Leader-Post Elevator Rescue FYI

An occupant at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina was trapped in an elevator that was stuck on Monday night.

The Regina Fire Service received a distress call at 9:50 p.m. and they arrived on the scene within three minutes. Just as they arrived on scene, the elevator returned to the main floor without assistance from the fire department. The occupant walked out unharmed.

"It's really not that big of an incident," said Deputy Chief of Regina Fire and Protective Services Layne Jackson.

He added that the cause of the elevator becoming stuck in the first place is unknown.

"It was stuck for a short time but just as we were on scene it returned to the floor," said Jackson. "We didn't have to do a rescue."

Leader-Post: RCMP working to solve small-town robberies

by Lisa Goudy

The RCMP is unsure if bank robberies in small towns are becoming more common, despite three occurrences in the last month.

When asked if small-town robberies are a growing trend in the province, Sgt. Sheri-Lynne Fedorowich of the Yorkton RCMP detachment remained neutral on the subject.

"I can't say one way or another," said Fedorowich. "Certainly, it's unpredictable."

Springside was the latest small town to have a bank robbed on Friday afternoon when two men armed with a long-barrelled firearm made off with cash from the town's credit union.

The town of Theodore had its credit union robbed on Aug. 25 and a financial institution was robbed in Quill Lake on Aug. 23.

All three of these incidents occurred during broad daylight.

"I think it stands to reason that crime can happen at any time, any area," said Fedorowich.

Two out of the three robberies occurred in the Yorkton district - Springside and Theodore.

Fedorowich said the RC-MP has joined forces with the General Investigative Section of the Yorkton district and with other RCMP sections to deal with the matter. The support sections, such as the Forensic Identification Section and police dog services, are all working closely in these cases.

"We're trying to consolidate with the other detachments that have ... also been subject to armed robberies in their area," said Fedorowich. "We're trying to ... consolidate our investigations and kind of work together on putting a plan in place to try and solve this."

Ken Anderson, CEO of SaskCentral Credit Unions - which speaks for the joint interests of credit unions in the province - was unavailable Monday.

But in an email from a SaskCentral spokeswoman, the organization said no employees were injured in the robberies.

"Robberies or attempted robberies are a concern for all financial institutions in rural and urban communities," the email said. "We have high standards and protocols in place with regard to security."

The statement went on to say that all credit union deposits are "fully guaranteed."

"The safety of our employees and members is our No. 1 priority. Our employees are trained to deal with these situations," it said.

Fedorowich stressed that having employees educated and aware of what's going on around them is important to aid in the prevention of crime.

"I think that anything's possible and I think that, financial institutions specifically, everyone has to kind of take a look at security systems in place and video surveillance capabilities," she said. "The rural municipalities, if they have ruralcrime watch, I think you have to be aware of suspicious activity in your area."

Activities such as individuals spending an abnormal amount of cash or buying strange purchases should be reported to the police, she said.

"We're just asking the public if they have any information to call Crime Stoppers or us directly, more so on the side of suspicious activity in different community areas," she said. "The matter remains under investigation and like I said, we're working with all our support sections to try and solve all these armed robberies."

More information about the Springside robbery

More information about the Theodore robbery

More information about the Quill Lake robbery

Leader-Post: U of R students voice concerns over parking

by Lisa Goudy 




University of Regina President Vianne Timmons was on hand for a
public forum on parking issues at the University of Regina on Friday.


Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post



Frustrated University of Regina students had a chance to voice their parking concerns on campus publicly.

A public forum on parking issues took place Friday at the U of R where President Vianne Timmons was available to hear students' comments, answer their questions and listen to ideas regarding parking problems on campus.

Concerns included high prices of permits, parking tickets, metered parking and the lack of parking availability.

"I think it went very well. Students have great suggestions and we're going to take them all under consideration and see what we can do," said Timmons after the forum. She said a solution to this will be discussed in meetings starting next week.

