Northern November Sunset

Gary The Goose!

Gary is the goose that lives at Riverside Motel in Air Ronge, owner Cosette took in Gary when he was a gosling back in May 2007. He has been staying with Cosette all that time and she does not think he will be flying south. Cosette still has Gary and plans on letting him out this spring. Have a great year Gary!!

Its BACK!

Notice the dark skies, the birds flying south and the days are getting short? Well... it's coming, FALL!

The BURL

Also located at Kathy's Korner is this burl. A burl is a rounded out growth on a tree trunk or branch that if filled with small knots from dorment buds. Burls are the product of a camium (layer or layers of tissue).
This burl was given to Kathy's Korner by a well known local resident "Web Bates".

Old Stone Chimney

"Lost in Time" are the words best used to describe the old stone chimney, located next to Kathy's Korner Gas Bar on Highway 2. There is little documented history about this mysterious stone chimney, standing alone near the Montreal River. The local elders speak of a time during the early 1900's, when Catholic Missionaries frequented the area of the River spreading the gospel to the First Nations people. It was about this time a church was erected at the present day location of the Riverside Motel (adjacent to Kathy’s), however the church was destroyed by fire and the only remnant is the stone chimney. In addition to the church, a cemetery was also located on the site; these unmarked graves have since been relocated and given a proper burial.

Canada Day Celebrations - Northern Style

Happy 140th Birthday Canada! Bonne Fete Canada!

Bright sunshine, blue skies and the sparkling waters of Lac La Ronge graced the Canada Day Parade as it made its way along La Ronge Avenue.

Hosted by the La Ronge Fire Department participants included gaily decorated bicycles including this trio of unicyclists.

National Aboriginal Day celebrations in La Ronge

National Aboriginal Day was first proclaimed and celebrated throughout Canada on June 21, 1996. Aboriginal Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the many contributions Aboriginal People (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) have made throughout Canada, both historically and present day. June 21st is a significant date; it marks the coming of summer (summer solstice), which has always been symbolic to Aboriginals. Many communities in Canada celebrate National Aboriginal Day in there own unique way, but there is one underlying common goal each shares, which is celebrating Aboriginal culture and heritage.



Aboriginal Day in La Ronge was hosted by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in conjunction with Kikinahk Friendship Centre. The day was full of excitement and activities, as the children of La Ronge took part in a parade entitled "We Are The Future". The parade began at the town beach, where the children made their way up La Ronge Avenue towards the rendezvous point at Morin's Hill Beach on Kitsaki Reserve. There they greeted in song the Treaty Party travelling by canoe from La Ronge Beach to Morin's Hill Beach on Kitsaki Reserve.



The Treaty Party was comprised of provincial and municipal levels of government, as well as a number chiefs and councillors, and there were Metis representatives who came from all over the province to celebrate Aboriginal Day with us in La Ronge.



Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, along with councillors Pam Mirasty, Hillary Cook, and Doris Morin of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band prepare to make the voyage from the town beach to Morin's Hill. Also on hand the Lieutenant Governor Dr. Gordon L. Barnhardt, and RCMP Superintendent North District Commander Russell Mirasty.



Chief Tammy Cook-Searson displays the Lac La Ronge Indian Band flag as the Treaty Party travels from La Ronge Beach to Morin's Hill Beach, Kitsaki Reserve. This is the second year in a row that this voyage has been made; it is made to commemorate how our aboriginal ancestors use to make the same journey hundreds of years ago.



Members of the Treaty Party display the Metis and Canadian flags.

Communities in Bloom

The La Ronge and area Communities in Bloom Committee have identified the Welcome to La Ronge sign on the corner of Highway #2 and Brown Street at the entrance to La Ronge as one of their beautification projects. The Committee will be competing in the provincial competition with other communities in the same population category. A panel of judges will be visiting La Ronge this summer to assess the Committee's progress.

The project will include a collection of native trees and rock groupings on either side of the sign. An assortment of shrubs and flowers will be planted in front of the sign finished off with stone edging.



These improvements are in conjunction with the Town of La Ronge Recreation Board's plan to install stone pillars to frame the sign and a stone wall with flower planters.

Keep Up the Good Work and Good Luck in the Competition!

Musical Ride Performance a Great Success

The R.C.M.P. Musical ride performance last night was by all accounts a great success, with thousands in attendance.

The show, sponsored and organized by the local Elks club #554, started at 6:30, with performances from the Pre Cam Elementary Cheerleaders and Pre Cam Hoop Dancers, as well as Jana Bear from Little Pine First Nation, who has been hoop dancing for fifteen years.

The R.C.M.P. Musical Ride performance itself started at 7:30, showing beautiful precision and outstanding equestrian skill. Over the 25-minute show, the riders demonstrated a variety of formations and marches to period music. Clad in their red serges and riding breeches, the ride was a poignant reminder of the R.C.M.P. in days past.

Admission to the ride was free, with all donations going towards the Elks and Royal Purple's Fund for Sick Children.

R.C.M.P Meet & Greet

The staff of the Lac La Ronge Visitor Centre had the opportunity to attend a social evening between community dignitaries and the members of the R.C.M.P. Musical Ride. The social was jointly hosted by Northern Saskatchewan Tourism (NST) and Woodlands and Waterways Regional Development Corporation (WWRDC). We would like to thank the La Ronge Co-op for generously donating fruit plates for the social.

This event was an excellent opportunity to meet the men and women of the RCMP who serve Canada everyday in police work as well as ambassadors during their three year commitment to the Muscial Ride. The night was a great success and enjoyed by all!

The La Ronge and District Elk's Club will be hosting The Musical Ride performance on Tuesday evening at 6:30 on June 5th at the Elk's Fair Grounds, north of the town of La Ronge. The horses will be stabled today and tommorow, 9AM to 9PM at the La Ronge Uniplex. Visitors Welcome.

Open Season on Fish!

Once again the north is alive with the return of yet another migrant species. This species travels to the north from all corners of the continent, and its sojourns are legendary- the intrepid northern angler.

Every summer, the angler makes its yearly pilgrimmage to northern Saskatchewan, chasing an even more mythical beast: "the one that got away".

The angler can frequently be seen in schools of four, loading the latest fishing gear into aircraft ready to take them to the remote lakes and rivers of pristine northern Saskatchewan.

We wish our annual guests the best of luck in their eternal quest for "the big one", and thank them for visiting our area. With more than 100,000 lakes, Saskatchewan can accomodate anglers for years to come.

Lender's Trade Show

Northern entrepreneurs had the chance to visit with a variety of business-oriented lenders during the Lender's Trade Show on April 26th at the Mel Hegland Uniplex.
Lenders from 16 agencies put on the show, a first of its kind in Northern Saskatchewan.

Are you an entrepreneur, looking to develop, expand, or start a business? Do you need money? Advice? Help? Talk to the La Ronge Lender's Group.

Spearheaded by Visions North, and consisting of a group of interested partners from around the province and beyond, the group decided to host the show in the capital of Northern Saskatchewan. The lenders, lending anywhere from 15,000 to one million dollars, were available to discuss your business proposal or expansion.

Spring Arrives in the North

It started a few weeks ago with the bald eagles, and then the bluebirds. The songs of the northern boreal birds are everywhere, announcing spring's arrival. At dawn and again at dusk, the cry of birds calls out from the muskeg, making sure the world has noticed their return from southern winter haunts.

Slowly, the thick ice on Lac La Ronge has been receding, and winter's grip on Lac La Ronge has given way. Even in the deepest forests now, the snow is gone, replaced with the wetness and fresh growth of spring.

As winter gives way to spring and we sense the onset of summer not far behind, we prepare for those summer activities which were not possible during the winter, as fishing season will be open in a matter of weeks.

Soon, the lake will be warm enough for swimming and waterskiing, fishing will be in season, and the trails will be dry and ready to be walked. Now that the majestic northern wildlife has emerged after the winter, we're all ready for another beautiful summer.

Natural Gas Comes North

After 10 years of work by the Anglin Lake - La Ronge Natural Gas Committee, natural gas will finally be available in La Ronge in the spring of 2008.

Natural gas, which is 40% cheaper than burning propane or fuel oil, could easily mean increased economic development in the region, as it allows for businesses to open up that would not have been possible without it.

In addition, the vastly lower heating costs will make for much easier winters for La Ronge and Area residents.

The 20 million dollar extension of the natural gas pipeline from Montreal Lake to La Ronge was financed by the provincial government, Sask Energy, as well as business and individual signups onto the service.

Don Allen Saskaloppet

This Friday and Saturday, March 2nd and 3rd, La Ronge hosted the 24th annual Don Allen Saskaloppet cross-country ski race. The race, a long-running local tradition, went extremely well, with the weather co-operating wonderfully.

There were a variety of events available, from a 8km glide for children, to an overnight marathon of 77km for expert skiers.

The race was followed by a banquet and prize giveaway, with a presentation by Miriam Korner and Quincy Miller of Paws and Paddles.

Everyone is eagerly looking forward to next year!

Trapper's Winter Festival

This last week, La Ronge held the annual Trapper's Winter Festival. There were several events every day throughout the week, including a memorial broomball tournament, community pancake breakfasts, the Talent of the North talent show, and the King and Queen Trapper competition, in which both men and women compete in timed tests of skill, speed, and endurance, completing traditional trapping tasks.

This year's festival was a resounding success, with all of the local schools participating, and an excellent time had by all.

Canadian Challenge!

Over February 1st through the 5th, La Ronge had the pleasure of hosting the 10th annual Canadian Challenge International Dog Sled Race. The race, the longest held entirely within Canada, is also an official qualifier for both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod races.

This year was unique, as it is the first year that a junior race has been run. The junior challenge runs from Prince Albert to Elk Ridge, and was the brainchild of Tommy Bird, a Southend musher who hopes it will create interest among young people. Bird donated his own winnings from last year in order to create the junior challenge.

The junior challenge had one entrant this year, Natanis Charles, a 17-year-old from La Ronge, who has trained for this race since October.

Mushers struggled through bitter cold and harsh winds, with temperatures dropping below -30c overnight for the duration of the race. However, ten teams made it through to emerge victorious and with this incredible achievement under their belt.

The website for the Canadian Challenge is available at www.canadianchallenge.com