June 24th saw the celebration of the completion
of the Water West project. The Water West project is the partnership between
the Towns of Eston and Kindersley, and the RMs of Kindersley, Snipe Lake,
Mariposa, Newcombe, Antelope Park, and Chesterfield for the delivery of water
to our municipalities. For Kindersley, the project meant upgrading the capacity
of the water pipeline that is 55kms long, and enhancing the quality of our
water produced at the newly renamed Bernie Haubrich Water Treatment Plant.
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| The Water West Celebration, June 24, 2013 |
The story of how we get our water is a good one. Our source
water is the South Saskatchewan River south of Eston; pictured on the left. From there, water is
taken into shield wells and then pumped from the riverbank up a steep hill, seen below,
from where it flows on to Eston and Kindersley. It is easy to marvel at the technology
but what most impresses me are the partnerships that formed (some dating back
to 1964) to get the project started and completed.
Urban legend has it that Mayors Joe Martin and Eric Halpenny
shook on the deal after drinking a bottle of liquor. For two and half
generations since, Eston and Kindersley have been working together securing our
water and ensuring our future.
I am proud to be the most recent Mayor of Kindersley to be a
part of the project. The Water West project first started with Mayor Ed Woloshyn
and continued with Mayors Mike Hankewich, John Boquist, and Wayne Foster. I was
also very proud to unveil the plaques commemorating and renaming the CN
Reservoir as the Eldon Brick Reservoir and the Kindersley Water Treatment Plant
as the Bernie Haubrich Water Treatment Plant.
It is easy to see and celebrate the Stanley Cup or Grey Cup
Champions. By the same token, June 24th was an important day to
celebrate our overlooked and unsung champions in Kindersley and Eston. It takes
vision and courage to push forward a project like Water West, and before that,
the original Eston-Kindersley (EK) water pipeline. The Water West champions saw
the problem, worked for a solution, persisted through challenges, and administered
the routine until completion. Civic champions are often unsung, and June 24th
was a day to celebrate true champions of our region: Joe Martin, Eric Halpenny,
Eldon Brick and Bernie Haubrich. I am honoured to continue working for the
future of Kindersley and West Central Saskatchewan, as have these men.
Do you know a champion? We are looking for someone to
nominate for the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Likewise, I have been trying to
discover if the Town of Kindersley has a civic award to present. If you know
about a Town of Kindersley award let me know.
Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a
particular topic. If you have any questions or comments drop me a line at the
town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca.
I appreciate your feedback.
Have a good week!
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