The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Sixty or so people came out to the Snow Lake SeniorsÕ Centre the afternoon of March 19 to tell Snow LakeÕs longest reigning resident, Blanche Lesage, that this communityÕs loss would surely be Lac La Biche, AlbertaÕs gain. Upon arrival, Mrs. Lesage was seated at the head table with longtime friends Pearl Doak, Grace Young, and Judy and Dale Zimmer. She received best wishes from all who attended, and on this afternoon she was very emotional and reticentÉ understandably so. Mrs. Lesage, who is 80 years old, first came to Snow Lake as a young 22-year-old bride on August 9, 1949. She has been here ever since. Anyone new to Snow Lake, in no time at all took note of the slight elderly woman on Lakeshore Drive who spent her winter days shoveling snow from her backyard to a huge pile in the front (so the spring thaw didnÕt flood her basement). Friend Judy Zimmer made mention of this and many of BlancheÕs other notable traits in a moving tribute based on the letters of her first name. Prior to everyone enjoying their last visit with Mrs. Lesage, Mayor Garry Zamzow spoke to the gathering and presented the guest of honour with commemorative coins from the 60th Celebration and two photos Ð one of her Snow Lake home and the other of a beautiful Snow Lake sunset. The mayor also gave her some Snow Lake brochures so she could show people her town. At 5 p.m. on the following day, the Annual Minor Hockey Banquet was held in the Lawrie Marsh Hall. Although the event was smaller and quieter than I recall it being when my kids played, the dedication and hard work of parents, coaches, and conveners was never more apparent. With the decline in population and reduction in the numbers using the arena, the number of people who are still using the facility to its fullest is testament to the never-say-die attitude of this special group. The informal evening began when executive member Lynn Smith took to the podium and offered President Aldon KowalchukÕs regrets for being unable to attend (he was at the Munn Cup in Thompson). After grace, people rose and helped themselves to the traditional fare of chicken and pizza. Judging by the smacking of lips and licking of fingers (and that was just my wife Leone and I), it was enjoyed by all. After supper, Smith spoke once again. She said that she was given a letter from Kowalchuk and would read it to the gathering. In the note, Kowalchuk thanked the coaches, executive, conveners, arena workers, parents, and community. He recapped the successes of the past year and relayed his hope for the coming year. Subsequent to this, Smith asked her husband and Minor Hockey VP, Dave Smith, to come forward to make presentations. After presenting Esso Awards to the five players in the Novice division, he called forward the conveners for Squirts, Novice, Atoms, and PeeWee. They presented each player with a Spartan windbreaker. Coaches Les Teneycke, Dave Smith, Alex Francis, and Clint Parsons were also presented a windbreaker. My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
