Over 30 crowded into the cafe in Borden to attend the Looking into the Future meeting with the Village of Borden councillors, the RM reeve and councillors, administrators, the Radisson mayor and anyone else interested in what might happen in the RM of Great Bend, the Village of Borden and the Town of Radisson in the next 25 years.
Prairie Wild Consulting firm was the facilitator, and speaking were Lenore Swystun, Samantha Mark and Megan Taupadet. Recording was Lorne Prefontiane. Swystun gave an introduction as to why this is being done in the Redberry Biosphere as with environmental issues, policies and red tape regulations changing, plans have to be made for the future. If the people living in the area don't start implementing changes, the government could do it for you and you pay.
Everyone was put into table groups and given outlines or maps to work on inter-municipal co-operation, transportation/ infrastructure and natural resources. Each group came up with ideas which were put on large sheets and posted on the walls; then Swystun reviewed them with the whole group.
A similar meeting was held in Radisson with close to 20 attending and some from Borden also were in attendance there.
Prairie Wild Consulting will condense all the information from the meetings and make it available to those who attended. Further discussions will take place at meetings in January and February.
The Radisson Royal Purple ladies held their Christmas potluck supper at the home of Roberta Harris Dec. 5 and had a gift exchange followed by their meeting. Proceeds of $103 from the Charity Appeal tickets will be donated to the Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children. The next meeting will be Jan. 11.
The lodge held their annual tea and bake sale at the Radisson Santa Claus Day, Dec. 10, with good attendance, selling three long tables of baking and serving strawberry shortcake with beverages. Three ladies were also selling Avon, Epicure and Tupperware products. The adult door prizes went to Chyanne Werezak and Amanda Williams and the children's to Ben Hosegood, Jayden Rempel, Elliot Glennon and Kaiden Borowski. Shirley Hawes, Doreen Parker, Kaiden Borowski, Shirley Hawes, Jim Olinyk, Bob Herter, Michelle Nelson and Kirk Maxwell also won prizes.
After handing out candy bags to all the children on Main Street, Santa dropped in and handed out candy canes to many adults, while outside Stu Walton with his team of Belgians - Buck and Cindy - gave wagon rides around town. In the evening the swimming pool committee held a ham and turkey bingo with over 50 out to try their luck at winning a ham, turkey, chocolates and oranges. Jean Longmore of Borden won the $50 consolation prize and a ham/grocery hamper.
Borden Friendship Centre held their annual Christmas supper and program in their club room Dec 8 with 45 members and guests, along with the entertainers, enjoying the turkey meal catered by Dianne and Bernice. For the program emcee Ed Neufeld told a few jokes and Laura Loeppky had a reading on being thankful for what you have and for being alive. Then the Penner Family - Linda Wiebe, Maryann Frose and Rick Penner playing guitar - as well as guitar player Arnie Derksen and John Thiessen on mandolin, sang a number of gospel, secular and Christmas songs, with the audience joining in for Away In a Manger, Silent Night and Amazing Grace.
The Borden Dance Club held their Christmas program Dec. 11 in the Borden Community Centre, with fancy desserts following the program and 54-plus baskets for the silent auction. The 50/50 of $158 went to Margaret Peters (Pam Pidwerbesky's mom). The musical theatre group up first danced to Welcome Christmas, then the little ones in tap performed to Let It Snow, Let it Snow, followed by Jazz 5 showing their skill to Sleigh Ride. Four girls in ballet danced to One Toy Soldier and a hip hop class used Deck the Rooftop as their song. Tap 3 danced to Jingle Bells, the young jazz class to Rudolph, Jazz 2 to We Need a Little Christmas and a lyrical group danced to Happy Christmas.
After intermission, Musical Theatre 2 showed off their skills to Trim Up the Tree. Tap 2's theme song was Getting in the Mood for Christmas and the Tiny Tots were a crowd pleaser dancing to Winter Wonderland. Jazz 4 danced to Christmas Time Again and Jazz 3 to Oh Santa. The instructors, Sarah Rospad and Amy Rissling, danced to Silent Night. Ava Maria was chosen for Ballet 3 to perform to and Winter Wonderland for Ballet 1.
In the final number 28 dancers from Hip Hop classes 2 - 5 danced and hopped to Holiday Bounce and then all the little dancers joined in for the finale.
Emcee Debbie Hembery thanked the Village of Borden and the seniors' club for all their support, Don and Shaun Dyck for the sound system, the instructors Sarah and Amy, all of the children and their parents and to anyone who helped in any way with the program. The winners of the silent auctions were announced with the proceeds going to buy barres for the dancing and for dance club expenses. The club also accepted food items for the food bank.
St. Paul Lutheran Church of Radisson held its annual Carols, Candles and Cookies program Dec. 11, with Pastor Wallace Bornhuse leading the service and pianist Twyla Stott, organist Jackie Meister and flutist Janelle Kahovec all playing music. The candle lighter was George Hamp and scripture readers were Lawrence Schensney, Margaret Hamp, Irene Hamp, Maureen Kindt and Pastor Bornhuse. Special music was provided by the St. Paul Lutheran Sunday School class led by Inda Petriew, and with David Petriew playing guitar, sang It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and, during the Nativity scene, Silent Night.
St. John's Anglican Church choir from Borden sang three selections. Other performers were a group comprised of Cathy Flath, Russ and Eileen Fountain, Erwin Hamp and Jack Karpan; the quartet of Wilmer and Eugene Hamp, Lori Amson and Pam Pidwerbesky; Erin Bornhuse; the Borden Lions choir of Bob Wardhaugh, Archie Wainwright, Don and Wendell Dyck and John Buswell. The final group to sing were the First Sask. Lutheran Church Choir of Langham with 28 singers, singing two pieces - The Light of Christmas and Calypso Lullaby.
Between each candle lighting and scripture reading, there was congregational singing of familiar carols. Following the final prayers and blessing, everyone went to the lower hall for beverages and a variety of dainties and cookies. Donations were accepted for the food bank.
The Borden senior boys' basketball team hosted a six-team tournament in Borden Dec. 9 and 10 with Lord Asquith emerging as the winner. Other teams were Langham, Martensville, Delisle and Hepburn. The team sold lunch all day at the school.
Nancy Beaudoin of Radmont Insurance in Radisson has been appointed to the board of directors for the Insurance Brokers' Association of Saskatchewan.
Working at the Borden Co-op Farm Supply part-time is Kevin Prescesky of Radisson.
Upcoming events in the next week are the United Church Blue Christmas service today (Dec. 16) at 7:30 p.m., the RiverBend Fellowship and United Church potluck supper and program in the Borden Community Centre Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. (everyone is welcome), the Maymont Christmas concert Dec. 19 at 7:15 p.m., Borden's Christmas concert Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., and the Grade 12s pancake breakfast Dec. 21 from 7 - 10 a.m.
Christmas Eve services: Borden United Church, 6:30 p.m.; St. John's Anglican, 7:30 p.m.; Radisson Lutheran Church, 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day there are services at Radisson Lutheran at 11 a.m. and RiverBend Fellowship at 10:50 a.m.
