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Shellbrook Chronicle, 46 Main Street, Shellbrook, SK (2026)

10/01/2026

Crosswalk honours Shellbrook veterans, Legion
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

With 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, Legion branches across Canada have found many ways to honour the occasion and pay tribute to veterans past and present, whether it be through events or efforts to beautify their communities.

Last week, the Shellbrook Legion joined these efforts, commissioning a “mural” to be painted on the crosswalk connecting the Shellbrook Post Office with the local cenotaph at Veterans’ Memorial Park, which bears the names of Shellbrook’s veterans who never came home.

The Legion made the formal request of the Town of Shellbrook at the beginning of May, and the town approved it. At the time, the hope was to partner with one of the art classes at W.P. Sandin High School, with the hope of completing the project before the end of the current school year.

While that timeline didn’t pan out, local art teacher Pam Boettcher says she had always wanted to partner on a project like this. She was happy to put the task to her Grade 10 fine arts students, calling it a project that helps build character and teach students the importance of giving back to their community.

Volunteerism is something Shellbrook Legion member Nancy Carswell also has a deep appreciation for.

“One of my favourite quotes is, ‘I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve,’” she said.

The design for the commemorative crosswalk was created by student Julia Shindle. She was joined in stenciling and painting it by Myla Henry, Kayla Klaassen, Bella Ledding, Embree Schmitz, Valerie Bondame, and Allie Swenson.

Additional support for the project was provided by the Parkside Community Club, which covered the cost of the paint, and Russ’ Autobody, which donated and applied a clear coat so that the design will last longer.

Having seen the final product, Carswell says it exceeded all of her expectations.

“The red maple leaves drift like poppies in Flanders Fields and the single black silhouette of a soldier reminds us that each one who served was an individual, not a number,” she said.

“It is an eloquent reminder of sacrifices past and present.”

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09/24/2026

Touch of Autumn ends Honeywood’s season
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

Despite the traces of red colouring the trees, autumn was a far-off thought at Parkside’s Honeywood Heritage Nursery when it welcomed guests and vendors for its annual A Touch of Autumn event on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Though no official gate count had been taken as of Monday morning, the near-summerlike conditions kept a steady crowd filtering in throughout the day to peruse and purchase plants and artisans’ wares, listen to the music of the Mont Nebo Jammers, tour the grounds, and enjoy a delicious lunch of roast beef on a bun with apple or rhubarb crisp for dessert.

As usual, the 13 guest artisans, both new and returning, brought a mix of everything to appeal to just about anyone. The list of vendors included: Tirzah Reilkoff (Poppy and Pansy), Brenda Lockhart (quilting and crochet), Diane Roberts (quilting and crochet), Ken Tickner (photography), Jasmine Allen (Little Bird Bakery), Pam Primeau (purses), Jim Peak (knives), Gina Chamberlain (Ragged Ass Rustics), Laura Budd (pottery), Christine Simoens (knitting), Diane Larsen (baking and crafts), Saelah Allman (Bru and roots Herbal Plant Support), and Donna Muller (Plein Air Painters).

For Janie Denton, Honeywood’s manager, events like A Touch of Autumn are always a highlight of the season.

“For me, it’s when people come and they notice the changes,” she said. “They see how much work has gone into Honeywood and know that we’re doing it to improve. Everybody’s always so thrilled to be in a place that’s so peaceful and tranquil, and enjoying every part of it.”

Constant improvement has been Denton’s focus since she took over at Honeywood, but Mother Nature has had her own ideas these past couple seasons. Where last spring and summer were warm and dry, this year started wet and stayed wet.

By her own counting, Denton says she only worked a handful of days with dry feet.

Through this, and other challenges with wildlife (deer were the biggest issue this year), Denton and her dedicated crew managed to complete planting for 400 feet of the lily field, and clear up a lot of dead foliage.

With Honeywood’s season now over, and the staff working to clear flowerbeds, relocate lilies and peonies, fertilize, and get everything ready for winter, Denton says there’s still another 400 feet to plant.

