Athabasca Summer Student Program

How do you like the summer student program so far?

The program has been a rewarding hands-on learning experience. I’m glad that I chose to apply for the Athabasca Basin Summer Student Program, as this job has been one to remember. I met many good people, primarily through mentorship.

Is the position anything like you thought it would be?

Although this is my first summer student program experience, I know I could not have chosen a better one. The written job details explained what it would be like, but you never know what to expect until you experience the full-time job.

What have you learned so far?

My summer position in marketing and communications has allowed me to express my creativity and bring out my professional nature. I have excelled in my writing skills, business email etiquette, and even editing and writing news articles. Most exciting was gaining knowledge in marketing businesses.

What are you taking or have taken in school? And does this summer job position relate to what you have learned?

I have taken many classes, including English Studies and Art, so working in marketing and communications helped me combine what I have learned in school, build on my outgoing nature, and see how I can use my skills to excel in the real world rather than just my in-class assignments.

Has this summer job experience opened any more opportunities?

The Summer Student Program has a range of positions. As my position was marketing and communications, the job gives an idea on how to start and build any business idea, whether it be for my future position as a teacher or marketing businesses in any industry.

What are your future plans? Has it changed after working with the summer student program?

This fall, I will be starting my third year in the College of Education. My mentor was supportive with every path available to me and helped teach me that when you step outside your comfort zone, communicate with people, and gain the essential skills, any dream is attainable.

This summer was the program’s first year. Summer 2022 positions will open this winter.

Brianda Robillard

Brianda Robillard, Black Lake, worked at the Athabasca Basin Development office as the Accounting Summer student.

Rhea Daniels

Rhea Daniels, Hatchet Lake, was at Athabasca Basin Security in the Administration Summer Student role.

Sarah MacDonald

Sarah MacDonald, Stony Rapids, was at Points Athabasca in the Operations summer student role.

Terri-Anne Randhile

Terri-Anne Randhile, Fond du Lac, was at Points Athabasca in the HR Summer Student role.

First Voyage on the Wollaston Lake Road

By Allison Strong

In March, Points Athabasca’s CEO John Scarfe, Vice President of Corporate Services Lyle Bouvier, and photographer David Stobbe, went on a road trip of the Athabasca Region. This included a tour of the Wollaston Lake road project, which, once completed, will connect the Northern Settlement of Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake First Nation to highway 905 around kilometre 149 and add two more much-needed months of overland travelling.

The Wollaston Lake road project resumed after a twelve-year hiatus, supported by $6.75 million in federal and provincial construction funding. The project, awarded to Points Athabasca, employed 34 workers, with 29 from the Athabasca region. More Athabasca residents are expected to be employed in future phases of the project.

“We’re starting bridge construction and continuing to level some hills and filling muskeg crossings,” says John Scarfe. “We’re hoping to have a snow road in 2022/2023.”

The road is an essential link between the Hatchet Lake and Wollaston communities to other communities in the province. The new road will be 104 kilometres long and will allow the roughly 1500 people in Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake to access improved services.

“Right now, it is hard to get in and out of the community,” says Bart Tsannie, Chief of Hatchet Lake First Nation. “Especially when you are trying to get groceries on the shelves, and you must pay four to five people to transport them. With this road, there will be a lot of savings in transportation, and it will allow more economic opportunities for the community. In addition, there is a need for housing, so this road will allow better transportation for residents who can supply their lumber.”

The new road will connect the two remote Saskatchewan communities to the Northwestern Athabasca highway, adding two more months of overland travelling in and out of the community.

Many people together put in a lot of work to get things to this point. “Chief Bart Tsannie and Vice Chief Joe Tsannie were fundamental in raising funds and getting things put in place,” says Scarfe. “Associated Engineering helped with the proposal preparation. We’re incredibly thankful to our crew for the hard work on their part.”

Photographing the entire road trip, David Stobbe thoroughly enjoyed taking part. “Every time I get the chance to go up north to photograph, it’s fantastic,” he says. “It’s such a wonderful pace of life.”

Sascha Sasbrink-Harkema, CEO of ABS

Athabasca Basin Security Welcomes New CEO

As of June, Sascha Sasbrink-Harkema is the new CEO of Athabasca Basin Security. Sascha has been with the company for ten years and, during that time, she has been responsible for overseeing operations, HR, IT and admin. Before joining ABS, Sascha worked as a Business Analyst at Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. Sascha has a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan and is a member of Sakimay First Nation. Sascha has worked closely with the company’s clients and staff during her time with ABS/APP and is well poised to take over the leadership position. Please join us in wishing Sascha the very best in her new role.

We’d like to thank outgoing CEO Ron Hyggen for his years of leadership and service with ABS/APP and wish Ron and his family the very best in their future endeavors.

Rise Air Upgrading Medevac Operations

Rise Air upgraded its medevac operations by acquiring a King Air B200 twin turboprop aircraft outfitted with the very latest avionics and other instrumentation for more reliable all-weather operations. The aircraft has an upgraded cabin better equipped for transporting critical care patients. Rise Air expects the new aircraft to be delivered in July 2022 and to be operational in the fall.

“In cooperation with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Athabasca Health Authority, Rise Air provides vital air ambulance services to the communities of the north,” says Carla Wayman, Rise Air’s Director of Flight Operations.

“With the acquisition of this King Air B200, we have upgraded to an aircraft that is completely outfitted to do patient transports, thus providing the medical staff attending to the patients in the cabin with the latest and most efficient setup. With this interior configuration, everything is within arm’s length for the medical staff, enabling them to provide the very best in patient care,” adds Wayman.

In cooperation with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the Athabasca Health Authority, Rise Air provides air ambulance services to all the communities of the north. As part of the medevac contracts, Rise Air utilizes King Airs and a Twin Otter.

Athabasca Student Scholarships

Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Office has offered scholarships for Athabasca students since 2017. Applications are due on July 31 each year. To qualify, students must be enrolled as a full-time student and can be in any type of post-secondary program. $60,000 in scholarships were awarded in 2021 to 23 recipients, with Cameco/Orano, Ya’thi Néné, and Athabasca Basin Development providing contributions.

“We are pleased to offer scholarships to post-secondary students from the Athabasca region,” says Garrett Schmidt, Executive Director for Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Office. “This is the fifth year for scholarships and we are excited to award scholarships to so many bright and deserving young students from the Athabasca region.”

Scholarship winners were determined by the Ya’thi Néné Scholarship Committee. Athabasca Basin Development is proud to support this initiative in the amount of $10,000 in 2021 and has been a sponsor for the past four years. Winners will be announced on www.yathinene.com

Tammy Mohr, Catie Fendelet, and Carla Mishak

Long Lake Insurance Staff Gives Back to their Communities

By Nancy Blake, Long Lake Insurance

Long Lake Insurance believes that we can make a difference in the lives of our clients as well as our communities. This past year, the staff made a commitment to make a difference in the lives of others by raising awareness, fundraising, and being a shining example to others.

In 2021, our staff have supported:

· Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day, in honor of an amazing young lady who is an inspiration in our Bethune, SK community

· SaskAbilities/Camp Easter Seal’s Paper Egg Campaign by raising $2,200

· Green Shirt Day in support of the Canadian Transplant Association and the Humboldt Bronco’s Together Strong campaign

· Together Tuesdays by proudly wearing their Better Together t-shirts to help spread the powerful message that when we connect with others who are struggling, we can help reduce loneliness and the risk of suicide

In addition to supporting others, they also recognized that it was important to support their own mental and physical health. In May, the organization pulled together to challenge each other to get moving, clocking 1,215 hours of movement and activity in support of mental health.

Arctic Beverages Purchases Kleen-All Enterprises

By Harold Bonazew, Arctic Beverages

On June 15, 2021, Arctic Beverages LP purchased Kleen All Enterprises, a distributor of cleaning and paper supplies as well as PPE (personal protective equipment) products. Kleen All is located in northern Manitoba with warehouses in Flin Flon and The Pas.

Kleen All carries chemical lines of Diversey, Betco, Buckeye, RML and some private labelled chemical. For paper products such as towels, wipers and toilet tissues they carry Kimberley Clark, Cascades, Pur and others. For PPE and work wear, they represent Helly Hansen Work, Timberland Pro, Carhartt, Pioneer (SureWerx), Richlu (Tough Duck), Keen, Baffin and many others.

Kleen All’s main customer base is northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, which includes industry (mining and pulp/paper), schools, hotels, restaurants, band offices, recreation facilities, RCMP, and other small businesses in the area.

