Regional News-Optimist July 9, 2020

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Project will inject dollars into local economy Staff North Battleford is going ahead with underground pipe and asphalt replacement work for 2020 in the face of COVID-19 and the most obvious work began this week on 100th Street.

Mayor Ryan Bater has pointed to the economic benefit of proceeding with all the city’s capital projects despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Most cities in Saskatchewan are planning to do their summer construction schedule,” said Bater at a recent meeting of city council. “It’s generally viewed as a very strong way to inject some activity in the local economy as well.”

He also said this work was necessary work, and echoed the sentiment of other councillors that the pricing was simply too good for council to turn down.

“The pricing that we’ve been presented … might not be the pricing that’s received for next

year,” said Bater.

The city’s 2020 roadways contract has been awarded to G&C Asphalt, a Division of N.P.A. Ltd. The portion for the 100th Street Rehabilitation, 12th to 14th Avenue, came in at $911,807.84, which is 39 per cent below budget.

The tender for the undergrounds portion of the contract also came in under budget. It was awarded to Sanburn Construction Ltd. of Battleford. The 100th Street portion of the work came in 47 per cent below budget, at $398,063 compared to $750,000.

The 2020 chedule of projects, in addition to the 100th Street rehab, includes the 95th Street rehab from 15th to 16th Avenue, 110th Street from 8th to 9th Avenue, 101st Street from 19th to 20th Avenue, the improvements to Carlton Trail, work at Waste Water Treatment Plant Septage Receiving Station and the Hydrant Replacement Program.

A fairy tale came true in Meota on Canada Day when local children had a chance to ride in Cinderella’s coach, made by Leo and Trudy Janssens. Nevaeh VanEe was one of the youngsters excited to take a ride, and she came prepared with gown and all. See inside for more photos and a story. Photo by Nicole VanEe

18 year old dies tubing on Battle River Staff The Battle River has claimed the life of a young man.

On July 4 at 8:30 p.m., Maidstone RCMP were dispatched to a missing tuber who had been floating down the Battle River south of Waseca.

Missing was an 18-yearold male from Lashburn,

who got separated from friends when a storm rolled in.

Maidstone RCMP were assisted in the search effort

by Lloydminster Search and Rescue, Maidstone Fire, Cut Knife RCMP, Turtleford RCMP, F Division RCMP Search and Rescue, RCMP underwater recovery team, RCMP Air support and Midwest Vic-

tim Services.

Hundreds of local residents also assisted providing a plane, canoes, kayaks, horses, quads, side by sides, boats and search teams.

After two days and a night of searching, the missing young man was located. Unfortunately he was deceased. RCMP say their thoughts are with the

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The community support during this tragic incident was tremendous, stated a release by RCMP. There have been several calls for incidents on the rivers and lakes already this season, RCMP say, and they remind the public to be safe while on water and wear proper safety devices.

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Judge approves Crown’s dangerous offender application against Cory Smockum

By Lisa Joy

cation July 3 and ordered an assessment and scheduled a hearing to determine if Smockum should be designated as a dangerous offender.

Smockum was found guilty in February of attempted murder after a five-day trial in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.

The charges stem from an incident on Oct. 14, 2018, near Hanley. But there was a hung jury on two charges including aggravated sexual assault and choking to overcome resistance. A mistrial was declared on those charges. The Saskatoon Prosecutions Office, however, in June said they were retrying the sexual

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Warning: Some may find the details in this story disturbing A Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench Justice has approved the Crown’s application review to have Cory Smockum, 38, designated as a Dangerous Offender.

If Smockum is found to be a Dangerous Offender the sentence can be an indefinite prison term. In addition, Dangerous Offenders are subject to lengthy supervision orders.

Justice Grant Currie granted the Crown’s appli-

assault charges.

During Smockum’s trial, the court heard that he had a 2016 conviction after being arrested in 2015 by North Battleford RCMP. He was charged with sexual assault, assault and choking to overcome resistance. The choking charge was dropped and the assault and sexual assault charges were changed to assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault causing bodily harm, respectively. Smockum was found guilty in 2016 of assault causing bodily harm.

He was found not guilty of sexual assault causing bodily harm.

During the 2020 trial, the court heard that Smoc-

came to she said he was still hitting her and she was in a different spot in the garage. She told the court that she was choked unconscious three times and during the third time “everything went warm,” her vision went and she “made peace with dying that night.”

Smockum took the victim on a quad through a field and told her she was going to end up like her friend Ashley Morin who was last seen in North Battleford in July 2018. RCMP believe Morin, 31, was the victim of homicide. Her body has never been found.

Smockum rolled the quad and was injured.

The victim ran and hid in

a grain elevator, which is where police found her early the next morning.

The victim spent six days in hospital with broken ribs, a brain bleed, damage to her knees and stiches on her lip. She also had a cut on the side of her head, black eyes, bruising and ear damage.

Sentencing of Smockum is now postponed until the courts decide whether or not to designate him as a dangerous offender.

Smockum – who remains in custody – is now scheduled to appear in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench by telephone on Oct. 13 to set a date for the dangerous offender hearing.

Province didn’t release any inmates early due to COVID-19: Sask. Justice

This paper is proudly printed locally in Estevan.

Lisa Joy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

No prisoners were released early from Saskatchewan jails during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the province.

At the height of the pandemic, the union rep-

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kum sexually and physically assaulted his former girlfriend and threatened to kill others, having “serious intentions of killing everyone he could that night.”

The violent assault occurred in a garage after the two went to a sled rally in Hanley.

The victim said Smockum kicked the garage door open, threw her face down on the garage floor, closed the door, got on top of her and punched her continuously in the face with his fist and elbow. She said he called her names and threatened her.

The victim lost consciousness and when she

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Use Recycle Coach Avoid fines, and help all taxpayers save money by using Recycle Coach.

It will help you determine what is recycling, trash or alternative drop-off options. Use it on www.cityofnb.ca and search "What goes where" or use it on your iOS, Android, or voice-activated Google or Alexa devices.

resenting Saskatchewan’s legal aid lawyers called on federal and provincial governments to release nonviolent inmates and the elderly or those with medical conditions making them vulnerable to COVID-19.

“No sentenced offenders have been released early as a result of COVID-19,” said Noel Busse, director of communications for Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice/Corrections and Policing.

Five staff at provincial correctional centres tested positive for the virus but no inmates tested positive.

“No offenders or accused in provincial correctional facilities have tested positive for COVID-19,” said Busse.

In addition, COVID-19 didn’t cause the province to alter its existing early release or reintegration program.

“No changes have been made to early release or reintegration programming for sentenced offenders as a result of COVID-19,” said Busse. “Any offenders released on reintegration programming would have been eligible for this program prior to the onset of COVID-19 in the province.”

In March, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Corrections and Policing put in measures to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread. They used existing infrastructure and program space in correctional fa-

cilities to create additional separation between offenders and staff. They also restricted the movement and placement of offenders within a facility, and provided personal protective equipment to corrections staff and offenders.

COVID-19 didn’t force the province to move any inmates from one institution to another either.

“No offenders were transferred to another facility as a result of COVID-19,” said Busse.

But COVID-19 did prompt the province’s Crown prosecutors to rethink remanding some defendants who were charged but not yet convicted. Some non-violent inmates held on remand in Saskatchewan’s jails were released while waiting for trial.

Saskatchewan Public Prosecutions reviewed each person held in remand as they normally would, with additional consideration given to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Busse.

“Crown prosecutors are considering the concerns raised by COVID-19 when assessing remand matters (i.e. – bail) – both for new arrests and existing cases.

Public safety is the primary consideration when doing those assessments.”

Just how many offenders were released due to COVID-19 while waiting for trial, however, is unknown.

“As each case is consid-

ered on an individual basis involving multiple factors, we are unable to provide numbers on how many times COVID-19 would have been taken into consideration by prosecutors when assessing individuals for potential release on bail,” said Busse.

Decisions on whether to release someone on bail are ultimately made by the presiding judge as a result of discussions between the defense, crown and judiciary, added Busse.

Relevant factors include the circumstances of the alleged offence, the circumstances of the offender, and the surrounding circumstances, all set against the criteria in the Criminal Code and case law.

Visits by the public to provincial jails are still restricted to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. All personal and professional visits are currently suspended, except in exceptional circumstances.

In March, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) suspended inmate visits from the public to all federal institutions across the country.

Visits haven’t resumed at federal penitentiaries yet but on July 3, Anne Kelly, Commissioner for CSC said they were loosening restrictions on inmates and allowing increased on-site access to correctional programs, elders and chaplains.

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City residents show diligence in avoiding blue bin fines Staff

the landfill is two million dollars.

“These early results are encouraging, diverting waste from the Waste Management Facility is good for the environment and the community,” states the release.

Over the next four to six weeks, city employees will be applying a refreshed recycling informational sticker onto the blue recycling bins. The new and improved sticker will provide residents with an easy guide to help them keep non-recyclable materials from entering the blue bins.

The city says residents can easily determine what is allowed to enter the recycling stream by using Recycling Coach, a free tool provided by the

The City of North Battleford says residents have been diligent in efforts to reduce the number of contaminants recycling bins, leading to some success.

In the first month of contaminated recycling bin enforcement, says a city release, 60 per cent of the zones have successfully reduced the number of rejected bins. Enforcement has included fines starting at $100. They can go as high as $5,000.

Rejected recycling reduces the expected lifespan of the current cell at the landfill and reduces the number of years the city has to save for this major project, says the release. The expected cost for an additional cell in

The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 3

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Floral Tribute to 100th Anniversary

city. Recycle Coach can be used from the City’s website at www.cityofnb. ca /r esid ent _ s e r v ic es / waste_recycling/what_ goes_where_.html or install it on your Android or iOS smart device. Type in the item you are inquiring about and Recycle Coach will inform you if it is recyclable, trash or if there are alternative dropoff options for that material. Beyond helping you sort what is recyclable, Recycle Coach can send reminders about waste pickup day. This feature is useful for statutory holidays – it can remind you to set your bin out the day before or after your regular waste pickup day.

“Never miss a waste pickup day again.”

The City of North Battleford has honoured the Rotary Club of the Battlefords for 100 years of service to the Battlefords by planting the flower bed by the underpass with flowers depicting the Rotary wheel. The planting was undertaken by the city’s park supervisor, Gord Whitton, and his crew, assisted

by Rotarians Jean Walker and Harvey Walker (behind the camera). The Rotary Club was chartered on April 26, 1920, as the Battlefords first service club. Photo submitted

Saskatchewan’s free fishing weekend July 11, 12 Saskatchewan’s annual summer free fishing weekend is July 11 and 12. On this weekend, residents and visitors can fish in any of Saskatchewan’s public waters open to sport fishing, no licence required.

