The operative words for Weyburn and surrounding areas in 1997 have been "growth" and "opportunity", as both have come knocking in the oil and agricultural sectors in a year that also saw many changes on other fronts, including the faces on many area councils and school boards.
Both of the Weyburn area's biggest sectors, oil and agriculture, saw much growth and activity this year, with the year's biggest announcement coming at the beginning of summer.
PanCanadian Petroleum announced details of its $1.1 billion carbon dioxide miscible flood project to revitalize the Weyburn-Midale oilfields, one of the biggest projects announced in Saskatchewan this year.
Premier Roy Romanow was on hand for the announcement, along with federal resources minister Ralph Goodale and PanCanadian president David Tuer, and several local and provincial dignitaries.
Aside from this major project, for which construction will start to take place in 1998, the area's oilfields were busy and active with drilling and production, helping lead the province in drilling licenses as well as at the quarterly oil and gas rights sales. Weyburn was a hub of activity in June, as the city hosted its biennial Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show, with over 300 exhibitors on hand, and oil industry awards given out.
In the agriculture industry, both the Weyburn Inland Terminal and Sask. Wheat Pool facilities began major expansions at their facilities, and ConAgra opened a new terminal at Corinne late in the year. Area durum producers have expressed interest in joining in with an American pasta plant project, as partners and later as suppliers. Also, the Canadian Grain Commission opened a new service centre in Weyburn this year for the southeast area, its eighth centre on the prairies.
Grain prices for the 1996/97 crop year were very strong, with a record level of sales reported by the Canadian Wheat Board, but prices softened considerably for the current 1997-98 crop year.
For the City of Weyburn, much discussion and controversy surrounded the issue of a proposed new fire hall and works shop, which finally went to a referendum vote to determine the location. The vote was held in conjunction with the municipal and school board elections on Oct. 22, and the decision came down to locate the facilities together at 16th St.
Council, meanwhile, saw a major changeover, with new faces this year including Debra Button, Ray Wahl and Mike Pickering, with former Ald. Bill Rudachyk elected back on council after an absence, joining incumbents Ray Hamm and Marlene Nedelcov. In the mayor's race, two-term incumbent Jim Brown was defeated by Ald. Don Schlosser. Administratively there was a change, as long-time city commissioner Fred Martyn retired and Robert Smith took over the position on Oct. 1, coming from Humboldt.
Much building and development took place in Weyburn in 1997, including several new homes being built and a major $2 million expansion and renovation by the Weyburn Co-op, which was completed by the fall. Alcatel Canada Wire completed an expansion of its facilities and added 35 new jobs, and a number of small businesses completed renovations or built new facilities. Bellringer Resources announced it had made arrangements to purchase the Plains Food Fibre plant in Weyburn, which process should be completed early in the new year, with production to begin shortly after.
On the provincial political scene, Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Judy Bradley was appointed to the cabinet as minister of Transportation and Highways, and as the minister responsible for the Status of Women.
A new provincial political party began this year, with Weyburn resident Brenda Bakken active as a member of the party's steering committee. The party held its founding convention in November, and the leadership convention is expected to be held in February.
With federal politics, the area's Member of Parliament was changed at the June 2nd federal election, with the Reform Party's Roy Bailey defeating incumbent Liberal Bernie Collins for the Souris-Moose Mountain riding.
For a complete overview of the events that made 1997 memorable, please see the year-in-review story and photographs inside this week's issue of the Weyburn Review.
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