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Vol. 21, No. 23, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Chipman Players present another wonderful evening BY JOHN MATHER The Chipman Players performed their latest production on March 7 before a full house at the Chipman National Hall. The Last Gladiator takes place in Roman times and the emperor and all the fighting men are off at the front fighting a battle. That leaves the emperor’s daughter, the princess in charge, and one elderly Senator who wants more control and a group of senator’s wives. And there are some peasants of whom Gladis, a less than manly man played by Anastazia Engman, and Minimus played by Dean Ostashek making his Chipman Players debut make their way through life as common thieves. Engman really steals the show as she rushes from cowardly peasant, to cowardly man, to even more cowardly gladiator, eventually winning the heart of the princess who has been instructed by her emperor father and is constantly
reminded by the aging Senator Attilis played by Joyce Doberstein that she,
the princess, must marry the Last Gladiator.
Gladis, played by Anastazia Engman, chases Brutus, played by Allan Engman, as he holds a message for the Princess, Terry Andriuk, right, while the Messenger, Mo Thompson, and Senator Attilis, Joyce Dobersein, watch in the Chipman Players’ performance of the Last Gladiator. The play was performed March 7 to a full house and will conclude this weekend with a March 14 and March 15 performance. John Mather photo.
By the end there are only two gladiators, Gladis, a most reluctant gladiator who doesn’t want to be facing death, but does fall in love with the princess and Brutus played by Alan Engman, a gladiator of few words but many grunts. Because the last gladiator will emerge from the Gladiator Games, the battle looms throughout the play. And there are four senator’s wives played by Tom Hrehorets as Verbalina, Rylee Rideout as Impella, Vonna Termul as Laffina, and Ellen King who plays Sasilla. They devise a scheme to raise money for the poor by selling programs, lizard on a stick, and pet rocks to the audience. The plot takes a while to develop but everyone is in the right position and the audience has an idea of what’s going on by the time the curtain descends on the first act. However, chaos erupts as the second act progresses. Continued on Page 15
Bruderheim councillor opposes hiring process for new CAO BY JOHN MATHER Bruderheim council went in camera March 4 to discuss finalizing the contract for hiring a new Chief Administrative Officer and when they came out, Deputy Mayor Dayna Jacobs, chairing the meeting in the absence of Mayor Ron Ewasiuk, stated she wanted a recorded vote on approving the contract. “I don’t support this decision because the recruitment bylaw was not followed,” she stated. “As a member of the committee this
is my position. I would like to reference the bylaw which is online, and one of the main points is the commission should evaluate all in a consistent and fair and equitable manner.” She said there were several candidates who were qualified for the position to replace former CAO Phyllis Forsythe who resigned after the fall municipal election. “They were neither interviewed or assessed in any way,” said Jacobs. “No reference checks were conducted and that is all I have to say. So please refer-
ence the bylaw.” She then asked if there were questions or concerns before the vote was taken. Councillor Luis Diaz said he disagreed with Jacobs and felt council had followed the bylaw and done its due diligence. Jacobs asked if interviews were conducted and references checked. Councillor Lester Quijano Acosta said, “we checked references and two out of three people on the committee agreed with one candidate so there was
no need to continue with a process that would result in the same result. “The criteria was met and we chose the best candidate.” Jacobs asked again if references were checked and candidates interviewed and Quijano Acosta said, “I think so.” In a recorded vote Jacobs opposed the motion with Diaz, Quijano Acosta and Councillor Arlie Young voting to proceed with offering the contract to the unnamed candidate. Council is expected to finalize the hiring at their next meeting on March 17.