During free fishing weekend, all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

As well, anglers must respect current public health orders and guidance to help prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Travel restrictions may be in effect for some areas, so please check your destination before leaving home. Free fishing weekend does not

apply in national parks.

Anyone planning on taking fish out of the province must purchase a licence.

More information about fishing in Saskatchewan, including the 2020 Anglers Guide and updates about angling during the pandemic, is available at w w w. s a s k a t c h ewa n . c a / fishing.

Saskatchewan’s first free fishing weekend was held in the summer of 1989, to encourage people to try sport fishing and to highlight the variety of angling opportunities in the province.

In 2015, the province held its first winter free fishing weekend, which is now also an annual event. Each year, more than a quarter of a million people sport fish in Saskatchewan.

“Free fishing weekend is a great opportunity to spend time outdoors to discover – or re-discover – the wonderful angling opportunities our province offers,” Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said. “In Saskatchewan, you can stay close to home while enjoying some of the best freshwater fishing in the world.”

For more local news see www.newsoptimist.ca/news/news-local

North Battleford student receives bursary from RE/MAX Submitted Wally Lorenz, Kayla Petersen, Brett Payne and Marlene Kotchorek of RE/ MAX of the Battlefords in North Battleford have announced Julia Marjoram of North Battleford Comprehensive High

School is one of the sixteen students chosen from Western Canada to receive the RE/MAX 2020 Quest for Excellence bursary valued at $1,000.

The annual RE/MAX Quest for Excellence program encourages graduating students

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from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and Northwest Territories to submit an essay detailing the contributions they have made to their communities.

The bursary winners have all demonstrated exceptional motivation,

leadership and communication skills.

“The 2020 Quest for Excellence bursary winners all show exceptional leadership qualities,” says Marie Sheppy, Manager, Corporate Affairs, RE/ MAX of Western Canada.

“These individuals have

all made a significant positive impact on their communities, which is amazing to see.”

“The Quest for Excellence program is an opportunity for us to recognize some of the amazing young leaders throughout Western

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Commentary

Canada’s rising food insecurity problem

The commentaries offered on this editorial page are intended to provide thought-provoking material for our readers.

Contributors’ articles, cartoons or letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any Regional News-Optimist staff.

Food inflation is on the way up, despite lower prices for other consumer goods.

By Sylvain Charlebois

Professor / Dalhousie University

T H E B AT T L E F O R D S

Statistics Canada has confirmed what most of us knew already: Canada is becoming a hungrier place.

According to a survey conducted by the federal agency in May, almost one in seven (14.6 per cent) Canadians indicated they lived in a household where there was food insecurity in the past month.

In 2017-18, a similar survey showed 10.5 per cent of households in Canada felt food insecure.

There are about 12.5 million households in Canada.

This means more than 512,000 more households in Canada are experiencing food insecurity compared to just two years ago. That’s more than the number of households in the city of Ottawa.

StatsCan results were consistent with a survey conducted by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University at about the same time. In it, 61.0 per cent of Canadians surveyed felt they had enough of the food they wanted and didn’t consider access to food an issue. That sentiment was at 72.6 per cent last year, so we’ve seen a drop of more than 11 per cent.

Alberta saw the largest drop between the two periods, at 21.2 per cent.

That means an additional 4.1 million Canadians now see access to affordable food for survival as a challenge over a year ago. That’s massive. And the situation may well be worse by the time the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Surveys are likely to continue to point to a changing Canadian food security landscape. The fall should give us a better picture of the number of Canadian households that will feel food insecure.

The growing food insecurity is largely because many Canadians have lost their jobs and most of us face a future overflowing with uncertainty. More than eight million Canadians applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), but the program will eventually end.

More than $52 billion has been paid out to Canadians so far. That’s equivalent to a third of the province of Ontario’s entire annual budget.

Rising food prices will likely make matters worse. The food inflation rate is at 3.4 per cent and could reach 4.0 per cent by year’s end. Typical food inflation is anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 per cent.

Costs to produce, process and distribute food are all increasing. Physical distancing, personnel turnover, training, additional shifts, the use of personal protective gear, equipment modifications and an increase in automation all contribute to higher costs. To get food to market, companies across the supply chain need to charge more.

Grocers may be reluctant to pass on these extra costs to consumers but eventually they won’t have much choice.

The broader backdrop shows deflationary pressures affecting many other aspects of our economy. Many things are getting cheaper. StatsCan notes that our general infla-

Regional

tion rate is at -0.4 per cent, a drop of -0.2 per cent from the month before. Clothes, footwear, education and transportation are among the components of the consumer price index that are dropping.

Some say that since consumers are spending less on other things, they will have more money for food.

But that’s not the reality.

Grocers have occasionally had to deal with food prices rising much faster than the general inflation rate but nothing like this. COVID-19 has created an unprecedented simultaneous supply and demand shock.

With lower prices for general consumer goods, expectations will shift, leading to more frugality in the marketplace. Current conditions show there’s less cash in the market.

Grocers, other food retailers and restaurants will have to fight for market share while dealing with higher costs.

That likely means fewer stores, less stock variety in stores and so on.

Investments are being made in e-commerce by many players – from farmers to processors to grocers – to help make the entire supply chain much more democratic.

The decoupling between the two inflation rates – general goods and food – will make a four per cent food inflation rate feel more like 10 or 12 per cent for the average food consumer. Offsetting the effects of higher-thanusual food inflation in a deflationary environment will be a significant challenge for grocers.

However, some analysts predict that the general deflationary phase is only momentary, and prices should get back into their inflationary groove within months. As people return to work, there will be more money in the economy, and hopefully we see an inflation rate we can all afford. It’s the only way to make Canada feel less food insecure.

Let’s just hope these analysts are right.

A community newspaper published Thursdays Owned & Operated by Prairie Newspaper Group LP a division of GVIC Communications Corp.

892 - 104th Street, North Battleford, Saskatchewan S9A 1M9 Telephone: 306-445-7261 • Fax: 306-445-3223 Serving the Battlefords since 1908 E-mail: newsoptimist.news@sasktel.net

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agrifood analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. www.troymedia.com

Letter

Off with their heads!

Dear Editor Now that the Coronavirus is reasonably contained, although some are still escaping and Trillion Day celebrations are in hand, it is time for our government to turn its attention to other concerns.

Surely a prime concern is the defacing and demand for statues and monuments and history to be brought up to date. A simple answer is to have all heads on monuments replaceable, recyclable, reversible and renewable and, of course, totally interchangeable.

Off with Queen Victoria’s head and on goes Lisa Laflamme. Mr. Trudeau would be seen mounted on rearing chargers battling the roaring back economy or high on pedestals surveying his kingdom and his peoples.

All the heads not currently acceptable and in the new circuit would be stored in locked and guarded columbaria. They could be rented out, sold, or exchanged from city to city, coast to coast to coast or from one carefully vetted Covid free country to another.

We know all Canadians will want to make inclusion suggestions for the new non-partisan H.E.A.D. committee. Final decisions would be made after extensive consultations and environmental studies aided by unlimited previously unheard of experts.

Dr. R. H. Wood.

North Battleford Gordon Brewerton Senior Group Publisher

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The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 5

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Busting out of the Battlefords I went for a drive in the country this weekend. It’s the first time I’ve left the boundaries of the Battlefords since the COVID-19 hammer fell in March.

My first observation as I began my journey to the Whitkow Hills was my need to get in touch with my optometrist. There are two reasons for that; the first one being the glasses I’ve had for the last couple of years started to disintegrate just about the time the edict to “stay home, stay home, stay home” was issued. The clinic was closed. The answering machine message offered no comfort.

Fortunately I share my life with a guy who can fix anything. His ingenuity has saved me from a possible COVID-19 fashion trend of duct-tape

Observations from

Isolation

By Becky Doig spectacle repairs. They are on their last legs, literally, (they no longer fold up) and I really should do something about getting them replaced.

The second reason is my distance vision. It hasn’t really been tested driving back and forth between Battleford and North Battleford, but viewing the vast vista

Congratulations!

By Helen Row Toews It was a busy and emotional time this past week as our daughter Aliyah graduated from Lloydminster’s Comprehensive High School. We’re very proud of her, as I know all other parents are equally proud of their sons and daughters. Each graduate has worked hard to reach this pinnacle of achievement.

The school staff, parent committees and volunteers in communities across Canada also worked hard to create special graduation events, under difficult circumstances, so that the kids would have memories to treasure for a lifetime.

We’re all very grateful to them.

It was an exciting time to be sure, and although my son Justin, oldest daughter Rebecca and

I were a snug fit in our small car’s back seat, we happily watched as Aliyah received her diploma and participated in the grand march.

Granted, once Justin, who had been waiting outside his home to be picked up for this event, clambered into the car, the atmosphere in our vehicle became somewhat suffocating, due to his absentminded indulgence of a clump of chives that grow near his front step.

Who does that?

Whatever would possess someone to chomp down a fistful of green

of the prairie landscape reminded me that my prescription could use a tune up.

While concentrating on clear focus, I was awed at the beauty around me.

I am a died-in-the-wool prairie person and the opportunity to get out to enjoy the beauty of crops, bush and wildflowers was a salve to my soul. onions prior to sitting thigh to thigh with family members who are forced to share the same air with you for the better part of three hours?

Although they weren’t present at the time, I blame my two red-neck uncles for Justin’s lapse in judgement. They taught my children from an early age to enjoy such atrocities as peanut butter and onion sandwiches. Anyway, not even onions, or the residual breath thereof, could dampen our spirits on this momentous day.

Until we got home that was. Aliyah’s sparkly dress was hung back in its protective bag, Rebecca did her laundry, Justin went home to brush his teeth (I hope), my husband began trimming his toenails, and I dealt with a nasty mealybug infestation.

Talk about a rude jolt back to reality.

My destination was the semi-rustic cabin of friends. It’s a getaway they have created on land on a prominence at the edge of farmland. It is an idyllic location featuring aspen groves, wild berry bushes, wildflowers and a large pond, which serves as a paddle boating locale in summer and a crosscountry skiing destination in winter.

A pal has parked her fifth-wheel RV there for the summer and goes out occasionally to spend socially distanced quality time with friends. This weekend I was invited, nay “implored,” to join them.

A tent was pitched and an air mattress inflated all in my honour.

Because of family circumstances, I spend a great deal of my time I didn’t even know several of my plants were infected with the dastardly insect until a friend texted to inform me that the hoya I’d cheerfully given for her birthday, was diseased.

She warned me to check the others.

Have you ever laid eyes on a mealybug? They are horrid. It took me three hours with dish soap, Q-tips and a washcloth to clean them off my plants, and each subsequent day begins with a frantic search through the foliage for more. For several nights thereafter, the bloody things even crept through my dreams.

