Meridian Source - June 18, 2026

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Rib Fest expands with beach volleyball, tribute act

TAYLOR WEAVER

Organizers of Lloydminster’s annual Rib Fest are expanding this weekend’s event into a full-scale community festival, introducing a massive lineup of free entertainment to raise funds for Border City Connects.

Mike Sidoryk, speaking on behalf of the event, said organizers are closer than ever to achieving a true “festival style” atmosphere for the region.

“We’re pretty excited about our program, progress, and where we’re at,” Sidoryk said. “We’re just building like crazy.”

Among the biggest additions to this year’s lineup is a three-day beach volleyball tournament, which will be managed by Matt Peck. Rather than using existing community courts,

a dedicated beach volleyball court is being constructed directly on the festival grounds.

The event will also feature a diverse lineup of family-friendly entertainment.

“The more activities that are happening in the community, the better we are,” Sidoryk said.

Read the full story, HERE .

Lakeland students learn in Ensenada

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI

Lakeland College students got a crash course in teaching, courtesy of an excursion to Ensenada, Mexico.

Jackie Bender, Lakeland College dean of university transfer and foundational learning, has been making the trip down south for 10 years, helping students develop their skills in real classroom experiences.

“(The trip) builds confidence, they (Lakeland students) develop skills on how to plan for transitions in their lessons and how to deliver clarity, how to give feedback, all those key things that teachers need to know how to do,” she said.

Bender said the mission in Mexico started with Sandy and Randy Huebert, who went to the area to help with a home-building project.

“They went 17 years ago to do a house build,” she said. “While they were down there, they decided it was in their heart to help.

“They really felt called to support teenage girls who were abandoned, abused or caught up in sex trade, and do more to help that age group, 12- to 18-year-olds.”

The Huebert’s host multiple groups per year who do mission work in the area.

This year, there were 10 people in Bender’s group, including her son, who paid his own way to get there.

“The rest of these nine ladies are either in their first, second or third

year of an education program,” she said. “Many of them had never taught before, so we really pressed them into the opportunity to teach, design lessons, and work with a variety of kids.”

Prior to leaving on the trip, the group met to go over their teaching plan.

“They would do a beaver craft, they would talk about Canadian money or Canadian food or pop culture and geography.”

Their days began with grabbing a bag lunch, hopping into their 12-passenger bus and heading out to teach.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

They worked at Padson International School in the morning Monday to Wednesday before heading to other schools in the afternoon. The afternoon schools proved more difficult as English was not a language present in many of the classrooms.

“The students have to figure out the non-verbal cues to get their message across and they learn it pretty quickly,” Bender said.

Other days saw students running kids’ programs.

“For two of the days, we ran kids’ programs. One was for a missionary school and the other was for two homes for unwed mothers or kids that were in the foster program,” she said.

One hurdle the group had to overcome

was the rising cost of the trip.

“This group knew how to fundraiser. They worked really, really hard,” she said. “Our costs doubled this year in terms of our total expenses.”

This year saw support from Feast on the Farm, a fundraiser hosted by Lakeland College to support studentled initiatives.

They also received community funding, including $2,500 from the Rotary Club of Lloydminster — where Bender gave a presentation on June 15 — and $1,000 from the Lloydminster Lions Club

RCMP investigating HRHS teacher

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

The Lloydminster RCMP has launched a formal investigation into allegations of unprofessional conduct involving a local teacher, following the circulation of a video on social media. The investigation, confirmed by police on June 16, comes as the Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) issued a statement acknowledging a “verbal interaction” captured on video involving one of its employees.

“This is a developing situation and the Lloydminster RCMP have begun an investigation to determine the veracity of the online complaints,” said Staff Sgt. Bruce MacLean.

He added that police are working in consultation with the school division, which he described as “extremely co-operative.”

In a separate statement, the LCSD said it has reviewed the video and consulted with legal and professional channels. The school division confirmed the interaction did not occur during school hours. Full story, HERE .

Local Business Directory

DATE June 18, 2026

TIME 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Paul Reimer art destined for Bud Miller

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI

Some new art pieces by Paul Reimer are headed to Bud Miller All Seasons Park following a city council decision.

At its June 8 regular meeting, Lloydminster council authorized the transfer of $72,000 from the public art capital reserve to fund the project and enter into an agreement with the artist. The installations will include a metal tree and two metal and stone benches.

Coun. Jim Taylor, who serves on the Public Art Advisory Committee, spoke about the challenges of selecting public art, noting it wasn’t a matter of just picking something “off the shelf.”

“I think the one thing that is hard to encapsulate, is the process of the opinions of the people and what the committee did,” Taylor said.

“I encourage people to ask questions, whether they’re for or against it,” he added. “I’ve had just as many people reach out about public art that are for expression and that it’s nice to not just buy another cookie-cutter bench out of a catalogue and put it out in Bud Miller.”

Coun. David Lopez recalled a recent weekend interaction at Home Depot with a prominent local business owner who emphasized Reimer’s regional draw.

“He (said), ‘Do you understand people travel all over Western Canada looking for this artist and coming into the community to see the art?’” Lopez said. “People are coming to the community to find this art and I didn’t understand that. It’s art that people are looking for.”

Lopez added that the city aims to offer something for everyone.

“As a community, we have to be equal opportunity for everyone,” he said.

“So the people that like the arts get some of the arts, people that like golf, we have a golf course, people that like hockey, we have the arena. We have these things for everybody so everyone in the community can appreciate it.”

The public art committee is still exploring options to display the background of the pieces.

