Estevan

The City of Estevan has a new face leading its Emergency Measures Organization (EMO). Rhonda Gillespie has taken over the position from long-time coordinator Helen Fornwald, who retired after many years of service.

Gillespie says she is eager to continue the work of keeping Estevan safe and prepared for any potential emergencies. “Helen left very large shoes to fill,” she shared. “I hope I can continue on and keep the community as safe as possible and be prepared as much as we can for future events.”

An exciting opportunity lies ahead for several southeast artistic swimmers as they prepare for the upcoming Saskatchewan Winter Games.

The team representing the region will be the Southeast Connections, made up of seven athletes: Seirra Mantei, Rowyn Shier, Ava Donnison, Mahaley Fonstad, Isabelle Pyra, Kayden Pukas, and Brinley Groenveld. Pukas and Groenveld will compete as a duet, Donnison and Pyra form another duet, while Mantei and Shier will perform as soloists.

The Coal Creek Festival is gearing up to light up the Roche Percee Campground with music, community, and celebration, and one of this year’s headliners is promising a show to remember. Earl Pereira, a three-time Juno nominee and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, is set to take the stage with his genre-blending band, The Steadies.

Estevan is set to host the ICE World Conference on September 23 and 24, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from across Canada. Executive director of the Southeast Tech Hub, Gordon Moore, joined a local broadcast this week to highlight the exciting lineup of events, including a pitch competition modeled after Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den.

The Estevan Motor Speedway hosted some make-up races Friday night, allowing racers to earn some more points before the championship night. Having previously been scheduled for last Saturday, but being rained out, the races covered all classes.

President of the Estevan Motor Speedway, Brad Pierson, talked about the night and how the track fared.

The below-average conditions over the past month are going away this week as temperatures are rapidly rising in the southeast. Both today and tomorrow will see temperatures above the 30-degree mark, much higher than the average has been over the past few weeks.

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Crawford Luke says a bit of moisture in the air from over the weekend will also keep conditions humid.

The spirit of community and care was on full display at Loose Creek Regional Park as Bow Valley Villa held its third annual cornhole tournament, drawing in 32 teams for a day of friendly competition and heartfelt fundraising.

Wanda Richie, one of the managers at Bow Valley Villa, shared that the event is more than just a game; it's a lifeline. “We’re a privatized assisted care home in Oxbow, and we don’t receive any government funding,” Richie explained. “So we’re always having to fundraise to keep our doors open.”

The Estevan Fire Department is putting the call out for new recruits as they continue their annual drive to bring more people into the service.

For Jennika Linthicum, the pool has always been a second home. Growing up in Estevan, she started as a summer swimmer, but it wasn’t long before a friend suggested she try water polo. Now 15, Linthicum has taken her passion from the local Estevan Sharks to representing Saskatchewan and Canada in competitions around the world.

“I was around seven when I first tried water polo,” she said. “I was always looking for a winter sport connected to swimming, and it just clicked.”

After a summer of rodeos, dinosaurs and door-knocking, Pierre Poilievre is now officially heading back to Ottawa as a Conservative member of Parliament for Alberta.

The Tory leader will represent the sprawling rural riding of Battle River—Crowfoot, in the province's eastern region, after winning a byelection on Monday. 

"Getting to know the people in this region has been the privilege of my life," Poilievre told a crowd at a victory party in Camrose, Alta., on Monday night. "In fact, I've had a hell of a lot of fun."