$1.50 Vol. 59 No. 6 • Friday, May 21, 2021 Town denies toxic work environment By Alan Hustak Grasslands News The town of Fort Qu’Appelle says claim of a toxic work environment in the administration office are “groundless,” and that any suggestions of racism and harassment filed by two former employees are with- out merit. A media release issued by the town’s Chief Admin- istration Officer Victor Goodman says a wide range of ‘new rules’ have been implemented following an investigation by an independent third part Campbell Safety Consultants into the complaints. “Behaviours that may have been tolerated in the past are no longer acceptable,” the town’s Chief Ad- ministration Officer, Victor Goodman, writes in a media release. “Management and supervisors will Set up for season ALAN HUSTAK | GRASSLANDS NEWS continue to work with staff to ensure they are aware 5LFNDQG-DFTXL-XEDDUULYHGHDUO\WRVHWXSDWWKH(FKR/DNHFDPSJURXQGLQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH([SHFWLQJ of the new rules and follow them.” Goodman fur- ther suggests that “some staff initially resisted the DQLQFUHDVHLQYLVLWRUVWKLV\HDUWKHWRZQKDVDGGHGQHZFDPSVLWHVDQGXSJUDGHGDQRWKHUVHYHQ7KH changes,” and an ‘unfortunate side effect’ is that they RIÀFLDONLFNRIIWRVXPPHUEHJLQVWKLVZHHNHQGGXULQJWKH9LFWRULD'D\KROLGD\ are no longer employed by the town. The public accounts show that the town has paid $12,000 in what appears to be outstanding vacation pay to Campgrounds open for the season its former finance manager Mo Choudhary. But an out- standing severance package are still available at the provincial Grasslands News. By Alan Hustak has yet to be negotiated. park. Campers are advised to check Jason and Larra Johnson, who Grasslands News Choudhary claimed 2-1/2 late in the week as cancellations are among the 80 seasonal campers months of vacation pay, pre- and changes do happen and more that arrived, discovered the camp- Rick and Jacqui Juba are set for sumably because he was un- sites may open up. “There are also site 20 years ago. They’ve been com- the lazy, hazy days of summer. able to take time off last year a number of campsites available at ing back each summer ever since. The Regina couple pulled into the because of his unexpected workload. Echo Valley during mid-week which “It’s like a diamond in the rough; Fort Qu’Appelle campground on Sat- Although no satisfactory explanation for his dis- is a great option for those who have our kids grew up here,” said Larra urday, May 15 with their boat and missal has been given, it would seem his departure some flexibility or some extra vaca camper trailer and put up their ga- - Johnson, “We like the beach, the has to do with the update of the town’s operational zebo on the shore of Echo Lake for tion days to use.” Thibault said. golf course; everything is close at Health & Safety programs. the next two months. The Juba’s are The Juba’s say they fell in love hand.” Sources have told The Times that council felt among the 80 or so seasonal campers with their space at the Fort Qu’Ap- Because of COVID, the town’s the town no long needs a finance manager, and has that were allowed into the site before pelle campsite when they came out Public Works Department antici- instead, decided to hire an assistant to the Chief Ad- the campground officially opens this a year ago. pated an increase in the number of ministration Officer. A job posting for the position, weekend. “We happened to rent the same lo- visitors this year and spent close to - a function that Choudhary often performed - was “We came last year, but we cation near the beach last year and $40,000 to create 17 new campsites posted on the town’s website while he was still ab- weren’t seasonal campers,” said really liked it. We have a boat, and and upgraded seven others. sent on sick leave. Rick, “We lucked in this year and it is right near the boat launch. We It has also hired eight part-time The media release gives no indication of Camp- got a spot.” have a couple of dogs, and the dog employees to maintain the site bell’s terms of reference, nor does it address the basic Unlike the Juba’s, who applied run is nearby. Being so close to town under the Federal Student Work Ex- complaint of just what ‘behaviours’ may have been for a campsite last fall when reser- is certainly a plus. We had to fill in perience Program (FSWEP). tolerated in the past. vations opened, if you are hoping to from a choice of 15 sites when we “No one who has a reservation It is understood that none of the complainants reserve a campsite now at any of the filed our application. We were at the has backed out. There have been no were interviewed by Campbell for his report. Nor campgrounds in the valley for the bottom of the charts, but we ended cancellations and there are at least a does the town explain the exact circumstances of season, you will need a good deal of up with the one site we wanted the half a dozen applicants on our wait- Choudary’s leaving or whether he is entitled to more patience and a lot of luck. most. We’re happy to be back.” ing list,” said public works manager money. “The options are limited,” says Similarly, Michelle and Ray Rob- Bruce Betteridge. The Times has asked for a copy of the Campbell Jalaine Thibault, marketing spe- erts came as ‘newbies’ last year and In addition to the seasonal sites report, which might shed more light on the matter. cialist for Saskatchewan’s provin- came back this year. “No one took the campground also has 12 spots Ratepayers may well wind up paying substantially cial parks. “Echo Lake Provincial our site, so it was easy to get a spot. available on a nightly basis. Out of more in legal fees to settle the damages still being Park which opens on May 20 is a The whole compound is family ori- province campers won’t be allowed sought, especially if pending complaints by the two pretty popular destination but the ented. The people who park here are to spend the whole summer at the former civic employees are filed with the Saskatche- seasonal sites are all taken.” A few pretty good people. And the ame- camp, but are allowed to book in on wan Human Rights Commission. group sites without power, however, nities are awesome,” Michelle told a daily basis. May 21, 2021 2 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSH OOH7LPHV Grasslands News Local newspapers Grasslandscollect News Group 25 SWNA awards By Chris Ashfield place awards for Best Front Page and Grasslands News best All Around Newspaper. “Student fights for dangerous offender designation” while Chris Ashfield won including Best Arts/Culture Story for In the Premier Awards, both the Her a series of articles on a chainsaw art- ald Sun and the Melville Advance won- two first place photo awards for the Grasslands News picked up 25 pro- Herald Sun for Best Wildlife Photo and ist while his story “Worrisome water vincial awards of excellence for its three first place awards. The Advance study for local lakes” placed second in was awarded for Best Page Design for Best Hard News Photo. The wildlife three publications earlier this week photo featured two bald eagles sitting the Best Habitat Conservation award when the Saskatchewan Weekly News one of their front page dee- category. - papers Association (SWNA) The Herald Sun placed held their 2021 Better News $1.500 - VENDORS BOOK TODAY! SPACE IS LIMITED! second for two photo Vol. 58 No. 49 • Friday, February 21, 2020 Showcase your products and services APRIL 18 & 19, 2020 8’ x 8’ Booth – $225 10’ x 12’ Booth – $275 Food Vendor – $310* papers Competition (BNC) Booth – $150 Corner Booth – $395 Power Supply – $10 Additional SATURDAY & SUNDAY Prices Include: Skirted Table (if required), Two Chairs, Curtains and GST. *Food vendor price includes power awards which included Toll Free - 1-844-GNG-NEWS (ext 222) Email: [email protected] www.forttradeshow.com www.facebook.com/forttradeshow Awards presentation virtu- Fort Qu’Appelle Rexentre Best Sports Photo for a ally on Monday, May 17. THEHEEEME MELVILLEMEM LVLVIVILLE steer wrestling photo by $1.50 PER COPYCOPY The three Grasslands Friday, GST INCLUDED February 7, 2020 Chris Ashfield and Best Vol. 94 No. 5 NEWS.CA • 1-306-728-5448 News publications – the Mel- AgAgreementreement # 4001192240011922 PROUDLY SERSERVINGVING MELVILLEMELVILLE AND SURROUNDINGSURROUNDING AREA SINCEEE1 192911921992929929 • WWW.GRASSLANDSNEWS.CAWWW.GRASSLANDS • 1-306-728-5448 Wildlife Photo for a pic- ville Advance, Fort Qu’Ap- 2+!;¤Wj,32'f¤ff¤ turet of a fox by Alvin Whitewooditewwwoooood InnI Һ j33199;!8ধ pelle Times and Whitewood & Restaurant, Bar & Grill open for SpectacularSpectacula Ice Castle Nixon.N $ 50 PER COPY ix ,FHSDODFH DERYH ZDVFUHDWHGIRUWKLV\HDU·V:LQWHU)HVWLYDO,FHSDODFH D ALAN 1 uded) The final second ER HUSTUSTAK | FORT TIMES (GST incl DVYROXQWHHU.ULVWLQ0DLQ3DUÀWW ULJKW GLVSOD\VWKHIHVWLYDODVYROXQWHHU . www.heraldsun.ca Grenfell Herald Sun – picked EXWWRQIRUEXWWRQIRU HU)HVWLYDO KHIHVWLYDDO placepla award for Grasslands up nine first place awards, Feb. 28 to March 1 40006725725 Publications Mail AgAgreementgreement No. 4 =VS࠮0ZZ\L e 1893 waswa for Best Headline writ- ForFo ewood, Grenfell, Broadview and surrounding areas • Publishing sinc rt Qu’AppelleQ Serving Whit eight second place awards -YPKH`1\S`H`1\S`H Sakimay girl ingin for story titled “Hey, and another eight third place WinterWinte Festival g Dunstone top Sasktel Tankard team in run for Miss a’righta now, who’s gonna had to play three consecutive ’r with what we were doing.” another difficult draw but three days of fun there to accomplish.