By Roger White

2017 Year In Review-November

Dec 30, 2017 | 9:00 AM

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2017, battlefordsNOW is taking a look at some of the top news headlines and newsmakers over the past 12 months.

City officials responded to a Nov. 23 article in MacLean’s Magazine which labelled North Battleford as “Canada’s most dangerous city.” 

The article painted a less than rosy picture of the city and Mayor Ryan Bater admits being atop the crime severity index is nothing new to North Battleford and multiple articles have been written about the city before, but this time it has been put out there to a national audience. 

Bater added administration wasn’t sure what to expect from the article, but based on the questions the reporter asked, they had a good idea. Bater said the city has been working hard to use the tools available to address crime. He added crime and safety is one of the highest priorities of the city government. 

Administration and RCMP took some issue with the label of “most dangerous” as well because the article states North Battleford hasn’t had a homicide since 2013. City manager, Jim Puffalt said crimes of opportunity and preventable crimes are driving up the rates in North Battleford, not necessarily violent crimes. Battlefords RCMP inspector, John Sutherland, said the majority of violent crimes are not “stranger on stranger,” so anyone visiting North Battleford has nothing to fear.

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Next, we learned North Battleford City Hall is moving ahead with long-term plans to replace the ageing Civic Centre. Council approved hiring an architectural firm from Saskatoon to complete a study, with preliminary renderings as well as cost estimates to construct the building. Mayor Ryan Bater said a new facility will be more multi-use and will be able to meet the needs of a growing community. He said the study will help start the planning process for the project. The rough estimate for the build could be around $30 million. Fundraising will help support the project. The Civic Centre dates back to the 1960s.

The North Battleford Comprehensive Vikings senior football team captured the 3A 12-man provincial championship on November 11 after a 14-7 victory over the Yorkton Raiders.  The Vikings were able to grind out the win thanks to some stellar defensive play that saw Yorkton score their only touchdown with under a minute left in the game. Grade 11 running back J.T. Lamb had both touchdowns for the Vikings, who captured their first title since 1995.

The judge was named for the second-degree murder case involving Gerald Stanley in November. Chief Justice Martel Popescul, who is the chief justice for the province, will preside in the trial by jury at Court of Queen’s Bench in the town of Battleford. Stanley is facing a second-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Colten Boushie on Stanley’s Biggar-area farmyard on Aug. 9, 2016. The trial is set to start Jan. 29.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter