I am sure many were happy to greet the month of January, 2021. News of vaccines and the possibility of the return of a safer way of life could not help but raise spirits. 

May the sign of ‘HOPE’ that appeared in so many places and in the windows of so many homes in the past months continue to inspire all of us.

 While we may be looking forward to more normal pastimes as we enter January, 2021,  I thought it might be intriguing to look back 50 years to the activities that occupied people in our fair city and area in January of 1971.

To do this, I went to a faithful source of memories of the past – The Prince Albert Historical Museum’s Archives. There, volunteer archivists gladly stepped forward to assist and encourage me. (You should visit them.)

The following samples of events are a mixture of what we found. I hope they interest you, and for a few of you bring back, perhaps temporarily forgotten, memories.

City Councillors, Frank Chester, Jack Byars and Glenn Martin depart from civic politics, while newcomers, Alex Basaraba, Fred Bales, Dick Spencer and Jordan Wait join Prince Albert’s City Council.

Prince Albert’s Carla Matheson and Geoff Squires place first in the pairs dance division at the Saskatchewan Figure Skating Championships in Melfort.

Tim Braaten fires seven goals in a squirt minor hockey league game. ( Tim, that surpassed Red Berenson’s single game NHL record of six goals while he was playing for the St. Louis Blues) .

Kathy Bowman and Reid Lillico are named best actress and actor in the PACI Drama Night.

Baltimore Colts win the Super Bowl 16 – 13 with a last minute field goal over the Dallas Cowboys. 

Milton Burns and Garney Fulton of Prince Albert show promise as future boxing competitors.   

In the wider world of boxing, Sunny Liston, past World Heavy Weight Champion, dies at the age of 38.

Prince Albert Technical High School Senior Boys Basketball Team sit in first place after defeating the Composite Senior Boys.

Riverside Collegiate Institute students, Susan Scheidl, Charles Taylor, George Nicolia, Solomon Ratt and Wayne Mantyka, produce an hour long TV program.

The Xi Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority donates a $100 dollar radio and tape recorder to the Hard of Hearing Kindergarten Class.

J.H. (Jim) Sanderson, well known Prince Albert lawyer and community worker, is installed as the President of the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce. Gordon Mahler is installed as First Vice President, Ab. Pelligini installed as Second Vice President, and J. A. Chevalier assumes role of Treasurer.

Oh, Oh, Tim Braaten, Paul Kryworochka fires 8 goals in a pee-wee minor hockey game.

Prince Albert Arts Centre is officially opened.

January 15, Chief of Police Reg Brooman is named as Citizen of the Year. ( Members of local press join the Award Committee and become stuck in a snow covered ditch on the way to tell Brooman. Brooman, himself, on his way home,  helps pull them out. Press members are asked by Brooman what brings them to his area. They, wanting to keep their mission a surprise, say, “Oh, we are just driving around.”  Minutes later they join in the announcement. Brooman says, “Didn’t I just pull you two out of the ditch?”) 

Mike Feschuk wins nomination of the New Democratic Party for the Prince Albert East – Cumberland Constituency. 

New Kinsmen Community Workshop is officially opened, replacing its much smaller predecessor.

Dr. Gordon Dyker’s senior curling team wins the ‘A Side’ of the Regional Senior Men’s Playoff. Members of the team are Dyker (skip), Ross Merrick (third), Frank Rawlinson (second), and Alex Brag (lead).

Dave Balon, a Prince Albert hockey product, scores 4 goals to lead New York Rangers of the NHL in a win over Minnesota North Stars on January 24th.

Helen Surkan, Diane Dempster, Wendy Tomlinson, and Mary Reed win District Curling Championship.

Jim Sutherland and Flo Barchalk lead Prince Albert contingent to the Western Canadian Semifinal Playoffs at the Sportsman Bowl.

(Looking back can be memorable, create nostalgia, and be fun. We, too, can create great memories and vital achievements in the future by looking forward with HOPE and DETERMINATION.)