Graduates open 12-year-old kindergarten time capsule

TAYLOR WEAVER

A decade of growth and a room full of memories collided in an emotional reunion as Mother Teresa Catholic School’s very first kindergarten class returned to where their academic journeys began.

The graduating Grade 12 students stepped back into their original classroom to reunite with their former teacher, Michelle Bolduc, and open a 12-year-old time capsule she had preserved since the school opened in 2013.

For Bolduc, a veteran educator of 20 years, the milestone was the culmination of a vision she had at the start of her kindergarten teaching journey.

“I remember that my very first year as a teacher, my partner teacher said, ‘always put yourself in the position of the parent. What would the parents want?’” Bolduc said, noting the deep emotional impact of seeing her former students grown up. “To see all these kids, my heart is just opening up. I

remember the little memories, the little things.”

The time capsule contained packages created by the students in 2013, featuring self-portraits, lists of their favourite things and predictions about their future selves. Crucially, it also included letters written by parents a dozen years ago, detailing their hopes and dreams for their children’s Grade 12 year.

Principal Sheila Jurke praised Bolduc’s enduring commitment to her students, calling the reunion a testament to the dedication of classroom teachers.

“It’s a really exciting day because this is the very first kindergarten class with Mrs. Bolduc that registered here when Mother Teresa opened,” Jurke said. “It really warms all of our hearts and just shows the extent that teachers will go for their students. Not every individual

would do something like that, but she cared enough.”

For the graduates, who are preparing to walk the stage at local high schools, walking into the classroom offered a striking perspective on how much time had passed.

“It’s like a blast from the past,” said graduating student Alex White. “I remember it, but I don’t. It’s so different coming back to it. I’m so much bigger now.”

White expressed gratitude for Bolduc’s long-term planning, adding, “It’s awesome that she cared to do this over 12 years. That’s over a decade. That’s a long time to plan it out and keep it all.”

Graduate Ariana Abbott immediately recalled her favourite part of the classroom — a small indoor treehouse — and said seeing her former teacher brought back an instant flood of warmth.

“As soon as I saw her, it was just like her face lit up,” Abbott said.

While this marks the first time capsule opening for Bolduc, it will not be her last. She has kept time capsules for every kindergarten class she has taught since, with seven more reunions slated for the coming years.

Sandy Beach Regional Park celebrates 60 years

TAYLOR WEAVER

Sandy Beach Regional Park marked six decades of regional park status on June 13, celebrating a 60-year transformation from a simple lakeside escape into a multi-use community hub.

The milestone brought together residents, seasonal campers, golfers and weekend visitors for a full day of events. General manager Char Kozak credited the event’s success to a dedicated group of volunteers who organized roughly 95 per cent of the day’s festivities.

Volunteers arranged catering for a 130-person supper, booked live entertainment by the Sandy Beach Boys, managed a community bonfire, and organized pontoon boat lake tours. The afternoon also featured canoe races, lawn games, a pickleball showcase and horseshoe tournaments.

Joan Hill, a resident of 32 years who helped plan the anniversary, said a beach scavenger hunt had children hunting for 60 loonies — one for each year of the park’s history — hidden alongside chocolate coins. The celebration concluded with a fireworks display funded entirely through community and business donations from Sandy Beach and nearby Lloydminster.

The anniversary comes on the heels of several capital improvement projects, including a full winter renovation of the shower house and a new, operational pickleball court. Additionally, the park’s kitchen is now serving three

meals a day for the summer season.

Looking ahead, the park will host summer markets on June 28 and Aug. 2. Management is also seeking public feedback to shape future developments.

“Right now is the time for looking at change and seeing the things that people want,” Kozak said.

Full story and gallery, HERE .

Thursday, June 18, 2026

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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Better late than never Leave it to Weaver

The expression “better late than never” really hit home for me last weekend.

As much as I hate to admit it, I was late for an assignment last Saturday because I didn’t give myself enough time to get to Sandy Beach for 4 p.m.

If you’ve travelled north on Highway 17 in the past year, you know crews are widening the road between Four Mile and Six Mile. Drivers are stopped in both directions while road workers allow traffic to flow one way at a time.

Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, it adds time to your trip. But it’s a necessary evil to get the work done.

I may have been in a rush on Saturday, but traffic was heavy and I didn’t feel a dire need to speed once I passed the construction zone north of Six Mile. The driver in front of me, however, didn’t share that sentiment.

A white SUV with a “baby on board” sticker pulled into the left lane to pass the vehicle ahead. Looking up the highway, I could see a vehicle driving south and instantly thought, “This driver doesn’t have enough time to pass.”

The motorist being passed must have thought the same thing; they moved onto the shoulder to help prevent a head-on collision between the two vehicles in the southbound lane.

Suddenly, the vehicles were three-wide as they passed each other — two heading north and one heading south.

I can’t imagine what the other drivers were feeling, but my own heart was pounding. I had just witnessed what could have easily been a deadly crash. CONTINUED ON PAGE

Chris’ A-Z: Art is interesting

I haven’t used my column to talk about municipal matters in quite some time. If you didn’t know, municipal politics and governance are passions of mine. I love the complexities of how cities and towns work. Today, I’d like to talk about art. It’s been a hot topic in the Border City lately, and rightfully so. The city recently entered into an artist agreement with Paul Reimer and approved the transfer of $72,000 from the public art capital reserve to fund the project.

I may have been like some who saw the design for the tree and felt a little confused, though I do like the benches. However, I think that’s exactly what art in general — and public art specifically — is meant to do. Some folks will immediately resonate with a piece and be captivated by what they see. I’m entirely certain

that once that tree goes up, it will be the talk of the town and people will go to see it in person. Art can be polarizing, but a city without it would be incredibly drab. When I walk downtown and see all the murals, I always appreciate the life they bring to what would otherwise be plain buildings.

