On Sunday December 11, 2011 a group of 14 people went out caroling in Pangman. We started at the Catholic Church at 1:00 pm and stopped at many homes in Pangman where we sang Christmas Carols. Later we stopped at the Care Home and sang carols. The seniors at the home enjoyed our Christmas Caroling.
We returned to the Catholic Church at about 3:00 pm for hot chocolate, coffee, tea and goodies.
Thank you to the Catholic Church Ladies for organizing this event.
I can not believe that we have just printed our 12th issue of the Pangman Community Newsletter. Where has the year gone.
Visit the Newsletter page to read the December issue and other past issues of the Pangman Community Newsletter.
I would like to thank the community for all their support of the Newsletter.
A meeting of the Pangman & District Economic Development Board was held following the informational meeting with South Prairie Railway.
The main topic of discussion was the South Prairie Railway and the building of the platform so the train could stop in Pangman.
A committee to oversee the building of the platform was created. This committee consists of Ed Howse, Kathy Bryson, Merlin Broughton, John Colbow, Chuck Jacques, John Metke, Eileen Tunall and Boyd Tourscher.
Our next meeting will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2011, 1:00 pm at the Community Centre.
The School Review Committee has been established according to the formula set out in the Education Act and consists of members of our school community council, representatives of the RM of Norton, representatives of the Pangman Village Council, and community members. The School Review Committee consults with the community and provides advice and recommendations to the school board. The committee does the bulk of its work between November 1st and the end of January. The Review Committee remains active until the Board of Education holds a meeting of electors (no later than March 31st) or until the day on which the board decides to remove the school from in-review status.
The Pangman School Review Committee has been very active, holding several meetings to discuss the situation and to decide on a course of action. They have met twice with the Cornerstone School Board, once to ask questions and once to give the board information on the viability of Pangman School and the Village of Pangman. A delegation from the review committee also met with the Director of Education, Mark Casavant and some Cornerstone Superintendents. The Review Committee feels that many errors have been committed by the board during this review process and that the current board is out of touch when it comes to Pangman. Pangman is experiencing strong economic growth and is set for future growth. Now is not the time for a school review as our area, indeed most of southern Saskatchewan, is experiencing unprecedented growth and economic opportunity.
The members of the School Review Committee are Elwood White, Chuck Jacques, Rod Rowland, Katharine Bryson, Ken Kessler, Brian Jesse, Gladys Jesse, and Brandon Tichkowsky. Please contact any of these members if you have any questions or information that can help us save our school.
You can read more about the School Review in the Weyburn Review and on the Cornerstone School Division Website.
The annual Pangman School Christmas Bazaar and Santa Day was held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the school. There were 23 tables rented out to area crafters, bakers, home businesses and community organizations. The Grade 12 class served a hot lunch and sold baking and raffle tickets throughout the day. Proceeds from the Bazaar help cover the costs for the graduation banquet and exercises.
In the afternoon Santa stopped by to pass out goody bags to children and seniors at the Bazaar. Santa also visited seniors in their homes and at the Personal Care Home earlier in the day.
A huge thank you to Santa and his helpers for stopping by. We would also like to thank everyone who so generously bought raffle tickets or made cash or merchandise donations to supply the goody bags as well as prizes passed out to several of the children who attended the Santa Day movie and visited with Santa
.
The Pangman Economic Development Board and the Pangman Rec Board sponsored the Southern Prairie Railway informational meeting on Wednesday November 30, 2011 at the Community Centre. Guest speaker was Cheryl Generous, CEO of South Prairie Railway.
Cheryl presented a slide show with information on the South Prairie Railway plans. They are planning to have Theme Trains, including a Pioneer Train, Stargazer Train and Pitchfork Fondues and Train Robberies (all money from the Train Robberies will be donated to charity. They also hope to rent out the train for private events like weddings.
The train will run on Saturday, Sunday and on Long Weekend Monday’s from May to October. The train will start in Ogema and visit Horizon and Pangman. Their motto is “Pulling the Past into the Future”.
To have the train stop in Pangman we will need to build a wheelchair accessible platform and have some events for the tourists to see, ie Farmers Market. The train will stop here for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Following the presentation Cheryl answered questions about the Train. Coffee and Donuts were served.
For more information about South Prairie Railway visit their website at www.southernprairierailway.com and read more about the trains on their blog.
On Friday, November 11th the Pangman Remembrance Day Service was held at the school gym. Quite a few people attended the service on this warm November day.
At the beginning of the service a video entitled Pittance of Time was shown, followed by the singing of O Canada. Then Ed Howse read the Honour Roll and gave the Legion Address. We then sang the hymn God of Our Fathers. The Remembrance Day Message was given by Pastor Gary Penner. The message was followed by the Silence and Reveille and the laying of the Wreaths. The service ended with God Save the Queen.
Following the service there was a pot luck lunch.
Many thanks to Ed Howse, members of the community Legion, Pastor Gary Penner, and to the musicians, Ruth Bartlett and Phil Trylinski and to those who brought food for the pot luck lunch.
Click here to view a List of the Veterans that did return, thankfully, and who are now passed away, to all of us, their descendants. Their lives were not easy, because of what they had experienced; but they struggled through their respective ailments or anguishes, that would never go away; and persevered, making whole and meaningful lives that we shall cherish forever.
On Saturday, October 22, 2011 was our Harvest Supper hosted by Charity Farms and the 100 Celebration Committee. Many people came out and enjoyed a meal of Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Ham, Carrots, Salads, Fresh Buns, and delicious pies for dessert.
A big thank you to all who prepared food and those who worked in the new Community Kitchen doing preparation, serving and clean-up.
We had a few special guests at our Harvest Supper. Ken Kessler, NDP candidate for our area, and Dustin Duncan, the Saskatchewan Party candidate for our area.
Chuck Jacques, Reeve from the RM of Norto, spoke about the history of Charity Farms and the Community Kitchen project. Eileen Tunall spoke about the 100 Year Celebration and thanked everyone for all their help with the celebration.
Eileen Tunall and Joy White of the 100 Year Celebration Committee presented Brian & Gladys Jesse of Charity Farms with a cheque for $35,000.00 for the Community Kitchen.
The Pangman School Community Council annual general meeting was held on October 11, 2011 following the School Open House.
We were very happy with the turnout of community members at the meeting. All are concerned about the recent review with intent to close or reduce grades on the Pangman School from Southeast Cornerstone School Division. We received good input and we all understand the devastation this would have on our Community. We have a lot of planning ahead of us and all the support was much appreciated!
Thank you to Kelly Hilkewich, Superintendant of SECSD for your input and guidance in communications with SECSD. Also thank you to Dustin Duncan for your attendance and support as always with Pangman School.
Elections were held as follows:
The Pangman School open house was held on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. The SRC hosted a BBQ at 5 pm serving hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and ice cream. Many parents and other members of the community came out for the BBQ.
A book fair was held at the school library. There were many books available to purchase for children and parents.
The classrooms were open for the parents to visit and view some of their children’s work.
Following the Open House was the annual meeting of the School Community Council.
