Year in Review: February Wobeser honoured, unhoused dilemma

Year sees Wobeser enter hall of fame

The Heart of the Farm Banquet saw a very special presentation to a long-time supporter of the Lloyd Ex.

Jean Wobeser was officially inducted into the Lloyd Ex Hall of Fame in recognition of over 60 years of dedication. The event was in conjunction was Agri-Visions.

“To say I was honoured when Jean asked me to speak tonight would be the understatement of a lifetime,” said Sheila Phillips, who explained her relationship with the Wobeser family.

“In 1973 on Neville Goss’s playground, a life-long friendship began between me and her oldest daughter Kelly. Kelly encouraged me to join Lloydminster’s Silver Spur Light Horse 4-H Club.”

“Her mom, Jean, was the general leader. Jean led a very active club, bringing in an array of specialists to see that we not only learned to ride well but also had instruction from vets, farriers and feed specialists.”

She was born in Spalding, Sask. and loved animals from an early age, growing up on the farm.

Jean and her husband Dennis relocated to Lloydminster in 1961. Their three children Kelly, Wendy and Brady were all born in Lloydminster.


Town hall touches on unhoused dilemma

The Lloydminster RCMP held a town hall meeting last week, which was open to the public.

Those in attendance were encouraged to ask questions throughout the presentation and offer their input as to what they think should be focused on within the Lloyd detachment.

“Our priorities are developed through consultations with the community, and through my police officers on the ground. They see things every day, through mayor and council because they talk to the constituents all of the time, and then through general complaints,” explained Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s Commander Brian Nicholl.

One of the hot topics during the community engagement part of the evening was homelessness within the city.

“Right now we need a shelter and we need a warming facility. As a community, we need those services,” said Nicholl.

“Do you want it in your neighbourhood? I say that not to be rude to anybody because, no, I definitely don’t. I do not want those services in my neighbourhood because I do not want what it brings.”

He explained whether the shelter is in a residential area or a commercial area, there will be complaints either way.

“I’m trying to make everybody think a little bit more, and a little bit broader. There is no simple solution, because believe me if there was, we would already be doing it,” said Nicholl.


War bride receives Jubilee Award

Imagine, as a young person, leaving your home, your family and the only way of life you know and starting over in a far-away land.

This was a reality for war bride Jean Fells, who recently received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, presented to her by Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young. Fell’s family members made it out to the presentation as well.

“Every province got these medals to give out to special people like you. It also recognizes Saskatchewan citizens of all ages and from all walks of life, who have made contributions to our country, our province, and particularly to their community,” said Young, before making the presentation on Feb. 14.

It is the last of its kind to be given out in Saskatchewan, since they were issued by Queen Elizabeth II in Feb. 2022 in honour of the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne.

“This medal that I’m going to present to you today recognizes what you, personally, have done to make Saskatchewan a better place for all of us,” said Young.

Fells, who was 96 when she received the medal, fell in love with a Canadian man named Bob Fells during the Second World War. He worked for the Canadian Army as a military engineer.

Read more: Column: Thanks for the ride, Lloyd

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Meridian Source Staff
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