Shellbrook Chronicle

Shellbrook awarded grant funding for water plant
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter

Following years of grant applications and rejections, the Town of Shellbrook has finally received the news it’s long awaited for its planned water treatment plant project.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, the town announced that its application for a Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) grant had been approved.

Through the grant, which sees the federal and provincial governments share costs for major infrastructure projects with municipalities across the country, the Government of Saskatchewan will contribute $4,815,195 and the Government of Canada will chip in $6,288,870, for a total of $11,084,065.

With the cost of the new water treatment plant pegged at $14,447,032, this leaves the town’s share of the project at just $3,362,967.

“For many years, concerns about our water quality have impacted residents, businesses, and future development opportunities,” former Mayor Amund Otterson said in a statement.

“Reliable, high-quality water is essential to the quality of life our residents expect and the growth our community deserves. This project demonstrates our commitment to addressing a long-standing issue and investing in Shellbrook’s future.”

Upgrades to the water treatment plant — or the construction of an entirely new plant — have been recognized as a priority for the Town of Shellbrook since at least 2017.

The town notes that its existing water treatment infrastructure is nearing capacity, currently lacks adequate storage in case of emergency, and has become a barrier to residential, commercial, and industrial growth.

Serious exploration of the project began in 2020, when the current Town Council nearly gave the go-ahead to a project that would have seen the water treatment plant upgraded over multiple phases at a cost of $7.6 million.

That plan included increases to the water treatment plant’s storage capacity, a switch to the provincial government’s preferred method of gas chlorination, the addition of a third greensand filter, and converting the town’s water supply to a blended reverse osmosis system.

At the last minute, council paused this plan in favour of pursuing Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program funding.

Progress on the project was then further delayed in 2021, as the town began exploring a partnership with the Prince Albert Rural Water Utility (PARWU) on an intermunicipal water pipeline.

By October 2022, the projected costs for the pipeline had sky-rocketed to $80 million and there was still no grant funding on the table to make it more feasible.

In February 2024, after receiving feedback from ratepayers, the town formally stepped away from the PARWU partnership to renew exploration of building a new water treatment plant.

Through extensive studies, biofiltration coupled with reverse osmosis was identified as the optimal water treatment process.

This will be a component of the proposed $14 million project, and the town says the new facility will be sized to accommodate Shellbrook’s projected population and economic growth.

At its Sept. 21 meeting, Shellbrook’s Town Council approved Associated Engineering’s pre-design report for the water treatment plant project and agreed to proceed with the detailed design, which will make the project ready for tender.

Currently, the plan is for the tender to go out in January, and for construction to begin in the spring or summer of next year. Construction of the project is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

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Bulls put on show in Spiritwood
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By BEVRA FEE
Spiritwood Herald Reporter

The bulls were on a hot streak versus the cowboys at the SARCS Silver Buckle Bull Riding Competition over Thanksgiving weekend in Spiritwood.

Even so, Brazilian cowboy Gilmar Santana, who is sitting at the number two spot in the overall standings for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and in the top 10 of the Bull Riders Canada (BRC) standings, came out on top to take home the biggest payout on Saturday night.

Adding to his current yearly earnings — and his buckle collection — of $71,160, the ambitious rider from Ouro Preto, Brazil, is fresh off a PBR run that you will have seen on television if you are paying attention to the standings as the season winds down.

In the Spiritwood event’s long go, Santana outlasted “Jellybean” the bull with a score of 82. That ride moved him into the Championship Round, where he bested “Holy Moses” with a score of 83.

The final contest in the Championship Round saw Santana and Tristen Manning show the large crowd how it’s done, with Manning pulling off a 76 atop “303.”

Out of the 25 cowboys registered to ride in the long go, only nine were able to secure scores, with four of those riders pocketing change.

As the cowboys strive to gather points heading into the finals in Sylvan Lake, Alta., during the Nov. 6 weekend, they have only two more stops after Spiritwood.

The Spiritwood bull riding event signals the end of the outdoor sports season and the beginning of indoor/ice season. By Monday of Thanksgiving weekend, the process to install the skating ice in the arena has begun.

With the first hockey tournament scheduled for late October, and the curling season getting started at the same time, the hum of the ice plants will be the background playlist for the next five months.