“My hope and dream is to have that field full, sooner rather than later, and get to the point where we’re selling more of Bert’s Bulbs again,” she said.

“We’re also hoping to get the greenhouse recovered next year. But that’s a major job that we need full staff for.”

Indeed, there’s always more work to be done and more hands needed to do it. But in Denton’s mind, the work is worth it and Honeywood is a treasure worth preserving.

“We can’t lose Honeywood. Bert’s legacy is so important. The work he did, the contributions he made for prairie hardy fruits and plants… it’s something that must go on.”

Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
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09/17/2026

Leoville first responders recognized for 25 years
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

Two first responders from Leoville were among those recognized for their service to their community, during a presentation of Saskatchewan Protective Services Medals in Saskatoon on Thursday, Sept. 10.

The medal recognizes protective services personnel, including police officers, firefighters, armed forces members, and more, who have dedicated 25 years or more of exemplary service in Saskatchewan.

For Gladys Henri, who had no prior healthcare experience before receiving her first responder training, becoming a first responder in Leoville was about filling a need in the community.

“I figured, seeing as we’re so far away from hospitals, it would be something that our community could use,” she said. “And I like helping people.”

For Kathy Sawatzky, who also had no prior experience in healthcare, the decision to become a first responder was tied to personal experience.

“There was a serious accident by our place,” she said. “We did what we could. We called the ambulance and helped the ambulance… but there were things we didn’t really know.”

Encouraged by Spiritwood Ambulance Care’s Gail and Garry St. Onge, who also believed there was a need in the community, Henri and Sawatzky obtained their basic first aid certification. Eventually, they pursued enhanced training that would allow them to respond to just about any incident that arose.

After more than two decades of serving their community, both Henri and Sawatzky decided to step away from the job in 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic.

“We had got COVID, and my husband got terribly sick,” Sawatzky said. “I didn’t want to take the chance of him getting it again.”

Despite the hardships of the pandemic, and the difficult calls that have stuck with them through the years, both Henri and Sawatzky look back fondly on their time as paramedics, knowing they made a difference in people’s lives and brought them relief on their worst days.

“When we went to places, the people we went to seemed so relieved when we walked in, like a weight was lifted from their shoulders when we walked through the door,” Sawatzky said, calling this the most rewarding part of being a first responder.

Both Henri and Sawatzky are grateful to be recognized for the service, with Henri noting that the Saskatchewan Protective Services Medals highlight the importance of what first responders do.

“If I was younger, I’d still be there doing it,” she said. “The first responder courses are very important for our little community. We’re far enough away (from hospitals) and so many people need help.”

Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
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09/10/2026

Sask. beekeepers face swarm of uncertainty
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

One of the keys to surviving in the agriculture industry is learning to embrace and accept the things that are beyond one’s control. For Saskatchewan’s beekeepers, that’s been just about everything so far this growing season.

Bees, like any crop, require specific conditions to thrive. This spring delivered precisely the opposite, with late snowfalls bleeding into an equally wet summer, and frequently cool and windy conditions added into the less-than-ideal mix.

For Shellbrook’s Hannigan Honey, a good year means the business’ 6,000 hives produce about 1,600 drums full of honey to be shipped across Canada and to the U.S., Japan, and other markets.

“The way the season’s shaped out this far, both with the strength of our colonies in the spring and the way the weather played out, we’ve just been on our heels the whole time,” said Murray Hannigan, owner of Hannigan Honey.

“Now, we’re getting to the end, and we’re coming in with two thirds of our normal crop. It’s going to be the shortest production per colony that we’ll have seen in many years.”

Saskatchewan’s odd summer weather has impacted more than just hive health.

Hannigan Honey’s 6,000 hives are spread across about 140 locations, from Blaine Lake up to Debden, and from Mont Nebo over to Briarlea. This broad geographic area makes it nearly impossible to monitor and protect the hives at all times, making things like bear-proof fencing a necessity.

With all the snow and rain this spring and summer, the solar units powering Hannigan Honey’s bear-proof fencing weren’t getting enough sun to keep bears out, resulting in higher bear losses than the business has seen in many years.

These hardships are all in addition to the ever-present and growing threat posed by the varroa mite, a parasite that feeds on honey bees.

Hannigan says that the varroa mite was virtually unheard of in Saskatchewan 25 years ago. But now, dealing with infestations has become a major financial burden for the province’s beekeepers.

And the battle to contain the parasite isn’t getting any easier. For years, beekeepers have depended upon Apivar, a miticide developed in France, to deal with varroa mites. Recently, though, its efficacy has waned.

“Much like grain farmers… if you keep spraying the same product over again, the [pest] is going to adapt,” Hannigan said.

“We’re really having to put a lot of dollars into controlling this. It keeps us on our toes, but we know that if we’re going to stay in business, we’ve got to have healthy bees.”

In any one growing season, poor weather and issues with bears and mite infestations would be enough misfortunate for any beekeeper to deal with.

Bad things, after all, are said to come in threes.

But now that trade negotiations between Canada and the United States have fallen apart, resulting in U.S. President Donald Trump imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian honey and $28 billion of Canadian goods, Canadian beekeepers have effectively been priced out of a market that was worth $28.5 million in 2025.

Twenty years ago, Hannigan Honey shipped the majority of its honey to the U.S. Fortunately, says Hannigan, the business has diversified, growing its exports to Japan, and now ships just under 40 per cent of its product to American buyers.

This, along with Hannigan Honey’s 84-year history of operations, positions the business well to weather the storm until a trade deal can be reached and the tariffs are removed.
But other operations may not be so lucky.

“I feel terrible for younger beekeepers who are just getting in, trying to get established. I’ve been there. I’ve experienced that. I remember it very well,” Hannigan said.

“The hope is that we’re using up all the bad stuff in one year.”

For Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) president Bill Prybylski, the key to solving the tariff challenges that beekeepers and other Saskatchewan producers are facing is for both the Canadian and American governments to stop the finger pointing, get back to the bargaining table, and work out an agreement.

While APAS hasn’t yet crunched numbers for how agriculture will be impacted by the American tariffs, Prybylski says the agriculture sector hasn’t been hit as hard as other sectors because agricultural goods are still mostly protected under the CUSMA trade pact.

Still, he expects there will be some challenges ahead.

“We’re going to see an increase in costs when it comes to buying new equipment, or buying parts or repairs for existing equipment,” he said. “The effect that will have remains to be seen, but it will be significant for some producers.”

Though the Canadian government has promised to provide relief for businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs and Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs, Prybylski says the only true resolution is a deal.

“In the meantime, we’ll be looking for some assurance from our government that our agricultural products and inputs will be exempted from any tariffs going north or south,” he said. “It would be very unfortunate if food and the things that are needed to produce it are being used as a weapon in a political dispute. That’s just wrong.”

Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
www.shellbrookchronicle .com
www.spiritwoodherald .com
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09/03/2026

Summer ends with a party in Shellbrook
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

Shellbrook’s season of sunshine, outdoor play, and swimming ended with a big splash on Friday, Aug. 28, as the Shellbrook Swimming Pool and Kinsmen Park played host to the annual Party in the Park.

The afternoon was blessed with plenty of sun and warmth, making kids eager to dive right into the swimming pool and all the activities organized by the pool’s lifeguards, including inflatables provided by Diskotek Entertainment, face painting, mini putt, and more.

With so much to do, the park and swimming pool were abuzz with activity from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. And as afternoon bled into evening, the Parkland Pool Project Committee kept everyone fed with a canteen and BBQ to raise vital funds for the Parkland Pool Project.
As of Monday, the total raised through the canteen and BBQ hadn’t been finalized.

Despite the less-than-summery conditions that persisted through much of the summer, Town of Shellbrook CAO Sigourney O’Halligan says it was another strong season for the swimming pool and the town’s S-CAPE Program.

“The S-CAPE Program had new leaders this year who brought some new ideas to the program, like field trip Fridays — something we had offered before, but looking to diversify the field trips,” she said.

