Spiritwood Recreation Centre will be buzzing with spectators Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9 for Witchekan's Wildlife Federation Fifth Annual Gun and Hobby Show. Starting with a pancake breakfast on both days there will be guns, coins, knives, other collectibles and a trapping display. There will be a gun raffle and door prizes. Our community has many hunting and trapping enthusiasts, so I'm sure many will attend this event. For more information call Julien Dalpe at Chitek Lake 306-984-4715.
The current waste disposal site for the RM of Meeting Lake No. 466 will be going through a costly transformation in the near future. Effective Monday, Aug. 10 there will be regulations and schedules of fees.
Kids, don't forget the fun reading program at the local Mayfair Library every Thursday from 11 a.m - noon. The theme is "play" with local librarian Teresa Toews having contests and creating crafts and of course reading a story.
It was a weekend of celebration for Doug and Alice Grigor as they have been married for 50 years. July 17 they enjoyed musical entertainment at Shell Lake. July 18 and 19 they had a small family get together in the Hillmond area where Stuart, his wife Misty and daughter Autumn reside. Oldest son Brian from Calgary, youngest son Guy and his boy Kody from North Battleford and Alice's niece Kim Miller of Saskatoon all enjoyed visiting on this special occasion.
Allan Lavallee, partner to Lynn Martin, recently retired teacher, hosted family and Lynn's present and former colleagues at Mayfair Hall two weeks ago. Yes, Lynn is officially retired. Allan cooked a tasty supper for the invited guests who wished Lynn great "stress-free" days ahead of her.
Get well wishes are extended to a former schoolteacher at Mayfair Helen Alkier, who is in the Battleford's Union Hospital. She and her husband Willy reside in North Battleford.
Mayfair Hall can now boast of a new stove and grill, plus some round tables. Working the bingos at Gamex helps with the purchase of new items, which benefits the community.
July and August are a busy time for weddings, which makes travel easier for guests coming from a distance. Many take their holidays around a wedding and take in the sights and sounds of that particular community.
Ashlee Isfeld became the wife to Curtis Bab July 25. Ashlee is from Saskatoon and Curtis farms east of Mayfair. Ashlee is now employed at a bank in North Battleford. Curtis is the son of Peter and Sharon of Mayfair.
The Ewanchuk and Iwanchuk reunion was held at North Battleford Agriplex July 25 and 26 and also early evening of July 24 for a wiener roast. Thursday just the Walter Ewanchuk family with 65 attendees gathered on his son Gerald’s farmyard near Whitkow for a celebration.
In 1915, Louis and Nellie Ewanchuk homesteaded on that site. Apparently, Nov. 11, 1915 is the same day as Nellie's (Gerald's baba) birthday. For city folk, gathering near the farm's creek was a picturesque setting for a wiener roast, as the water rushed rapidly down the creek's hill. Relatives brought trailers and tents for overnight camping, waking up to a fun-filled Friday. The farm has chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, horses and, of course, cats and a dog.
A mile away in a pasture, relatives saw the original wagon trail embedded into the soil that took pioneers from Whitkow to Hatherleigh. A highlight was visiting Raymond’s (Walter's son) old elevator in which he still stores grain in Whitkow. He started the engine and grain was transported to the top, something the younger generation was in awe. There is a lift that, if gauged to the weight you want, will take you to the top of the elevator, giving a bird's eye view of the countryside. Part way up one has to be daring to go by rope.
There is always a brake so the speed can be monitored. Of course, a few daring people took in this thrill. Gerald also had a map, which can be purchased at the local RM office, stating the original pioneer names in 1905.
Ok, now for the larger reunion of 185 Iwanchuk/Ewanchuk family members. It was attended by family members aged eight months to Victor Kowalchuk, 89 years, from Willingdon, Alta. People travelled from British Columbia (Donna Ewanchuk , Walter's daughter) and relatives from Alberta and the Swisten family from Ontario.
The reunion included a memorial of the pioneer generation of the original "Magnificent Seven" hailing from Poland and Ukraine wanting to settle in Canada. Five brothers and two sisters carried a photo of the previous generation up front and talked about them. The day was filled with golfing, volleyball, badminton, toss games and many children's activities. A catered supper and dance followed with the music supplied by a DJ . Fireworks are always a highlight and they were set off at the Ewanchuk farm Friday evening. Tired folk left Sunday afternoon, taking with them many cherished memories.
Travelling with great buddies always makes the trip a lot shorter, as Margaret Adam, her sister Gladys Caldwell from Saskatoon, neighbours Connie Giesbrecht, Joanne Strain and Michelle Toews can attest to. Connie's mother Nora Auserude and Connie's sister Lucy from Theadore also joined in on their four-day holiday to the International Peace Gardens near Boissevain, Man.
The gardens are also situated near the well-known Turtle Lake Provincial Park near the U.S. border. In fact, once in the gardens you can cross the border without a passport, but not going further south beyond these spectacular gardens. This group took in the many sights including the peace chapel, tower monument and "peace" bells throughout the area with the numerous walkways, plants, abundance of flowers, water displays and many ornaments. Margaret said there is a special memorial for game wardens naming them by province and states. Twenty-three hundred acres of natural habitat are covered with hiking and biking trails. In the small town of Boissevain, in which they booked a hotel for a few nights, other tourist attractions were enjoyed. The animal museum has won awards for being unique.
Only one more month of holidays for the school students. July has flown by and one can tell the darkness sets in a little earlier, but the evenings have generally been peaceful, thus making working or sitting outside fabulous. Mosquitoes aren't even too bad on the farm as compared to Chitek Lake, where it seems the rain never stops for too long. Those nasty creatures seem to swarm at all times of the day and night, making being outside unbearable at times. Isn't it only human nature to complain about something.
