Carla Taylor to sing at PRIME MINISTER HARPER event

My wife Carla is honoured to be singing at an event
Conservative Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
will be attending this Tuesday in Regina, SK.

I'll have some photos to post later in the week.

Last RODEO of the summer at Circle Square

Ranchers were in great glee as the last rodeo wrapped up a summer of fun at the ranch. Sheriff Robin Exner was an engaging master of ceremonies. And staff directed by Chantel Sebastian helped the ranchers show off the riding skills they developed over their weeklong stay. Besides horsemanship ranchers enjoyed, BMX bike riding, archery, rock wall climbing, singing, campfires, chapel time and heaps of fun and frivolity.

Town Hall / Opera House gets new PAINT

Larry Unick from Indian Head, and his helper are hard at work painting the Town Hall / Opera house.
This week the men have displayed nerves of steel as they hover high above the town on a crane that almost reaches the top of the wonderful building.

Road Scenes - ANOTHER sunset and some history

Tuesday evening found me traveling across the south of Saskatchewan. At Cadillac, SK I headed north with an eventual destination of Swift Current, SK.
However, my van stalled along side the highway (Fords and 34 degree heat don't mix well). But as a history buff I was fortunate to have stopped beside a cairn marking the historic Fort Walsh / Fort Qu'Appelle trail. And, as one who loves praire sunsets I was again blessed to be soaking in it's beauty.
Half an hour later my van had cooled down and I was able to get rolling again, happy to have witnessed such splendor at an obscure but historic location.

Circle Square Ranch a BLESSING

Circle Square Ranch is located on the former Norman Duncan farm south of Wolseley. Established by Norm Bonk 20 years ago the facility has hosted hundreds of children over the years.
Today we made the short trip out to the ranch to take our son Thomas for his first camp adventure. He was excited! We were greeted by Camp Director Robin Exner astride an impressive black gelding who Robin said Brooke Mercer had loaned the ranch.

Thomas had no fear of loneliness as friend and classmate Randy Paulgaard is there, as are other Dr. Isman students Kaley Mercer and relative Danielle Tubman. Also a number of staff attend church with us in Regina.

Having a camp of this of prominence in our backyard is truly a blessing to families from all over Saskatchewan, and of course the community of Wolseley.

Wolseley HERITAGE Foundation Annual meeting

Saturday evening the Wolseley Heritage Foundation held an Annual General Meeting on the beautiful treed grounds of Wolseley's historic North West Territories Courthouse. David Forsyth guided attendees on a tour of the recently cleaned out and spruced up Courthouse. Special thanks go to Cory Johnstone for his work on the building.

People at the meeting agreed that Heritage Foundation should begin determining an appropriate approach and project that will ensure this building remains an integral part of the community.

Completed in 1895 the building was the Courthouse for the North West Territories until 1909. It then became a jail and barracks for the North West Mounted Police until 1915. Then it was turned into a Detention Home for boys and finally in 1921 formed the original Home for the Infirm (now Lakeside Home). Now vacant, this well maintained historic building is prime for renovation and revitalization.

By-the-way, the meeting had a wonderful blend citizens. Shirley Harris was the chair, Eleanor Dahlman was secretary, Mrs. Lillian Christensen at 90 years old stayed for the entire meeting, and Cheryl Kai (Chatterson) who like me, has recently returned to Wolseley was an interested participant. Others in attendance were, Boyd and Kit Taylor, Margaret Hryniuk, Ruth Banbury, Olga Greening, Rick Dahlman, Dennis Fjestad, Graham and Isabel Taylor, Mr. Fathers and Denise Ketchison and David Forsyth.

Road Scenes - SOURIS, Manitoba's Swinging Bridge

Last week I had an appointment in Carlyle in south eastern Saskatchewan. From there I had a stop in Redvers, SK...then on to Winnipeg, Manitoba. My route took me through Souris, Manitoba. And I must say, what a nice town!
Of course I walked across their "Swinging Bridge" which spans the Souris river. It is longer Wolseley's, but it is so bouncy that you wouldn't want to take elderly people across. However, it's a nice bridge nonetheless. I also noticed that many of the houses around Souris are historic and impressive. So if your ever in southern Manitioba, take some time to visit Souris.

Road Scenes...WHY?

I was recently asked why there are posts called "Road Scenes". Well, I work for Pharmasave Drug stores and drive a great deal in southern Saskatchewan. I always have a camera with me so I take photos of things I find interesting. Now you know about "Road Scenes".

One of the last kicks at SUMMER

Weird Willies Esso station was hopping Friday morning. Vehicles were lined up for gas and the store was busy. The license plates were from all over North America, in fact I chatted with a guy from Edmonton who just finished going to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennesee. He lived only a few blocks from where we used to live so we had a nice talk.
Around town, I saw several campers and motorhomes, people having a picnic in the playground and of course many going over the swinging bridge.

Moffat Stone House tour reveals HISTORY

The Stones of Moffat tour was a resounding success again this year.
We gathered at the MoffatHall at 1:00 pm and after an informative talk by Kay Parley boarded two school buses and a filled a few cars. With tour guides Stanley Taylor on one bus, and his wife
Phyllis on the other, each group enjoyed knowledgeable insight and recollections of the Moffat area.