The forum was held at the request of the University of Regina Students' Union.
It was well attended by students who voiced complaints such as being far down the permit waiting list, having to park in someone else's spot because there are no spots available where they purchased a permit and having to run out during classes to fill the parking meter.

"Students double park in the parking lots and they take up two spots and it bugs me because I paid my parking," said student Fahreen Surtie. "Taking up two spots is completely unfair for me because then I have to go park at a meter."

It was reported earlier this year that the university sold 25-per-cent more parking permits than there are spaces. Timmons said that is not some sort of money grab.

"We look very much at the traffic flows in and out. Some lots we don't sell any extra passes on, so we monitor that very carefully to try and maximize our parking opportunities," said Timmons, who also said that if passes were not oversold, some students would be upset over seeing empty parking spaces. She also said that she thought the U-Pass for bus transportation would solve several of the parking issues.

"I'm really encouraged that students are interested in the U-Pass and I'm going to work very closely with the students' union if they're willing to look at pursuing that route," she said.

The U-Pass was previously discussed with a referendum to students in March 2009, but the idea was rejected by the majority of students, with 1,887 voting no and only 779 voting yes.

Surtie said she felt the forum was successful.

"It was pretty informative and I appreciate the president coming out to listen to our concerns and take it into account in their meetings next week. It got the students' voices heard.

"I'm all for the parkade idea. I don't care how much it costs, as long as I have parking on campus and I can get to school on time."

Another student, Danielle Tataryn, said she is upset about the lack of parking on campus.

"It is frustrating for people who spend all that money into a parking pass and have nowhere to park when you get there or you're driving around the lot and can't find a parking spot," said Tataryn.

She said that she had stood in line for a permit during the first week of classes and just before she got to the front, the passes were sold out. Fortunately, she said she was high enough up on the wait list that she was able to get a permit.

"I do like parking passes and after not having one for the first few weeks, I know that having a parking pass is a lot better than having to walk and park on a side street," she said. "I tried to do metered parking but for people that are at the school for long periods of time, meter parking gets very expensive."

She said that earlier last week, she drove to a parking lot she usually finds parking in only to discover it was closed for guest parking for a seminar.

"That shut me down a lot and really doesn't help. Parking's already a problem," she said. "I think another parking lot could always be an option." 

Leader-Post: Help for U of R business students

by Lisa Goudy

The announcement of new scholarships has opened the doors for some University of Regina business students to invest in their future.

The Sylvia Aumuller Awards Fund, a newly created scholarship program, was revealed recently at theUof R. Threeundergraduate PaulJ. HillSchoolof Businessstudents will be selected annually to receive $5,000 each.

"This is an extremely generous award," said Morina Rennie, the acting dean of the Faculty of Business Administration. "It is a significant scholarship for our students and it is going to be a huge help to the students that win these awards to be able to pursue their studies in the Faculty of Business Administration."

Rennie said there are 1,600 undergraduate students enrolled in the Paul J. Hill School this year.

"I think that what it will do is help the students, help some of our students pursue their dreams and I can't think of anything better than that," she said.

The fund was created by a donation of $275,000 by Sylvia Aumuller, a former Regina resident and financial accountant with Alex Marion Restaurants who passed away in June 2009.

Sylvia Aumuller's nephew, Ken Karwandy, said that his aunt achieved her degree through correspondence while working full-time.

"She loved her work. But she had to work hard to get to where she was and recognized how tough it was for students who might have to do the same, so that's why this scholarship came about," said Karwandy.

"She wanted to help students who might be academically able to do things but not have the funds to do it or students that might have economic challenges to achieve what she did."

He said he hopes the scholarships will be able to aid students.

"We're happy for Sylvia because it was her bequest," he said. "It was her legacy and we've been able to make that happen through working with the university."

Uof RPresidentVianneTimmons couldn't agree more.

"I'm just thrilled that (the) community sees the university as a place to invest in," said Timmons. "They are investing in the future when they invest in scholarships for students so I think it is truly a lasting legacy they leave."

