BORDEN — The Borden Care Home held its annual general meeting Aug. 21 in the care home. Kirk Maxwell chaired the meeting and recording secretary was Peggy Walker. There were the minutes from last year’s meeting, auditor’s report and a new member, Heather Bisson, was welcomed to the board. The home did show a profit last year after a loss during the pandemic.
The board members are Chair Tom Redhead (Borden), Secretary Peggy Walker; Vice-chair Peter Thiessen, Bev Panas (Langham), Wally Neufeld (Radisson), and Heather Bisson and Kirk Maxwell.
The manager is Shannon Green who also gave a report. Right now they have five employees and last year had 11 so quite a bit of overtime is paid out. The home is full and they are advertising for more workers.
They plan to update their policies and bylaws and will do at least one at every monthly board meeting. The board will send out letters to try and get more representatives from the RMs of Mayfield, Corman Park Great Bend and Maymont.
The Borden Friendship Club held their monthly potluck supper Aug. 29, in the Borden Community Centre with 48 members and guests out to enjoy the meal and program. The hall and tables were decorated in fall colours with vases of live flowers on each table. President Sandi Long welcomed everyone, told a joke or two and gave the blessing. After a great meal was enjoyed, Happy Birthday was sung to Eleanor Walton, Audrey Baker, Ed Rawlyk, Cheryl Larner and seven absent August birthday celebrants.
Ruben Rempel told a few jokes and introduced the musicians for the evening – Arnold and Ruth Klassen from Osler. Arnold played guitar and Ruth played the keyboard and looked after background music. They both told a few humorous stories from a 1947 Reader’s Digest between sets. Some songs were This Old House, How Great Thou Art, Blessed Saviour, I Saw the Light, God in the Valley and many more before closing with What a Day That Will Be.
The Borden Museum held their last Adventure at the Museum for the season Aug. 31, showcasing the former Borden Union Hospital. Heather Penner gave a report on the early beginnings of health care going back to 1906 when Dr. Reynolds was here, then in 1908 Dr. Henderson had the first doctor’s office in Borden, then to 1920 when the Newshams started the Cottage Hospital. Dr Paulsen came in 1930, with $2 a visit. The first patient was Hedley Tallis. Harold Bracken from the livery stable would take the doctor out into the country to visit patients.
The Cottage Hospital ran from 1930 to 1942 when the RM took over. In the 1940s Daisy Lund was the matron; 252 babies were born over nine years and there were 805 patients in hospital.
The RM took over a building in 1954 with nine beds, got a grant of $17,000 to renovate, added two wards, and in 1959 surrounding communities paid a levy to help run it. In October 1978 a new building was erected with 10 beds and the first baby born there was Mark Thiessen, son of Peter and Mary. It was officially opened in June of 1979 and operated as a hospital until it became the Borden Health Centre in 1993.
Wendy Sherlock from Maymont, who was the matron for many years, told of some humorous incidents that happened when she worked there. When they had a farewell luncheon, the staff took down the large white BORDEN HOSPITAL sign and each staff member took one letter home. Wendy presented the “H” she had to the Borden Museum.
Gerry Wainwright, lab and X-ray technician told of her years working there, starting in 1987 when she rented the house of Margaret Cox. In 1992 she married Ian Wainwright and is still at the health centre doing lab work and running the X-ray machine, which uses film).
With this day being the last day for the summer student, Kaidyn Turgeon, she was presented with a thank you card from the museum board. After the presentations, the museum served coffee and juice along with goodies.
A service of remembrance was held July 25 for Ron Bezugly of Borden, who passed away suddenly July 17 at the age of 82. Tributes were heard from his son Todd and grandchildren Carter, Dustin and Jasmine, memories from Bob Krueger and a picture tribute by granddaughter Jasmine.
Condolences are extended to the family of Jonathan Sargent of Borden, who passed away at the age of 64 after a short battle with cancer. His celebration of life was held Aug. 24 in the Borden Community Centre with a slideshow, and co-workers from Saskatoon Light and Power and family telling stories of him.
Sympathy is also extended to the family of Wendell Dyck, who passed away Aug. 24 at the age of 87 at the Dalmeny Spruce Manor Home where he had resided since 2023. His service is Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. in the Borden Community Centre.
Sympathy is extended to the family of William Shukin of Ceepee, a long-time member of the Borden Farmers Market, who passed away Aug. 26 at the age of 88. His casual viewing service was held Aug. 30 in Saskatoon.
