BORDEN — The Borden Friendship Club invited club members from Langham, Maymont and Radisson on June 8 and there were 123 in attendance to enjoy a cold plate supper. President Ed Neufeld welcomed everyone and gave the blessing. The hall and tables were beautifully decorated with the theme “Enjoy my garden”. Entertainers Can Am Country sang and played a few songs before supper then a great many more after the great meal. The 50/50 draw of $250 was won by Jean Brooke of Borden and 19 potted plants went home with guest from out of town. Each town thanked Borden for a great meal and Ed thanked the lunch committee for the meal, decorators Brenda Tumbach and Sharon Assman, and for all those who helped in any way for a delightful evening.
Savannah Sutherland has been doing very well in her track and field endeavors in the United States and her latest achievement was placing first in the 400M hurdles at the University of Texas in Austin and setting a record time making her eligible for the Olympics. Since March of 2023, 19-year-old Savannah has placed first five times and second once in 400M hurdles, and in 400M dash has had two firsts and a second, competing in Texas, New Mexico, Florida and South Carolina. She was on Global news last week being interviewed and showing her racing.
The Borden Friendship Club members were invited to Radisson for June 14 and more than 25 attended, enjoying a supper of chicken and pork roast with many salads and layered desserts. The event was held outside the Goodrich Centre with a stage, pagoda and tent to sit and enjoy the evening. Gerald Wiebe entertained with some gospel songs before supper and president Barb Leschyshyn welcomed everyone and thanked all her committee members for their contributions, then Gerald gave the blessing and supper began. Gerald supplied background music to eat by. After the meal, Neil Stubbs took the stage and entertained with a number of songs, playing guitar, sax, mandolin and accordion with recorded keyboard background and he sang for many of the songs such as Man in Black, Always on My Mind, It Had to Be You. Gerald Wiebe then played guitar and sang a number of songs followed by Neil showing his versatility on his different instruments. The 50/50 of $161 was won by Barb Clancy of Langham and 10 potted plants and two windchimes were given out to guests as door prizes. Each club thanked Radisson for a great evening.
For Borden School grad 2023 principal Trevor Gerwing was M.C. and introduced each graduate as they entered the school gym for the exercises on June 9. The gym was very nicely decorated with blue, silver and black balloons in the nets and on the stage, the backdrop was in black with silver stars, moons and mini lights and balloons along the top, mini lights along the bottom with 2023 in large letters and the south wall was a photo wall along with the theme in silver letters “There’s No Telling How Many Miles You Will Have to Run While Chasing a Dream”. The north wall had many large silver stars and quarter moons decorating the walls.
Each grad came through the balloon/lights archway down the aisle lit with vases of branches and mini lights while Mr. Gerwing spoke of their early years, through school and what they plan for the future:
Noah Braun plans to take computer science at Polytech;
Jack Donegan came from Asquith and will take computer science at the University of Saskatchewan;
Owen Dyck will play AA hockey and then go to trade school;
Jordan Finch came to Borden in Grade 12 and plans to be a mechanic;
Bill Hosegood will play baseball in Michigan on a scholarship and eventually wants to be a lawyer;
Raylene Rothenburger came from Maymont to Borden in the last few years and plans to take psychology at the University of Saskatchewan;
Sydney Schmidt plans to work then be a vet tech; and
Katelyn Worona plans to go to Polytech and become a paramedic.
Noah, Owen, Bill, Sydney and Katelyn took all of their schooling at Borden and were all involved in sports.
The valedictorian address was given by Bill Hosegood who thanked the parents, teachers, fellow grads and said that life is short and it is OK to break the rules occasionally — “The future is ours to hold in the palm of our hands.”
Guest speaker was Chris Anderson , a former graduate of Borden and now a teacher, who spoke of the flood of 10 years ago when students all helped. Borden gave him the foundation to pursue his dream and he wished all the grads to go out and realize their dreams and to have a great future.
The scrolls were presented to each grad by Mr. Gerwing then there were thank you speeches: Katelyn Worona to Parents, reply by Kimberly Worona; to Staff by Jack Donegan and reply by MacKenzie Martel; to Coaches by Sydney Schmidt and reply by Nicole Kaufmann; Owen Dyck to the bus drivers, Carl Kennedy replied; and Raylene Rothenburger to the Grade 10’s for all the decorating, lunch and prep work and reply was a round of applause for the Grade 10’s (no Grade 11’s).
Each grad then presented roses to members of the family, there was a PowerPoint presentation set to music depicting each grad from babyhood, early years, through school, and up to graduation. The grads then left the stage for the processional, to later gather in the gym for a dance.