She also said she hopes this announcement will encourage others in the community to view the U of R as a "worthwhile investment," she said. With the enrolment at the Uof Rcloseto13,000students, Timmons said scholarships are more important than ever.

"It's a real challenge to keep up our scholarship funds with the numbers we have, so it's a real need for us to invest in scholarships for students," she said.

"I just think she (Sylvia) was an amazing woman and left such a wonderful legacy to the University of Regina and many other organizations."

The deadline for applications is Oct. 15. Eligibility requirements for the scholarships can be found online at www.uregina.ca/awards/scholarships.



Sylvia Aumuller Awards Fund Requirements

Leader-Post: United Way launches Circle of Care Campaign

by Lisa Goudy

More people will be encircled in care this year.

Daryl Marcia, the campaign chair for the United Way of Regina's 2011 Circle of Care Campaign, announced the campaign goal of $4.2 million Wednesday at the campaign's kickoff luncheon at Evraz Place.

This is an increase of $200,000 from last year's goal, which was exceeded by about $40-60,000, he said.

"There are very many important causes out there and very many important charities out there. United Way takes a lot of pride in helping others help themselves before they truly need help," said Marcia in an interview after the program and video portion of the event, which was attended by more than 400 guests.

"There's always going to be a challenge. That $4.2 million dollars, should we succeed or get better than that, it'll never be enough. We have great opportunities out there but we also have great challenges out there and we can always forge ahead," he said.

Marcia said that the choice to increase the goal this year was based on a consultation with the campaign cabinet that looks at what they've done in the past and information from the community.

"We like to have a little bit of a stretch to $4.2 (million)," he said. "But with the great people that we have with cabinet, we have great confidence that we're going to make it."

He said United Way works with businesses to launch campaigns to raise awareness and money that will go toward 32 funded agencies.

These agencies, such as the Regina Open Door Society, work to improve the average quality of life.

In a video shown during the program, Open Door Executive Director Darcy Dietrich said the society is important because of the caring and support it provides for refugees and other vulnerable people.

"People receive the supports that they require, the basic supports to live day to day. They're going to be looking for opportunities to get involved. That's very much what the Regina Open Door Society is proud of," said Dietrich. "We do that through almost all of our programs."

Dietrich also said that the funding they receive from the campaign is helpful to their continued efforts in the community.

"We so much appreciate the funding we get from the United Way," he said. "It's funding that has a little bit of a flexibility in terms of being able to identify the gaps and fill those gaps with very important services for our clients."

More about the Circle of Care Campaign
 

Leader-Post: Regina school seeks to improve literacy

by Lisa Goudy

Glen Elm Elementary School is turning a new page.

The school is one of 147 across Canada taking part in the third annual Adopt-a-School program from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.

The program runs from Sept. 11 to Oct. 1. Schools were adopted by Indigo, Chapters, and Coles stores to help fill up school libraries and enhance student literacy.

"Putting more books into the hands of students only helps to achieve those goals and children develop this love of reading," said Dianne Gulka-Tiechko, the Glen Elm school principal.

"There's a lot of excitement in the school by being involved with an organization like Chapters."

Gulka-Tiechko said Glen Elm has about 150 students and the goal was to receive one book for every student. So far, she said they have raised enough for approximately 184 books and with more than a week left, that number could easily be higher.

"We're really excited about it," she said. "That really makes a difference to a small school like ours to be able to have more resources added."

Indigo Love of Reading Foundation director Jennifer Jones said the Adopt-a-School program joins with the community to raise funds to improve Canadian literacy.

"Schools do need this level of support, both from Indigo as well as the foundation and the community and we feel we're raising awareness," said Jones.

She said in the last two years, Indigo gave 46,000 books to Canadian schools and she estimated Indigo will put 28,000 books into schools this year.

"We're actually doing really well. We're on trend to raise more money and put more books in the hands of kids than we did last year," she said.

Jones explained the foundation has been in Saskatchewan since its initiation in 2004. It also offers annual literacy grants to public schools across Canada, totalling about $1.5 million per year.

