Wishing you a very Merry Christmas with cake, comfort and company!
HENDERS DRUGS 1220 4th Street, Estevan
306-634-3666
Mon. - Fri. 9am-9pm | Sat. 9am-5pm Sun. & Holidays 12pm-4pm
Making a difference. Story of Estevan Sunflower, helping Ukrainian families affected by war. PAGE A3 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021
READ IT ONLINE AT SASKTODAY.CA
Devastating fire strikes beloved tourist attraction The Happy Nun By Stephanie Zoer
Christmas for everyone. Estevan Angel Tree makes sure every kid gets a gift. PAGE A6
Saying goodbye. The community paid final respects to one of its best, Melodye Pierson. PAGE A7
Agri news. Local family to hold potentially the biggest Simmental dispersal sale. PAGE A13
Kick-off to holidays. Woodlawn brings back their traditional Christmas in the Park. PAGE A18
It was a devastating day on Dec. 15 for Gayla and Leon Gilbertson when their greatest fear came to life, and their much-loved Happy Nun Café caught fire in the small village of Forget. At 6:25 p.m., the Stoughton-Tecumseh Fire Department (STFD) received the call that the business was burning, and upon arrival there were flames and a great deal of smoke. Southeast Saskatchewan was in the middle of a snowstorm and the roads were treacherous, but this did not stop the 17 members of the STFD from braving the weather to try and save the establishment that was a known landmark, not only in the small town but across Saskatchewan. According to Stoughton Fire Chief Pat Slater, they fought diligently for 10 hours, but could not save the historic building. A shell now remains with the café’s sign still hanging and seemingly untouched by the fire. Slater’s team remained on scene until 4:30 a.m., at which time the temperatures dropped significantly. making it difficult to stay warm. The Gilbertson’s also remained on scene into the wee hours of the morning to return to check for hot spots. Only the walls and the basic structure remain. The Happy Nun Café was not only an icon for
The Happy Nun Café sign seems untouched as only the shell of the building remains. Photo by Stephanie Zoer the people of Forget, but to many across Saskatchewan, and it was part of the family to the Gilbertsons. Gayla and her husband Leon purchased the Nun five years ago. They felt it was meant to be, as they had their first date at the venue and Gilbertson worked part time at the restaurant. At the time they purchased it, oil prices were sluggish, and just over two years after they bought it, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. This did not stop the couple from making the Happy Nun Café the place to go to for excellent food and entertainment.
They were known for purchasing locally from farmers and only served top quality food. They also supported local wines from Over the Hills Orchards and Winery in Lumsden and beer from Rebellion Brewing in Regina. Gayla is a known chef and offered exquisite items on her menu, all made from scratch, and Leon was always tending the bar and making sure the sound and lights were perfect. The Happy Nun Café held concerts, talent shows a Halloween Bash and many other events, and promoted as many homegrown bands as possible. The business was named
the Venue of the Year by the Saskatchewan Country Music Association for three straight years from 2020-2022. This was not just a building, it held a lot of historical memories for many, and the items lost are irreplaceable. The old counter from the former Donvil’s General Store in the village had served as the bar, and the tin on the wall behind the bar came from Augey’s Machine Shop. Original mailboxes had adorned the venue as well. Wainscotting on the back hall and stairs came from the Forget convent classrooms, while the bookshelves were made by
a previous owner’s father, Hank Nikel. He also refurbished the floors. The Happy Nun Café was a unique place. Memories live on for many. John van Eaton from the band Back 40 Drifters said, “I feel for Gayla and Leon. It is not just losing a business; it is much more.” Back 40 Drifters played for a fundraiser and two other times. Van Eaton said, “This is a huge loss to the community and the musical community. I often wondered how many people sat on the benches in that little back room, waiting to go on stage.” A2 » TRIBUTES
City crews had to dig Estevan out from lots of snow and strong winds last week If there was any doubt of a white Christmas in Estevan this year, it was dashed last week. The southeast region was blasted by a winter system. A snowfall warning was never issued by Environment Canada, but there was a special weath-
er statement issued on Dec. 12 and it remained in effect until Dec. 15. Crews could be seen removing snow from city streets. A travel not recommended warning was issued for Highways 39, 18 and 47 in the Estevan area and elsewhere in the
southeast, and motorists were asked to avoid a number of other areas. Then a blowing snow warning was issued on Dec. 16 that caused even more problems. The travel not recommended advisories were issued again, and people living in Estevan
were asked to stay off the roads. Wellock Road was closed for a brief period of time, and when it did reopen, the public was asked to avoid the area for the day. Some areas were down to one lane for a while.
Hawkes Bay in northwest Estevan was closed for a while, as was Johnston Road in the northeast area. “Thank you for your understanding as our road crews work diligently throughout today,” the city said in a Facebook post. A2 » CANADA
Merry Christmas from
118 Souris Ave. N., Estevan 306-634-3696 www.senchuk.com