When Gull Lake’s new hospital opened on August 13, 1930, it stepped into a decade marked by uncertainty. The board had appointed the staff earlier that summer, and the opening team included Mrs. Kathy Bushell, Margaret Maloney, and Miss Rogers. With the building ready and a full staff in place, the hospital quickly became part of the community’s daily life. The years that followed were lean ones. Budgets tightened, and wages were reduced more than once as the Depression wore

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 3–9 as Emergency Preparedness Week, a national initiative that encourages Canadians to understand their local risks and take practical steps to be ready for unexpected events. This year’s theme is "Be prepared. Know your risks.” is a reminder that preparedness starts at home, long before an emergency happens. Across the southwest, the message is especially relevant. Rural communities face a unique mix of risks: fast‑moving gra

A discussion is underway in Gull Lake about whether the community should move toward a modern digital X‑ray system at the local health centre. The current unit still uses film processing, a method most facilities phased out years ago. Digital imaging would provide faster results, clearer scans, and fewer trips out of town for routine diagnostics. In rural communities, X‑ray services are most often used by seniors, chronic-care patients, and residents dealing with minor injuri

Long before Gull Lake had a modern hospital, health care here was held together by determination, borrowed rooms, and the steady work of local women who refused to let the community go without care. Much of what we know about these early years comes from Gull Lake Memories—A History of the Town of Gull Lake, which preserves the hospital’s earliest records and recollections. The “Bit by Bit” Era (1912–1914) The earliest records point to 1912, when a small cottage hospital oper

Beginning in September 2026, students across Saskatchewan—including those in the Chinook School Division—will begin learning hands-on CPR skills through a new province-wide education initiative. The Ministry of Education is partnering with the Heart & Stroke Foundation to bring the CardiacCrash program into schools for the 2026–27 year, giving students the confidence to act when every second counts. The program is designed to make CPR and AED training accessible, engaging, an

Sometimes it can feel like our communities are losing traction. But is that really the case, and where do we look for answers? Across the southwest, there’s been some talk lately about decline, disruption , and the idea that small towns need to be shaken up to survive. But when you look at what’s actually happening on the ground, a very different story emerges—one of adaptation, collaboration, and steady, community‑driven progress. The darkest period in my lifetime was the l