With Public Health Orders and several restrictions in place, Porcupine Plain graduation celebrations looked a little different this year.   The graduating class was able to participate in a Grad Parade which took the impeccably dressed graduates all around Town.  Friends and family watched from front lawns and waved and cheered as the graduates drove by — there were even a few cowbells being rung! 

The celebrations continued with a “Reverse Parade”, where the graduates stationed  themselves below their banners along McAllister Avenue (Main Street) and supporters drove by honking, waving, and cheering to show their support for this year’s graduating class.

An amazing Fireworks Show — sponsored by the Parkland Co-op, Town of Porcupine Plain, RM of Porcupine, and Porcupine Sports Days Committee — was the cherry on top of an incredibly touching tribute to the PPCS Graduating Class of 2020.

The Porcupine Plain Comprehensive School invites the community to celebrate the Graduating Class of 2020 with a socially distanced graduation “ceremony” on Friday, June 26, 2020.  The schedule of events is as follows:

1. Graduation Parade:  The Graduation Parade will start at 6:20p.m., and will go past all in-town graduates’ homes.  If you reside along the parade route, watch from your lawn and wave, make a sign, or make some noise!  The parade route will be determined and announced.  Please note that the Parade will not be going down Main Street, so please do not park along the street — it needs to remain clear for the Drive-By portion of the evening’s events.
2. Main Street Drive-By:  Between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m., the graduates will stand on Main Street under their banner.  The community is asked to drive along Main Street honking, waving, and showing your support for the graduates.  Please do not park or walk along Main Street for the duration of the Drive-By event.
3. Fireworks: Fireworks Show will be at Dusk (after 10p.m.).  Spectators are encouraged to watch from their home backyard or deck, but are welcome to attend at the Sports Grounds provided that they adhere to all parking and social distancing Guidelines posted.  Tune in to 98.5 for accompanying music!  

PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL OR EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.

 

 

“I been waiting on some good news;
For the clouds to part and let the light shine through.
I wanna wake up to a better tomorrow.
I had enough, where is the trust, where is the truth?
It’s about time for some good news.”

Lucas Boyd (Classified), Enfield, Nova Scotia

We are living in a complex world with change all around us.  And if this virus is not enough, there are mass shootings, floods and helicopter crashes.  Naturally, this can make us feel uncertain or fearful about the present and future.  The good news is that resiliency — the ability to thrive in times of change and uncertainty — is learned, and Porcupine citizens, you are rockin’ it out of the park!

You have changed your everyday lives to help “flatten the curve” and avoid a spike in cases that would overwhelm our health services. For some of you, that means that you had to self-isolate for two weeks. For others, it will mean that you are now working from home.  Still others continue to have to go to your workplaces because of the essential nature of your job. And some may face the prospect of employment loss. But while the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our daily routines with changes here at home and around the globe, it’s comforting to know that, amid the uncertainty, there are still moments of strength and hope that showcase the resilience, or grit, that people share in times like these. This will help us get through it together.

There are stories of Porcupinites offering to pick up groceries or help with other tasks for neighbours or those who are unable to leave their homes. There are pictures shared on social media, showing that despite being apart on the opposite sides of the Red Deer Nursing Home glass, the family is still sharing poignant and beautiful moments together. A tribute to our healthcare and essential services workers was ‘rolled out’ in the form of a parade through the town. Citizens are participating in a Quilly Willy Window Walk where windows are decorated weekly in different themes and then documented on social media. And possibly the most resilient of all—a group that is close to my heart—are the students and parents learning at home and the teachers who are working to reach them.

Although it is not an ideal situation, we have been given a chance to reassess our priorities.  This is a unique time in which we can slow down, reflect, listen, and show gratitude towards one another. (Gratitude is an excellent way of finding happiness in these uncertain times). Don’t get me wrong. This can be an extremely stressful time for some. We need to honour the fact that nobody signed up for this. It’s okay to be not okay.  There’s no prize for being the best at pretending to have your you-know-what together. Everyone will have different levels of stress and it manifests in different ways.  But these collective feelings can allow deep connections in our community.  Coping with stress will make us, the people we care about, and our community stronger.  It’s a good time to stock up on compassion and always look for the silver lining, as this will help us get through.  Know that there is hope and resilience in Porcupine Plain, in Saskatchewan, in Canada and, indeed, the world.

Mayor Carol Belchamber

I want to take a couple of minutes of your time to share my observations on our community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we cannot appreciate enough the work of our healthcare providers in hospital, clinic, long-term care, emergency and home care roles. They go home from long, challenging shifts daily and many self-isolate in their homes to protect their families.  These are difficult times and we honour them for their service. Thank you also to all our emergency responders. I want to thank the service clubs and community organizations that are providing important support for the most vulnerable in our communities including seniors, those with physical and intellectual disabilities and those who are unable to get out on their own. Thank you to the businesses that have closed under the guidelines. We all recognize that this will be a very difficult time for you. Your customers respect your commitment to keeping people safe. Thank you to the businesses that are being asked to stay open to provide essential services. I sincerely appreciate your challenge and appreciate the staff and resources you support in the community. Many individuals and businesses are being creative in finding solutions to urgent community needs. Thank you. We must follow the self-isolation and social distance guidelines to protect all who are providing services across our towns, villages and in rural areas. The vast majority of citizens are doing exactly that but we cannot let our guard down.  We have already learned of COVID-19 infections through community transmission. Our grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and friends need us all to play our part for responsible distancing. Thank you also to the media for keeping everyone informed on the hour by hour changes experienced across the country, around the world and most importantly as it affects us in our communities. Stay well and be supportive while staying apart. Hugh Nerlien, MLA for Kelvington-Wadena

ATTENTION: 

• As of April 2, 2020, the Parkland Co-op Grocery Store will only be allowing 10 people in the store at one time. This is as much for our residents’ health and safety as it is for the health and safety of the Parkland Co-op employees.  
• Due to sanitary concerns, all parks and playgrounds in Porcupine Plain will be CLOSED until further notice to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community.  For the safety of your family and others around us, refrain from using any and all playground equipment at this time!
• At this time, the Carwash & water pickup remains open.  Hours will be be 8a.m.  – 6p.m. and precautions & restrictions are in place for customer safety.
• Religious Services:
  • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church will be live streaming masses with Bishop Albert on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert Facebook Page.  Visit www.padiocese.ca for mass times.
  • The Redeemer Lutheran Church will be live streaming services on the Christ Lutheran Church of Tisdale SK Facebook Page.  Sermons can also be emailed upon request.
  • The Full Gospel Church will be live streaming services on the Porcupine Full Gospel Church Facebook Page.  
  • From the Porcupine Plain Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses:
    • Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have suspended meetings at the Kingdom Hall and are now having meetings online.  If you would like to join us, please call or text 306-278-3366 for more information.
    • We have to special meetings coming up.  On April 5th, a 30-minute special talk will be given worldwide, “Whose Leadership Can You Trust?”  It will be available to all on www.JW.org.  You can stream this talk anytime on April 5th.
    • Then we invite you all to the worldwide annual observance of Jesus Christ’s death on April 7th.  You can watch this 45-minute service on www.JW.org starting at 7:30p.m.  Last year, over 20,000,000 people observed this important event.  
    • Please be safe and take care of each other.
• Below is a listing of business closure and restrictions for Town of Porcupine Plain businesses.  (click image for larger view)