THE MELVILLE Friday, $1.50 PER COPY GST INCLUDED January 8, 2021 Vol. 94 No. 49 Agreement # 40011922 PROUDLY SERVING MELVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1929 • WWW.GRASSLANDSNEWS.CA • 1-306-728-5448 Principal named one of Sask’s 40 under 40 winners Barry Needham selected for annual CBC award By Emily Jane Fulford Grasslands News A local educator is getting provincial recognition at the close out of the year. Principal of Melville Comprehensive School, Brandon Needham was named one of the 2020 CBC Future 40 Under 40 win- ners. It is part of an annual event when CBC celebrates the province’s new generation of leaders, builders and change-makers under the age of 40. The 2020 finalists were chosen from a very large number of nominees and selected via a panel of judges, which were composed of former CBC Future 40 alumni. “For actively working to make a difference in Saskatchewan by trans- forming his school com- munity into a site where truth and reconciliation Spreading Christmas cheer EMILY FULFORD | GRASSLANDS NEWS can be imagined and enacted, Brandon Need- With COVID-19 keeping many families apart this season, a small group of volunteers spread some much ham is most deserving needed holiday spirit at St. Paul Lutheran Home this Christmas. of becoming a Future 40 finalist,” read Brandon Needham’s nomination statement. “As the principal of Decking the halls at St. Paul’s Melville Comprehensive School (MCS), Brandon is in a unique position to ficult and still is, trying to explain (Scott Hanson), Shirley Karius, By Emily Jane Fulford influence his school’s en- Grasslands News to our residents what’s happening Aldon Schick, Jeniffer Stein (City of gagement with the TRC out there, why they cannot see Melville), Sean Unterschute, Sarah Calls to Action. their families during the holidays. Stelmacovich, Arlene Schick, Cory In the days leading up to Christ- Brandon’s passion for Brandon Needham It’s heartbreaking not only for Bjorgan, Brendan Skibinsky and mas, volunteers from around the educating students and them but their families as well.” Nailed It Renovations, Kindergar- city of Melville chipped in to help staff about social justice issues that affect Indigenous The St. Paul’s team got busy ten Davison class, Magic Moments, bring some holiday cheer to St. people has led him to pursue a PhD from the U of R” Paul Lutheran Home. After the days in advance spreading the Therese Cowan, Keith & Barb said the CBC. pandemic made it difficult to con- word in as many ways as possible Hauser, Larry & Leanne Hollinger, “Connecting his doctoral research to his role nect with friends and family, it was to let people know what the plans Carrie Holliday, Jordan Sinclair, as principal, Brandon led a school-based research a much needed moral boost for the were. Merv Appel and Jeff Appel at Home inquiry which sought to investigate the role non-In- community. “We posted to social media for Hardware,” says Holliday. digenous peoples play in working toward reconcilia- “The COVID-19 pandemic has anyone that had any additional St. Paul Lutheran Home would tion. This collaboration represented for Brandon the brought nothing but many hard- Christmas items not in use they also like to thank the following culmination of years of work to actualize the goals of ships to those living in and work- would like to donate. The messages people that volunteered their time the TRC. Moreover, this has led to a change in how ing at St. Paul Lutheran Home in kept flooding in,” explains Holli- to make this happen: Kari Mol- the students and staff at Brandon’s school understand Melville,” said Jill Holliday of St. day. “We were quite overwhelmed nar-Krieger & family, Kayla Ra- the colonial history of Canada and in turn has cre- Paul’s. “In recent weeks, Kathy Un- with the response. We received chelle & family, Scott Hanson & ated opportunities to learn from and with the neigh- terschute posted to the work page a items borrowed, donated and of- family, Chantelle Armstrong & boring First Nation communities, most notably last video of a group of people decorat- fered by numerous people and busi- family, Danielle Rathgeber, and school year, when Brandon’s social class partnered ing at a nursing home in Yorkton. I nesses.” a huge shout out to Kathy Unter- with Peepeekisis FN and the Multicultural Society of immediately responded, we have to The plan was a tremendous suc- schute and Jillian Holliday for or- Saskatchewan to host powerful and thought-provok- do this to ours! Gaining our man- cess and contributors of all ages ganizing the event. ing anti-racism event at MCS.” agement’s approval, Kathy and showed up early the Saturday be- While the holidays of 2020 are Needham was also recently recognized by the Sas- I turned the wheels and the plan fore Christmas to spread the joy. now a memory, it will be remem- katchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) for his leader- went into