We stopped at the six remaining stone houses, the Church, and numerous ruins of structures that have unfortunately not survived the ravages of the Canadian Prairies.

Among the those on the tour were former Wolseley residents Alden and Elaine Herndier, Pat and Carol Kydd, Mansel and Joyce Lavediere, Ashley and Ruby Pow, and Ken Stringer.
One of the most enthused participants was my Aunt Jeanette Bohonos. Many Wolseley, Glenavon, Montmartre and of course Moffat residents also attended.

For anyone interested in history or prairie architecture from the NWT times this tour is a must see!

Now that was a SUNSET

Last evening the sky over Wolseley was the canvas for one of this worlds most glorious displays...a Sunset over the prairie.

Canoe Races a SPLASH / Beach Volleyball a HIT

A beach without volleyball or a lake without a canoe just wouldn't be right. And "Dam Days" made sure both were well represented.

The volleyball was a focal point for much of the action around the Beverage tent all weekend. Randy Clark had the teams fired up and the competion was brisk.
Larry and Janice Hilderman organized the canoe races and they were awesome. The paddlers in each race were intense but some ended up off course and a couple tipped overboard into the drink. Of note was first and second place in the one of the over 40 races were paddlers over the age of sixty.
Racers Boyd Taylor and Kirk Molder are both well over 60 years old and they set the mark younger paddlers just couldn't meet.

CARLA TAYLOR and the Electric Outlaws rocked

The cabaret was rocking on Saturday night. Carla and The Electric Outlaws cranked out the tunes, people danced and danced and danced some more. The tent was packed to the seams and the generally well behaved crowd had a great time.
Carla played a few of the old Red Hot Burrito songs and many in crowd the sang along to the songs from days gone by.
By-the-way, the Burritos played the official grand opening of the Town Hall/Opera House a few years ago.

Street hockey becomes grass HOCKEY

The street hockey morphed into grass hockey and it proved to be a blast. These spirited games were fun to watch and the intensity rose as teams got knocked out of the tournament.
After one of the later games I came across the dejected crew of Chad Souchotte, Darrell Parker and Trevor (Center Line) Baran all muttering "But we had them 6 to 2".

Kids PARADE gets rolling

About 75 excited children gathered on the Dr. Isman school grounds in anticpation of the Children's Parade. There were kids in wagons, on decorated tricycles and bicycles, costumes, wigs and face paint everywhere. The children milled about until Linda Moss got eveyone in order before departing for the Parade around the lake.
With an RCMP car in the lead the multitude of children followed with about as much order as a herd of cats. I ended up riding my bike a few other parents joged beside in an almost futile attempt to keep kids from crashing, going of course or passing the police car.
It all ended with the happy children heading off to Shop Easy for an ice cream treat sponsored by TD Canada Trust.

Local stars ENTERTAIN!

Karaoke was one of many highlights from the weekend's "Dam Days". Friday night, Sunday afternoon and evening the town reverberated with warbling from local stars like Ron Lyke, Dave Edgar, Mark Beliveau, Rick Norwig, Dwight Williams and a cast of other Wolseley characters. These folks "lit" up the stage forever changing the memories of wonderful songs.

Thankfully, Eldon Perley, Jocelyn Linnell and some other good singers where there to give voice to some real singing.
However, Karaoke proves entertainment is not just the ability to sing.

THIS weekend "Dam Days" fun in Wolseley

"Dam Days" begin Friday evening and the whole weekend promises to be great!

The Beverage Tent, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Races, Carla Taylor and the Electric Outlaws Cabaret, Dunk Tank, Kids Activities, Karaoke, Pancake Breakfast, Community Choir, Music at the Lakeside Home and Cribbage offer fun for all ages.

So bring your family, friends, and invite complete strangers to come to Wolseley...this weekend!!

Zachary and Jordon are SAVED!

Thank God. Zachary Miller and Jordon Bruyere are now safe. And after a 10 hour standoff the twisted Peter Robert Joseph Whitmore finally surrendered.
Now, yet again, this deviant will go before a judge to account for his evil ways.

A NEW link

The Snow Plow is a new link that has been added to this site. Take a moment and check it out.

http://the-snowplow.blogspot.com/

Stones of MOFFAT tour coming soon

My roots in Wolseley run deep. From south of Wolseley on the paternal Taylor, Ferguson/Graham side my ancestors settled the Moffat/Greenville areas in 1882. From north of Wolseley my maternal ancestor Samuel Jolly settled north of Ellisboro in the same year 1882.

But the south will be the focus during the Stones of Moffat tour in mid August. I took my son Thomas and my daughter Emma on the tour a couple of years ago and they LOVED it. The tour we attended began with a church service in the historic Moffat church. Then, Phyllis and Stanley Taylor guided us through the stone house route where their deep understanding of the area proved remarkable. After the tour, Kay Parley gave a talk in the Moffat hall and offered up unique insight to this wonderful community.

We also had time to tour the Moffat graveyard which was bittersweet as I have a brother, uncle, cousin, grandfather, grandmother and numerous other relatives laid to rest there.

For anyone interested in history or early prairie architecture the tour is a must see!
I'll be there and I hope you will be too.