Withdrawals have begun for those avid followers of the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games and the 2018 Winter Olympics. But some hype is just beginning for those who are excited about Saskatchewan hosting the 2018 Brier coming up next weekend. And honestly, if you鈥檙e not a sports fan, the hype is also on about early spring because that longer sunshine appearance each day has folks much happier as they enjoy the lengthened dose of Vitamin D.
School will resume on Monday, Feb. 26 and staff and students will hit the ground running.
For both elementary schools, they will have a short turnaround for their next lessons and extra curricular activity before the Easter break arrives in just one month. As well, both schools are active participants with the Unity Music Festival so they will ramp up their practices of their pieces for this annual event. And, both schools have actively fun-raised and fund-raised for Telemiracle as part of their annual commitment to Saskatchewan鈥檚 only telethon.
At UCHS, Grade 12s are finding their schedules tightening as they focus on the last portion of their high school year, grad planning, post secondary plans and scholarship work. Basketball will be shooting high for their opportunity to earn some district and regional championships for their school. Speaking of basketball, congratulations senior girls for another terrific Pink game held in conjunction with their tournament that helps raise awareness and funds for breast cancer causes. Senior District curling had taken place Feb. 14-15 in Spiritwood with both the senior girls team and the senior mixed team capturing medals to advance them on to regional playdowns coming up the first weekend in March. Junior curling will compete in their respective district curling events after the break. Drama team will continue to stay focused on their festival production knowing there is only weeks left to work on this year鈥檚 plays. Travel club students are also in the tail end of preparation for their trip coming up at Easter. Robotics will enter competition season as well come March.
News from the curling rink will include cheering for hometown curlers competing at Senior Men鈥檚 Provincial Championships in Tisdale this weekend. Unity curling club president Glen Heitt is playing with team Heidt (skipped by Brier experienced Brad Heidt), while Daryl Eddingfield who was part of last year鈥檚 Master Men鈥檚 winning team will be playing with Team Hritzuk. UCHS senior high school curling teams travel next weekend to regional playdowns after winning their berth from Battlewest district championships in Spiritwood Feb. 14 and 15. Next up on the agenda is the annual Oilperson鈥檚 bonspiel being held the first weekend in March. Other great news from the Unity Curling club is Makayla Bakken has been selected for a Saskatchewan junior star at the upcoming Brier and will keep us up to date on her experience once she returns. And you can be sure Olympic curling is on the big screen in the lounge.
It鈥檚 that time of year at the hockey rink when one game or one series can end a season for a team. While many teams are still playing in both league and provincial playoffs some teams have completed their seasons with not the results they had hoped. The Midget AA Lazers continue to be in the top three of their league as they head into playoff season. The Unity Miners have a hot league semi final series against long time rivals the Wilkie Outlaws with the second game in the best of five series taking place tonight in Unity with game three set for Tuesday in Wilkie and game four if needed will be back in Unity.
Coming up also at the rink will be the annual Ice Carnival, this year鈥檚 theme 鈥淎round the World鈥�. Tickets are available at the door for this show March 4 at 2 p.m.
Stay tuned to this column, social media, and posters around town and to those sharing the events of a multitude of events upcoming in town in the next several weeks. Events include: March 3, FREE dance featuring Danny and The Dusters as part of the social portion of the annual Oilpersons bonspiel taking place the first weekend in March. Immediately following this event, Monday, March 5, the annual 鈥淐elebrate Unity鈥� event is taking place; recognizing event hosts, milestone business anniversaries and exemplary service to community members. This event will also feature the traditional celtic music of West of Mabou; tickets available at Unity Credit Union. The following weekend, March 9 and 10, is the UCRC and Lions partnership hosting appetizer and dessert theatres for two nights; with the production 鈥揟he Bold, The Young and The Murdered. Tickets for this event are on sale now at the Unity Community Resource Centre or Guys Furniture for only 20 bucks apiece. If you have seen the amazing talent and work of the Little Theatre Group in the past, you know how good this production will be in addition to two great causes you will be supporting. This weekend is the 鈥淣ight of Angels鈥� fundraiser put on to benefit the charities of support for stillborns as well as families of children diagnosed with SMA; this event is hosted by two mothers who experienced both of these tragedies (story in last week鈥檚 paper), and are now finding it therapeutic to give back to these charities that benefitted them in their time of sorrow.
Coffee row folks know the headlines of the day can bring opposing sides at their table however they choose to be positive while sharing opinions and ideas. Olympic review will soon be winding down, as will the conversation of those who are directly or indirectly connected to Saskatchewan Winter Games participants. So you can see life is full of fun and activity in Unity and our friends at coffee row sharing this traditional part of our community culture. Until next time鈥�
