OUTLOOK:
Where did the last twelve months go?
Well, they didn't exactly go anywhere. That's the thing about time.
Time doesn't stand still and it doesn't speed up. It just keeps going, like the Energizer Bunny. It's up to everyone to make the time count.
And when you're living in Outlook or any community in the surrounding Lake Diefenbaker area, it can feel like as if time jets by in an instant.
Community initiatives, local happenings, sports, school events, and tales of shock, heartache and pure emotion; every year brings these to the forefront, and the resulting feelings always connect with readers all over the province and beyond.
Without a doubt, 2024 brought with it stories that ran the gamut of human emotion.
With that, hop in beside this reporter as we go and revisit the biggest and brightest events over the last twelve months with our annual Year In Review.
JANUARY
A powerful presentation by Grade 12 students at LCBI High School in Outlook put a telling spotlight on the atrocities that came as a result of Canada's residential school system. Created by the ELA A30 class, the presentation was given in the form of a walk-through exhibit and centered on the life of Chanie Wenjack, an Ojibwe First Nations boy who was forced to run away from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Ontario in October of 1966, but who died of hunger and exposure.
Jorgen Hus, a longsnapper for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was a big hit with students at Dinsmore Composite School when he visited to read to younger students and give an honest presentation to older teens on everything surrounding mental health issues.
The community of Loreburn and the surrounding area was left shocked and heartbroken when the F.W. Cobs Company grain elevator located in the village went up in flames, building quickly into a towering inferno amidst the cold prairie winter's air. Fire crews from Loreburn, Elbow and Davidson were on-site fast and as many as 40 locals lent a hand where needed as the flames did their damage, and many watched as the elevator candled into itself rather than topple over and spread more carnage. An active facility at the time, the fire left a sizable pile of smouldering grain and wood behind.
A spotlight on Town of Outlook employees saw the work done by recycling labourer Darren Rafoss put front and center. Talking about his daily work with this reporter, Rafoss explained that he enjoys working on small engines, such as getting home appliances up and running again, and that sometimes it's the discoveries found in the discard heaps that can be their own rewards, such as a brand-new air hockey table still wrapped up that someone had decided to send to the landfill.
Special guests and attendees packed the Outlook Civic Centre as a sports banquet and casino night was hosted by the Outlook Mainline Ice Hawks hockey team. Putting female athletics in the spotlight for the evening, the event welcomed Olympic gold medalists Catriona Le May Doan, Sami Jo Small, and Colleen Sostorics to the community, with all three giving fiery speeches on the impact of females in sports and commending Outlook and area for putting a spotlight on their accomplishments.
A workshop held at the Outlook Civic Centre, continuing on work that was started in the fall of 2023, helped put more of a focus on the goals, aspirations, services and programming that many believed the community of Outlook needed. Brought to town by recreation director Megan Anthony, this particular brain-storming session brought forward key ideas and proposals for everyday facets of life such as transportation, housing, health, and economic growth.
FEBRUARY
A spotlight on Town of Outlook employees saw assistant chief administrator Rachel Sillers sit down with this reporter to talk about her daily activities in her busy position. Certainly, not every day is the same when you work in such a role, but Sillers talked about how her work gave her a chance to get to know residents of Outlook over time since she started back in 2014.
The Outlook newspaper was celebrating a monumental milestone starting that month, as the very first issue of the paper was printed on February 5, 1909. Over the course of the next 115 years, it would garner a reputation as one of the most reputable news publishers in the province, and would even predate the very town of Outlook itself, which was officially declared a town in November of 1910.
The basketball court at LCBI High School was busy when the senior boys team played host to the 46th annual Rick Johnson Classic tournament, bringing teams from Rosetown, Hafford, St. Brieux, Waldheim, Hudson Bay, Kindersley, and Briercrest Christian Academy to town to take part. The final would see Hafford defeat St. Brieux to take the tournament win, while LCBI was bested by Kindersley in the 3rd Place game.
On the day dedicated to romance - Valentine's Day - the success of a special Jail n' Bail event showed that there was more than just love in the air. Held in downtown Outlook on Franklin Street for the public to see, the event was organized by the Outlook & District Heritage Museum as a fundraiser and saw a number of local residents "jailed" for a time due to having committed a number of comedic offences. In just under two hours of time, more than $9,000 was raised for the local museum.
Local fundraising efforts helped add to the success of TeleMiracle 48, including $1,775 coming from the community of Dinsmore. As well, young Ella-Rae Malinowski appeared onstage to give a donation of $3,633 after selling reusable feed bags, and Jocelyn Turrell and daughter Sawyer, representing the tiny community of Demaine, gave a presentation in the form of a cheque for an impressive $22,000.
You certainly don't see this every day - a horse wagon pulling up to the local drive-thru! Well, that's what happened on Family Day when a horse duo pulling a wagon made its way through the Dairy Queen drive-thru in Outlook. As part of the Riverbend Co-op's Family Day events in town, it wasn't known if the horses wanted fries or onion rings, but they sure deserved something for the work they did on that day.
MARCH
The winter season's final roar was certainly heard over the first weekend of the month as Old Man Winter proceeded to wallop the Outlook and surrounding areas with close to two feet of snow in some parts. The thick blanket of cold led to the postponement of hockey games, the cancellation of events, and caused a number of local businesses to close their doors.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL made a special stop in the local area when the team held a practice session at the rink in Dinsmore. The community welcomed the team with open arms as they trained in the local arena, and it was also an appropriate setting as Hurricanes #7 Joe Arntsen is originally from Dinsmore. The 20-year old left defenseman was happy to be back in his hometown and posed for photos with a bunch of students.
The Town of Outlook and the RM of Rudy found themselves sharing an award that they won from the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards, teaming together to share the honor of Regional Cooperation, which they captured as a result of their teamwork in addressing concerns over the long term viability of local fire and rescue services.
The Jim Kook Rec Plex in Outlook played host to the SJFHL Bourgault Cup tournament, highlighting the very best in female hockey. The hometown Ice Hawks would be defeated by the Saskatoon Prairie Blaze, who found themselves in the final matched against the Regina Jr. Rebels. The battle between Saskatchewan's two biggest cities saw Saskatoon end up as the winning team and the first-ever SJFHL champions.
Students at Loreburn Central School put their talents on display on the school stage while attendees bid on baked goods as LCS's 4th annual talent show and bake auction was in support of TeleMiracle. A number of students took to the stage to show off their musical, dancing and even acrobatic displays, wowing those in attendance.
The LCBI Lady Bisons basketball team went the distance and gave it their all, but they couldn't outmatch an impressive gameplan from their opponents - the Norquay Knights - in a 2A Bronze medal game. This, of course, was part of the annual HOOPLA provincial basketball championship event, with this handful of games being held in Moose Jaw. The event had to be modified and retooled in the wake of the back-and-forth going on between the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and the provincial government, and the end result saw parents and volunteers give back in order to give the deserving kids and athletes a weekend of basketball that they had earned.
The Kenaston Blizzards senior hockey team once again became provincial champions when they defeated the Lumsden Monarchs in front of a raucous hometown crowd. The provincial win marked the fifth time that Kenaston had taken the top trophy, with previous wins in 2002, 2012, 2022 and 2023.
Speaking of major wins on the ice, the Under-18 Outlook Ice Hawks hosted the Macklin Mohawks to win the Hi-Way 14 League Championship in front of a loud hometown crowd of their own. Beating Macklin at a score of 5-1, the ice was soon flooded with family and friends as photos were snapped left and right, capturing a moment that these young hockey players would remember for the rest of their lives.
There were a whole lot of stories told and trips down Memory Lane in the rink in Conquest as the community held their annual Shrimp Feed event, which in 2024 marked 50 years of history. Many tales were told by former hockey players and coaches of their time on the local ice, some of which could not be reprinted in a local community newspaper....
APRIL
The giving spirit was alive and well when RBC and the Outlook & District Health Foundation banded together to present some impressive funds to the Outlook & District Health Centre. Katy Long, assistant branch manager of the RBC in Outlook got together with Floyd Childerhose and Mary Ann McIntosh, representing the health foundation, to present a cheque to a handful of staff for $7,500.
A decision was made on the future of the Outlook swimming pool for the season after a bizarre pipe burst in the bitter cold of January caused flooding and other issues. It was decided that the pool would close for the 2024 season in order to assess and fix the issues and the resulting reactions from the public varied, with some pointing fingers at town staff and others seeing both sides of the fence. Some commended the Town for being so open with local ratepayers on the decision, while everyone simply had to wait another year for the facility to reopen.
A full house was on hand at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon when a handful of people were the latest inductees to the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame. Among them was Outlook producer Grant Carlson, whose 50 years in the field brought many life lessons along the way. Speaking after the event, Carlson said he was blown away when he was told he was one of the latest inductees and shared that the future of agriculture - notably irrigation - is looking bright for Outlook and area.
An open house event held at the Civic Centre in Outlook shed some light on upcoming projects going on around town as well as a number of growing recreational options within the riverside community. Staff even showed the public what can happen within the inner mechanics of the town's water system by showing four jars containing cleansing wipes, personal wipes, feminine hygiene products, and toilet paper, which were left for 30 days in order to show people what does and doesn't break down.
The circus came rolling through Outlook and despite the lack of, well, any advertising, word of mouth quickly spread before the two performances at the Civic Centre, where Circus Genoa performers entertained audiences with acrobatic displays, juggling, and some interesting wardrobe changes in addition to an impressive archery display.
In the wake of area MLA Dana Skoropad's decision to step away from provincial politics, a nomination meeting decided who would be the local Dakota-Arm River candidate for the Saskatchewan Party prior to the provincial election in the fall. Contested in Davidson, the nomination saw Barret Kropf selected as the candidate who would be seeking the vote of Outlook and area constituents.
Members of the Saskatchewan RCMP's Explosive Disposal Unit were called into action to dispose of a number of explosives that were found on a rural property near the town of Outlook. The Unit attended to the scene and were able to dispose of 10 sticks of bulk explosives. Calls such as this one are seen as common ones for the Unit, and explosives are disposed of at no cost to the public.
Extensive renovations and modifications that were carried out in the Bounty Theatre hall in Outlook saw the generational facility brought into a new modern age. New lighting, new electrical work, new tables and chairs, and the construction of both a new kitchenette and two new washrooms helped provide a major facelift to the beloved venue.
MAY
Dedicated hockey official Greg Sarauer, a native of Outlook now living in Medicine Hat, spoke to this reporter about his life in the sport after he was recognized with a special milestone award by the Western Hockey League symbolizing 400 games that he had reffed and a period of 24 years served with the league. Sarauer remembered his early years playing hockey in Outlook and looked back fondly on his time in the sport as he was calling it a day on his on-ice career as an official.
Students at Loreburn Central School proudly showed off their home-based business ideas with a Young Entrepreneurs Show held in the school gymnasium. Kids got creative with their business senses and established setups such as sales of chapstick, plant-based scented candles, handmade crochet keychains, colorful bookmarks, and handmade bracelets.
Set up along Highway 15 heading west was a special memorial site, including a wooden cross, roses, jewels and keepsakes. The site was created to pay tribute to Jonas Ullrich, a 21-year old man from Sovereign who was killed in an SUV collision with a semi on the highway back in December of 2022. An impressive display, the site continues to grab the attention of motorists today.
The future of Outlook High School was the topic of conversation at a community session held at the school that brought out a small handful of interested people. Jessica Gibson and Sara Rogers of Henry Downing Architects led the discussion on where the school could be headed in the years to come after it was shown that the Sun West School Division identified OHS as being eligible for a number of renovations. As such, meetings such as this one were simply about asking people what kind of renovations they'd like to see.
The town of Outlook certainly seemed to have a lot going on at the moment, but CAO Kevin Trew sat down with this reporter and spoke about the newest additions surrounding the town hall building; new parking lots, located alongside McKenzie Street and the other located at the corner of Saskatchewan Avenue and Thomson Street. The new parking would help accommodate the growing number of staff working for the Town.
Outlook resident Con Hammer began a letter-writing and groundwork campaign to help steer things toward a brighter future for the town's SkyTrail walking bridge. Hammer's views quickly began to permeate through the community, and it wasn't long before he had others joining his cause who, like many people in the community, want to see the treasured local landmark reopen once again some day soon - hopefully.
Hundreds of people took in the events of Outlook's 3rd annual Prairie Festival, which entertained spectators over three days and provided a litany of live shows, demonstrations, exhibits, kids games, and a dozen food trucks for the culinary ones in your family. Whether it was the talent show that saw singer Marcia Rilling take home a $500 prize or live music from groups such as the River Bottom Boys, the weekend had something for everybody.
Equinox Theatre's latest stage show, held at the Outlook Civic Centre during the Prairie Festival weekend, saw viewers take in the comedy, 'You Can't Get There From Here', which took the audience on a bizarre trip to a B&B where, as far as the characters go, nothing was it seemed. A hit with showgoers, the comedy ran for three performances and reached many people.
Young Ella-Rae Malinowski, from the family farm just across the South Saskatchewan River west of Outlook, spoke to this reporter about her many initiatives through the years in raising funds for charitable organizations. In addition to raising money year after year for TeleMiracle, she showed this reporter the logo for her newly-established nonprofit, Help To Hope. Dedication such as this were just one of the reasons why Malinowski was honored with an award for Youth in Philanthropy.
JUNE
With the community-wide effort underway to raise funds for a new fire hall facility in Outlook, this reporter sat down with Bree Campbell and Gerry Gross, chairs of the fundraising committee, to talk about the desire for a new facility for local firefighters and all that's being done to ensure that such a facility becomes a reality very soon for the riverside community.
The newest feature exhibit at the Outlook & District Heritage Museum was sure to grab attention as it put a spotlight on exactly what the town is known for, especially since Outlook is recognized as the 'Irrigation Capital of Saskatchewan'. A new display highlighting the history of irrigation in the district encompassed the east wing of the museum and included photos, graphs, tools, plants, and eye-grabbing artwork that spoke to the irrigation side of this community.
Performing students from Loreburn Central School took their stage show on the road and down Line 19 to the Harbor Golf Community Center in Elbow, where a large audience enjoyed their rendition of 'Alice in Wonderland', which proved to be a smash hit with attendees. The show served as the first student-led production to take place in the facility, which just opened in the summer of 2023.
A group of local writers in Outlook, known as the Revisionists Writing Group, held a special reading event at the Outlook Community Library, where new works were introduced to the audience and attendees learned about each writer's style and influences. The works of Tony Peter, Les Langager, Joan Soggie, Shelley Luedtke, Daryl Olson, and Kim Olson (representing her dad, the late Oliver Green) were read to those gathered, who enjoyed the mix of various styles and stories.
Members of the Filipino community in Outlook welcomed people to the Bounty Theatre to celebrate their country's customs, food and entertainment. A special flag-raising ceremony started off the morning event, while games proved to be a big hit with those inside the hall. The day also happened to mark the 126th annual Phillipines Independence Day, and it was said that more events designed to promote the awareness of other cultures in Outlook were in the works.
Popular Saskatchewan musician Jeffery Straker, a native of Punnichy, appeared in the lakeside village of Elbow to perform an outdoor concert as part of his Prairie Skyscraper Tour, which was celebrating the presence of grain elevators that dot the Saskatchewan landscape. Setting up shop in the community park, a sizabe crowd showed up and was entertained by Straker's performance.
A sizable turnout for the 3rd annual Donavon Field Day saw the event in the tiny community be a success. The day saw ball games, kids working off some energy in the Kids Zone, and a classic car and tractor show spotlighted some legendary makes and models.
The premier of the province made a stop in Outlook as part of a daylong tour of sites in the area that seem to be thriving. Scott Moe along with local MLA Dana Skoropad visited town and was impressed with what he saw at the town's waterworks plant, the addition being constructed at the Small Steps Early Learning Centre, and the new Dynamic Autobody facility on the northeast part of town. What Moe saw at each of his stops, he told this reporter, was innovation and dedication among staff.
