An exciting announcement for the Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop. After fundraising for a new bus for just over a year, they have been able to make the purchase. The new bus will arrive in a couple of weeks.

Executive Director Andria Brady made the announcement last night at the Wor-Kin Shop’s Annual General Meeting. She said they put a down payment on the bus in March.

“We just learned that it's going to arrive very soon, and it will be fully paid for, because we do have all the funds to pay the full $80,000 to purchase it, and that is due to the entire community who supported us and came out to our fundraisers and bought raffle tickets and all that sort of thing,” she said.

Brady said at first, raising the funds it seemed daunting.

“Eighty-thousand dollars [...] how are we ever gonna to do this? Especially in the economic times,” she said. “And you know the generosity of this community is amazing and continues to just touch us so much so we're very, very thankful for that.”

Sponsor logos will be seen on the bus, including The Kinsmen TeleMiracle with a $20,000 donation, the Weyburn Young Fellows with a $10,000 contribution, as well as Whitecap Resources, Don Moffat Holdings and Ritchie Bros Auctioneers.

Brady noted any and all future donations, unless otherwise specified, will go toward their general vehicle fund, as it's not provided with their funding through the Ministry of Social Services.

The Wor-Kin Shop Board of Directors remains as Lloyd Montgomery as Chair, Deanne Miller-Jones, Vice Chair, Denise Guest as Secretary/Treasurer, Marie Campbell, Marga Cugnet, Candice Porter, and Gwen Wright. While there was no turnover for their board of directors during the meeting, they did celebrate a few employees.

“Tonight was five service awards, which is a large amount to give out,” said Brady. “We had three five-years and two 30-year service awards, so it's not every day that you get to hand an award to someone who's been in the same organization for 30 years so that's really humbling and amazing, too.”

(L-R): Wor-Kin Shop Program Director Carol Leslie and SARCAN Recycling Technician Greg Procknow were both recognized for 30 years. Megan Johnson, Jillian Mellon and Ryan Rawn were recognized for five years with the organization.

Brady said, in general, the organization is thriving, particularly with the Harvest Pie Company. She noted they're continuing to branch out and are even looking to secure a national contract later this year.

Another presentation made at the meeting was from TCI Total Combustion Inc, who had invited the Wor-Kin Shop to run a barbecue at their booth during the Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show.

"Our barbecue was in a sad state of repair, so they decided to bring us another one just earlier today," said Brady. "We're very grateful for that, we'll use it in our meal program."

TCI also collected $200 in cash donations during the oil show.

Tom Eagle with Total Combustion Inc presented Wor-Kin Shop staff Ryan Rawn and Cassidy Orsted with a brand new barbecue and $200 in cash donations received at the Saskatchewan Oil & Gas Show.