This summer, the S-CAPE Program hosted 262 kids over the course of eight weeks for an average of 32 kids per week.

Aimed at children aged 6 to 12, and made possible by Community Initiative Fund and Sask. Lotteries funding, the S-CAPE Program runs on weekly registrations.

Each week has a unique theme, with program leaders providing activities, games, and field trip opportunities related to the given theme.

Given the number of young families in the community, O’Halligan says it’s a vital service, helping to fill in childcare gaps.

“The S-Cape Program provides children with a safe, structured, and active place to spend their summer while parents are working or managing busy schedules,” she said.

“I feel it is more than just keeping kids busy; it creates opportunities for friendships and mental well-being, all while letting them experience what Shellbrook has to offer.”

The Shellbrook Swimming Pool was no less busy over the summer, with 535 people registered for swimming lessons.

While obviously a positive for the facility and the community, O’Halligan notes that the swimming pool did experience some challenges at the beginning of the season, due to its age.

“The area where the liner meets the pool deck will require attention, and we will have a qualified pool company assess the facility now that the season has ended so we can proactively address any issues before next season,” she said.

“Given the age of the facility, we need to balance necessary maintenance with the remaining lifespan of the pool while continuing to work with the Parkland Pool Committee toward the long-term goal of a new pool.”

Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
www.shellbrookchronicle .com
www.spiritwoodherald .com
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08/27/2026

MX Games bring mud-slinging fun
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

Marcelin’s MX Games have come a long way from the days when they were just some guys on quads splashing around in a big mud-pit in true small-town Saskatchewan style.

“The MX Games started as just a mud pit with quads and stuff like that,” said organizer Craig Verbonac.

“That started dying down, but we came across a video with tough trucks and thought it would be pretty cool to do. So, we started doing that and have grown our track more and more every year. It turned from a mud pit to a racing pit.”

Now in their 17th year, the MX Games have become the community’s must-attend event. And thanks to the hard work of the Marcelin Events Committee, they keep getting bigger and muddier every year, with Verbonac noting that this year’s crowd of 676 people on Saturday, Aug. 15, was the largest on record.

Add in a rainfall the night prior that left the track in great condition, beautiful weather on the day of the Games, and a strong turnout of 12 tough trucks, more than 40 dirt bikes across nine classes, and even five lawn tractors, and you have a perfect recipe for a full day of mud-slinging fun.

“It brings everybody together,” Verbonac said, noting that he also runs a motocross club with anywhere from 20 to 25 members each year in May and June. “It’s a big thing for a little town. It puts us on the map, and I hope the motocross club keeps growing and growing.”

For dirt bike riders, the MX games are a standard race to the finish. Meanwhile, the tough trucks compete in a two-lap time trial, with the best time bringing home the prize pot.

For Verbonac, the real prize is seeing all the kids taking part and having fun.

“It means the world just to get the kids off the couch,” Verbonac said. “It’s nice to see them on bikes. It gets kids and the community out, and keeps us all together.”

Despite all the work that’s gone into the MX Games track over the years, Verbonac says he’d still like to continue building up the jumps so they’re more friendly for the local motocross club rather than being designed for “some rednecks in trucks.”

And as much as they’re about bringing the community together, the MX Games are also about giving back to the community. For Verbonac, the priority is supporting efforts to improve or build a new town hall.

“That’s where our focus is, to either get a new hall or put some major renovations into it,” he said. “In years previous, we have donated to other causes, but for the next couple years we’re going to focus on our town hall and see if we can make that a go.”

This year’s MX Games winners were:

50cc/youth: Liam Erb

65cc: Chuck Kernohan

85cc: Parker McIntyre

Ladies dirt bike: Madisyn Verbonac

C Class: Clay Christopherson

B Class: Isaiah Lepage

A Class: Jordan Dent

Vet Class: Jordan Dent

Tough truck: Ian Tindall

Lawn Mower: Cole Carlson

Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
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www.spiritwoodherald .com
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08/20/2026

WWHS continues to grow with 63rd show
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

It may have been a summer of bizarre weather, but the Walter Willoughby Horticulture Society (WWHS) still showcased plenty of growth when it hosted its 63rd annual Horticulture Show at the Parkside Heritage Centre on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Once again, this year’s show was made possible by the dedication of its exhibitors, who work throughout the year to ensure their handicrafts, baking, photography, fruits and vegetables, and flowers and plants are in show-worthy shape.

This year, there were 23 exhibitors, with three youth exhibitors and three first-time exhibitors among them. All told, these 23 exhibitors submitted 253 exhibits to be judged — a little lower compared to last year’s 293 exhibits, but still an impressive testament to the amount of work that goes into the show.

Each entry earns points for its exhibitor based on how it’s judged. And these points are tallied up to decide the winners in a range of categories.

The winners of this year’s show were as follows:

Grand Aggregate (donated by Honeywood (Dr. A.J. Porter) Heritage Nursery): Beryl Peake (132 points)

Reserve Aggregate (donated by Back to your Roots Soil Solutions): Donna Yew (83 points)

Best Craft in Show (donated in memory of Myrtle Naslund by Beryl Peake): Parkland Integrated Health Centre Long-term Care Home

Best Photograph in Show (donated by Muriel Lanes): Darlene Otet

Best Plant in Show (donated in memory of Gerda Hansen by the Sven Hansen family): Joanne Lapierre

Best Dahlia in Show (donated by Thlma Bazley): Barb Person

Best Gladioli in Show (donated in memory of Irene Bischler by Judy Bischler): Hilda Gaboury

Handicrafts Aggregate (donated by Shellbrook Flowers ‘n More): Jessie Dion

Baking Aggregate (donated by Barb Person): Muriel Lanes

Junior Aggregate (donated by Thelma Bazley in memory of Sharon Cymerys): Layne Cobb

Junior Reserve Aggregate (donated by Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds): Shayla Cobb

Beginner Aggregate (donated by Tait insurance): Shayla Cobb

Beginner Reserve Aggregate (donated by Allan Daku): Trystan Cobb

Fruit Aggregate (donated in memory of Dr. A.J. Porter by Judy Harley): Darlene Otet

Vegetable Aggregate (donated in memory of Jake Jacobs by Joan Sommerfeld): Donna Yew & Joanne Lapierre

Potted Plant Aggregate (donated by the Dobson family): Barb Person

Cut Flower Aggregate (donated by Irene Kustiak): Beryl Peake

Flower Arrangement Aggregate (donated by Beau Lac Funeral Home): Beryl Peake

The Walter Willoughby Horticulture Society also actively encourages new entrants (both young and old) by donating up to $30 as prize money for the top three new entrants. This year, Donna Yew was the top newcomer, earning $15, while Lois Mannix was awarded $10.

In addition to the awards presentation, the afternoon included door prizes, a first-ever silent auction fundraiser, and coffee and dessert.
Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
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08/13/2026

Thickwood Hills Studio Trail celebrates 26 years
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By BEVRA FEE
Spiritwood Herald Reporter

All gravel roads led to an art studio throughout portions of three rural municipalities on the weekend of Aug. 8 and 9.

Located in the area known as Thickwood Hills, the popular self-guided art tour offered a full slate of nearly 20 stops on the map. The two-day trail saw near-perfect weather conditions for ambling around the countryside, with clear skies and moderate temperatures.

The idyllic scenery of the grid roads and narrow lanes was an artful backdrop for the trail, with groupings of studios making the miles rewarding upon arrival at any and all of the studios.

Much of the natural beauty of the Thickwood Hills area was reflected in the various artwork and artisanal creations, with paintings inspired by the local vistas and soaps containing spruce tips gathered from the land.

Clustered in the Pebble Baye community at Iroquois Lake were Studios 2, 4, 6, 9 and 10. Number 2, Skipping Stone Studio, offered a vast array of quilted items of all sizes and patterns.

Situated on the shore of the lake, Colleen Teague’s exhibit of award-winning quilts filled more than one room and spilled outside to the deck. An added delight at Skipping Stone Studio was the gourmet cookie dippers for sale as a fundraiser for a high school travel club.

Northern Sky Studio was stop number four on the trail. Hosted by Annette Henbig, Northern Sky presented works in watercolour, oil, acrylic, ink, and charcoal. The vibrant prairie landscape depictions were complimented by the hand-knit shawls and practical felted wool mittens, socks and slippers.

Still at Pebble Baye and down the lane at Spirit Studio, unique ceramics by Theresa Fisher provided a hands-on experience for visitors to create their own “spirit totem.” From the tables under tents to the deck of the lake home, Fisher arranged her many decorative and functional pieces around the trickling waterfall of a peaceful fountain for a peaceful studio experience true to her artistic vibe.

Pebble Baye is a hub for artisans, and the mother-daughter duo of Dawna Karalash and Anna Tataryn added an exquisite stop in studio number 9, Pebble Baye Soap Co. Softly fragrant soaps, foot combo scrub & balm, bath salts with uplifting scents — all taken from nature and inspired by their lake surroundings. The cold-pressed soaps provide a vegan-friendly and bio-degradable product and are noted for being gentle and free of chemicals.

“Cold-pressed soap is a centuries-old, traditional method of making soap, where melted oils are weighed, melted and added to a lye bath for the creation of soap. Requiring a month of curing time after being cut into bars, the final product is an incredibly long-lasting and wonderfully moisturizing soap, containing no chemical detergents. Cold pressed soaps also retain their natural glycerin, which is a by-product of soap making. It is most often removed in commercially produced soaps in order to be used in lotion products,” said Karalash.

More prairie-inspired art and lake landscapes at number 10, Karen Harbaruk’s Sunridge Studio, were added to by guest artist Lee Walerius. Harbaruk’s original paintings, prints, cards, and jewellery are inspired by both her city life and lake life. For her part, Walerius creates custom leather, fibre, jewellery and wool products under the studio name of CRR Ranch.

Hitting the highway toward Shell Lake, one turn off the pavement leads to Painted Horse Studio, hosted by Nadine Jones. A long-time participant in the Thickwood Hills Studio Trail, Jones has seen 25 out of the 26 years of its history.

Crediting founder Rigmor Clarke’s art lessons for sparking her interest, Jones reflects on years of creating her art, “I started out doing some sketches and then watercolour — mostly western scenes. When we first moved here in the ‘70s I took some art classes, and then later on took classes from Rigmor.”

Speaking of the master, Rigmor Clarke’s studio was a major highlight of the 2026 trail. Having founded the Thickwood Hills Studio Trail, Clarke’s stop on the route is the holy grail.

Explaining her journey to establishing the Thickwood Studio Trail, “I used to teach art, and I could see all this fantastic talent, and nobody knew about them. I took a trip to Ottawa and the folks there took me on a studio trail, and I thought – that’s it, that’s it!”

Clarke returned home to prepare a presentation to pitch her idea of the arts studio trail, and thus was born the enduring summer experience that is in its 26th year.

Forest Raven Studio is crammed to the rafters with her life’s work, and Clarke’s art is held in private and public collections such as the Mann Art Gallery in Prince Albert as well as in the Saskatchewan Arts Board’s Permanent Collection.

At 91 years of age, Clarke is a cherished gem in the art world of the province. She received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2020, recognizing her contribution to art. In true Rigmor fashion, she hosted a guest artisan at Forest Raven, allowing Pam Primeau to join the trail with her sewing creations.

Primeau began her craft with bags and purses, and has now branched into more patterns including jackets.

“It’s a great way to use up my scrap material,” Primeau said.

Inspecting one of Primeau’s jackets, Rigmor Clarke comments, “It doesn’t look like scraps to me,” and thus gives the nod to another successful artist.

Read the rest of this week's news by picking up a copy of the paper at your local newspaper bin, or view this week's edition on either of our websites:
www.shellbrookchronicle .com
www.spiritwoodherald .com
**To visit either site, remove the space before the ".com" as this post will be immediately removed by Meta if we link directly to our own website.**

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