action. We wanted to lift “We would like to thank the fol- bered for quite some time, those ship and excellence in reconciliation education. As a the spirits of the elders we care for, lowing people for donating: David who came together to ensure that result, he was asked to attend the STF’s Closing the despite the new restrictions set in Assman, Lorie Ziola-Somogyi, Krae everybody had a joyful celebration Circle conference, as a keynote speaker and share his place by the government. It was dif- Ruf, Leanne Korchinski, NARS and a Happy New Year. experiences as a principal and researcher. Trust us with what matters most. HOME – AUTO 215 - 3rd Ave. W., Melville, SK FARM – BUSINESS www.trustmarkinsurance.ca P: 306.728.2165 2 January 8, 2021 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV Grasslands News Melville Legion makes donations 68%0,77('_*5$66/$1'61(:6 5*&RPEH9&/HJLRQRI0HOYLOOHUHFHQWO\PDGHWZRGRQDWLRQVRIHDFK7KHÀUVWZDVWR6W3HWHU·V+RVSLWDOIRUDUHFOLQHUIRUSDWLHQWXVHDQGWZR IXWRQVIRUSDWLHQWV·IDPLOLHVWRXVHZKHQYLVLWLQJ7KHVHFRQGGRQDWLRQWR6W3DXO·V/XWKHUDQ+RPHIRUWKUHHSRUWDEOHVRXQGV\VWHPVWKDWFDQEHXVHGE\ FOHUJ\DQGLQWKHUHFUHDWLRQDUHDZLWKEHWWHUTXDOLW\VRXQGDQGFODULW\IRUWKRVHZKRDUHKDUGRIKHDULQJ3UHVHQWLQJLV%ULDQ0RUULV OHIW 3RSS\&KDLUPDQ/LVD $OVSDFK OHIWSLFWXUH 6W3HWHU·V+RVSLWDO6KHUL+RQH\ZLFK6W3DXO/XWKHUDQ+RPH ULJKWSLFWXUH DQG7UHYRU%DQFDU]3UHVLGHQWRI5*&RPEH9&/HJLRQ Local Legions receive financial boost from VOESF By Emily Jane Fulford provided via the Veterans Organizations Emergency pandemic. Grasslands News Support Fund (VOESF), a program run by Veterans Ten branches of the Royal Canadian Legion located Affairs Canada. VOESF is used to provide grants to within Yorkton-Melville area will receive a combined non-profit and registered charitable organizations that total of $101,091. Foam Lake will be receiving $13,585 in Members of The Royal Canadian Legion branches support veterans and their families. The grants are support; Kamsack will be provided with $6,625. Quill in Melville, Yorkton and neighboring communities specifically designed and intended to help with the fi- Lake will be issued $10,000 and Canora, $5,000. Pleas- will be receiving financial support this year. It will be nancial burden which was caused by the COVID-19 antdale and Norquay will each receive just over $3,000, Esterhazy with $14,871 of funding, Sheho with $12,560 and Melville and Yorkton both with $15,605. Cathay Wagantall, MP for Yorkton-Melville, who sits on the Standing Committee for Veterans Affairs, said that she was very pleased to see government sup- port coming to assist Legions. She is not a stranger to Yes Sir, That’s the work they do to support veterans, having heard first-hand of the challenges facing veterans. “In my work with the Standing Committee for Veterans Affairs, I receive calls from veterans from right across Canada who are seriously struggling, mentally and financially,” said Wagantall. “Many feel Our Baby abandoned by their government due to a backlog of outstanding disability claims and issues with other services, but the one place those veterans can continue to turn to is the Legion.” Wagantall stated, during a recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, that the Ex- ecutive Director of the Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command testified about the efficient work being done to care for the immediate needs of veterans. “Mr. Wagner testified they can have a veteran come into their office at 10 a.m. in need of shelter, food or medical attention. Throughout their various networks – be it Social Services, Legion branches or various service groups – they can have housing established, WIN $50.00 VISA GIFT CARD food provided, and usually a stream of income through Social Services, plus they can set up medical appoint- ments and start the process for Veterans Affairs ben- GRASSLANDS NEWS would like to Salute all Babies Born in 2020 efit claims, all by the end of the day. It’s all in the and to do that we will publish SPECIAL PAGES in the process and removing barriers, and it starts with em- powering the front line,” said Wagantall. January 29, 2021 edition of the Melville Advance, Fort Qu’Appelle Times and “The caring and efficient work of our Saskatche- Whitewood Grenfell Herald Sun featuring the babies of 2020. wan Command and local Legions is, and could be, even If you’d like a picture of your baby to appear, fi ll in the form below or e-mail more significant in ensuring immediate emergency support and timely care for our veterans and their (send a clear snapshot) of your baby along with a cheque (made out to Grasslands News Group), families, if the process was less onerous,” VISA or Mastercard number for $20.00 (GST included). The VOESF’s entire aid package for Legion loca- tions internationally totaled $20 million, with $14 mil- A draw will be made Turesday, January 26, 2021 for a $50.00 VISA gift card lion of that allocated to Canadian branches.