Tim Smith started the company in 1997 and Korrena Bartram started working for Kleen All in 2010 (becoming a partner in 2017). Tim will stay on for the transition period out of the Flin Flon office and Korrena will manage and work in The Pas location. In all, Kleen All has eight full-time employees.

“I believe Kleen All will fit Arctic Beverages like a glove,” says Tim Smith. “The products that Kleen All sells will just add to the vast array of items that Arctic offers its customers base. With Arctic’s vast infrastructure and distribution over most of northern Canada, we can provide cleaning and paper products, and PPE to every door that Arctic already calls upon whether it be a gas station, school or recreation facility.

5Buds Opens Fifth Location

By Allison Strong

The new 5Buds location in Kindersley opened on April 19, 2021, and it is the first recreational cannabis store in town. “The people of Kindersley were extremely welcoming to the 5Buds team on opening day and were very excited to have the opportunity to purchase and seek knowledge about cannabis in their local community,” says Calvin Isackson, Managing Director of 5Buds.

The Kindersley 5Buds Cannabis location provides customers with a trusted source of information on cannabis products while providing a very robust menu with many options at affordable prices. “We’ve listened to the local residents and have crafted a menu of cannabis products and accessories that meet the needs of the local residents, so they have their favorite items to choose from and also newer items to provide options.”

Currently there are five employees at the new location, and they are all local residents. “It was amazing to see the support from employee family members on opening days as well, with some bringing the store flowers, cakes, and supporting us with making their first purchases on opening day,” comments Isackson.

Isackson joined 5Buds in mid-December, taking on the leadership role over the company’s four locations with existing stores in Yorkton, North Battleford, and Warman, all of which have been operating since cannabis was legalized in 2018, with Prince Albert opening in February 2021. “Every day, we’re excited to welcome new customers and we continue to build relationships with those customers who have already chosen us,” adds Isackson.

The company is 100% Saskatchewan owned; the result of a partnership between Athabasca Basin Development, Des Nedhe, Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies, and Prince Albert First Nations Business Development, representing ownership from 13 First Nations communities.

Denise Bougie

Denise Bougie Trades Scholarship

The Denise Bougie scholarship program offers $5,000 in scholarships for students from the Athabasca region who are enrolled in a trades program. This scholarship is part of the Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Office Athabasca Student Scholarships program. It was launched in 2021 and is sponsored by Flyer Electric.

Denise Bougie was a passionate advocate for Women in Trades & Technology, spending countless hours volunteering to help inspire women and others in her community. She was not shy about sharing her story and her struggles, and how, at age 40, she began a new journey. With a little bit of help, and a lot of hard work and determination, in 2015 Denise achieved her goal of attaining Journeyperson Electrician status and was living back in her hometown with her family, using her new skills to help give back to her community.

Denise also served on the Athabasca Permanent Residence Organization committee. Tragically, Denise passed away in 2020. Her incredible spirit, her enthusiasm, and her belief in the members of her community will never be forgotten.

Denise achieved many of the hours she needed to obtain her red seal while working at Flyer Electric. Flyer Electric is proud to help play a small role in carrying on the work that Denise was so passionate about: helping support women and Athabasca community members to enter a career in the trades by sponsoring a scholarship.

We are pleased to announce the first ever recipients of this scholarship are Richie Robillard and Rayden Joseyounen. Congratulations!

Athabasca Student Scholarships

QM Points provided $42,000 in student scholarships to students from the Athabasca region. This is the second year of the program. Congratulations to this year’s recipients. Each will receive $3,500:

Kendal Merasty
Michelle Zink
Vanessa Rennie
Keesha Martin
Shanelle Echodh
Terri Anne Randhile
Darlene Sandypoint
Myra Ann McKenzie
Darian Joseyounen
Rebecca Strong
Allison Strong
Cherilyn Joseyounen

by Athabasca Basin Development - Paid Partnership

Athabasca Summer Student Program

Q & A: With Allison Strong, Marketing & Communications Summer Student

First Voyage on the Wollaston Lake Road

Athabasca Basin Security Welcomes New CEO

Rise Air Upgrading Medevac Operations

Athabasca Student Scholarships

Long Lake Insurance Staff Gives Back to their Communities

Arctic Beverages Purchases Kleen-All Enterprises

5Buds Opens Fifth Location

Denise Bougie Trades Scholarship

Athabasca Student Scholarships

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