Another key item discussed in relation to this project was the funding. The city allocates a minimum of one per cent of the annual capital surplus to the public art reserve. That money is set aside to serve one function: art.

It cannot be used for anything else. That is the entire point of having the multitude of other reserves and funding sources the city has at its fingertips. Finally, what really stuck out to me was the prevalence of Reimer’s work across the country. As noted during the

council meeting, his art is featured across Canada and people travel to see it. His online portfolio shows dozens of pieces currently on display across North America. He has created some pretty cool pieces, and I implore you to check them out for yourself. I also invite you to keep yourself up to date on local issues. Read past the headlines, contact your elected officials, and ask the questions you want answered. There are always two sides to every story, and I think that’s often overlooked.

Passport to YLL

Bingo at Moose Lodge

Bingo is back at Moose Lodge every Monday and Wednesday evening. Doors open at 5 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m. Must be 18 to play.

Chair Yoga

The Alcurve Community Hall is hosting chair yoga every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $15 for drop in or $50 per month. Call or text Deb at 780-808-0015 for more details.

Southridge

Playschool Registration is Open

The Southridge Playschool and Kindergym Society has opened registration for the fall 2026-27 term for kids ages 3-5. One day a week is covered by a government affordability grant, and two days a week is $325 for the whole term.

Contact Mrs. Shandy at southridgeplayschool@ gmail.com or message

them on Facebook.

Just Kruzin’ Annual Show & Shine

The Just Kruzin’ Specialty Vehicle Club’s annual show and shine is June 20 at the Cenovus Energy Hub. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ribfest at the Lloyd Ex

Border City Connects’ (BCC) annual Ribfest kicks off at the Lloyd Ex at 11 a.m. on Friday and runs until 7 p.m. on Sunday. The three-day event is bigger and better than ever with more activities for the whole family. Entry to the event is free but attendees are encouraged to donate to BCC. This year will feature a beach volleyball tournament and more kid-friendly events. All proceeds support Border

City Connects.

Eagles Tribute at the Vic Juba Hotel California, the original Eagles tribute, is at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Friday, June 19 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $58.57 and are available online and at the theatre box office.

Doubles Crib Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a doubles cribbage tournament on June 25 at 10 a.m. Cost to play is $10 and $12 for lunch/person. Everyone welcome.

Elton John Tribute at the Vic Juba Electric Elton, the music and legacy of Elton John, is at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $69.

LEAVE IT TO WEAVER FROM PAGE 10

The ironic part? The SUV with the baby on board sticker pulled into Sandy Beach Regional Park a mere 30 seconds before me. Worth the risk? I’d say not.

I’ve written about this topic during the winter, too. We all have somewhere to be, and it’s our re-sponsibility as motorists to ensure the safety of others on the road.

It is always better to arrive late than never at all.

Brain Injury Awareness Month top of mind

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI

June serves as an important month in the recognition of brain injuries, as it is deemed Brain Injury Awareness Month. Across Canada, associations run campaigns to help increase awareness regarding the prevalence of brain injuries.

“June is a very important month for us in brain injury, awareness and prevention,” said Kelly Mason, Lloydminster and Area Brain Injury Society (LABIS) communication and events coordinator. He explained brain injuries can be almost invisible.

“It can affect your mood, it can affect how you talk, so many different small factors that don’t show on the outside,” he said.

The month serves as a reminder of the risk of brain injuries.

“Everything from helmets to drinking and driving, anything that

can lead to accidents affecting the brain,” said Mason. “It’s important for us to bring that to the forefront and let the public know (about) brain injuries, how they happen and how to prevent them.”

LABIS works with individuals who have an acquired brain injury.

“The majority of our clientele is acquired brain injuries from accidents like automobile accidents, to strokes, surgery where the brain is affected after that,” he said. “We have clientele coming in here that you wouldn’t tell walking down the street they had a brain injury.

“People don’t understand the support that is needed for those individuals.”

The work LABIS does covers multiple facets of life for those with an acquired brain injury.

“We provide them with a social outlet and a place where they can be comfortable with other individuals who have similar types of

injuries and workers who are fully vetted with the injuries and how to support them best,” he said. “They can come here, they get a social aspect of talking with other individuals, we do a lot of hand movement articulation with crafts and games and cards. We have all the resource material for their caregivers as well. We provide a bit of respite for those care workers and also can help them out in dealing with that individual.”

The organization will also be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

PAGE 14

Thursday, June 18, 2026

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Bradley Airspray hosts event at Vermilion Airport

Coffee, donuts and a sprayer plane drew curious individuals to the Vermilion Airport for Bradley Airspray’s Coffee on the Ramp.

The June 10 event served a dual purpose: to familiarize people with Bradley Airspray and to raise awareness of the airport.

“I wanted to bring awareness to the Vermilion Airport,” said Bradley Airspray co-owner Garth George. “I think it’s good to have airports in the community.

“We brought our planes here today and invited (people) for coffee and some donuts, have a visit and let the community come see us.”

He explained that the Vermilion Airport was one of many airports the business operates out of, including Elk Point, Maidstone, Provost, Lloydminster and Wainwright. “This is one of the other airports we

operate out of,” said George, who owns the business with his wife, Cortney.

“Once we get outside the 25 nautical miles of distance from one of our stations, we tend to move to another airport.”

Town of Vermilion Mayor Robert Snow was thrilled to see the event, getting a tour of the plane before explaining the importance of having the airport in the community.

“It’s very important. It encompasses our vision with the airport,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

NOTICE

“The airport’s a vital part of not just our community, but the region.

“Having this airport means we can have businesses like Bradley Airspray, which supports not only our town, but our farmers.”

Vermilion is also looking at investments in improving the airport, including addressing the cracking pavement.

“We’re investing in upkeep (of) the runway and looking at future planning on resurfacing the runway,” said Snow.

“With the Province of Alberta, we’ve looked at the STIP funding. We’re hoping that the province partners with us, nonetheless, we’ve started a strategy in our budgeting to put reserves away to resurface it.”

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Sask. NDP demands province fix housing, shelter gaps

Sask’s Opposition NDP is calling on Premier Scott Moe to boost provincial funding for homelessness, addiction and mental health services, warning that a lack of support is leaving border communities in crisis.

During a June 11 visit to Lloydminster, Erika Ritchie, the NDP critic for government relations and social services, argued provincial inaction is shifting millions of dollars in costs onto local property taxpayers.

Ritchie said the province’s failure to address root causes has forced municipalities to fill gaps left by “failed policies.” She noted Lloydminster officials have spent roughly $3 million cumulatively to handle social disorder. This includes a recent city council decision to spend $325,000 on summer projects to clean up needles from encampments and establish a patrol unit for high-impact areas.

“This is money that

should be going towards core services like roads, public facilities and fire protection,” Ritchie said.

Tyler Lorenz, former executive director of Residents in Recovery, joined Ritchie to emphasize that frontline workers, police and hospitals are overwhelmed because they have nowhere to send people seeking help.

Lorenz criticized recent legislative efforts like the Compassionate Intervention Act, arguing forced treatment is an expensive distraction from a severe shortage of open beds.

“You don’t need to force anybody into treatment. They all want to go at certain points. There’s just nowhere for them to go,” Lorenz said, adding that many unhoused residents are languishing on waitlists.

He explained the Border City’s geography straddling the SaskatchewanAlberta border creates a bureaucratic nightmare where individuals can lose Alberta benefits,

Minister Erika Ritchie listens to Tyler Lorenz speak in Lloydminster on June 11. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

then face a mandatory 30-day waiting period for Saskatchewan assistance. Full story, HERE .

Carnival kicks off summer at LloydMall

The sights and sounds of summer were on full display over the weekend as the Wild Rose Shows carnival packed the LloydMall parking lot. The carnival, which operated from June 11 to 14, welcomed ridegoers and game players of all ages for a weekend of fun in the sun. The smell of fair food and the screams of excited riders filled the air before the midway packed up and hit the road Sunday evening.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source photos

Word on the beat: Summer time

Staff Sgt. JERRY NUTBROWN

It might be too soon to say, but summer could finally be arriving.

To keep Lloydminster as crimefree as possible, residents must work together to eliminate opportunities for thieves.

Bicycle owners should secure their property at all times.

Even during quick store runs, keep your bike visible and locked. Record serial numbers or place unique, inconspicuous marks on the frame to help police identify the bike if it is lost, stolen, and later recovered. Illustrating how brazen thieves can be in our community, a truck and trailer

were once stolen while the driver was simply adding air to a trailer tire.

Secure sheds with robust locks, ideally using covers to block bolt cutters or grinders. Keep tool chests locked, and apply frosted film to garage and shed windows to hide valuables. Reinforcing door frames, installing yard gate latches, and adding motion-activated security lights or cameras will further deter suspects. While nothing is absolutely foolproof, making theft difficult is your best defence.

Road safety also requires extra attention. Every summer, pedestrians are struck by vehicles, typically in parking lots or crosswalks. Whether walking or driving, always check your surroundings—even if you have the right-of-way.

Before driving, take half a minute to walk around your vehicle to check its condition and ensure no children, toys, or objects are behind it. Clear the rearview mirror and dashboard of obstructions.

If you are navigating unfamiliar roads, map your route ahead of time or have a passenger assist to let you focus entirely on the road.

Have a safe summer!

Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future online columns from the Lloydminster RCMP.

CHL picks Pickford as top D-man

As smoothly as he adapted to the Western Hockey League, defenceman Bryce Pickford transformed himself from the relative quiet of farm life in Chauvin, Alta., to the bright lights of Toronto for the Canadian Hockey League awards ceremony.

Pickford made the trip to Toronto, where he accepted the CHL top defenceman award on Monday, after soaking up his off-season return to his family’s Prairie farm this spring.

“Yeah, it’s definitely hard to sometimes flip on and flip off a switch, going to events like this from just kind of being a bum out on the farmhouse and letting my beard grow and letting it buck, and then going to Toronto and I’ve got to wear a suit and tidy up a little bit, so that’s a little different,” Pickford said with a chuckle, minutes before flying out of Toronto later Monday.

“But yeah, it’s a blast to be able to do that and I’m honoured for it, too.”

It was a season of honours for Pickford as he captained

the Medicine Hat Tigers in style. After scoring 45 goals and 83 points in 55 games, the Montreal Canadiens’ prospect was named the WHL defenceman of the year and WHL player of the year, and now CHL D-man of the year.

“Yeah, I’ve got a couple of awards, but I think this one definitely feels different — the best,” Pickford said about his national recognition across

the Western, Ontario and Quebec Maritimes leagues.

“But the (Tigers) team I was with this year, I’ve got to give them most of the credit, and obviously my parents have done a lot for me, too.

“So, this award definitely felt really good, walking up to the stage and even just holding the trophy and reading the names on it, it’s pretty special.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Pro hockey next stop for Habs’ prospect Pickford

CHL AWARDS FROM PAGE 23

The other finalists for this year’s top D-man award were Kashawn Aitcheson of the Barrie Colts (OHL) and Tommy Bleyl of the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL). Bleyl was named the CHL rookie of the year.

Pickford and Kitchener Rangers (OHL) centre Sam O’Reilly were among three finalists for the CHL playerof-the-year award, which went to Chicoutimi Sagueneens forward Maxim Masse. The Anaheim Ducks’ prospect scored 51 goals and 102 points this past QMJHL season.

The CHL recognized its top talent during pro-like presentation proceedings interspersed with a meal and the announcement of awardwinners.

“They had like a big-old supper, where they’d present a couple of awards, then they’d serve a salad, and a couple of more awards, then we’d have dinner, a couple of more awards, and then dessert,” Pickford recounted. “So, it was planned out pretty professionally. Even before, we took photos with the trophies and did some interviews along the way, of course. It was a good day.”

BROTHER OFF TO BCHL

Sharing in Pickford’s special moment was one of his three brothers, Reily, also a defenceman standing out in junior hockey circles.

Reily accompanied Bryce on the trip to Toronto for the CHL awards festivities, which included a Blue Jays baseball game on Sunday.

Turning 19 in September, Reily is bound for the BCHL’s Langley Rivermen next season. He was named to the AJHL’s all-rookie team this past season with the Grande Prairie Storm.

“It’s pretty cool watching it all happen, especially with how big of an award it is,” Reily said about Bryce’s latest accolades. “It’s pretty insane.”

Bryce, who just turned 20 in April, has a tight bond with his closest-in-age brother, Reily. They appreciated each other’s company this week at the CHL awards show.

“Yeah, it’s always nice to do stuff with family,” Bryce said. “I’m pretty close with Reily. Those years that I took off of games, I really didn’t leave the farm. Me and Reily both didn’t. It was nice not being alone, and I had him to keep me in my place, and I kept him in his place, and we kept each other motivated and on the right track. So, I think that’s why Reily is doing as good as

he is now, and it’s just going to get better from here. And I’m going to do the same.”

The Pickford boys departed Toronto and flew to Florida to attend the reputable Darryl Belfry hockey skills camp for the rest of June.

“We won’t be done for another two weeks, so we’ve got to flip the switch for a little bit longer here,” Bryce said.

“This will be our third year doing this camp. We’re pretty fired up. It’s definitely been a big help in our hockey careers through the way. It’s a blast, for sure.”

Pickford’s pro career is about to blast off this fall. Although he still has another year of junior eligibility, he’s ready to take the next step and become an even greater part of Montreal’s organization. The likeliest scenario for next season is that he would play in the American Hockey League with the Canadiens’ affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

“Yeah, that’s the plan, to be in Laval,” he said. “Obviously, I want to try and crack the NHL — that’s going to be my No. 1 goal — but most likely probably end up in Laval for at least a year or two.”

He’ll attend the Habs’ main camp and hope to stick around for the NHL pre-season, perhaps even longer.

“The goal is to go hard this summer and earn myself a regular-season game (in the NHL) at the beginning of the year, and then hopefully stick there,” Pickford said. “But if I don’t, then back in Laval, which is only like 30 minutes away, which is pretty nice.”

GAME BOYS

JOHN MacNEIL

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Parker Spence and Kye Thom are in just their first full year of senior baseball, but they’re already giving back to the game that they love.

Both high school graduates from the class of 2025, they faced each other in early June at the Legion Ball Park in Lloydminster as Spence pitched the youthful Oil City Ducks to a 3-1 victory over Thom’s Mervin Flyers in the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League.

Just as Spence was effective on the mound for the home team, Thom made his presence felt at the plate and manning shortstop for the visitors.

But those contributions with their respective senior clubs are just half the story for the likes of Spence and Thom.

Both also dedicate much of their summer to coaching minor ball teams in their home communities — Spence with the 15U AA Lloydminster Twins in the Baseball Alberta Provincial League and Edam’s Thom with the 15U AA SaskWest Sasquatch of the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League.

Senior ball players Spence, Thom pitch in as coaches of youth teams

Youth players relate to coaches fresh out of high school

BASEBALL COACHES FROM PAGE 25

In similar fashion, Thom wanted to help his younger brother Jay’s team, the Sasquatch, so he became part of the four-man coaching staff.

“I’m the third-base coach,” he said. “The other three coaches are dads of other boys on the team.”

Both Thom brothers were provincial silvermedallists last summer in Saskatchewan — Kye with the 18U AA North Battleford Beavers and Jay with the 13U AA Edam Blue Sox.

The nucleus of that 13U team now forms the 15U AA SaskWest team, which sported a .500 record through June 16 action this season.

The kids with the Sasquatch enjoy having a young face and successful baseball player on their coaching staff.

“Oh yeah, they pick on me,” Thom said with a laugh.

In actuality, the SaskWest players are learning lessons from an up-and-coming senior player who grew up playing leadership roles with his respective minor baseball and hockey teams.

“Yeah, I try my best,” Thom understated.

“It’s competitive ball. We’re a young team and we have some developing to do. But,

overall, it’s been a pretty good year.”

Last spring, Thom graduated from H. Hardcastle School in Edam, while Spence completed his studies at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School.

Spence played alongside his younger brother Jake last summer as members of the 18U AAA Zone 7 Sun Devils in the Saskatchewan premier league. He took his considerable talents to Prairie Baseball Academy (PBA) for a winter of training and development. That experience of everyday baseball only enhanced his coaching ambitions.

Spence now plans to put his kinesiology studies on the backburner and focus on becoming a youth baseball coach for both the outdoor and indoor seasons.

“It was super fun (at PBA),” he said. “I had a great time. (But) I’m focusing on coaching now. That’s what I want to do.

“I’m going to stay here (in Lloyd) and I’m going to coach all winter. Then, I want to go out and recruit kids from smaller towns and bring them into Lloyd and eventually bring back the AAA program (to the Border City).”

‘It’s fun and it’s competitive,’ says Flyers’ Thom

BASEBALL COACHES FROM PAGE 26

This is the second summer in a row that AAA baseball teams aren’t operating out of Lloydminster. The Prairie Pirates moniker is still attached to Border City clubs, but not at the AAA level.

Notably, the 15U AA Pirates are also coached by university students and Lloydminster Twins senior ball players in Gage Haygarth, Brenden Pollard and Ellis King, all contributing to the growth of elite baseball in Lloyd and area.

Likewise, the new coach of the 18U AA Pirates is Masen Anderson, a former U.S. college player from Maidstone now multi-tasking while also playing in the North Saskatchewan River senior league with the Standard Hill Lakers.

Last summer, Anderson coached the 15U AA Twins, the same team that Spence now coaches.

Spence’s progression in coaching includes his work with Dingers Batting Cages in Lloydminster, where he offers baseball tips to young players in another setting.

“Hopefully, in the long run, that’s what I want to do,” he said about coaching in general.

On the field, Spence lasted until the sixth inning in pitching Oil City’s two-run win over Mervin.

“I actually threw BP (batting practice) to my (Twins) kids yesterday, so I probably threw about 100 pitches yesterday and again today,” Spence said with a smile. “I felt good.”

One of the few Flyers who was able to muster any offence against Spence was Thom, who picked up two hits and a walk on the night.

“He’s a good pitcher,” Thom said about Spence. “He’s got some good stuff, and we just couldn’t cash in some runs when we needed to.”

Thom, 18, is a student at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon, where he’s switching to the electrician program this fall after studying business this past school year.

“It just seemed like a decent job,” he said about working as an electrician. “It’s decent paying and good work, so I figured why not give it a try.

“I start working in September and my school starts in January.”

In winter and summer, Thom enjoys playing with senior teams close to his hometown of Edam, including hockey with the Turtleford

Tigers of the Sask Prairie league last winter and now baseball with Mervin this summer.

“It’s a good time,” he said. “It’s fun and it’s competitive, so there’s not much more you can ask for. Overall, it’s usually pretty good.

“It’s just close to home. I know lots of the guys that play there and it’s fun. We’ve got quite a few young guys.”

Thom was still in high school last year when he was called up to one of the NSRBL’s flagship teams, the North Battleford Beavers.

Senior league ‘getting younger and younger’

BASEBALL COACHES FROM PAGE 27

Now suiting up with Mervin in the same senior league, Thom is a jack of all trades, rotating between pitching and shortstop and occasional stints at second base “whenever I am needed there.”

Almost six-foot-two and about 185 pounds, he’s in fine form for the baseball season.

“Definitely a little bit bigger and stronger than I

was last year,” said Thom, working outdoors for the municipality this summer maintaining properties with lawn-mowing, painting and roadwork.

Fortunately for busy people like Thom and Spence, most of the senior league games are scheduled for weekdays, while virtually all the minor ball games are played on weekends.

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Thom said he had to miss one senior game on a Sunday because it conflicted with his coaching schedule with the 15U AA Sasquatch.

Mervin and most of their contemporaries in the senior league are armed with young players still of junior age.

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“Yeah, it seems like a younger league,” Thom agreed. “The league is getting younger and younger every year.”

It’s also a family affair for the Thoms most nights at the ball field. Thom’s mother Andrea is the manager of the 15U AA Sasquatch, with Jay on the roster and Kye on the coaching staff.

That reality is certainly evident with Oil City, mostly an under-20 lineup.

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“I played with all these guys growing up, so it made it easy,” said Spence, 19. “It’s fun. No stress or anything. Last year, I played with the Sun Devils and I just affiliated with (the Ducks) for extra reps and stuff like that. But now, it’s just these guys, and then coaching.”

Spence’s prolific pitching performance in early June came in front of his father and grandparents. His mother was with Parker’s brother Jake in North Battleford for a Sun Devils game that same night.

Both of Thom’s teams were playing this Monday night when he opted to play with Mervin, which edged the Lloyd Twins 6-5 as the Flyers posted their third straight victory. Along with his steady play at shortstop, Thom delivered a two-run, game-tying double. Beckett Rogers and Riley Macnab handled Mervin’s pitching.

A week earlier, Thom stepped onto the mound in the third inning and pitched the rest of the seven-inning game as the Flyers defeated Standard Hill 9-8.

“I felt great,” he said. “My stuff was working great, getting weak contact, along with some strikeouts. The team as a whole played great — some solid defensive plays and timely hits. It was a great team walk-off win.”

Students give Pursuit school top marks

JOHN MacNEIL

It was a win-win situation for Grade 11 student Ada Dillon as her school marks went up and her golf scores went down during the inaugural year for the Pursuit School of Sport in Lloydminster.

“It’s been really good,” said Dillon, a member of Onion Lake Cree Nation. “I think this is the best school year I’ve ever had.

“It’s been difficult balancing my academics and my sports (over the years), but this school has really helped me with it.”

Under the auspices of the Lloydminster Public School Division, Pursuit was created

as a specialized school that aligns with the unique circumstances in the lives of young elite athletes from a variety of sports.

