News

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On Saturday, February 8, 2025, Porcupine Plain celebrated its 3^rd Annual Unity in the Community, bringing residents together for a day of connection, culture, and fun. Held at the community hall, the gathering provided an opportunity for people of all ages to share in traditional music, dance and food, and to embrace the spirit of community.

The event was made possible through the collaboration of Métis Nation–Saskatchewan Eastern Region II, the Chelan Métis Local, and the Town of Porcupine Plain. A major sponsor, Lakeland District for Sport, Culture & Recreation, played a key role in supporting the event, along with generous business sponsors: Parkland Co-op, Slobodian Pharmacy, Blair’s Funeral Home, ProSoils, Affinity Credit Union, and the Porcupine Plain Economic Development Committee.

A highlight of the gathering was the presence of Henry Sabit from Fishing Lake, whose drumming during the opening ceremony added a meaningful and powerful start to the event and set the tone for a day of unity, reflection and connection. Several special guests and speakers attended, each bringing valuable insights and encouragement. Brent Digness, Regional Director for Métis Nation–Saskatchewan Eastern Region II, spoke about the importance of cultural understanding and unity.  Cathay Wagantall, Member of Parliament, and Chris Beaudry, Member of the Legislative Assembly, both emphasized the significance of community-driven initiatives such as these. Porcupine Plain Mayor Nick Wood reinforced the Town’s commitment to inclusivity, while PPCS Principal Dan Mielke highlighted the importance of education and of continually learning and striving to do better as a community.

Attendees enjoyed live entertainment by The Dean Smith Band, Brian Sklar and Creeland Dancers, as well as Porcupine’s own Filipino Community Dancers. Children created their own Passports and, after visiting each booth and having their passports “stamped”, received a special prize. Traditional foods were also a highlight, offering a taste of our region’s diverse heritage – including Métis, Filipino, Ukrainian, German and Norwegian foods. Porcupine Plain Comprehensive School once again played a valuable role in the event. Ms. Young’s Grade 10 class created informative displays that educated attendees on various cultures not represented at the event, including Brazil, China, and Egypt. Meanwhile, Ms. Palaniuk’s Art Club contributed to the expanding art displays, beautifully showcasing themes of cultural unity.

As another successful Unity in the Community event wraps up, organizers extend their heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who helped bring the day to life. Their dedication and hard work ensured a welcoming and memorable experience for all.

With growing participation and enthusiasm, the tradition is set to continue fostering unity, understanding, and a deep sense of belonging in Porcupine Plain. This event is all about coming together, celebrating what makes our community unique, and strengthening the bonds that make Porcupine Plain such a
special place.

 

A FOND FAREWELL AND AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER FOR PORCUPINE MOTEL

After 23 years of unwavering dedication and countless cherished memories, Florence Doucette – known to all as Flo, and to the Porcupine Plain Sr. Blues as Flo Baby –- bids farewell to the
Porcupine Hotel as she steps into well-earned retirement. 

Walking into Flo’s has been like stepping into a family gathering. Flo greeted everyone with a warm smile and genuine interest in their lives, creating an atmosphere of comfort and
connection.  She didn’t just provide excellent service – she’s been a listener, a storyteller, and a source of laughter.  Flo made sure every customer felt like part of her extended family.  Her hard work and hospitality have left an indelible mark.  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Flo and raise a toast to her many achievements – cheers to a future filled with joy and relaxation!

As one chapter closes, another begins, and we are thrilled to welcome Manny to the Porcupine Hotel family! Manny brings fresh energy and an exciting vision with the opening of BTB Burger Joint.  His grand opening date has yet to be announced; in the meantime, stop by the bar to celebrate Flo’s incredible contributions to the hotel and to show your support for Manny and his staff as they embark on this exciting new venture. 

Grand Opening Announcement: BTB Burger Joint in Porcupine Hotel!

Hello, everyone! My name is Manny, and I am thrilled to announce the opening of
Between the Buns (BTB) in the wonderful town of Porcupine Plain! Our journey has been incredible since I arrived in Canada in 2010 with just two suitcases. Through hard work and honesty, I’ve been fortunate enough to grow my business, now owning two Family Pizzas and Quiznos Sub.

At BTB Burger Joint, we are committed to supporting our local community by sourcing farm-raised organic meats from Saskatchewan. Our menu features fresh, high-quality meats that are prepared in-house, including Elk, Bison, Boar, Lamb, Beef, Chicken, Fish, and more exciting options to come! We believe in providing our customers with not just delicious food, but also a taste of local excellence.

We are excited to continue the tradition of VLT machines, a bar, and off-sale options that the Porcupine Hotel has offered. We are here to create memorable experiences for everyone, and we’re grateful for the immense support from our local customers. This dream began as a ghost kitchen, and now we are proud to have a physical location to serve you.  Stay tuned for our grand opening date, and we look forward to welcoming you to BTB! With your support, we hope to open more locations in the coming years.   Thank you for being a part of our journey!

