LMT September 10 2018

2 Last Mountain Times • Monday, September 10, 2018 • lmtimes.ca
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The Lumsden Lions parade float passes over the bridge heading into Lumsden.
Craven and Regina businesses for $5.00 right up until the day of the Drop.
“This is probably my favorite part of the whole day where we load up all those ducks into the crate and
drop them down into the river. We have 16,240 ducks going into the river this year, so that is a fantastic
number,” Jamie Lees, one of the organizers, said. “To the rest of the volunteers who had helped in organizing
the day, and to our volunteer committee, a huge thank you. It’s definitely not just me, there are many
people that go into making this day a huge success.”
The winner of the Duck Derby $20,000 prize was Angelica Walker. There was a possibility that the
winner of the Duck Derby could have won as much as $1,000,000. However, there was no million dollar
winner this year.
The Duck Derby is the main fundraiser event for the Lumsden Sports Association, with 2017’s Duck
Derby raising over $40,000. This helped to pay down a mortgage on a new ice plant and ice-resurfacer for
the local community operated rink.
-article and photos by Alec Konkel, reporter for LM Times
Through the eyes of our elders
There has been a great deal of change from
the years of 1928 to 2018. Ada Lou Watson
has seen it all.
Through smile lines and sparkling eyes, this 90 year old matriarch
has so many stories to tell. And, many of those stories
were shared at her 90th birthday celebration held in Regina
Beach on Saturday, September 1st. It was standing room only,
as long-time friends of Ada Lou filled the Memorial Hall to
capacity. Many found it a joy to sit with her over coffee, as she
recounted the early days of the Beach community, “I remember,
in winter,” she says, “after all the seasonal residents had left.
When we were kids we used to toboggan right down the middle
of main street!” She laughs, “You sure couldn’t do that now.
Too much traffic, even in winter.” She also has stories from her
youth, when a group of friends would take her Dad’s Model A
car, drive out on to Last Mountain Lake and attach make-shift
skis to their boots.
“Ada Lou, you broke the glass ceiling and were way ahead
of your time,” said Eunice Cameron, who delivered the main
address in honour of Ada Lou. Cameron was referring to
Watson leaving Saskatchewan to attend university in Manitoba
to achieve a degree in architecture, long before women had
chosen that type of career. There were only three girls in that
class of 180 when Ada Lou graduated. “You are an inspiration,
back then and still today.”
It’s true. Watson has been a competitive swimmer most of her
life and well into her 80’s, she still found herself competing at
World Senior events and earning a place at the podium.
Still actively involved in her community, Ada Lou is fondly
referred to as a historian, artist and good friend. “Her fortitude
is something to praise,” says Carol Draper, who leads the
choir at the United Church, a place where Ada Lou has worshipped
for years. It’s why a special song was composed, “For
this remarkable lady,” as the lyrics refer.
The remainder of the afternoon celebrations was spent enjoying
a multi-layered birthday cake, good food and conversation
with family and friends. And through it all, the deep smile
lines and sparkling eyes remained. Happy Birthday Ada Lou.
Mostly though, the crowd gathered to say, happy to know you.
-by Carol Rose Daniels, Regina Beach