THE YEAR THAT WAS
See what made news in July
REQUEST FOR FUNDS
A Saskatchewan court heard a request to provide victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash with $50,000 each from a massive fundraising campaign.
The Humboldt Broncos Memorial Fund Inc. asked the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench to approve the interim payment to the 13 survivors and the families of the 16 people who died in the crash on April 6.
The fund said some of the families affiliated with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team were in urgent need of money.
A Gofundme campaign was created immediately after the crash and received $15.2 million in donations from all over the world. Court documents stated the non-profit group had received free professional services from its law firm, bank and accountants.
Gofundme had deducted roughly $483,000 from the money raised to cover 2.9 per cent payment-processing fees. It also held back an additional $49,000 in a temporary reserve in case any donors challenged their contributions.
CHARGED & RELEASED
For the second time in as many seasons, the Saskatchewan Roughriders released a player charged criminally — and the CFL barred any team from picking up the ousted Rider.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders released Canadian running back Jerome Messam after a voyeurism charge stemming from an alleged incident from almost two years previously.
In a statement by the team, the Roughriders said the charge related to an incident alleged to have occurred in November 2016. In a separate statement, the CFL said Messam has been charged with voyeurism, a Criminal Code offence.
“Commissioner Randy Ambrosie has informed all member clubs that the league will not register a contract for Messam should any team attempt to sign him,” the league statement said.
As for precedent in the CFL’S decision to effectively ban Messam following the criminal charge, the league previously announced it would refuse to register any contract that former Roughriders defensive back Justin Cox signed with any team in 2017 after he was charged with assault causing bodily harm in an alleged incident of domestic violence. The CFL maintained that stance after Cox’s acquittal.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Judy Plag was relieved to see an uptick in business.
The owner of Humboldt’s Bella Vista Inn said she had struggled in recent months. She was not alone. The Humboldt Chamber of Commerce said it heard from several business owners who were unable to attract as much work as normal in the aftermath of the April 6 Humboldt Broncos bus crash that left 16 people dead and another 13 injured.
Stacey Poss, executive director of the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce, said she heard from business owners that things had picked up this month and she hoped that trend continued throughout the summer.
“We appreciate everybody’s support and respect but, you know, we’re looking to move on and get back to the new normal,” she said … Come see how we’re doing.”
Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench said the city was creating a video to let the public know Humboldt was open for business in spite of the tragedy.
“Life is going on in Humboldt,” he said. “We’re not all doom and gloom here. People, I think, from the outside say, ‘Let’s just give them some space.’ But yet, life has to go on.”
BONEY M HOT TIX
It was Boney M-M-M.
The Mary’s Boy Child group added a third show in Saskatoon, a matinee at 3 p.m. on Dec. 15. The first show to be announced, for Dec. 10, sold out faster than you can say Rah-rah-rasputin. A second was added for the evening of Dec. 15 — and tickets disappeared faster than disco.
The tour featured original singer Liz Mitchell and was described as “holiday favourites and classic hits.” Boney M is also known for Rivers of Babylon and Daddy Cool.
MAN DIES IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
City police said a 61-year-old man died in a workplace accident in Saskatoon’s Agriplace neighbourhood on July 31.
Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Apex Street at 8:20 a.m.
When they arrived, they found a man suffering from “serious injuries,” police said in a news release. The man was taken by ambulance to Royal University Hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Early information indicated the man became trapped under a piece of equipment at Basic Truck and Trailer Repair Inc. His name was not released.
Occupational Health and Safety staff responded to the scene and reviewed the incident.