Ma Helen’s Greenhouse Closing after 26 Years

After 26 years of bringing beauty and greenery to the community, Ma Helen’s Greenhouse is closing its doors.  Throughout the years, Helen Lakinger’s passion for plants and dedication to her customers have made her greenhouse a beloved local business.

Helen extends her heartfelt gratitude to her family, friends and loyal customers who have supported her along the way.  She has cherished each season – planting, visiting with customers, and helping both new and returning gardeners with their selections. Most of all, she treasures the friendships that have blossomed over the years.

 

Welcome, Wild Healing!

Hello Porcupine Plain!  I’m Meaghen Hoffus and I am the owner of Wild Healing. My family and I are enjoying being part of this community and I am ecstatic to be able to return to my roots.

I have been a Massage Therapist for 17 years and an Osteopathic Therapist for 4 years. I look forward to being able to provide alternative health care for this community. I incorporate all that I have learned over the years to create tailor-made treatments. No treatment is the same and, when one avenue doesn’t work, we try something else. I tend to blend Osteopathy and Massage together.

With all the knowledge I have, I am able to look at the body as a whole and find the dysfunction, with the goal of returning the body to homeostasis. My areas of expertise include osteoarticulation, craniosacral, visceral manipulation, reflexology, cupping, acupressure,prenatal and postnatal care, labour massage, somatic exercises, and sports therapy.

As for conditions that I deal with? I like to say everything and anything you can think of! Some examples are tinnitus, vertigo, anxiety, depression, concussion, TMJ dysfunction, heartburn, IBS, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, sciatic pain, and of course all the aches and pains you get!

You can find me at Quilly’s Community Place, next to the medical clinic.  Thank you for your support already, and I look forward to serving this wonderful community!

Town Council and Staff, and the Porcupine Plain & District Fire Department, got together on Monday, December 16^th for a Service Awards Banquet. 

Kelly Smith was presented with a gift in appreciation of his ten years with the Town of Porcupine Plain, and Koral Kriger received a gift thanking her for her five years working with the Town. This year’s departing council members – Frank Duhaime, Nicole Genaille and Don Ross – were presented with special parting gifts, and each council member received a personalized gift noting their years of service.

In addition to celebrating the Town employees and council, members of the Porcupine Plain & District Volunteer Fire Department were acknowledged for their years of service. 

Volunteer Firefighters commit to making every effort possible to assist fellow residents in our most vulnerable time of need.  They respond at all hours of the day and get called out in evenings and on weekends and holidays.  If you see any of our volunteer firefighters around, please take the time to thank them — as well as their spouses and families — for their service and commitment to keeping our community safe.

Great ideas often strike at unexpected moments, and that’s exactly what happened in the early morning hours of December 16th when Brent Digness, Metis Nation SK ERII Regional Representative, had a burst of inspiration. From that spark, the first-ever Cardboard Box Derby in Porcupine Plain came to life, bringing a wave of excitement and holiday cheer to the community.

Held on December 23rd at the QCP Sliding Hill, the event featured not only the highly anticipated derby but also sledding, sleigh rides, and plenty of festive fun. Families and children gathered with their handcrafted cardboard sleds, ready to race and enjoy a day filled with laughter, competition, and, of course, bragging rights. The turnout was fantastic, with the community coming together to support the event. Burgers, hot dogs, and steaming cups of hot chocolate kept everyone warm as they cheered on the racers.

It was a heartwarming sight to see the joy and creativity on display, as well as the sense of unity among residents. Special thanks go out to Metis Nation Saskatchewan Eastern Region II for hosting, and to the Town of Porcupine Plain and local businesses and individuals who made the event possible, including Slobodian Pharmacy, Parkland Co-op, Fields, Affinity Credit Union, Johnston Agencies, Tumax Towing & Service, Supergloss Autobody, Porcupine Accounting, DJ Sonny, and Salmond Racing. Credit for the event photos goes to George Kays and Jayden Johnson.

We’re grateful to the community for helping create cherished Christmas memories for the youth of Porcupine Plain. With such an incredible debut, we’re already looking forward to making the Cardboard Box Derby a beloved annual tradition! Stay tuned for next year’s derby—where the creativity, competition, and fun will only grow. Thank you for making this first event a resounding success!

 

The 7th Annual Scarecrow Contest will be held on Friday, October 11th, with the scarecrows remaining up and the Scarecrow Tour open all Thanksgiving long weekend!  Grab a map from the bulletin board beside the Town Office, at the Co-op Grocery Store or C-Store, OR download a copy here (click the image below).

Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture.  Between September 20-October 13, 2024, the community will be hosting a number of events highlighting the importance of arts and culture.  Everyone is welcome — all events are FREE (or by donation).

Call/Text 306-292-8901 or Email cdo.porcupine@sasktel.net to register for any of these events!

Porcupine Opportunities Program Inc. (POP) is celebrating its 50th year of operation in 2024. As we reflected on this, we felt it was important to recognize the individuals that helped to make the organization a success over the last five decades and to recognize some of the key milestones over the years.

