Before I write any more in this column I must wish three very special people in my life a happy birthday Feb. 22. Happy birthday to my M-i-L Anne, my sister-in-law Cindy and my dad, Doug McConnell, who will be celebrating a milestone birthday this weekend. Wishing you all much health and happiness.
With only a week left in February, there will be no subsiding of activity upcoming in Unity. March kicks off with the annual Oilperson’s bonspiel Feb 28 to March 3. March 2 and 3, folks will be taking part in Saskatchewan’s favourite tradition – Telemiracle. Watch for our own Kin Club’s presentation as well as local vocalist, Jennifer Deuchar, who is performing. Or you may be pitted in watching Team Saskatchewan – Team Muyres compete at the Brier on the opening weekend of March and the following week. March 3 is the annual Unity Skating Club Ice Carnival. March 4 is the Celebrate Unity event and March 8 is the Knights of Columbus Pattison Children’s Hospital fundraiser. March will also include plenty of hockey games as all teams in all divisions are in both league and provincial playoffs. So in essence, the majority of what’s upcoming in March takes place at the Unity Community Centre on either side of the rink or in the hall. Outdoor Rec Venue and Wilson Hill users are also making the most of the odd days of nicer weather and lighted venues to continue using these outdoor sports facilities we are fortunate to have.
Celebrate Unity is upcoming March 4. If you haven’t already bought your tickets you can get them at the Unity Credit Union and know that your ticket includes a fantastic supper, entertainment by up and coming country music artist Trevor Panczak and inductions of Ken Leslie, long time Unity curling club volunteer, in addition to Clint and Jennifer Wilson, long time dedicated Unity minor football and Warrior football volunteers.
Congratulations to the 2018 UCHS graduate who learned she has earned a provincial scholarship from the Saskatchewan Association of Ag Societies and Exhibitions. Caitlyn Ireland is currently taking a bachelor’s degree in agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, and is the daughter of Brad and Shannon Ireland of Unity.
Our skating club gets lost sometimes in hockey and curling season news. They are hosting their annual ice carnival, “The Classics,” March 3 at 2 p.m. at the community centre. Come and support all the hard work these skaters have been put in all year.
Congratulations to SWHL award nominees for this season. While the Wilkie Outlaws seemed to have cleaned up in the awards category we are still proud of all those nominated as well as Kristian St. Onge and Jake McMillan who were named first team all stars as well as Braden Lacoursiere who was named second year all star. The Unity Miners are set to beat the Outlaws on the ice as they face off against their archrivals in the semi finals of the Sask West Hockey league finals.
In minor hockey playoffs, the peewee Lazers and midget A Lazers have advanced to round two of provincial playoffs.
Speaking of the rink – consider that the majority of the action that takes place either on the curling rink side, the hockey arena side and the hall upstairs happens because of volunteers! Take time to thank your kids’ minor hockey executive, hockey coaches, hockey managers, hockey co-ordinators, tournament co-ordinators, skating club executive, Miners hockey executive and game day volunteers, in addition to some recent volunteers from a local rec team who spruced up some dressing rooms. The curling club is very appreciative of their junior curling volunteers as well as those that help manage the tasks of their bonspiel and playdown events. The community centre activities are largely put on by volunteers in organizations in our community. The ongoing activity at this venue in Unity doesn’t happen without all of these people so a big shoutout to them.
Plenty of people are hoping and doing lots of finger crossing that March will come in like a lamb and just stay that way, however the foggy November folklore people believe the 90 days since that fog means a sign of moisture to come.
Could the UCHS boys have made district curling any more exciting? After an opening game loss, the team was in must-win territory and rattled off another win taking them to day two. There they played 25 straights ends of curling in an eight-hour marathon with many exciting and heart stopping moments for their fans. Although they missed a trip to regionals by a millimeter, it was a hard fought, well earned, extra-end bronze medal win.
UCHS is in the midst of plenty of action at their school as high school districts for junior basketball took place pre-February break, while the junior curling districts will take place following the break. The senior basketball divisions are now into their playoff hunt as well. Travel club is just weeks away from their Greece tour heading out over Easter break. Grade 12 students know they have four months, less some school vacation days, to fine tune their academics, scholarship applications, post secondary plans and graduation ceremony planning.
St. Peter’s extends their deepest sympathies to recently retired teacher Mrs. Ruder on the loss of her husband and send her lots of love and prayers in this sad time. Students are also getting excited as they guess when Mr. Volk’s new baby will arrive and if there will be a new daughter or son added to his family. A continued reminder that the Grade 3 class is collecting can tabs that can be dropped off at the school for an initiative to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer.
UPS stepped up to the task on Feb. 8 when an unplanned fire alarm went off at UCHS that resulted in their entire student body being offered warm spaces in UCHS after they stood in extreme cold for some time realizing this was not a drill. UCHS was very thankful for the close proximity and welcoming warm hallways of UPS at this time.
Ball season is hovering over all this activity. Some players have started their spring training and some have been in winter long programs. Registration has already taken place and on the horizon we have players still in the running to earn a spot on the Western Canada Summer Games teams. It won’t be long before we will have migrated from the rink to the diamonds for the other favourite sports season in Unity.
One more week left of Canada Winter Games and we have already seen local dancer Presli O’Donnell perform at opening ceremonies while local skiers who earned their spot on Team Sask Alpine team have not completed all of their events yet, so we plan to keep you updated on their results.
Unity Curling Club is gearing up for their annual Oilperson’s bonspiel starting next Thursday and running through to March 3. Hot on its heels will be the annual Bramiche Farms ladies spiel starting March 15. Unity will also be closely following the results of Team Heidt that includes our very own UCC president, competing at the Affinity Credit Union senior men’s curling provincials, along with Team Fell who are both competing in Melville.
Coffee row folks have had lots of local sports stories to review from both the curling rink and the hockey ice. The weather continues to be a hot topic, no pun intended, and it even has edged into predictions for spring’s arrival and weather forecasts. Coffee, curling, creative weather forecasts and community activity are great winter conversations with these daily gatherings. So you can see life is full of fun and activity in Unity and our friends at coffee row sharing this traditional part of our community culture. Until next time...