I couldn’t get a wink of sleep as I wielded an enormous Q-tip dipped in coffee, (don’t ask) to battle a group of enormous mealybugs that slunk

Huge patches of western red lilies highlighted a weekend getaway in the Whitkow Hills. Photo by Cora Swerid

cooking for family members who are unable to do that for themselves. I’m happy to do it. I love cooking and I’ve been told I’m not terrible at it, but I was feeling in need of a break.

It was an amazing 24-hour getaway. I arrived with bedding, beverages and chicken wings. Other

than that I was waited on hand and foot and made to feel like a total princess.

COVID-19 has altered our perspective and has created the mantra, “Cherish the simple things in life ‑‑ family, friends and laughter.” I experienced all during my escape from the Battlefords.

through the flower bed leaving their foul, white residue on my petunias, and then moved on to suck the life out of my leafy greens.

To be honest, I now have mealybugs on the brain and see them everywhere I look! I even caught myself closely examining a plastic plant in Walmart for the sinister creatures. I have to admit that some form of therapeutic intervention may be needed in order to put this

whole unpleasant interlude behind me.

In any case, I must come back to the original point before things take another ugly turn and I get started on my wood tick rant. Onions and mealybugs are quite enough for one day.

Congratulations to all graduates everywhere!

You deserve our praise.

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Page 6 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

Regional News-Optimist

w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a

First Person Exploits into the Unknown

The Bernardo trial

By John Cairns Staff Reporter

This past Independence Day weekend in the United States reminded me of another momentous July 4 that happened 25 years ago here in Canada.

Back in 1995 on that date, I attended the Paul Bernardo murder trial in downtown Toronto, one of the biggest and most famous trials in Canadian history.

This trial was a media sensation in Canada back in 1995, and I was there to cover it — but not as an accredited media member.

Instead, I was there that day reporting as a student from the journalism program at the University of Western Ontario.

There were four of us who went up to Toronto to cover the trial that particular day as a J-school class assignment. Even though I filed my report on it, I never did get around to publishing my account of what happened that fateful day in any actual media outlet — until now.

Recently, I looked through a box of my old materials and came across my reporter’s notebook from the day that I covered the Bernardo trial. Looking through that notepad, the events and experience of attending Canada’s “trial of the century” came back to life, all these many years later.

The backstory of what happened in the case can be summed up by the word “horrific.”

Bernardo had been dubbed the “Scarborough Rapist” and the “schoolgirl killer” — the former because of a series of rapes in Scarborough and elsewhere in the late 1980s and early 90s, and the latter because of the killings of three teenagers in the 90s. It was the killings of Kristen French (of St. Catharines) and Leslie Mahaffy (of Burlington) that Bernardo was on trial for in 1995. The other teenager was Tammy Homolka, who died under murky circumstances after being drugged — initially, there were claims it was accidental.

I will not go into too much detail here on all of what happened — there are several books out there that tell the entire story.

But I will touch on a major controversy that erupted, and it had to do with the involvement of Bernardo’s wife Karla Homolka in all three killings.

Prosecutors cut a deal with Homolka where she agreed to a 12-year manslaughter conviction in connection to the rapes and killings of French and Mahaffy, and the sentence included two years for her involvement with what happened with her sister Tammy. In exchange, the Crown got her testimony in the Bernardo case.

There was a huge outcry over this arrangement, dubbed the “deal with the devil.” A lot of people feel the prosecution let Karla off the hook lightly, and that she should have been

convicted for murder and met the same fate as her husband eventually did.

July 4, 1995, was not just any day in the Bernardo trial; it was perhaps the most sensational one of the whole trial.

It was the first day for Homolka’s cross-examination, after she spent the previous several days on the stand as a Crown witness. This promised big fireworks, far bigger than what those Americans were planning south of the border.

I tried to do background research of the players in the case prior to my day in Toronto. In my notes I wrote down a “guide to the trial.”

It mentions Bernardo, charged with “two counts of first-degree murder and seven other charges related to the sex slayings of Kristen French, 15, and Leslie Mahaffy, 14.” It mentions Homolka, and also mentions Associate Chief Justice Patrick LeSage, Crown attorney Ray Houlahan, and Bernardo’s lawyer John Rosen.

Rosen. I remember clearly the way he carried himself in the courtroom.

Before the jury entered he would just pace and stride around the court, with his arms crossed, looking like a guy ready to do battle.

When he did do the cross examination, he had a booming voice.

Rosen’s job was to demolish Homolka and make her look complicit in the killings, and destroy the credibility of all she said

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Just one page of my notes from covering one of Canada’s most infamous trials.

Photo by John Cairns

about Bernardo the previous week. In my notes, I had written that Rosen’s “strategy is to show Karla’s adept at fooling people,” and that he was “looking for contradictions.”

For the group of us heading to Toronto, the day had begun very early at something like 3 a.m. in the morning.

We travelled the highway from London to Toronto. Once we got there, we had to cross our fingers and hope we were admitted into the courthouse. We didn’t have the media passes that the accredited media had, so we had to stand in line like everyone else from the public. The line was sure to be long. There was a huge public appetite for this trial, with ordinary people showing up as spectators in the court gallery every day.

Here’s what I wrote in my notes: “Made it to TO in one piece. Camped out in front of the Court House waiting to get in. Dave and Mary have taken off for food so we’re here holding a place in line. When we got here we found a huge lineup of people waiting to get in; some have slept here all night. Seagulls are chirping, birds are frolicking.

Lineup is a real motley crew, that’s the best way to describe it.”

We noticed there was a police officer on the scene, looking around to make sure no one cut the line and that no one got mugged. I noticed the media booths that were set up not far away. Later, we noticed someone holding a “Hang Bernardo” T-shirt.

We spent several hours killing time waiting to be allowed inside. At 8:53 a.m., the line started moving, and I wrote down that there was concern among the four of us that we might not all make it inside the courtroom and that we’d get split up.

Good news! As of 8:58 a.m. we had all made it, just under the wire before they closed the seating to the rest of the people in line. We were on the fifth floor with our tickets, waiting to go through security and then take our seats.

Once we entered the courtroom, there was more waiting. I remember marvelling at the scene of all the reporters sitting in several seats in the courtroom – all these big names I had recognized from the newspapers and TV stations.

Finally, at 9:59 a.m., Bernardo was “brought in cuffed, wearing grey suit,” and he sat in the prisoners box. The proceedings began in earnest when the court clerk, or perhaps it was someone else, stood up and said the words “oh yea, oh yea, oh yea ... God save the queen!”

After some opening discussions between the lawyers and the judge, the cross examination of Homolka began. What follows is the account that I recorded in my notes as best as I could: Defence lawyer Rosen led off by showing pictures to Karla of her sister Tammy.

“That’s your sister Tammy lying on a gurney dead, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” “You saw her on the floor of the bedroom ...

That’s a picture you can’t possibly forget, is that right?”

“That’s correct.” “... I would think those pictures, those nightmares, would have bothered your conscience every living moment.”

“Yes it did.”

Then Rosen showed another photo.

“See that pretty girl on the left, who’s that?”

“Leslie Mahaffy.”

“You knew what happened to her on June 15, 1991, right?”

“Right.”

What happened, Rosen went on, was the dismembering of Mahaffy. Rosen then showed another photo, this time of Mahaffy’s torso.

“You participated in that, didn’t you?”

(Sob) “Yes.” Next, another photo.

“Who’s that?” Rosen asked. Homolka confirmed it was Kristen French, alive, at 15 years old.

Then Rosen showed Homolka another photo. It was French, “dead at the scene when dumped in a

ditch, correct?”

“Yes.” Rosen again asked Karla if the photos bothered her conscience and kept her awake at night. Then shortly after, Rosen delved into what happened around the time that Karla left Bernardo.

He spoke of events during the latter part of 1992 when “your husband was punching you out the odd time.” Rosen then went into an incident on the night of Jan. 4, 1993, in which Karla was assaulted and threatened. Karla ended up lodging a police complaint against Bernardo.

Rosen: “When the constable took the complaint about the domestic assault did you tell them about [Tammy, Leslie and Kristen]?”

No, Karla responded: she was “too scared.”

Later, Rosen asked if she called any police officer to talk about those three. “No, I didn’t.”

“What you did was have a heckuva time,” Rosen retorted.

“No, I didn’t have a heckuva time,” said Homolka.

Rosen then brought up an interview Homolka had done under oath where she had stated “as soon as I left him in the hospital ... I felt I was 17 years old again ...

I forgot Tammy, I forgot Leslie and Kristen, I went out and had a great time.”

“And that’s what you did,” Rosen said.

“I did not have a great time,” Karla responded on the stand. “I had nightmares, I tried to make myself forget.” Homolka said she was always “watching my back.”

Rosen turned to Karla’s efforts to get a lawyer. Initially, she went to Virginia Workman.

“Your lawyer was Virginia Workman, right?

And you saw Virginia Workman on your dad’s birthday, Jan. 25, 1993, isn’t that right?”

“Right.” She explained she was a matrimonial lawyer.

“But you didn’t say anything” about Kristen, Leslie or Tammy, asked Rosen.

Continued on Page 7

Regional News-Optimist

The Bernardo trial

Continued from Page 6 “I didn’t do that because I was terrified of Paul,” Homolka replied.

“I was obviously not thinking straight or else none of this would have happened.”

Later Rosen asked several questions about her encounter with another lawyer, George Walker, and about trying to obtain blanket immunity. Rosen tried to show that Homolka knew more about the concept of blanket immunity than she was letting on.

“You know what it is, you know it’s pretty good,” Rosen said.

“I went to him and told him to do the best he could for me.”

Rosen delved into the plea agreement Homolka eventually made with the Crown, and the negotiations that went on.

“As part of the deal you were never charged with murder — charged with manslaughter, no sexual assault, no dismemberment of Leslie’s body.”

“I wasn’t involved in the dismemberment of Leslie Mahaffy,” Karla then responded, but she admitted “helping throw her over.”

I had written down that Rosen strode by and glanced at the jurors, and shook the plea bargain agreement in front of them.

Very theatrical stuff. He lampooned Homolka for her jail sentence.

“Long sentence isn’t

The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 7

w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a

it?” Rosen then asked when Homolka was eligible for day parole, and Homolka responded “a year and a half.”

“Excuse me?” said Rosen.

“A year and a half,” she replied. It turned out Homolka was eligible for day parole Jan. 6, 1997.

Those exchanges gave you an idea about the tension in that crowded Toronto courtroom that morning.

But the theatrics didn’t last. The afternoon session was far less riveting: a series of exhibits and cards were presented and Homolka was asked about those.

The long day was starting to get to all of us in our group. I remember dozing off in my seat at one point, only for a guard to come over to say to me “no sleeping in the courtroom!”

Finally around 3 p.m. one of my tired-looking colleagues passed me a note that read “let’s go.” I wrote back “OK.” We filed out, and headed back in the car to London, Ont., to file our stories.

I cannot tell you what happened to the finished story that I eventually typed and handed in. I am guessing it is in a box somewhere, but I did find a first draft that I had written down in my notebook.

It’s cringeworthy.

“Cross examination began on Karla Homolka before a packed courtroom yesterday in the Paul Bernardo

trial,” I wrote in the first paragraph. I should have cut to the chase and said Rosen had spent the day grilling Homolka.

I hope this wasn’t the final version that I handed in to the instructors, because it’s unreadable. But my notes and notebook from the trial — they’re gold.

Awesome stuff.

Looking back 25 years later, I can’t believe how time has passed. It is amazing to think that my very first big trial as a reporter – a lowly student reporter – was one of the biggest cases Canada has ever had, in Toronto no less. Just a couple of months or so before, I was still living in Saskatchewan.

What a way to get experience in covering trials. It turned out to be good preparation for the media circus that accompanied the Curt Dagenais murder trial in 2009 in Saskatoon, and the Gerald Stanley trial in Battleford in 2018, as well as the other court cases in between that I have covered.

What I should emphasize is that my Bernardo trial experience was of one momentous day. I’ve heard stories of reporters getting “PTSD” from covering this case, having to live through the gory details of what they heard for weeks on end during the trial.

Covering the Bernardo trial was quite an experience, but from my vantage point one day of it was enough.

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Page 8 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

Regional News-Optimist

w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a

Together since birth, preparing for new paths Staff

2020 Sherwood Park graduates Sydney Hanrahan and Landon Trembley, grandchildren of couples with ties to Northwest Saskatchewan, hold their preschool grad photo. Not only did they go to school together, they were born on the same day, in the same hospital. Photo submitted by Lorna Reimer

Sydney Hanrahan and Landon Trembley, both graduates of Bev Facey High School in Sherwood Park, Alt., were born just hours apart at Edmonton’s Grey Nuns Hospital on Oct. 2, 2002.

Their moms, Jackie Hanrahan and Tara Trembley, had been friends since they met at nursing school, and they shared a room in the hospital when Sydney and Landon were born.

Their two children would go on to share much as their families maintained close contact throughout the years.

Sydney and Landon went to school together, shared birthday parties, family childcare exchanges, Christmas and New Years family celebrations, summer trips to Turtle Lake and graduated together from the same high school.

Sydney will pursue a career in kinesiology while she trains as a com-

petitive swimmer with the Olympian Swim Club in Edmonton. She is the granddaughter of Bob and Lorna Reimer of North Battleford.

Landon is enrolled in classes that will enable him to train as a firefighter. He is the grandson of Dick and Mame McCaw, formerly of Turtleford.

Wherever life takes them, they will always have two families cheering them on, says Sydney’s grandmother, Lorna Reimer.

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The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 9

w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a

sports NSRBL season gets underway

By John Cairns Staff Reporter

Tuesday night saw the NSRBL home opener between the Battlefords Trappers and the North Battleford Beavers. Photo by John Cairns

For the teams of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League it is finally, officially time to “play ball.”

After being delayed for two months due to COVID-19, the season began Sunday with a 7-1 win by defending champion Standard Hill Lakers over the Meadow Lake Sox. It continued Tuesday night with four games, including the first game in the Battlefords between

the Battlefords Trappers and North Battleford Beavers. The Trappers prevailed in that contest 4-1.

In other games Standard Hill beat Mervin Flyers 10-1 and the Unity Cardinals beat the Unity Junior Cardinals 7-1. The game between Border City Blue Jays and Kindersley Stallions was rained out.

The Jr. Cardinals were scheduled to host Lloydminster Twins Wednesday and there are two games Thursday, with the Trappers hosting Mervin and the Twins in Kindersley.

The ‘Better Half’ of Cheer Factory

By Rhea Good This is my 10th article in a series profiling prominent personalities in Canadian Cheerleading. Caitlyn Nelson is known as “the better half” of Cheer Factory based in Toronto.

Caitlyn’s athletic career started in competitive gymnastics. After grade 12, at Nippissing University in North Bay, Ont., Caitlyn discovered cheerleading.

“I immediately loved the camaraderie and community of cheer and as a psychology major, I developed a deeper understanding of the positive affects of sport.”

Caitlyn was a tumbler and flyer on the team for the five years of her undergraduate degree.

After convocation, Caitlyn pursued a diploma program in Sault St. Marie,

Words of

Cheer

where there was no cheerleading. So, Caitlyn established The Cheer Academy and built the program to 150 athletes, 2012-2016.

Caitlyn hired Cheer Factory to do skill workshops with her athletes at The Cheer Academy. A young, handsome coach named Chris McLeod traveled to Sault St. Marie to do the workshop. Caitlyn and Chris kept in touch, which turned into dating, and then he was a good reason to look for a job in Toronto and join an adult cheer team in Toronto. Chris and Caitlyn were married in September 2018.

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though sport is primarily concerned with skill training and gameday performance, Chris and Cailtyn are dedicated to what they call “sport for development,” using the rigor and dedication to sport as a vehicle for character development.

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Page 10 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

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Hon. Scott Moe, Premier

Randy Weekes

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MLA for Biggar-Sask Valley randyweekes.mla@accesscomm.ca 1-877-948-4880

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3/17/2020 4:00:07 PM

COVID-19 should stay top of mind

SHA reminds residents to remain vigilant The Saskatchewan Health Authority is reminding Saskatchewan residents to not let their guard down when it comes to COVID-19.

As people take advantage of the warm weather to travel and extend their social circle,

they should do so in a gradual and controlled way, keeping physical distancing and hand washing top of mind.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and to continue implementing the proper COVID-19 protocols,

including following physical distancing guidelines to maintain 2-metres of separation, implementing proper hygiene practices and complying with provincial health orders, including limiting the size of outdoor gatherings to 30.

“What happens tomorrow depends on what happens today,” states Dr. David Torr, Public Health Incident Command Centre Co-lead for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “COVID spread depends on how much we let our guard down.”

Anyone with symptoms should protect themselves and others, especially the vulnerable, by staying home, self-isolating and getting tested for COVID-19.

It is important to remember that COVID-19 has no boundaries, it affects

us all. As a province, we have a responsibility to support each other through these challenging times, to stay positive, and to continue working together in the spirit of kindness and generosity that defines our province.

New app to help Saskatchewan farmers’ mental health

By Brian Zinchuk

likelihood of people asking for help when they need it Local Journalism Initiative the most.”

Reporter Estevan Mercury Calls to the Regina – An app Saskatchewan farm stress developed in Saskatchewan line doubled in 2018meant to help out 2019 compared to the farmers’ mental health is previous year and, in 2020, receiving some support COVID-19 is placing from the Government of new pressures on people Saskatchewan. within the agriculture On July 2, Innovation sector. The app – called Saskatchewan and the ‘Avail’ – analyzes wellness Ministry of Agriculture data supplied by the announced they are user and offers supports partnering with a health including articles, videos services company to and online tips, or more provide farmers with a new immediate help from a tool to track their mental personal support network. health and link them with It is available for Apple, supports.

Android and desktop.

The mobile app, devel“Saskatchewan producoped by Bridges Health in ers face unique challenges Saskatoon, was selected when it comes to dealing during a province-wide with mental health and we Innovation Challenge in are committed to providthe spring of 2020, where ing resources and stratetechnology entrepreneurs gies to help support them,” offered solutions to assist Agriculture Minister DaSaskatchewan farmers, vid Marit said. “We know ranchers and agricultural there is a need for solutions workers in actively moni- like this and I’m looking toring their mental health. forward to working with “Despite progress Bridges Health to provide made, there is still stigma a resource custom-built for associated with asking the agriculture industry.” for support when it Bridges Health is a mencomes to mental health,” tal health service organizaMinister Responsible for tion based in Saskatoon.

Innovation Saskatchewan As Innovation Challenge Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. winners, the company re“Having access to an app ceives $10,000 in funding in the privacy of one’s own and a 16-week collaborahome will enhance the tion with government to

develop the mobile app.

“As a company founded and based in Saskatchewan, the agriculture sector touches both our business and our families,” Bridges Health Vice President Leon Ferguson said. “We are honoured to have this opportunity to work with government and partners to develop and advance this mental health and overall wellness tool.”

The app allows users to complete check ins and measure their mental, and overall health in a variety of different areas. Beyond physical health, it goes into areas like sleep hygiene and financial well being, stress and anxiety, according to Kyle Anderson, business development consultant with Bridges Health.

The self-assessment will ask 10 different questions, and those questions vary each time.

“A sample question might be, ‘Over the last week, I enjoyed time spent with friends and family,’ and then you answer based on a sliding scale from zero to six,” Anderson said.

Self assessment is just one aspect of it. Users will be able to track their wellness over time, noting increases or decreases in their scores.

The app will send

periodic reminders to the user for them to make use of it.

“After that, there’s a library with articles and videos and tips and suggestions and activities of things that you can do.

When that are specifically geared towards all of those, those different areas. So, if I noticed that I wasn’t doing well and my stress and anxiety score was low, then I can go through and access all of the different resources, specific distress and anxiety,” Anderson said.

It will tie into specific resources available in Saskatchewan.

Anderson said, “If I was looking to go see a physiotherapist and I’m located in Swift current, I’d be able to search that and see all available physiotherapists, that are within a specific distance to me. If I’m looking to go see a counselor, and I’m located in say Rosetown, there’s not many professionals out there. I’d be able to see who offers remote services, virtual or telehealth.”

He added there’s a social connection so you can connect with peers and other individuals, and have that social support within the app as well.

NDP Finance Critic

Seeding getting you down? Billion dollar rain picking you up? There’s an app that tracks farmers’ mental health now, and it just got some support from the provincial government. File photo by Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Trent Wotherspoon said, “Mental health pressures are real rate across Saskatchewan and supports are needed.

“I would welcome the application and recognition that people are struggling with mental health from right across our province, and certainly agricultural producers are facing real mental health challenges. There’s been some real important voices identifying that within our province within the agricultural community, and I commend them for that.”

He went on, “Ultimately, though, we need to make sure that the province does

its part on the other side of the application to make sure that the supports are there.

Wotherspoon said it was important that there are resources, and a person, available, to talk to, that the “wraparound supports, which are often so absent, and often so delayed, or in place to extend the supports that people need when they need them.”

He said it was important “not to leave people in the darkness and despair and depression, that all too often they’re being left and right now, due to a lack of timely support and appropriate supports being extended.”

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The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 11

Fire destroys farm home near Mullingar

By Elaine Woloshyn Correspondent

A house fire July 3 destroyed a four-year-old home of a young family who farm near Mullingar.

They do not wish their names published as there are too many inquisitive passersby around. This hard-working couple would like to thank the many people, even strangers, who have donated clothing, toys, bedding, towels, furniture, kitchen appliances and the list goes on. She grew up in the

area and attended Mayfair School from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Extreme winds were a factor in the devastation, which took only 45 minutes to raze the home.

Thank goodness no one was inside at the time.

Spiritwood fire truck was

Prairie wildflowers paint the landscape as warm summer days and timely rains foster their growth.

called but was too late to save anything.

I delivered supper to them the next day. A work bee was in progress.

Driving near Mullingar on a grid road, I observed something out of the ordinary. A red fox in the ditch had a large animal hanging from its mouth. Yes, that’s typical. What wasn’t was an adult deer nearby watching the fox. By the time I backed up to take a photo, the fox went running into the canola field with the deer in chase. I started to video but the fox was running so fast the deer gave up and was standing still, probably thinking the chase was hopeless. Do you think it was a fawn, perhaps this deer’s baby, this crafty fox managed to capture and devour?

Very sad for the family of baby Declan Wiens, who passed away three weeks ago while visiting relatives.

Parents are Jordan and Linda (nee Thompson) Wiens of Battleford.

Linda’s parents, Michael and Debbie Thompson, farmed southeast of Mayfair for many years before relocating to Battleford. Linda was enrolled at Mayfair Central School for a good part of her elementary years.

“Where there are no words ... know the silences are carrying the thoughts and prayers of all who love you.” ‑‑ Dawn Dais Congratulations to

Riley and Mandie of Mayfair on becoming firsttime parents to a beautiful baby girl born June 29 at Battlefords Union Hospital.

Grandparents are Norman

and Jackie VanNortwick and great-grandparents, formerly of Mayfair, Earl and Ann VanNortwick, thus making this number eight for small ones.

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Cattle peacefully grazing in this lush pasture due to the abundance of precipitation. All of a sudden, they look up at me to see what I am doing. Photos

by Elaine Woloshyn

A Heart for Canada

Bev Paskemin reports it was a lovely evening on Sweetgrass First Nation on Canada Day with a fireworks celebrations. She caught this image of a heart cloud before they started. Photo by Bev Paskemin

The atrocious storms have not been a welcoming sight, but we haven’t had any major flooding and damage done to crops, gardens.

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COVID-19 grad parade may have created new tradition

By Sherri Solomko Correspondent

With Sask. reopening plans continuing and being implemented, how are you coping? Knowing eventually things had to return to the new normal, one always wonders how further reopening measures will affect the potential spread of COVID-19 in our province. Hope, perseverance and optimism is the best we can do at this time.

People are still talking about the graduation parade that was held June 26.

As much as the graduates needed to be celebrated in this extraordinary year, the community needed something to celebrate, too. Seniors’ centres hung large signs, and parade viewers held signs, dressed in school colours and cheered loudly as graduates passed by. It was great therapy for everyone. Thank you to everyone who supported these graduates. My son, who was one of these UCHS grads, said he felt like a rock star.

Jason Heit captured two of three Saskatchewan Book awards that he was nominated for. Checkout his story in our local paper, the Press-Herald.

In spite of government giving the go ahead for swimming pools to open, council decided they could not meet the requirements to open our pool for the summer. The time it would take to prepare for opening, the staffing, the protocols and the additional cleaning

U

nity News

were cited as some of the reasons. It would not have been cost effective to take on all of this work for a much shortened season.

Ball, in some forms is back on the diamonds.

There aren’t as many teams as a normal season and games may still be in limbo, but from the smiles on the players and coaches, none of that matters.

The Unity Cardinals senior and U18 teams will be playing in the revised NSRBL season that has started. Check out the league’s website for details.

The town has installed a mobile air quality station that is set up near the pool. Reports from their findings will be released to residents in the near future.

Some churches are back hosting in-house worship services while others will resume later this summer.

There are still online options to take in as well.

The Unity United Church appreciates those who donated to their bottle drive.

These efforts combined with dozens of generous donations have enabled them to fully pay for a new tin roof on the building, with construction now underway. They thank the numerous volunteers who

Unity’s June 26 graduation parade surpassed everyone’s expectations and may have created a new grad tradition. Each graduate decorated their own transportation while dozens of signs were held or erected in support of the class. One grad’s truck even sported a thank you to everyone who had contributed to their time in Unity. Photos courtesy of Morag Riddell

collected, sorted and delivered to Sarcan, and they add, we really do live in a great community. Out of this bottle drive, the Unity chapter of Eastern Star was also able to collect more than four gallons of tabs for their charity drive to benefit Saskatchewan hospitals.

Even though we can now travel a little more freely, please remember your local businesses for your shopping needs.

Some of them are just now reopening and would appreciate the same support of our residents as they have given in support in their years in our business community.

Thank you to everyone who supported the food bank fundraiser, with help of the generous donation of a smoker/barbecue from Heitt’s Plumbing and Heat20072BS1 20072BS2

ing. While Neil Wood won the draw, the real winners were the Unity food bank, who gained $6,905 from this initiative.

Here’s hoping this finds you all safe, healthy and socially distanced. Until next week ...

From the Pastor’s Desk of TBC

By Pastor Dave Walker

Turtleford Baptist Church

Thank you for all your inquiries as to our monthly letter, which has not appeared in this paper for several months. As you know much has changed in our world due to COVID 19, and we expect there will be many long lasting affects yet to come. One thing that has not changed is God. His word tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We hope to continue with our monthly write up so keep watching, and keep up to date with what is happening at TBC. While we were absent from the church, we continued to hold Worship services every Sunday morning via Zoom. Also Tuesday Bible study on Zoom.

Due to Covid 19 we have suspended our monthly free breakfast at the Mervin Bistro and Cafe.

However we will continue with our last Sunday of the month 6 o’clock evening Gather Gospel Music Hour. The next one is July 26. Why not mark your calendar and come as you are? Everyone is welcome and if you play an instrument, or sing gospel music. we would love to have you join us. Not looking for professional talent, just a lot of fun with a lunch to follow. A sample of the songs we sing are songs like I’ll Fly Away, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, How Great Thou Art and other traditional and contemporary songs.

One more mention. If you do not have a regular place of worship, feel free to join us at 11 every Sun-

day morning.

We have been practicing social distancing, using hand sanitizers ensuring that families sit together and avoiding physical contact for everyone’s safety.

Our worship service is only one hour in duration with music that will speak to your heart.

Until next time Pastor Dave says, remember…

If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.

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T H E B AT T L E F O R D S

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Regional

news-optimist Serving the Battlefords since 1908

The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 13

Second Front

Record number of boats on the lake last weekend

By Lorna Pearson Correspondent

How disappointing the popular children’s parade on July 1 in Meota could not be held. People made the best of it, with the Jennsens taking children for rides on the afternoons of two days, July 1 and 2, in the stage coach Leo has built in his shop here.

(See the story and photos

M

eota News

below.)

This weekend has seen a record number of boats and other watercraft on the lake, as the weather turned into nice summer days for

holidaying at the lake. The traffic along the lakeshore road increased though, because the posts by the concession have not been replaced, creating another hazardous possibility for children in that area. The parking situation doesn’t get better with trucks and boat trailers looking for a place to park, near the boat launch area.

I’m sure most every

house in the village had company for a few days, so with time we will find out how careful we were, and just hope all come through with no virus infection.

A trucker, interviewed on Facebook, told of his experience at a stop in Texas. He was involved in a minor accident, so had to go to a testing station for a drug test, which he passed.

While there, six people

came in with virus symptoms, for a test. They could not afford the $199 fee, so left without. No one down there was wearing a mask, and here he was exposed so directly, through no fault of his own, to the virus. He was thoroughly disgusted at their attitude. He asked the prime minister not to open the border to Americans any time soon.

I hear many venues have

opened again, but I have no bridge report yet. Reports of folks at the local cafe were good and I see many folks at the concession, also. What a variety of ice creams there, it would take all summer to try them all.

The one I tried – mint with tiny chocolate chips – was excellent.

Have a good summer holiday and enjoy those grandkids.

Dreams do come true - A Cinderella story in Meota

Kathy Saretzky and Katie Johnson, the birthday girls, driving the Cinderella Coach on Canada Day. .hoto by Nicholas Saretzky

Submitted by Lorna Pearson

Correspondent

The following was written by Trudy Janssens: Twenty-five years ago we had the opportunity to purchase an antique coach from British Columbia.

We decided that it would make a good prop for our photography business in Saskatoon. On our way past Chilliwack, the wind caught us off guard and the carriage blew apart. We loaded up the pieces from the ditch and reassured each other that someday we’d put the pieces back together. We safely stored the windows, doors and wheels in the studio garage for many years.

Once we had built a new garage in Meota, Leo promised that the first project he’d tackle was to restore the coach. He made the call to transform it into Cinderella’s coach. With experience that he learned from building a barn roof with his dad, he proceeded to form the wooden

ribs into the pumpkin. He dreamt of completing a carriage that his granddaughters would be excited to ride in. With Covid 19 keeping us in Meota full time, he was able to redesign the chassis so children would be comfortable entering and exiting. A handcrafted crown topped the pumpkin.

Our granddaughter pitched in and helped paint as Leo came up with a hitch that would connect it to our old quad. I worked on comfortable seating and fretted about how to finish the coach’s interior.

Before our granddaughter returned to Calgary, Leo’s “dream came true” and Siena was the first to ride in the Cinderella coach with her friends in Meota. As children, they weren’t too concerned with masks or social distancing.

As July 1 approached, we knew we should take the coach out to give others an opportunity to have a ride. Meota’s Children’s Bike Parade was cancelled and it rained all morning,

but by four o’clock the clouds had cleared and we made the call to have two friends who were celebrating their 60th birthdays be the designated drivers for the coach.

Children appeared from all corners and filled the coach with smiles and giggles galore. As we drove around Meota we heard spectators comment that they were happy to see some people excited about Canada Day! Before you know it, a little green Beetle joined the parade followed by Leo in his white convertible, just in case I had issues with our old quad quitting en route.

The next day we were asked to go for another spin around town because several of the Meota seniors wanted to see Cinderella’s coach. As we rounded the corner by Meota’s Do Drop Inn, the quad quit again. I had forgotten to set the gas lever and I was so happy Leo was following in his car. Grandparents ran to greet us and asked if I could give their two

Bella Thomson with her mom and dad having her dreams come true. Photo by Kyla Thomson

grandchildren a ride. Sixyear-old Bella Thomson and her two-year-old brother were welcomed aboard. Before you know it another little girl dressed in her Cinderella dress was following behind on their golf cart.

As I dropped Bella off, she said, “You made my dream come true! I’ve always wanted a ride in Cinderella’s coach.”

Nevaeh VanEe came next, fully prepared in her Cinderella dress! A perfect way to wrap up the season with many dreams come true.

Many people in Meota are wondering why Leo built this coach and what will become of it. For Leo, it’s a dream come true to build it. For the children who know Cinderella’s story, it’s a chance to participate in the fairy tale. For the 60-year-old birthday

girls, it’s become a wonderful memory. There’s more finishing that will be done. Gold paint, diamonds and glass slippers are on hand to bring it to the next level. Next year

there will be more children with fancy dresses and hopefully better weather.

Parades will resume, (old) men will dream dreams and hopefully bring them to completion.

Granddaughter Siena and Trudy Janssens painting the coach. Photo by Warren Janssens

Page 14 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING T H E B AT T L E F O R D S

All the right choices for you to reach More People...

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news-optimist Serving the Battlefords since 1908

Deadline Monday: 2:00 p.m.

Prepayment required OBITUARIES BOSKILL: Final Resting Interment and Memorials Ceremony for Ethel Steele Boskill will be held Saturday, July 18, 2020 - 2:00pm at the Maymont Cemetery 1 mile north of Maymont. Following the ceremony all are invited to attend at the Maymont Memorial Hall for Refreshments and Visiting.

COVID restrictions and precautions are being observed. Arrangements have been entrusted to Robert MacKay of Eternal Memories Battlefords Funeral Service (306-446-4200).

Full Color NOW AVAILABLE for your CLASSIFIED AD! • No Refunds • NOTICES / NOMINATIONS Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Estate of Frank Bertsch, late of

BERTSCH: Frank Michael Bertsch passed away Saturday, June 20th, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family after a brief battle with cancer. As per Frank’s wishes, no funeral services will be held. Frank will always be loved and cherished by his wife Margie; sons Dustin, and Derek (Pamela) and his children Kaine, Toryn, and Sydney; his sisters Clem (George) Hood, Dianne (Larry) Taylor, and Marlene Caron (Albert); brother in-law Doug (Claudette) Shaver; as well as nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Frank is predeceased by his parents John and Annie Bertsch; and his parent’s in-law George and Margaret Shaver.

Frank’s family wish to extend their most heartfelt thank you to Dr. Campbell, the Palliative Care staff at Battleford’s Union Hospital, and to Battleford’s Home Care for their immense care and compassion of Frank. Condolences for the family may be left at www.SallowsandMcDonald.com.

FUNERAL SERVICES

North Battleford, Saskatchewan, deceased.

All claims against the above estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 4 day of August, 2020.

Battle River Law Barristers & Solicitors 201, 1291 -102nd Street Box 905 North Battleford, Saskatchewan S9A 2Z3 Solicitors for the Estate of Frank Bertsch.

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THE MUSEUM IS NOW OPEN DAILY 9:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. WITH POSTED COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE THAT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED.

Congratulations to our winners

Jullien Bayet, Margaret Hamilton, Cheri Murphy, Jason Russell and Colleen Smith IN MEMORIAM

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NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

NOTICE OF CALL FOR NOMINATIONS (Municipal Elections) PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the nominations of candidates for the office(s) of: Mayor: Resort Village of Kivimaa-Moonlight Bay

Will be received by the undersigned on the 25th day of July, 2020, from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Resort Village Office, and during regular business hours on July 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd at the Resort Village Office.

Dated this 10th day of July, 2020.

Robert Mackay - Director (306) 446-4200 24 hours

eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca

Stock homes Ready for Delivery!

Nomination Forms may be obtained at: RESORT VILLAGE OFFICE

1332 - 100th St., North Battleford

WE ARE LOCALLY AND FAMILY OWNED

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Councillor: Resort Village of Kivimaa-Moonlight Bay Number to be Elected: 3

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MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES FOR SALE

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In Loving Memory of Leslie "Bud' Leece In Loving Memory Leslie April 8, 1930of- July 3,"Bud' 2015 Leece April 8, 1930 - July 3, 2015

Eternal Memories

Phone: 306-445-7261 Fax: 306-445-3223 In person/mail: 892 - 104th Street North Battleford, SK S9A 1M9

Jackie Helgeton Judy Tirk and family are pleased to announce the convocation of

Derek Odgers

with Juris Doctor (Degree of Law) from the University of British Columbia on May 2020

Regional News-Optimist APARTMENTS/CONDOS FOR RENT 960 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 2nd floor apartment in Battleford Industrial Park. 4 appliances & Utilities included. Damage deposit and references $1050.00 month. 306-3863240 INDEPENDENT ADULT LIVING apartments in Martensville, SK. Spend your retirement years in a community close to family/friends in the Saskatoon area that has large city services with small town safety and charm. More info @ www.chateauvilla.ca http://www.chateauvilla.ca, 306281-4475 or chateauvilla@sasktel.net.

North Battleford: 2Bed/2Bath -$2,500 Premium Independent Adult Living Apartment in Caleb Village, North Battleford. 980 square foot, 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom unit on the 4th floor near the elevators. $2,500 per month plus DD. Includes 55" TV, China Cabinet and Fireplace does not include lifestyle fees, power or phone/cable/internet.

Private deck. Comes with 1 parking stall - garage can be rented separately.

Call Nadine at 587-646-6657 or email nfinch@hotmail.ca for more information.

587-646-6657 nfinch@hotmail.ca

The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 15

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

Notice of Call for Nominations (Resort Village of Cochin)

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the office(s) of: Mayor/Reeve: Resort Village of Cochin Councillor: Resort Village of Cochin Number to be Elected 4 will be received by the undersigned on the 25 day of July, 2020 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at 1006 Highway 4 North, the Resort Village of Cochin Office and during regular business hours on July 9 to July 24, 2020, at the Resort Village of Cochin Office.

Nomination forms may be obtained at the following location: The Resort Village of Cochin Office 1006 Highway 4 North.

Dated this 9 day of July, 2020.

Amber Loeppky

(Returning Officer or Nomination Officer)

Heavy Duty Mechanics, Heavy Equipment Operators and 1A Drivers required: Late model, clean CAT, JD equip: winch, dump, gravel trucks and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided.

Wage negotiable.

Clean drivers abstract a must.

Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca

Notice of Call for Nominations

will be received by the undersigned on the 25th day of July, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Resort Village of Turtle View Municipal Office located at 1100 Aspen Cove Crescent, Turtle View, Saskatchewan., and during regular business hours July 9, 2020 to July 24, 2020 at the Resort Village of Turtle View Municipal Office located at 1100 Aspen Cove Crescent, Turtle View, Saskatchewan.

Nomination forms may be obtained at the following location:

FARM SERVICES

Resort Village of Turtle View Municipal Office at 1100 Aspen Cove Crescent, Turtle View, Saskatchewan.

Dated this 9th day of July, 2020.

Lorrie Bannerman Returning Officer

Notice of Statement of Dissolution and Notice to Creditors

FEED & SEED

Be advised that on June 22/2020 the members of Scentgrass Lake Feeder Co-operative passed a special resolution authorizing the voluntary dissolution of the co-operative under the provisions of Saskatchewan Co-operative The resolution was approved by the Registrar of Co-operatives on June 22/2020.

Be further advised that: Annette Smith of RR#3 North Battleford SK was appointed liquidator.

Be further advised that: a. any person who is indebted to the co-operative is to render an account and pay to the liquidator any amount owing at North Battleford July 31/2020 b. any person who possesses property of the co-operative is to deliver it to the liquidator at North Battleford July 31/2020 and c. any person who has a claim against the co-operative, whether liquidated, unliquidated, future or contingent, is to present particulars of the claim in writing to the liquidator not later than two months after the first publication of the notice.

Liquidator of the Co-operative

If you want to drink, that’s your business.

If you want to stop, we can help.

CALL ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 306-446-6166

Hi everyone, I’m Arturo!

I’m Bitz,!

Ruler of the caged, the orphaned, and the lost. I myself was lost once and have come to find that being “lost” is simply one’s state of mind. You truly can be home where ever you might be as long as you have people to help you along the way like I have had.

I’d be lying if I told you that I was happy to have ended up here at the shelter and at first I really let the humans here know it too! But Ill be honest, after a few days of steady food and love they won me over and I showed them the true Bitz. I’m a sweet and loving girl.

Call the Animal Shelter 306.446.2700 NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

NOTICE OF CALL FOR NOMINATIONS THE RESORT VILLAGE OF METINOTA MUNICIPAL ELECTION Public notice is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the offices of: MAYOR – Resort Village of Metinota COUNCILOR – (2 positions) Resort Village of Metinota

Nomination forms may be obtained from Carmen Menssa - #84 3rd Ave W, Metinota, SK or by emailing – rvmetinota@sasktel.net Dated this 9th day of July, 2020 T H E B AT T L E F O R D S

Councillor: Resort Village of Turtle View, Number to be elected: Three (3)

battlefords humane society

will be received by the undersigned at the village office located at #84 3rd Ave W, Metinota, SK until Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. local time.

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the offices of: Mayor: Resort Village of Turtle View

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Regional

NEWS-OPTIMIST

Carmen Menssa Returning Officer

Serving the Battlefords since 1908

BRIGHTSAND LAKE REGIONAL PARK Public Notice: Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Public Notice is hereby given that the Regional Park Authority (RPA) for the Brightsand Lake Regional Park (BSLRP) intends to adopt two bylaws under The Planning and Development Act, 2007. A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 03-2019 known as the Official Community Plan (OCP), and a bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 01-2019 known as the Zoning Bylaw (ZB).

INTENT: The OCP amendment would: clarify land ownership within the park; advise of its Building Bylaw and the need for permitting; clarify the RPA’s intent to limit residential subdivision and development within BSLRP to existing subdivided areas; encourage the use of FireSmart principals for new development; and replace a typo relating to “plaques”.

The ZB amendment would: clarify the RPA’s ability to request supplemental information relating to site drainage; clarify the need for concurrent permitting with the RPA’s Building Bylaw; include any provincial authority in the consideration of the use of a privy pit; increase the maximum site sizes for single detached dwellings in the LD1 – Lakeshore Development 1 District from 983.87 sq. m to 1087.25 sq. m; and replacing the definition of “Heritage Resources” to simply defer to provincially-defined terms.

AFFECTED LAND: The amendments would affect all land within BSLRP. Lands within the LD1 District would be specifically affected by the change in maximum site size.

REASON: The amendments reflect feedback that came back from provincial agencies during the review of the new OCP and ZB, provide clarity on a number of items, and provide additional site size flexibility to accommodate limited lot consolidation and boundary alteration.

PUBLIC INSPECTION: Any person may inspect the bylaw at the Northbound Planning Ltd. office between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, excluding any statutory holidays. The office is located at 100 1st Ave East, Vawn SK, S0M 2Z0. Copies will be available to the public at cost, or by emailing the Northbound Planning office at yvonne@northboundplanning.ca.

PUBLIC HEARING: The RPA will hold a public earing on July 25, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. in the BSLRP shop located within the Park, to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaws. The RPA will also consider written comments received by the undersigned on behalf of the RPA through the Northbound Planning Ltd. office by July 24, 2020. Mailed comments will be received c/o Northbound Planning, Box 101, Meota, SK S0M 1X0. For additional information, please contact Yvonne Prusak at (306) 397-1000 or yvonne@northboundplanning.ca. Alternatively, please contact Victor Hamm at (306) 845-7110 or brightsand@sasktel.net.

Issued by the Brightsand Lake Regional Park Authority this 30th day of June 2020.

S. Yvonne Prusak, BASc, MA, MCIP, RPP Community Planner – Northbound Planning Ltd.

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Page 16 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

Regional News-Optimist

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Maidstone Museum News

TENDERS

TOWN OF BATTLEFORD

Request for Proposal The Town of Battleford is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or groups to lease and operate the canteen at the Battleford Arena for the 2020/2021 season (approximately October 1st, 2020 to March 31st, 2021).

Maidstone Museum open for limited hours

By Dorothy Schwartz Correspondent

Chairperson was Danielle Hollingshead.

The annual July 1 celebration was cancelled but the annual corn roast on Wednesday, Sept. 9, is being considered. More decisions will be made at the next meeting July 13 at

7 p.m. at the museum.

For this summer, the museum will open Saturdays and Sundays starting July 18 from 2 to 6 p.m. Visitors can make appointments to visit Thursdays and Fridays.

Call 306-903-8818 or 780-

871-3656. This will be the hours for the rest of the summer.

The pandemic forced cancellation of the silent auction that is a major fundraiser for the museum.

Donations and physical help will be appreciated.

Complete proposal package with details of the lease agreement and requirements are available at the Parks/Recreation office, Alex Dillabough Center, 451 – 28 Street, Battleford (Office hours are 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, excluding lunch hour) or email parks@battleford.ca. Information can also be found on www.battleford.ca.

Maidstone Museum members met for the first time since February at a noon meeting June 26 while observing distancing requirements.

Interested parties are asked to submit proposals in writing to the Parks and Recreation Office by 1:00 pm, July 28, 2020.

Heritage Sask. launches photo contest

Jordan Schechtel Parks and Recreation Director Box 1240 Battleford, SK S0M 0E0 (306) 937-6216

Government of Saskatchewan Request for Proposals Seeking Workshop and Office Space Rosetown, Saskatchewan

Secure electronic proposals for the provision of 1,138 m2 (12,249.33 ft2) of workshop space, 132.8 m2 (1,429.45 ft2) of office space, and 20 parking stalls in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, will be received by the Ministry of Central Services, Property Management Division, until 2 p.m. CST on July 29, 2020 and will be opened thereafter. Proposals must be submitted in PDF format via email, following the Instructions to Proponents included in the proposal documents.

Interested proponents may obtain proposal documents from sasktenders.ca.

The Ministry of Central Services reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Submitted by Heritage Saskatchewan This summer, Heritage Saskatchewan is encouraging everyone in Saskatchewan to get in touch with the culture and heritage around them. Until Sept. 8, we will be accepting photo submissions of our province, its people, buildings, and natural beauty. We have developed five categories that encourage photographers to see the world through the lens of living heritage: Living Heritage: Like our DNA, we inherit our living heritage – those values, beliefs, and ways of living received from past generations that we use to understand the

person in Saskatchewan, show us what parts of your living heritage matter to you!

Our Urban Places: Our buildings, infrastructure, and how we interact with the built world are all a part of our heritage. We want to see photographs in this category of streetscapes, buildings, and unique views of town and city life that demonstrate why these places are special to us.

Landscape and Nature: Saskatchewan’s landscape and its nature not only provide beautiful photographic subjects, but also represent an important part of our living heritage.

Our climate and geography determine how we live, tell our stories, and

anchor us in place. Aim to represent Saskatchewan’s unique and diverse natural assets – from the ways we use and alter our environment to live and work, to the untouched, pristine beauty of our province’s wild places.

C O V I D - 1 9 Culture: Show us how culture and heritage have played a role during the changes brought by the pandemic, whether in your personal life or in your community. Have you used cultural heritage to help cope with the pandemic?

Has COVID-19 created new cultural markers?

Visit our website to enter a photo, check out prizes, and to view our entry gallery.

North West College

North West College is Currently Accepting Applications for the Following Position: Meadow Lake: Instructor, Carpentry

Posting #15-ML-2021 North West College is accepting applications for a Carpentry Journeyperson who will be responsible for organizing and delivery of education curriculum and content of the Carpentry Certificate program. This full-time, term position is 91 days running from October 14, 2020 – March 5, 2021.

Regional

news-optimist Serving the Battlefords since 1908

www.newsoptimist.ca

sasktenders.ca

present and make choices for the future. It defines our sense of identity as individuals and our relationships with others, shaping our communities and our quality of life. In this category, we want to see images of what you value and recognize as your living heritage – from the way your grandmother kneads bread, to the symbols embedded in powwow regalia, as two examples! Watch our video about living heritage.

Living Heritage (Youth Category Submissions from ages 18 and under): As the next generation of heritage stewards, we invite our province’s youth to capture the living heritage you see around you. As a young

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

T H E B AT T L E F O R D S

The highest or any proposal may not necessarily be accepted, and the Town of Battleford reserves the right to reject any and all proposals.

892-104th Street North Battleford 306-445-7261 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Financial thinkers wanted.

Join our exciting team and transform the minds of the next generation of Carpenters!

Salary Range: $269.90 – $456.40/day based on level of education and years of relevant experience.

For a complete position profile, and application visit www.northwestcollege.ca.

Applications will be received until Thursday, June 16, 2020 at noon.

www.northwestcollege.ca North West College

North West College is currently accepting applications for the following Full-Time, Permanent Position: North Battleford: Education Resource Consultant

We’re looking for fresh customer service talent to join our team.

We create an exceptional experience for members and potential members both face to face and online/mobile.

Posting #75-BC-1920 This in-scope position is responsible for planning, organizing, supervising and delivering academic assessment services, remedial instruction and learning strategies or accommodations to assist Instructors encountering students with learning challenges. The Education Resource Consultant (ERC) will develop and deliver programs/strategies to students who need additional academic support to ensure they possess the tools needed to take charge of their own learning. The ERC provides knowledge and leadership in promoting the best opportunities for student academic success. The ERC works 200 days from late August to end of June each year.

Visit the careers section of our website to view full details on any of our positions. innovationcu.ca

As the Education Resource Consultant, you will hold a Bachelor of Education and a specialization in a relevant program area, including Psychology, Education Psychology, Special Education or Learning Disabilities Programming.

Innovation Credit Union offers

• Competitive wages • Comprehensive benefit program • Matched company pension of 7% • Attractive variable incentive program • Career advancement • Financial education support • Learning on work time • Fast paced exciting environment

Salary Range: $288.15 – $453.40/day based on level of education and years of relevant experience.

For a complete position profile, and application visit www.northwestcollege.ca.

Applications must be received by noon, Thursday, July 16, 2020.

www.northwestcollege.ca

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The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 17

For more local news see www.newsoptimist.ca/news/news-local

Six vendors at first market of the season

By Lorraine Olinyk Correspondent

The Borden Farmers Market started their season July 3 in the Borden Friendship Club Room in the Borden Community Centre. There were six vendors on hand – Eileen Petrun from Borden with baking, Donna Ridgewell of Radisson, with jewelery and baking, Karen Polischuk from Radisson with baking, Lorraine Anderlik of Saskatoon with baking, perogies and cabbage rolls, Joyce Olsewski of Langham with Tupper-

ware and Karen Kerr with jams, jellies, and crafts.

Fresh spinach and dill brought by Connie Kenakin of Langham.

Hopefully there will also be honey and garden vegetables in the next few weeks.

Lorraine Olinyk was at the registration desk keeping track everyone who

comes through the market and COVID-19 rules are in place.

There is a 50/50 draw each week and winning $25 last week was Brooke Burletoff of Borden. The market will be in the community centre seniors’ room every Friday until Oct. 9 from 10 am to 2 p.m.

Radisson Farmers Market has been operating for a few weeks in the building behind the Red Bull. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday until October with vendors selling baking, vegetables, eggs, woodworking and more.

The Borden Fellowship Church held an outdoor community service behind Living Books warehouse July 5, with close to 45 in attendance. With Mary Thiessen playing keyboard and Ron Mills guitar, Peter Thiessen welcomed everyone and led in the hymn singing with the words printed on a large screen.

Daryl Wiebe led the discussion time, when he asked two questions: what have you missed about church in the past 15 weeks and what have you heard that has challenged you in your life at this time? Close to 10

people responded, describing a closer relationship with God and ways God has helped them cope.

Pastor Ron Mills gave a brief message and closed with a prayer.

The Forever In Motion exercises have started up again in the Borden Friendship Club Room with Audrey Baker and Bev Assman leading the session at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. There have been nine or 10 in attendance the last two weeks.

The Borden Museum is open for July by appointment. Phone Karen Kerr

(306-997-5600) or Heather Penner (306-997-5614). In August they will open for more regular hours. The board members are still busy working on the miniature buildings of Borden as it was in 1920s that they picked up from the Saskatoon Western Development Museum.

Borden Lakeland Library still has to open when Lakeland headquarters lets them know.

The Borden Roadside Inn and T-Roy’s Sugar Shack are both open for dining out or for coffee and snacks.

Former farmer and rancher turns 99

By Dorothy M. Mills Correspondent

Belated birthday greetings to Vernon Custer of River Heights Lodge in North Battleford on his 99th birthday. Vernon is formerly from Baljennie.

He and his late wife Joyce raised a family of six children, five sons and one daughter. They worked together on the farm and ran some ranch range land and had cattle and horses.

Vernon enjoyed horses and rode most of his life.

Vernon was David and Linda Custer’s second son, born on July 1, 1921. He attended the old Baljennie School for all his schooling and helped his dad with the horses before getting married. Vernon’s son Mark and his wife Kim and family now own and run the

farm, still with cattle and horses.

The Western Development Museum remains closed, although some museums have opened.

WDMs remain closed for the safety of visitors and volunteers. My husband is a regular volunteer and the shutdown has kept him from an activity he misses.

Bridge Road Condos have been under strict conditions since mid-March.

Rules are slowly relaxing, with visitors again allowed and volunteers can operate

the common room coffee time. The room is also a place to work at a puzzle that is always set up. As time goes on there will be more opening up, but all still have to take care and follow the health rules.

It was sad to see two couples moving to other homes in Battleford.

A third will be moving shortly. We wish them all the best in their new residences. There are now a few empty apartments to be filled with more seniors.

There are two couples in

the process of moving in.

We all welcome them.

A big thank you goes out to one of our residents, who spends a great deal of his time picking up the litter that gets scattered about by people just tossing out the trash. He covers a large area, brining in a big bag full of trash to dispose.

The hay makers are busy getting machinery ready to go. A few have already started.

Warmer temperatures and rainfall have helped crop development. There

has been some spraying to control weeds and pests.

Keep a watch out for pesky ticks when enjoying the outdoors.

Heavy rains in Alberta has created high water flow in the North and South Saskatchewan rivers. The rivers have been high for the last month.

Get well wishes to Lorna Bater and my sister Irene Greer. They are both from Baljennie and in the Battlefords Union Hospital. Hopefully both will be out and about soon.

D E T N A W P HEL

S R E I R R A C R E P A NEWSP We are in need of carriers in North Battleford & Battleford!

To apply or for more information please call Noah Cooke Monday to Thursday | 8:00AM - 4:30PM 892-104th Street | North Battleford | 306.445.7261

Page 18 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

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Getting away still means meeting the treat of COVID-19 I told Ed yesterday, “We now have the green light to travel within our province of British Columbia if we practice social distancing as we roam about.” It is good news as many want to get away from being stuck in their own home and community.

Ed suggested folks would like to get away from the pandemic altogether, but that won’t come soon enough for anyone. He believes staying home is still a good idea, as traveling may put a person at risk.

Ed says the virus is sneaky and lays low only to surge up to claim more lives.

As soon as we relax,

N

eighbourly Advice

According to Ed

By Raymond Maher

www.accordingtoed.com

revraymaher@accesscomm.ca the virus comes back to threaten and attack as many as possible. He feels golfing, as it is outdoors and players can social distance easily, is a safe exception to staying home.

Ed told me if he were my age, he would stay home since I already have one foot in the grave. I told

Ed everybody lives in the shadow of death regardless of their age.

I admit I’m tired and burdened with the total uncertainty that the virus has caused. No matter where you travel even around the world, you cannot get away from yourself. Likewise, there

is nowhere you can go in the world to escape the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of us are tired of restrictions. We are humbled by the virus and forced to admit COVID-19 has the upper hand over us, for now.

It is hard to ignore the stronghold of COVID-19.

Children are often good at disregarding things that restrict them. They can accept circumstances much more readily than adults. They often experience situations at school or at home that they must face and still get on with their lives. Even when they do not like parental rules, they trust that their parents know better than

themselves. Children tend not to worry about situations.

As adults, we feel we need to control, change, manage or leave situations.

We do not humbly think circumstances can turn out OK when they are beyond our control or threaten us.

If we cannot fix a situation, we want someone else to be able to change it. We often worry about our lives, especially about what could happen to us like dying of COVID-19 or cancer. There is no limit to what we worry about, like jobs, income, bills, health, house, insurance and more.

For sure, the pandemic has attacked our sense of

security. We treasure the feeling that we are safe, our future secure and that our death is out of sight and mind. Jesus told his disciples, “Do not worry about your life.”

We know that worry is a dead-end activity, but we do not want to leave our life to the care and direction of our God. Who of us can add a single hour to his or her life by worrying? Our Father knows what we need. It is God’s good pleasure to give us what we need. God is ready to take good care of us. Jesus invites, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest … rest for your souls.”

Worship Together Spend some quality family time together. Worship at the church of your choice.

Our community has a number of churches and a variety of denominations for you & your family.

(RC) St. Joseph Calasanctius Parish 1942 - 98th Street, North Battleford, SK S9A 0N4

TerriTorial Drive alliance church

306-446-1695

PASTOR: Rev. Phinh Do

DAILY: Tues., Wed., Thurs. & Fri. - 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted WEEKEND MASS TIMES: Saturdays - 7:30 p.m. Sundays - 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

ANGLICAN PARISH Rev. Trevor Malyon

1401 - 98th Street, North Battleford, SK

SUNDAY SERVICES CAN BE SEEN ONLINE AT

306-445-5901

St. Georges Anglican Church Battleford Facebook St Paul’s Anglican Church North Battleford Facebook Battle River Parish YouTube channel CJNB Radio 1050AM Sunday mornings 7:45-8:30am Contact: 306 445 4155 stpaulnb@sasktel.net

Reverend George Yando Sunday Services 10:30 AM Everyone Welcome

Hope Mennonite Fellowship 1291 - 109th Street, North Battleford

Battlefords Grace Community Church

Pastor Gerhard Luitjens & Abel & Sonya Zabaleta (Mission Partners)

191 - 24th Street W., Battleford, Sk. 306-937-7575

SUNDAY - 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service

Pastor: Bill Hall

WORSHIP SERVICES - 11 a.m. Sunday

Church Phone 306-445-4181

Everyone Welcome

Living Water Ministry

Sr. Pastor Brian Arcand Pastor Anand George Phone: 306-445-3803 Cell: 306-441-9385 Fax: 306-445-4385

All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Parish 902 - 108th Street, North Battleford ALL LITURGICAL SERVICES ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. CALL MARUSIA AT 306-445-8369 RE ONLINE SERVICES

Battleford United Church 52 - 4th Avenue West Battleford, SK

306-937-3177 Rev. Gayle Wensley

SUNDAY SERVICES 11:00 a.m.

Third Avenue United Church Rev. Dexter van Dyke Sunday Worship, Youth Groups and Bible Study Groups are cancelled until further notice.

Everyone Welcome www.thirdavenueunitedchurchnb.ca Email: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net

Battlefords Cowboy Church Services 1st & 3rd Thursday of each Month

Battleford Legion Hall 7:00 p.m.

PASTOR - Rick Martin

1371 - 103rd Street (Use East Door)

LIVING FAITH CHAPEL

1372 102nd St 306-445-3009

ROMAN CATHOLIC ST. VITAL’S Phone 306-937-7340 PASTOR - Fr. Sebastian Kunnath

Maidstone/Paynton United Church of Canada Phone: 306-285-3823 Contact: Don Retzlaff

Services: First & Third Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Church & CE Wing: 306-893-2611 For booking the Wing: 306-893-4729

Sunday Services 10:30 am Various Weekly Programs www.livingfaithchapel.ca

Battlefords Seventh-Day Adventist Church

11 - 18th Street, Battleford, SK

Saturday Evening Mass - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass - 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study Wednesday 7:30 p.m.

1702 - 106th Street, North Battleford

Come Join Us Sundays at 11:00 am Loving God Growing Together Serving Others Phone Church: 306-445-4818 Fax: 306-445-8895 Email: tbcnb@sasktel.net www.trinitybaptistchurch.ca

Pastor James Kwon

Corner 16th Ave. & 93rd Street, North Battleford

Phone 306-445-9096

Saturday Services Bible Study - 10:00 a.m.

Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.

Regional News-Optimist

The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Page 19

WHO DOES IT? w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a

Professional Directory

AGRICULTURE PARTS

LINE LOCATION SERVICE

Bob Frolek's

WRECKING

Glenn Day Cell: 306-441-3342 E-mail: gpday@icloud.com

• Older Tractors • Combines • Swathers • Balers & Tillage • Other Ag Related Equipment

306-445-6769

3 miles N.W. on Hwy. 16, 2 1/2 miles west on Sunshine Road

Box 1331 Battleford, SK S0M 0E0

ARBORIST

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I CM TREE SERVICE + 306•386•7259

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New, re-roofing & roof repair

Todd Patterson Owner/Operator

Patterson roofing Where we always try to be the lowest price and best value.

- Guaranteed Workmanship -

Phone: 306-445-8439 Cell: 306-441-3690

FREE Estimates & Senior Discounts

ROOFING CONTRACTOR

Devan Oborowsky

PLUS

DEADLINE FOR THURSDAY EDITION IS MONDAY BY 4:00 PM

ROOFING CONTRACTOR

PEAKE LINE LOCATING

AGRA PARTS PLUS

Look for the RIGHT business for the JOB

devanobe@gmail.com

(Liability Insurance)

www.dreamrealtysk.com

J&D Roofing

“Quality “Quality that that doesn’t doesn’t cost, cost, itit pays” pays”

Serving the Battlefords & Area...Locally Owned & Operated SERVING THE AREA...

“Quality thatBATTLEFORDS doesn’t cost,& it pays” Locally owned306-937-2083 & operated Dion BelRose Licensed, WCB Coverage • Fully Insured

Insurance Claims Locally Owned & Welcome Operated Rooftop Snow WCB ESTIMATES •Removal Fully InsuredAvailable FREE

ESTIMATES 306-937-2083 DISCOUNT FREE ESTIMATES Call Dion or Pat 937-2083 AVAILABLE

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Kevin Ryhorchuk

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306-441-4162 janayapollard@gmail.com www.dreamrealtysk.com

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

REALTOR

Jeff Schommer

Ltd.

306-481-4892 schommshandymanrenos@yahoo.com

Have a "To-Do" List?

We Will Take Care of it!

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Derrick Shynkaruk General Contractor

• New Construction • Renovations

306.441.1980 306.445.3144

djshynkaruk@gmail.com

TREE SERVICES

Raymond Oleshko Tree Services

• Tree Removal

• Trimming & Pruning • Stump Grinding • Fully Insured

PHONE 306-481-4465

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Page 20 - The Battlefords, Thursday, July 9, 2020

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BOXING WEEK July in

EVENT

S A L E E N D S J U LY 15 , 2 0 2 0

BUY MORE, SAVE MORE Save up to an additional $300 when you buy qualifying KitchenAid® Major Appliances* SEE IN-STORE SALES ASSOCIATE FOR INSTANT SAVINGS DETAILS AND LIST OF AVAILABLE QUALIFYING MODELS. 192-24th Street West, Battleford Phone 306-937-7474 Fax 306-937-7676 www.battlefordfurniture.com mail@battlefordfurniture.com

BATTLEFORD FURNITURE * In-store instant savings on retail purchase price (after taxes) valid on purchase of qualifying KitchenAid® major appliances will be deducted at the time of purchase. Receive instant savings of $100 (after taxes) when you purchase two (2) qualifying KitchenAid® kitchen appliances or instant savings of $300 (after taxes) when you purchase three (3) or more qualifying KitchenAid® kitchen appliances, consisting of one model only per appliance sub-category. Multiple purchases must be made at the same time from the same participating authorized Canadian KitchenAid dealer. GST/HST/QST and provincial sales tax (where applicable) are included in the instant savings amount. Qualifying purchases must be made between June 25 - July 15, 2020. Open to Canadian residents only.

Offer cannot be combined with any other KitchenAid® appliance offer. Offer is not available to second channel, dealers, builders or contractors. All models may not be available at all dealers.

No substitute models qualify. Dealer prices may vary. Dealer alone has sole discretion to set retail prices. Offer excludes discontinued models. ®/™ © 2020 KitchenAid. Used under license in Canada. All rights reserved.