Gulka-Tiechko said Glen Elm received a $45,000 grant over three years that ended last year.

"Since our involvement with Chapters three years ago, our resources have greatly increased and the students have developed a more positive attitude to reading," said Gulka-Tiechko. "We take them to Chapters every year to choose books for our resource centre."

Jones explained there are three main ways people can support their local school through Adopta-School by going to adoptaschool. indigo.ca or at any Indigo, Chapters or Coles stores.

People can purchase Indigo egift cards and for every $25, Indigo gives one book to the school.

Additionally, people can make a donation and every $12 donates one book.
Also, people can adopt a school online at no charge and are then encouraged to share their involvement with others through Facebook and Twitter. Every 100 adoptions translate into one book donated.

"The more people that share their links and drive people back to the site, the greater the likelihood we'll have more books to give to the children," said Jones.

She also said Indigo has a fundraiser challenge, which means that the top fundraiser of each school will receive a $25 Indigo gift card and the top three fundraisers across Canada will get a Kobo eReader.

Gulka-Tiechko said that she appreciates what the program does for the community as well as the school.

"People donate towards the school to purchase books and so it makes the community feel like they have some responsibility and input into literacy in the school, which is a good thing," she said.

"We really thank Chapters for their involvement in putting resources into the hands of children," said Gulka-Tiechko. "Kids' attitudes improve, their literacy levels improve and they're excited about reading books."

 

Click here to view the progress or to donate to Glen Elm Elementary School.

Leader-Post: Forest week rooted in Sask.

 by Lisa Goudy

Saskatchewan Party MLA and Environment Minister Dustin Duncan was at the Royal

Saskatchewan Museum to kick off National Forest Week by taking part in a

tree planting ceremony.

Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post



Saskatchewan forests grew another branch on Monday.

To begin National Forest Week, Environment Minister Dustin Duncan planted a white birch tree on the grounds of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. The event also served as a celebration for the year 2011 being the International Year of Forests declared by the United Nations.

The event was a joint partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan and the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan (NPSS).

"I think in working with an organization like this one today, it brings attention and awareness to the importance of our forests in this province," said Duncan in an interview after the ceremony. "I think the perception from the outsiders outside of Saskatchewan, if you drive the No. 1 highway, you wouldn't realize that half of our entire province is made up of forests."

Duncan said the northern part of the province is all forests and the ceremony serves as a reminder of the significance of forestry in Saskatchewan as part of a national celebration.

"It (National Forest Week) speaks to why we've made significant investments in the provincial forest in terms of combating some diseases and some insects like the mountain pine beetle and the spruce budworm," said Duncan. "Here in the provincial capital, it just helps to raise the awareness and the importance of all that our forest contributes to the province."

The ceremony consisted of Duncan grabbing a shovel, digging in a pile of dirt, and throwing it on the tree before adding a layer of sod. The white birch tree is Saskatchewan's provincial tree and Duncan said the choice of tree is symbolic of what the provincial forests in the province provide.

Chet Neufeld, the executive director of the NPSS, explained that the white birch tree is also economically important to Saskatchewan.

"It is fairly ubiquitous in the province and elsewhere in Canada. It's a fairly common tree and it is important," said Neufeld. "It does serve as habitat for a number of wildlife species and it is an economically important tree for the pulp and paper industry."

The NPSS is a non-profit organization committed to conservation of habitats and plants in the province since 1995. This ceremony was the last in a series of events this year in Saskatchewan to commemorate the International Year of Forests. Past events have ranged from a nature tour in Prince Albert National Park to the circulation of local shrub and tree sprouts to Saskatchewan residents. Neufeld said trees are important to clean the air and to provide natural habitats and the NPSS aims to educate people on trees and forests.

"That's our ultimate goal, to just spread the word, educate everybody we can about how important these things are and how lucky we are to live in a province that still has a really intact natural resource like this," said Neufeld. "We want to just instill in the people how important forests and trees are to our everyday lives no matter where we are."