Christmas Parade!

Even the weather co-operated to make the Christmas Lights parade in Unity, Saskatchewan, on December 3, 2020, an enjoyable, cheerful way to ring in the Christmas season in what has been a difficult year. Many businesses, organizations and individuals took the time to decorate vehicles – everything pickup trucks and trailers to cement and garbage trucks to ATVs – to light up the streets of Unity for residents, young and old.

Service clubs were among those entering floats in the parade.
Would a parade even be complete without at least one team of horses?!

Santa and Mrs. Claus and their helpers were out in full force to remind Unity residents no pandemic is going to cancel Christmas!
Yard decorations dressed up many a float for the enjoyment of spectators.
Penguins were also on multiple floats.
Making the turn from the hospital grounds onto West Entrance Road.
Some floats featured real, live children!
Dignitaries included the Unity Mayor, dressed for the cold AND the pandemic.
Another dignitary making a special appearance was Fat Cat!
Hockey fans were able to exchange shouted greetings with the Unity Miners.
Recipe for pre-Christmas fun: penguins, Santa and children!
A parade just has to include fire trucks.
The prettiest cement truck ever seen!
Fun was had by all, spectators AND participants.

Junior Cardinals win one!

The Unity Junior Cardinals beat the Border City Blue Jays 7-2 on July 21, at Unity, Saskatchewan, for their first and, so far, only win of the season. The North Saskatchewan River Baseball League shortened regular season ends Tuesday, August, 4, with the Junior Cardinals taking on the Cardinals at the Cardinal diamond in Unity. Both hometown teams would undoubtedly enjoy having a cheering section!

Below are scenes from the Juniors’ win over the Blue Jays.2872 13 scores2891 16 windup2899 safe @ 1st2904 fielder2911 bench+

 

baseball2917 catcher glove out2931 infield action 2932 13 infield2934 18 batting 2940 batter2947 hot box 2950 batter 2951 stopNSRBL 2969 running bases 2985 mound consult2995 13 flying2998 batter3011 slide at 2ndJr. Cardinals3025 after the game3031 good game

UCHS Grad 2020 Scholarship Winners

Celebrating in a succession of small groups of three, four or five students, the Unity Composite High School class of 2020 graduated  June 26. Principal Aaron Melnyk moved the tassels on each graduand’s hat in a socially distanced manner and handed out diplomas while Vice-Principal Ken Parker read a short bio for each student. The ceremonies, along with the traditional commencement address from the Principal, and presentation of scholarships by community members (with students absent) were video-recorded and can be viewed online at https://streaming.lskysd.ca/player/?i=5ac3u.

Winning the Governor General’s Academic Medal for maintaining the highest average mark – throughout Grades 11 and 12 – 94.3% – was Allyson Ward. Allyson was also awarded a scholarship from the Royal Canadian Legion, Unity Branch #90.

Allyson Ward, Government General Academic Medal winner

Allyson Ward, Governor General Academic Medal winner

Kyle Parker, with a Grade 12 average of 95.5%, was presented the Grade 12 Proficiency Award and Honour Cord. Kyle delivered the Valedictory Address, which fellow students watched online.

Kyle was also awarded a Unity Credit Union Scholarship, the UCHS Volleyball Alumni Scholarship and the Isabel Anderson Physical Sciences Bursary.

Kyle Parker, Valedictorian and Grade 12 Proficiency Award winner

Kyle Parker, Valedictorian and Grade 12 Proficiency Award winner

Carlynn Dresser won the female UCHS Leadership and Dedication Award. She also received the Matthew Borden Bursary and a Delta Co-op Scholarship,

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and UCHS Leadership and Dedication Award winner Carlynn Dresser

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and UCHS Leadership and Dedication Award winner Carlynn Dresser

Winning the male UCHS Leadership and Dedication Award was Zenon Orobko. Zenon also won the Jeffrey Glen Bounting Bursary.

