It鈥檚 turkey time! Enjoy a family weekend of feasting and fun while remembering to arrive alive by slowing down and driving safely this holiday weekend. And always remember to be thankful as this country offers us so many blessings that others can only dream about, including those Blue Jays!
Even if you are struggling with the lengthy election campaign, remember voting is not a freedom all enjoy.
An all-candidates forum was held in Unity Oct. 6 and people appear interested in what their candidates have to say before making a decision. Be sure to check your Elections Canada card so you know where and when to vote.
Fire Safety Week was recognized in Unity with the local firefighters hosting an open house, complete with a barbecue. They also spent the week touring the schools.
Our firefighters are volunteers who give up their free time to attend meetings and practices as well as attend special training sessions to keep on top of their firefighting skills. They are on call day and night to ensure we are safe, at times risking their own safety to protect ours.
We can never say thank you enough, so shake a hand of a firefighter and say 鈥渢hank you鈥� or extend a gesture of appreciation.
Some people lament birthdays, but I promise you, after suffering the loss of a sibling in her early 40s, I believe a milestone birthday 鈥� or any birthday for that matter 鈥� should be celebrated. Happy 50th birthday to my baby sister this weekend and happy big digits to a friend of ours, Omar Disarrays.
UPS unveiled their new 鈥淏uddy Bench,鈥� the idea for which came from a Facebook post. The concept was created so children never have to feel alone at school. Kids who feel they have no one to play with sit on the buddy bench. Other students who see a fellow student on the buddy bench come and ask them to join their play group.
UPS raised $410.55 in the Terry Fox Walk school event recognizing the 35th anniversary of this event.
The cross-country kids have competed in several events and their season has almost come to a close, leading to districts Oct. 8 in Spiritwood.
The UPS library book fair is hosting two fun nights Oct. 14 and 15.
Education Week is Oct. 18 to 24 and UPS starts it all off with Bus Driver Appreciation Day. The SCC Family Literacy Night is Oct. 22.
With Halloween right around the corner, there is plenty of black and orange in their midst and plans are shaping up for some Halloween celebrations. UPS is one of the host sites for the new after school program for kids from kindergarten to Grade 6.
The beautiful sounds of music are echoing the hallways of St. Peter鈥檚 as both the school band and choir are fine-tuning musical numbers for mass and in-school performances.
Thankfulness is the theme in St. Peter鈥檚 as they continue with their gratitude board offering space for anyone, staff, student or parent, to contribute to. The Friday before Thanksgiving the school is celebrating shared Thanksgiving mass as well as a shared soup for lunch, wherein everyone contributes to the ingredients and shares the meal.
Cross-country running is now done for the season with the district event taking place Oct. 8. Volleyball players are back in action.
St. Peter鈥檚 students will take part in Education Week activities with a number of spirit days throughout the week, including Family Reading Night. A Celebrate Seniors program, followed by tea and dainties, invites grandparents and seniors in the community to St. Peter鈥檚 school. Activities wrap up with a pyjama day, kicked off with the SCC serving up a pancake breakfast.
As Halloween is quickly approaching, St. Peter鈥檚 is also teaching the students of St. Peter鈥檚, dubbed 鈥淪t. Peter鈥檚 Saints,鈥� about All Saints Day/Eve that precedes Halloween and will be inviting students to enjoy their costumes on the Friday before Halloween at school.
St. Peter鈥檚 is the other host site for the new after school program.
Volleyball is in full swing at Unity Composite High School as teams host home tournaments and league play and travel to other events about the province.
Warrior football is winding down, having played the last home game Oct. 2, and playoffs begin soon.
Drama kids are back in action preparing for their winter production.
UCHS inhabitants will enjoy the Thanksgiving long weekend before resuming classes Oct. 13. The Grad 2016 crew has already completed their first fundraiser, helping with setup and takedown at the fall fair.
There is plenty to keep students at UCHS intrigued in ways that don鈥檛 always involve a gym, including Wednesday hot lunches featuring a new menu item every week, intramurals, FAB lunch fun programs, Warrior of the Month and Ordinary Joe awards, green slip draws and much more. All of these programs work to create citizens who follow the UCHS three beliefs of respect, responsibility and choosing to learn.
This is playoff weekend for Unity Minor Football. While both tackle teams are destined for playoffs, the last regular season games determined which side of the playoff pool they are in, which included Unity Red on the consolation side while the Unity Black Titans will face off against Plenty Oct. 9.
Unity Minor Football Day was held Oct. 4. Parent volunteers stepped up to offer a booth and a prize table to add to the atmosphere of this annual minor football showcase.
An addition to the Oct. 4 home game was the bravery of Coach Russell Fauth in matching an outrageous pink outfit he had seen at a previous away game. This gesture turned into an awareness campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as well as garnering a silver collection taken up for Breast Cancer Action Saskatchewan. In addition fans, parents and players got on the pink bandwagon for this game.
3-on-3 hockey is complete and hockey season is in full swing with multiple teams in all divisions.
Here鈥檚 the latest on the Nov. 27 Montreal Canadien alumni team event. Draft night has taken place and silent auction bid sheets are around town for playing spots and silent auction items that include an autographed Holtby jersey, an autographed Johnny Gaudrea jersey, a ticket package for the Hitmen and Flames in the Flames alumni corporate box and much more.
It won鈥檛 be long before the big hockey event featuring the Montreal Canadien alumni team facing off against our team of locals. Tickets are on sale, as well progressive 50/50 tickets are being sold. Contact Carey Baker at 306-228-2621 for more details on how you can bid on your place on the roster, or some of the other opportunities available
Curling registration nights are Oct. 13 and 14, 7 to 9 p.m. League curling starts Oct. 27 and junior curling Nov. 2. The Unity Compass Minerals Tournament of Champions Cash Spiel is Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
Get your passport for the Unity Chamber of Commerce sponsored 鈥淶ombie Fest鈥� happening Oct. 31. Passports will be sold for folks to fill up all day Oct. 31 at local participating businesses. Completed passports can then be turned in for the 2nd Avenue Cinema kids鈥� show in the late afternoon, the students鈥� show at 6:30 p.m. or the adult show at 9:30 p.m.
The museum pancake breakfasts will begin again Nov. 15 and run each Sunday until April. This is the museum鈥檚 biggest fundraiser so let鈥檚 support them by either volunteering or attending the event.
The UFC annual steak and lobster dinner is Oct. 24. Tickets are available by contacting the town office at 306-228-2621. There will be a DJ for some dancing later on. The UFC committee, after successfully fundraising for the new swimming pool, is now focusing their efforts on the ground floor hall.
Coffee row folks 鈥� have we given up on Riderville or are we optimistic for next year now? And who isn鈥檛 talking about the Blue Jays right now? A rainy weekend Oct. 3 and 4 was not helpful for those farmers still trying to get their crops off. As you can see from this column, there is no lack of upcoming activities to review or anticipate. So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next time 鈥�
