To the Editor:

We would like to take the time to acknowledge those affected by the fire at the lake on May 21, 2012.

First and foremost we wish to express our sincere sorrow to our neighbors at the lake who lost every-thing in that fire.

Thank you to all the members of the Donald Gunn community for what they did to help fight that fire. We wish to thank Grant and Melinda Ottenbreit for having the courage come to our house to break the news about the fire.

Special mention goes out to the quick responses of those first on the scene. The Zahaik family for calling 911, Cassie Tillman for protecting others and keeping them out of harm’s way and the neighbors who got Doug Ruf (Park Maintenance and former fire fighter) to the scene.

The key players include Doug Ruf, Ryan Arnold, Grant Doupe and Constable Dowling and others who risked their own safety to fight the fire and defend our property in our absence. Your fast thinking, strategic moves and heroic actions truly minimized the material loss and saved our cabin. Thank you to the Canora Fire Department and Constable Abbott for all your efforts. We also wish to acknowledge the Jendrasheske family for taking such good care of our children while we were tending to the scene.

A special thank you goes out to Hunter Arnold for his kind words and gestures that evening.

For all of this and more we are truly grateful. Through all adversities may we remember to always count our blessings.

David & Sherrie Malinowski, Yorkton, SK.