
Although a paper has been in Unity for more than 100 years, Press-Herald Publications began in 1960 under K.T. Hamm and his wife. Several owners have taken over in the past 65 years and it is now owned by the Prairie Newspaper Group, a subsidiary of Glacier Media.
Watch this column all of March as I outline each group selected for recognition.
Unity Public School is still managing with their water dilemma and a hats off for everyone in rolling with the issues to carry on in typical UPS Bears manner.
The Pink Day was celebrated at UPS Feb. 26. In addition to wearing pink, students make chain links from pink paper of what they see, what they hear and what they feel at UPS. The links are hung in the ceiling tiles of the hallway by the main office as a reminder of the positives and things to work on.
Choir and choral speakers are rehearsing for upcoming music festival performances.
St. Peter鈥檚 School band, choir and choral speakers are practising for upcoming music festival and Lenten/Easter performances. Some of the students attended We Day activities in Saskatoon March 2.
St. Peter鈥檚 had lots of fun today, taking part in the 鈥淏ig Crunch鈥� interactive event where students and staff simultaneously bit into apples along with many counterparts from other schools, all to promote healthy eating.
Unity Composite High School continues to accommodate large numbers of students in their programs. Basketball had more than 100 students sign up and play this season. Badminton has 76 students signed up for the junior program alone, with the program beginning March 1. The senior girls鈥� basketball team advanced to regionals from conferences last weekend while the boys鈥� team goes to their conference playoffs this weekend.
Regional drama festival is set for April 8 and 9 in Rosetown, where UCHS will compete against schools from Rosetown, Hanley, Kerrobert and Kindersley. Home performance dates are set for April 5 and 6.
UCHS students took part in We Day in Saskatoon March 2 with a very special role for some of the attending students.
The Positive School Climate Committee is ramping up excitement for their 鈥淒ay of Activation鈥� in April. Three students from the committee were to be featured on CTV Morning Live March 7 to promote their province-wide Activate Campaign. Their guest role on the broadcast had to be postponed, however, due to the icy roads after freezing rain the night of March 6.
March madness for hockey continues. League playoffs for the atom division include both Unity teams. Peewees started their league playoffs in Kindersley March 4. Sadly the peewee provincial team lost out to Meadow Lake. Both Unity bantam teams finished in the top two spots for league and started their league finals March 5, facing off against each other after defeating all other teams in the league.
The bantam provincial team headed to Tisdale for game one of the northern provincial final March 5 and took a 6-3 goal lead. Tisdale comes to Unity Saturday to play the Lazers at 3:30 p.m.
The midget AA team earned a bye through to the second round of league playoffs where they squared off against the Saskatoon Screaming Eagles March 1. They won the close battle 5-4, but lost the second game in overtime 4-3. The third and deciding game saw them beat the Eagles 4-2, advancing them to the league semifinals where they will play the Saskatoon Sabrecats.
With the Miners鈥� elimination, senior hockey fans can jump on the Wilkie Outlaw bandwagon as they continue to play in our arena. The Outlaws are having a phenomenal season, playing in the North Provincial Senior B final against Drake, where they won the first game 5-2. As well they are now in the Sask. West Hockey League finals, where they will play Biggar.
The curling club is still flying high from all of its curling excitement as of late 鈥� Team Heidt winning senior men鈥檚 provincials; former resident, now RCMP officer, Murray Aldred carrying out the Scotties trophy, junior curling medals and successful bonspiels.
Next on the agenda are super league playoffs, masters men鈥檚 curling playoffs and U18 regional playoffs, as well as the annual ladies鈥� bonspiel and year-end funspiel.
UCC will be cheering on Team Heidt, including UCC president Glen Heitt, as they head to Digby, N.S. Easter weekend to begin the senior men鈥檚 national curling championships.
The Ducks Unlimited annual fundraising event is March 19 at the community centre and organizers happily report they are sold out. Organizers have put on 34 of these events in Unity and the early sellout is indicative of the support they have.
The 鈥淪how Case of the Stars鈥� by Revolution Dance is being held at the UCHS senior gym March 19. Advance tickets are available at Our Drug Store. The year-end dance recital is coming up in May.
The Urban Dictionary refers to 鈥渃offee row鈥� as a place where groups of people, typically seniors and farmers, gather to have coffee and converse about the day鈥檚 and week鈥檚 events. The term has its origins in rural Saskatchewan and Alberta and it typically occurs in small-town restaurants and co-ops; however this phenomenon has been recognized in fast food restaurants and coffee shops in the cities too. No gathering places I know consider this group as loiterers, but rather cherish the familiarity these people bring to their location as well as the camaraderie, and often laughter they offer those in their midst.
I smile when I refer to coffee row at the end of each of my columns as I can鈥檛 think of one misguided, unfortunate or bad thing these 鈥渞owers鈥� bring to the table, to the others who take part in their gathering or to those who get to witness their fun 鈥� and for this I say, thank you! Thank you for keeping tradition part of our community culture and thank you for offering the daily dose of jovial mixed with your morning or afternoon java. And thank you for giving me material each week.
So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next time 鈥�
