December 27, 2013

Weyburn celebrated its centennial year in 2013. Here are some of the highlights of the past year:

On January 1, Weyburn, Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan and Mayor Debra Button cut the first cake for Weyburn’s 100th birthday at an event that celebrated the past.

The Sun Country Health Region launched a new COPD clinic as part of the provincial initiative to strengthen Saskatchewan’s health care system in February.

Weyburn photographer Tina Hudson was the winner of the James Weir Peoples’ Choice Award.

Mayor Debra Button was elected president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipal Association (SUMA) on February 4. She was the fourth Weyburn Mayor and first woman to ever be elected SUMA president.

One of the Triple C Centre’s largest donator, Cenovus Energy, was invited for a tour of the centre in March. In December of 2012, Cenovus donated $250,000 to the committee.

The Chamber of Commerce held their annual President’s Dinner on March 26 with guest speaker Saskatchewan Roughriders CEO Jim Hopson, and the Golden Spike Award was also presented.

The City of Weyburn prepared for an above normal spring runoff with the city’s public works department monitoring all conditions and making preparations to deal with any scenario, in light of the 2011 flooding.

A new realm of entertainment was introduced to Weyburn as Prestige Fight Club of Regina presented “The Rising” in April.

Brad Johner and his five sons performed April 19 in Weyburn as a fundraiser for the Triple C Centre.

The Quota International Women of the Year awards were handed out on April 15. Winners were, Shannon Seitz, Tonya Mokelki, Margo Jacob and Shirley Wheeler.

Mayor Debra Button signed a proclamation declaring August 1-5 as Weyburn’s Centennial Homecoming Celebration.

The City of Weyburn and Weyburn Police Services entered into contract negotiation talks.

The Weyburn Red Wings announced their new coach Bryce Thoma on May 16. Thoma played four seasons with the Red Deer Rebels and served as the assistant coach for the team for five years.

The Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop continued their fund raising efforts for a new Day Program building with a $10,000 donation from the Ladies Legion Auxiliary Branch #47 on May 31.

The Alexandria Rebekah Lodge celebrated their 100th anniversary. The order was brought in to the continent on April 16, 1891 and was chartered in Weyburn on June 4, 1913.

Weyburn launched a local Habitat for Humanity with an information meeting on June 19.

The first annual Luff and Seghs Memorial Classic honouring the memory of Brennan Luffman and Shaun Seghers was held at the Weyburn Golf Course on June 22.

The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) received a $500,000 donation from Young’s Equipment. Young’s encouraged all other companies in Saskatchewan to support STARS as well. The money went towards the cost of operations at the two helicopter air ambulance bases in Saskatchewan.

The Salvation Army held its 100th anniversary in Weyburn on June 29 with a block party.

The City of Weyburn became the first municipality in Saskatchewan to launch an emergency alert program to enable city officials to communicate with residents and businesses within minutes during an emergency situation.

In August, Graham DeLaet signed on as an ambassador for Saskatchewan in a project launched by the Saskatchewan Ambassador Alliance.

Isabelle Butters, Dr. Noel Hall and Arthur Mainil were inducted to the Weyburn Walk of Fame, being officially recognized on the designated wall in front of City Hall.

The City of Weyburn and Weyburn Police Services signed a negotiation settlement on August 21. The police were without a contract since January 1, 2012.

The Sun Country Kids Club expanded into more schools in addition to full programs at Haig and Souris Schools in September.

Every four years emergency services are tested through staged accidents, the Weyburn Airport Emergency Plan was carried out in September and deemed successful.

The Weyburn and District United Way set a goal of $140,000 for the 2013 Communithon at the kick off on September 6.

In September, the Sun Country Health Region announced the arrival of two new doctors to the region. Dr. Parveen Kumar Gupta began practice in Redvers Medical Clinic and Dr. Mahmood Beheshti began practice at the Weyburn Health Centre.

The Primary Health Care Clinic opening was pushed back as renovations were taking longer than expected.

Weyburn hosted the second Prestige Fight Club’s MMA event, “Fall Out” on September 28. Four Weyburn fighters were on the card.

Luke McMaster performed at McKenna Hall with proceeds from the show benefiting the Weyburn Family Place.

Brent Butt kicked off the Weyburn Concert Series on October 15. The Weyburn Comprehensive School STARS Choir opened.

Graham DeLaet had a very successful season on the PGA Tour finishing eighth in the FedEx Cup and representing Canada at the President’s Cup finishing 3-1-1.

The City of Weyburn imposed a small increase to utility base rates effective January 1, 2014.

The Southeast Cornerstone School Division made alterations to boundary areas as a result of a comprehensive review of school attendance boundaries to take effect in the 2014-15 school year. The review process provided the opportunity to realize efficiencies by transporting students only within the designated attendance boundary.

Weyburn welcomed a new CrossFit facility offering physical training that is high intensity, constantly varied and functional movement. Voracity CrossFit opened November 18.

Tosczak Auctions opened its doors November 18. Tosczak Auctions is a consignment auction and will hold their first auction on February 6, 2014.

A Memorandum of Undertanding was entered into by the RM of Weyburn and the City of Weyburn regarding the RM Sewage Receiving Station accessing the City Sewage Infrastructure November 18.

“There has been years of work behind what happened,” said Mayor Debra Button. “In the past, the City of Weyburn has been reluctant to open up the lagoon to the RM of Weyburn out of concern as to what would be dumped.”

Weyburn football players, Saskatchewan Roughrider Brendon LaBatte and Calgary Stampeder Brett Jones both took home CFL awards at the Awards Banquet November 21.

Estevan, Weyburn and the Province of Saskatchewan officially announced the South East Regional Community Mobilization Hub in November.

The Family Place Festival of Trees raised $60,000 for the second year in a row.

“It was outstanding,” said Executive Director Dawn Gutzke. “We did match last year, which was over-the-top record breaking.”

To show out Weyburn’s Centennial year with a bang the City of Weyburn has planned free skating at the Sports Arena, swimming at the Leisure Centre, a bon fire, free hot chocolate and hot dogs provided by the Weyburn Fire Department and capping off the night with a fireworks display. This all takes place at the Tom Zandee Sports Arena parking lot Tuesday, December 31.