Chestermere Anchor March 06 2023

4 ways to empower women entrepreneurs in your community

International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8. It’s a day to celebrate the achievements of women and help them continue to succeed in the business world. Here are four easy ways to support a female business owner in your community.

1. Buy from them. One of the best ways to empower female entrepreneurs is to buy their products or services. Actively look for women-owned businesses and support them whenever you can.

2. Spread the word. Social media is a powerful tool. Therefore, if you love a product or service from a woman-owned business, tell your friends and post about it on your social networks. You may introduce others to a brand they

may not have known otherwise.

3. Write a review. Leaving a review is one of the best ways for businesses to improve and grow. It can also help increase visibility.

4. Dona te or invest. Women-led companies often struggle to get the funding they need to survive. You can support them by

3 countries leading the way in women’s rights

To celebrate International Women’s Day, here’s a look at three nations that are working hard to advance women’s rights.

1. ICELAND

For over 10 years, Iceland has topped the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index. Iceland established an equal pay law mandating equal pay and terms of employment for both men and women. Iceland also passed a law in 2010 requiring company boards have a minimum of 40 per cent women. In 2009, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became Iceland’s first female prime minister.

donating to causes that provide loans and grants to women-owned small businesses and underserved entrepreneurs.

As the economy continues to be uncertain, your support can mean the difference between a womanowned business staying afloat or sinking.

How gender equality boosts economic growth

Did you know that gender equality goes handin-hand with economic and financial stability?

Women account for half the world’s workingage population. Therefore, the global economy suffers when they’re denied the opportunity to reach their full economic potential.

In countries where women have more equal opportunities, the economy is much more resilient, sustainable and competitive. According to a study by McKinsey Global Institute, closing the workforce gender gap could add as much as $28 trillion to the global GDP in 2025. Moreover, boosting women’s participation in the labour force could help offset the impact of a shrinking workforce in rapidly aging societies.

Women bring new skills to the workplace, increasing productivity and growth. Moreover, giving women equal opportunity to participate in agriculture and equipping them with climate-smart practices can accelerate progress toward addressing food insecurity and climate change.

2. NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand was the first self-governed nation to allow women the right to vote in 1893. Two women have held the position of prime minister so far in New Zealand, and around one-third of the parliament is female. In 2018, New Zealand’s parliament unanimously passed the Equal Pay Amendment Bill, guaranteeing equal pay for workers, regardless of gender.

3. DENMARK

Women in Denmark generally work outside the home and pursue careers while raising a family because of the country’s generous parental leave and tax-subsidized daycare. Additionally, over 40 per cent of the representatives in Denmark’s parliament are female, and so are many of the country’s ministers. Denmark’s first female prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, took office in 2011.

Many countries have made considerable efforts to advance gender equality in recent years. Still, there’s a long way to go to achieve full parity between men and women.

Although there has been significant progress toward gender equality, women still have fewer career opportunities and earn, on average, 16 per cent less than men. This International Women’s Day, it’s up to you to push for more aggressive change. Although governments and businesses play a crucial role in reducing the gender gap, so do you.

Suspicious text, email or call from the CRA?

It’s probably a scam

(NC) We’ve all gotten texts, emails and calls claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. Some of us may even feel like we hear from scammers more than our loved ones.

But there’s no love here. Fraudsters trick people into providing personal and financial information. Their scams are getting more believable, which means more people are at risk of losing their money.

It’s important to know how to spot a scam so you can protect yourself.

Scammers may:

Demand your personal information claiming they’ll send you a refund; insist you take action right away with little explanation; scare you into paying a fake debt; threaten arrest or deportation; request unusual forms of payment such as gift cards, pre-paid credit cards or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin; ask for numbers for your credit card, bank account or passport;

urge you to visit a fake website to verify your identity; or, ask you to click on a link to fill in an online form. When you get a call, email or text like this, stop and listen to your voice of reason. Before you act:

1) Ask yourself: Do I owe them money? Is there a reason for them to be contacting me? Does this sound too good to be true? How does the CRA normally reach me?

2) Check to see if you have a message in your online MyAccount.

3) Delete the scammer’s message or if you’re unsure, call the CRA.

There are real reasons the CRA may need to get a hold of you. When this happens, legitimate employees will provide their name, office location and a callback number.

Learn more about what Canada Revenue Agency employees will and won’t do when contacting taxpayers, at canada.ca/be-scam-smart.

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Junior curlers showcase skills at Funspiel

16 teams played in the Funspiel.

By Emily Rogers

Youth curlers took to the ice during the annual Strathmore Curling Club’s Funspiel on Feb. 26.

“A Funspiel is a curling bonspiel which usually has a prize of some sort for every participant. The emphasis is on fun and not so much on winning,” Coach Marla Forth said.

There was a total of 64 curlers on 16 teams, ranging between seven and 12 years of age.

“The Funspiel is an opportunity for my junior curlers to curl outside their own club. It confirms to the kids that curling is a very social sport, and it’s so nice to see the kids interacting with so many new faces,” Forth said. “They also get to try curling on a different ice surface, so they understand that each club has its own feel with a different speed and amount of curl that the stones have.”

Forth said the Funspiel went well, was well organized, and stayed on schedule with the help of the coaches keeping the youth on task during

each game.

Forth heard a lot of positive feedback from parents, that they were amazed about how smoothly the event went, the day went by quickly, and they didn’t have to keep their children occupied between games, because they were having so much fun team bonding, visiting, and playing card games during downtime.

The Funspiel was an opportunity for the curling club to get extra games in before the season finishes at the end of March.

“It’s so wonderful to see them gain confidence in their abilities and see how they compare to other clubs,” Forth said. “I like to promote a quote from elite Canadian curler Cheryl Bernard, ‘You Either Win or You Learn,’ and the kids did a bit of winning and a bit of learning during this Funspiel experience.”

The Zuvic team and Team Maillot built confidence, and showcased their curling skills during the Strathmore Curling Club’s Funspiel.

Photo/Darby King-Maillot

Team Maillot with skp Griffin Maillot, third Izzy Cave, second Barret Duff, and lead Piper Ploughman took to the ice during the Strathmore Curling Club’s Funspiel on Feb. 26.

Photo/Darby King-Maillot

The Zuvic team, with skip Maelle Zuvic, third Ember Linfoot, second Oskar Schultz, and lead Zayne Buhler played in the annual Strathmore Curling Club’s Funspiel on Feb. 26.

Photo/Darby King-Maillot

The Grinch and a dinosaur stopped by the Strathmore Curling Club’s Funspiel on Feb. 26, to cheer on the curlers.

Photo/Marla Forth

Prairie Waters students showcase their identity through fashion show

Students highlighted their culture, special interests, and families.

By Emily Rogers

Grade 1 Prairie Waters Elementary School students showcased who they are in a fashion to their peers and families on Feb. 28.

“The social studies aspect of what we were covering talks about identity, our central idea, and the groups that we belong to that help form our identity,” Grade 1 teacher Angele Schiltz said.

To showcase their learning, students hosted a fashion show expressing how they see themselves, and what makes them unique.

“The past six weeks, we’ve been learning about the children’s different identities, what makes them unique, what makes them similar, and different, their family makeup, their culture, their community, point of view, and their perspective,” Schiltz said.

Students spent time discussing the different groups they belong to, including sports, school groups, and family interests.

Parents also got involved in the project, by helping their students understand their family history, which they later presented to the class. After interviewing their families, and presenting to their class, students

Students learned about identities, what makes them unique, what makes them similar, their culture, their community, point of view, and perspective, before incorporating everything they learned into a fashion show for their school and families.

worked on a family planner, coming up with ideas for their fashion show, and how they wanted to express their identity.

“We had some students bring in three or four things along with an outfit they wore that represented who they were and what makes them unique,” Schiltz said.

Before the fashion show, two former Prairie Waters Elementary School students taught the students how to model, while sharing what modelling can help them with, confidence, and the opportunities modelling can bring.

The students then practiced their runway walk during a dress rehearsal in front of their school, before in front of their families.

“It went off without a glitch, it was just amazing,” Schiltz said.

Some students chose to wear clothing that represented their culture, while others walked the runway showcasing their special interests, such as a sketchbook and pen, or a soccer ball.

After the fashion show, parents stopped Schiltz and were in awe of the

Grade 1 Prairie Waters Elementary School students chose to wear clothing that represented their culture, and their special interests.

Photo/Angele Schiltz

Photo/Angele Schiltz

entire event.

“They couldn’t believe their kids were walking the runway. It was a great confidence booster for kids, and their risk-taking skills really shown,” Schiltz said. “They had the practice run, then they were more confident to perform for their parents, you could tell their walk had a little bit more of a runway walk, and their pose was more pronounced. I’m really glad we had the opportunity for them to have that practice round.”

The fashion show was a multifaceted project that got the majority of the school involved, with students picking music, helping with the sound system, creating tickets, greeting parents, and taking photos and videos.

Last year, Schiltz was inspired to create a project that got a majority of the school involved, that also invited the students’ families back to the school.

“We did it as a way to get parents back into the school after limitations

were lifted. We were working on the unit, planning, and our ideas were getting bigger and bigger. It was so awesome, we decided to keep doing this, and it’s become a tradition,” Schiltz said.

Adding, “I really hope this is a tradition that continues, I hope part of this unit incorporates a fashion show because it makes them understand about their identity and the different components to their identity.”

Not only was the fashion show a way for students to showcase their culture, interests, and identity, but it was also a way for parents to get involved in their children’s school and see what’s happening in their class. “Parents haven’t been in the school much since COVID, but it was a great opportunity for them to come into the school, and see what we did,” Schiltz said. “It’s time for us to really let the parents see what’s going on in the school, and that we encourage and want them to be part of it.”

Grade 1 teacher Angele Schiltz started the fashion show project as a way to get parents involved in their childrens school, and see what’s happening in their class after COVID, and is hopeful the project will continue to be a tradition for the Prairie Waters Elementary School.

Photo/Angele Schiltz

Grade 1 Prairie Waters Elementary School students hosted a fashion show highlighting their identitieson Feb. 28.

Photo/Angele Schiltz

anchormedia

Chestermere, AB, T1X 1K8

Published since 2000, The Chestermere Anchor News Magazine is a hyper-local digital publication that provides readers local news coverage, community and social events, information on local shopping, and contemporary coverage of arts and entertainment.

The Anchor reaches more than 30,000 active, educated and affluent readers, who look to the Anchor to guide their lifestyle, shopping and entertainment choices. Readers rely on the Anchor’s coverage of local social issues, politics, arts and culture to keep themselves apprised of what is happening in their community.

The residents of Chestermere, Langdon, Conrich, Lyalta, and area are nothing like you’ve seen elsewhere in the region. Literate, Highly articulate, Politically aware, and Socially conscious. They are a group with a mind all their own.

To reach out to our eclectic group of readers, you need an eclectic publication. The Chestermere Anchor’s magazine style reaches that group of people.

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Contributors

Hyper-Local news has always occupied a specific niche in the media marketplace. We are a vehicle for highly localized communications, linked to community interests and issues.

The views, opinions and positions expressed by all columnists and contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of The Chestermere Anchor News Magazineor Anchor Media Inc.

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Wheatland County man charged after selling uninspected meat

Peter Wiebe will appear in Provincial Court this month.

By Emily Rogers

AWheatland County man is facing multiple charges after slaughtering sick and injured cattle and selling uninspected meat.

In November, Alberta Agriculture Inspections and Investigation Section (IIS), RCMP Livestock Investigative Unit (LIU) and Wheatland County received reports that sick and injured cattle were getting slaughtered, with the meat being sold and unlawfully disposed of, an RCMP press release said.

“The sale of uninspected meat has the potential to result in severe illness or death, as it has not been determined safe for human consumption,” the release said.

The Southern Alberta Livestock Investigations Unit obtained evidence of the male causing unnecessary suffering to cattle by failing to adequately care for and feed the animals, in addition to evidence of breaches to the Alberta Meat Inspection Regulation.

On Feb. 21, RCMP LIU, Alberta Agriculture, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency entered the property and saw employees slaughtering cattle. During the search of the property, 36 dead calves, multiple cow parts, and more than 100 tags from slaughtered cows were found, the release said.

Peter Wiebe, 59, was arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to animals, allowing animals to be in distress, unlawful disposal of dead cattle, dealing in livestock products without being licenced, selling uninspected meat, and failure to label meat “Uninspected, not for sale.”

Wiebe was released to appear in Drumheller Provincial Court in March.

A Wheatland County man is facing multiple charges after slaughtering sick and injured cattle and selling uninspected meat. He will appear in Provincial Court in March.

Photo/Alberta RCMP

The Southern Alberta Livestock Investigations Unit obtained evidence of a Wheatland County man causing unnecessary suffering to cattle by failing to adequately care for and feed his animals and evidence of breaches to the Alberta Meat Inspection Regulation.

Photo/Alberta RCMP

Nature-based climate solutions to potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions

A report is highlighting opportunities in protecting wetlands and grasslands.

By Emily Rogers

Canada’s natural carbon areas could play a role in the country’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A national report from the Council of Canadian Academies featuring environmental economist in the Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Vic Adamowicz and colleague David Olefeldt, assessed the potential of protecting, restoring, and expanding forests, wetlands, grassland, and cropland.

“It found that not only would such nature-based climate solutions result in a modest drop in annual greenhouse gas emissions, but could also have other environmental benefits,” a U of A press release said.

The report findings suggested there could be a place for naturebased climate solutions in the country’s overall strategy to reduce climate change.

The findings could help inform the federal government’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and reach a net zero by 2050, the release said.

“We have to also use other approaches to try to achieve greenhouse gas reduction, but nature-based climate solutions can play an important role,” Adamowicz said.

The report highlighted options, uncertainties, and the challenges of implementing nature-based climate solutions.

Nature-based climate solutions can have benefits, such as flood control, better air and water quality, higher biodiversity, and lower soil erosion. Implementing the nature-based climate solutions would mitigate approximately 6 per cent of the country’s current annual greenhouse gas emission, the release said.

However, there are challenges such as cost options, policies, income loss, or adverse conditions such as warming temperature and land development, resulting in the release of more greenhouse

gas, adding to climate change.

“The potential exists for nature-based climate solutions, but there are both scientific questions and feasibility of implementation,” Olefeldt said. The report can be used to identify solutions for widespread use in all of Canada, Adamowicz said.

“This might help us take the next steps in creating new policies that are even better at helping restore and conserve wetlands and other ecosystems. Policy and public perception go hand in hand, and one allows the other,” Olefeldt said.

The report also indicated that collaboration between the public and levels of government is needed to implement the natural systems.

“We’re going to need some government programs, policy design, conversations with landowners and work with Indigenous communities to find our way through to programs that will deliver the carbon benefits and keep everyone comfortable with how the programs are working,” Adamowicz said.

Going forward, the next step is to strengthen the science around naturebased climate solutions.

“If we are to successfully implement solutions, we need to conduct more research and do more monitoring of conserved and restored sites, to verify that what we are claiming about carbon accumulation is actually happening. Right now, we don’t have the data at a fine enough scale,” Olefeldt said.

Design and evaluation will help determine the benefits.

“These are natural systems, there’s much we don’t yet know about them,” Adamowicz said. “We have to do a lot of things to get to net zero, and using natural systems is one of the options. It can play a role and generate some co-benefits, so let’s look at it and start choosing the ones that would work well.”

Chestermere’s Radio Station

Welcome to the FAQ page for Chestermere’s internet (streaming) radio station, CFTR the Rogue. Here, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about our station and the services we offer.

Q: What is an Internet radio station?

A: An Internet radio station is a radio station that broadcasts over the internet, allowing listeners to tune in from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

While we can and do reach the whole world, as our slogan says, our target listening area is “from the bow to the badlands”. In real terms, we have regular listeners in: Calgary, Conrich, Chestermere, Langdon, Indus, Lyalta, Cheadle, Carseland, Mossleigh, Arrowwood, Siksika Nation, Gleichen, Strathmore, Irricana, Biesiker, Acme, Linden, Rosebud, and Drumheller.

Q: Do I need special equipment to listen to your station?

A: No, you don’t need any special equipment to listen to our station. You can listen to us on any device that can connect to the internet, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, Alexa, Google Home, and desktop computers.

Q: How do I listen to your station?

A: You can listen to our station by visiting our website and clicking on the “Listen Live” button.

• Play Store – Search for and install CFTR the Rogue

• App Store – Search for and Install CFTR Radio

• Alexa – Say “Alexa enable CFTR the Rogue” to enable the skill, then simply say “Alexa play CFTR the Rogue” Every time after that.

• Google Home: Say “Hey Google, Talk to CFTR the Rogue.

Q: Is your station free to listen to?

A: Yes, our station is completely free to listen to. We do not charge any fees or require any subscriptions to listen to our content.

Q: Can I make song requests?

A: Yes, you can make song requests by emailing us or using our website’s contact form. While we cannot guarantee that we will be able to play your request, we always appreciate hearing from our listeners.

Q: Do you have a mobile app?

A: Yes, we have a mobile app that you can download from the App Store or Google Play. Our app makes it easy to listen to our station on the go and provides additional features, such as song requests and push notifications for special events.

Q: Do you offer advertising opportunities on your station?

A: Yes, we offer a range of advertising opportunities on our station, including sponsorships, on-air commercials, and banner ads on our website. Please contact us for more information about advertising on our station.

Q: How can I contact you?

A: You can contact us by emailing us at rogue@anchormedia.ca, using our website’s contact form, or reaching out to us on social media. We’re always happy to hear from our listeners and answer any questions you may have.

Crows Feet Birding with Don & Elaine

Nature’s Other Creatures

Part 2: There Can’t Be Raccoons in Alberta!

Wandering through our now tried and true birding locations provides fresh air, a chance to enjoy the sunshine and feel both the heat of the sun and at times, the cool breath of the wind. Waiting along a trail or perhaps under an outhouse, other mammals that share their world with us appear, bringing surprise or a rising sense of caution.

On the odoriferous side of our adventures, Elaine and I hit the potentially smelly jackpot in June of 2021 while visiting friends at Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park. Ironically, a family of skunks had found a residence beneath the outhouse in the group camping area. A large family of juvenile skunks moved from home to the outdoors with no parent appearing nearby. Using some caution and the power of a telephoto lens, our new family could be enjoyed with reduced risk.

Aside from whitetail deer, a common sight when traveling to or through a birding location is the mule deer. Named mule deer due to its large ears, this species sports a smaller black tipped tail, is larger in size and the buck has bifurcated antlers, where they fork as they grow, rather than growing from a single main beam. It is not unusual to see significant numbers of mule deer together, consuming the remnants of a crop as the sun prepares to set.

In terms of sheer cuteness nothing can rival the opportunity to see Alberta’s only true rabbit, the mountain cottontail or Nuttall’s cottontail.

Although “mountain” is a part of the commonly used name for this rabbit, it lives in the foothills and plains east of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta. With smaller, rounded ears, coupled with the classic white-gray cottontail, we are always on the lookout for this petite beauty. Sitting perfectly still, we are sure it hopes you don’t spot it. However, once approached, the cottontail, does truly hop down the bunny trail, disappearing into the undergrowth.

It wasn’t until recently that we realized that raccoons live in Alberta. Historically, the southeastern part of the province was home for these wily mammals. However they have moved not only into central Alberta, but this September, raccoons were photographed about 13 miles south of Grande Prairie. We’ve been fortunate to see raccoons in a few locations including southwest Calgary and south of the hamlet of Carseland. Seeing a mother and her kit in a tree along the Bow River was enchanting. In October, we spotted one about 25 feet up in a spruce tree in Fish Creek Provincial Park. It’s rare to see them but according to University of Alberta biologist, Colleen Cassady St. Clair, with them being spotted more often, there is potential for exponential population growth.

Wherever skunks, mule deer, cottontail rabbits or raccoons are, for Elaine and I, they are just a part of the greater gift of life that we can take time to appreciate while searching for that next bird.

Welcome to Rainbow Falls Dental!

Family Dentist Chestermere

Rainbow Falls Dental is excited to introduce their brand new state of the art Dental practice to the town of Chestermere and surrounding area. Our dynamic team will strive to ensure you are comfortable and confident with the complete oral health care you are receiving and will continue to receive.

You’ll always leave a lasting impression with a bright and confident smile. At Rainbow Falls Dental, we want to help you claim and maintain a strong healthy smile to enjoy for your entire life.

Rainbow Falls Dental is a full-service clinic providing everything from routine check-ups & cleanings for your children, to the complex cosmetic and restorative dentistry sometimes needed.

Our team understands that there is often a sense of uneasiness and anxiety associated with dental visits. We strive to put these emotions at ease by creating a positive and relaxing experience. It is very important to establish a great foundation of trust with each and every patient and take the time to accommodate to the specific needs of the individual. Our entire team is dedicate to providing you with a comfortable, pleasant, and friendly experience.

We offer dental services for families and individuals of all ages. We are Unit 214 100 Rainbow Road, Chestermere, AB. We are right beside the No Frills.

Call Rainbow Falls Dental to set up an appointment!

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Provincial government proposes record health care investment

The funding would support Primary Care Networks and family doctors.

By Emily Rogers

The provincial government is proposing funding for Alberta’s primary health care system in the upcoming budget.

If passed, Budget 2023 would invest $2 billion to improve primary health care, a government of Alberta media release said. The investment would include funding for Primary Care Networks, payments to family doctors, funding to modernize primary health care, and investments to enhance technology systems.

Primary health care is the first point of contact Albertans have with the health care system, and includes family doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and public health nurses.

“The significant budget investment we’re proposing would make a tremendous difference in modernizing and strengthening Alberta’s primary health care system. I’m excited to move forward on areas that were identified and thank the panel members and everyone who has provided input so far into this very critical work,” Minister of Health Jason Copping said.

Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Care System (MAPS), and Indigenous advisory panels have presented interim reports to Copping for funding to implement early opportunities for investing in primary care.

“Alberta has the best front-line health care workers in the world. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans get the care they need when they need it. This includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples so they have equitable access to culturally safe and appropriate primary health care services, no matter where they live in Alberta,” the release said.

“Indigenous people today still encounter many challenges when it comes to equitable access to quality health care. As CEO of Siksika Health Services and a Siksika Nation member myself, I know that the right solutions come from within the community. These investments are an important step towards ensuring that culturally safe, primary health care services are designed and delivered by Indigenous Peoples,” said Naa Taoyi Piita Wo Taan, Dr. Tyler White, CEO, Siksika Health Services and chair, MAPS Indigenous panel.

“Working closely with the Alberta Medical Association, PCNs and other primary health care leaders across the province, the panels are addressing major issues, identifying key areas for improvement

and recommending new opportunities and ways to ramp up existing strengths in the system,” the release said.

Allocated funding will help implement recommendations from MAPS strategic advisory and Indigenous panels, including strategic activities with tangible outcomes that are expected to address longstanding challenges when trying to access primary health care.

“I am proud of the strategic advisory panel’s work to identify early opportunities to invest in Alberta’s primary health care system. These measures represent an important bridge to stabilize the primary health care system, support health care workers and ultimately provide better care to Albertans,” Dr. Janet Reynolds, co-chair, of the MAPS strategic advisory panel said.

Copping expects the panels to present completed reports by the spring, which will be used as a framework for the delivery of primary health care in the province.

With a renewed focus on primary health care, the province’s health care system is expected to be less dependent on emergency care and hospitalizations, and bring better health outcomes for Albertans, the release said.

“Primary Care Networks play a vital role in supporting family doctors and clinics to provide timely and appropriate team-based health care that meets the needs of patients. We look forward to working collaboratively with our many partners to identify innovative solutions to strengthening the quality and appropriateness of care, and ensuring patients have access to the care they need in the communities in which they live and work,” executive director, South Calgary Primary Care Network Melina Dharma-Wardene said.

If the proposed funding is passed, $125 million would be allocated to implementing the recommendations from MAPS, $40 million to support PCNs, $27 million to PCNs to provide for an anticipated increase of patients, and $12 million to support IT systems.

“We welcome the minister’s announcement around MAPS early actions. The actions signal the value of family physicians and the support they receive from PCNs to care for Albertans. PCNs remain committed partners in health care transformation,” PCN physician lead, Calgary Zone and member, MAPS oversight committee Ernst Greyvenstein said.

Provincial News

Hello Chestermere-Strathmore.

We released another balanced budget this week, and I wanted to share some good news with you. The Minister of Justice has awarded the Alberta Community Restorative Justice Grant to the Synergy Youth and Community Development Society. They have been approved for $30,000 for a one-year term.

Let me share some of the details from the Synergy Website about the grant. “Project Rewrite is training on the values-based approach to crime that challenges the notion criminal activity is between the courts and those responsible. The training provides participants with a new approach where the recognition is shifted to a victim-centered process. This first training was aimed at preparing program staff, community leaders, pastors, and volunteers to prepare for cases referred to the program by the Chestermere RCMP. Over 15 people in Chestermere gathered to receive the training this week. “Restorative Justice was recommended to us at Synergy by our partners at the RCMP. Studies have proven that offenders who take responsibility for their actions in front of their victims are 80% less likely to re-offend within two years of completing the program (Alberta Department of Justice 2016). Also, victims who have the chance to be a part of the process are more likely to feel justice was served and less likely to have long-term effects of the crime on their lives,” says Patty Sproule, Executive Director, Synergy. “Aligning with Synergy’s goals to empower youth and community groups to build strong connections through relationships and education Restorative Justice is a great fit and complementary to how we serve in the community.”

In action, the program will focus on ensuring that the people responsible have the supports and services they need to avoid future criminality and ensures that those harmed have a voice in the process and consequences. “The program is not an easy out; in many ways, it will require more of both victims and offenders. However, we know from research it is a healthier route toward having both parties involved and having more say as a victim in

naming the harm and the offender accepting that actions have consequences even beyond what laws were broken. It is not easier; it is healthier,” says Evan Dewald, Project Rewrite Facilitator, Synergy. Restorative Practice and Peacemaking circles are rooted in the history of Canada coming out of Indigenous traditions; centered on the value of living in harmony with all things, these practices developed as Indigenous peoples sought ways to listen, understand and create compassion within their communities.

For 30 years, the Canadian Justice System has been implementing Restorative Justice Programs (using restorative practices) as an alternative to the current punitive justice system. “The goal of Restorative Justice is to Identify harm that has been caused, promote healing, and create resilience for long-term safety and well-being. This reduces the frequency and severity of offending and victimization and allows for a tailored, timely and proportionate response to crime. Training in restorative justice practices will help the community to create spaces where relationships are built, decisions are made, ideas and perspectives are shared, and conflict is resolved,” says Kathy Klassen, Staff Sergeant, Chestermere RCMP. “As humans, we are often motivated by fairness and justice. As a former pastor of 28 years and community leader, I have often defined justice as “to make a right.” Learning how to have critical conversations is powerful in sharing these strategies. For all ages, the program is accessible and voluntary. I can’t think of a better way to respond than to come alongside the organizations and the RCMP to listen, heal, create resilience and safety within our city.” says Dewald. Synergy has partnered with the Alberta Government (Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General), the City of Chestermere, and the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada to bring in facilitator Gayle Desmeules. Gayle is an instructor for the International Institute for Restorative Practices and the Alberta Restorative Justice Association. Gayle founded True Dialogue Inc., a company that provides customized training, facilitation, mediation, and

consulting services. Project Rewrite is about giving everyone involved a chance to rewrite their storythe crime, harm caused, and the experience.” I wish the Synergy Youth and Community Development Society every success and thank you for your dedication and commitment to improving access to restorative justice for Alberta communities. The Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program comes from the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas. All of us have a deep appreciation for the commitment and stewardship efforts of our municipalities. I am pleased to share that a $260,000 Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program grant has been awarded to Wheatland County for their Wheatland Riparian Crossing Project and $180,000 to the Western Irrigation District, Natural Hydrology Restoration Project.

Finally, I am privileged to share the Investments in New Schools and modernized spaces. These are the school projects that will be built in our constituency. A huge shout out to all the school boards, staff, and organizers who worked on this and the municipalities for getting services in, and the work done to get these schools in their capital plans. We have received design funding for Chestermere, Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School Division – a new K-9 school. School Planning Program funding for Strathmore, Golden Hills School Division to replace Westmount School. Pre-Planning Program funding for the Chestermere – Rocky View School Division – new K-9 School. This is great news; along with the Langdon School, we will have four new schools in the next few years. It has been a pleasure serving you, and I will miss working alongside all of you as you see these projects develop.

As always, we love to hear from you.

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Provincial government proposes record health care investment

The funding would support Primary Care Networks and family doctors.

By Emily Rogers

The provincial government is proposing funding for Alberta’s primary health care system in the upcoming budget.

If passed, Budget 2023 would invest $2 billion to improve primary health care, a government of Alberta media release said.

The investment would include funding for Primary Care Networks, payments to family doctors, funding to modernize primary health care, and investments to enhance technology systems.

Primary health care is the first point of contact Albertans have with the health care system, and includes family doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and public health nurses.

“The significant budget investment we’re proposing would make a tremendous difference in modernizing and strengthening Alberta’s primary health care system. I’m excited to move forward on areas that were identified and thank the panel members and everyone who has provided input so far into this very critical work,” Minister of Health Jason Copping said.

Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Care System (MAPS), and Indigenous advisory panels have presented interim reports to Copping for funding to implement early opportunities for investing in primary care.

“Alberta has the best front-line health care workers in the world. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans get the care they need when they need it. This includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples so they have equitable access to culturally safe and appropriate primary health care services, no matter where they live in Alberta,” the release said.

“Indigenous people today still encounter many challenges when it comes to equitable access to quality health care. As CEO of Siksika Health Services and a Siksika Nation member myself, I know that the right solutions come from within the community. These investments are an important step towards ensuring that culturally safe, primary health care services are designed and delivered by Indigenous Peoples,” said Naa Taoyi Piita Wo Taan, Dr. Tyler White, CEO, Siksika Health Services and chair, MAPS Indigenous panel.

“Working closely with the Alberta Medical Association, PCNs and other primary health care leaders across the province, the panels are addressing major issues, identifying key areas for improvement and recommending new opportunities and ways to ramp up existing strengths in the system,” the release said.

Allocated funding will help implement recommendations from MAPS strategic advisory and Indigenous panels, including strategic activities with tangible outcomes that are expected to address long-standing challenges when trying to access primary health care.

“I am proud of the strategic advisory panel’s work to identify early opportunities to invest in Alberta’s primary health care system. These measures represent an important bridge to stabilize the primary health care system, support health care workers and ultimately provide better care to Albertans,” Dr. Janet Reynolds, co-chair, of the MAPS strategic

advisory panel said.

Copping expects the panels to present completed reports by the spring, which will be used as a framework for the delivery of primary health care in the province.

With a renewed focus on primary health care, the province’s health care system is expected to be less dependent on emergency care and hospitalizations, and bring better health outcomes for Albertans, the release said.

“Primary Care Networks play a vital role in supporting family doctors and clinics to provide timely and appropriate team-based health care that meets the needs of patients. We look forward to working collaboratively with our many partners to identify innovative solutions to strengthening the quality and appropriateness of care, and ensuring patients have access to the care they need in the communities in which they live and work,” executive director, South Calgary Primary Care Network Melina DharmaWardene said.

If the proposed funding is passed, $125 million would be allocated to implementing the recommendations from MAPS, $40 million to support PCNs, $27 million to PCNs to provide for an anticipated increase of patients, and $12 million to support IT systems.

“We welcome the minister’s announcement around MAPS early actions. The actions signal the value of family physicians and the support they receive from PCNs to care for Albertans. PCNs remain committed partners in health care transformation,” PCN physician lead, Calgary Zone and member, MAPS oversight committee Ernst Greyvenstein said.

The provincial government is projecting a surplus of $2.4 billion in 2023/24, with Budget 2023 focusing on health care, community safety, job creation, education, and diversification.

Photo/Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta

Whitecappers Activity Schedule

March 2023 Calendar

MONDAYS and WEDNESDAYS

Walk Fit 11:00 am Drop in. No charge for members, $2 non-members

Chair Yoga 11:30 am Drop-in. No charge for members. $2/non-members

Carpet Bowling 12:45 pm Everybody welcome. Come and meet the players already enjoying the games. Room for lots more.

Cards/Crib 1:00 pm Wednesdays only- Everybody welcome. Come and enjoy a game of your favorite card game or cri b.

TUESDAYS

Line Dancing 10:30 am

THURSDAYS

Quilters 9:30 am

Each Tuesday except the second Tuesday of the month.

Come in and see what they do, or just chat and have coffee with them. All levels of skill welcomed!

Artisans of Chestermere 1:00 pm Try out our painting group. All levels of skill welcome!

Bridge 1:00 pm Join us for a good game of bridge. New players are always welcomed

FRIDAYS

Fitness class 10:30 am

Working on balance for seniors. Free for members. $2/non-members. Classes with instructor Julie Meier

Chair Yoga 11:45 am Drop-in. No charge for members. $2/non-member.

Pool 2:00 pm Everybody welcome.

Games Night 7:00 pm

SATURDAYS

Come enjoy a game of Tile Rummy or crib game with the group. Free for members, $2/non-members

Drop In Coffee 10:00 am Everybody welcome

Cards/Crib 1:00 pm Everybody welcome. Come and enjoy a game of your favorite card game or crib.

Pool 2:00 pm Everybody welcome.

SUNDAYS Karaoke 3:00 pm First Sunday of each month

Winter Programs 2023

Session 2 programs have begun. Call or visit the library for program availability. Find our full program guide on our website. www.chestermerepubliclibrary.com

Storytime

Join us every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:15AM for storytime. No registration is required.

Novel Book Club

Join us March 16th at 6:00PM in the library to discuss Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour. No registration is required, and copies are available at the library for borrowing.

Adult Craft Upcycled Planter

Join us on March 22nd at 5:30PM for our first adult craft of Session 2. Grow your home library collection and create your very own upcycled planter! Registration is required, call or visit to register.

Featured Artist

We are displaying Jennifer Schinschick’s artwork from now until April 5, 2023. Jennifer’s lovely artwork encompasses the beauty and boldness of nature. Come on in and check out Jennifer’s collection.

Graphic Novel and Manga Club

This month our teen and adult Graphic Novel and Manga Club are discussing books 90’s Comics on our Discord. Any comic published or creating in the 90’s are welcome to be discussed this month. Join our discord on our website.

Share Your Library Experience

Have you taken part in any of our library services? We are looking for feedback on the library and our programs. Let us know what you think and how we can improve. Your feedback directly impacts our services and programming so we can continue to make the library better for everyone. Email your feedback to info@ chestermerepubliclibrary.com or drop it off in our feedback box.

Support Your Local Library

Are you aware that the library is a Registered CHARITY? This means that we depend on donations from the public to support us. We are looking for corporate or personal sponsors for our upcoming Spring Program Session! Any donations help and allow us to improve all our programming. Contact info@ chestermerepubliclibrary.com if you would like to donate or learn more about sponsoring us.

Monthly Newsletter

Are you wondering what’s happening at the library? Would you like to know?

Sign up for our monthly newsletter for updates on programming, Reading Programs, Featured Displays, Community Outreach, Featured Artists, and more. Sign up by visiting our website at www.chestermerepubliclibrary.com

Library Hours:

Monday through Thursday – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Friday and Saturday – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Sunday – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

For more information about what is happening at the Library, check our website. Don’t forget to follow and like us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Chestermere Public Library

Okotoks band making strides in the rock and blues music scene

The Prairie Dogz have released their new single “40 Dollars.”

By Emily Rogers

An Okotoks band, The Prairie Dogz, is branching out to blues and rock with country influence, after signing a five-year distribution deal through Emanant Music.

Lead and rhythm guitar player, and backup vocalist, Keith Hambrook explained that in 2018 some members of the band were originally in a cover band but were inspired to start a new band and write their own songs.

“We wrote some songs, recorded them, and we were lucky enough to get a distribution deal with a small label out of Florida,” Hambrook said. “It was very exciting, it was the first time we got anything like that, they distributed our music worldwide.”

Since 2018, The Prairie Dogz have worked on original music and worked to perfect their live performances.

“Last summer we were so lucky, we had a full dance card for the summer, and really played some great shows,” Hambrook said.

The band started negotiations with Emanant based out of Nashville, that was searching for blues and rock artists, and by November The Prairie Dogz had signed the multi-year deal.

“We feel so lucky to have signed with Emanant, it’s a Sony Imprint, and it’s a real honour to be a part of that,” Hambrook said. “That brings us worldwide distribution for our music, they are one of the last couple big labels in the world, that’s a big feather in our cap.”

Although The Prairie Dogz don’t classify their music in a specific genre, listeners can hear blues and rock, with a country influence.

“You name it, there’s a wide variety there, all of our backgrounds are more rock and blues,” Hambrook said.

“We have a lot of musical influences from the blues side of things to country, to reggae. Growing up in a whole bunch of different musical genres our music is not standard, and there isn’t a class that our music fits into,” Lead singer Dwight Kohen said.

“We always joke around that we’re not fooling anybody about being a country band, Dwight is a blues singer at heart, and you can hear it in every song,” Hambrook added.

The Prairie Dogz are now celebrating the release of their new single, “40 Dollars,” and working on more releases in the coming months.

The inspiration behind the new single was loosely based on an experience that lead and rhythm guitar player, and backup vocalist, Terry Studd had when he was younger.

“I was a starving musician, and I spent the last 40 bucks I had to take this girl out on a date,” Studd said. “The attitude that Dwight sings about is how it’s going to be a big night out.”

Studd explained the lyrics to “40 Dollars” reflect the blues storyline.

“When we put it together, the hooks and the guitar are really reminiscent of the bigger blues players, that’s us with both feet firmly planted in the blues for that song,” he said. “We’re with a label that isn’t putting us in the box of being a country band, so we can do whatever we want, which is awesome.”

Although the songwriting process is different each time, every member of the band contributes, either with the initial concept idea, guitar, or vocal melody.

“It doesn’t matter who writes the lyrics to the song, that’s the way it comes out every time,” Kohen said.

Typically, the lyrics to each song will be complete before Hambrook and Kohen head to the studio.

“There’s no drums or anything at that point, Terry will add his parts, then we will get together as a band and add the drums and the bass,” Kohen said.

“It’s a pretty personal thing when you’re writing, that’s one thing you can tell in our lyrics is we all try to be really open and honest about experiences we’re having,” Studd said.

Going forward, The Prairie Dogz are excited for a busy summer performing, preparing for more upcoming song releases, and continuing to work on new music.

For upcoming show dates visit, The Prairie Dogz website at https:// theprairiedogz.com/.

The Prairie Dogz are working on perfecting their live performances, and continuing to release new music.

Photo/The Prairie Dogz

Dwight Kohen, Keith Hambrook, Terry Studd, Dave Fast, and Martin Wright of Okotoks band, The Prairie Dogz, have signed a five-year distribution deal through Emanant Music.

Photo/The Prairie Dogz

When Basic Human Rights are bring Violated Because of the colour of one’s Skin, We cannot be Silent Anything Less than Total Racial Equality Is a Failure on Humanity

We are being called to educate ourselves, to ask ourselves tough questions and have uncomfortable conversations.

What we can’t do is ignore racism. We must speak up. We have collected a series of links that we feel are helpful. We encourage you to take some time to click through the following websites and reflect upon what differences you can make in your life to make this world a more equal and just place.

EDUCATION:

Guide to Allyship: https://tinyurl.com/yaqe5ubx

Anti-Racist Reading List: https://tinyurl.com/y4ye9t3d

Children’s books that support conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance: https://tinyurl.com/y9m5fcxy

‘1619,’ a Podcast From The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/podcasts/1619-podcast.html

https://medium.com/@BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-theturning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067

How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change – Barack Obama

Seeing White https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/

Martin Luther King, Jr. – I Have A Dream https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm?fbclid=IwAR0gryUPrc-uhWGC5qg7lnBXYf3 beB_7qL_0usYTLLfcn79_HRtv9oiHWKE

Talking about race https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race

WATCH:

13th (2016) — An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation’s history of racial inequality. Watch on Netflix Canada.

American Son (2019) — An estranged couple reunite in a Florida police station to help find their missing teenage son while questions arise concerning the degree to which race, gender, and class play into police procedure. Watch on Netflix Canada.

The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 (2011) — Documenting the Black Power Movement in the United States. Rent/Own on Apple TV Canada.

Clemency (2019) — A black prison warden must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates. Watch On Demand.

Dear White People (2017 – 4 Seasons) — At a predominantly white Ivy League college, a group of black students navigate various forms of racial and other types of discrimination. Watch on Netflix Canada.

Fruitvale Station (2013) — The story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008. Rent/Own on Apple TV Canada.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) — A young woman embraces her pregnancy while she and her family set out to prove her childhood friend and lover innocent of a crime he didn’t commit. Watch on Prime Video Canada.

Just Mercy (2019) — World-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner. Watch On Demand.

King In The Wilderness (2018) — A look at the final years in the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Watch on Crave.

Selma (2014) — A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. Watch On Demand.

The Hate U Give (2018) — After witnessing the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer, a young woman must find her voice and stand up for what’s right. Watch on Crave.

When They See Us (2019 – Miniseries) — Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they’re falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story. Watch on Netflix Canada

Indigenous Cinema – An extensive online library of over 200 films by Indigenous directors.

TAKE ACTION:

The Black Loyalist Heritage Society (donations can be made by mail) http://blackloyalist.com/?page_id=28

The Africville Heritage Trust https://africvillemuseum.org/frontpage/donations/

The Association of Black Social Workers http://nsabsw.ca

Black Business Institute http://www.bbi.ca

The Black Cultural Centre http://www.bccnsweb.com/web/support-us/donate/

Canadian Civil Liberties Association https://ccla.org/give/

Canadian Race Relations Foundation https://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/…/290-the-…/25248-support-the-crrf…

Delmore “Buddy” Daye Institute

https://dbdli.ca/contact-us/

Health Association of African Canadians http://haac.ca/

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.ca/

Black Youth Helpline: https://blackyouth.ca/

Federation of Black Canadians: https://fbcfcn.ca/

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/

Donate to Indigenous charities across the country: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/explore/charities/category/indigenous-peoples/

Invest in the education of First Nations: https://indspire.ca/

Water First: https://waterfirst.ngo/

A Real Estate Minute With Michelle Eldjarnson

Hello and welcome to a Minute with Michelle, here is the Real Estate Market update for Chestermere, Langdon and Strathmore for February 4th to the 11th, 2023

In Chestermere there are presently 74 Active Listings

1 apartment style behind the salfey way in Chestermere station listed for 234,900

1 new build town home with no condo fees in waterford for 420,000 for duplexes there are 6 5 new builds and 1 resale starting at 444,900 For detached homes are there 66 ranging from 536192 for house under construction in dawson to lakefront for 1.79 million

There are more new builds than re-sale homes for sale in Chestermere at this time.

For pending sales there are 14 from a townhouse in Stonemere Place up to a lakefront on west chestermere drive for 1.9 million

In the last 7 days there were 6 - one new build duplex in dawson for 454000 rest were all detached resales ranging in price from 615000 to 920000

For langdon there are presently 18 active listings all detached homes starting at 550 and going up to 984000 for a lrage walk out bungalow on the golf course

8 of the listings are new builds

For pending sales there are is one a new build in boulder creek

For sales in the last 7 days there were 2 both 2 storey detached homes one of the northwest side and one new build on Hanson Drive.

In Strathmore there are 33 active listings including and apartment starting at 120,000 all the way up to 1.5million for an increditble hillcrest estates bungalow.

Strathmore continues to show its affordability as we move through another sellers market so far this spring.

For pending sales there are 6 from an apartment listed for 159900 to a lovely 2 storey in Edgefield

and for sales in the last 7 days in strathmore there were 2 both detached 2 storeys in the wildrose neighbourhood

and that was the Real Estate Market Update for Chestermere, Langdon and Strathmore for February 4th to the 11th, 2023

Listen to Michelle’s daily up[dates on https://cftrtherogue.com

Sylvain Charlebois Professor Dalhousie University

Canada desperately needs ‘real’ discount grocery stores

Our current so-called discount food stores are controlled by the usual Canadian suspects

This may come as a surprise to some Canadians, but our country doesn’t really have a real discount grocery chain. With higher food prices and a growing number of consumers seeking refuge from record-setting food inflation at the grocery store, real discount grocery stores would really come in handy. But the option is simply not there.

Rebates have grown scarce in recent years as No Frills and other value grocers such as Empire’s FreshCo and Metro’s Food Basics took a noticeable step back from their ongoing fight with Walmart. Quebec is in even worse shape: shoppers can find Metro’s Super C or Maxi, owned and operated by Loblaw. Sobeys doesn’t even operate a discount chain in Quebec. All banners and stores are connected to just a handful of grocers controlling the Canadian market.

Now Walmart is doing its own thing with price locks, and Loblaw just ended its 14-week price freeze, which failed to show beyond a reasonable doubt that consumers were indeed saving money. While consumers likely saved some money in January, after a few months of double-digit food inflation, it was not clear to many.

Rebates are just not as overly aggressive as what you would see in European-based discount stores. Every now and then, some impending threat will shake our industry’s giants, and they try to fight for market share. But as soon as the danger passes, some sort of truce overwhelms the market. This is what happened when Target came and quickly went in 2015, and with Amazon Fresh a few years ago when rumours were swirling that they would attempt to enter the Canadian market.

For years, reports have suggested that both Lidl and Aldi would enter the Canadian market. We’re still waiting. But Lidl, a German international discount retailer chain, opened its first store in the United States in 2017 and now operates almost 200 stores. Aldi, another German company, now has over 2,300 stores in the United States. Both have similar business models, centring all of their efforts on discounts, plain and simple. With both, what you see is what you get, although Aldi does own Trader Joe’s in the U.S.

Unlike traditional grocery stores, both Lidl and Aldi operate on a restricted selection strategy,

offering only a curated selection of privatelabel products and a smaller range of national brands. Lidl may have more branded products, depending on location. This leads to lower overhead costs and allows stores to sell products at lower prices when compared to competitors. Moreover, these discount grocers implement cost-saving measures such as a bring-yourown-bag policy, an incredibly minimalistic store design, and an efficient checkout process. In fact, in Europe, where Aldi and Lidl originate, clerks typically sit down while working at these discount grocery stores as most of the bagging work is done by customers themselves.

Lidl and Aldi’s strategies benefit the consumer with lower prices and contribute to a more sustainable and efficient retail environment. Some no-frills stores, such as No Frills, do some of that but not nearly at the same level. Lidl and Aldi are also known for their emphasis on quality: their products must meet strict quality standards while still being affordable.

In recent years, non-traditional grocers like Costco, Dollarama, Giant Tiger and Walmart have

slowly shifted and tried to fill the discounting void we have in Canada. Costco stands out. Only 15 years ago, Costco was a mediocre food retailer, at best. Today, it processes many of its fresh products onsite, while the quality and freshness rarely disappoint. Deals are impressive, but shoppers need both a car and the space at home.

The bottom line is this. Canada needs a disruptor, a new player that will redefine competition in the grocery industry. Loblaw just converted more than a dozen stores into discount Maxi stores in Quebec simply because the company sees the writing on the proverbial wall. Grocers, coupled with the complacency of our regulators, have gotten comfortable Perhaps too comfortable.

One can only hope that either Aldi, Lidl or another non-Canadian discount grocer reads this column. Canadians are calling you.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. © Troy Media

UNPACKED UNPACKED POD POD POD POD

Episode:Raising healthy and resilient kids in divorce with guest Dr. Mitch Colp

This week on Unpacked we are chatting with guest Dr. Mitch, Registered Psychologist and founder of Hexagon Psychology. We chat with Dr. Mitch on kids and divorce and how to support them in the transition. He shares how to healthy spaces for your child to express their emotions and adjusting to change at different ages, what to watch for, strategies to cope, co-parenting and raising resilient kids. Dr. Mitch has a Ph.D. in Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary. He has graduate training and research primarily focused on how individuals build resiliency and effectively navigate large challenges in life.

Unpacked is a podcast exploring life as messy people. It’s conversations with counsellors, leaders, storytellers discussing the experiences of being human. We talk about the strength that comes from big messy failures and vulnerable moments so we can learn to live more authentically. Subscribe and leave us a review!

Links: https://unpackedpod.buzzsprout.com/

ARTS & Culture

ARTS & Culture ARTS & Culture

with Hana Shaw

Philosophy: Greek Origins

Philosophical ideas provide humanity with an explanation for our actions that is only achievable by critical thinkers with intense observations on society. The profound thinkers of Ancient Greece introduced a revelation of ideas not yet discussed or considered by the rest of the population. Later on, it would be revealed that these ideas and civilizations enormously altered the way in which contemporary society is structured and designed, not only in the Western world, but across the globe these profound influences have been observed.

This month, I will be discussing philosophical ideas that have laid the foundation for our various complex social structures and ways of thinking. Apart from the interesting content of this sect of study, philosophy can be beneficial to learn as having a general idea of human ideas throughout history can be applicable to anyone’s life in any place in society.

Although the history of Greek philosophy is vast and cannot simply be explained in one article, I will describe the major, most prominent influential thinkers who defined the main ideas presented in antiquity.

Thales of Miletus is recognized as the first Greek philosopher, having proposed his thoughts on the natural world during the seventh century. His notions were in great contrast to his contemporaries, as he supported beliefs that were opposed to religion, and suggested that scientific discoveries can be used to explain much of the occurrences in the natural world. He contributed greatly to astronomy research and predicted the solar eclipse on May 28, 585 BCE. Despite his applications of logic to develop fields such as mathematics, astronomy, and geometry, he was a hylozoist, which meant that he held the belief that inanimate objects, abiotic objects are alive and have souls as humans do.

And then there was Socrates, possibly one of the most celebrated philosophers in all of antiquity. Perhaps you recall learning about the Socratic Method in school. If you have ever been called out to answer a question during a lecture, you have already experienced the Socratic Method first hand. As the name suggests, this method was developed by Socrates and is a process by which an individual (usually a teacher) asks another individual (usually a student) specific questions about the information they are expected to be knowledgeable in. The purpose of this is to point out flaws and gaps in knowledge. As a student, I have used this method in study-

ing and it proves to be a worthwhile practice as asking continuous questions about what you are learning establishes a firm foundation of underlying knowledge about a specific topic.

It is impossible to discuss philosophy without the mention of the legendary Plato. His rational ideas towards the general thought of an individual were recognized as paramount to other contemporaries of his time. Theory of Forms, a theory of Plato’s creation which is a rather difficult concept to fully grasp. It delineates how reality is based upon “perfect” ideas that we try to replicate through our daily actions. These “perfect” ideas of how pursuits should be carried out is completely separate from the reality we live in, and are an abstraction of thought that is unchanging and unlimited throughout all of time.

Thank you for joining me for the first week of this month’s theme, philosophy. Join me again next week where I will discuss more crucial and revolutionary philosophers who are from more diverse backgrounds. It is essential to acknowledge the variety of perspectives that are presented by more than one, particular demographic. For this reason, I will be delving into philosophers from around the world.

As always, my email is attached in the following. If you have any suggestions, comments, or writing opportunities please do not hesitate to get in contact at hana.chestermere@gmail.com .

Some of my readers have already responded with positive comments and it has been really inspiring to hear all of the kind words!

1. Edd Hodsdon, 9 Greek Philosophers Who Shaped the World, The Collector, June 27th 2021, link.

2. Thales of Miletus, Wikipedia, February 15th 2023, link.

The Diligent Search for What is Good

The other day my daughter was asking me what super power I would want if I was a hero, so we went through the list: super strength, laser eyes, flight, speed, and invisibility seemed to be at the top of our list. Then I reminded her of something that made her roll her eyes. I said, in true dad-fashion, “you already have super powers! You can see light, hear sound waves, taste and smell particles, and you have nerve endings to feel the world around you!” She furrowed her brow and huffed, “dad, not THOSE super powers, REAL super powers!”

People have a power to change the world around them, but we sigh at the reality of our capacity and abilities. Our words, our actions, and our presence can have a deeply influential effect. What we say to our kids, spouse, or friends, will set a trajectory for their lives. We may roll our eyes, but the potency of our lives cannot be overstated. For good or harm, we are powerful.

Author Larry Crabb uses a phrase, “the diligent search for what is good.” It’s the re-thinking about how we see, respond, and connect to the world around us. Hardly a pie-in-the-sky vision of optimism, the diligent search for what is good is the coming to terms with our ability to influence. By attending to what is good, and by seeing and noticing what is beautiful and hopeful, even in the smallest cracks of our broken world, we join in, and become a new kind of person.

I came across a blessing that has helped me see what this “diligent search for what is good” might look like. It is a Celtic blessing that serves as a powerful reminder: “Reconnecting

with spirit and the scriptures, saints and the street, seasons and the soil.” We are truly those with the power to reconnect what is broken, disjointed, and separate. This happens in the ordinary stuff of life, between real people, and real streets, over years, and at ground level. We are invited to be in touch with our roots, and respond as those who are discovering what it is to live into our tremendous ability to find the good, the beautiful, and the true right where we are.

Our search for what is good may be challenging, and we may be in seasons in our lives when finding the good is hard. Losses, bad news, illness, and disappointments seem to linger at the edges of our stories. How do we find good news in these places? Larry Crabb says

that often when we focus on solutions to get rid of our problems, we can miss out. Instead we might find hope in exposing ourselves to the goodness we find before us. It’s looking for what we have, rather than what is not. It’s the discover that while we might not be able to have super-strength, we do have a community that carries us when we’re weak. While we might not be able to see in the dark, we can reach out to those who can light our way.

The great gift of our “diligent search for what is good” may be a powerful discover: we are connected, loved, and provided for. The good news may be that we are not alone. That’s something even super heroes need to discover.

Cousin Ernie Joins the League of Rogues

Listen Monday’s at 1:00 PM

https://chestermereradio.ca

Mondays 1:00 pm - 2:oopm MST

Out & About with Michelle

The Rogue is pleased to have Michelle Eldjarnson from Chestermere’s own Re/Max Key to our regularly scheduled programming.

Listen Monday’s at one to hear about things going on around town and to hear Michelle’s eclectic picks of music

Michelle has loved music all her life and was exposed at an early age to every type of music from Jazz to Hillbilly, old fashioned country, with stops in between at classical rock and classical piano, in a variety of languages including English, French and Spanish.

Michelle’s Weekly topics will cover

The people in your neighborhood

Local sports teams

All about our schools

The walking paths

The parks

The ponds

The lake

The wildlife

Walkability

Paws 4 Thought

Chinooks

By Marilyn King

If you’re like me, and a good number of other people in Southern Alberta, the appearance of a chinook arch can mean two things…warmer weather that will get rid of some of the snow and a major headache!

Chinook winds, or simply Chinooks, are two types of prevailing warm, generally westerly winds in western North America: Coastal Chinooks and interior Chinooks. The coastal Chinooks are persistent seasonal, wet, southwesterly winds blowing in from the ocean. The interior Chinooks are occasional warm, dry föhn winds blowing down the eastern sides of interior mountain ranges.

This week, I learned that there is another kind of Chinook……a breed of dog. In 1965, the Guinness Book of World Records listed the Chinook as the world’s rarest dog breed. And by 1981, there were only 28 Chinooks remaining, and many were senior dogs or had been neutered. To save the breed, three breeders divided between them the 11 dogs still suitable for breeding. Through their efforts, and the establishment of a careful breeding program, the number of Chinooks has been steadily on the rise. When the breed was fully recognized as a member of the American Kennel Club’s Working Group in 2013, there were 813 dogs registered. The very first Chinook was bred by polar explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden in the early 1900s. Walden (May 10, 1871 – March 26, 1947) was a Klondike Gold Rush adventurer, dog driver and participant in the first Byrd Antarctic Expedition. He is also known as an author and developer of the Chinook sled dog breed. He wanted to create a breed that would combine the speed of sled dogs with the power and stamina of the working freight breeds

The Chinook is relaxed at home but energetic outside and has a sweet, easygoing temperament.

It definitely would not make a good guard dog unless you wanted an intruder to be licked to death and become a best friend!

Walden and his wife operated a 1300-acre farm and inn in Wonalancet, New Hampshire where they began training and breeding sled dogs. On January 17, 1917, a litter of three dogs was born that Walden had bred from a female Greenland Dog and a male Mastiff/St. Bernard mix farm dog.

Their coats were tawny colour, in fact the only colour that is allowed for the breed and ranges from pale honey to a deep reddish-gold. (American Kennel Club standards). The thick, double coat is made up of a short, dense, and downy undercoat for insulation and a straight, coarse outer coat. This plush coat is easy to care for and only requires occasional brushing, but does shed.

One of the first puppies in Walden’s foundation litter was named “Chinook,” after a sled dog Walden worked with in the Yukon when freighting gold mining supplies. Chinook led Walden’s sled dog team, and this team is attributed with introducing the sport of sled dog racing to New England.

All Chinooks are descendants of that first dog named Chinook, and the breed was named in his honor. The versatile Chinook is a natural athlete, and his intelligence and enthusiastic personality make him a great companion for a range of dog sports, including agility, obedience trials, or outdoor activities such as hiking or camping. And don’t forget about the Chinook’s innate love of pulling. This helps him excel at sports that let him pull, such as sledding or skijoring. The breed would eventually be named the state dog of New Hampshire. In 1922, Walden convinced a local newspaper to sponsor the first 123-mile Eastern International Dog Derby, bringing the sport of dog sled racing to New England. Walden founded the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924.

In 1928 Walden published his memoir, “A DogPuncher in the Yukon”. In the 1960s, the breed was near extinction and to this day, still remains relatively rare.

The Electric Highway Festival returns to Calgary

“Buckle up for The Electric Highway Festival.”

By Emily Rogers

An eclectic mix of bands is returning to Calgary for The Electric Highway Festival this March.

The festival was one of the first large-scale events to be shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, and after many months of health and travel restrictions, bands are returning to Dickens for a music-packed three-days, from March 23 until March 25.

“Dickens has been a cornerstone in the Calgary live entertainment scene for the past 16 years,” an Electric Highway Festival press release said. “With great food, a terrific atmosphere, friendly staff, and one of the best stages in the city, The Electric Highway is excited to be working with Dickens to make this event a great experience for bands, exposition vendors, and most of all festival attendees.”

The release described the festival as a fully immersive experience that offers more than just music, but also art, and vendor exposition.

“Three days of killer bands, rad artists, and fuzzy vibes at Dickens in downtown Calgary,” the release said. “The 2023 edition of the festival focuses on desert rock and metal, doom, sludge, and heavy psych and has expanded to include some punk and hardcore bands as well.”

The 2023 lineup includes bands previously booked for the 2020 event, with California headliners Sasquatch with support from Vancouver’s La Chinga.

“Sasquatch is one of the festival’s past favourites, laying down their brand of fuzzy, desert rock and heavy psych,”the release said.

Black Mastiff is back, with support from Calgary’s Gone Cosmic, while HypnoPilot is back with support from Citizen Rage.

Additional bands include Space Queen, Tebby & the Heavy, The Basement Paintings, Owls & Eagles, Set & Stoned, Molten Lava, No More

HypnoPilot is back at The Electric Highway Festival with support from Citizen Rage.

Photo/Asher Media

Moments, Father Moon, Musing, and The Astral Prophets.

“These are just a few of the wicked bands that will be playing at The Electric Highway,” the release said.

Without the support of a festival restart grant from Factor Canada, the festival wouldn’t have made a comeback this year.

“After the pandemic cancellation and financial losses, the boost has really allowed the festival to continue and move forward,” the release said.

Advance festival passes are on sale until March 22, and regular passes will be available at the door if quantities are available.

All ticket and pass holders from the cancelled 2020 festival can redeem their tickets for the 2023 festival or hold onto them for a future event. All tickets and pass holders will receive instructions by email on how to transfer their 2020 tickets for 2023 ones.

Ticket and pass holders must transfer their passes before attending the 2023 festival.

After Feb. 28, all tickets and passes will be sold on a first-come, firstserve basis.

Three-day festival pass holders can pick up their wristbands at Dickens at any time during the event.

Pre-order merch sales will also be available for pickup throughout the weekend.

Visit www.TheElectricHighway.ca to purchase tickets, merch, and for more festival information.

“The Electric Highway looks forward to bringing this year’s festival to you, and can’t wait to see everyone in March,” the release said.

Sasquatch is headlining this year’s The Electric Highway Festival with support from Vancouver’s La Chinga.

Photo/Asher Media

The Electric Highway Festival is bringing a fully immersive experience offering music, art, and vendor exposition to Calgary.

Photo/Asher Media

Tebby & the Heavy are among bands bringing desert rock, metal, doom, sludge, heavy psych, punk and hardcore music to Calgary’s The Electric Highway Festival.

Photo/Asher Media

Nick Jeffrey

On a recent night out with the usual suspects, we visited one of those fancy lounges with the $17 cocktails served up by hipster bartenders wearing old-timey suspenders and full-sleeve tattoos. Being a bit of a purist, I like my cocktail ingredients to be easily countable on just one hand, without a crazy mishmash of different flavours swirling around in a cacophonous blur on my palate.

I was sticking to the tried-and-true classics like the Manhattan and the Old-Fashioned, when the enbeardificated mixologist behind the bar suggested a classic cocktail called a Sazerac, made with none other than that infamous elixir called Absinthe.

The Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans, and I do have a dim and bleary memory of drinking a $2 Sazerac in a plastic cup while stumbling along Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras way back in the squandered days of my callow youth. The Sazerac cocktail was invented in New Orleans in the mid-1800s, using Cognac and/or Rye Whiskey as the primary spirit, then adding the licorice-flavoured Absinthe with sugar and bitters as a unique twist.

For those of you not in the know, Absinthe is sometimes referred to as the Green Fairy. It was the drink that made Van Gogh cut off his own ear. The demonized liquor that was banned in much of the civilized world for nearly a century, but returned to North America in 2007, and is very popular in the type of lounge that serves $17 cocktails.

This demon liquor began its sordid tale in the 1790’s, when it was invented by a French doctor. It slowly increased in popularity until the 1840’s, when it was given to French troops as a fever preventative. The soldiers brought their taste for the drink back home with them, and it soon outstripped beer and wine in popularity, with Parisian cafés and bars declaring a daily l’heure verte (“the green hour”).

Absinthe is an emerald-green distilled liquor, made from wormwood, anise, fennel, coriander,

and a host of other herbs and spices. The wormwood content has given it a bad reputation over the years, as wormwood contains a chemical named thujone, which is struturally similar to THC. Yes, that’s the same THC that’s found in the wacky tabaccy.

In sufficient quantities, thujone can provoke hallucinations and a sense of euphoria, which helps to explain why its earliest followers were those crazy bohemian artsy types we saw in the movie Moulin Rouge. That’s right, what Marijuana was to the early American jazz musician, Absinthe was to the playwrights, artists, and writers of Europe.

Vincent Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, and Edgar Allen Poe are just a few members of the artistic community that championed Absinthe as a fuel for their creative talents, claiming that it expanded their consciousness, letting their minds remain lucid while they were creating their works.

Unfortunately, as the drink became more popular with the upper classes, cheaper substitutes were brought onto the market at prices the rank and rabble could afford, with clearly disastrous effects. Unethical distilleries cut corners, adding toxic dyes and bittering agents to emulate the flavor and aroma of the real thing. These cheap imitations contained trace amounts of heavy metals and other poisons, leading to a rash of health problems in the lower classes.

Adding to Absinthe’s downfall, the powerful wine producers of France, in a bid to regain their

past glory, banded together to demonize the liquor. A growing temperance movement added fuel to the fire, and by 1915, Absinthe had been banned in most of Europe and North America. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that Absinthe enjoyed a revival, partially due to updates made to national liquor laws under the European Union. It took a bit longer to reach North America, with Alberta being the first province in Canada to see Absinthe return to its shelves after vanishing for nearly a century, and is now widely available at well-stocked booze merchants.

While Absinthe contains a wide variety of herbs and botanicals, the overwhelming flavor is one of black licorice, coming from the anise content. Unlike simpler spirits, there is a complex ritual around the drinking of Absinthe.

Due to its high alcohol content and slightly bitter taste, the preferred manner of consumption is to add one ounce of Absinthe to a tumbler glass, then slowly trickle 5 ounces of ice cold water over a sugar cube suspended over the glass on a specially slotted Absinthe spoon. This process will dissolve the sugar into the drink, and dilute the alcohol content to a palatable level.

When you trickle the icy water into the spirit, the green liquid will turn milky white, as the dissolved essential oils precipitate out of the solution. You should finish the drink while it is still cold, as the flavor loses intensity as it warms up – just don’t knock them back like shooters, or you’ll regret it in the morning!

Older Adults Coalition of Chestermere (OACC)

to participate in. On behalf of the Food Bank, No Frills will be hosting a “Fill the Firetruck” event in March. Watch for more details about this and future fundraising events. The need for assistance from the Food Bank continues to rise and the Food Bank extend their thanks and appreciation to their partners, volunteers and donors.

Chestermere Public Library is running a Basic Computers course – it’s free – and is a 10 week course. You do need to bring your own laptop, but it covers many beginner topics like using email, internet searching and much more. You can register by calling Rocky View Adult Learning at 403-4637669. Also, the Library has announced that they are no longer charging late fees!! The Library is also hosting the Community Support Resource Fair. It’s an opportunity to learn about a variety of free community supports available to you. On March 30, April 27 and May 25 from 10am – noon, there will various organizations to share their programs with you. For more information, you can call the Chestermere Support Services at 403-207-7079 or the Library at (403) 272-9025.

February 28, 2023, Edition

Older Adults’ Coalition of Chestermere (OACC)

As I sit writing this article, we are in a deep freeze that we’ve been pretty fortunate to avoid for most of the winter. All the more reason to enjoy my coffee, indoors, with the fireplace on where it is warm! I suppose we must remember that we do live in Canada and Alberta is very much renowned for having four seasons in a single day. This too shall pass, as they say. Be sure to listen in for the OACC segment on Chestermere’s only radio station – CFTR The Rogue at https://cftrtherogue.com/ around 11am Monday to Friday. As we get better at this radio thing, we’ll be looking for guests to chat with about all things Older Adult, so stay tuned!

OACC News & Events

Some updates from around the community and our not-for-profit organizations….. Whitecappers is getting ready for their AGM. Be sure to check out their monthly calendar on their website at http://whitecappers. ca/ or stop by and pick one up at the south end of the Rec Centre at 201B Chestermere Dr W. There is always something going on. They are also focusing on increasing their membership which is only $35 for one year. They are available for purchase from 12:30pm to 3:00pm at their office on Mondays only.

The Chestermere Women’s Crisis Society (CWCS) has been busy helping clients and they are seeing an increase in Older Adults in crisis. This is everything from basic needs to domestic abuse. If you or a loved one need help, please know that CWCS is available to provide support and can be reached at 403-775-2927. Are you interested in volunteering? Contact CWCS.

Chestermere Food Bank is happy to report that the Christmas Hamper and Sponsor an Older Adult partnership with OACC was very successful. The family was overwhelmed at the kindness and generosity they were shown. There are some events coming up that residents are encouraged

As mentioned last month, OACC will be hosting a table at the Spring Energizer Night on Wednesday, March 29th at the Rec Centre in the MPP room. Lots of great organizations will be present, so please pop in and come have a chat with us (and pick up a Chestermere Older Adults Resource Handbook 2023 Edition).

With the success of the Older Adults’ Holiday Luncheon in December 2022, the group of not-for-profit groups and organizations expressed an interest to make this an annual event. OACC will be looking for grant opportunities for this amazing community event to be funded.

The launch of Conversation Café took place on the afternoon of February 27th at Lakeshore Manor. Hopefully you had an opportunity to attend. This event is intended to support caregivers and family members of those working with Dementia or memory loss. Many thanks to Don Montpetit for bringing this well needed support to our city. Regardless of where you or your family member is in the dementia journey, it is a casual conversation setting offering peer support. Family members and dementia patients are welcome to join in. Thanks to Don’s initiative and the support of Calgary Rural Primary Care Network (CRPCN), Older Adults’ Coalition of Chestermere (OACC), Lakeshore Manor and the Chestermere Whitecappers Association, the first Chestermere Chapter – Conversation Café launched. Future meetings will be held on the 4th Monday of every month from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Lakeshore Manor (200 Marina Drive, Chestermere). You can contact Don at 403-473-1564 or check out the link for more information: https://dementianetworkcalgary.ca/event/newchestermere-conversation-cafe-in-person/

Just a reminder to be sure to apply for the Alberta government’s Affordability Payment Program that opened in January. It’s for “… eligible seniors and parents can apply for $600 in affordability payments over six months to help offset inflationary pressures. Eligible households can apply for affordability payments for each child under 18 and each senior 65 and up which will help to keep Alberta affordable.” It also stated that anyone who cannot easily go online can apply in person through any registry agent or Alberta Supports to receive support in 50 locations and over 100 languages during regular business hours. Here is the link for full details:

Anchor Article January 2023 (Jan 3, 2023 Edition)

https://www.alberta.ca/release. cfm?xID=863948C59A4EF-CC453DFE-F942A72ABCBB7E40

News & Views on Health & Community

March is Nutrition Month! And the start of Spring

Please see the link for the Nutrition Calendar from AHS on Nutrition focussed ideas for healthy eating: http://bit.ly/nutritionmonth2023

As we round the flu season corner, please keep vaccinations in mind and up to date. Our new Clinic in Kinniburgh is up and running, Monday through Saturday as Chestermere Family Medical Clinic, and accepting new patients. They can be contacted at 403-984-0354. CRPCN’s Team is happy to support this new clinic in Chestermere and their patients.

And finally CRPCN will also be attending the Spring Energizer evening on March 29th from 6-8:pm at the Rec Centre with information on CRPCN and all our programs available on https://CRPCN.ca. Feel free to contact Leslie Racz, Community Development Coordinator for CRPCN @ Leslie.racz@crpcn.ca.

Join the Older Adults’ Coalition of Chestermere

Are you an older adult? Do you live or work in Chestermere or the immediate surrounding area? Do you want to engage and/or volunteer in the community with similar residents? Do you have family that fits this demographic that you care for or have living in Chestermere? Did you know that as a business or organization that has an interest in providing services or programs for our older adults you are more than welcome to be a member of OACC? We welcome

adult children of older adults, caregivers, educators, agencies, service organizations, funders, community partners and the community at large. The common goal is to work for the betterment of older adults in our community.

Please join us at our next monthly meeting! We meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

OACC – Next Meeting : Wednesday, March 15, 1:30PM – 3:30PM Lakeshore Manor (200 Marina Drive, Chestermere). While walk-ins are welcome to our meetings, kindly RSVP. Please email Joanne jumpmaster2@shaw.ca or Betty illingw8@telus.net or Shannon shannon.fetterly@lakeshoremanor.ca.

The OACC welcomes community businesses, organizations, and service providers to join our meetings as a guest speaker. If you are interested, please reach out to Joanne, Betty, or Shannon.

Resources

The Chestermere Older Adults’ Resource Handbooks (2023) are available at the Older Adults’ Coalition of Chestermere meetings. They are also available at the Chestermere Library, Whitecappers Association, Lakeshore Manor, and Synergy as well as medical offices and pharmacies throughout the City. Please pick yours up or take one for a neighbour. You can also access these Handbooks by contacting the City of Chestermere at 403-207- 7079 or online at https://www.chestermere.ca/

DocumentCenter/View/20176/

Chestermere-Older-AdultsResource-Handbook-2023

Lakeshore Manor also provides a wide variety of resources and information for Older Adults within our community. They can

be contacted at 587-349-7444 or online at https://lakeshoremanor.ca

Chestermere

Community Services

The City of Chestermere website also has some great resources for older adults and seniors programming, events, and information! https://www. chestermere.ca/658/Programs-forSeniors

Community Support Services

........................ 403-207-7079 Text option. 403-826-2611

CSS offers programs and services to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities in Chestermere. They provide free and confidential services related to social support, information, and referrals to local resources. Email: crcinfo@ chestermere.ca

Classic Rock & Seniors Talk

100 Women Who Care (or 100 Men/People/Kids

100 Women Who Care

Who Care) groups are making a difference in their communities around the world by strengthening and growing the giving circle movement.

100 Women Who Care Chestermere launched in mid-October 2021, and the first giving circle meeting was held on February 3, 2022. At that meeting, $3,100 was donated to the Community Therapy Dogs Society.

100 Women Who Care Chestermere is a group of local women who care about the Chestermere community and want to make a big impact within the community, but don’t necessarily have the time to commit to helping make that impact. Members commit to four one-hour meetings a year and donate $100 to a local charity or not for profit organization voted on by the members at each meeting. The next meeting is Thursday, November 3, 2022. If you would like to join and help make a huge impact in the community, please visit our website chestermere100.ca.

Older Adults

When: TBA

Coalition of Chestermere Meeting

Time: Wednesday, February 15, 1:30pm – 3:30pm

When: Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Where: Lakeshore Manor, 200 Marina Drive, Chestermere RSVP: jumpmaster2@shaw.ca or illingw8@telus.net

Walk-ins welcome, RSVP appreciated

Chestermere Christian Fellowship Services: Sunday 10:00 am

Pastor Vince VanderVeen 403-204-2079

1.6 km north of Hwy 1 on Conrich Road

Chestermere Lions Club

Meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm Meetings are currently by zoom. Checkout our facebook page for more information,

The Chestermere Fine Art Guild

The Chestermere Fine Art Guild meets every Thursday at 1pm, at the Recreation Centre North side, upstairs in room 2. Come and explore your artistic potential. Welcoming new members beginner to advanced. Like us on Facebook and email chestermereartguild@gmail.com

Lakeside Quilters’ Guild Meeting each month at the Chestermere Recreation Centre on the first Wednesday of each month. Sew days are on the third Wednesday of each month and a sew Saturday each month, including summer. Quilting experience not required, new members welcome. For more information please contact Joyce at 403-383-1940.

St. Gabriel's the Archangel Parish

Catholics in Chestermere: Weekend masses are now open for public celebration without seating restrictions at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School (197 Invermere Dr.). There is no longer advanced registration required to attend mass (Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 9 am, and 10:30 am), but please stay home if you feel sick that day. For more information please call 403-455-0196

Camp Chestermere Camp

Chestermere is OPEN for Day Care, Rentals, and Community Events! We’ve even opened up registration for Summer 2021 Day and Overnight Camps! We are constantly reviewing and updating our policies to fall in line with current COVID protocols. Contact us today to find out how we can serve you and your needs.

The Rotary Club Of Chestermere

Holds virtual meetings via Zoom on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 5:00pm and hosts in-person “Socials” at local venues on the last Wednesday of the month.

Guests are warmly welcomed to “Zoom in” to our virtual meeting or join us for some social time when they can!

Please email us for more information at: rotarychestermere@gmail.com

Check out our website at: www.rotarychestermere.org

Mediterranean Cruise

Photos & Words by Paul & Diane

OUR TEAM

Paul and Diane are Travel Consultants based in the Calgary area. They provide all types of vacation options, but specialize in groups, river and ocean cruising. Click here to contact us today to start planning your next trip!

This week we are on sailing on Avalon’s “Poetry II” riverboat. There are about 106 people on board, so about 85% of capacity. There are always plenty of seats available in the lounge and dining room and, most importantly, the tours are not overloaded. We were about 20 in our wine excursion yesterday.

It’s winter in Calgary and of course many of us are dreaming about our next getaway. As the travel restrictions lift, people are feeling confident about travelling, now and into the future. The exotics are very popular and so is the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean has always been a popular summertime destination, but with cruise ships adding new and interesting ports and some late evenings in port, it’s like a new destination for many people. This week we’re featuring a 9-day cruise in September of

2024, which we think is a perfect time to travel after the busy, hot summer season. Visiting 8 ports including an overnight stop, you’ll have time to experience so many incredible sites and places. If you love food, art, wine, hiking, and history, this is the cruise for you!

Your ship embarks from Rome where endless adventures await. With over 2,000 years of history, art and culture, it is no wonder Rome is one of the most visited cities on the planet. Take time to gaze at the masterpieces of the Vatican or walk into the past with visits to ancient relics, historic monuments like the Colosseum. People-watch while sipping on an espresso in a quaint café or enjoy an authentic Italian pasta dinner to end your

day.

Next up is Naples, a city rich in history located on Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast. A tour around Naples’ grand piazzas, cathedrals and castles in the old centre will take you back centuries. Pompeii is not too far either, a dashing city which boasts diverse cultural offerings and charming streets. Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia the second largest island in the Mediterranean. Check out the thousands of mysterious nuraghe, an ancient megalithic edifice found in Sardinia, developed during the Nuragic Age between 1900 and 730 B.C. Or visit Mercato di San

Paul & Diane pdumouchel@tpi.ca

Benedetto, the largest market in Italy and one of the largest in Europe at over 8000 square meters on 2 floors.

Palma de Mallorca, founded by the Romans some 2,100 years ago, is full of wall-to-wall history and architectural splendour. You can journey back in time and wander the mazes of alleyways and cobblestone paths that surround the Gothic cathedral. Palma is also bustling with life, showcasing the island’s best restaurants, shops, nightlife, and a vibrant art scene.

On the Spanish island of Ibiza, you will experience its youthful spirit and natural beauty, perfect for those who love the outdoors. The beach coastline is majestically rugged, and the hills are covered with olive and fig trees. Two of the most popular beaches are Talamanca and Ses Figueretes. From the 16th century Castle of Ibiza to the Museum of Contemporary Art and scenic strolls along beautiful cobblestone streets, there’s something for everyone.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a place of palpable history, you can feel as you stroll down the medieval streets of the Gothic District. A visit to Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia is a must or treat yourself to a Sangria on Las Ramblas, a large boulevard with many bars and restaurants that runs through the city centre. Cannes is perhaps best known

as the home of the famous Film Festival and is the French Riviera at its best! From up on Suquet Hill you will have panoramic views of the city, sea and Lerins Island. You may even spot a celebrity or two as you walk the palm-lined promenade de la Croisette.

The Tuscan region, Florence & Pisa, is resplendent in art and history. For the history lovers see the Basilica of Santa Croce, wander around the famous Piazza del Duomo and see Michelangelo’s David with your own eyes. Just a few miles away, Pisa, home to the Leaning Tower and more than twenty other historic churches, several medieval palaces, and bridges across the Arno. With an overnight stay in port, perhaps you’d also like to hike Cinq Terre? So many things to do in this area!

This amazing 9-day cruise through Italy, France and Spain is as low as $3,700 per person in a balcony cabin including round trip airfare from Calgary, unlimited drink package, specialty dining, Shore Excursion credits, gratuities and Wi-Fi minutes.

Thinking about booking a getaway, or a Bucket List family vacation? Click here and tell us what where you want to visit. We’d love to make your dream become a reality! If the Panama Canal Transit is on your list, we have a few spots left on our group travelling in January 2024! Ask us for more details.

Kari Zalik Publicist, Bad Parade kari@badparade.com

Canadian Music Scene

Crash Test Dummies: Multi-Platinum Grammy Award Nominated Canadian Alternative Rock Band Crash Test Dummies Return With Brand New Single “Sacred Alphabet” - March 10 2023

With one of the most distinctly recognizable lead voices in Canadian music, Alternative-Rock band Crash Test Dummies are a three-time Grammy Award nominated and JUNO Awardwinning group, who soared to the top of the worldwide charts in the early 90’s with hits “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” and “Superman’s Song”. Their cover of “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” was selected as the soundtrack to the blockbuster comedy film, “Dumb and Dumber”, reaching the Top 5 on both Canada’s Top Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. Their subsequent releases kept the same Folkhued, Alternative spirit of their early sound, featuring the distinct baritone vocals of frontman Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid’s Folk-Rock fusion. Following their successful 25th anniversary tour across North America for “God Shuffled His Feet”, their 3x Grammy Award nominated album that reached #4 on the US Top 100 Charts, the band has continued to perform across the world and are currently on tour in the US. With original members Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge, their current lineup also includes celebrated Canadian artists Stuart Cameron and Leith Fleming-Smith. The band has a whopping 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, and are gearing up to release a brand new, awe-inspiring, philosophy filled ballad that exudes the classic Crash Test Dummies sound, “Sacred Alphabet’’, on Friday, March 10 2023.

Produced and mixed by industry veteran Scott Harding (De La Soul, Antibalas), the recording of “Sacred Alphabet” marks the first time the Crash Test Dummies recorded a song remotely, having each band member record their part separately from Toronto, Winnipeg, Halifax, and New York. About “Sacred Alphabet”:

A song about the beginning of time, “Sacred Alphabet” gently muses about what wasn’t. With the intentionally sparing use of instruments, the song highlights the unmistakable voice of Brad Roberts and choral harmonies of Ellen Reid. Backed by a simple piano melody where Roberts both delicately and hauntingly describes an untainted world before existence, “Sacred Alphabet” slowly grows to feature a stirring yet sparse drum beat, longing cello performance, and affecting atmospheric sounds that blend together to colour the song into an awe-inspiring ballad. Drawing inspiration from the idea of why there is something and not nothing, Roberts’ turned to a passage from 18th century writer

Alexander Pope, whose line “’Tis not enough no harshness gives offense, the sound must seem an echo to the sense” inspired the lyric, “No subject, object, verb or tense; sound had not been enslaved to sense.” Gripping, dramatic, and unique, “Sacred Alphabet” honours the classic Crash Test Dummies sound their fans know and love, and will be sure to delight their loyal followers and new fans alike!

The single cover and video artwork was designed by someone who Roberts half-jokingly describes as his dream collaborator, his wife, Michele Varian.

From Crash Test Dummies: “Making “Sacred Alphabet” was a great experience - integrating the counterpoint style I’ve been studying into the classic Crash Test Dummies sound gave us something that felt both familiar and fresh.” - Brad Roberts Biography: In 2018, 25 years after the release of their multi-Grammy nominated hit album “God Shuffled His Feet”, The Crash Test Dummies hit

the road for the first time in 20 years with an Anniversary Tour that spanned North America. The overwhelming reception led to a 30th Anniversary Tour in 2022 for their debut release “The Ghosts That Haunt Me” that touched down in the US, UK, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Canada. And the band is showing no signs of slowing down… “Touring again was not something we’d planned on, but surprisingly – at least to me – there are lots of people who, many years later, still want to come and hear us. The folks that are coming out to see these shows tell us their stories, some of them very funny, some very dark and all very personal. It’s very humbling, being in the confidence of so many people” says lead singersongwriter Brad Roberts, “and it has inspired us to continue to tour and make music.”

Early 2023 will see the release of a new, original Crash Test Dummies single “Sacred Alphabet“ as they again hit the road in North America and Europe.

Coming

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Volunteers

The Rocky View Chestermere Agricultural Society will be starting the Chestermere 4-H Multi Club (to begin October 1, 2023) and we are in need of adult volunteers. There are three categories of adult volunteers: Trained Screened Leaders, Screened Volunteers and Supporters. To read more, or to register your interest, visit our website at www.rvcagsociety. ca/4-h

I don’t know the first thing about 4-H, I can’t be a leader!!

That’s ok! And, you also don’t have to be an expert in a particular project topic either (for example, you don’t need to be a photographer to lead a 4-H photography project). By following the provided project resources, learning along with your members and involving others, there is no limit to the variety of 4-H clubs or projects you can run!

What are the responsibilities of 4-H leaders?

• Develop a caring relationship with members.

• Create a safe environment for 4-H members.

• Provide opportunities for youth to build skills

• Create opportunities for youth to value and practice service to others.

• Allow youth to make decisions and lead.

• Create an inclusive environment.

• Keep up-to-date and trained.

What qualifications/skills do 4-H leaders need?

• Sincere interest in the safety and well-being of youth.

• Desire to facilitate and motivate youth while nurturing self-esteem, decision-making skills, responsibility, and leadership.

• Successfully pass the volunteer training process.

• Ability to organize information and materials and delegate responsibility.

• Ability to work and communicate effectively both verbally and written.

• Desire to motivate parents and other volunteers

• Interest in working in partnership with youth, other volunteers and professional staff in an educational setting.

• Willingness to adopt the philosophy, policies, and procedures of your 4-H organization

4-H focuses on youth-led projects for children ages 9 - 20. 4-H projects are in-depth learning experiences for 4-H members. At the beginning of each club year, each member chooses one or more projects to work on throughout the year. A few examples of projects are training pets, keeping bees, taking photos, building remote control airplanes, archery, and urban biking. 4-H may even be used towards school credits (please talk to your principal or counsellor first).

Members are required to:

Complete project records and have them signed by the club or project leader.

Attend a minimum of 70% of club activities.

Complete a communication activity that is: prepared by the member, presented by the member in front of a group and at least three minutes in length

Be involved in a club activity that is a benefit to your community. Participate in the club’s achievement event. If the member’s project is unavailable (for example, a calf dies), the member is still expected to have some part in the achievement event.

Interested in learning more about 4-H? Join our group and follow along as we try and answer some common questions and keep you up-to-date on the club’s progression. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1419930731874413

Careers

Chestermere Public Library

We are hiring! Temporary Full-Time Summer Reading Program Coordinator

Term: June 5 to August 18 (Summer 2023)

37.5 hours/wk @ 19.00 per hour

Position Description: The Summer Reading Program Coordinator facilitates efficient, innovative, and effective library service in a rapidly shifting environment, managing the multiple priorities for the creation, implementation, promotion, and evaluation of the library’s summer reading program.

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Preference given to those in the academic fields of education, library science, and community development

• Some experience working with children, especially an ability to create curriculum and activities for younger age children

• Some experience in customer service

• Competence and confidence with computer technology

• Loves reading and learning

• Creative, enjoying crafting, art, or performing arts

• Organized and positive, possessing a ‘can-do’ attitude

• Multilingual ability will be considered an asset

• Experience with marginalized communities and/or work that supports diversity, equity and inclusion will be considered an asset

This position is partially funded through the Young Canada Works program which additionally requires the following:

• Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada

o Note: Non-Canadian students or graduates holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible

• Be legally entitled to work in Canada

• Be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment

• Must have completed Grade 12 and be enrolled in post secondary studies in the fall

• Intend to return to studies during or after the YCW work assignment

• Be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment

• Not have another full-time job during the YCW work assignment

Please submit a resume and cover letter to:

Miranda Johnson, Director

Chestermere Public Library

miranda.johnson@chestermerepubliclibrary.com

Closing Date: March 1, 2023

The Chestermere Public Library is an inclusive work environment driven by a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy and Action Plan. Additionally, please let us know if you require any accommodations during the application and interview process.

Only those candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your time and effort in submitting a resume and cover letter. Please check our website for ongoing position opportunities with Chestermere Public Library.

Classic Rock & Community Talk

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