POP was initially started in 1974 by a group of parents who wished to provide an opportunity for their children, who were experiencing disabilities, to live and work in or near their homes. With their own money and donations from community, the group purchased 27 acres of land on the south side of Porcupine Plain and moved a two-room schoolhouse to the site. They set up a working area in one room, storage and admin office in the second room, and a small woodworking shop in the basement. This formed POP’s infrastructure to start providing services and to support 9 individuals.

Initial operations at POP were largely built around income from Canada manpower grants, while other income came from building grain bids for local farmers and the Co-op. The new beginnings of what would later become the main revenue source for the agency, core box production for mining companies, was also established. However, without a steady operating revenue, the organization was starting to falter by the end of the 1970’s.

In 1983, Karl Kwiatkowski, POP’s manager, orchestrated the transition from the parent group to a community-based board of directors. Base operating revenue was provided by the provincial government through the Ministry of Social Services. Over two dozen organizations were represented at the initial meetings, with some groups agreeing to sit on the board and others offering support.

Over the years, financial circumstances and changes in local organizations gradually reduced the number of organizations involved in the agency. Currently, only the Town of Hudson Bay and RM of Kelvington still appoint board members, while other board members are appointed at large.

From the early beginnings, POP continued to grow and expand its programming. Key milestones included:

• Construction of current day program, workshop and administrative office on Church St. in the early 1980s
• The initiation of residential services in 1985 with the rental of a three-bedroom home from Saskatchewan housing to support individuals in semi-independent living
• Construction of POP’s first group home on 1st Ave. in 198 (Playtondale), with two more group homes being added in 1998 on Cooper St. (ABM) and in 2012 on Katherine Ave. (Glenwood)
• Building of two independent living residences, with the first in 2004 and the second in 2012. These suites house four and five individuals respectively and were attached to two of the group homes. The agency also purchased a four-bedroom home in 2010 to provide additional
  supported living spaces for participants additions to the business
  programming. Through this time, POP also included setup of a
  laundromat and business offices in 1991, the purchase of a four-plex apartment building in 1994, and the addition of SARCAN recycling
  depots in Porcupine Plain in 1997 and Hudson Bay in 2008.
• 2018 addition of dunnage line for Weyerhaeuser
• 2022 construction begins on the 3500 square foot expansion to the workshop

Today, POP has grown to be an integral part of the local communities in Porcupine Plain and Hudson Bay. The agency currently supports approximately 30 participants, supported by 60 full- and part-time staff. Programming for participants continues to evolve and now includes two day programs (Porcupine Plain & Hudson Bay), a seniors’ program, and an expanded workshop which produces core boxes for the mining sector, dunnage for the lumber industry, and various outdoor furniture, planters and other wood products for the public. Most recently, the agency has expanded its supported employment program with the expansion of service in its laundromat. A gift store that features products produced by local and regional artisans, a selection of Filipino Food, and POP Day Program produced crafts was opened in 2019. In 2023, Tid Bits, another supported employment endeavour, began creating individual frozen entrees and desserts in our inspected kitchen to sell at the store, Bits ‘n Pieces.

THANK YOU…

Founding Parent Group: Anne & Mike Kuzek; Sophie & Nick Kwiatkowski; Mavis & Mike Belchamber: Audrey & Don Leepart; Elsie & Joe Dobrowski; Mabel & Fred Seafoot; Phillipena & Herman Heine; Kathy & James Jamieson: and Marg Kraft

Founding Board of Directors: Fred Seafoot, Herman Heine, Anne Kuzek, Mike Kuzek, Nick Kwiatkowski, Jim Jamieson, Kathy Jamieson. Other community
contributors include John & Dorothy Gunderson, Merlin & Elaine Olson, and Marie Szydlowski.

Current Board of Directors: Tracy Slobodian, Tony Lau, Pat Morvik, Mary
Ryhorski, Bonnie Hoffus, Mark Orendi (Town of Hudson Bay appointee), Agnes Ewen (RM Kelvington appointee). If you are interested in becoming a director on the board, please reach out to one of our current directors.

 

POP wants to thank all former and current staff for their dedication and support to all who have called or call POP their home over the last 50 years.

 

St. Andrew’s Church marked its 100th anniversary on July 29th with a joyous celebration.  The church service was officiated by Nancy Steinbachs, with special guests including former minister Tom Morgan and Rev. Alex Parsons from the Saskatoon Synod. Gary Reed shared a captivating 100-year history of the church, while Ray Zimmerman and Debbie Gibson provided musical entertainment for the afternoon. The event concluded with a large potluck lunch. Approximately 100 people attended, making it a perfect celebration.

Now a historic site, St. Andrew’s Church was built in the Shand Creek area in 1924 by returned soldier settlers and pioneers of the area, holding its first service on May 18, 1924. A cairn and plaque erected by the Shand Agricultural Society commemorates the pioneers who built the church, along with the original Red Cross Outpost.