Common wealth_ While the melting snow has made many people in Saskatchewan and Manitoba forget about the spring storm last week, the weather gave scores of youngsters from tiny towns the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime.
After their charter bus fishtailed on the ice-covered Highway 11, a group of high school students from Oakbank, Manitoba, returning from a band tour in Alberta stopped at Craik, Saskatchewan, which is midway between Regina and Saskatoon, on Thursday.
Greg Crowe, the band director of Springfield Collegiate in Oakbank, described the incident as “a harrowing moment” where the group opted to leave the roadways. Around 8 a.m. CST, the bus arrived in town with 47 pupils and four chaperones.
Mayor of Craik Mark Wegner arrived shortly after and provided them a place to take cover. Wegner reported that the vice-principal of Springfield’s school reached out to the head of Craik School and the two started formulating a strategy.
In times of crisis, communities often come together to support each other, and that’s exactly what happened in this situation. The neighborhood grocery shop and restaurant stepped up to provide food, while local residents contributed bedding and other amenities to ensure that those in need had everything they required. It’s heartwarming to see how people can come together in times of need to offer their support and resources to help one another.
And it’s especially commendable to see leaders like Charla Edwards, the principal of Craik School, who didn’t hesitate to provide assistance when it was required. It’s this kind of leadership and community spirit that helps make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time. There isn’t any other choice. Making things work is what you do, so you do it. That’s how our communities operate, and it’s also how I was raised,” the woman added.