Pickford anticipates pro career with Habs

One-on-one instruction from teachers, a like-minded student body and a flexible school/sports schedule are among the features that students appreciated the most about Pursuit’s first season of operation, they told the Meridian Source in yearend interviews.

Pursuit’s weekly schedule, which doesn’t include Friday classes, enables students to travel to their respective competitions without missing school time.

A flexible schedule on school days also permits students to arrive late, or leave early, depending on their sports practice times.

SUDOKU

Explosion gymnast Sambrook

‘refreshed and ready to go’

PURSUIT SCHOOL FROM PAGE 29

Level 6 gymnast

Sarah Sambrook, a Grade 8 student at Pursuit, credits the school for helping her post 90-plus marks in the classroom.

“It’s been a lot better this year, because last year I had to go up to a lot of my (road) competitions on Wednesday, because of the weather,” said Sambrook, a member of Explosion Lloydminster gymnastics club. “But this year it’s been a lot more flexible, so I have time to catch up and (teachers) are able to help me one-on-one, if I miss something.

“It’s also helped because I didn’t finish gym until 8 o’clock at night, last year. So, I’d go to school all day and then finish (training), and I wouldn’t get home until 8:30. You don’t feel like (doing homework) and you’re behind. It was just really tough trying to get everything done.”

Sambrook still had busy days this school year, but her schedule allowed her to practise and study more effectively.

“This year, I train in the morning for three hours, from 7:45 to

10:45 a.m., and I get to school at 11ish. And then, I can go to school all day, instead of (trying to learn) at the end of the day when I’m exhausted. In the morning, I’m refreshed and ready to go.”

Sambrook scored well in the gym — winning a competition in Okotoks — and in the classroom. Going into her final exams, she didn’t have a mark below 90.

“I think that’s helped a lot (due to) the teachers I’ve had, because they’re a lot better with helping me understand,” she said. “It’s probably been my best year.

“For gymnastics, I just hope to move up levels and have a good season next year. My best event is probably floor. I usually get top three in that.”

Hockey players, others embrace Pursuit education

JOHN MacNEIL

In a hockey town like Lloydminster, it’s a telling affirmation that hockey players are among the greatest supporters of the Pursuit School of Sport.

“I just like how you can have a really good connection with the teachers, because they’ve either played sports at a good level, or they have kids playing at that level,” said Hailey Peters, a Grade 9 student at Pursuit.

“And they understand what you’re going through, with the pressure of your hockey team and just the pressure at home. So, you’re able to talk to them about it and they’ll help you a lot more, because they understand what you’re going through.”

Peters played defence with the U14 Junior Rustlers while attending Pursuit in the inaugural year for the specialized sports school in Lloydminster.

“I used to live outside of town, and I came to Lloyd for the girls’ hockey program,” she said. “I started playing with the U14 Rustlers, and we have a lot of showcase weekends, so we’re not really here on Fridays.

“(Previously), just going to a school where you needed to be at school on Fridays, it’s a lot of work. You’d come back on Monday morning and it’s, like, ‘Oh, you missed all this.’

“At the Pursuit, you don’t have that (scheduling conflict) and they have the time allotted so you can catch up during the school day.”

Pursuit’s weekly schedule doesn’t include Friday classes, so the student-athletes are able to travel to their respective competitions without missing school time.

Speaking with her hockey friends, Peters has given Pursuit an endorsement. She expects some of them might join her next year.

“It was just me this year, but next year we know that probably half of my team is going to be here.”

Along with a range of other

sporting disciplines, Pursuit hosted hockey players from multiple Lloydminster-based teams, most notably the Thunder academy club that made its debut in the Premier Hockey League.

ENROLMENT ON THE RISE

“We are going to grow our population next year,” said Pursuit principal Doug Smith. “We’ve already beat where we were at this year, which was 68 students.

“So, we’ll hit that 80 mark. A few other sports (are being added). We have cheer coming in next year, and soccer. Lloydminster is a sports town. A ton of great athletes here and great programs. We were lucky enough to provide the education aspect to these kids.”

The hockey landscape is changing in the Border City, with the Lloydminster Athletics ending their academy program, while the Thunder are expanding to multiple teams and a new league, the North American Prep Hockey League.

“Some of these kids who were part of that (Athletics) program, they’re looking for a place to play,” Smith said. “A lot of them are hoping that they can play in and around Lloyd, just so they can attend Pursuit again.

“It’s been an amazing year.”

Ryder Greba, a 16-year-old goaltender from Cold Lake, is one of the hockey players most appreciative of Pursuit’s impact in

developing his potential career.

Greba moved to Lloydminster last fall to play with the 17U Athletics, and he seamlessly stepped into Grade 10 at Pursuit.

“It was kind of last minute,” he said. “I got called to go play Athletics here in Lloyd. Coming out for a skate, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I took my first look at this school when I knew I was going to play Athletics. I was, like, ‘Yeah, it sounds amazing.’

“It sounded like a great group of kids who were going here. With athletes, it’s all like-minded people. A bunch of different types of students, so you really get to explore what other people are doing. Lots of diversity, which is great. When I heard about that, I was really interested, so I took my chances here, and it ended up working out great.”

Greba could fill a yearbook with memories from school at Pursuit and hockey with the Athletics.

“The things that stand out to me about Pursuit are definitely the teachers, with how understanding they are with schoolwork,” he said. “Because, some athletes are gone some days, and they can’t do schoolwork. The teachers give you extensions — there’s lots of extra time (to keep pace) — and they’re really willing to focus on you and help you, which I do really love and respect about this school.

Sambrook, Dillon illustrate Pursuit progress

Sambrook, who turned 14 on June 14, was the top finisher overall in her most recent meet, the Mountain Magic Invitational, at Okotoks.

