The headlines of 2006
from Elk Point Review By Vicki Brooker Review Staff
A new year has dawned, and 2006 calendars have been replaced with their new counterparts. Let’s take a look back at the news that made the headlines in the past 12 months...
January
Elk Point Chamber of Commerce had a full two dozen members on hand for their first meeting of 2006 to greet their newly hired economic development officer, Emie Isley.
Elk Point Metelytsia Ukrainian Dance Club celebrated Ukrainian Christmas Eve at Armistice Hall with a traditional meal, spirited dancing and a play encompassing many seasonal traditions.
E.G. Miller High School students and residents of the area attended two sessions explaining the dangers of crystal meth, which RCMP Staff Sgt. Tan Sanderson said, “can turn a town this size upside down,”
The Town of Elk Point took a big step toward the future as they gave the go ahead to the initial 18-lot phase of a new residential subdivision at the north end of Elk Point,
Confirmation was received that $140,000 in provincial funding had been approved for a heliport at Elk Point Health Centre.
February
The Town of Elk Point unveiled $1.55 million in 2006. public works projects at their town hall meeting aimed at getting input from local residents.
Jeff Latos and his BJ Services rink. won the 23rd annual Oilmen’s Bonspiel grand challenge afier- a nine-end - marathon match of strategies against a very determined Leonard Gadowski and Shamrock Valley #1.
Sixteen people from Elk Point and district learned the basics of economic development at a two-day workshop instructed by Walter DeSilva.
With the original eight nights sold out, Elk Point Community Choir and Friends announced that their 2006 dinner theatre would be held over for a ninth performance.
Parent commitment and support went a long way in the school board’s decision to keep Heinsburg Community School open for the 2006-07 school year.
The Fur Trade Rendezvous hosted by the Friends of Fort George and Buckingham House portrayed “the best of fur trade traditions”, according to eminent historian and guest speaker Michael Payne, while Minister of Community Development, the Hon. Gary Mar, said history is “very much a part of your present, and of your educational, social and economic future.”
Rev. Dale Lang of Taber, whose son died in a tragic school shooting, brought a message of the need for forgiveness, when he addressed high school students and the community on Valentine's Day. The community’s economic development topped the agenda at the Chamber’s annual meeting, with Hanna, AB mayor Pat Bums as guest spéaker.
The town and the economic development committee agreed that Elk Point is “open for business, when EDO Emie Isley | visited council with a list of recommendations ranging from tax incentives to a steep hike in taxes on vacant, derelict buildings. A “banner year” with a $220,000 operating surplus in 2005 announced by town manager Myron Goyan would help finance the town’s 2006 capital projects. Mayor Parrish Tung said.
March
The Beverly Hillbillies came back to Elk Point 11 years after the Community Choir's 1995 dinner theatre hit, with the new version bigger and better than ever, and with Jed Clampett (Don Conrad) and Granny Moses (Linda Grabas) not looking a day older.
Elk Point’s train station project was back on the chamber agenda, with Loree Aarbo bringing in an artistic concept for a new and multi-functional building in the style of the original station.
Ernie Isley gave up his EDO position to become Bonnyville’s mayor, but said he would retain ties to Elk Point’s economic development as an advisor,
Streets were in bad shape when new snowfall was combined with the untimely death of the town’s grader, with its new replacement not available until the end of the month.
A delegation of 56A Ave. residents visited town council to find out more about the planned installation of curb, gutter and paving in their area.
The Dewberry/Elk Point Bantam Colts found provincial gold in Oyen at the Bantam “D” Provincials.
Elk Point Minor Hockey concluded their season with the biggest-ever awards banquet, where Peewee Avalanche player Taylor Dion Abraham accepted the Alex Kurash Memorial trophy from minor hockey president Edie Lowry.
A foot of wet snow cut attendance from 70 to 18 for the OORP District Meeting hosted by the Elk Point lodge.
April
Four talented young musicians from Elk Point and St. Paul who make up the local band known as Mockteerah shone bright at the Northern Star Search to win the youth section, while Mikaela and Desiree Link won the ages five to eight section and Shaina Gill the nine to 12 section.
Business licenses would be returning to Elk Point, after a long absence, with the aim of developing a registry of businesses. The new grader arrived and was ready to roll, on the heels of winter's final blast.
The chamber’s train station was at first-draft stage. Planning for the annual Shop Local campaign was underway, with a flyer to kick off the month and prizes of gift certificates to be awarded at the end.
Elk Point Elementary School parents hopped on the Canada Day bandwagon, announcing that they were hosting a Doc Walker concert on July 1,
February brought fur trade fun, with MLA Ray Danyluk joining in a Red River jig at the Fur Trade Rendezvous.
Town council was facing tough decisions after tenders for the 2006 capital projects came in 34 percent higher than expected, with the 56A Aye. project about 50 percent higher.
The Riverland Recreational Trail Society was called “leaders in the province” by MLA Ray Danyluk as the RRTS marked the end of a successful year at their annual meeting.
Community development took the next step, with a session where a good cross-section of the community listed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, followed by a session where Walter De Silver identified broad-stroke strategies and invited participants to join focus groups to work on them.
The community's most dedicated volunteers were praised at another tremendously successful firefighters’ ball.
May
Fees collected under the Town of Elk Point’s new business license bylaw would be directed to the economic development committee, after council agreed to a suggestion from the chamber of commerce.
the Metelytsia Ukrainian Dance Club held their annual spring concert, once again featuring Marushka, the famous Ukrainian gypsy storyteller.
At least three local youth groups - Elk Point 4-H Multi Club, Elk Point Girl Guides and the F. G. Miller French Club - rallied to clean up area roadways .
Two suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Rocky Moyah at Frog Lake.
Elk Point’s tax rate held the line at 2005 levels, with only 0.03 of a mill increases coming in residential and farmland taxes.
A media familiarization tour of food and travel writers visited Fort George and Buckingham House historic site, Cecilia’s Raku Pottery and JVM Farm before moving on to Orchard Palace and En Santé Winery in the Lac Santé area.
Elk Point saluted the energy sector's vital role in the local economy with an evening complete with a sumptuous buffet meal and guest speakers. The employees of local business were also-hosted at a dinner in their honour at which guest speaker Walter De Silva spoke on the importance of customer service.
Elk Point Baptist Church dedicated their roomy new facility, with the congregation’s first two leaders. Pastor Ted Clarke and Pastor John McGregor, remarking on the growth and progress over the past 25 years.
The Elk Point Review received four awards in the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association's general excellence competition.
June
The Iron Horse Trail staging area shone as a venue for Elk Point Auto Club’s annual Show and Shine, which featured five gleaming Edsels among the long lineups of vehicles on display.
New member Tyler Legault showed Elk Point’s grand champion steer at the Elk Point 4-H Multi Club achievement day, with Robyn Ockerman showing the supreme champion heifer and Janice Tymofichuk showing both the reserve champion steer and reserve champion heifer.
Another hugely successful Elk Point Emergency Services golf tournament brought the total of support to STARS above the $100,000. total.
The Shop Local campaign was off to a good start with discount cards handed out to over employees of member businesses’.
Street repairs were at the top of council's June agenda, ‘with public Works superintendent reporting that the town has 987 square metres of broken-up pavement to contend with.
Seven graduates of Frog Lake's Chief Napewaew School celebrated success with the community as Christine Faithful gave the valedictory address,
Student athletes were rewarded for a tremendous year at F G, Miller High School's second annual celebration of athletics.
Funding for Canada Day celebrations was in good shape, reported Deanna Easthope at the final planning meeting, with generous donations adding up ta put the budget in the black.
July
F G. Miller High School's Class of 2006 wound up their final year of high school with a gala prom. Elk Point Elementary School celebrated their students’ achievements with the presentation of countless medals and awards.
Canada Day was observed with a full day of activities, from pancakes and parade to stage entertainment, strong man competition and a farm survival race which even involved a little pig kissing.
Animal! trainer extraordinaire Claude Chassé and his star-quality horses Mustang and Mustang Junior were a popular attraction at the Stoney Lake Stampede.
Senseless vandalism, including five incidents at the C. G. Baker Arena, and other property damage concerned Elk Point residents and disheartened volunteers.
Elk Point town council took the first step toward a formalized structure for Elk Point's economic development advisors as they gave first reading to a bylaw establishing an, economic development advisory board.
A $1.5 million quote for Elk Point’s proposed train station set the chamber of commerce back on their heels, but members soon rallied, feeling that with local talent, the job could be done much more economically.
Elk Point Midget Sox won the consolation final when they hosted the Midget Provincials, but teams from Cochrane and Edmonton were still locked in a seventh-inning, 12-all tie when the rain-delayed championship game was called because of darkness, a tie that took several weeks of discussion before it was officially declared a tie.
Campgrounds in the area benefitted from above average attendance.
August
Sponge-painted superheroes were all in a day's play for the Summer Reading Program gang at Elk Point Public Library.
The self-styled economic development committee accepted the new model which would turn them into the town’s economic. development advisory board and met with Paul Pelletier of REACH Corporation to go through the terms of reference for both the board and its subcommittees.
Elk Point was well prepared to welcome new residents, as Kathy Foster and Deanna Easthope showed the chamber of commerce when they displayed one of their updated welcome baskets.
The new location in the Iron Horse Trail staging area was working well for the tourist information centre, which was enjoying an influx of visitors, with more than twice their registrations in the first two months as there had been in all of 2005.
Iris Brown scored a hat trick with her third aggregate win in a row at the newly-named Elk Point Horticulture and Craft Show.
The first-ever Saskatoon Festival at Fort George and Buckingham House was an outstanding success, with almost 140 visitors enjoying the fruits of the season as well as shopping for locally produced crafts and food products.
Troy Lorenson was named the 2006 champion at the 23rd annual Oilmen’s Golf Tournament. Heavy equipment was hard at work ai the north end of town, carving out streets and installing utility lines for the new residential subdivision.
Aboriginal youth in ornate traditional costumes followed the lead of their elders in the KAMADA Walk against drugs and alcohol at Frog Lake in late August.
Over 30 entertainers of all ages, from seven-year old harmonica prodigy Emily Thompson to an 80year-old mule bones artist Roy Scott entertained an excellent crowd at the Forts des Prairies Jamboree.
There was a hot time at the intersection of Highways 41 and 646 as a trailer loaded with round bales went up In smoke.
September
Elders led a large contingent of local youths in the Kokums and Moshums Against Drugs and Alcohol (KAMADA) Walk at Frog Lake,
A challenging August which isolated Heritage Lodge for nine days due to a nasty flu bug was finally over, with residents on their way to recovery.
Lisa Braga and Darby Brooker were co-valedictorians as the F. G. Miller Class of 2006 celebrated their commencement.
Fundraising was the next step for the chamber of commerce, with the price of the first phase of their train station established at $385,000.
Cold and strong winds couldn't deter determined walkers who made their way around the Terry Fox Run route.
Elk Point RCMP’s new detachment commander, Sgt. Darryl Eagles, was welcomed to Elk Point by Mayor Parrish Tung.
New business owners Hans Brand, Trevor Quin and Renita Senz were welcomed by the Chamber.
Keynote speaker Doug Griffiths, MLA for Battle River-Wainwright outlined “13 ways to kill your community” at the Northern Lights Library System conference.
October
F.G. Miller High School honoured its highest achievers for the 2005-06 school year with a vast array of medallions and plaques at the annual awards night.
Two seniors visiting Frog Lake historic site were victims of a violent robbery.
Three young cancer survivors led Elk Point Elementary School's Terry Fox Run.
Elk Point volunteer firefighters proudly displayed their shiny new rescue van, which arrived just in time for Fire Prevention Week.
Elk Point and District Ambulance representative Jason Fisher told the chamber of commerce that he hoped to add a unit and personnel with advanced life support capability to his lineup.
Ed Stelmach’s Progressive Conservative leadership campaign visited Elk Point to present his views on provincial issues.
Animal control issues regarding the number of pets per household topped the council agenda.
Minister of Community Development Denis Ducharme and MLA Ray Danyluk got an update on progress at Fort George and Buckingham House historic site from advisory board chair Donna Chamberland and Friends of the Forts president Dennis Jasinsky.
Elk Point’s upcoming centennial celebration was shaping up to be a community effort, with over 20 eager volunteers bringing ideas to the second planning meeting.
November
PC Leadership candidate Ted Morton presented his plans for Alberta’s future to the community at an open house.
Elk Point and District Allied Arts Society declared they were ready to raise big money for their proposed community cultural centre.
Students at both Elk Point schools remembered the contributions of very special Canadians at a pair of Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Issues regarding youth, drugs and gangs were seen as high priorities as the RCMP detachment set their performance plan for the coming year,
Wars past and present were the focus of the Remembrance Day observances, with Capt. Ellwood of CPB Wainwright as a featured speaker.
Additional streetlights were under consideration by council, following requests from citizens.
Local residents were asked to spread the word to former residents regarding Elk Point’s upcoming centennial celebrations.
Young performers led by Holly Myshaniuk and Diana Anderson brought Bible stories to life at the United Church.
December
Extreme cold couldn't keep Elk Point from enjoying the parade, entertainment and fireworks of the annual Christmas Extravaganza.
Ed Stelmach came from third place in the first round of voting to become Alberta's new PC leader on the second ballot in the second round.
Extravaganza 2006 was declared a big success by the chamber.
Billie Milholland visited the chamber to report that the North Saskatchewan River was slated for designation as a heritage river.
The final two weeks of the year were a nonstop round of concerts, caroling and holiday festivities.
You can get to any of the Elk Point Review Issues for 2006 by clicking on the following link:
