Local Sylvia Turuk, and Trent Tomanek of TC Tomanek Landscape & Tree Removal, pictured here with all smiles. (Submitted photo/Trent Tomanek)

By Martin Martinson

Joy… in a bucket

Local resident celebrates 81 years in style, with special lift as birthday gift

Jun 10, 2021 | 5:40 PM

North Battleford’s Sylvia Turuk can now check one more item off her bucket list– literally.

Just days ahead of celebrating her 81st birthday this Friday, Turuk received an unexpected gift this week she won’t soon forget; feeling the wind in her hair from nearly 60 feet in the air.

Trent Tomanek, owner and manager of TC Tomanek Landscape & Tree Removal, was tending to a pair of broken trees in Turuk’s yard earlier this week when he was lowered to the ground for a break to grab a drink of water. Upon doing so, the two began chatting on the grassed area in front of the house.

“She (Turuk) said it was awesome just watching me go up that high and that she had a lot of respect for what we were doing, so I told her if she ever wants to go up, just to let me know,” Tomanek recounted to battlefordsNOW with a smile. “We kind of had a good laugh out of it, and then she said that would be great, so up we went.”

Together the pair were raised about 55 feet in the air, where they stayed for around 10 minutes, looking out from their bucket and talking about life and the beautiful scenery from their spot above all the trees and rooftops around.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

“We spent about 10 minutes just talking about life, how quiet it was up there, and how she could even see her farm,” Tomanek said. “She teared up a little bit and said she may not be young, but for the rest of her life she’ll remember this, and that this was the most special birthday gift she’d ever had.”

For Tomanek, the gesture as it turned out also provided him with a fresh perspective of gratitude.

“For me, I go up and down all day every day doing what I normally do, and you kind of take it for granted, but that was [something special]… I mean, what a memory for her,” he said.

Turuk couldn’t have been more thrilled for the opportunity. She said just the fact that Tomanek took the time to visit with her, and put the work aside for a minute to offer that personal connection ‘meant the world’ to her.

“He is just all heart to have offered this [experience] to me,” Turuk said. “People come to just do their work and they’re gone all the time, but he took the time to have a conversation and it just meant a lot to me for him to offer and ask if I want to go for a ride.”

When asked if there’s anything she hopes others can take away from her story, Turuk said it would be to simply take a chance and live life to the fullest.

“After all, if anything’s going to happen, we’re both in the bucket.”

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1