But for the Thanksgiving weekend, locals and visitors packed the arena to cut loose on the cement (and dirt). Dancing to the music of Lane Ferster on the live stage took over as soon as the bulls were done with their throw-down, and more visiting ensued.

SARCS offered another new trick this year with its ‘Boot Scoot’ contest. Like musical chairs, the Boot Scoot took place during the bull intermission and offered $300 to the winner.

Out of the entrants, Michelle Cote managed to sit a chair for the prize change. As usual, the Mega 50/50 was drawn at the Silver Buckle event, with Aiden Beaulieu walking away with the pot of $7,050.

All money from the annual major fundraiser goes to paying down the mortgage of Spiritwood’s Rec Centre — just a few more Silver Buckles to go!

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Orange Shirt Day draws large crowd in Spiritwood
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By BEVRA FEE
Spiritwood Herald Reporter

Since 2021, Sept. 30 has been a federal statutory holiday in Canada, marking National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Symbolically slated for the time of year when children would be taken from their homes and placed in residential schools, the day was honoured in Spiritwood with an awareness walk on Sept. 29.

Holding the commemoration on a school day each year, Witchekan Lake First Nation’s Kisikohk School invited the three schools from Spiritwood to walk with them on a blue-sky day.

Several hundred people — the most ever to attend the walk to date — gathered at Spiritwood’s Memorial Park to don their orange shirts, listen to words from Witchekan Lake First Nation Chief Raymon Harris, and then commence walking toward Main Street.

Led by RCMP Sgt. Carlin Thiessen, with the sounds of Cree drummers serving as the soundtrack, the impressive sight delivered profound impact to onlookers.

Traditional Cree dancers — JR Witchekan, Leland Starblanket, and Francis Cardinal — heightened the symbolism as they joined the masses.

A strong symbol of culture, spirituality, and history to the Cree Nation, traditional dancers help represent the healing of a people whose culture was suppressed and denied to them while they were forced into church-run residential schools.

Stopping at the RCMP detachment, Kisikohk School’s Principal, Mr. Ralph Morin, relayed a poignant message to the many children from Hartley Clark Elementary School, Rivier Elementary School, and Spiritwood High School on his personal experience of being taken from his family.

“We are doing this to remember the history and also to remember the children that never made it home and the children who grew up having no connection to their family. I was one of those children.”

Mr. Morin also spoke about his memory.

“I was 11 years old. There were five of us in a government vehicle and we were being taken far away to Beardy’s Residential School. I was there for four months and all I heard was children crying in the bunk beds. For a long time, I felt like something was missing in my heart. It was about my language, my culture, my stories – those are the things that were missing.”

While the sky overhead was the clearest blue, Mr. Morin’s address was interrupted by several of the Kisikohk students pointing at an eagle circling overhead, and while “Eagle! Eagle!” was being murmured, Mr. Morin said, “It is a kihiw (the Cree term for eagle) and it comes to visit us.”

Carrying on with his recollection, Mr. Morin said, “Not everything about that experience turned out bad. I also learned how to strive and persevere — I went on to university and earned two degrees. I have been an educator for 35 years and have worked in eight communities. It is uncomfortable to talk about residential schools, but it is important to tell the stories and talk about the history so our children can move forward in a good way.”

While the walk was stopped at the RCMP detachment, Cst. Killam was invited to speak.

“On behalf of the RCMP, we wish to thank everyone for being here, we are amazed at the turnout,” he said. “We feel it is important to be here and to be with the children and to remember those that made it home from residential schools and the ones that didn’t.”

Moving along the route of the walk, another stop was made outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church to hear a testimonial from Christina Gamble.

Ms. Gamble’s former husband is a residential school survivor and she spoke about the impact his experience had on their lives and that of their family.

Jeanine Sakebow, one of the Kisikohk School employees, spoke about lifestyle choices and about breaking the cycle begun by residential schools.

Upon arrival back at the Memorial Park, the RCMP invited everyone to join in the barbecue hosted by the Detachment and local peacekeepers.

Under the watchful eye of Elders Barney Tipewan and Jane Tipewan, signs of community healing were mixed in with the carefree chatter of hundreds of school children mingling and visiting before heading back to their respective schools and, ultimately, home to their families at the end of the day.

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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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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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

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