A year to remember in Elk Point and around the world
from Elk Point Review by Vicki Brooker
The past twelve months have been a year which will long be remembered both here in our own community and around the world. Who would have dreamed that so many changes could take place in one short year? Let’s look back at the people and places in the 2001 headlines.
JANUARY
Increased library fees for County residents sparked discussion between the County Council and its Library Board when it was found that a membership card in a library which the Northern Lights Library System would cost a whopping $60,
The Town of Elk Point dropped plans to annex the quarter section containing their recreation park, in hopes that this would facilitate County agreement for annexing two other parcels adjoining the south side of the community.
A flag proclaiming the International Year of Volunteers was hoisted aloft to officially mark the kickoff of the year’s celebrations.
Canadian Natural Resources Limited announced plans to reduce spacing of wells on ten sections in the Lindbergh area.
Automation arrived at Elk Point Public Library, but the Friends of the Library were having a struggle to keep their heads above water.
January 26 marked the end of an era as Elk Point's Agricore elevator closed its doors to grain producers, who had been able to deliver grain to a local facility for the past 74 years.
FEBRUARY
The CFB Cold Lake Pipe Band led teams onto the ice and Progressive Conservative legislative hopeful Ray Danyluk threw the first rock to officially open the 18th annual Oilmen’s Bonspiel.
Marshall Kachmar was presented with the Lions Clubs International's highest honor, the Melvin Jones Fellowship, at the Elk Point and District Lions 30th Anniversary Charter Night, which also served as a fundraiser for Glen and Cathy Ockerman, whose sons were severely burned in a farmyard explosion in October 2000.
Eugene Buck was not only returned for a second term as Elk Point Chamber of Commerce President, he was also a great entertainer at the Chamber's Annual Meeting.
PC hopeful Ray Danyluk opened his Elk Point campaign office.
Town Council looked to recycling as a way to lower landfill costs.
A trust fund was established to help Elk Point teen Jeffrey Young fight a rare form of epilepsy.
F G. Miller High School exam marks took a “quantum leap” to an average of 71.6%,
MARCH
March started off with a candidates’ forum in Heinsburg, where voters quizzed Vital Ouellette and Ray Danyluk on agriculture, education and health care.
Michelle Zapesocki, Randy Wruth and Janice Tymofichuk took home first place trophies from Elk Point 4H Multi Club speakoffs.
A lengthy power outage delayed the Skating Club Ice Carnival for five hours, Daylan Hoffman wowed her home town crowd with the style and grace that took her all the way to the Canadian championships.
Ray Danyluk joined “Ralph's World” with his sizeable margin of 5338 votes as compared to Ouellette’s 3192 in the provincial election.
Elk Point Bantam Colts won Provincial gold in Consort, Unfortunately, Midget Thunder were unable to follow their example the following weekend.
Elk Point Community Choir and Friends had another sellout year at their dinner theatres as they presented “Get Smart” to appreciative audiences,
Donations came from as far away as Pennsylvania and Washington State to help the Jeffrey Young fund reach its mark.
Ed Bugera retired from Canada Post after 26 years. of devoted ser vice.
APRIL
Shane St. Arnault was named Coach of the Year by Elk Point Minor Hockey, while Nicholas Myshaniuk won the Kurash Memorial trophy at the annual Minor Hockey Banquet.
Elk Point and District Lions hosted their first ever and quite successful blood donor clinic.
The Town of Elk Point recorded a surplus for 2000, even after coping with unexpected expenses.
An Elk Point motorist escaped with minor injuries when his car was totally demolished in a collision with a semi on Highway 41 in Elk Point.
Elk Point Agricultural Society brought cowboy poet Hugh McLennan to town for an entertaining evening.
At least 15 vehicles were damaged by vandals while their owners attended a _ funeral reception in Elk Point.
Elk Point Seniors kicked off the International Year of Volunteers with a tea and entertainment, Sid Holthe was presented with a lifetime membership in the Alberta Senior Citizens Sports and Recreation Association, which also presented a certificate of appreciation to the Pioneer Circle.
Seven-year-old B. J. Bailey charmed the judges and audience with his talent at the Youth Talent Explosion, winning the Junior division, while fiddler Daniel Gervais of St. Paul won the Youth division.
MAY
Elk Point's Metelytsia Ukrainian Dancers presented a marvelous 22nd annual spring concert to a packed crowd. That same evening, another good crowd enjoyed the 11th annual spring concert of the Elk Point Community Choir.
Tanya Pankiw won National gold at the Women's Juvenile National Handball Championships.
FG. Miller High School featured a number of former students as guest speakers at their annual Career Day.
MLA Ray Danyluk was asked for assistance in getting funding for upgrading industrial subdivision roads when he visited Elk Point Town Council for the first time in his new role.
Elk Point Elks and OORP honored charter members Elmer Bjornstad, Mary Bochon, Mary Kryvenchuk and Niki Riemer at their 40th Anniversary celebrations.