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and UCHS Leadership and Dedication Award winner Zenon Orobko

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and UCHS Leadership and Dedication Award winner Zenon Orobko

Tyson Krpan was awarded a Unity Credit Union Scholarship, a Unity Kin Club Bursary, a Delta Co-op Scholarship, the Ed Burnell and Family Bursary, the Unity Wildlife Federation Bursary and a Unity Knights of Columbus Bursary,

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Tyson Krpan

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Tyson Krpan

Kira Mielke won the following scholarships and bursaries: the Jenai Danielle Bounting Memorial Bursary, the Unity Lions Club Scholarship, the PDG Lion John Coid Memorial Bursary, and a CUPE 4747 Scholarship.

Scholarship winner Kira Mielke

Scholarship winner Kira Mielke

Winning the Dr. Robert P. Knowles Scholarship and bursaries from the Unity Knights of Columbus and the St. Peter’s CWL was Kylie Hauta.

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Kylie Hauta

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Kylie Hauta

Luke Sperle won the Order of the Royal Purple Elks Bursary, the Unity Agriculture Society Scholarship and the Candace Heitt Memorial Sports Bursary.

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Luke Sperle

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Luke Sperle

Kylie Mitzel was awarded the Unity Health Care Auxiliary Scholarship and the Isabel Anderson Physical Sciences Bursary.

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Kylie Mitzel

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Kylie Mitzel

Winning both the David Ray Surine Bursary and a Kin Club of Unity Bursary was Landon Solomko.

Bursary winner Landon Solomko

Bursary winner Landon Solomko

Tyrell Kuhn was awarded a Unity Lions Club Scholarship and a Jimmy and Ethel Anderson Masonic Bursary.

Bursary winner Tyrell Kuhn

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and bursary winner Tyrell Kuhn

Jensen Weber was awarded the Steven Wesolowski Bursary and the Tommy Rutherford Masonic Scholarship.

Scholarship winner Jensen Weber

Scholarship winner Jensen Weber

Winning a Jimmy and Ethel Anderson Bursary and a CUPE 4747 Scholarship was Isaac L’Heureux.

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Isaac L'Heureux

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and scholarship winner Isaac L’Heureux

Rheanne Hofmann was awarded the Downtown Medical Clinic Scholarship and the Tommy Rutherford Masonic Scholarship.

Scholarship winner Rheanne Hofmann

Scholarship winner Rheanne Hofmann

Caden Lewin, Tanner Fauth and Logan Lindsay each received a Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Award.

Caden Lewin, Sask. Youth Apprenticeship Award winner

Caden Lewin, Sask. Youth Apprenticeship Award winner

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and Tanner Fauth, Sask. Youth Apprenticeship Award winner

UCHS Principal Aaron Melnyk and Tanner Fauth, Sask. Youth Apprenticeship Award winner

Logan Lindsay, Sask Youth Apprenticeship Award winner

Logan Lindsay, Sask Youth Apprenticeship Award winner

Winning a Unity Health Care Auxiliary Scholarship was Sarina Godin.

Scholarship winner Sarina Godin

Scholarship winner Sarina Godin

Jillian Gampe won the LIving Sky School Division Board Scholarship.

Scholarship winner Jillian Gampe

Scholarship winner Jillian Gampe

Although no handshakes or hugs were able to be exchanged this year, congratulations are due to ALL graduates on completing this milestone.

Phase 3 of Re-Open Saskatchewan

Today marks the beginning of Phase 3 of Re-Open Saskatchewan.

Almost all retail businesses can now open, including personal service businesses. Bars and restaurants can open at 50% capacity, but note some of them may open for limited hours to start with. They will still offer takeout orders so that will also provide a good opportunity to support them.

Remember, our business owners, managers and staff are all part of our community too. Help them out by obeying hand sanitizing requests and customer limits, following physical distancing signs and being respectful of their time. With restaurants only allowed to fill 50% of their tables, this is not the time to go for coffee with your friends and spend two hours at the table.

We need a strong business community in our town – they have been there for us supporting our service clubs, our sports tournaments, and all kinds of fundraisers. Now they need us to be here for them. Shop local – it is the safest option anyway!

 

Music, shadow puppets and a girl waiting at a mall

NOTE: Between STF sanctions and Covid-19, performance plans are currently uncertain!

Twenty-one students – 13 onstage and eight offstage – together with teachers, director Crystal Gilbert and assistant director/tech supervisor Jocelyn Clark, are hard at work preparing their latest drama production for local audiences and regional competition. Also assisting are Kelsey Wintonyk with crew, Mathew Poirier with the set and Morag Riddell with costumes.

The play is Shuffling by Ken Preuss and the comedic production will include a wide array of characters, with some students taking on more than one role. Music, monologues, choreography and shadow puppets will all be included in the performance of the play.

Unity Composite High School

Stage veteran Grade 11 student Emma Baker really likes the play, saying “It’s definitely different from lots of the other plays we’ve done.” She likes the way Shuffling showcases individual characters. She also likes the new challenge of delivering a monologue, which she said will require “a next level of energy.”

The title Shuffling comes from the actions of character Lacey, a teenage girl who has finished work at the mall and is waiting for her boyfriend to pick her up. As she waits, she shuffles through the songs on her iPod. Actors portray the various songs she listens to, each with his or her own bit of advice or comment for Lacey.

Emma described the two roles she is playing – Song 3, “a rapper, rough around the edges” and Song 12, “a female empowerment song.” Two obviously very different genres.

Grade 7 student Sadie Risling, in her first UCHS drama production, will portray Song 5, a song she described as “extremely happy, so happy the other songs don’t like me and find me very annoying.”

With the wide variety of different song genres throughout the play, you can expect to hear a little bit of almost everything. The variety also allows for great creativity, not only for the actors but also in costumes and makeup.

Shuffling will be performed locally, at the Unity high school, March 25 and 26, with the March 26 performance being a dessert theatre. The students will be off to Swift Current the following week to compete at the Saskatchewan Regional Drama Festival, so they would appreciate a good send-off from their hometown crowd.

UCHS drama

Emma said, “I really like going to competition.” Meeting people, seeing the other plays, taking part in workshops and enjoying a dance are some of the things she looks forward to.

This will be Sadie’s first drama competition but, so far at least, nerves are not a factor. She thinks she will enjoy it more than performing at home where people clap and go home. At the drama festival, “you actually get a mark” and other feedback, she noted.

High school drama draws students from all grades to work together for a common purpose. Emma said that’s one of the benefits of being involved in drama – “the sense of community, like a sports team.” She appreciates the many friendships built on and off the stage. She added being able to speak in front of people is a good skill to have and “personally I have gained a lot of confidence.”

Battle of the Blades

NOTE: There are additional photos in today’s Press-Herald newspaper.

The Unity Skating Club hosted a Battle of the Blades competition at the Unity Community Centre, in Unity SK, January 10. Eight senior skaters were paired up with male volunteers from the community for an evening which delighted the audience of some 500.

Each pair had to perform a compulsory dance – either the Baby Blues, Dutch Waltz or Canasta – as well as a free skate routine with some required elements such as a lift and a spiral.

Every act was a hit with the crowd. The top three were so close that organizers had to count the votes three times to confirm who were the winners.

Here we have the ultimate champions, Cory Wildeman and Raicky Baes, acknowledging the crowd before beginning their free skate routine.

Unity Skating Club

More Cory & Raicky pics here:http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/raicky-and-cory-2/

Father and daughter Robert and Makayla Bakken adding a little humour into their routine.Unity SK figure skating

More Rob and Makayla pics here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/makayla-and-rob/

Kira Mielke and Joshua Lacoursieredoing some interpretative dance during their free skate.

free skate

More Kira and Josh photos here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/kira-and-josh/

Devyn McLean and Ash Cooper, in disco gear, performing the required spiral.

figure skating spirals

More Devyn and Ash photos here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/devyn-and-ash/.

Curtis Sieben and Jenna Horner, bringing their program to an end with a flourish, “sliding into base” to the Centrefield song.

baseball on ice

More Curtis and Jenna pics here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/jenna-and-curtis/

Gerald Hauta and Grace Lindsay in a partners’ spin.

partners spin

More Gerald and Grace photos here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/grace-and-gerald/

Emily Smith and Scott Gilbert skating to the Austin Powers theme song.

dancing on ice

More Emily and Scott photos here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/emily-and-scott/

Erika Bretzer and Garan Rewerts performing the spread eagle.

spread eagle

More Erika and Garan pics here: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/erika-and-garan/

SEE ALSO: http://unitystories.com/battle-of-the-blades-extra-fun/