Her classmates at Pursuit include other gymnasts amid a full field of competitive athletes, ranging from golfers to hockey players.

“It’s fun,” she said. “You do get to meet a lot of (high-achieving) people, and you get to see how they think of gymnastics. Because, normally, people say, ‘Wow, that’s so cool,’ but if you meet who’s like you, they can relate and everything.”

Elite athletes from Pursuit related to Explosion even more last week after visiting the gymnastics club for a school field trip.

Sambrook reported that more gymnasts from Explosion hope to join her at Pursuit next year.

Dillon, who aspires to eventually play college golf, plans to return to Lloyd’s sports specialty school in September for her Grade 12 year.

Training with the Lloyd Athletics golf program, she gained confidence and development in the

CROSSWORD

sport, while making progress in Pursuit classrooms.

Perfecting her golf swing and working out with fellow Athletics golfers, Dillon moved one step closer to her collegiate dreams.

“It’s improved a lot,” she said. “My mental game and my physical game. Yeah, it improved so much.

“This winter, I went to Florida for MJT (Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour) nationals, hosted by Kissimmee. It was a really fun experience. I loved it. It was a great first year for me, as a qualifier. I felt like I learned a lot when I went there. made a lot of friends from all around.”

The summer golf season is already underway for Dillon, who played in a MJT qualifier at Humboldt, Sask., just last weekend. She placed second in the U15-19 girls’ division, just two shots shy of the champion.

“It’s a busy month for me,” she said as Pursuit students prepared for diploma exams.

“I think the summer goal is to keep my mental game steady, so I can shoot lower and lower as I progress into more tournaments.”

HOCKEY PLAYERS PRAISE PURSUIT FROM PAGE 31

“The hockey season was great here,” Greba said. “I enjoyed it. I made lots of new friends. I made lots of friends at this school, too. I feel like anyone could come to this school and make a bunch of friends. I feel like everyone here is great people.”

With the Lloyd Athletics closing shop this year, Greba is looking for a new place to play hockey next season. If that team is based in Lloydminster or area, he plans to continue his studies at Pursuit.

Greba’s prospective hockey options for the coming year include junior B back home, and AA or AAA or junior B in the Lloydminster area.

“And then, in the way (off) future, I do want to end up playing in a (junior) league like the BCHL or the WHL,” he said. “That’s my dream.”

Wherever he lands, Greba will continue to speak highly of Pursuit and its athlete-friendly approach to education.

“I would like to have some of my buddies from Cold Lake come here, because no one (else) from where I’m from has experienced this school yet,” he said. “I go home, and I tell my friends on the weekends, ‘Hey, I’ve got no school on Fridays, I get lots of one-on-one tutoring time, the teachers are really invested in you all the time. They’re trying to better you, not just in school, but as people.’ My buddies hear that, and say, ‘No way, blah, blah, blah, I want to come play there.’

“I mean, there are so many great teachers here and I’ve made so many great friends here.”

Three members of the 18U Thunder hockey club — Ryder Gamey, Ellis Smith and Charlie Winterhalt — are the first graduates in Pursuit school history.

LCHS athletes commit to post-secondary programs

Ten student-athletes from Lloydminster Comprehensive High School (LCHS) are moving on to the post-secondary ranks, marking a major milestone for the school’s athletic program.

Allie Tobin, Carsten Campbell, Jory Wagner, Kate Fink, Lauren Moore, Rhett Romanchuk, Skylar Heinrichs, Jamie Hensch, Sawyer Mackay and Mya MacDonald were celebrated for committing to post-secondary athletic programs for the upcoming season.

For many of the graduating Barons, the transition brings a mix of high-level competition and a change of scenery.

Heinrichs is headed to Calgary to play hockey for Mount Royal University (MRU) while pursuing a Bachelor of Physical Literacy.

“I think I’m excited about playing against older girls and new girls,” Heinrichs said. “I know the league is very competitive, and I’m really excited for that.”

Hensch will also suit up in Canada West women’s hockey, committing to the University of Manitoba. She plans to take University One prerequisites with the goal of entering pharmacy.

“Just playing in a more competitive league, being able to play against some of the best girls in the country,” Hensch said of what she looks forward to most, adding she is ready for a “change of scenery” in Winnipeg.

Mackay, originally from Irma, Alta., will remain in the province after

Back row, from left, Allie Tobin, Carsten Campbell, Rhett Romanchuk, front row, from left, Skylar Heinrichs, Sawyer Mackay, Jamie Hensch and Mya MacDonald. Missing are Jory Wagner, Kate Fink and Lauren Moore.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

committing to the Grant MacEwan University hockey program in Edmonton, where she will study commerce with plans to transfer into psychology.

“It’s a new opportunity,” Mackay said. “I know I have lots of friends up there, so I’m super excited (to play in) the new league.”

While several athletes are moving away, Romanchuk is staying local to play for the Lloydminster Bobcats. He noted that staying at home will allow him to remain close to friends and family, ensuring plenty of local support in the stands.

“I think it’ll be pretty good with the new coaches ... they know their stuff, so I think that’s gonna be a big opportunity for me,” Romanchuk said.

Campbell expressed similar excitement about the atmosphere of his future with the Revelstoke Grizzlies, noting the team’s passionate fan base.

“The atmosphere there is insane, their fans, they sell out almost every game,” Campbell said.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!

As you celebrate this significant milestone, consider taking the next step in your educational journey with Lakeland College. At Lakeland, we believe in learning in action - providing hands-on experiences that prepare you for real-world success.

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