Elk Point and Heinsburg explored new tourism opportunities when they met with REACH Corporation's community economic development opportunity initiative planner Tammy Bodnar.
JUNE
Michelle Leckie and Nichole Havener showed Elk Point 4-H Multi Club’s Grand and Supreme champions at the club's achievement day. Robyn Ockerman went on to win interclub Rate of Gain, while her brother Marvin won Junior Grooming and Randy Wruth the Intermediate Showmanship at the District Show. Elk Point also displayed the winning Pen of Five steers.
Bicycles, quads and hikers joined in a trek down the Iron Horse Trail, with several representatives of Alberta Trailnet among those who enjoyed the first ever trail ride hosted by Heinsburg Community Club.
A fire-engine-red 1958 Chev Impala owned by Paul Buoy of Vegreville won the People’s Choice award at the annual Elk Point Auto Club Show and Shine.
Ninety golfers swung for S.T.A.R.S. at the second annual golf tournament hosted by Elk Point Emergency Services, making the day a huge success.
Father's Day at Fort George and Buckingham House Historic Site took visitors back to fur trade times with displays and entertainment.
The Town's Paint Up Downtown campaign was a great success, with owners of numerous buildings taking advantage of the grant offered by the Town toward a fresh new paint job.
All that, and they decreased taxes too, dropping the mill rate by 1.135 mills.
Vernon “Babe” Sharkey retired after 52 years behind the wheel of a school bus, the second of four generations involved in the family business which has delivered children to school since the 1940s.
Schools in Elk Point and Heinsburg celebrated the achievements of their Elementary students with the presentation of numerous awards to end the school year.
Class historians Carlen Mutch and Curtis Croteau gave a lighthearted look at the the members of the F G, Miller Class of 1001 at their Farewell Ceremonies.
Close to 40 horses and riders took part in a very successful Charlene Baker Memorial Horse Show, with the late Mrs. Baker's parents and children on hand to present the trophies.
JULY
A showery Canada Day didn’t keep Elk Point and district from enjoying pancakes and parade, with the stage show moved indoors for two hours of nonstop entertainment.
The clouds were gone by the following weekend when good crowds enjoyed the Stoney Lake Stampede's wild west action.
Alberta's Land Surveyors Association honored pioneer surveyor Peter Fidler with the dedication of a new plaque installed at the Fidler statue.
The Town of Elk Point and Anadarko Canada debated the pros and cons of locating an oil well beside the Towns sewage lagoon, with the oil company even indicating they might be able to help financially to expand the lagoon in a different direction. They later decided not to drill at that location.
Elk Point White Sox hosted the Midget “A" provincials, with Wainwright Midgets taking home the gold medals. Mayor Ed Buck and longtime minor ball supporter Phil Sheplawy were the ceremonial first pitcher and catcher.
Elk Point Saddle Slickers enjoyed their annual Achievement Day.
A piece of Elk Point history came tumbling to the ground as the two-room Elk Point Public School built in 1929 and later serving as Town office, police barracks and _ courthouse, was razed. At the same time, word was received that the pioneer Fern Chapel School in the Ferguson Flats area has been declared historically significant and was approved for restoration funding.
Parks Day was great fun, with a crew from Fort George and Buckingham rouse joining in to celebrate with fur trade entertainment.
Sid Holthe was recognized by his peers with presentation of a life membership in the Alberta Retired Teachers Association.
Local bowler Faye Smith won Provincial gold at the Alberta Seniors Games in Lethbridge, where she was first in the 55+ category.
AUGUST
Buddy Bensmiller of Dewberry won the World Professional Chuckwagon's championship at Strathmore Heritage Days, a title he first won in 1997, to cap off a season which also saw him win the Ponoka Stampede race meet.
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. announced plans to extend a newly acquired pipeline linking Elk Point and Hardisty to the Lindbergh and Beartrap batteries, by burrowing under the North Saskatchewan River near the Windsor Salt plant.
Lois Yaremkevich won her sixth Elk Point Fair Grand Aggregate award since 1980, with the fair's second annual quilt show exhibiting 67 excellent examples of fabric art, some dating back as far as 1870.
Temperatures neared 35° C as 128 golfers vied for the Elk Point Oilmen’s championship, which was claimed by Tom Parenteau for the second time in three years, with 2000 champ Robin Moroziuk second in the championship flight.
Minister of Economic Development Mark Norris was "overwhelmed" by the friendly people and beautiful scenery in his tour of MLA Ray Danyluk's constituency, which included a jaunt down the Iron Horse Trail between Elk Point and Heinsburg. Norris called the trail "a brilliant idea. It's a great way to showcase the area."
Not everyone thought that trails were an asset, however, and both proand anti-trail groups planned to campaign on the trail issue in the coming municipal elections.
Over 30 performers of all ages entertained an exceptional crowd at the Forts des Prairies Jamboree as another summer at Fort George and Buckingham House Historic Site drew to an end.
Elk Point's new waste management transfer station was open for business, with designated spaces for a wide variety of recyclable materials as well as bins for County residents’ household garbage.
The Town of Elk Point met with four cabinet ministers and a group of MLAs to plead their case for funding for road improvement in the industrial park, but to no avail, because the government indicated they were out of money,
Fifteen members of F G. Miller's 23-member graduating class of 2001 celebrated the achievement of their high school diplomas with Tanya Pankiw not only as valedictorian but also the recipient of the lion's share of year-end awards for her prowess in academics and sports.
SEPTEMBER
Matt Veer was named the All Around Cowboy of the Lakeland Rodeo Association after winning the Showdown Finals Calf Roping championship. His dad Peter went home with the Bill Ullery Memorial trophy for Most Sportsmanlike Cowboy of the Year.
Heinsburg celebrated their railway heritage with a day jointly hosted by the Elk Point Historical Society which included tours of their vintage railway station and restored water tower.
A fire protection master plan was brought forward for Town Council's perusal mere hours before New York and Washington were devastated by terrorist attacks.
Elk Point seemed very far from the scenes of tragedy as the community turned out in good numbers for Information Night, with special guest Henry "Gizmo" Williams signing countless autographs.
Three hats were thrown in the ring for the mayor's chair in the October 15 municipal election, while five candidates submitted nominations for four Council seats.
Petrovera's open house at Ferguson Flats outlined a drilling program which could see up to 140 new wells in the Ferguson Flats and Lindbergh areas, drilled into oil-bearing Colony channels revealed by 3-D seismic exploration.
Anadarko Canada also held an open house, giving a progress report on their Kehewin and Moose Hills exploration and drilling programs. Twelve development wells were already being drilled, with 26 additional exploration wells planned for the future.
F. G. Miller High School students received awards for the 2000-2001 school year, with Tanya Pankiw receiving four more awards and the Bruce Smith Memorial Award going to Tasha Yopyk.
Heinsburg High School students also were recognized with awards, with Sarah Daniels and Shantelle Moyah qualifying for the School Division awards.
OCTOBER
Seven of eight Town election candidates faced a good crowd of voters at a forum hosted by the Elk Point Chamber of Commerce prior to the election which saw Lyle Frisby elected mayor and Parrish Tung, Dennis Jasinsky, Dwayne Vogel and Manon Joice elected to Council. Ms Joice resigned shortly after the election due to employment commitments. A date was subsequently set for a by-election to fill the vacancy.
Incumbent Allen Young won the Division 1 seat in the County, but in Division 2, a tie between Sharil Baumgardner and Tom Kurek was broken with a draw of names from a receptacle giving Ms Baumgardner the win. County voters said yes to the trail referendum by a 1621 to 899 margin.
Elk Point United Church marked 75 years of service to the community with a day of homecoming and thanksgiving, with a packed crowd for the service, dinner and anniversary celebration and messages coming from many former clergy and parishioners who could not attend in person.
The Chamber of Commerce hosted a small but successful Small Business Week mini trace fair.
Carolyn Onusko celebrated 25 years of caregiving and compassion with her family and co-workers at Elk Point Health Centre, where she joined the staff in 1976.
Carvers at Elk Point Co-op created many fanciful jack-o-lanterns in readiness for Halloween.
NOVEMBER
Frog Lake First Nation proudly opened their handsome new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school, which was designed by Clarence Faithful with the assistance of the local school board.
Elk Point's own Abilities Network set up shop to serve the needs of clients in the Elk Point area.
F. G. Miller High School honored World War II veterans who were in attendance at their annual
Remembrance Day ceremonies, with the large community celebration held two days later on November 11 itself.
Crusaders International collected an even hundred boxes of gifts and toiletries to be sent overseas for Operation Christmas Child.
Elk Point's new Town Council got right down to fulfilling their election promises when they approved plans to build an outdoor skating rink just north of the A. G. Ross Arena.
Outstanding growth of the Elk Point and District Lions Club led to the presentation of a prestigious membership growth award, with District Governor Ken Straughan on hand for a special joint meeting of the Lions, Community Lions and Leos.
The Christmas season kicked off with Elk Point Chamber of Commerce presenting their annual Christmas Extravaganza, in cooperation with a number of local groups.
DECEMBER
Heinsburg dedicated their annual Craft Sale to community boosters Colleen and Vernon "Babe" Sharkey.
Ten municipalities signed the land deal to take over abandoned rail lines from CN.
Petrovera introduced plans to drill as many as 27 new wells in the Ross Lake area.
Bernice Capjack-Hugo was successful in her bid for the vacant Town Council seat. Both she and fellow candidate Mae Hendrickson had run against Lyle Frisby for mayor in the October election.
Elk Point Community Choir presented their annual gift of song in the form of a delightful Christmas concert, and four local churches combined to perform a hugely successful cantata. Elk Point Elementary School students played to packed houses at both of their concerts, and F G. Miller High School honored retiring teacher Ron Onusko at their annual Christmas Brunch as another year drew to a close.
