Doug Zywina
St. Paul’s Home Ladies Auxiliary ceases operations
St. Paul’s Home Ladies Auxiliary recently held its final meeting due to its aging membership.
The group decided to dissolve at a meeting, Sept. 20, 2021, and the final meeting was held, June 13.
Established in 1981 under the guidance of Sister Jean Zemliak, the auxiliary was a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting residents of St. Paul’s Home by personal involvement with activities and fund-raising for items that would enhance the quality of the residents’ lives.
Betty Stephens, who was with the ladies auxiliary at the hospital at the time, was asked to assist in getting the St. Paul’s group off the ground.
“They asked her to come down and she came down and organized the first meeting. And that’s how it started, way back in 1981,” said auxiliary president Leana Compton.
The group’s major fund-raising event was the annual Strawberry Tea and Bake Sale, as well as a garage sale for two or three days in the facility’s parking lot, not to mention various raffles and donations. In total, the auxiliary raised more than $300,000 over the years, with more than $250,000 worth of items purchased.
“The other $50,000 would be to support birthday parties. We’d buy cake and ice cream. We always came to help the residents’ monthly birthday parties before COVID,” Compton said.
Auxiliary members also took residents to the Strawberry Tea and they assisted with bingos, as well.
There were only six or seven members to start, but Compton said they eventually averaged about 30 members, 20 of whom were active. By the end, there were only six active volunteers, with another six associated members.
“There’s just so many who are in their mid-80s, high-80s. They walk with walkers. And even the associate ones, they still want to get involved if we had a chance to do anything. But right now since COVID, we’re not allowed to come in this building at all,” she said.
Compton has tried to recruit new and younger members and, while there was some interest, none lasted more than a year or two. Compton noted all monies raised have been spent.
Among the items purchased over the years were Century bathtubs, an automatic wheelchair washer, Medichairs, wheelchair weight scale, blanket warmer, 34 electric bed and bedside table sets and overbed tables.
The dining room and activity area received couches, table and chair sets and window coverings.
Donations to the dietary department included dishes, dish heater and insulated food carts.
Items for the activity department included a smart board, karaoke machine, stereos, televisions, video equipment and sound systems and a bingo machine.
Recently the auxiliary furnished the St. Paul’s Visitation Room, a private room where families can get together for coffee and a visit or hold a special party for their loved one.
The group, Compton said, has always followed Sister Jean’s mantra, which states, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
Gone fishing
Nine-year-old Meredith Cottrell patiently waits for a bite at the Intermountain Sport Fishing’s annual Kids Fishing Day, Saturday, while dad Keith and sister Rachel sit nearby.
The fish were slow to nibble on the bait provided to those who attended, but everyone was treated to hotdogs chips and a drink, courtesy of the Co-op Kids Club.
Jazzing it up
The Dauphin Junior Jazz Band opened an evening of entertainment, June 7, on the upper stage at Selo Ukraina.
The evening also included performances from the senior jazz band, as well as the DRCSS choir.
Countbacks needed at Kings golf tourney
A countback was needed to determine the winners of the Dauphin Kings Par 3 Extravaganza, Saturday at the Gilbert Plains Country Club.
The team of Rob Bouchard, Anthony Wiens, Brad Carefoot and Seth Gares combined to shoot a nine-under 45 and beat the team of Steve Desroches, Jake Wiens, Dylan Mills and Brady Perrault on a countback after they also finished with a 45.
Two shots back was the team of Jordan Pernarowski, Mike Pernarowski, Ian Brezden and Blake Bartram.
In off-ice news, forward Kaden Bryant, who led the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with 36 goals and was second in scoring with 75 points, committed to the University of Ottawa Gee Gees of the Ontario University Athletics Association.
For lots more check this week's Dauphin Herald!
Fox makes U16 provincial team
Dauphin’s Sully Fox will represent Manitoba at the U16 Western Challenge in Langley, B.C., July 1 to 7, after making the U16 provincial football team.
A center for the Dauphin Clippers football team, Fox attended several tryout camps before finally making the cut.
“The tryouts were pretty intense, but all the guys there were looking for a spot on the team,” he said.
Fox, 15, plans to work hard to crack the starting lineup and hopes to learn as much as possible, which he plans to share with his Clippers teammates.
“Trying to make us better, too,” he added.
Manitoba enters the four-team tournament as the fourth seed and will play its first game, July 3, against number-one seed Saskatchewan, while number two B.C. will play number three Alberta.
The bronze and gold medal games will take place, July 6.
In trying out for Team Manitoba, Fox was asked to play as a defensive lineman, a position he had never played before.
“And I really, really like it. It’s really fun on the D-line. So I think I’d probably prefer playing on the D-line,” he said.
Fox wishes to thank his coaches with the Clippers for their support in helping him to make the provincial team.
On May 14, the Rural Manitoba Football League held its east-west all-star game. Fox was joined by his Clippers teammates Matthew Zurba, Will Stinson, Damon Nepinak, Garrett Thompson, Scott Gower and Joseph Lopez on the East all-star team, which won, 16-8.
Lopez was then selected to represent the Manitoba rural all-stars against the Saskatchewan rural all-stars in the Challenge Cup, May 23, in Melville, Sask., which was won by Saskatchewan, 24-16.
Clippers medal on the pitch at provincials
It was not the colour they were hoping for, but both of Dauphin’s high school rugby teams came home from this weekend’s provincials with medals.
With no Winnipeg teams entered in the provincial tournament, the Westman High School Rugby League finalists earned an automatic berth into the championship game, which again pitted the Dauphin Clippers against the league champion Rivers Rams.
The Rams came away with a 34-14 win and the provincial title.
Clippers coach Aaron Miner said the Clippers, which was limited to only 15 players, played their hearts out.
Get the full rundown in this week's Dauphin Herald!
Hlady takes his game to the pros
Dauphin native Will Hlady has taken his baseball career to the next level.
After finishing his college career with the Valley City State University Vikings, Hlady signed with the Tucson Saguaros of the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs, an independent league with teams in California, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.
Hlady was heading to a Vikings practice when he received a phone call inviting him to a tryout in California, which resulted in his signing with the Saguaros. Hlady made his professional debut, June 4, earning the win in a 15-4 victory over the California-based Martinez Sturgeon. Hlady pitched five innings, allowing four hits, four runs of which only one was earned, while walking four and striking out seven. Hlady helped his own cause going two-for-two at the plate, with a walk and four runs-batted-in.
It was the first time in five years Hlady stepped to the plate, which, he said, made things interesting.
“Guys throw a little bit harder than what I’m used to seeing from playing back in high school. So it was a little bit of an adjustment, but it worked out well for me in my favour,” he said.
There is a period of adjustment, Hlady said, because the ball moves quicker and players are bigger and stronger and have more experience.
“Obviously, the guys that are here are here for a reason. They can all play at the next level. So it’s a little more competitive, I feel, and there’s a lot more consistency from players,” he said. “The guys that are coming up hit more frequently. Guys are making plays more frequently. There’s a lot more professionalism to it, as well, with showing up on time, being there before games and taking care of yourself.”
The biggest adjustment for Hlady is learning to hit his spots when he is pitching.
“Because guys will be able to hit the ball over the fence quite easily here. And I’ve seen that from our team firsthand and from other teams we’ve played against so far,” he said.
Hlady feels he has matured on the mound throughout his college career and he is able to control his offspeed pitches and fastball better.
“And just sticking with it and not being too frustrated when things don’t go my way,” he added.
Tucson is the two-time defending champions in the Pecos League and the goal, obviously, is to win a third straight championship.
“Which seems very doable with the way we’re playing right now,” Hlady said of the 8-2 Saguaros.
As for his own goals, Hlady hopes to improve enough to take his skills to the next professional level.
Pecos teams play in cities that do not have major or minor league baseball teams and they are not affiliated with either. The Pecos League has a 22-man roster with no designated hitter used in games. Each team roster has eight experienced players and 13 rookies.
The Pecos League regular season runs through the middle of the summer from June 1 to Aug. 5.
Parkland Campus celebrates the Class of 2022
Assiniboine Community College Parkland Campus celebrated its Class of 2022, Friday with a graduation ceremony in Dauphin.
This year’s Class of 2022 consists of 43 graduates.
Business administration: Human Resource Management diploma - Carley Coulter, Claire Gingera, Campbell Orvis, Ashley Poynting and Jessica Zurba.
Comprehensive Health Care Aide certificate - Tyra-Jane Delaurier, Wynona Guiboche, Noeline Muoneme and Madison Stratuliak.
Early Childhood Education diploma - Julia Bluhm, Carlee Farrow, Chloe Genaille, Faith McLaughlin, Britteny Sinclair, Amber Tkachyk and Aminay Yusuf.
Mature Student High School diploma - Carly Blady, Don Geriko Estanislao, Maxwell Genaille, Michelle Gouldsborough, Niki Guiboche, Sebastian Keewatin, Dustin McKay, Skyla McKay, Anna-Maria Ogg, Amanda Pangman, Kylie Paterson, Karen Renshaw and Mathew Walls-Orosz.
Office Skills certificate - Singh Harpreet and Nicole Sutherland.
Youth Employment Skills Certificate of Achievement - Denee Baptiste, Robert Baron, Angel Bull, Johnny Campbell, Shaydon Davis, Brody Denbow, Wynona Guiboche, Kennedy Ironstand, Edina Malcolm, Hope Roulette and Taylor Vier.
Karen Renshaw, a graduate of the Mature Student High School program was valedictorian.
As a mature student, Renshaw and her peers viewed life experience as an incredible asset to supplement the learning that took place in their time at ACC.
In her speech, she thanked everyone who attended the ceremony, noting it is the first time since 2019 that graduates have been able to celebrate with family friends and faculty members.
“This has been a wonderfully amazing year for adult learners, the challenges that came with a decision to improve the quality of our lives. Congratulations to you,” she added.
Renshaw also thanked the teachers, staff and Elders for the high standard of education they provided to students. Noting ACC is part of Treaty 2, she said it is because of the land they were all able to meet together over the last few years to improve themselves as a community.
Renshaw poked fun at herself during her speech.
“Returning to school at the ripe old age of 54 has been a journey. Next year, I can order from the seniors menu at Smitty’s,” she joked. “You know you are older than your teachers when they would ask, ‘hey, Karen, do you remember when?’ I would answer with, ‘man, you are lucky I remembered pants’.”
Renshaw admitted she was shocked to learn she was valedictorian, as well as honoured and amazed.
“After a couple of days, it came to me no one else applied,” she joked.
It took Renshaw a few tries to come up with a speech. Her first attempt, she said, was a reference to mountain climbing.
“Heck, I can’t even climb three flights of stairs. Thank God ACC is all one level,” she joked.
Her second attempt was about how we survived COVID, Zoom classes, masks, a winter storm in April, late night studies and cramming for last minute essays. She finally decided to write her speech the way they had lived the past eight months, by the seat of their prayers.
“Thank you, Lord/Creator, our higher power for guiding us to make a change. Thank you for putting these amazing people on our path for a better future. Thank you mostly for helping us make the grade. Amen,” she said.
On behalf of her fellow graduates, Renshaw thanked family members for their support, encouragement and for joining the graduates on their special day. She also thanked her classmates to teaching her so much.
“Your kindness will always be close to my heart. You folks are top notch. You will shine bright in your careers and lives,” she said. “The knowledge we have acquired will remain with us for the rest of our lives and we are grateful for that.”
Following the ceremony, graduates, family and friends enjoyed a barbecue meal.
Get the party started
Bratstva Studios Ukrainian Dance dancers took part in the Canadian National Ukrainian Festival kickoff party, Saturday, outside the CNUF office on 3rd Ave. NE.
The event also included a barbecue and music by Boris Nowasad and the Melody Kings.
Play ball
Dauphin played host to a Grand Slam Jamboree, Saturday at the Vermillion Park Sportsplex.
The first-ever Vic Fron Memorial Day jamboree saw 11 teams hitting the diamond for a day full of baseball fun.